Haleigh Landrigan and Acovibu (Shawn McMillen Photography)

Upper Marlboro, Maryland - The ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals welcomed 29 competitors in today's competition. Since it's inception in 1994, the ARIAT National Adult Medal has given adult riders the opportunity to compete in a competitive equitation class over fences 3' in height. The classes are held at select shows across the country and riders collect points to qualify for the Finals.

The top 10 from the first round returned for the second round. From there, the top four tested since all were within two points of the lead. With a .15 point margin of victory, Haleigh Landrigan of Marshfield, MA, rode Acobibu, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Acorado I—Siena) owned by Nancy Vinal.

Landrigan sat in seventh place after round one and moved up to third place for the test, eventually putting in a solid test with a bold hand gallop to move up to the win. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be for the first round. Once I got past the first round, it was a huge relief and really, my goal was to make the second round. I went in there knowing I had a ribbon regardless. I knew if I moved up, great. It was the same with the test. I just wanted to give it my all, surprisingly didn’t have that much stress!”

Landrigan got the ride on “Abu” through her friend Vinal. She started riding him in Florida this winter, and while Vinal rode him in the summer while out of college, Landrigan got back the ride when school went back into session a month ago. During the summer, Landrigan qualified on the generosity of borrowed horses from Annie Dotoli. She trains with Greg Prince and Cookie DeSimone and had help preparing for the Finals with Alex Schwartz.

This was Landrigan's third time competing in the ARIAT Finals. “I did the equitation as a junior, and it never went that well, so that’s why I love being an adult. I feel like I can go around and be happy,” she related.

Round 1 of the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup sponsored by Kate Considine/Willow Brook Stables kicked off this afternoon with a speed class. For the second year in a row, Victoria Colvin and Monsieur du Reverdy were the fastest to win. There were 29 entries in the class and 12 were clear, but Colvin's time of 48.952 seconds took the top spot. One second behind was Cloe Hymowitz on VDL Wardorette in 49.970 seconds. Third place went to Colvin on Don Juan in a time of 50.476 seconds, while Kelsey Thatcher recorded a time of 50.828 seconds for fourth place on Everything. Kalvin Dobbs and Winde's time of 51.139 seconds slotted them in fifth place.

Final Results: ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals
1 HALEIGH LANDRIGAN 77.50 77.25 87.00 84.00 84.50 82.05
82.00 81.00 88.00 86.00 88.00 85.00
84.00 85.00 87.00 88.00 89.00 86.60 253.65
2 ALEXANDRA CARLTON 84.00 84.00 85.00 86.00 81.00 84.00
85.00 81.50 85.50 88.00 84.50 84.90
87.00 84.00 84.00 86.00 82.00 84.60 253.50
3 RACHEL BOGGUS 82.00 80.00 84.75 82.25 83.50 82.50
86.00 86.00 86.00 82.00 85.00 85.00
85.00 81.00 76.00 81.00 80.00 80.60 248.10
4 LAURA OWENS 83.00 86.00 84.00 82.50 82.00 83.50
78.00 80.00 87.00 87.00 85.50 83.50
75.00 75.00 70.00 82.00 71.00 74.60 241.60
5 RAVEN WEINLEIN 80.00 79.00 81.00 82.00 81.00 80.60
80.00 85.00 85.00 81.00 86.00 83.40 164.00
6 MEREDITH COMBS 81.00 83.00 79.00 81.00 78.00 80.40
84.00 82.00 83.00 84.00 84.00 83.40 163.80
7 KATHRYN HAEFNER 84.50 84.50 81.50 80.50 84.00 83.00
80.00 78.00 76.00 80.00 74.00 77.60 160.60
8 TRACEY MACK-GORIN 87.00 87.00 86.00 88.00 85.00 86.60
68.00 67.00 60.00 66.00 64.00 65.00 151.60
9 CHARLOTTE KEESLER 73.00 76.00 80.00 81.00 80.00 78.00
72.00 71.00 68.00 60.00 45.00 63.20 141.20
10 AUDREY GALLAGHER 85.00 85.00 83.00 83.00 83.00 83.80
40.00 40.00 65.00 65.00 77.00 57.40 141.20