THE RESULTS
1st- Spencer Smith
2nd- Mckayla Langmeier
3rd- Ali Tritschlser
4th- Ashton Alexander
5th- Sophie Simpson
6th- Hunter Holloway
7th- T.J. O’Mara
8th- Kelli Cruciotti
9th- Coco Fath
10th- Madison Sellman
THE TEST COMMENTARY
The judges have called back Ali Tritschler, Sophie Simpson, Ashton Alexander, Spencer Smith, and Mackayla Langemeie for further testing. They’ll test over a different course of the Round 2 jumps with a trot jump, a transition to walk, a counter-canter jump, and a halt.
Ali Tritschler went first and rode a nice test, thought she only trotted a few steps to the trot jump. Her counter-canter around the rollback was very good.
Sophie Simpson found the first few jumps a bit quiet, then had a run-out at the Swedish oxer off the wall, when the horse just didn’t pay attention to her aids. She finished well over the trot jump and the counter-canter rollback.
Ashton Alexander rode beautifully, getting the trot promptly and turning in a textbook counter-canter rollback. She’s going to be hard to beat.
Spencer Smith rode an absolutely textbook test round, kicking the competition up a notch.
Mackayla Langemeier didn’t have a great transition to the walk, and her horse tensed a bit in the transition to counter-canter. She had a nice round with no major mistakes, but I think it was beatable. It’s all up to the judges!
ROUND 2 COMMENTARY
The course for the second round has much the same flow as Round 1, with open gallops. Riders start out up the long side under the judges over a line of vertical-to-oxer. They then turn down the center of the ring to the curved brush jump from Round 1. An oxer follows on a bending line, headed straight for the in-gate. They then follow the short side of the ring and come out of the corner to a tight rollback to a vertical.
Then they gallop down the long side and jump the line of narrow split-rail oxers the opposite way. There’s then a tight rollback turn to 8AB, the one-stride of Round 1 the other way and with two verticals. Then they turn off the wall of the long side across the ring and jump a Swedish oxer of birch rails. A right-hand 90-degree turn follows to an airy vertical headed right into the short side. A quick right-hand turn brings them around the short side, and they have a long gallop to Fence 11, the coop from Round 1 but this time with a rail behind it to make it a square oxer.
Carly Hoft had little but of a rough ride up the first line and then had a stop at the swedish.
Kelsie Brittan rode a nice positively forward trip.
Lizzie van der Walde had a swap at the white gate and rubbed fence 11 but otherwise had a nice trip.
Victoria Colvin came in and cantered to the first jump. She really sliced the angle to the swedish oxer and did it well.
Vivian Yowan had an absolutely lovely trip.
Katherine Strauss was slow through the turn to the white gate and had a hard rub at fence 10.
Kelli Cruciotti rode very precisely and had a great gallop to the last jump.
Hayley Ianotti rode forward up the first line, but got crooked to the white gate. Her horse twisted over a couple of the jumps and swapped out on the approach to the final fence.
Hunter Holloway rode a very polished round without obvious flaws.
Lucy Deslauriers had a very nice rollback to the white gate. A very precise and stylish round.
Kennedy Knapic rode a really nice round with a few rubs.
Kai Devoglaer cross cantered in the turn after fence 4 and had a few rubs. She was overall a bit conservative.
Emma Waldfogel found a quiet distance out of the turn to the white gate. She had multiple rubs and the horse bucked after the combination. She showed off with a big gallop to the last jump.
Madison Sellman was quiet to the white gate. It was a found round, consistent but not brilliant.
Emma Wujek rode very boldy, but had a swap to the brush at fence 3 and had a rail at the swedish. Her horse was over jumping quite a bit.
Caitlin Boyle found a quiet distance to the white gate. She had a nice round but was a little conservative.
Sophie Simpson had a beautiful precise ride and a great hand gallop to the last fence. Looked pretty flawless.
T.J. O’Mara was pretty flawless with an elegant style and a nice bold ride.
Coco Fath had a bold ride up the first line and kept her foot on the gas her whole round, including a brilliant gallop to the last fence.
Katherine Bundy had a swap at the white gate and at the last, but overall had stylish, good riding.
Spencer Smith looked in control of every stride. Perfectly lovely ride and he didn’t put a foot wrong.
