Lexington, Ky.—Oct. 31

Coming into the National Horse Show, Stella Propp’s indoor season hadn’t quite gone to plan. While she’d earned some ribbons, she hadn’t produced the consistency she managed in the past, so she headed into the final indoor focused on finishing strong.

“I started with the 3’6″ amateur-owners [with Grand Remo], and that went well, consistent but not incredible, so coming into [the 3’3″ amateur-owner hunters], I was like, ‘This is my last shot, let’s just give it my all and see what happens,’ and luckily for me, I ended up with a big win,” said Propp.

The college student from New York City rode Lifestyle to a pair of wins over fences, a second in the under saddle, and a third-place ribbon in the stake class to win the 18-35 championship over Caroline Signorino and Sandori. The pair also won the grand 3’3″ amateur-owner title.

“Lala,” a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Hos D’O—Ranke Van Ter Cauwenburg) owned by Aquitaine Equine, was originally a low amateur jumper for Laila Klinsmann before making the switch to the hunter ring. Lala did six hunter shows with professional Halie Robinson and amateur-owner Stephanie Engle before Propp got her last summer.

Propp and her trainer Brianne Goutal-Marteau watched the mare at Devon (Pennsylvania) and were struck by her. After a brief trial ride, they knew they’d found the right horse for Propp.

“Her transition has been incredible. She’s been absolutely wonderful,” said Propp. “She’s a chestnut mare, so in her stall she’s a little sassy, but she’s honestly as sweet as can be, especially on the ground, out of her sort of home environment, and she’s been just absolutely incredible for me. She does whatever I ask and has really lived up to her name and who she is as a mare.”

Propp is currently in her third year at Brown University (Rhode Island) where she is studying English and philosophy and is considering becoming a lawyer after that. All season she’s been flying in to show and leaving immediately after to return to school, so it’s been a more difficult balancing act than she had as a junior.

“It’s harder for me to miss school in college than it was [as a junior] because the stakes were almost a bit lower in high school,” she said. “My courses are super small, so it does matter when I miss one or two.”

Prioritizing college means getting less time to practice on the horses these days, “but we’re managing and doing the best we can with the cards we’re dealt.”

A Reliable Partner

Championships at Devon, Capital Challenge, Pennsylvania National, Washington International (Maryland) and the National decorate Quest’s record. At 17, the gelding has won more than most amateur hunters, but throughout his 10-year partnership with Stephanie Danhakl, the bay hasn’t lost his spark.

“He’s just an unbelievable horse,” Danhakl said. “He’s 17 now, and I keep waiting for the year when I feel like he wants to slow down, but it hasn’t happened yet. He doesn’t owe me anything. He’s been such a phenomenal partner for so many years.”

The Dutch Warmblood (Verdi—Udina) showed his winning ways once again today, winning two classes and picking up a third and fifth on their way to the 3’3″ amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, championship at the National. Kit McClorey and High Tide were reserve.

“I know I can always count on him,” said Danhakl, Boston. “He’s the smartest horse I’ve ever ridden. He knows exactly where he is at all times. He tries really hard. And at a competition like this, where some of the courses were a little more technical, he can really shine.”

Danhakl said she does feel pressure when riding Quest because she knows how special he is, and she wants him to receive the recognition he deserves. She credits his longevity to the sport to her trainer Scott Stewart and the team at Rivers Edge.

“I’m just so lucky to have him, and I know him so well at this point, which I think contributes to the continued success we have, because we both know each other so well,” she said. “I give so much credit to his groom Darwin [Carraza], who also knows him so well, knows anything off with him. Not only is he a fantastic horse, but the care that he gets has made it possible to keep going as long as he has.

“Darwin just goes above and beyond, and is so knowledgeable, and I’m so lucky to work with him and have him take care of my horses,” she added. “It really makes a difference. Besides Scott’s program, which is also [a factor], but he in particular is special.”  

See full results here.

The Chronicle will be on site, bringing you gorgeous photos, interviews and more, so check back during the week. Make sure to follow along at www.coth.com and on Facebook and Instagram @Chronofhorse. For full analysis and coverage from the horse show be sure to check out the Nov. 18 issue of the magazine.