Oct. 10—Harrisburg, Pa.   

After she topped the small junior hunter, 16-17, section, with Ovation, Tori Colvin was speechless. In what owner Betsee Parker described as an unimaginable event, Colvin and Ovation became the only pair to win the small juniors at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show four years in a row.

“It’s amazing,” Colvin said. “He’s an amazing horse so he deserves it.”

Parker, of Middleburg, Va., watched the pair from the in-gate and was ecstatic with the outcome.

“I’m very happy for Tori and thrilled for Ovation, “ Parker said. “I think it’s a great moment in our sport because we all get a chance to see a horse that symbolizes what happens when everything comes together.”

Ovation has been recognized as a spectacular horse and Parker said that his success lies with the decision to put Colvin in the irons. “If’ I’d given the ride to anyone else, most likely I would not be standing here right now,” she said.

Their success earned them The EMO Agency Jr. Hunter High Five Award, for having the highest cumulative score in all of the junior hunter sections.

Colvin had to change her ride when she hopped on Parker’s Inclusive for the large junior, 16-17, championship. She knows both horses well, but she said that they take a completely different ride.

“My last one is more like a pony and the other one is more like a big, long galloping horse,” she said.

“Cappy” has had a quiet year while he recovered from sciatica, and Colvin said that the break has done him a world of good.

“He feels much stronger and more powerful on the jumps,” she said. “He’s not struggling at all to get over this, and I think it was almost good that he had that. He’s come back better than he’s ever been.”

Out Of This World

The Pennsylvania National marked Bergen Sanderfod’s first show since she broke her arm in mid-August and she couldn’t have asked for a better comeback. She and her mount of two years, Happenstance, captured the large junior, 15 and under, championship.

“It’s the most amazing feeling to be able to even show here and [to] rank one of the highest is just out of this world,” she said.

Their championship this year is a great improvement over last year where they picked up a couple of ribbons.

“He’s my main man,” she said. “We connected and I can rely on him for anything. He’s the best horse.”

Sweet Win For Maraschino

It’s easy for a young horse to be nervous at a venue like Harrisburg, but 7-year-old Maraschino took all the sights in stride.

“I think she knew it was a special occasion and she rose to it, so I was really happy with that,” said rider Mckayla Langmeier.

 A win in the under saddle and today’s over fences class gave them enough points to top the small junior, 15 and under over Hunter Holloway on Lions Creek Bellini.

Langmeier has only been riding the mare for six months, but they’ve be come fast friends, earning three tricolors in their first three shows together.

“She’s really fun to ride,” Langmeier said. “She’s really scopey and she has a big stride.”

To read more about the winners at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, check out the October 27 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse print magazine.

See all of the Chronicle’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show online coverage.

See full Pennsylvania National results.