Ashton Alexander opted for a take-no-prisoners for the test—really going for it. Chose a wider turn back to the gate than most, but it worked out well. Really let it rip to the last fence and it worked out well.
McKayla Langemeier also chose a wider path to the white gate and it worked well for her too. Had a very nice gallop to the last.
Ali Tritschler had a light rub in the first line and then had a rough turn in the bending line to the fourth jump. Had a nice gallop to the last but was on the conservative side.
After Michael Hughes jumped the brush, his horse spooked at the Pessoa sign situated just off the path to the next jump, ducking out, so he had to circle. He finished up very well, with a lovely style, but I don’t think he’ll be winning.
ROUND 1 COMMENTARY
We’re here in Harrisburg, Pa., yet again for the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals, where 244 of the country’s top junior riders aspire to win one of the most elusive equitation titles.
We’ll try and post every 10 riders or so, with updates on how the course is riding, who has done well, who hasn’t, etc. Please don’t expect an account of every rider’s trip, but I’ll try to keep you up to date!! Scroll down to see the most recent posting.
Disclaimer: We’re providing this as a service to those who are interested, and we’re just recording our observations. We’re not judges, just reporters who have watched the Medal Finals in their entirety for the past 15 years. You may not agree with our notes, and that’s fine—we’re not putting them out there as the authoritative word, but as information for those interested. That said, read on!
Want to know the order of go and what the course looks like?
Clay Alder kicked things off with a nice, steady round with just a tight distance to the white gate and a few disagreements with her horse—he looked a bit stiff in the mouth. Matthew Kracklauer had a nice round with a few bobbles, but a bold distance to the last as a good final note. Anna Beth Athey had a bit of a struggle to get the strides she wanted in some of the lines, but a solid round. Ellie Williams had a nice round, but unfortunately ended with a really tight distance to the last. Shannon Eckel had a rail at Fence 3 and just seemed a bit underpaced in a few places but finished well.
Sydney Hutchins’ horse jumps adorably and she had a really lovely round—very confident and on point. Halie Robinson had a great round with forward riding and good decisions. Sophie Michaels had a nice round, but a rail came down at the B element of the triple combination. Annabelle Regan added a stride in the line from 2 to 3, and was just a bit slow in a few other places. Cassie Crotty’s changes of pace weren’t as subtle as they could be and she found quite a big distance to the last, but she had a solid round with no major mistakes.
7:43 A.M., RIDERS 11-20
Alexandra Murphy’s horse did a very unusual pitter-pat with his hind end over each jump, which was a bit distracting, but she had a nice round with a good flow. Caitlin Boyle rode a lovely round with a very flowing pace, subtle adjustments and precision. Allison Postier chipped-in to the first jump and then had quite a few very awkward fences s fences when her horse over-jumped. She regrouped and finished up better than she began. Jordan Allen had a nice, solid round with just a few rubs. Sara Echevarria got really tight into the triple combination and hung up In the air over a few of the jumps, but she finished well.
Maddie Chenoweth’s horse was a bit creative with his lead changes, throwing in a few unnecessary ones. She got deep to Fence 2, and then her horse tripped badly on the turn to 5, but she carried on and finished well. Paige Mawson had a nice, consistent round with a good flow to it.
Makayla Benjamin, on her borrowed horse, had a miscommunication in the first line and and had a stop at Fence 3, but then she found her groove and finished well.
Catherine Apostol had a snug distance to a few fences, but a solid round. Fiona Steinmetz had a rail at the B element of the triple combination but was otherwise good.
8:06 A.M., RIDERS 21-30
Alexandra Ladove got deep to Fence 2 and had a rail at Fence 3, but then got a nice pace going and finished well. Mary Claire Ray was a bit inconsistent with distances and got in deep to 6AB. Morgan Dickerson had a very nice round, with a good flow and pace. Adele McKenna didn’t quite get the forward four strides to Fence 3 done early enough and had an awkward jump there. The second half of her course was quite nice, though.
Morgan Ward had a lovely round going, with a rhythm like a metronome, but she ran into trouble in the triple combination and had a rail there. She was lovely everywhere else. Madison Butehorn’s horse was a bit sticky off the ground in places, and she had the front rail of Fence 5A down. Melanie Selleck had a stop at Fence 1 to start, and never really found a good pace or relaxed into the rhythm.
