Landstrom, Signorino, and Herzog Take Home Titles at 2024 Capital Challenge Horse Show
October 5, 2024 – Upper Marlboro, MD – 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.
Taylor Lands the Win
Taylor Landstrom joined the winner’s circle for the second time in recent years at Capital Challenge when she rode her own Elite Girl to victory in the $10,000 NAL 1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Finals, presented by Parlanti and sponsored by Turnham Green. With seven in the jump-off, Landstrom had to stay clear and be fast to take the win and she did just that, finishing in a time of 37.433 seconds. Stella Propp was the only other double clear on Irocco Blue S, stopping the timers in 37.717 seconds. With Chakalaka 8, Propp took third place with four faults in 35.435 seconds.
Taylor Landstrom and Elite Girl
Landstrom, who won the 2021 NAL Children’s Jumper Final, began her partnership with Elite Girl at the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida after purchasing her from Sandra Dalman, who competed the mare at the grand prix level.
“She’s a very intelligent horse,” said Landstrom of the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Elvis ter Putte. “She’s very special that way. I know that every time I step into the ring that I can count on her, and she wants to win as much as I do. It’s been really special creating a bond with her for this past year.”
As the pair prepare for the Prix de States junior jumper competition next week, Landstrom used this opportunity to compete in an indoor arena.
“I’ve never shown indoors with her, and she hasn’t had a lot of experience indoors, so this was a great way to go into the ring, get some confidence, and be competitive,” she explained. “It turned out to work really well.”
While Landstrom had to pay extra attention in the indoor arena since Elite Girl is “so aware of her surroundings,” she felt that her mare was dialed in from the first fence in the jump-off.
“Once we did the first jump, I felt like everything just clicked,” she relayed. “I was able to see the inside turns that I was hoping for and everything was coming up as I was hoping. It kept building confidence throughout the jump-off. She’s a small little mare, so she can go inside those turns really quickly and move quickly. I think I had a large pony that was bigger than her; she is quite tiny!”
As the winner of the class, Landstrom was presented with The Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy donated by Rolling Acres and Melanie Wright as well as The Congressional Cup. She was named the Best 1.30m/1.35m Junior Jumper Rider sponsored by Rosemont Farm. Stella Propp was named the Best 1.30m/1.35m Amateur Jumper Rider.
Liberty Rings the Victory Bell
It was a close jump-off in the $10,000 NAL1.25m Junior/Amateur Final, but Caroline Signorino of Basking Ridge, NJ, came away with the win by two-tenths of a second riding Liberty, owned by Meridian Farm LLC, in 31.301 seconds. Just behind in second place were Jaime Auletto and Dynamite, owned by Redfield Farm. They crossed the timers clear in 31.507 seconds. Faith Schuttemeyer and Cookie and Cream, owned by Lucy Zhang, came third in 35.662 seconds.
Caroline Signorino and Liberty
Signorino purchased Liberty, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding, this past summer for experience – both for her and her horse. “We’re starting slow, but he has all the desire in the world to jump any height,” she said.
“He’s very, very quick,” she continued. “He’s super sensitive; the most sensitive horse I’ve ever ridden. He can turn the best that I’ve ever had a horse turn. He’s just very honest. You can leave from any distance and he’s okay, so I think he’s given me a lot of confidence to choose the right distances on course and maybe if I’m a little wrong, he’s always there with me.”
Signorino found Liberty through her trainers, Geoffrey Hesslink and Brendan Williams. While Hesslink – who finished second on Friday in the WCHR Pro Finals – is mostly known for winning in the hunter ring, he has helped Signorino develop in the jumper ring as well over the two years they’ve worked together.
“He is really descriptive when we’re going over my jumper plan,” she explained. “He’s super confident in my plan. Sometimes I don’t trust myself enough to do something, and he gives me a lot of confidence to make it happen.”
Signorino has been showing at Capital Challenge “for as long as I can remember,” starting in the Small Pony Hunters, but this is her first jumper win at the show. She added, “It’s a very special feeling to win and the courses have been great. It definitely feels real here.”
