NEWS
Tosh, Sonneborn, and Burnham Lead the Way on Final Day of 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
The 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show closed out competition on Sunday, October 6, with a schedule full of classes and awards for young riders. Maddie Tosh rode Juan Carlos to the Grand 3’6” Junior Hunter Champion honors for Lily Sonneborn and Andesite Equestrian LLC, while Sonneborn took home her own Grand Junior Hunter Championship in the Junior Hunter 3’3” division with Spencer. Clara Burnham and Ravello, owned by Melissa Hirt, won the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship.
Landstrom, Signorino, and Herzog Take Home Titles at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
Jumpers made a second appearance at the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show on Saturday, October 5, with two more North American League (NAL) competitions for junior and amateur riders. Earlier in the day, Lilly Herzog rode GC Ponies LLC’s D’Artagnan to the Grand Pony Hunter Championship.
Scott Stewart Triumphs for Eighth Time in $30,000 WCHR Professional Finals at2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
Two highlight events were held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, which runs at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center through Sunday, October 6. The evening competition featured the top four hunter riders in the country going head-to-head in the $30,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Finals, presented by Walkenbach Equestrian, and it was Scott Stewart who triumphed by riding four unfamiliar horses, taking home his eighth win out of 23 appearances in the 31 years of the class. In the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals, Elizabeth Cram of Aiken, SC, held her first-round lead for victory aboard Liverno, owned by Highfields LLC.
NAL Jumpers Sprint to Wins at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
The 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show welcomed jumpers to The Show Place Arena for the first time on Thursday, October 3, for the North American League (NAL) Finals. Earlier in the day, the Amateur-Owner Hunters determined their champions, while the Adult Hunters dominated in the outdoor arena.
Steege, Kenny, and Haness Capture Impressive Victories at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
In a day full of incredible hunter competition, three names stood apart as winners of major classes on Wednesday, October 2. These impressive victories went to Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze, owned by Cheryl Olsten, in the $50,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge, presented by The Gochman Family and the John R. Ingram Fund; Ryan Kenny riding Outshine, owned by Michael Britt-Leon in the $10,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund; and Nick Haness with Odette, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC, in the $25,000 KASK/Vogel Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” North American Championship, presented by The Wheeler Family
Haness Dominates Professional Hunter Divisions at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
Professional hunters wrapped up division championships on Tuesday, October 1, at the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Tricolors were handed out in 14 divisions, along with the top under saddle horses at the show competing for honors in the Professional World Champion Under Saddle.
Maddie Tosh Claims PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships
Maddie Tosh of Milton, GA, topped the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Equitation Championships on Sunday, September 29, during the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. She combined scores of 91.66 and 93.33 to take the blue in The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD
Kate Howlin Goes Miles Ahead in $10,000 North American League Adult Hunter Finals
Kate Howlin’s Miles Ahead lived up to his name to win the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals, presented by LAURACEA, and close out the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, on Sunday, September 29, in The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Brooke Hagerty Doubles Down in THIS National Children’s Medal Finals
Brooke Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, contested a work-off for the second day in a row to win the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals on Saturday, September 28, during the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. After winning the EMO Insurance Agency/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East on Friday evening, the 16-year-old once again led a victory gallop around The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Brooke Hagerty Moves Up to Win EMO Insurance Agency/USHJA 3’3”Jumping Seat Medal Final – East
Brooke Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, topped the eighth-annual EMO Insurance Agency/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East on Friday evening during the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. Highlighting the second day of competition at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, Hagerty came into the day sitting second and rode off with the win.
Caroline Signorino Seals the Deal in North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals at Capital Challenge Horse Show
Caroline Signorino opened the 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, with a win in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals on Thursday, September 26.
Q&A With Ken Krome, Veteran Course Designer at CCHS
The multi-talented course designer on perfection, lightning-fast “power builds,” bringing your A-game, and the time he built a whole course upside-down
What is your history with CCHS and your current role and responsibilities?
I am the course designer for everything: hunter, jumper, equitation classes, and finals. We are currently a team of three because the show has grown and gotten so much busier that it’s now a three-person job.
Q&A With Seasoned CCHS Competitor Sophie Gochman
How long have you been attending CCHS, and what makes you keep returning?
I have been attending CCHS for about 15 years, on and off. I keep returning because it is a really fun national championship for the hunters. I especially enjoy the WCHR Challenges.
Q&A With Official CCHS Artist Sharon Lynn Campbell
What is your role at the Capital Challenge Horse Show?
I create the poster art, the prize list front cover, and the cover for the program, which gets distributed at the show. The rider who wins the WCHR Professional Finals gets to be on the official poster. The job consists of three different pieces for Capital Challenge every year.
Q&A With Prolific Amateur and Long-Time CCHS Exhibitor John Ingram
What is your history with CCHS?
As a junior rider, I didn’t really do a lot of indoor shows; that started more with the adult amateurs. I’ve been a pretty consistent competitor at Capital Challenge for the
past 15-plus years. Being at Capital Challenge is a really different schedule than what we are used to. It’s a whole different thing getting up and riding early — you typically have to get in the ring at 6 a.m. — but it’s the culmination of the year for us. Riders from the West Coast come for the year-end competition. It’s the best horses and riders who typically show up, so it’s extremely competitive.
Ariana Marnell and Babylon Continue Winning Ways for Grand Junior Hunter 3’6”
On the final day of the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show on Sunday, October 8, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, Ariana Marnell, 17, of Las Vegas, NV, and Babylon were crowned Grand Junior Hunter 3’6” Champions.
Hailey Guidry and Byzone Mail Deliver the Win in the $10,000 North American League Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Final
Hailey Guidry, 13, of Wellington, FL, and her own Byzance Mail bested a field of 29 competitors to take top honors in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Final, presented by R & R Hunter Horses.
Currie Cooper and Paris Charm Dazzle for Grand Pony Hunter Champion
Ponies stormed The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, on Saturday, October 7, during the 30th anniversary of the 2022 Capital Challenge Horse Show. Currie Cooper, 12, of Point Clear, AL, and Paris Charm bested a field of more than 100 small, medium, and large ponies for the Grand Pony Hunter Champion title, sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable and The Endicott Family, receiving the VanderMoore Designs Trophy.
Kate Conover Completes a Dream By Winning $25,000 WCHR Professional Finals at 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show
On Friday, October 6, at the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, Kate Conover made her dream come true by winning the $25,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Finals, sponsored by The Rein Family. Conover took home the win by completing a stellar handy round in the Playoffs, then staying incredibly consistent and holding the lead with four unfamiliar horses in The Final Four.
Sweetnam and Casaccio Speed to Victory in North American League Jumper Finals
In the $10,000 NAL Children’s Jumper Final, presented by EquiFit, Collin Sweetnam of Wellington, FL, turned and burned with Just Noble to claim the top prize in 34.580 seconds. Kendall Casaccio of Marmora, NJ, and Indigo ES ran away with the win in the $10,000 NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Final, presented by SmartPak, in 36.048 seconds.