Harrisburg, Pa.—Oct. 8  

Bailey Smith didn’t quite know what to say after she walked out of the ring with her second blue ribbon of the day. “People asked me why I wasn’t really excited, and I am excited, but it’s almost like it isn’t really happening!” she remarked.

You see, Smith’s out showing on the East Coast for her final indoor season as a junior. She’s from Portland, Ore., and while she’s shown at indoors before, leading the jog hasn’t really been part of her expectations. “Honestly, winning has never really been a goal for me at indoors because it’s a different world out here! If I’d just had solid rounds, I would have been really happy. So, this feels surreal!” she said.

Smith, 17, rides with Shelly Campf and also shows Papyrus in the USHJA International Hunter Derby classes—winning one at the Country Classic (Ore.) in July. Papyrus also does double duty in the equitation ring and will be Smith’s mount for the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals on Oct. 11. (You can read more about Smith and Papyrus in the Sept. 27 print issue of The Chronicle of the Horse.)

“He’s slightly more green than some horses that do just the equitation, but he’s been so great,” Smith said. “We were a little worried about him because he can be funny about some things, but he’s been really good. He hasn’t been bothered by anything.”

Smith started her East Coast tour at the Capital Challenge the week before, showing in the equitation and taking the large junior, 16-17, championship as well.

Smith’s wins in both the Pennsylvania National’s large junior, 16-17, handy hunter and under saddle classes were all the more impressive because Smith and her 8-year-old German warmblood defeated junior hunter powerhouse Tori Colvin on Small Affair and Inclusive in those classes. Colvin’s still on her game, though, taking second and fourth in the handy class and winning the first over-fences round with Small Affair and taking second with Inclusive. Smith was sixth in that first over fences class.

(Make sure to check out more photos of Day 1 of the junior hunters.)

Colvin’s also looking good for the championship in the small junior, 16-17, division after winning the over fences and under saddle with Ovation. Morgan Ward won the handy class in that division aboard Broadway, though.

In the 15 and under divisions, Emma Kurtz had a banner day, taking first and second in the over-fences of the smalls with Kahlua and Wisdom. Grace Prochilo took the blue in the handy of that division with her Irasir, then Lily Bennett won the under-saddle on Maraschino.

Kurtz was second in both the over fences and handy of the large junior, 15 and under, division aboard Frederick and then won the under saddle on the big chestnut gelding. 

See full results from Thursday at the Pennsylvania National Junior Weekend.