Kristen Raue had a stop at Fence 3 but finished OK. Emmy Reynolds’s horse looked a bit tense in the beginning, but she rode sympathetically and had a nice round without major mistakes. Olivia Hazlewood had a few inconsistent distances and her horse jumped over his front end badly at B of the triple, but she was solid.
8:28 A.M., RIDERS 31-40
Kelli Cruciotti had a bit of a sticky ride in the first line and a rub at the white gate, but she rode very precisely and confidently. Jessica Blum wasn’t as precise and smooth in the turns as she could have been and had a rail at 6B. Virginia Ingram got long to 6A and the horse bellied the rail there. Otherwise, she had a very nice round.
Tegan Elizabeth Treacy got a bit deep to Fence 2 and to the white gate, but was otherwise quite bold and precise. Maddy Parker had a rail at the Swedish oxer, then fell off when her horse stopped at the squiggly rail vertical at Fence 10.
Paraic Kenny, who hails from Ireland and has only been doing the equitation for a few months, had a few fences where the distance didn’t come up quite right, and he lost his position over the white gate, but was solid. Nicolas Horgan had a nice, consistent round with no mistakes.
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Diederique Van Der Knaap had quite a nice round, with confident decision-making and some lovely jumps. Caroline Johnson chipped in quite badly to the white gate and circled before the last jump. Libby Greene’s horse was a bit on the muscle, so her round wasn’t as fluid as it could have been.
8:53 A.M., RIDERS 41-50
Carly Hoft had quite a lovely round, with a fluid pace and precise turns. She was all smiles on her way out of the gate. Emily Sutherland had a nice, solid round, but her adjustments weren’t as subtle as some. Samantha Wight had quite a nice round, with a consistent, forward pace. Eliza Month had a bit of a disorganized round, with hectic turns and a few missed distances.
Tyler Raftery had a rail at the Swedish oxer, but some very nice moments on course. Lolly McLellan looked a bit underpaced and slow to the jumps early in the course and a few swaps. Her horse has a huge, lopey stride and she finished up well. Destry Spielberg rode a nice, measured round with a lovely flow to it. She cracked a quiet smile on her closing circle.
Yasmin Rizvi had a nice, round, just a wee bit quiet to a few of the jumps. Sophie Simpson, daughter of grand prix show jumpers Will and Nicole Simpson, rode a nice, precise round with a nice, bold ride to the last jump. Devin Milan had a few inconsistent distances and just lacked a little polish.
The course seems to be riding well, and the judges definitely haven’t set any traps for the riders. The track calls for a flowing, forward ride—the long four-stride distance at Fences 2 to 3 shows the judges right away who has their horse in front of their leg. The triple combination shows the riders’ ability to adjust—there have been quite a few who haven’t gotten the tight two strides between verticals done smoothly, or, if they do, they don’t push forward for the longer two strides out over the oxer.
THE FIRST STANDBY (in numerical order)
7 Halie Robinson
12 Caitlin Boyle
23 Morgan Dickerson
25 Morgan Ward
31 Kelli Cruciotti
41 Carly Hoft
42 Emily Sutherland
45 Tyler Rafferty
46 Lolly McLellan
47 Destry Speilberg
48 Yasmin Rizvi
49 Sophie Simpson
9:20 A.M., RIDERS 51-60
Sophie Lenihan was a bit short and a bit long to a few fences, and quite deep to the last fence. Sarah Clifton Yandell overshot the turn from 3 to 4 and had the rail there, then had another rail at 6A. Mitchell Endicott had to ride pretty aggressively to Fence 1, but he had a very nice, forward round after that.
Madison Johnson was having a really nice round on a horse with a lovely jump. She lost impulsion on the turn to the last jump, though, and almost trotted. Ransome Rombauer’s horse has a really extravagant jump, and she did a nice job, very fluid and consistent. A bit quiet to the last. Hayley Iannotti had quite a nice round on another lovely jumper. Paige Matthies found the triple combination a bit tight, but had a nice, solid round. Mackenzie Michaels had a rail and a few tight distances, but was good.
Hayley Waters’ horse looked a bit strong and she did a good job of containing him, but she had a rail at 4 and was conservative in a few places. Elizabeth Adelson was a bit underpaced, but had no major mistakes.
