Washington D.C., Oct. 29

If you brought a junior hunter to the Washington D.C. this year hoping for a Washington International tricolor, you’d better have a strong California connection.

Los Angeles-native Olivia Esse made magic aboard Illusion for Oscany Inc. to capture the small junior hunter, 15 and under, and grand junior hunter titles. Her neighbor in Beverly Hills, Hannah Goodson-Cutt, continued her rampage across the East Coast with Caretano, following up titles at Capital Challenge (Md.) and Pennsylvania National with another small junior hunter, 16-17, championship in the nation’s capital. She also rode her Superman to the large junior hunter, 16-17, title, over fellow west-coaster Ashley Pryde and Truly.

Even the only East Coast native to ride to a championship did so on a California-owned mare. Shawn Casady, of Midtown, Tenn., piloted Cachet to the large junior hunter, 16-17, championship for California-based Cavallo Farms.

“I’m so glad that the California people did really well this year,” said Esse, 16. “In the ponies it was impossible to beat the East Coast girls [at Washington International], but now I feel like it’s more evened out. It’s great!”

The connections don’t end there. Both Illusion and Caretano got their starts as jumpers owned by the Dotson family, and swapped over to the hunter ring later in their careers.

“He likes the hunter ring because he’s really smooth and easy-going,” said Esse, who clinched her title with a blue ribbon in the stakes class. “He’s really scopey and he has a big stride. Today in the stakes class I think they mis-measured the in-and-out and it was a super-long one, and it was fine for him.”

Esse trains with Jim Hagman, and John French helps her with Illusion, riding him to regular working hunter ribbons at Washington.

Goodson-Cutt, who trains with Willowbrook’s Kate Considine, had a bigger challenge here in Washington versus her other two fall indoor shows. Heading into the season she came east early to ride in a warm-up show, and she practiced daily. After Harrisburg, she flew home to squeeze in a few classes, and back in Washington she found herself out of practice when she climbed back onboard.

“So I did [a green conformation class] on Wednesday and that was helpful,” said Goodson-Cutt, 17. “When I started riding again and did the first class I felt back on track again.”

Casady, 16, only gets to throw a leg over Cachet when her normal rider, Caroline Spogli, isn’t available, but for him the partnership is a natural fit, but he’s had the ride most of the fall.

“Most of the horses I ride are mares and she fits right in!” said Casady, who trains with Ken and Emily Smith and with Bill Schaub. “She has a really good feel and a sweepy stride. I’ve always gotten along well with mares.  She’s a blast to ride and she’s a really sweet mare.”

Other junior tidbits:

—Molly Braswell sits on top of the standings after the hunter phase of the Washington International Equitation Classic. She rode The General to an average score of 89.66 to take the lead in that contest, which continues with the jumper round tomorrow afternoon. Lillie Keenan stands second after riding Uno, and Michael Hughes lays third thanks to a beautiful go on Coco Pop.

—Ashley Pryde’s Pringle won the small junior hunter, 16-17, under saddle for the third year in a row today. The Medina, Wash., rider trains with Archie Cox.

—Junior jumpers have split notched two of their three classes, with Chase Boggio and Hennessy winning the first, and Karen Polle and What Ever claiming third yesterday and blue today.

—Hasbrouck Donovan followed up her Pennsylvania National championship on Don Stewart’s Falcao with the reserve title in the small junior hunter, 15 and under, division behind Illusion. Fellow Don Stewart student Meg O’Mara claimed the reserve large junior hunter, 15 and under, title on a horse she co-owns with Stewart, Walk The Line. And Holly Labry and Ruby took reserve in the small junior hunter, 16-17, division.

Results are available at the Washington International Horse Show official site.