Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 6

When Grace Stuntz entered the Show Place Arena at Capital Challenge, she had to let go of all of the distractions involved with working on health policy in a Senator’s office and focus on just one thing—her horse.

And while it’s not easy to hush the voice worrying about public policy, she was able to put everything behind her to put in a round that earned a 85.33 in the WCHR Amateur-Owner Challenge with Fitzhugh, a horse she’s had for nine years.

“I was really excited,” she said. “I was on a work call and a little flustered. I rode well in my first trip, but then I made mistakes in the second trip yesterday. Then the first trip today I pulled a little more than I wanted, so then I just didn’t want to pull [in the WCHR Challenge.] I kind of like going at the beginning of the class because I’m not worried about what everyone else has done before me. I can just go in, get it over with—whatever will happen, will happen and luckily I didn’t pull and he was great, and then I just said, alright, let’s go. He was great.”

Stuntz first started working on Capitol Hill five years ago after she graduated from the University of Virginia with an undergrad degree in biomedical engineering and a masters in public policy. She went door-to-door talking with Congress members looking to get her foot in the door.

Her timing was perfect with a big Food and Drug Administration bill up for reauthorization in 2012, which meant she was well qualified for the job.

“They were like, ‘We need someone to help with that. You have a technical background for drugs and medical devices and a public policy background, so you can be an administrative assistant to the person working on it.’ And I’ve been there ever since,” said Stuntz. “He left and I took over, and I do all the FDA stuff. It’s a little stressful, but fun.”

While she’s enjoyed having a positive indoor experience—she only gets to show at Capital Challenge during election years—she won’t be celebrating much tonight. It’s back to meetings first thing in the morning.

“I’m lucky that I have the support network back at home,” she said. “I ride two times a week; I show 10-15 times a year. I can’t go to Florida; I can’t travel a lot. It’s nice to still be able to come and compete with the best ever that you read about all the time. It’s fun. I’m very lucky to have the balance that I do.”

In the WCHR Low Amateur-Owner Challenge, Lindsay Maxwell was originally declared the winner of the class aboard her horse Kingston, but after she was disqualified, Missy Kuczak-Smith (who had been in second place) took the title aboard her Executive.

Click to see full results.

Want more Capital Challenge? Read about the WCHR Pro Challenges from yesterday. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Oct. 24 issue of the Chronicle.