Strong Competition Starts Off Equitation Weekend

Upper Marlboro, MD - The Capital Challenge is fulfilling its prophecy as the perfect ‘warm-up’ horse show for the fall indoor hunter/jumper circuit, drawing the best riders from across the country.  The Monarch International Equitation weekend is a proving ground for many who aspire to reach the top of the equitation ranks.  One of the winningest junior equitation riders, Maria Shaub of Holmdel, NJ, exemplifies the upper echelon of this group and continued her success winning the 17–year-old equitation championship at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Shaub rode Perfekt, a nine-year-old gelding she has only been riding for a few weeks.  The young rider trains with Frank and Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill in Colts Neck, NJ. 

Also trained by the Madden team at Beacon Hill is Jessica Springsteen, 14, of Colts Neck, NJ, who won the Monarch International Junior Flat Equitation Championships.  This year’s class was run in a new format offering an exciting finish. “I have never done a class like that before,” said Springsteen who had to ride head-to-head with the top ribbon winners, and perform testing throughout. “It was really exciting.”

Springsteen had collected the reserve championship in her 13-14 age group earlier in the day but was still nervous in the flat class. She said, “I was nervous that they were going to ask us to back up because it is hard to do that on him. But they didn’t ask us so I was lucky. It worked out.” Springsteen was riding Papillon 136, a well-broke equitation mount she has owned since last November.

Taking home the championship in the 13-14 age group was Chase Boggio riding Dahlila.  Boggio and Dahlila won a first and two seconds to take the tri-color.  Boggio had only shown the mare four or five times but explained that she is a “good girl.”   Dahlila is owned by the Holik family and Boggio said, “The Holiks have a great horse and I’d like to thank them for letting me use her.”

Boggio has a horse of his own he rides at home in Georgia, but at The Capital Challenge it was his sister, Alexa, who was riding Thunderbay.  Boggio said, “My sister is riding him in the 12 and under division.  We want her to move on to horses, and he’s a great learning horse. He can teach her a lot.”

Boggio trains with Christina Schlusemeyer, Bobby Braswell, Kate Conover and Heather Tinney, of Quiet Hill Farm in Ocala, Fla.

Also trained by the group at Quiet Hill Farm was Sara Green of Boston, Mass., who collected the championship in the 15-year-old equitation division.  Green rode Why Not Jack, a 14-year-old gelding she began showing at the beginning of last year. The junior at Dover Sherborn Regional High School described the warmblood gelding as very smooth. She added, “He tries to help you out if you respect him.  He does have a temper. He’s like a kid and you just have to let it happen or it will get worse. You can’t fight with him.”

Green will show in Sunday’s Monarch International North American Junior Equitation Championships. Sunday also features the Show Circuit National Children’s Medal Finals and the Monarch International North American Adult Equitation Championships. The Capital Challenge Horse Show will continue through October 7th with hunters and jumpers showing in two rings.

Spectators can enjoy the show jumping action as well as the many boutiques offering unique gift items, artwork, the finest jewelry and a variety of quality equestrian equipment. The boutique areas are located inside and out with a total of over 45 shops. Pick up your holiday gifts early!

Admission and parking are free throughout the week. The schedule and results can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallenge.org.  For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 952-7944.