Most people wouldn’t choose the Pennsylvania National as the first show back for their horse after a long break.
After all, the best amateurs in the country flocked to Harrisburg, Pa., to ride for $15,000 in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
But Paige Johnson had a feeling that Harrisburg was the perfect locale to bring Chiron S back to competition, and her hunch paid off with a big win in today’s classic. That blue ribbon also helped her tie with Chloe Wormser and Udiana for the amateur-owner jumper championship.
“He got hurt this spring, and he actually hadn’t shown since [Kentucky Spring] in May,” said Johnson, 25. “He was second [in the amateur-owner jumper class] on Wednesday, and he jumped so well that I gave him yesterday off. You want to go, go, go and win, but at the same time you have to try to do what’s best for your horse. He really came through for me tonight.”
That strategy worked for Chiron S, who returned to the ring looking fresh, fit and capable tonight. He marked one of four clear rounds over a tricky course with some serious adjustability questions.
“I try not to worry about any one fence, because in my experience that’s the one you have down,” said Johnson, who trains with Billy Moroney and Joe Fargis.
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Second-last to go in the jump-off, Johnson shaved the turns to stop the clocks faster than Cara Cheska, and the final pair, Marley Goodman and Ronja 810 ticked a rail to take fourth.
Johnson won the classic last year aboard her confirmed mare La Martinee. But over the last two years Johnson and Chiron have started to really jell, and she hopes to step him back up to the grand prix level, where she had started campaigning him this spring.
Finding Time
Like Johnson, Wormser’s mount for the week had a light show season—but not for the same reason.
A third–year veterinary school student at the University of Pennsylvania, Wormser doesn’t have much time for horse showing these days. In fact, this morning she drove back to Philadelphia to attend a lecture, then drove two hours back to Harrisburg for a different kind of class.
“I didn’t get to show much this year because of school—my goal was just to qualify for Harrisburg,” said Wormser, Northbrook, Ill. “It’s my favorite show! I haven’t shown in a couple months, my goal was to stay on and not embarrass myself!”
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But Wormser did better than that this week. She and Udiana won two amateur-owner classes to tie for the championship. Wormser deflected all the credit to her trainer.
“I don’t have much time, but I’m lucky because my trainer Donald Cheska rides her and trains her so she’s ready for me,” said Wormser. “This is her first time showing at Indoors, and she was perfect.”
Between tests, 25-year-old Wormser keeps her legs in shape by riding at Kevin Babington’s farm near Philadelphia.
Looking Ahead
Professional jumper riders have their last chance to practice, before tomorrow night’s $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix de Penn National CSI-W with tonight’s $25,000 NAL Open Jumper Speed Final.
