Juniors are off and jumping as the 61st annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show begins its 10-day equestrian extravaganza. United States Equestrian Federation(USEF) $5,000, phase one, Junior Jumpers led the evening program followed by the $5,000 North American League (NAL) Pony Jumper Final.
Thirteen of 30 managed clean trips around the tidy 15 jump course. There wasn’t a poor seat in the house to witness the verve of horses and riders. Second on course, Joshua Vanderveen on Bull Runs News Boy, set the pace, holding onto his lead through more than half the class.
Unfortunately, Felix Des Noues with Julie Welles up, blazed past his time by nearly three seconds, which proved an insurmountable margin.
“My horse is naturally fast. He’s quick covering ground and he’s quick in the air,” said the 18-year-old from West Simsbury, CT. She has ridden the 13-year-old Felix since January, when her trainer Missy Clark imported him from Europe. “The course was fabulous. It is the second year Conrad Homfeld has designed here at Harrisburg. His courses are always unique. You never know what to expect,” she said.
Her speedy lead withstood all challenges. Maggie McAlary and Pedro finished second edging Vanderveen by less than a tenth of a second. McAlary admitted, “I was not trying to go fast. I just wanted to save ground.”
Tomorrow night, Welles and McAlary will ride as teammates representing Zone 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) in the $7,500 Adequan/USEF Prix Des States team junior jumper Championship. Haylie Jayne and Victoria Birdsall round out the team that appears to have a good chance of unseating the defending champions from Zone 5 (IL, IN, KY, MI, OH) represented by Joshua Vanderveen, his sister Kristen, Alex Parrish and Henry Pfeiffer.
Wilhelmina Horzepa, 15, of Englishtown, NJ won the NAL Pony Jumper Final with her 19-year-old pony, Exhilaration. One of only four clear in the first round, Horzepa was also the final competitor. The pair returned to the ring for their jump-off in short order.
Clearly the short turn around didn’t phase him. “He was awake and ready,” she said. She has ridden him for the last six or seven years. “I chase points with him. We qualified for the Pony Jumper Finals in 2002, finished 6th in 2004 and 8th in 2005. This is his last year.”
Junior riders continue their championship quest through the weekend. Large and small pony hunters compete during the day with the jumpers taking the spotlight at night. There are children’s activities Friday evening and Saturday at the Farm Show Arena.
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