Harrisburg, Pa. - Hundreds of top equitation and junior jumper riders from across the nation are heading to the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania this week to compete at the 2016 Pennsylvania National Horse Show (October 13-22) for a chance to win the famed Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final presented by Randolph College and the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships including the thrilling Prix des States competition.

Competing for top honors in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final presented by Randolph College is a dream come true for junior equitation riders who have trained and competed diligently throughout to the year in order to vie for the prestigious title. It is a highly competitive class with a total of 297 riders qualified to compete this year, with each rider yearning to see his/her name engraved upon the Adrian Van Sinderen Trophy. It is considered a stepping-stone to the ‘big league,’ as many previous winners have gone on to compete on the world stage and represent the U.S. internationally.

The Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final presented by Randolph College is comprised of multiple rounds and judged on equitation over a course set at 3’6”. Each rider can only compete one horse. All riders compete in the first round and judges select the top riders from round one to move on to compete in round two. The judges then have the option to select a smaller group of riders for further testing to determine the champion. The class will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 16, and will be judged by Marylisa Leffler and Jimmy Torano. Following the competition, the Doris H. Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Missy Clark will also be awarded to the horse exhibiting in the Final who, in the opinion of the judges, is the best equitation horse.

The Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships is thrilling competition consisting of an individual and team competition. For many competitors it is their first taste of participating as an equestrian team member. The atmosphere becomes electric as the stands are filled with decorated banners and cheering spectators exuding team spirit, supporting their favorite competitors and zone teams.

The Individual Phase I will begin on Thursday, October 13. The first phase is a speed class where faults are converted into seconds without a jump-off and the scores obtained by each competitor are converted into points. The following day is Phase II, the exciting Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States team competition, which is based on a modified Nations Cup format with fence heights up to 1.45 meters. Each team member jumps two rounds, with the best three scores counting for the team total. The team with the lowest score wins the championship and Gold medal, but if there is a tie after the second round, the Chef d’Equipe from each team must choose one team member to compete in a jump-off. The William C. Steinkraus Style Award presented by Karen Healey will be awarded to the Prix des States junior jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation, and the respectful, dignified, courteous, and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman.

The scores from Phases I and II carry forward to Phase III for the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships, which will take place on Saturday, October 15. In Phase III, the top 60% of competitors from Phases I and II who had not been eliminated are eligible for Phase III. Each individual's penalties from Phases I and II are combined together, and the starting order of Phase III is held in reverse order of that calculation. The Individual Champion is the competitor with the lowest number of combined penalties after Phases I, II, and III, and the top three competitors are then awarded the Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals for their accomplishments.

Find out more about the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and watch the livestream of the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final presented by Randolph College on Sunday on the USEF Network.