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.

“I was shocked I was on top after the first round, my goal coming into this was just to make the first cut,” said Bonham, 18. “I’ve never made the cut before.  I was very nervous going up to the second round, then I saw it was a hunter course and I felt better.  I kept telling myself that I needed to seize the moment and this was my only chance to do it.”

Bonham, Claremont, Okla., opted not to take a tight inside turn in the final work off that the two riders before her had attempted. “We decided not to do that turn because sometimes he jumps really high and I have short legs so I have trouble staying on him.”

Bonham started training with Missy Clark, John Brennan and Kristy McCormack of North Run only in March, and before that she rode with her father.

Bonham borrowed equitation horse veteran Sundance from fellow North Run student Kimberly McCormack for the class. Bonham showed “Tommy,” who won this class last year with McCormack, for the first time two weeks ago at Regionals in Westport, Conn., where they finished 11th. “I was so happy to be riding him,” she said. “He didn’t touch a jump all day, he was amazing.”

THE RESULTS
Reserve: Amber Henter trained by Christina Schlusemeyer
10. Kirstie Dobbs, trained by Anna Blankenship
9. Victoria Birdsall, trained by Andre Dignelli, Patricia Griffith and Kirsten Coe
8. Sara Green, trained by Frank Madden
7. Zazou Hoffman, trained by Missy Clark, John Brennan and Kirsty McCormack
6. Michael Desiderio, trained by Emil Spadone and Val Renihan
5. Amelia McArdle, trained by Katie and Chris Kappler
4. Julianna Fischer, trained by Andre Dignelli, Patricia Griffith and Kirsten Coe
3. Jessica Springsteen, trained by Stacia Madden, Krista Freundlich, Max Amaya and the Beacon Hill team
2. Matthew Metell, trained by Andre Dignelli, Patricia Griffith and Kirsten Coe
1. Kels Annabelle Bonham, trained by Missy Clark, John Brennan and Kristy McCormack

THE TEST
The judges have called back six riders to test on their own horses in this order—Amelia McArdle, Michael Desiderio, Jessica Springsteen, Matthew Metell, Julianna Fischer and Kels Annabelle Bonham.

The test is to counter-canter fence 4, canter fence 1 and 8, hand-gallop 2 and trot fence 3.

Amelia McArdle completed the counter-canter and fences 1 and 8 well, but was conservative in her hand-gallop and had a stride of canter at the trot jump.

Michael Desiderio counter-cantered the first jump well, had smooth turns and then really went for the hand-gallop, getting a long spot to the oxer.  His trot jump was very well done.

Jessica Springsteen completed the counter-canter well and then got a bit tight to jump 8, but her hand-gallop started as she came out of the corner and she really attacked the oxer, getting a wonderful forward spot.  And she finished with a nice trot jump to lots of applause.

Matthew Metell had good counter-canter and then turned inside to fence 8 in a slicing turn.  He was a bit conservative in the hand-gallop but had a good trot jump.

Julianna Fischer did the counter-canter well and did the inside turn to 8, but had a deep distance and a rub there.  She was also conservative in the hand-gallop, and finished with a good trot jump. 

Kels Annabelle Bonham did the outside turn to 8 in a flowing turn after a good counter-canter and then had kind of a medium hand-gallop to the oxer.  She finished with a good trot jump.

THE SECOND ROUND
The course for the second round starts over a vertical headed away from the in-gate headed across the diagonal.  There’s a long bending gallop to the second fence, an oxer set headed into the far corner of the ring.  Riders then canter around the end of the ring and have to jump one of four panels of a split-rail vertical snake fence.  The two panels angled away from the fourth fence have brush groundlines; the two angled toward the fourth fence don’t have groundlines.

The fourth fence is a white plank vertical set going into the corner of the ring.  Riders then have to turn out of the short end of the ring, away from the in-gate, and jump an oxer-to-vertical two stride combination at 5AB.  Another oxer follows in a straight two strides.  Then, after cantering around the end of the ring, they jump a vertical out of the corner, five or six bending strides to an oxer filled with brush heading straight to the in-gate. 

We’re off!
Quincy Hayes came up tight to the split rail—she selected an option with no ground line—but otherwise had a smooth trip.

Lia Chafee selected the same option as Quincy at the split rail, and had fence 4 down.  She suffered a few tight spots.

Anna Becker had a quiet first fence and came up a little weak to 2. She selected the hardest option at 3, and rode the broken line beautifully. She had a tight spot at 4A but generally demonstrated the polish that earned her the callback.

Laura Pfeiffer chose the direct route 3 to 4.  After the 2 stride she went for brilliance, doing 4 strides out of the line where everyone else did 5.  A gorgeous round.

Shelby Wakeman took the hard route 3 to 4 and nailed the four strides out of the line to the oxer.  She galloped the last line in 5.

Michael Hughes took the easier of the no-groundline options at 3, and had a plank down coming out of the broken line. Otherwise a smooth trip.

