Upper Marlboro, MD – October 5, 2010 – The professional hunters continued competition today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, with two champions pinned in the Show Place Arena. The champion of the $9,000 Second Year Green Working Hunters was Small Affair, ridden by John French for Iwasaki & Reilly. In the $10,000 Regular Working Hunters the championship was awarded to Rosalynn, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare and ridden by Kelley Farmer.
The horse show runs through Sunday, October 10, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The highlight classes of the week for the professional hunter riders are: the $15,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, held tomorrow; and the $7,500 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, held on Friday, October 8.
This is the second year in a row that French has won the championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunters; he led the division last year with Rumba. This year, Small Affair won three over fences classes and was third under saddle. The reserve champion was Way Cool, ridden by Scott Stewart for Dr. Betsee Parker.
French started showing Small Affair last year and wound up as the USEF First Year Green Working Hunter Horse of the Year. “He’s a super careful jumper,” French described. ” Way Cool was pretty far ahead after the first day [placing first and second] I knew we had to win both classes. But he [Small Affair] jumped amazing. It’s hard to stay on him sometimes he jumps so well.”
Small Affair and John French
French also won the Future Hunter 3’3″ championship with another Iwasaki & Reilly-owned horse, Small Collection. Kelley Farmer and Crown N Scepter, owned by Larry Glefke, were reserve champions. The Future Hunter 3’3″ division is sponsored by Christa and Michael Endicott/Pegasus Show Stable, Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt Tosh.

French started riding Small Collection, an eight-year-old Mecklenberg mare, in August. Although the mare was ready for the First Year division this past winter, colic surgery kept her out of the show ring. They decided to stay in the Pre-Green division once the mare returned to competition.
“She is super easy. She has a super soft mouth and goes in a rubber snaffle. Their daughter is in Short Stirrup and shows the mare. I can’t say it was masterful riding riding out there. I’d better be able to ride her well,” he said laughing.
Scott Stewart won two divisions in the Future Hunters today. He rode his horse Inclusive to the championship in the 6 & Over division, sponsored by Ruth and Hal Douglas/Stonebrook, and his own Passionate to the top tricolor in the Mares division, sponsored by Penelope Ayres and Ravens Wood Farm. Balou, ridden by Amanda Steege and owned by Lisa Arena, was the reserve champion in the 6 & Over division and Patina, ridden by Laena Romond and owned by Hannah Baumann, won the reserve championship.
Stewart and Inclusive, a six-year-old gelding, finished second in three over fences classes. Stewart has only had Inclusive for three months. “Inclusive is brand-new. I didn’t know what to expect, but he was really good,” Stewart remarked. “He tries really hard, and in the mud he tried even harder. It was hard to stay on, actually! I’m looking forward to him for the First Years next year. I think he’ll really be ready next year.”
Inclusive and Scott Stewart
With Passionate, a six-year-old mare, Stewart was first, second, and fourth over fences and fourth under saddle. He said of her, “I got her a little over a year ago. She’s by Samba, the same as Sambalino. She showed a few times in Florida, and this is her first time showing since the second week of Florida. I just hoped she would go well. I’m planning for her to do the Green Conformation next year, so I didn’t want to do too much this year. I don’t really show the Pre-Green horses that much after Florida. I gave her a few months off and she’s been back for a month or so. She felt good, so we brought her. She’s really sweet, comfortable, and easy to ride.”
“I think it’s great to have the Future Hunters here,” Stewart said. “Ken (Berkley) and I have a bunch of young horses. We also have 7-8 broodmares and are breeding in the United States. It’s really important for the future to have those classes and make a big deal of it.”
Kelley Farmer continued her success from yesterday by capturing the Regular Working Hunter championship with Rosalynn. They were first, first, and second over fences and finished sixth under saddle. Lone Star, ridden by Hunt Tosh and owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, was the reserve champion with a first, two seconds, and fourth over fences and fourth under saddle.
Farmer also swept the Future Hunters – Colts and Geldings division, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tim Goguen/Boggs Hill. She was champion on Amadeo, owned by Louise Graves, and reserve champion with Ashton Chewning’s On the Hour. The Future Hunter – Five & Under champion was Triton Z, ridden by Kate Conover and owned by Redfield Farm. Habana, owned by Spencer Ranch and ridden by Kelley Farmer, won the reserve championship.
Competition for the professional hunters continues tomorrow with championships for two sections of the First Year Green Working Hunters, Green Conformation, and Regular Conformation. The Amateur-Owner Hunters begin their competition as well.
During the day, the Future Hunters will return for head-to-head competition in the Future Hunter World Championship, and the Grand Future Hunter Champion will be crowned. The best under saddle horses will compete in the World Champion Senior Hunter Under Saddle class.
In the late afternoon, the first rounds of the WCHR Professional Challenge and WCHR Emerging Pro Challenge will be held. An awards ceremony will start at 6:30 p.m., which leads into the final rounds for the two Challenge classes.
For full results and more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org. If you can’t attend the Capital Challenge Horse Show, remember you can log on to www.equestriansport.tv to see all the action live.
Highlights of the upcoming week at Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Emerging Pro Challenge (Oct. 6), Future Hunter World Championship (Oct. 6), $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Challenge (Oct. 7), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 8-9), the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 8), and the WCHR Professional Finals (Oct. 8).
In its 17th 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 takes place on October 2-10. 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!
Photo Credit: John French and Small Affair won the Second Year Green Working Hunter championship. Photo © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.Scott Stewart and Inclusive were the Future Hunter – 6 & Over champions. Photo © 2010 JL Parker. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.