Two talented mares and their equally talented junior riders earned grand champion titles on Saturday at the conclusion of the 2023 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships—East, which took place in Williamsburg, Michigan, June 27-July 1. The longtime partnership of Arabesque and Clara Propp defended their title in the 3’6” height, while a very new pair—She’s All That and Aedan Mooney—won the 3’3” overall championship.

It was the third time Arabesque and Propp, New York City, earned a major title at the competition. Previously, Propp and “Annie,” a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Furstenball—Solar Eclipse, Sir Donnerhall) owned by Aquitaine Equine, were the 3’3” grand champions in 2021 and the 3’6” grand champions in 2022.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Propp said of her win. “There was a lot of stress and pressure coming into this year. I wanted to live up to the years before, and I think we did just that, and I’m really happy about it.

“[Annie] is awesome, and I think throughout the years that I’ve had her, we’ve formed a really strong bond,” she added. “This horse never lets me down. She always performs for me and I just need to match her and then it all comes together really nicely. She’s so special. There aren’t enough good things I can say about her.”

The trust and understanding Propp and her horse share was key to producing a slick handy round on Saturday, expertly navigating the winding course that included tight rollbacks, a trot fence, and a gallop fence. The pair earned a score of 270 from the judges, giving them a comfortable win in the handy round and securing their overall championship.

Watch their handy round here, courtesy of USEF Network:

With three grand championships, Propp said she and Annie will move on to new challenges after this year. She has her eye on competing in international hunter derbies after finishing out the current season’s championships. 

But first, she said, “After this show she’s going to get a good long break. She deserves it. She doesn’t need to do any more than she already does.”

As the top-scoring mare in the 3’6” division, Arabesque was also recognized with the best mare award for the second year in a row.

In the 3’3” division, another horse nicknamed “Annie” earned a decisive grand champion title with a wire-to-wire lead in the large junior hunter, 16-17, section. She’s All That, a striking black 8-year-old Westphalian mare (Arpeggio—Ginger) owned by Linda Yarborough, scored an impressive 274 with rider Aedan Mooney in Saturday’s handy round to maintain their top standing for the height.

“She’s a catch ride I just started riding at Old Salem Farm [New York] this year,” Mooney said. “We were champions there and then we did last week here [at Traverse City Horse Shows], so this is technically my third show with her. She’s super sweet. She always tries her hardest. She moves amazing and always gives a 10-out-of-10 jump.

“She did everything I asked her to do [in the handy],” she added. “She jumped incredible from the first jump. She tries super hard. She’s pretty handy, and she came back nice. I think her presence is always incredible and one to watch.”

Watch their handy round, courtesy of USEF Network:

See complete results here.