Molly Braswell started a tad below the pace, but made it up the first line just fine.  She selected a newoption at the split rail, finessing through to the planks. She took the galloping option away from the in gate.  A nice round.

Julia Nagler took the tough option at 3, and came up just a hair close to 4, but everywhere else a very smooth ride. A stylish trip with nice flowing lines.

Grace Rogers got a bit close to 2, and got the 4 strides out of the line done, but not as smoothly as she could have. Otherwise a careful performance.

Chase Boggio started out a bit quiet, but his big horse walked up the line. He found tight distances at 3 and 4, but nothing tragic.  Chase rode admirably quietly  .

Amber Henter got a good strong canter at the start, selecting the difficult option at 3. She took the galloping option away from the in gate, but not without some tail swishing and a long spot out. Still very pretty trip.

Emma Johnson took the tough choice at 3.  She finessed the 2 to the 4 nicely, but got just a touch crooked at 7.

After a quieter fence at 1, Julia Weiss demonstrated beautiful flowing lines, and rode the two to the four the best we’ve seen so far today. A poised, polished round that should move her up.

Kirstie Dobbs took the easier no-groundline option 3 to 4.  She came up on the two stride a bit tight and had to gallop to get up the lie nicely.

Reed Kessler’s mount swapped at fence 5, and she came up just a touch too close in places, but she made it work.  A lovely round that she should be very happy with.

Jacqueline Lubrano took the tough choice at 3, and flowed nicely to 4. Her horse had a slightly awkward jump at 5, and again at 6, but nothing terrible. Jacqueline smoothed it through wonderfully.

Victoria Birdsall took the easier no-groundline option at 3 and rode the two-to-four stride line perfectly. She took five strides coming home, and her horse had a minor rub behind at 7.  A stylish performance.

Michael Desiderio came up just a touch quiet to both jumps away from the in gate, but seamlessly continued on to jump out nicely. A beautiful trip.

Matthew Metell’s big-strided horse walked the first line. He took the easier no-groundline choice in the second line, and made the two-to-four stride combination look like childsplay. A nearly flawless round.

Jessica Springsteen stayed in perfect harmony with her mount, taking the toughest choice at 3 and flowing down the lines.

Amelia McArdle took the tough option at 3. She had a rub behind at 5b, and a swap to 6, but otherwise a beautiful trip. Her body never moved.

Sara Green got up the 2 to 4 just a touch early and had a little rub there, but otherwise a beautiful trip. Her giant horse got up the lines very well.  She should be very happy with that ride.

Julianna Fischer took the easier of the no-groundline split rails at 3. A few tight spots, but she rode so seamlessly they barely registered. A harmonious performance.

Zazou Hoffman was sure not to start too slow, and overrode the first line just a touch.  A hard rub behind at 4b took down the rail. She and her mount looked confident and competent.

Kels Annabelle Bonham started out just a touch below the pace, but she got up the line nicely. A few tight spots, but otherwise a lovely ride.

Now we await the judges’ final four.

THE FIRST ROUND

I’ll try and post every 25 riders or so, with updates on how the course is riding, who has done well, who hasn’t, etc…  Please don’t expect an account of every rider’s trips, but I’ll try to keep you up to date!!  Scroll down to see the most recent posting… 

Disclaimer:  I’m providing this as a service to those who are interested, and just recording my observations.  I’m not a judge, just a reporter who has watched the Medal Finals in their entirety for the past 10 years.  You may not agree with my notes, and that’s fine—I’m not putting them out there as the authoritative word, but as information for those interested.  That said, read on!

You can find the order of go here….  And the course description and map here…

After the first 25…

The first to go, Kelsey King had a bit of trouble getting a forward, flowing pace at the start and put in an extra stride at the combination at 4AB, then had a rail at fence 7.  She got a much better pace going toward the end of the course. Samantha Schaefer had to work a bit to get her horse going to get the striding in the first few lines, but once she’d established her pace, she had a lovely, smooth trip with no major mistakes.

Rachel Crown had a very nice round with just a chip at fence 6.  She did the inside turn from fence 10 to 11.  Taylor Brown set a good forward pace from the start and put in quite a nice trip.  She also did the inside turn to the last fence, but it wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. Haley Leavitt had a rail at fence 4 and then didn’t quite get to 4A on a forward stride and her horse stopped.  She came off over his head.

Laura Krinsky was very definite about setting a forward pace early and had a nice round, though her horse wasn’t as straight over the jumps as he could have been, drifting to the right.  Lia Chafee had a very nice, workmanlike round with just a few rubs.  Carly Anthony really attacked the course, riding very forward and with authority.  She got a tad deep to fence 8 and the last fence, but in general it was a very nice go.

It looks like adjustability is the word of the day here, with the course demanding that riders be able to dictate their horse’s stride every step of the way with the variety of striding in the lines.  There aren’t any real bogey or trick fences or lines, but the course is really showing how forward and confidently the riders can ride.

Hope Caughron’s horse stopped at the first fence and then again at the second, eliminating her. Allison Fithian wasn’t quite going enough in the beginning of the course and unintentionally added a stride from fence 2 to 3.  She completed the course with just a few tight distances, but no other major mistakes.

Nicole De Voe had a nice round, though a tad disorganized, and pulled a rail at fence 7, the split-rail vertical.  Kelsey Bernini added strides in the line to the combination at 4AB and did three strides inside that combination instead of two.  She also had a very sticky fence at 7 when her horse peeked at the split rail.

Sophie Gottwald’s horse stopped at the second jump and she had a pretty sticky first few fences after that—not the round she wanted, I’m sure. Katie Hagerty had a nice round with no major mistakes, but she did lose her leg position a bit in the air.

Kathryn Haley rode a really tidy, forward round on a lovely-jumping horse, with just a swap in the front of a few jumps.  Cassie Moffatt’s horse was surprised by fence 2 and stopped, and then looked unnerved.  She retired after jumping 4AB.

Johanna Hyyppa’s second fence was just a bit sticky and she had a run there, but the rest of the round was really lovely, very flowing and accurate.  Lauren Breen was a scratch and did not show. Kristen Cassone added to both fence 3 and 4A, though she was making an effort to go forward and complete the three and two strides.

Kirstie Dobbs just put in what I think was the best round so far, with very deliberate lines and flowing turns.  She got her horse out in front of her leg right from the start and made the long lines at the beginning of the course look effortless.  Her horse also jumped beautifully.  Riders are finding it difficult to strike a balance between going forward to the first few fences and chasing to get the distances.  Kirstie did it just right, making sure the long distances came up easily without making an obvious effort.

Jennifer Waxman’s ride from fence 3 to 4AB wasn’t as smooth as it could have been, and her horse dropped the front rail of the oxer at 4A.  For the remainder of the course, Jennifer was her usual effective, confident self. Phoebe Goldenberg had a rough ride through the first few lines and chipped at 4A, but things evened out and she finished up fine.

Morgan Hale also had a bit of a disorganized few fences at 3 and 4AB, but then established a nice flow and finished up well. Flavia D’Urso’s horse had to really reach to get the three done from fence 2 to 3, but once she got going on course, she ride forward and confidently, riding the outside turn to the last fence. Ainsley Carter rode the first fence very aggressively and kept that up through the first lines, getting nice forward efforts from her horse.  She had a nice, confident, impressive go.

After the first 50…

Tess Renker’s big-strided horse didn’t have trouble with the lines, but she didn’t have him in as much of a package as she could have and he stopped at fence 8. Frances Land was the first of the day to make it very clear she was intending to do four strides from 2 to 3 and then five strides from 3 to 4A and she did it quite smoothly, but then the two strides in 4AB got a bit long for her and she had an awkward jump out.  The rest of her round was quite nice.

Caroline Donnally had an effective, forward ride with just a few inconsistent distances. Lawson Mayfield’s horse was surprised by fence 2 and stopped.  He stopped again at 4B, eliminating her.  Rachel Griffin did not start, scratching. Lindsay Strafuss rode confidently and forward, but had a few sticky fences.

Miranda Lekacos made sure she got the first few lines done well and rode quite boldly, with smooth turns—a good trip.  Caitlin Hope had a nice round, though with a few rubs and the front rail of fence 2 coming down.  Michael Desiderio really rode beautifully, getting the three strides from 2 to 3 smoothly and riding forward yet with polish.  A really nice round for him. 

Kelly Lively put in quite a nice trip, with just a few distances a hair deep. Caroline Hughes rode well, but pulled a rail at 4A. Caroline Gilbert cross-cantered around the turn to fence 2 and didn’t really get her rhythm back until after 4AB, with a few awkward jumps. Anthony Desiderio also rode forward and decisively, but his round didn’t have quite the polish of his older brother Michael’s.

Rebecca Hunter’s horse was quite keen, so she had trouble putting together a very fluid ride, but she had no major mistakes. Jennifer Stillman was on her way to a very nice round when her horse suddenly slammed the brakes on at fence 9A.  This course isn’t letting these riders relax for a second—the questions come up fast and furious.

Catherine Pasmore had an awkward jump at fence 2 and then got quite deep to the oxer at fence 8, pulling the front rail.  Tarik Sentissi had to work to get the forward striding in the first few lines, then pulled a rail at 4A and had a deep distance to 8.

Chelsea Renier made the decision to ride from 2 to 3 in four strides, then ride a direct line from 3 to 4A in four strides, a tactic that worked quite well for her and her horse.  She had a nice trip. Hallie Miller didn’t quite get the four strides to 4A done and shipped there, but finished up nicely, going outside to the last jump.

Mallory Olson established a nice forward flow right from the start and put in a polished round.  She was a hair tight to the oxer at 8 and had a hard rub there.  Emma Lipman rode very nicely, but her direct line from 7 to 8 got her deep to the oxer—the only real flaw to a polished round.

Zazou Hoffman made the first few lines look easy and had a lovely forward flow from the start.  Her round was very polished and fluid—well done. Leah Chenelle was just a bit disorganized and had rails at fences 6 and 8.  Grace Carucci had a nice round, but a deep distance at the oxer at 8 meant the front rail came down. Rori Zane Riebert’s horse made huge efforts over the fences and his big stride ate up the distances.  She did just four strides in a direct line from fence 7 to 8, but then the tight one stride in 9AB got very snug for him.

The standby after the first 50 has just seven riders on it…
Zazou Hoffman
Michael Desiderio
Kirstie Dobbs
Lia Chafee
Kathryn Haley
Taylor Brown
Johanna Hyyppa

After the first 75…

Alexis Apostol’s first few fences were a bit sticky, and then her horse stopped at the split-rail vertical at fence 7.  He also stopped at the last fence, eliminating her. Christina Giglio had a rail at the first fence and then again at 9B. Lauren Vogel had a rail at the first jump and an awkward fence at 2.  She also pulled a rail at 9B.

Julianna Richardson had a rail at 4A and at 9A. Bari Friedman’s horse stopped at the first jump and then again at the second, eliminating her. Jeanette Collins’ horse quit at the second jump and then again at fence 10.  Catherine Hanlon’s horse stopped twice at the second jump, ending her day.

It seems like the intimidation factor of the first line has struck the riders.  Some of them, worried about getting going for the line from 2 to 3, are over-riding the first fence and having the front rail down there.  And some aren’t taking the time to set up for the second fence, just accelerating out of the corner, and the horses are getting surprised by the jump.

Navona Gallegos’s ride through the line from 2 to 3 and to 4A wasn’t quite as smooth as some, but she finished up very nicely and smoothly.  Avery Waite had rails at the first jump, 4A and 9B. Casey Kole had a bit of a helter-skelter ride through fences 2 to 3, but got it done.  She also got quite deep to the oxer at 8 and had the front rail there.

Kels Annabelle Bonham had a lovely, flowing trip—very nicely done with flair.

Julia Mancini had a fine round, with no major mistakes but a few rubs. Alexa Anthony had a stop at the second jump but recouped and completed the course well.  Madison McKay had a few inconsistent distance and got very deep to the oxer at 8, jumping through it.  Laura Griffith rode very elegantly and put in a nice trip with no mistakes, though a few distances were a shade tight.

Kelly Tropin had a few swaps and a few inconsistent distances, but rode very well. Christina Gellos had a competent, good round that will probably put her onto the standby. Emma Johnson rode beautifully with a forward, fluid trip.  She’ll be back, I reckon.

The one stride in 9AAB got very short for Kelsey Hart and she had a few quiet distances, but a fine trip. Katie Tyler got close to a few of the fences and pulled the front rail of fence 8.  Elizabeth Benson had a nice trip with no major mistakes.  Hasbrouck Donovan really had to push to get three strides from 2 to 3, but then rode the direct four strides to fence 8 beautifully.  She had a very nice round.

Shelby Wakeman’s ride from 2 to 3 was a bit hurried and her horse swapped in the line, but she finished up with her usual confident, stylish ride. Eirin Bruheim tried to fit four strides in from 2 to 3, but it got tight.  Her horse then stopped twice at 4A, sending her back to the barn. Carolyn VanHouten rode weakly out of the turn and stopped at fence 2.  She then had several sticky fences.

After the first 100…

Grace Rogers had a nice round, with just a few tighter distances. Molly Braswell rode the first few fences confidently and fluidly.  Her horse swapped at the coop at 5 and she got a bit tight to the oxer at 8, but she had a nice trip overall. Samantha Harrison had to press to get up the first line, but it worked out nicely, with a few uneven distances.
Hilary Neff took a flier at the last fence, the only major mistake to what was a composed, nice course.

Megan Fellows had a nice go with no problems. Olivia Dorey’s horse tripped tripped badly after the first jump and then stuck off the ground at 4A and 4B.  She finished with no other problems. Madison Cameron added in 4AB and got in quite deep to fences 7 and 8. Danielle Cooper rode the first line, 2 to 3 to 4AB—quite nicely but then got very deep to the coop at 5. 

Kathryn Haefner stopped at the second fence and then again at the third, ending her day. Anna Murphy’s horse ran out at the second fence on her first approach, but she finished the course. Vivian Keller didn’t quite get her horse going at the first few fences and he stuck off the ground at a few, but she finished the course.

Alexa Allen rode a smaller, but game, horse very positively and had a very nice trip with no mistakes and some beautiful jumps. Molly Forlines had a to push to get the three strides from 2 to 3 and a rail at 4A, but had a nice trip with just a few rubs. Kelsey Wickham’s horse quit at fence 1 and then was quite reluctant over the first few fences. She pulled up after fence 4A.

Allan Palmer had a very sticky ride from 2 to 3 and circled before approaching 4A.  His horse then stopped at 4B, eliminating them. Theo Boris rode a very poised, forward course with lovely style right up until the approach to the last jump, when his horse broke to the trot for a few steps.

Samantha Smith had a rail at 4A, but a nice forward ride. Kilian McGrath left quite a gap at the second fence and her horse struggled over the fence, but she had a fine rest of the ride. Jillian Celestino had to chase a bit to get the three strides from 2 to 3 and had hard rubs at the first few fences and a rail at fence 5.

Olivia Wren rode a lovely, precise round on an adorable bay horse with a great style and a pony face.  Maggie Boylan’s horse jumped her out of the tack over 4B and she lost her stirrup.  She hung on through the turn, regrouped and went on to complete the course quite nicely.

Elizabeth Kirby’s horse spooked and ran out on her first approach to the second fence and then she had a few awkward fences.  Ashley Ann McGehee got in close to fence 7 and to the last jump, but had a credible round. Audrey Carlson’s horse quit at the first jump and then swam through the second jump—she was excused. Allison Haspel added to 3 and to 4A and then had a run-out at fence 8.

The standby after the first 100 have gone…
Kels Annabelle Bonham
Zazou Hoffman
Michael Desiderio
Kirstie Dobbs
Emma Johnson
Grace Rogers
Molly Braswell
Shelby Wakeman
Lia Chafee
Kathryn Haley
Taylor Brown
Johanna Hyyppa

After the first 125…

Laura Tobak had a fine round, with a few swaps and deeper distances.  Victoria Birdsall put in a beautiful, flowing with a lot of style and elegance—very nice. Olivia Jack had a good go, doing four in the line from 2 to 3.  Taylor Ann Adams had hard rubs at the first three fences and got tight to the oxer at 8, getting an awkward jump from her horse there.

The three strides from 2 to 3 got quite long for Zoe Glassman, but she finished without any major mistakes. Spencer Turnlacer’s horse refused to jump the first jump at all. Jennifer Weeks’ horse stopped at the second jump and then again at the third, eliminating her.

Gabbi Langston had lovely smooth ride but got deep to the oxer at 8 and had the front rail down.  Amanda Seelig chipped at 4A and then crashed through 4B and Seelig fell off. Sydney Smith had a rail at the third jump and a few deep distances.  Amelia McArdle rode very positively and accurately and had a lovely trip—she’ll be on the standby.

Genevieve Zock had a good go, as did Melissa Barton. Katherine Lee Gay’s horse was very keen and fresh, resulting in a few less-than-ideal jumps.  Alexandra Biederman had to really press in the line from 2 to 3, and then had a rail at fence 8. Emily Abbruzzi chipped coming out of the combination at 4 and went through the B element.

Brian Feigus had an elegant round, well-ridden and precise.  Emma Roberts did four strides from 2 to 3 and then added in the combination at 4AB, but she finished quite well. Elizabeth Perry chipped at the first but then got going, but had a long distance to fence 8. Alexandra Thornton didn’t have the smoothest ride through the line from 2 to 3 to 4AB, but she rode confidently over the rest of the course.

Sarah Ward had a bit of a tight distance to fence 8 and to the last, but she rode with a lot of authority and style. Samantha Ramsay had a few inconsistent distances but an otherwise smooth ride. Maggie Meathe had a bit of a chip at the coop at 5, but a few beautiful fences.

Abigail Crowell had rails 4A and 6. Alex Andes had a few swaps and deep distances, but an otherwise solid round.

After the first 150…

Elizabeth Kenny added to the third fence and in the 4AB combination. Callie Selchau’s horse stopped at the second jump and had a rail at fence 8, but she completed the course.  Chris Nelson rode very but his horse seemed surprised by fence 9A and stopped. 

Caroline Gibson was underpowered to the first few fences and chipped to 4A and 4B and then stuttered off the ground at the last jump. Alexandra Arute rode a lovely, polished round. Larissa Laffey stopped at the second jump and went through 4B before getting her pace and finishing, well, other than a few steps of trot to the last jump.

Elizabeth Wilkins had a rail at 3, then stopped at 4A.  On her second approach, the horse stopped at 4B and she came off.  Annie Kantelis had a sticky first fence and added in 4AB, but finished well.

Lucy Davis put in a perfectly lovely trip with a lot of panache, marred only by a hard rub at 9B. Lindsay Portela had to make some obvious adjustments to get the line from 2 to 3 and to 4AB done, but the rest of her course was quite nice. Catherine Tyree had a fine round, with just a few inconsistent distances.

Katie Galbraith—on an adorable horse who jumps great—had a very solid round with no major flaws. Matti Fisher had a nice round with just a hard rub. Emily Short had dramatic chips at fences 3 and 4B but then hit a rhythm, but she lost impulsion on the turn to the last fence and stopped. Faye Keegan rode boldly and had a good go. 

Carolyn Curcio had to ride hard to get the striding in the line from 2 to 3 to 4A, but got it done effectively.  She finished her round with a lot of style and precision. Olivia Clancy’s horse gave big efforts over the jumps and she rode very well, with no major mistakes.  She did make the outside turn to the last jump and left a bit of a gap to it.

Paige Dekko rode very forward and fluidly to put in a very good go.  She negotiated the bending five strides from the split-rail oxer at 7 to the oxer at 8 brilliantly, but had a hard rub at 9A. Carly Corbacho chipped at fence 2, but recovered and went on to finish well.  Laura King rode very nicely, but had a quiet distance and a rub at the oxer at 8. 

Emily White had a very sticky jump at 3 and 4B and then rail at 8.  Danielle Kaidanow put in a solid go with just a few rubs.  Rachel Udelson had to work to get the first line done, but she rode quite competently and smoothly, going outside to the last fence very nicely.  Emily Gardner rode quite aggressively to the first fence and kept the forward, fluid pace to the rest of the jumps, but she lost her rhythm in the turn to the oxer at 10 and had an awkward jump there.

The standby after 150 have gone…
Kels Anabelle Bonham
Zazou Hoffman
Amelia McArdle
Michael Desiderio
Victoria Birdsall
Kirstie Dobbs
Emma Johnson
Grace Rogers
Molly Braswell
Shelby Wakeman
Lia Chafee
Paige Dekko
Kathryn Haley
Genevieve Zock
Faye Keegan
Taylor Brown
Johanna Hyyppa
Lucy Davis

After the first 175…

Rebeeca Sexton’s horse refused twice at the second fence twice, eliminating her. Colleen Biemer stopped at 1, then again at the in to the two-stride, sending them back to the barns. Brittany Johnson’s big-strided horse got underneath fence 4, and they pulled a rail, then circled before the last fence when she couldn’t get her horse’s eye on the jump. Catherine Cook had a quiet distance to the last jump, and had an otherwise smooth trip. Morgan Bissell didn’t get quite get her horse in front of her leg at the start, and she had a few tight distances. 

Alison Joyce chipped at 3 then added one in the two-stride, she settled down towards the end of the course to finish nicely. Karen Polle had a quiet jump to 2, but finessed down the line, then pulled what looked to be an unlucky rail at 8. Samantha Elser couldn’t quite find the right canter, starting out below the pace and never quiet recovering from there. Lydia Todd’s lovely paint horse had a few rubs, finally pulling a rail off 10, and a few quiet distances. Kelsey Landrigan ended up a little crooked to a few fences, and had a few tight spots.

Kaelin Tully rode a bit too aggressively in the first line and ran past her distance at 4A, chipping there.  She then found her rhythm and settled in to finish well. Andrea Robbins started well, but had a rail at 4B and then lost impulsion out of the turn to fence 7 and her horse stopped.  The same thing happened at fence 10, eliminating her.  Julia Weiss had a solid, well-ridden round.

Kathryn Crump added a stride to the third jump, then had a rail at jump 8.  Suzanne Levinson did not show. Alison Rose’s horse looked spooky and a bit keen, but she handled it well and rode positively despite a few sticky fences. Anders Keitz misjudged her impulsion into 4AB and went through the second element.  She circled and continued, but then seemed to get lost and tried to jump the wrong fence and was excused.

Kara Dunegan’s horse looked a bit green and overwhelmed and added to jumps 3, 4A and 4B before trotting the coop at 5 and the split-rail vertical at 7.  He also looked at the wall at the last fence, trotted and stopped, but she circled and then jumped it.

Julia Nagler’s big-strided horse made short work of the long lines and she had a good, solid round., if a bit lacking in brilliance. Christy DiStefano put in a very elegantly ridden round, with just a few light rubs.  Ashley Romano’s horse stopped at fence 1 and then again very abruptly at the coop at fence 5.

Taylor Kain rode very decisively and had a very nice round.  Emily Williams had a few sticky fences and then a refusal at 4A and again at 8 to eliminate her.  Alexandra Carlton couldn’t find a confident, forward rhythm and had some difficult fences early in the course, going through 4B, but she finished the course.

Jessica Springsteen put in a beautiful trip with a very confident, accurate ride marred only by a distance to the last fence that was a hair quiet.

After the first 200…

Nicole Pizzi was having a beautiful go until her horse looked at the wall at the final fence and broke to a trot. Colin Quinlan never seemed to find a good pace and had multiple awkward fences and a rail at 9B.  Hillary McNerney’s ride to fence 2 was a bit disorganized and she had to cowboy a bit to get to fences 3 and 4AB, but then she settled into a nice canter and finished up well.

Schaefer Raposa was having a very elegant round until her horse slammed the brakes on at the oxer at fence 8.  Haley Buchmiller rode quite a polished and confident round with just one quiet fence at 10 and was a little slow to the last. Melena Smith got left behind at the oxer at 8 and went through it, circling after the fence, then having another rail at 9B.

Hayley Barnhill’s horse pulled the front rail of 4A and the vertical at 9B, but an otherwise nice round.  Michael Hughes also had a rail at 4A in an otherwise very solidly ridden round.  He also had a few hard rubs, but rode very forward and accurately.

Natalie Crane chipped at fence 3 and 4B but then got going forward and finished well.   Brittany Hurst rode very boldly, but got a bit tight to fence 8 and had the front rail down.  Elizabeth Savoy did not show.  Nina Pola got close to the first two fences, then had the rail at 4B down.  Lindsey Irvin got underneath the first fence a bit and had a few rubs, but otherwise rode nicely.

Carolyn Lichtenberg’s big-strided horse let her carry a nice loping pace, putting in a very elegant round.  Anna Becker had quite a nice trip, with a nice consistent pace and good jumping efforts. Samantha Senft rode very elegantly, but when she got deep to the oxer at 8, her horse didn’t jump as well.

Kendall Milkey had an awkward fence at the coop when her horse left the ground a bit three-legged, looking at the fence, but the remainder was nice.  Kim Struglinski had trouble getting a nice forward canter over the first few fences and ended up trotting fence 8, but she persevered and completed the course.   Sophie Benjamin got a bit tight to fence 8 and then had a rail at 9A, but she rode with a beautiful, forward, flowing pace and is a lovely rider.

Caroline Ingalls had to really press to get the three strides to fence 3 and didn’t have the smoothest of rides through that line and then had the front rail of fence 8 down.  Kristen Mohr rode a gray with a lovely jump and started well, but his stride got away from her a bit on the way to fence 8 and they had the front rail down.

Katherine Newman got quite close to the first jump and her horse hesitated off the ground at the coop at 5 and then had the front rail of fence 8 down. Jacqueline Lubrano had a lovely round, with just one awkward jump coming out of the combination ay 9AB, when it looked like the horse ran out of room.

Katie Miranda stopped at fence 2 and fence 4B to be eliminated. Tamara Morse completed the course.

The standby after 200 have gone…

Kels Anabelle Bonham
Zazou Hoffman
Amelia McArdle
Jessica Springsteen
Michael Desiderio
Victoria Birdsall
Kirstie Dobbs
Julia Weiss
Emma Johnson
Grace Rogers
Julia Nagler
Molly Braswell
Michael Hughes
Shelby Wakeman
Anna Becker
Lia Chafee
Paige Dekko
Kathryn Haley
Genevieve Zock
Faye Keegan
Taylor Brown
Johanna Hyyppa
Lucy Davis

After the first 225…

Ellie Sparks rode very competently and confidently, but had a rail at 4A.  Jaime Steinhaus was going well until she misjudged the split-rail vertical at 7 and her horse stopped.  Olivia Chowdry started a little disorganized, ending up a bit close at one and pulling a rail at 2, and she never quite recovered from there. Laura Ware had a rail at 4b and had a few tight spots.

Cate Billings had quite a nice round, very fluid.  Liza Finsness had trouble in the line from 7 to 8, having the split-rail vertical down and then having a disorganized approach to the oxer at 8. Lexie Berger’s horse quit twice at the first jump, eliminating her.

Zoe McGee stopped at the second fence but then completed the course just fine. Sara Green put in a lovely, precise ride with a lot of style.  Hannah Williams had some not-so-smooth moments, but put in a solid round.  Devon Wood rode a nice round with no major mistakes and some nice moments to it.

Chelsea Moss rode the venerable Logan to a nice round, but got tight to the split-rail vertical at 7 and had the rail down. Rachel Roter was fine, but left quite a gap at 4B, having a bit of a flier over it.  She finished up well, however. Ali Ohringer’s horse stopped at the split-rails at fence 7 but she went on to complete the course.

Christina Lin gave her horse a very positive, accurate ride and showed great ability to adjust his stride in her good round.  Madeline Cooley had stops at fences 1 and 4A.  Amber Henter had a very nice round, with just a few rubs.

Erica Polle had a very sticky fence at fence 2, but then got going forward.  She then had a rail at 7 and a deep distance at 8.  Kendall Meijer’s horse refused at 4A and she flipped over his head in a dramatic fall, but got up and led her horse out of the ring.

Kylie Anne Wright’s horse jumped over his front end at the first fence, but the remainder of her course was quite elegant and well ridden.  Alexandra Cheng had a rail at 7 and at 9B.  Laura Pfeiffer rode very effectively and elegantly, but had a rail at fence 7 as well.

Jenifer Delman had sticky jumps at 2 and 3, but then got her pace and finished well. Grace Wirthwein didn’t have the smoothest trip over the first few fences, but by mid-course she had settled and jumped well. Lauren Sogard rode a flashy gray horse with an exuberant jump and she was having a good go until missing at the oxer at 10 and her horse stopping.

After 250 have gone…

Taylor Harris had a very nice round on a great-jumping bay horse except for a rail at 9B.  Elizabeth Boone’s horse wouldn’t even go near the first fence, ending her day. Hannah Goodson-Cutt’s horse was surprised by fence 2 and stopped once, but she recouped and finished the course well.

Annie Davidson rode strongly to get the first tough line done and then found a nice pace for the rest of the course and finished well. Julianna Fischer turned in an elegant round with no mistakes and a nice flow to it.  Tilden Brighton had a few sticky fences early in the course and never really seemed to get a forward flow going.

Sybil Rose didn’t ride positively into 4AB and her horse stopped at 4B.  She then had a very rough fence at 6, pulling the rail and getting a bit dislodged, but she finished the course.  Emily McCoy had quite a few sticky fences but finished her round.  Rebekah Scharfe didn’t get a good forward canter going in the first half of the course and chipped a few times. 

Lexie Lohrer had chips at fences 3 and 4B and then a run-out at the last fence.  Rachel Webster was a bit weak to fence 2, but then picked up the pace.  She had a rail at fence 8 and then a stop at the last.  Catie Verano rode a really forward and fluid round and a chestnut who put in big efforts as every jump.  Their only big flaw was two quiet distances at fences 8 and 11.

Hillary Sapanski chipped at fences 3 and 4B, but recouped and finished very well. Abigail McArdle rode a very confident round with beautiful efforts from her lovely gray horse. Katherine Dinan had one of the best rounds of the afternoon’s rides, with a lovely forward pace and good jumping efforts.

Kelley Levine’s ride through the line of fence 2 to 3 to 4AB was forward, but a bit disorganized.  She had a very nice second half of the course, however.  Matthew Metell turned in a truly beautiful round, very fluid and elegant with subtle adjustments of his horse’s stride.  He’ll be in round 2 for sure.

Michael Dean Burnett had to ride quite hard to get his horse to 4AB and the horse took the top rail at 4A down, but then they evened out and had a nice second half of the course.  Emily Reynolds turned in quite a nice trip. Sarah Milliren had a rail and fence 2 and hard rubs at 4A and B. 

Elizabeth Mahoney had a nice go, but a rail at fence 10.  Melissa Doddridge had a very nice round with just a tight distance to fence 8. Gabrielle Marush chipped at fence 3 and got in tight to fence 7.  Quincy Hayes had a really nice round that gave her a big smile at the end. Adele Norton had a very awkward jump over the first and got unseated a bit, then stopped at the second fence.

After all 274 have gone (really, it was 269 with scratches)…

Sophie Verges had a lovely, flowing trip.  Callie Morgan Smith had to ride hard to get the first line done, but she did and went on to have a nice second half of the course.  Molly Hay had quite a nice go, but with a rail at fence 9B.  Olivia Cameron had a good trip with just a few inconsistent distances.

Ava Hirschhorn’s horse quit at fence 2 and then again at 9B to eliminate her.  Lilly Johnson rode quite positively and had a good go.  Tina DiLandri rode very well, but was a bit conservative and had a rail at fence 8.  Emily Van der Walde had a nice trip, very forward and decisive.

Katherine Schmidt was having a nice go until her horse stopped at fence 10. Madeleine Stover had a rail at fence 1 and then a few sticky fences and another rail at fence 8. Susan Wesley Wilson missed to 4A and her horse stopped, kneeling on the fence, but she came back and completed the course.

Chase Boggio rode a lovely round, very fluid and elegant. Paulena Johnson rode beautifully to a very nice round with just one quiet distance at fence 8.  Michelle Morris had a rub at the second jump and a swap at the coop, as well as a rail at fence 8 but rode with her usual flair and confidence.

Kali Redmond stopped twice at 4A.  Katie Cox was a bit rushed over the second and third jumps, but then settled into a good rhythm and finished well. Reed Kessler rode her junior jumper, Flight, because her equitation horse had been injured and had a good round with lovely jumping efforts and a nice fluid pace.

Nicole Rocheleau had a few tight distances but an otherwise solid round.  Elizabeth Gay had a stop at fence 2 and then another at fence 4A to end her day. Sophie Shain was disorganized on her ride from 2 to 3 and to 4AB and then had a run-out at the last jump.

Kathleen Mahoney put in a nice with just a few weak distances. Chelsea Huss was a bit rushed in the first line but had a nice rest of the ride.  Chelsey Zulia rode a very positive and flowing round on a good-jumping gray horse, but had tight distances to the last two fences.  And Cayla Richards, riding to conclude the first round’s festivities, had a few rough fences but rode well.

The final standby (and the order of go for the second round) is…

Quincy Hayes
Lia Chafee
Anna Becker
Laura Pfeiffer
Shelby Wakeman
Michael Hughes
Molly Braswell
Julia Nagler
Grace Rogers
Chase Boggio
Amber Henter
Emma Johnson
Julia Weiss
Kirstie Dobbs
Reed Kessler
Jaqueline Lubrano
Victoria Birdsall
Michael Desiderio
Matthew Metell
Jessica Springsteen
Amelia McArdle
Sara Green
Julianna Fischer
Zazou Hoffman
Kels Annabelle Bonham