9:40 A.M., RIDERS 61-70
Rachael Hake was solid, just with a few iffy distances here and there. Mckayla Langmeier had a lovely round and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on the standby. Grace Upshaw had an unfortunate fall off her horse at Fence 2, ending her day early.
Bailey Smith had a stop at Fence 6A, but finished just fine.
Ellyn Fritz had quite a nice round, with a fluid pace and good turns. Gia Vizzone got deep to 1 and had some disorganized turns, with a cross-canter, and a rail at the squiggly rail vertical at 10. Kennedy Knapic had quite a nice round, though she was a bit quiet to the last jump.
Emma Kurtz, pony catch-rider extraordinaire and the winner of the grand pony championship yesterday, was having a lovely round until she came out of the corner to the triple combination and got quite deep to the A element. Catherine Stafford got a hair deep to the white gate and rubs through the triple, but had an otherwise really quite lovely round. Evie Jaeckle had a rail at 4 and wasn’t as smooth with her adjustments as she could have been.
10:03 A.M., RIDERS 71-80
Tylor Nowell rode very boldly! She rode quite aggressively in the first line and at 6AB, then had a bit of trouble with the tight two-stride in the triple combination, but was good. Patricia Garrett was a bit weak into 6AB and had the rail down, then had another rail at 8. Kammie Berns just had a few moments of disorganization, but no major flaws to her round.
Ashton Alexander had no issues at all with the long four strides in the first line, and then went on to ride a lovely, polished and forward trip. I have a feeling we’ll see her ride again.
Nealie Boschma had quite a nice round on a bit of a keen horse. Jordyn Katz turned in a great trip, with a bit of a rub coming out of the triple, but a nice, forward flow. Devan Graham was having a very nice ride until the front rail of the Swedish came down. Tye Donaldson had to run a bit up the first line and was a hair tight to a few fences, then had a rail coming out of the triple.
Rachael Barnes had a solid round with no major mistakes. Rhian Murphy left one of the rails of the Swedish oxer on the ground, but had a nice trip other than that.
10:26 A.M., RIDERS 81-90
Amanda Gellis got deep to the coop at 7, had some rubs, and was conservative to the last, but was solid. Carolina Crossfield had two rails in the triple combination.
Kendra Gierkink rode quite a nice round, with good flow and well-shaped turns. Lilly Higgins’s horse caught the white gate with his hind end, bringing it down, but she was good everywhere else.
Sophie Vigeland didn’t quite get the turn from 3 to 4 done and had to circle there. She finished fine. Anna North had quite a nice go, with no major flaws. Victoria Colvin, one of the hot favorites of the competition, jumped in a bit slow to the oxer at 6A and had a rub there, and then had a rail down at the squiggly rail vertical at 10, but was really beautiful everywhere else.
Katie Eppinger was going nicely, but her horse broke to the trot on the turn to the last jump and stalled out, so she had to trot the last fence. Avery P. Hinson had a rail at the Swedish oxer at 8 in an otherwise solid round. Megan Hilton had a solid round, with no major mistakes.
10:51 A.M., RIDERS 91-100
Madeline Placey didn’t have any major mistakes and had a nice, forward pace. She just was a hair off here and there with her distances, and in a competition like this, that’ll make the difference between a top spot and lower down the ranks. Morgan Alessi’s horse had no problem with feeling his way around the rails, unfortunately, and they had a rail at 6A, but a decent round otherwise.
Hayley Mairano had an awkward jump at Fence 3 when she didn’t get the four strides early enough. She rode very boldly after that, though, and had a nice trip through the triple combination. Piper Benjamin had a drive-by run-out at Fence 2, taking her out of the running. She finished up well, however.
Hunter Holloway turned in a really nice round that should put her into Round 2. She had a lovely pace and was very precise in her turns. Daniella McCormick’s horse spooked badly at the second fence and had a rail there, then settled in. They finished up just fine.
Alexandra Worthington had a rail at fence 3 and at the Swedish oxer. She finished with a bold ride to the brush fence last jump.
Lizzie Van Der Walde had a nice round, with a particularly good trip through the triple combination. Brett Burlington, on an adorable paint with lovely knees, had a solid round other than a rail at the Swedish. Coco Fath had a great round, with a flowing pace and nice turns.
