NEWS
Hat Trick for John French and Babylon in $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge
It was a three-peat victory for John French and Babylon, owned by Marnell Sport Horses, in the $25,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge, sponsored by The Gochman Family, during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show. The class was the highlight of the schedule on Wednesday, October 4, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Rounding out the evening’s competition, Halie Robinson of Santa Barbara, CA, and Leisure, owned by Stable Assets, triumphed in the $10,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge, sponsored by John R. Ingram Fund.
Professional Hunter Champions Crowned As Competition At The 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show Heats Up
Competition during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, continued on Tuesday, October 3, with 15 champions awarded in the professional divisions.
The first tricolor of the day went to John French and Amazing Grace, owned by Eva Mackenzie, in the Green Hunter 3’6” Section A division, sponsored by Peter Pletcher and PJP Farm. French piloted the 10-year-old Warmblood mare by Red Star M to the championship title with wins in Monday’s over fences and handy rounds, earning scores of 88.50 and 87.50 respectively. The pair were also second in the under saddle class and scored 84.50 for fourth place in Tuesday’s stake class.
Tessa Downey Delivers The Win In The Palm Beach International Academy North American Junior Equitation Championships
On the final day of the Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com, during the 30th anniversary of Capital Challenge Horse Show, 150 riders rode into The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, for the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Equitation Championships. After a callback for the top 20 and a work-off for the top two, Tessa Downey, 18, of Houston, TX, emerged victorious. Maddie Tosh, 17, of Milton, GA finished as the reserve champion, and Amira Kettaneh, 18, of Hollis, NH, rode Gossip SA to third.
Faith Schuttemeyer And Blackjack Ace The Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Finals
Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com, during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD, continued on Saturday, September 30, where nine more championships were awarded. Faith Schuttemeyer, 14, of Boynton Beach, FL, led the victory gallop in The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center after winning the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals with a final score of 256.15. Hailey Guidry, 13, of Wellington, FL, piloted Cornet’s Sunshine to the reserve championship honors, and Brooke Hagerty, 15, of Terrebonne, OR, rounded out the top three aboard Mascotte vd Withoeve.
Grace Shipman Sailed To Victory In The Emo Insurance Agency/Ushja 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final – East
Six new champions were crowned on the second day of Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com, on Friday, September 29, during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD. Competition in the Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center culminated with the final phase of the seventh-annual EMO Insurance Agency/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East, where Grace Shipman, 17, of Ridgefield, CT, piloted Calamanzo to the high score of 89 to secure the overall lead and don the winning ribbon sash.
Brendan Weiss Works Off To Win The North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals
On the first day of Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com, during the 30th anniversary of the Capital Challenge Horse Show at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Brendan Weiss rode to victory in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals.
Tracey Gorin-Byrne Catch Rides To Victory In The North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals At Capital Challenge
Tracey Gorin-Byrne claimed the championship title in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals on Thursday, September 29, at the 2022 Capital Challenge Horse Show at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This major finals kicks off Equitation Weekend, presented by BIGEQ.com.
Save The Date! 2022 Capital Challenge Horse Show Entries Open On August 3
Entries will open for the 29th edition of the Capital Challenge Horse Show on August 3, 2022, at 10 a.m, EDT. The prize list for the 2022 Capital Challenge Horse Show, which will take place September 29 through October 9, will be available online at capitalchallenge.org on August 2.
Augusta Iwasaki and Commentary Claim Grand Junior Hunter Championship at 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show
October 10, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, California, rode Bikoff Equestrian LLC’s Commentary to the Grand Junior Hunter 3’6” Championship on Sunday, October 10, to conclude the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Lauren Padilla Pilots ‘So Enchanted’ to the Grand Pony Hunter Championship
October 9, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – Out of a field of more than 100 ponies, Lauren Padilla and Highland Farm, LLC’s So Enchanted received the Grand Pony Hunter Champion title on Saturday, October 9, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Scott Stewart Captures Seventh WCHR Professional Finals Win
October 8, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – Scott Stewart claimed his seventh win in the $10,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Finals, sponsored by The Rein Family, on Friday, October 8, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Landstrom and Batchelor Earn NAL Jumper Finals Victories
October 7, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – The 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, featured the North American League (NAL) jumper year-end finals on Thursday, October 7, 2021, when two new NAL jumper champions were crowned.
Ingram, Seaman, and Karet are Grand Champions at 2021 Captial Challenge Horse Show
October 7, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – It was another full day of competition at the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show on Thursday, October 7, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Three Grand Champions were crowned as well, with Callie Seaman and Silver Lining winning the Amateur-Owner 3’6” honor, Martha Ingram and Airport 48 taking the Amateur-Owner 3’3” title, and Laura Karet with Per Se capturing the Adult Amateur victory.
Ackergill Castle and Scott Stewart Paint a Pretty Picture for Victory
Ackergill Castle, piloted by Scott Stewart, returned to the ring for the second round of the KASK North American Green 3’-3’3” Hunter Championship sitting in the lead with a 90. The Holsteiner gelding (Balous Bellini), owned by Betsee Parker, didn’t reveal his inexperience as he loped around the Show Place Arena and posted a 90.16 from the panel of three judges. His combined two-round score of 180.16 secured the title and gave Stewart his eighth win in the 24-year history of the class.
Heather Williams Steps Into the Spotlight with $5,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge Win
Heather Williams isn’t a familiar face in the hunter show ring, day in and day out. But it’s her work put in behind the scenes that helps many of the top hunter, jumper, and equitation riders and horses win at the biggest shows in the nation. As a rider and trainer at Beacon Hill Show Stables with Stacia Madden, Williams is an integral part of the team, having worked there since she turned professional at the age of 18. Now 33, she still rides in her old hunt coat and had to purchase a shadbelly on Wednesday morning to compete in the Challenge class.
John French Wins Fourth $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge Riding Babylon
October 6, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – John French of Wellington, Florida, piloted Babylon to the victory in the $25,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge, sponsored by The Gochman Family, at the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show on Wednesday, October 6, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Kathryn Kranking and Mahalo Say “Hello” as Winners of the NAL Adult Hunter Finals
October 5, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – Kathryn Kranking of New Market, Maryland, and Mahalo were crowned the winners of the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals on Tuesday, October 5, at the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show, held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Ava Berman and Kingsbury Capture the Victory in the NAL Children’s Hunter Finals
October 4, 2021 – Upper Marlboro, MD – Ava Berman, of Baltimore, Maryland, piloted her own Kingsbury to the blue ribbon in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals on Monday, October 4, at the 2021 Capital Challenge Horse Show, taking place at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
The Sponsors That Make Capital Challenge Move
All of the sponsors at Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) are family, and two of them that help bring horses to the show every year are Johnson Horse Transportation and Horseflight.
Inside Capital Challenge: Derby Champion Hunt Tosh, CCHS Team Member Sue Harada, 2021 Artwork
Hunt Tosh swept two major awards this summer, claiming victory in the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship with Cannon Creek, owned by the Wheeler Family, and in the 3'/3'3" Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship with Twain, owned by Ceil Wheeler.