Awards for the class were donated by EquiFit, SmartPak, The Clothes Horse, and North American League. Signorino also won the Best 1.20m/1.25m Amateur Jumper Award sponsored by Caves Farm. Maya Rahaim won the Best 1.20m/1.25m Junior Jumper Award sponsored by RPW Show Horses LLC.
D’Artagnan Is a Pony Hero
Jumping to the 2024 CCHS Grand Pony Hunter Championship sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable and The Endicott Family was D’Artagnan, ridden by Lilly Herzog of Pepper Pike, OH, and owned by GC Ponies LLC. For their win, they were presented with The VanderMoore Designs Trophy. Herzog was presented with the Best Pony Rider Award sponsored by Archibald Cox and Brookway Stables and presented with The Kitty Borissoff Memorial Trophy donated by her many friends.
D’Artagnan and Lilly Herzog
Herzog and “Beau,” a 14-year-old German Riding Pony gelding by Donnerhall, finished first, second, and second over fences and were fourth under saddle. It was Herzog’s first grand championship in her second time showing Beau in the Large Pony Hunters at Capital Challenge.
Beau was originally at her trainer Amanda Lyerly’s barn but has been leased and sold since then. When owner Robin Greenwood sent Beau to Lyerly at the beginning of the year, Herzog got the full-time ride for 2024.
“I’d seen his face in the barn. When I was younger, I always dreamed of riding him,” recalled Herzog. “He’s made so many of my dreams come true. He’s genuinely the coolest pony I’ve ever ridden.”
With the opportunity to ride Beau at home and at shows throughout the year, Herzog – who regularly catch rides ponies – has built a strong partnership with him. “It’s been super great to be able to build up a relationship with him,” said Herzog. “He’s a dream to ride. He goes like a junior hunter, and he has such a cool feeling going around the ring. He is just such a steady Eddie. You can really expect what’s going to happen. He could do it without me!”
Herzog has trained with Lyerly for almost five years. “She is such a knowledgeable person, and she has so much to offer,” said the 14-year-old rider. “She’s been in this sport for so long that she knows exactly everything to do with your body and when to do it. She also has such a good relationship with Beau that she has been able to build our partnership this strong.”
Herzog and Beau will continue on in the indoor competitions, including returning to The Show Place Arena for the Washington International Horse Show. But in 2025, her focus will turn exclusively to horses. She expressed, “My goal next year is to get more consistent with the horses and start seeing the success that I have had in the ponies. I will miss the ponies; they’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
Small Pony Hunter
The Harper Taskier Wright Memorial Trophy, given in memory of Harper by her loving parents Michael and Alexandra Borissoff Wright, friends, and family whose lives she touched.
Champion: Down To A T, Cisy Zhou, Katherine Dewar
Reserve Champion: Spring Fling, Annie Cooper, Finley Baras
Medium Pony Hunter
Sponsored by The Goodwin Family
Champion: Play Date, Emi Richard, LVP Farms, LLC
Reserve Champion: Cleverist, Grace Stenbeck-Werner, Swede Ventures LLC
Large Pony Hunter
Sponsored by Highland Farm and The Padilla Family
The Tampa Horse Show Trophy donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith
Champion: D’Artagnan, Lilly Herzog, GC Ponies LLC
Reserve Champion: On Tour, Kenzie Smith, Charlotte Kelly
Stewart-Warner Cup for Pony Rider
Given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio
Cisy Zhou
Small Junior Hunter 16-17
Sponsored by Three Ships LLC
Champion: Juan Carlos, Maddie Tosh, Andesite Equestrian
Reserve Champion: Babylon, Paige Walkenbach, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
Large Junior Hunter 16-17
Sponsored by Beacon Hill Show Stables
Champion: Cerano, Maddie Tosh, Ceil Wheeler
Reserve Champion: San Pedro 15, Paige Walkenbach, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
Children’s Hunter Pony
Sponsored by DFG Stables
Champion: Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue, Linley Johnson, Finally Farm, LLC
Reserve Champion: Summertime, Finley Baras, Pegasus Show Stable