THE STANDBY AFTER 100 HAVE GONE (in numerical order)
7 Halie Robinson
12 Caitlin Boyle
31 Kelli Cruciotti
41 Carly Hoft
45 Tyler Raftery
46 Lolly McLellan
47 Destry Spielburg
49 Sophie Simpson
53 Mitchell Endicott
55 Ransome Rombauer
56 Hayley Iannotti
62 Mackayla Langmeier
67 Kennedy Knapic
74 Ashton Alexander
80 Rhian Murphy
87 Victoria Colvin
95 Hunter Holloway
98 Lizzie Van Der Walde
100 Coco Fath
11:18 A.M., RIDERS 101-110
Victoria Press had a nice round that should put her on the standby. Marisa Tomassetti had a stop at the white gate at 5 that will put her out of the running.
Bailey Brasington had a solid round, though the tight two-stride in the triple combination was snug for her big-strided horse. Erica Busch was just a bit snug to a few of the jumps, but had no major mistakes. There were two scratches, Jordan Marmul and Lilly Ulrich.
Bella Canzano’s horse quit twice at Fence 2, the coop, ending their day.
Hannah Janson had a good, solid round. Alexa Effron had a nice round, with no big mistakes. Dorian Cieslak rode a nice, fluid round.
11:44 A.M., RIDERS 111-120
Samantha Cohen’s horse is on the small side for the equitation—under 16 hands—but he made all the striding look easy. They had just a hard rub at A of the triple combination. Vivian Yowan put in a really top-notch performance, showing a lot of polish. She had a nice, bold approach to the last jump.
Daisy Farish had a sudden stop at the white gate at Fence 5 to mar an otherwise very nice round. Brittney Mirkov had a good round, with no mistakes but maybe not quite the polish needed for a call-back. Landon Cassidy didn’t quite get the four strides in the first line and his horse stuttered off the ground, making the crowd gasp. He went on the kick forward and have a decent round with a nice ride through the triple.
Molly O’Shea had a nice round with a rail in the triple combination. Emily Caikoski and her horse didn’t agree about where to take off for the coop at 7, making for an awkward effort, and then had a rail at the Swedish at 8. Madison Goetzmann had quite a nice round, with a forward pace and precise turns.
Kate Ross got in deep and weak to the combination at 6AB and had the rail down at A. Her horse tripped in the one-stride but recovered to jump out OK. She finished fine. Pilar Flournoy had a solid round.
12:03 P.M., RIDERS 121-130
Camila Trejo was good, with no major flaws. Meredith Darst had a hard rub at 3 and was a bit quiet to the gate, then rode very boldly to the last. T.J. O’Mara had quite a nice round, riding with a lot of confidence and precision.
Maggie Ridenour was having a nice go until she was overly ambitious about a distance to the Swedish and chipped-in and had the rail there. Clare Sargent got a little deep to a few of the fences.
Michael Renker was having quite a fantastic go, but the front rail of the Swedish oxer came down. Sarah Gordon’s pace got a bit rapid in places, but she was otherwise solid.
Mackenzie Mc Gehee had an awkward jump at Fence 4 and a few swaps, but finished up fine.
Brianna Peddicord’s turns were a little rushed and rough on her quite keen-looking horse, but she was otherwise fine. Caroline Hargreaves got in deep to 6A and was having to fight a bit with her horse’s mouth, but had a nice trip through the triple combination.
12:27 P.M., RIDERS 131-140
John Porter’s horse wasn’t keen on playing at first, back-pedaling to the first few jumps, but with some aggressive riding, he got him over them all, giving the horse an educational ride. He patted the bay on the way out of the ring.
Shelby Drazan rode a really nice round and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her ride again today. Audrey Slouka had a rail at 3 and an otherwise nice round on her horse, a bay with long ears that curled in at the tip. Katherine Strauss turned in quite a nice round, if a hair on the conservative side. She had rubs all the way through the triple.
Sean Max Muir had some really awkward fences, with the horse sticking off the ground, and a few rails, but he completed the course. Lillian Kirbo’s horse took a good peek at Fence 2, then ran out at Fence 3. She finished up fine. Lauren Paddock was a bit slow to the first jumps, getting jumped loose by her big gray horse. She then had a dramatic stop at Fence 11.
