Upper Marlboro, MD – August 28, 2012 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show is pleased to welcome the continued sponsorship of Taylor Harris Insurance Services, Inc. (THIS) in 2012 for their fifth year of hosting the THIS National Children’s Medal. Capital Challenge holds competition at The Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The show will begin with the Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com, on September 29-30, with the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals being held on Sunday, September 30. The show will continue through October 7.

THIS President, Michael Taylor, is committed to supporting the young, up-and-coming riders in the sport and remains dedicated to making the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals a special event each year. 

THIS President Michael Taylor (left) joined the presentation for last year’s THIS National Children’s Medal Final winners, Pilar Flournoy and Reika

“We feel that it is very important to cultivate and develop the talent of these young riders,” Taylor stated. “The kids’ hard work and focus is so impressive and it is important to help them advance in their riding and feel confident.”

“It is nice to see many young riders go through the children’s classes and move up to have success at higher levels in the sport,” Taylor added. “These classes give the riders great experience and help prepare them for future competition.”

As competition gets underway on opening weekend, THIS will kick things off by hosting a welcome reception for the THIS National Children’s Medal Finalists, parents, and trainers. The reception will be held in the Paddock Room on Saturday, September 29, at 6 p.m. THIS finalists will compete in warm-up classes earlier that day and then go head to head in the Finals on Sunday, September 30.

The THIS National Children’s Medal classes run throughout the year culminating with the Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. The 2012 Finals will host the top 40 young riders in the national standings, including the high point rider in each USEF Zone and Canada. 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. 

Many of North America’s top trainers have promising young riders that qualify for the Finals each year, and this year will be no different. Trainers such as Monty Kelly, of Stepping Stone Farm in Poestenkill, NY, and Robert Beck, of Hunters Crossing in Long Valley, NJ, have been involved in the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals for years and look forward to returning with their top young students this season.

Kelly stated, “I love the (THIS National Children’s Medal) Final. I think it is fantastic for the younger riders. All year long it gives the younger riders something to do; it is a good goal for them. Every horse show they go to, they have that class to try to qualify for. Every week they show, they get to test and go the whole nine yards.”

Kelly added, “The THIS NCM Final is a stepping stone to the bigger equitation classes that they do at Capital Challenge. It is huge. It is great to have companies like Taylor Harris Insurance Services that support the sport and sponsor classes like that. They really care about the sport and we appreciate everything that they do.”

Kelly has three students qualified for the THIS Finals this year has high hopes for his students. He looks forward to another great year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Last year’s THIS NCM Finals winners Pilar Flournoy and Reika

Robert Beck has also been attending the Capital Challenge Horse Show and THIS National Children’s Medal Finals for many years and will return with his top young students this year.

“I think it is one of the nicest venues we have,” Beck said of the horse show. “It is a great way for the three-foot kids to really do the same types of courses as the big equitation kids. They get to be inspired by seeing the best equitation riders compete. At least with my experience, most kids that do the three-foot equitation, they don’t really see these riders at other shows because they do not do all of the finals. At Capital Challenge, if they are doing the Taylor Harris class, the kids can also see all of the top 3’6″ kids. They hear their names and read about them all year long, so I think that is a nice thing for the kids to see them go.”

“I think that is a great thing that Taylor Harris does and Capital Challenge does a great job,” Beck noted. “Everything there is special. Very few big horse shows make something like this so special. We can go to a horse show where they call it a final, but they don’t have that special factor when the class is pinned, how they showcase tenth, ninth, eighth, and so on. They make it such a special thing, so it adds that whole other element. It adds a little more pressure, which these kids don’t really get to experience until they do the 3’6″, so that is why it is such a nice thing.”

Beck agrees that the THIS National Children’s Medal classes help young riders step up to the next level. “After they do a THIS class, they know what they really need to work on to move up to the 3’6″,” Beck said. “Also, there are very few 3’ finals indoors, in that type of environment, so it is excellent preparation for them. I think it is a great prep for Medal and Maclay finals.”

Taylor Harris Insurance Services, Inc. (THIS) is an equine insurance agency based in Middleburg, VA, that provides specialized insurance services for all types of equine risks. THIS policies cover show hunters and jumpers, event and dressage horses, and thoroughbred racing and breeding stock. THIS also offers farm package (property and liability insurance) care, custody and control insurance, and liability insurance for equine operations. Taylor Harris works with their clients to make sure they are equipped with the insurance coverage that’s right for each individual case. THIS places all policies with the highest rated and most secure insurance carriers, which are also selected for their prompt and reliable claims settlement. Their goal is protection for your horses at all stages of life and peace of mind for you. As horsemen themselves, the directors, staff, and agents of THIS have a wealth of experience in all facets of the horse industry. 

In its 19th 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 September 29-October 7.

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!