Harrisburg, Pa.—Oct. 22

Alexa Lowe-Wiseman was supposed to be preparing to compete aboard Stella De Lannay in the amateur-owner jumper classes at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, but the morning before the final class, she had another four-legged friend on her mind.

“It’s been a long day, because my dog went missing over 24 hours ago, and I was home in Upperville (Va.) looking for him all day,” Lowe-Wiseman said, shaking her heard.

The escapee was Mondo, an elderly dachshund with a mind of his own when it comes to matters of personal hygiene.

“He’s old and blind, and he ran away from the groomer. It was a total freak thing,” Lowe-Wiseman said.

Unable to find the elusive wiener dog herself, Lowe-Wiseman drove back to compete at the Pennsylvania National while friends continued searching.

“I thought he was still lost, and as I was walking down to the ring at 9 P.M., Matt Holberg told me somebody had found him,” she said. “The whole day I was visualizing him coming home, and Stella doing really well today, and I was like ok positive energy, positive energy.

“I’ve been practicing the power of positive thinking,” Lowe-Wiseman continued. “And I have to say it all came true here.”

Alexa Lowe-Wiseman and Stella De Lannay. Photo by Ann Glavan.

It did indeed as Lowe-Wiseman captured the amateur-owner jumper championship aboard her mare Stella.

“Stella is a wonderful 10-year-old Selle Francais mare that I just got this year at the beginning of the year, and I’ve been getting to know her in the amateurs,” Lowe-Wiseman said. “She just stepped up to the grand prixs this year in the summer, and has really finished the year nicely.”

Lowe-Wiseman guided Stella to a third place finish in the final class of the amateur-owner division on Friday night, the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame Amatuer-Owner Jumper Classic.

“That was a really tough technical track, I have to say, really tough,” Lowe-Wiseman said. “And even though it’s a meter 45, so it was a small step down from what she was doing this summer [in the grand prixs], it was tough. It’s just nice to end on that note!”

Stella turns into a little energizer bunny at horse shows with Wiseman.

“She is my diesel engine. I got on her about 45 minutes before the class and just started walking and walking and walking,” Lowe-Wiseman said with a laugh. “I figured that out about her, and then she has all the blood in the ring, but you have to let her warm up for a long time!”

Lowe-Wiseman has big goals for herself and Stella in the coming year, but first—a little vacation time.  

“Our goal is to be hot out of the gates Week 1 WEF [Fla.] grand prix, so this was a great note to end on her,” she said. “I told her if you’re a good girl tonight, you can have two weeks in the paddock!

“We’re literally driving home now, because then she can go in her paddock in the morning!” Lowe-Wiseman continued with a laugh. It was 10:30 P.M., but the relief of finding the mischievous Mondo and the thrill of victory with Stella had Lowe-Wiseman still bright eyed and grinning ear-to-ear. 

See all of the Chronicle’s Pennsylvania National coverage. Click here for full results from the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and don’t forget to check out the Nov. 7 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse for more in-depth coverage from the show!