Elizabeth Ekberg had a nice, forward ride, but lacked a bit of polish on the turns. Shannon Hogue turned in a solid round with no mistakes. Lexi Ray was a bit deep and a bit long in place and had a rail at the Swedish on her very cute-jumping gray horse.
12:50 P.M., RIDERS 141-150
Anna Bremermann’s horse looked a bit unnerved and stopped at Fence 2, taking them out of contention. Savannah Dukes got deep to Fence 2 and her horse was a bit squirrely to the last, but she rode confidently and with a forward pace. Sophie Rueben had a run-out at Fence 2 and then again at 6A to end her day.
Noelle Johnson’s horse also slammed the brakes on at Fence 2 and then they got hung up in the air on the Swedish. She circled after that, eliminating her for a second stop. Claudia Payor had a nice, solid round with no mistakes. Madison Charlton got quite deep jumping into the triple combination, but was otherwise fine. Cooper Dean’s horse almost trotted on the turn to the white gate, but he had a nicely ridden round.
Emma Waldfogel put in a really nice round aboard a horse who was definitely feeling good! Emily Perez had no major errors, but just didn’t have the smoothness and polish needed for a place on the standby. Megan MacPherson had a nice round, but a rail at the Swedish oxer.
THE STANDBY AFTER 150 HAVE GONE (in alphabetical order)
7 Halie Robinson
12 Caitlin Boyle
31 Kelli Cruciotti
41 Carly Hoft
46 Lolly McLellan
47 Destry Speilberg
49 Sophie Simpson
53 Mitchell Endicott
56 Hayley Iannotti
62 Mackayla Langmeier
67 Kennedy Knapic
74 Ashton Alexander
87 Victoria Colvin
95 Hunter Holloway
98 Lizzie Van Der Walde
100 Coco Fath
101 Victoria Press
103 Bailey Brasington
112 Vivian Yowan
118 Madison Goetzmann
122 Meredtih Darst
123 T.J. O’Mara
134 Katherine Strauss
148 Emma Waldfogel
150 Megan MacPherson
1:24 P.M., RIDERS 151-160
Anne Werdiger had a nice, solid round. Emma Wujek’s round was lovely—precise, flowing and consistent. Michael Hughes, another of the crowd favorites to win, was totally on point with a spectacular round—flowing, precise, with invisible adjustments. That round will be hard to beat.
Ailish Cunniffe got a bit deep to Fence 2 and the horse jumped over his front end a bit, but it was otherwise a very nice round. Robert Leckie earned lots of applause and a few whoops for his nice, fluid round.
Megan Russo took a dramatic fall when her horse slammed on the brakes at Fence 3, but she caught him and walked out of the ring OK.
Courtney Plutte was eliminated for stops at Fences 2 and 6A. Lillian Wagner had a rail at B of the triple combination when the two stride-distance got too tight for her. Olivia Bloch’s horse took exception to Fence 2, running out on her first attempt. She jumped it on the second try and finished up OK. Bailey Imbus put in a nice, solid round with a few rubs and a tight distance to one vertical, but no major mistakes.
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1:49 P.M., RIDERS 161-170
Liana Cohen, Chloe Vizzone, Megan Winkhaus, Kera McCandless, Hannah Patten, and Marissa Kinnally all went while I was having a major computer malfunction. Sorry!
Abbigale Gerrish had an “enthusiastic” round, with a rail and a very rapid pace. Maya Nayyar had a rail at Fence 2, but regrouped and finished up fine.
Bethany Garrison had the front rail at 2 and a hard rub at 6A and more rubs through the triple. Grace Powers had a nice round with no mistakes.
2:12 P.M., RIDERS 171-180
Maria Moore had a very nice, flowing round with a lovely last fence. Katherine Bundy turned in quite a beautiful trip, with a real polish to her style. Anna Ringuette’s horse quit twice at the white gate, ending her Medal hopes.
Danielle Walawender’s horse was very enthusiastic, showing off with some big jumps, but she did a good job to put in a solid round on him. Colette Cacciatore turned in quite a nice go. Margaret Von Ebers had an unfortunate stop at the white gate, and then another at the Swedish oxer to end her day.
