Harrisburg, Pa.—Oct. 11

In a busy morning at the Pennsylvania National, six junior hunters earned Harrisburg championship crowns. There are some repeat winners, some new partnerships and some first timers, and they all stood out in their own ways. So we give you the Harrisburg Junior Class Of 2019.

A 91 And Another Victory: Stella Wasserman and Boss

Stella Wasserman and Boss decided one just wasn’t good enough as they returned to reclaim their title in the small junior, 15 and under, division. And they didn’t do it casually either. In the stake class, the judges marked their cards with a 91 for the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Samba Hit II—Vulana D).

“I came into it after not my most confident day last week [at Capital Challenge in Maryland]. The first day was a bit of a mess—just inconsistent,” said Wasserman, 14. “It’s really exciting because it’s really hard to top a champion ribbon, so to get it two years in a row is a really awesome feeling.”

Stella Wasserman and Boss took the small junior, 15 and under, championship. Laura Lemon Photos.

Striped poles and speed have stolen Wasserman’s heart slightly away from the hunters, but Boss is still her main man.

“I love the jumpers. I think next year I’ll focus on jumpers and [equitation]. Boss is my only hunter,” said Wasserman. “Boss is like a horse of a lifetime for me. He’s just amazing. I don’t know how to describe it. He has a funny attitude. When it’s good you know. You can jump the first jump and just know.”

New Horse, No Problem: Augusta Iwasaki and Seaside

Augusta Iwasaki is no stranger to the center ring and earning championship ribbons with top mounts like Illusion, Small Affair and Small Occasion—and not to mention she’s ridden ponies on ponies on ponies. But this year she entered the large junior, 15 and under, division with an unproven and new mount, the 13-year-old warmblood gelding (Argentinus—Lindsay 10) Seaside.

Augusta Iwasaki and Seaside earned the large junior, 15 and under, championship.

“I started riding him right after Devon. I knew there was only so much you can do. I just went out there and tried to do my best,” said Iwasaki. “It’s really cool [to win on him]. It’s a lot different than winning on my other horses that I’ve had a long time. He’s my new horse, and it’s really nice to know I can do it on him too.”

Continuing A Family Tradition: Violet Lindemann-Barnett and Luscious 

Riding has always been a family affair for Violet Lindemann-Barnett and her mom Sloan Lindemann-Barnett—after all it was the winning loot in their house in San Francisco that inspired Violet to pick it up the reins.

And now the house will be a bit more crowded as Violet and 10-year-old warmblood gelding (Diarado—Fiona) Luscious took the small junior, 16-17, honors.

Violet Lindemann-Barnett and Luscious earned small junior, 16-17, honors.

“[My mom] showed at indoors in the junior hunters when she was my age, and I’ve always loved horses,” said Violet. “I looked at all her ribbons when I was younger, and I wanted to win some too. She was champion as well, so it’s really special to be champions too. I’m not sure where she was champion, but it’s nice to be able to do this with her.”

Violet made her first trip over from the West Coast to the fall indoor horse shows last year. The 16-year-old and Luscious earned the small junior, 15 & under, championship last year at the National Horse Show (Kentucky), and this year is going the same direction so far.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true, when he was champion at indoors last year,” said Violet. “To be able to do it again—I never imagined I’d be able to do it. I’m so grateful to him.”

Good Omens From Stuffed Animals: Maggie Hill and Cassanto 

Even last night Maggie Hill could tell that Cassanto was in a good mental space.

“He has his little stuffed animal, and he plays with it,” she said. “He got it last night, and he was in there, like, hitting his head against it. Oh yay, he’s in a good mood.”

Cassanto and Maggie Hill took the large junior, 16-17, championship.

And the stuffed animal signs didn’t betray her. The 17-year-old and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Canto—Stefania) repeated their Devon victories and claimed the large junior, 16-17, championship.

“I really feel lucky. Every day I wake up feeling blessed,” said Hill. “Every time I ride him, he truly is the most amazing animal I’ve ever sat on in my entire life. We just get each other. He’s really unique that way. He’s unlike any other horse I’ve ever ridden, ever seen. He knows his person, and he knows when it counts. So he will always step up to the plate, and that’s just a cool feeling because I know that I’m the only thing that can mess it up.”

New Kids On The Block: Elizabeth Cram and Notable

Elizabeth Cram wasn’t even supposed to own Notable; he was supposed to be for her big sister. Yet a lucky ride during his trial changed the plans.

“It really wasn’t supposed to happen,” said the 15-year-old. “We were supposed buy him for my sister. All of a sudden I rode him one day—he was on trial—and my mom ended up buying him for me.

Elizabeth Cram and Notable earned the 3’3″ small junior championship.

“He was originally a dressage horse, and about two years ago we bought him and started jumping him,” she continued. “We did a lot of grid work and stuff to get him more accustomed. He’d only shown as a hunter once when we got him, so our first show together was only his second show jumping.”

Cram and 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Monteverdi-Mosegardens Calido) made their Harrisburg debut this year. And despite it being their first time, they earned the championship tricolors in the 3’3” small junior division.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Cram. “My horse is definitely special. It’s very quiet in the ring, which is kind of intimidating but a lot of fun.”

Stepping Up With Success: Maddie Tosh and Cold Harbor

You’ve might have heard the name Maddie Tosh a time or two. She’s earned championships and reserve titles at horse shows like Devon (Pennsylvania), the USEF Pony Finals (Kentucky) and the Washington International (District of Columbia). But she earned all those previous titles on ponies.

This year she’s up on horses, entering the Pennsylvania National in the 3’3” junior division for the first time .

Cold Harbor and Maddie Tosh took the 3’3″ large junior championship.

In the 3’3” small juniors, she took the reserve championship on Gotham. And then she stepped it up a notch to take the 3’3” large junior championship on her dad Hunt Tosh’s former mount Cold Harbor, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos.

“It’s like the first big win on him,” said Maddie. “It’s really fun just because Betsee [Parker] allowed my dad to ride him, and then for me to be able to ride. My dad knows all his inside tricks and stuff. It’s really allowed me to be really successful on him. He knows exactly what he’s going to do. You have to keep your leg on and be smooth—just to trust him.

“I definitely was a little nervous the first class,” she continued. “I just wanted to be consistent and smooth and have nice rounds just to keep me in the top. And [when we] cantered the last jump, I kind of knew.”