Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 5

Sure Ransom was a pre-green horse getting his feet wet in the show ring just last year, and Capital Challenge marked his very first indoor, but with Vivian Yowan up, there was enough confidence to go around for the two of them. 

Yowan piloted the bay gelding to the top of the World Champion Hunter Rider Junior Challenge over 32 other competitors, scoring a 92, 90 and 89.

“It was very exciting,” said Yowan, 16. “He jumped great all week. He ended up reserve in the junior hunters so we finally put it together in there and the win was just amazing.”

The Hymowitz sisters rounded out the top three in the class, the last to run at Capital Challenge; Cloe took second on Garfield (88.66 average) and Lili third on Tiffani (87.5 average).

This is Yowan’s fourth year at Capital Challenge and so she knows a thing or two about getting her hunters to stay in top form despite the spooky, closed environment. 

“It’s a little tricky because everything is sort of right off the wall,” she explained, “so keeping [the horses] straight is a a little bit tricky. Jumping down the outside lines, just because the wall’s right there, they want to shift in a little bit.”

Ransom caught Yowan’s eye while she was showing in Kentucky last summer with trainers Tim and Kelly Goguen. He stood out while professional Chad Keenum was competing him in the Pre-Green Incentive Championships (Ky.). 

Tim picked up ribbons in the pre-green hunters with Ransom in the fall, then Yowan doubled him up in the junior hunters when Tim moved him up to the first year greens. 

“He’s very athletic and scopey,” said Yowan. “The past couple months really just proved to us that he really is a good horse. It took him a little bit to line out, but once he got it, it seems to have stuck. He’s very straightforward. He’s amazing to ride, so stridey and he definitely tries 100 percent every time you go in the ring.”

Yowan lives in Lexington, Ky., with the Goguens while she’s training full time at their Boggs Hill Farm. Her parents live in Connecticut and usually meet her at shows, but for the past four years she’s been chasing her hunter and equitation dreams at Boggs Hill, which include going to the Pennsylvania National with several mounts next week. 

Humphries And Rainbeau Top Children’s Challenge

The WCHR Children’s Hunter Challenge title belonged to 11-year-old Hensley Humphries and Blu Venture Rainbeau. They scored an 85 to best the field of 29 competitors.

“He’s very sweet and very comfortable and lots of fun to jump!” said Humphries, of New York, N.Y. “And, his favorite treat is peppermints.” 

She’s had the 17-year-old for about a year, and rides at Rose Hill Farm in Bridgehampton, N.Y. 

“He was just a very pleasant, happy, easy-going pony,” said her trainer, Masako Niwa. “[He’s] Easy to work with on the ground. He’s very pleasant overall. But it was a perfect fit the first time we tried him.

“I love the program,” said Niwa of the WCHR series. “It gets the kids excited about going to the away shows, gets them working toward a goal.”

“I was really excited because I’d never done this class before,” added Humphries. “I just wanted to have fun out there, and I did. I really liked coming here because I’ve never been to Maryland before, so that was really cool. And I just really like riding.”

Emma Weiss on Chelsea took second place (84.12) and Briana Sukert on Sidekick third (84).

To read more about the winners at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, check out the October 20 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse print magazine.

See all of the Chronicle’s Capital Challenge Horse Show online coverage.

See full Capital Challenge results.