Upper Marlboro, MD – (October 6, 2025) In her first time at the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals, Linette Dooley, of Columbia, Conn., dominated the class. Held in the Show Place Arena at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, Dooley posted an 88.6 and an 88.7 in the two-round event.
“He’s a great horse. If you’re on it, he’s on it,” said Dooley adding, “there’s nothing very difficult about him, which is what is great.”
Dooley made the Ariat Finals a goal at the beginning of the year, and when she qualified she leased the 16-year-old, Thoroughbred gelding solely for the Ariat class.
The adult rider had only ridden him twice before the class and was advised to avoid schooling the gelding in the ring. “You can’t go in the ring with the horse at all before the class,” said Dooley’s trainer Armand Chenelle. He added, “He doesn’t warm up in the ring at all. [Linette] was kind of trusting us on that one.”
Although the lack of schooling made Dooley nervous before entering the ring, she was able tackle the twisting course with finesse. Dooley’s soft, flowing trip around a course that had produced scores in the 50s and 60s for many, made it clear that Dooley belonged at the top of the class.
Ten riders returned for a shortened course, and one in particular looked to give Dooley a run for her money. Courtney Cummings, ninth to return, won the Monarch International North American Adult Equitation Championship the weekend before in the Show Place Arena. After several hard rubs that produced a second-round score of 83.9, Cummings left the door open for Dooley who returned to nail the course and hold her lead for the win.
Dooley’s husband, John Dooley, and her 17-month old son, Jack, stayed home in Connecticut while Linette showed. They were able to watch her round via the live video available on the horse show’s website.
After a three-year hiatus from riding, the 39-year-old proved she could come back strong in the show ring, although she admitted she was anxious. Chenelle agreed, and attested that she got very quiet. Linette said, “I get really nervous. I didn’t even want my husband watching.”
Lara McPherson, also 39, collected the World Champion Hunter Rider Adult Amateur Classic victory just prior to the Ariat Medal Final. Aboard Tenerife, McPherson posted a two-round score of 171.99 and topped second-placed Eye Remember Rio and Victoria Watters (165.50) and third-placed Grandeur with Dawn Fogel (163).
McPherson entered the second round in second position, behind Grandeur and Fogel, and moved up to the blue ribbon with a bold ride that scored 87, 84 and 88 for an 86.33 average from the six-judge panel (sitting in pairs).
She said working toward her judge’s card the past year has really helped her become a better exhibitor.
“I know now I need to really get to the first jump, for example,” she said. “Having been in the judge’s seat helps me see what the judge sees and what catches your eye.”
McPherson used what she learned in the first round, picked up a strong pace and didn’t deviate.
McPherson, McLean, Va., trains with Miranda Scott of Meadowbrook Stables and has leased the bay, Dutch Warmblood gelding this year. She described him as a horse with “just enough attitude” to make a great show horse.
“One of his nicknames is Punk because he has that type of attitude,” she said laughing.
Scott also shows Tenerife, a first year green horse, in the green conformation division. The pair earned ribbons at Capital Challenge, and Scott contested the WCHR Pro Challenge with him earlier in the week.
The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 8. The $50,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix is the highlight of the jumper action. Held at 7:30pm on Saturday, October 7 the FEI World Cup Qualifying class is a great opportunity to witness US Equestrian Team veterans tackle a demanding course. As always, admission to the show is free and classes run in two rings throughout the day. Evening performances will take place on Friday and Saturday night. Results, photos, time schedule and streaming video can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallenge.org . For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 952-7944.
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