Upper Marlboro, MD - The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show kicks off this Saturday, October 1, 2011, with its North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com. Running through October 9, the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will feature many of the nation's best horses and riders in a week of exceptional equestrian competition held at Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The equitation weekend will host many exciting classes, including the finals for the 2011 Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal series.??

Bigeq.com is the premier website for buying and selling hunters, jumpers, equitation horses and ponies. The website sponsors the Capital Challenge equitation weekend each year and is proud to support the show and its exhibitors. The North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com will feature the North American Equitation Championships, THIS National Children's Medal Finals, and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships.

Also featured over the weekend will be the 17-Year-Old Equitation, 16-Year-Old Equitation, 15-Year-Old Equitation, 13 & 14-Year-Old Equitation, 12 & Under Equitation, and Open Equitation 3' and 3'6" divisions.?? The Prince George's Equestrian Center is a fantastic facility for both horse and rider, featuring indoor and outdoor rings and excellent stabling. Manager Oliver Kennedy looks forward to welcoming horse show participants and anticipates another fantastic year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Kennedy stated, "Capital Challenge is a great opportunity for riders to show their horses in a fun and welcoming environment. The facility provides the experience of showing both indoors and outdoors, and there is always plenty of space to ride and school. We strive to give horses and riders the best experience available, and there is nothing better than showing at Capital Challenge in the fall."

The Capital Challenge Horse Show welcomes horses and riders from all over the country. One of the biggest competitions for children's riders, the annual THIS National Children's Medal Finals, will be a big highlight on equitation weekend. The top 40 young riders in the national standings, including the top rider in each USHJA zone, will be invited to compete in the finals of the THIS National Children's Medal Series sponsored by Taylor Harris Insurance Services Ltd in association with Great American Insurance Companies. 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.

The THIS National Children's Medal Finals are a great stepping stone for young riders and provide an excellent opportunity to compete in an indoor arena with the pressure of a finals competition. Exhibitors must compete throughout the year to qualify for the Finals, which is a great goal for aspiring equitation riders.

Riders who have qualified for the 2011 THIS National Children's Medal Finals include:??

TAYLOR HARRIS INSURANCE SERVICES NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEDAL?
2011 Final Standings

Plc Rider Points City, State
1 Katherine Strauss 3535.00 Southampton, NY
2 Ashton Alexander 2290.00 Ocala, FL
3 Mackenzie Hamill 2120.00 Buffalo, NY
4 Marissa Kinnally 1716.00 Hull, MA
5 Kate Morrison 1715.50 Dublin, OH
6 Delaney Hamill 1583.00 Buffalo, NY
7 Maggie Ridenour 1574.00 Birmingham, MI
8 Victoria (Tory) Hoft 1404.00 Rolesville, NC
9 Catherine Kenny 1393.00 Wellesley, MA
10 Hannah Janson 1320.50 Berkley, MA
11 Tina McNerney 1250.00 Mahwah, NJ
12 Pilar Flournoy 1228.50 Topanga, CA
13 Madeleine Swem 1192.00 Duxbury, MA
14 Sophie Reiter 1170.00 Summit, NJ
15 Vanessa McCarthy 1159.00 Sea Girt, NJ
16 Katherine Bundy 1158.00 Westport, CT
17 Savannah Dukes 1127.50 Anaheim, CA
18 Liana Cohen 1103.00 New York, NY
19 Kate Ross 1082.00 New York, NY
20 Destry Spielberg 1028.00 Los Angeles, CA
21 Nikki Diamantis 972.00 Tallahassee, FL
22 Anna Joan Rea 964.50 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
23 Alex Ladove 958.50 Camel Valley, CA
24 Ashley Denmark 928.00 Longmeadow, MA
25 Caleigh Thompson 912.00 Shelburne, VT
26 Isabel Eastment 902.00 Wellesley, MA
27 Emily Orchant 875.50 New York, NY
28 Kriss Eisaman 870.00 Williston, FL
29 Sunny Drescher 814.00 Hinesburg, VT
30 Natalie Thornell 810.00 Loveland, OH
31 Hannah Patten 794.50 Williamstown, MA
32 Caroline Johnson 751.50 Grafton, MA
33 Kathryn Maginnis 748.00 Centreville, VA
34 Sierra Wilson 739.00 Centerburg, OH
35 Meredith Combs 717.50 Harvard, MA
36 Serena Anand 716.00 Coto De Caza, CA
37 Tylor Nowell 708.00 Sonoma, CA
38 Olivia Smith 707.00 Irvine, CA
39 Megan Flanagan 694.00 Atlanta, GA
40 Mackenzie McGehee 679.50 Jacksonville, FL

In addition to the weekend of competition, riders, parents and trainers are invited to attend the THIS National Children's Medal Welcome Reception. The reception will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011, at 6 p.m. in the Paddock Room.??

Highlights of the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the North American Equitation Championship (Oct. 2), the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals (Oct. 2), the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Emerging Pro Challenge (Oct. 5), the Future Hunter World Championship (Oct. 5), the WCHR Professional Finals (Oct. 5), the $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3'3" Challenge (Oct. 6), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 7-8), and the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 7).??