Jessica Springsteen kept her winning streak alive at this year’s National Horse Show at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. Both of Springsteen’s junior hunters took tricolors today, Oct. 31, with Stone Hill Farms’ Tiziano picking up large junior hunter and grand junior hunter honors, and Sublime earning reserve in the small division.  Judges Leo Conroy and Scott Williamson named Springsteen Best Child Rider for her efforts.

This marks Tiziano’s second big win in a row, having just won the grand junior hunter title at the Washington International Horse Show (D.C.) “It’s been a really fun season,” said Springsteen. “All my horses have been going well—they really couldn’t be going any better. I’m so happy with how everything has been turning out.”

The logistics of showing at the Oncenter caught up with Springsteen leading into this morning’s handy round.  After schooling across the street in the old War Memorial Stadium, Springsteen hurried to get to the show ring in time to review her course and watch the first two competitors. But she literally got caught in traffic and had to wait for several minutes for a truck to move before she could cross the street. She arrived just in time to watch one trip and glance at the posted course.

“I was definitely nervous I was going to go off course,” she said. “There was an inside turn I wasn’t supposed to do, but it all worked out.”

Springsteen won handy classes on both her mounts over the tricky track that included a snake jump, trot fence and several challenging turns.  According to Springsteen, Tiziano has all the makings of a perfect partner for the handy classes. “He’s the same every time he goes out,” said Springsteen, of Colts Neck, N.J. “He lands on both leads and does the turns so well.”
 
Lucy Davis faced a different question when she gets saddled up her small junior hunter, Red Rooster. “He’s a bit of a challenge for me because he’s different every time,” she said. “He can either be great or not so great, so it keeps me on my toes. It’s good for me,” she said.

But Davis and “Rooster” synched up at Syracuse, winning the title for Old Oak Farm. After a rocky trip in this morning’s handy class, Davis, who trains with Archie Cox, turned around and won the stakes class to clinch the tricolor.

“When you’re here you really have to step it up,” said Davis, 15. “We came all the way from California to New York, so you have to try hard to do your best because we made such a big trip.  The challenges of the cold and the set up are all part of it. It’s a fun experience.”

Action continues this afternoon with low, medium and high junior/amateur-owner jumpers.  Tonight the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament will welcome riders to the $35,000 Syracuse Corporate Team Challenge, followed by the crowd-favorite $15,000 CN Gambler’s Choice Costume Class.

For full results, please click here.