Scott Stewart in last year's victory gallop for the WCHR Professional Finals.
??The $7,500 WCHR Professional Finals presented by the John R. Ingram Fund will be held on Friday, October 7. The event pits the top six qualifying professional riders in the nation against each other. Each rider competes on four different horses, with the fourth round as a handy course where brilliance is rewarded. A distinguished list of professionals has won the WCHR Finals, including Peter Pletcher, John French, Louise Serio, Sandy Ferrell, and Hunt Tosh, but none has been more successful in the program than Scott Stewart. Stewart, of Wellington, FL, has been WCHR champion a remarkable four times, and won his historic fourth title during last year's competition. Stewart will return to defend his title as the reigning WCHR champion this year and looks forward to competing.
??"I think that class is probably one of the most important things that I have won because you work all year long trying to qualify, and I think it is really the very best of the hunter riders," Stewart stated. "We have a lot more big money classes now, which is great, but I think that showcasing the hunter riders that have done the best throughout the year is important."
Stewart enjoys the unique format of the class and explained, "To go head-to-head in a ride-off probably makes it the most challenging class that we really have to do all year. It is a little nerve-wracking, but by the time you get there it is actually just a really fun class to ride in and I enjoy it."
??As a four-time winner, Stewart has had the opportunity to participate in the great award ceremonies that Capital Challenge maintains for the WCHR classes and division champions each year. Stewart appreciates the extra effort that goes into making the classes special. He noted, "I think Capital Challenge is one of the few shows left that does a really great job with the awards and presentations. It is definitely one of my favorite shows of the year. Everybody brings their best horses and they are all really prepared to try to do their best, so it is nice. I think that the presentations and special awards are nice for everybody involved because they all put in such a big effort."
??Stewart also acknowledged that he likes the facility at Prince George's Equestrian Center, with the close proximity of the indoor and outdoor show rings. "I like that it is just the two rings and you really get to watch a lot," he said. "So many other times throughout the year there are so many rings going on that you do not get to watch the other competitors ride or see your horses go. It is nice to be able to watch all of the horses show."
??Professional, Junior and Amateur Riders are invited to compete at the Capital Challenge Horse Show by qualifying through the WCHR National program throughout the year. A rider's top four WCHR shows count towards awards in these divisions: Professional and Emerging Professional, Junior, Amateur Owner (3'6" and 3'3"), Adult Amateur and Pony. Riders are then invited to compete directly against one another in Challenge Classes hosted by the Capital Challenge Horse Show. WCHR presents its National Awards for 16 divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, and regional awards are also decided.??
The Challenge classes and Finals at the horse show are exciting classes offered for WCHR riders in various divisions, such as: the $15,000 WCHR Professional Challenge; $2,500 WCHR Amateur Owner 3'6" Challenge, sponsored by Greener Pastures Equine and Randy Johnson; $2,500 WCHR Junior Challenge, sponsored by The Caldwell & Graves Families; $2,500 WCHR Pony Challenge awarding the Foxlair Poker Perpetual Trophy; $2,500 WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge; $7,500 Professional World Championship Hunter Rider Finals, presented by John R. Ingram Fund and awarding the Far West Farms Perpetual Trophy donated by the Karazissis Family; $1,500 WCHR Children's Finals, sponsored by Stephanie Riggio & MeadowView and awarding the Applegate Family Perpetual Trophy donated by The Applegate Family; $5,000 WCHR Emerging Pro Challenge, sponsored by Seashore Acres Products and awarding the Bittersweet Perpetual Trophy donated by Rachel B. Kennedy; $2,500 WCHR Amateur Owner 3'3" Challenge; $5,000 WCHR Handy Hunter Challenge, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation Inc.; $1,000 Senior World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Class, sponsored by Arcadia Farm and awarding the Hollywood Challenge Trophy donated by Paula Polk Lillard; and the $1,000 Junior World Champion Hunter Under Saddle Class.??
Capital Challenge prides itself on being a show for exhibitors, offering a fantastic facility, extensive winner's presentations, great hospitality, and a great range of competition for riders of all levels. They host more than 1,000 horses, award 25 perpetual trophies, honor more than 25 perpetual World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) trophy winners, and host special presentations for every class winner. ??
The horse show awards its winners in grand style, rolling out the red carpet and presenting special trophies and prizes from generous class sponsors. Even trainers and grooms are presented with special gifts for their participation in the winning rounds.??
Unique WCHR awards include: WCHR Grooms Awards, sponsored by Goshen Hill and presented to the groom of the winning rider in each of the WCHR Challenge and Finals classes; Derby Down Trophy, donated by Louise Serio and presented to the highest scoring hunter round by a Professional in the Pro Sections at Capital Challenge; and the In Disguise WCHR Amateur Owner Trainer Award, donated by Jim & Ellen Toon/JT Farm and presented to the trainer of the WCHR Amateur Owner 3'6" National Champion. A new award for this year is the Gray Slipper Award donated by Bridget Hallman. It will be awarded to a horse that has excelled at the highest level in both the Professional and Amateur Hunter Divisions.
Special awards will also be handed out to the winner of this year's THIS National Children's Medal Finals. The invited riders for this years Finals are:
National Points, Rider?
3535 Katherine Strauss
2290 Ashton Alexander
2120 Mackenzie Hamill
1716 Marissa Kinnally
1715.5 Kate Morrison
1583 Delaney Hamill
1574 Maggie Ridenour
1404 Victoria Hoft
1393 Catherine Kenny
1320.5 Hannah Janson
1250.5 Tina McNerney
1228.5 Pilar Flournoy
1192 Madeleine Swem
1170 Sophie Reiter
1159 Vanessa McCarthy
1158 Katherine Bundy
1127.5 Savannah Dukes
1103 Liana Cohen
1082 Kate Ross
1028 Destry Spielberg
972 Nikki Diamantis
964.5 Anna Joan Rea
958.5 Alex Ladove
928 Ashley Denmark
912 Caleigh Thompson
902 Isabel Eastment
875.5 Emily Orchant
870 Kriss Eisaman
814 Sunny Drescher
794.5 Hannah Patten
751.5 Caroline Johnson
748 Kathryn Maginnis
739 Sierra Wilson
717.5 Meredith Combs
716 Serena Anand
708 Tylor Nowell
694 Megan Flanagan
665.5 Marissa Degner
635 Katherine Pitts
610 Elizabeth Adelson??
The 2011 competition begins with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com on October 1-2, and then continues through October 9 with top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. 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).