Janice Syphers had a lot to thank her mother for on Sunday morning as she exited the grand prix ring with a blue ribbon, a trophy and $1,500 in prize money for her win in the $5,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic at the Vermont Summer Festival.

The 18-year-old won the $5,000 NAL Classic on Sunday, July 19, riding Star 32, a horse that is owned and usually shown by her mother, Saly Glassman. The timing had been right for a switch in riders, as Syphers found herself in need of a horse when hers got hurt, and Glassman was in need of a rider for Star 32 due to being sidelined by a surgery. Although Glassman has since returned to the saddle, she did not take back the ride on Star 32 as Janice’s horse is still out of commission.

"She took my horse and made it better," explained Glassman. "We work together and are very supportive of each other. Not only do we ride together, but to keep up the level of fitness needed for the sport, we run, cycle, swim and do yoga together. It is so nice to have a child who can catch ride after you’ve been hurt, and what a bonus it is when they make the horse better."

A short while after Syphers had exited the ring with her many prizes, Glassman did the same by winning the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Lorado 28.

Hailing from Gwynedd Valley, PA, mother and daughter were both beaming as they shared congratulations over their wins. Both are avid foxhunters as well as competitors in the show jumping ring, and Saly is vocal when it comes to the benefits of riding.

"It builds personal character, perseverance, and discipline, as well as all the skills that go with caring for the horses from the ground up," said Glassman. "It helps them to get to a more mature place, which will benefit them in the future; something we all want for our children. Horses have been great for us, and these wins were just plain fun."

On Saturday at the Vermont Summer Festival, the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic was won by Alissa Kinsey of Ft Myers, FL, an inspiration to grassroots riders who do it all by themselves in pursuit of their sport. Not only is Kinsey solo in the barn with her horse Grisset, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare, she is also alone at the ring, serving as her own trainer and groom.

Partnered with Grisset, who is affectionately known as ‘Big Momma,’ Kinsey began showing in the Adult Jumper division last season and had some sizeable victories, including winning several classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and the $25,000 Barry Lane Memorial Children’s-Adult Jumper Prix at the Atlanta Fall Classic in Conyers, GA.

"I am proud of my accomplishments as a result of doing the work myself," said Kinsey. "Every victory is a little sweeter."

Alexa Adelson galloped away with the win in Saturday’s $1,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic aboard Starbit Partners’ Vorst. The 16-year-old from Scarborough, NY, returned to the ring the next day to win the $1,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic with Nesbit and place second with Vorst. Adelson had a great week in Vermont, having also won the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Championship on Clockwork.

Amber Henter beamed as she exited the ring with the blue ribbon in the Platinum Performance USEF Talent Search equitation class. The 17-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL, riding Triumph, a bay gelding owned by Redfield Farm, bested a field of 42 entries to win the class. Henter kept her winning streak alive by also coming out on top in the WIHS Equitation–Hunter Phase and the Jumper Phase aboard Triumph. These wins clinched the Best Child Rider-Horse title for Henter.

The Best Child Rider-Pony was awarded to Ashley Hartman of Doylestown, PA, who guided Flyer Miles around the small pony hunter courses with great success to claim the