Gray Slipper stepped out of the Show Place Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 3, wearing the regular working hunter tricolor for the third consecutive year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. Despite the gelding’s impressive resume, rider Louise Serio was still in awe of his consistency over the three years. She said, shaking her head, “That’s a good record.”

Serio and Gray Slipper secured the championship with winning rounds in both jumping classes on the second day of the division. The pair posted a high score of 95 and an average of 92.5 in the first class and a 91.5 in the stake class.

Six years ago, Bridget Hallman, of Oyster Bay, N.Y., came to Serio when she was between barns. Serio explained, “[Bridget] called me, and she said she wanted to ride with me. There was this gray horse that she wanted me to look at. So I drove down…and he was spooky and gangly. But he had all this amazing movement and such scope and stride.”

Serio admitted that Gray Slipper has taught her more than she’s ever taught him. he said, “I kind of had to let him sort himself out… his main problem was that he was spooky.” But Serio discovered that if she let him work things out, instead of getting after him for spooking, that the problems fixed themselves. She said, “Once he knew that he was not in trouble, then the jump became a non-issue and the spooking went away.”

Serio’s long relationship with Gray Slipper has created a special connection. Serio said, “I think that’s an important thing about riding, that they learn to expect certain things from you. He knows what I’m going to ask. He knows me, and I know him. He’s an awesome horse.”

Tuesday’s competition also saw a championship pinned in the second year green division. The championship came down to the last class, and Liza Towell knew walking into the arena that Onassis had to post better than a 91 to win. That is just what the pair did as they finished with a 92. Towell also collected the reserve championship with Blink, a gelding owned by her brother Hardin.

Onassis, a 10-year-old warmblood, was purchased in August for Sarah Ward who competes in the children’s hunter division. Towell credited a lot of her success with Onassis to Claire Kellner, of Tampa, Fla., who started the horse’s career. Towell said, “I really owe Claire Kellner all of the credit. I just put the icing on the cake. [Claire] started him in the pre-greens, did him in the first and second years in Ocala [Fla.], and won a ton on him.”

Click here to see live streaming video of the Capital Challenge Horse Show.