Jane Chiavelli didn’t have her horse in front of her leg and had some very awkward fences and multiple rails, but she kept kicking and completed her round. Savanna Hajdasz’s round lacked a bit of relaxation—her horse was tense and her pace a bit inconsistent. Ali Tritschler had a really pretty round. Samantha Valone also showed off a very nice pace and flowing turns.
2:32 P.M., RIDERS 181-190
Isabel Ryan ran out of room for a distance at Fence 3 and had a very awkward jump there. Elizabeth Stroh had a stop at Fence 2, but regrouped and finished up quite nicely. Alexandra Indeglia had a few deep distances. Genevieve Meyer had a nice go with just a few less-than-perfect distances, but well-ridden and forward.
Nora Jodrey rode an adorable gray horse to quite a nice round. Rachel Rothenberg didn’t get the long four strides done well enough in the first line and had a very awkward jump there, which disrupted her rhythm and she just didn’t get back on track after that, with rough turns and a few more missed distances.
Elle Young had a nice, loose style with a loop in the reins for most of the course, but she misjudged the bending line to 11 and chipped-in there. she was laughing at herself on the way out of the ring, though, and gave her horse a big pat.
Misty Redd got quite deep to the white gate but finished OK. Spencer Smith had a very fluid, precise ride, making the triple combination look easy. He should be back for Round 2. Samantha Perlman had two stops at the first fence, eliminating her.
2:55 P.M., RIDERS 191-200
Jillian Schelzi’s pace got a bit rapid as she went, but she had a solid round. Alexandra Maracic had a late lead change behind on the turn from 1 to 2, then missed coming into 6AB and swam through the A oxer, turning out from the B element. She jumped it fine the second time
Meredith Wegbreit had a few snug distances, but was fine. Addison Gierkink had a consistent round with well-ridden turns and lovely fences. Ariel Leshem got in deep to 6A and had a rail there and her horse jumped over his front end through the triple combination.
Kendra Harnch had a few inconsistent distances but finished well. Teddy Vlock cross-cantered on the way to the Swedish oxer, but rode with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. He won the crowd’s heart with his wholehearted hug of his horse’s neck on his closing circle, and he left the ring with a huge smile.
Margaret Magee had two quits at Fence 6A to eliminate her. Ava Stearns had a rail at 3 in an otherwise nice round. Mollie Kowalchik has a nice round, but her horse looked strong and pulled her past the distances a bit.
THE STANDBY AFTER 150 HAVE GONE (in numerical order)
7 Halie Robinson
12 Caitlin Boyle
31 Kelli Cruciotti
41 Carly Hoft
49 Sophie Simpson
56 Hayley Ianotti
62 Mackayla Langemeier
67 Kennedy Knapic
74 Ashton Alexander
87 Victoria Colvin
95 Hunter Holloway
98 Lizzie van der Walde
100 Coco Fath
101 Victoria Press
112 Vivian Yowan
123 T.J. O’Mara
134 Katherine Strauss
148 Emma Waldfogel
152 Emma Wujek
153 Michael Hughes
154 Ailish Cuniffe
155 Robert Leckie
172 Katherine Bundy
179 Alli Tritschler
189 Spencer Smith
3:20 P.M., RIDERS 201-210
Georgie Hammond scratched. Sunny Drescher had a nice round, but had the rail at Fence 3 down. Sara Nordstrom turned in a very consistent, precise round that could very well earn her a Round 2 spot. Sam Beiter put in a solid round.
Devon Mac Leod’s horse had no idea what to make of the first fence and quit. She got him over it, but he was then a bit undone. He settled by the end of the course and the finished OK. Alexa Boggio rode very stylishly and effectively for a beautiful round.
Summer Hill was just a hair tight here and there to the jumps, but rode very well. Jordan Stiller got deep into Fence 2 then added a stride to Fence 2. She also had a rail at 3 and a few more rubs. Grace Thiel turned in quite a nice ride, with a good flow and well-planned turns. Camila Conesa had a nice ride.
3:46 P.M., RIDERS 211-220
Kai Devoglaer turned in a good go, just not the polish needed for a callback. Courtney Osborne also had a good round with just a few awkward fences. Ava Greenbaum’s horse hesitated off the ground at Fences 2 and 3, and she then chipped at the Swedish oxer. The crowd clucked her though the triple combination, and then she circled before Fence 10.
