Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2011 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show kicks off this Saturday, October 1, 2011, with its North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com. Running through October 9, the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will feature many of the nation’s best horses and riders in a week of exceptional equestrian competition held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The equitation weekend will host many exciting classes, including the finals for the 2011 Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal series.



Bigeq.com is the premier website for buying and selling hunters, jumpers, equitation horses and ponies. The website sponsors the Capital Challenge equitation weekend each year and is proud to support the show and its exhibitors. The North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com will feature the North American Equitation Championships, THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships.

Victoria Birdsall won last year’s North American Equitation Championships

Also featured over the weekend will be the 17-Year-Old Equitation, 16-Year-Old Equitation, 15-Year-Old Equitation, 13 & 14-Year-Old Equitation, 12 & Under Equitation, and Open Equitation 3’ and 3’6″ divisions.

The Prince George’s Equestrian Center is a fantastic facility for both horse and rider, featuring indoor and outdoor rings and excellent stabling. Manager Oliver Kennedy looks forward to welcoming horse show participants and anticipates another fantastic year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Kennedy stated, “Capital Challenge is a great opportunity for riders to show their horses in a fun and welcoming environment. The facility provides the experience of showing both indoors and outdoors, and there is always plenty of space to ride and school. We strive to give horses and riders the best experience available, and there is nothing better than showing at Capital Challenge in the fall.”

The Capital Challenge Horse Show welcomes horses and riders from all over the country. One of the biggest competitions for children’s riders, the annual THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, will be a big highlight on equitation weekend. The top 40 young riders in the national standings, including the top rider in each USHJA zone, will be invited to compete in the finals of the THIS National Children’s Medal Series sponsored by Taylor Harris Insurance Services Ltd in association with Great American Insurance Companies. Riders will have competed in over 600 classes across North America before making the ultimate trip to compete over two days to earn top honors at the Finals.

The THIS National Children’s Medal Finals are a great stepping stone for young riders and provide an excellent opportunity to compete in an indoor arena with the pressure of a finals competition. Exhibitors must compete throughout the year to qualify for the Finals, which is a great goal for aspiring equitation riders.

A beautiful trophy was presented to last year’s winner in the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals

Riders who have qualified for the 2011 THIS National Children’s Medal Finals include:



TAYLOR HARRIS INSURANCE SERVICES NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MEDAL
 – 2011 Final Standings

Plc Rider Points City, State
1 Katherine Strauss   3535.00   Southampton, NY
2 Ashton Alexander   2290.00   Ocala, FL
3 Mackenzie Hamill   2120.00   Buffalo, NY
4 Marissa Kinnally   1716.00   Hull, MA
5 Kate Morrison   1715.50   Dublin, OH
6 Delaney Hamill   1583.00   Buffalo, NY
7 Maggie Ridenour   1574.00   Birmingham, MI
8 Victoria (Tory) Hoft   1404.00   Rolesville, NC
9 Catherine Kenny   1393.00   Wellesley, MA
10 Hannah Janson   1320.50   Berkley, MA
11 Tina McNerney   1250.00   Mahwah, NJ
12 Pilar Flournoy   1228.50   Topanga, CA
13 Madeleine Swem   1192.00   Duxbury, MA
14 Sophie Reiter   1170.00   Summit, NJ
15 Vanessa McCarthy   1159.00   Sea Girt, NJ
16 Katherine Bundy   1158.00   Westport, CT
17 Savannah Dukes   1127.50   Anaheim, CA
18 Liana Cohen   1103.00   New York, NY
19 Kate Ross   1082.00   New York, NY
20 Destry Spielberg   1028.00   Los Angeles, CA
21 Nikki Diamantis   972.00   Tallahassee, FL
22 Anna Joan Rea   964.50   Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
23 Alex Ladove   958.50   Camel Valley, CA
24 Ashley Denmark   928.00   Longmeadow, MA
25 Caleigh Thompson   912.00   Shelburne, VT
26 Isabel Eastment   902.00   Wellesley, MA
27 Emily Orchant   875.50   New York, NY
28 Kriss Eisaman   870.00   Williston, FL
29 Sunny Drescher   814.00   Hinesburg, VT
30 Natalie Thornell   810.00   Loveland, OH
31 Hannah Patten   794.50   Williamstown, MA
32 Caroline Johnson   751.50   Grafton, MA
33 Kathryn Maginnis   748.00   Centreville, VA
34 Sierra Wilson   739.00   Centerburg, OH
35 Meredith Combs   717.50   Harvard, MA
36 Serena Anand   716.00   Coto De Caza, CA
37 Tylor Nowell   708.00   Sonoma, CA
38 Olivia Smith   707.00   Irvine, CA
39 Megan Flanagan   694.00   Atlanta, GA
40 Mackenzie McGehee   679.50   Jacksonville, FL

In addition to the weekend of competition, riders, parents and trainers are invited to attend the THIS National Children’s Medal Welcome Reception. The reception will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011, at 6 p.m. in the Paddock Room.



Highlights of the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the North American Equitation Championship (Oct. 2), the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals (Oct. 2), the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Emerging Pro Challenge (Oct. 5), the Future Hunter World Championship (Oct. 5), the WCHR Professional  Finals (Oct. 5), the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Challenge (Oct. 6), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 7-8), and the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 7).

In its 18th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on October 1-9.

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.

For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org or visit the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook!