Most riders put the rest of their life on hold for their first trip to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, but not Megan Brodbeck. She squeezed in an IHSA show at her new alma mater Pennsylvania State University the day before she drove to Harrisburg and won the North American League Children’s Hunter Final aboard her A Bit Of Gold, Oct. 13. Brodbeck’s barnmate and long-time friend Kristina Sprenkle took second with Eden.

“I hate going first, coming third-to-last was really good for me,” said Brodbeck. “I was a nervous wreck, but he’s such a great guy, he just took care of me, and after the first few jumps I got my nerves back.” 

Brodbeck, Spring Grove, Penn., came back second after scoring an 84 in her first round and moved into the lead after another stellar trip. She’s been riding A Bit Of Gold (All The Gold—A Bit Of Thom) in the children’s division for the last two years with trainer Chris Gemmill, but this was the first year she joined the NAL and set her sights on the final. Brodbeck’s Thoroughbred-Hanoverian stayed at Gemmill’s barn 81 miles away when she packed her bags for college this fall, and the 18-year-old has driven home every weekend to school and prepare for the final.

“He’s been amazing for our family,” said Brodbeck. “He’s just a bundle of joy. He loves to compete. We’re really attached to him, and we feel like he loves us back.”