Annville, PA - Summer is here, and with warm air and sunshine flooding horse shows across the country, competition in the 2011 North American League (NAL) has heated up. The NAL's two year-end finals are just months away, and riders are continuing to put in stellar performances in the show ring with the hopes of qualifying for one of both of the finals.

The NAL will maintain its traditional year-end Finals in six divisions – Children’s Hunter, Adult Hunter, presented by Practical Horseman, Children’s Jumper, Adult Jumper, Pony Jumper, and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper – at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, in October, while adding new West Coast Finals (in all divisions except Pony Jumpers) at the Las Vegas National Horse Show in Las Vegas, NV, in November.

“There is no shortage of excitement when looking forward to the Finals at Harrisburg and Las Vegas," said Lloyd Longenecker, President of Ryegate Show Services, Inc., which administers the North American League. "The summer months are the perfect time to compete and earn points toward qualifying for one, or both, Finals."

Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in the qualifying classes, but only members earn points toward the year-end finals. With the annual membership fee of only $35, most riders join in hopes of earning a trip to Harrisburg or Las Vegas. The current NAL qualifying period began on September 1, 2010 and runs through August 31, 2011.

At the start of June, Sydney Wilder of Chevy Chase, MD, and Zivago led the Children's Hunter Division, with 3,389 points. In second, with 3,032 points was Amy Coretz of Tulsa, OK, and Wollie. In third was Melanie Taetle of Atlanta, GA, and Donatello with 2,766 points.

In the Adult Hunter Division, presented by Practical Horseman, Charlene Graham of Fairport, NY, and Soft Spoken led with 3,744 points. In second with 2,259 points was Mindy Wurzburg of Memphis, TN, and Overseas. Following in third place was Jessica Lohman of Poolesville, MD, riding Wise Counsel with 1,893 points

In the Children's Jumper Division, Thiele Schroeder of Newtown, CT, riding Mister Cash Van Der Veldmolen led with 2,720 points. In second was Christopher Johnson of Carmel, IN, and Carmelita with 1,936 points. Following in third was Megan MacPherson of Boulder, CO, aboard Danny Cool with 1,925 points.

In the Adult Jumper Division, Alissa Kinsey from Fort Myers, FL, and Grisset led with 6,103 points and also held the second place position with Caretina with 3,718 points. In third was Morgan Trexler from New York, NY, and Wimula with 3,117 points.

In the Pony Jumper Division, Dagney MacTaggart of Old Greenwich, CT, led with Iceman with 554 points. In second was Elizabeth Shaffer of Layton, NJ, riding Proven Theory with 510 points. She also was in third aboard Styled with Perfection with 501 points.

In the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Division, Teri Kessler of Armonk, NY, and Swiss Franc led with 3,834 points. Kelsey Thatcher of Buffdale, UT, was in second with 3,741 points with Klotaire Du Moulin. In third was Alliy Moyer of Carmel, IN, and Chelan with 3,443 points.

The NAL is sponsored by Horse Connection and Practical Horseman.

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For more information regarding the NAL series, including series specifications, current standings and a list of upcoming events, please call (717) 867-5643, email to [email protected] or visit www.ryegate.com.