Maggie Hill ©Brenda Carpenter

While most riders dream of ending up in the winner’s circle at the country’s oldest and most respected horse show, Devon Horse Show & County Fair, it doesn’t usually happen on the first try, if at all.

But that is what happened when Maggie Hill entered the oval arena for the first time, winning the Large Junior hunter, 15-and-under Championship aboard riding the warmblood gelding Cassanto. She also earned the prestigious Martin F. Bucko Family Perpetual Trophy.

Relatively new to the hunter/jumper horse show world, Hill started her career riding in a western saddle—the most common discipline near her hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She participated in 4-H and is a member of Pony Club, showed in a variety of classes including reining, in hand, and western equitation. Maggie then tried Eventing through the Novice level and Dressage through first level, competing at the Great American/USDF Region 6 Dressage Championships.

In 2017, Maggie began training at Finally Farm in North Carolina with Jack Towell and Liza Boyd and quickly moved up divisions. In 2018, she started in the 3’6” classes, making a name for herself in the hunter and equitation rings. She just bought a jumper, and is now getting ready to try her hand at that too!