Future Hunter Stars Showcased at Capital Challenge Horse Show

Upper Marlboro, MD – Before Declaration, Dream Date, Gray Slipper, and Popeye K were winning grand hunter championships at major horse shows across the country and before their names were well-known in the hunter rings, the famous hunters were earning victories in the Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" division at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Gray Slipper was one of the earliest Future Hunter (now the Green Hunters 3' and 3'3") division winners at Capital Challenge before continuing an extremely successful professional hunter career with Louise Serio and amateur-owner career with owner Bridget Hallman (pictured). Photo by Michelle Bloch

Created in 2001, the Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" division (previously known as the Future Hunters) at the Capital Challenge Horse Show included some of the first classes of their kind, spotlighting the future stars of the sport and providing an avenue for many of the best young horses in the nation to compete against their peers.

This year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will again welcome many of the nation’s top, up-and-coming hunters for the $45,000 Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" division, to be held Monday, September 30, through Wednesday, October 2, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Green Hunter competition will culminate on Wednesday afternoon as the top six entries in each of the six Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" sections return to contest the $25,000 Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" North American Championship, sponsored by the Wheeler Family.

“It’s an awesome showcase for the young horses,” said Laena Romond, who topped the 2018 championship aboard Traveller, owned by Catherine Cowie. “It’s a great chance to let the young horses shine in a nice ring and against the best competition.”

The win in the 2018 $25,000 Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" North American Championship, sponsored by the Wheeler Family, went to Laena Romond and Traveller. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

“If you look at the past horses who have won this class, they’ve gone on to have great careers,” said Hunt Tosh, a three-time winner of the championship class. “It’s fun to look at the list. I’ve been lucky to win it a couple of times. You get a great group of horses for this class.”

Sections of the Green Hunter division at the 2019 Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the Green Hunter 3'3", split into Section A and Section B and sponsored by Hunt Tosh, Inc.; the Green Hunter 3' – Five and Under, sponsored by Jennifer and Roger Smith; the Green Hunter 3' – Six and Over, sponsored by David Belford and Christopher Payne of New Hope, LLC; the Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" Mares, sponsored by Penelope Ayers; and the Green Hunter 3' Colts & Geldings, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tim Goguen of Boggs Hill.

“Year after year, the Green Hunters are some of our most popular and heavily contested classes,” said show manager Oliver Kennedy. “If your horse is the best Green Hunter at Capital Challenge, chances are good that you have a star down the road as well.”

Hunt Tosh has ridden to numerous wins in the $25,000 Green Hunter 3' and 3'3" North American Championship, sponsored by the Wheeler Family, including aboard Lights Out in 2017. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Follow the Capital Challenge Horse Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates as the countdown to Capital Challenge 2019 begins, and share your own Capital Challenge-related news and photos using the hashtag #CCHS2019 for a chance to be featured on Capital Challenge’s social media and website!

About the Capital Challenge Horse Show

Now in its 26th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by the World Equestrian Center, sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter and equitation competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, the 2019 edition of the Capital Challenge Horse Show will take place September 27 through October 6. The 10 days of competition will include prestigious equitation events, jumper divisions, the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals, the $25,000 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter North American Championships, and more, with many of the country’s best horses and riders competing in junior, amateur, and professional divisions.