Harrisburg, Pa.—Oct. 11

Kim Land has served as the Zone 4 chef d’equipe for 13 years, and she’s led several winning teams at the Pennsylvania National. But she’s never seen a team like this year’s Zone 4 squad.

“This is the strongest I’ve ever seen a team,” she said.

“These kids are quite seasoned,” she continued. “Even though only one of them is aging out of juniors this year, they have a lot of experience and they are excellent under pressure, so I expected them to have a really good performance. Now to jump seven out of eight clear rounds and only one round with 4 faults was very strong.”

The gold medal Zone 4 team of Olivia Sweetnam (HBD Quality), J.J. Torano (Vitalus K), Amy Krebs (Jabantos) and Isabelle Ehman (Magnolia) only ticked one rail between them, and with that round counting as a drop score, finished on no faults at all in the Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper Prix Des States Team Championship. Zone 2 took silver and Zone 7 staged a strong comeback in the second round to finish with bronze.

All four riders put in faultless rounds during their first go. Leadoff rider Sweetnam, 16, counted on a strong partnership with her mare to put in her two perfect rounds.

“My mare, her name is Quality in the barn, my family has owned her for five or six years,“ said Sweetnam, Wellington, Florida. “My dad [Shane Sweetnam] did her and then two other girls in the barn did her, and then she actually had a baby, then I got her. I’ve had her for almost three years. I know her very well. She’s a bit quirky but she’s crazy competitive and careful and she wants to win so badly. I think it’s just about knowing her in and out of the barn. I have a really good bond with her both and I’m really, really, really lucky to have her.”

Second in the ring was 14-year-old Torano, who appreciated the chance to ride under pressure.

“Unfortunately in the second round today I had a light and late rail at the last jump; the rest of my teammates jumped clear so I was the drop [score] and we finished on a clear and team gold,” said Torano, Wellington. “It’s definitely a good experience for young, up-and-coming riders to experience this team event, to be under pressure a little bit. For sure it helps for one if you want to grow up to be a grand prix rider or a big rider and trainer; all or most have been through Prix Des States and [Dover Saddlery/USEF] Medal Finals.”

Krebs, based in Franklin, Tennessee, gave all the credit for her two rounds to her mount.

“He’s so special for me,” said Krebs, 16. “I’ve had him for four years. We have an amazing bond and we know each other so well. I trust him completely. He’s an amazing competitor. He’s a little different from some of the other horses on the team but he loves his job. He’s very enthusiastic about it. He’s amazing. I’m so thankful for him. He’s a little bit quieter but I like it a lot. He’ll do anything. He has the biggest heart.”

Last in the ring was the overnight leader, Ehman, 18. She and her feisty mount sealed the gold medal with a pair of clear rounds.

“She gives it a 12 out of 10 every time she steps into the ring,” said Ehman, Milton, Georgia. “I can trust her and know that she’s got my back. It’s just keeping her calm and relaxed through the course which is not easy to do, but she jumped fantastic tonight and Turnham Green put on a fantastic show for us for sponsoring this class; being able to do this and gain experience before we step up is really special and it’s something that is a stepping stone into the future.”

After both riders laid down three clear rounds, Olivia sits just a fraction of a point behind Ehman for the individual title, the latter having a slightly faster trip in Thursday’s first round of individual competition.

“I’m feeling good,” said Ehman of heading into tomorrow’s final round of competition. “I trust ‘Maggie’ a lot. Liv is hot on my tail so just staying consistent and doing what we’ve been doing and keeping her going the best she can be and as relaxed as possible is kind of my goal for tomorrow night.”

Get Prix Des States results here.

Get horse show results here. Follow along with all the news from the Pennsylvania National here. Check out the November issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine for full analysis from the horse show.