Lucy Deslauriers put in a lovely trip, with a very flowing track. Claire Schreder had a stop at Fence 2, then another at Fence 3 to be eliminated. Thea Chafee rides a gorgeous gray and had a very pretty trip, with a great, rhythmic pace and well-ridden turns. She was, however, quite deep to the last jump.
Rebekah Chenelle had a nice round but pulled the back rail of C of the triple. Hanna-Krista Norris got in very deep to Fence 2 and added a stride to 3, then had a few more tight distances and a rail at the Swedish, never getting a good forward rhythm.
Olivia Sbrocco’s horse went through Fence 2, depositing her on the ground. She was up quickly, but the horse had a foot through the reins and panicked for a moment. Sbrocco caught him, but it was show manager Peter Doubleday who released the rein from the horse’s leg and the groom led him out.
Olivia Lawton’s adorable horse carried her past a few distances, but she handled it well.
4:08 P.M., RIDERS 221-230
Emily Kocher had a nice round, but didn’t fit the tight two strides into the triple well and the horse jumped very awkwardly over the B element. Hayden Stewart got disorganized heading to the triple and stopped at A there, then had a very rough trip through it on the second attempt. She finished up fine.
Phoebe Backman got a little snug to a jump here and there. Jordyn Rose Freedman showed good adjustability and rode the turns well, but her horse trotted a few strides on the turn to the triple. Samantha Hamzavi’s horse hit the brakes at 2, but she jumped it well on re-approach.
Kelsey Cerkleski was just a bit close to a few fences, but she rode very positively. Kelsie Brittan had an excellent round with just a few rubs. It was a round that might have her jumping again.
Alec Tolle rode very forward, but it backfired with a few close distances and a rail at 8.
Madison Sellman had a nice, solid round. Julia Murphy also rode quite well and had a nice round.
4:37 P.M., RIDERS 321-244
Casey Schmitz had quite a nice round, but by this point in the day you have to not just have a clean, mistake-free trip to impress the judges—you have to really lay it on the line and stand out.
Lauren Henry’s horse tripped after fence 5, but recovered and she finished up well with lots of pats for him. Gabriella Fournier had a rail in the middle of the triple and a swap to the last jump. Martha Ingram didn’t quite control her horse’s stride and had a swap and a rail at 6B, and a few more not-so-polished moments.
Katherine Benard had a nice round with just a few close distances and a loss of rhythm on the way to the last jump. Lauren Rachuba’s horse was pooping between Fences 2 and 3 and she didn’t get up the four strides and had a refusal at 3. Then her horse was a bit upset and quit again at 6A. Nadja Tiktinsky rode quite positively, but just had a few bobbles.
Olivia Woodson rode very nicely, but pulled the front rail at the Swedish at 8. Sarah Jane Haskins got deep to Fence 1, and then had a drive-by run-out at Fence 7, the coop. Carly Alder just looked a bit helter-skelter in the turns, but had a solid round just without the polish needed for a ribbon.
Addison Byrd got a bit snug here and there but rode very positively. Elizabeth Bailey’s horse peeked at the coop at Fence 7 and they had an awkward jump there, but an otherwise nice ride. Rachel McMullen added a stride in the one-stride at 6AB but finished well. Madison Day finished the day with a round that had her horse sticking off the ground over the first few jumps, then putting the brakes on at the Swedish at 8, leaving her on the ground.
THE FINAL STANDBY (in order of preference)
41 Carly Hoft
227 Kelsie Brittan
98 Lizzie van der Walde
87 Victoria Colvin
112 Vivian Yowan
134 Katherine Strauss
31 Kelli Cruciotti
56 Hayley Ianotti
95 Hunter Holloway
214 Lucy Deslauriers
67 Kennedy Knapic
211 Kai Devoglaer
148 Emma Waldfogel
229 Madison Sellman
152 Emma Wujek
12 Caitlin Boyle
49 Sophie Simpson
123 T.J. O’Mara
100 Coco Fath
172 Katherine Bundy
189 Spencer Smith
74 Ashton Alexander
62 McKayla Langemeier
179 Ali Tritschler
153 Michael Hughes
