USEF Medal Final

They work on fine-tuning every skill in the fall before the equitation finals begin.

The leaves are turning, the weather is cooling, and stirrups are coming off saddles. That’s right, it’s fall equitation finals time, and riders across the country are putting in extra lesson hours and saddle time to prepare for their assault on the big classes.

But how does one prepare a junior rider for that time-honored cauldron of stress and excitement that is equitation finals season?

Bonham Best In the Pessoa/USEF Medal Final

After all 269 riders toured the ring, Kels Annabelle Bonham won the Pessoa/USEF Medal Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg today Oct. 12. Bonham started out the day as judges Tammy Provost and Alex Jane’s top pick, and stayed on top of the standings after the second round and the work-off. After the six-rider test Matthew Metell moved up from third to second, and Jessica Springsteen moved up a spot to third.

Judges Alex Jayne and Tammy Provost have set a flowing, classic hunter-type course for the 2008 Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final.  Riders come into the ring and have to obey a generous dotted line—set about halfway down the ring—and circle to get to the first jump, set just past the in-gate on the short side of the ring.

“She just kept winning,” judge Geoff Teall said of Kimberly McCormack’s rides in the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals.  “Her first round was fantastic, her second round was equally fantastic.  And in the test, she had all the pressure in the world on her and she was great.  It was hers to lose, and she won it.”

THE FIRST ROUND