Meghan Blackburn

Washington, D.C.—Oct. 29

It might have been that Michel Vaillancourt set a course difficult enough to provide the crowd with an evening’s entertainment. It might have been, like Nick Skelton suggested, that many competitive riders who normally compete in the grand prix at the Washington International (D.C.) were competing at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Washington, D.C.—Oct. 29

Elizabeth Benson could only improve her hunter phase placing by moving up one spot, so she did just that. Finishing yesterday’s hunter phase of the Washington International Equitation Classic in second place, Benson, 17, entered the ring this afternoon after seeing 33 of her competitors tackle the jumper course set by Michel Vaillancourt, as the riders returned in reverse order. Her scores of 92, 91.5 and 87.5 gave her the round’s highest score of 90.33, and she sits in the top spot going into tonight’s work-off phase.

Washington, D.C.—Oct. 26

Despite his name's likening to a cartoon character, Garfield was all business in the high performance hunter divsions at the Washington International Horse Show (D.C.), sweeping all the over fences classes and placing third in the under saddle. His work ethic earned him not only the division championship, but also the grand hunter championship.

Elizabeth Mandarino, owner of Amber Hill Farm, a New Jersey-based facility that specializes in breeding, training and showing hunter ponies, has announced the Pony Ring Talent Search. The Talent Search aims to offer a small pony hunter rider a year’s worth of paid showing aboard Amber Hill Farm’s Bo Peep at A and AA-rated shows.

Harrisburg, Pa.--Oct. 16

Schaefer Raposa was supposed to ride fourth to last in the second round, but her horse, Charlie Z, pulled a shoe in the schooling area. Maybe it was that little bit of extra time or maybe it was just written in the stars, but Raposa came in as the last of the riders in the second round and put in a flawless trip, and judges Chrystine Tauber and Jimmy Torano said it was the coolness with which Raposa entered the ring and the precision she showcased that put her right on top.

Judges Chrystine Tauber and Jimmy Torano called back 25 riders to ride off in the second round of this year's Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals. Fourteen obstacles (there are two combinations) make up the second course.

The first fence is the former fence 10 (narrow wooden coop) and has been expanded to a coop of standard length, and enhanced with a back rail to create an oxer. Riders canter five strides past the in-gate to fence 2, situated on rail. It is a post-and-rail-type vertical.

The fourth standby list--which only features four new riders--is as follows:

78: Samantha Schaefer

37: Megan MacPherson

149: Brittany Hurst

57: Schaefer Raposa

123: Julia Fowler

53: Liza Finsness

29: Katie Tyler

137: Kristen Mohr

186: Genevieve Zock

21: Rebecca Heller

109: Shawn Casady

93: Michael Murphy

82: Sarah Milliren

45: Michael Hughes

105: Abigail McArdle

85: Chloe Schmidt

111: Alexa Anthony

17: Hunter Holloway

155: Morgan Geller

101: Conor Perrin

After the third set of 50 riders, judges have named these to return for the final round:

78: Samantha Schaefer

37: Megan MacPherson

149: Brittany Hurst

57: Schaefer Raposa

123: Julia Fowler

53: Liza Finsness

29: Katie Tyler

137: Kristen Mohr

21: Rebecca Heller

109: Shawn Casady

93: Michael Murphy

82: Sarah Milliren

45: Michael Hughes

105: Abigail McArdle

85: Chloe Schmidt

111: Alexa Anthony

17: Hunter Holloway

101: Conor Perrin

130: Catherine Tyree

56: Meg O'Mara

After 100 rounds, the judges have called back these numbers for the final round:

78: Samantha Schaefer

37: Megan MacPherson

57: Schaefer Raposa

53: Liza Finsness

29: Katie Tyler

21: Rebecca Heller

93: Michael Murphy

82: Sarah Milliren

45: Michael Hughes

85: Chloe Schmidt

17: Hunter Holloway

56: Meg O'Mara

8: Hannah Williams

63: Allison Haupt

18: Lillie Keenan

100: Hanna Ellerbrock

79: Gabbi Langston

15: Caitlin Boyle

59: Kalvin Dobbs

38: Emma Kennedy

Judges have called back the following riders to the final round:

78: Samantha Schaefer

37: Megan MacPherson

57: Schaefer Raposa

53: Liza Finsness

29: Katie Tyler

21: Rebecca Heller

93: Michael Murphy

82: Sarah Milliren

45: Michael Hughes

85: Chloe Schmidt

17: Hunter Holloway

56: Meg O'Mara

8: Hannah Williams

63: Allison Haupt

18: Lillie Keenan

100: Hanna Ellerbrock

79: Gabbi Langston

15: Caitlin Boyle

59: Kalvin Dobbs

38: Emma Kennedy