Regional Riders Rise to the Top
At the end of the day, horses and ponies who had a successful weekend at the WIHS Regional Horse Show came to Upper Marlboro to compete in the WIHS Regional Finals. The first class for horses welcomed Hailey Swann and her horse Gochu to lead the victory gallop after their winning score of 87. They also finished as reserve champions. Emily Young and her own Learn To Fly placed second with an 84 but also took home the championship ribbon and were presented with the Black Starr and Frost Trophy. Taylor Morrison and Deputy Balou, owned by Esther Lander, scored 83 to finish in third place.
Swann (15) of Lutherville, MD, has been riding Gochu, a seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Gerardus, for six months. This was their first time showing indoors, and Swann focused on staying consistent.
“I just have to let him do his job and let him help me,” she said. “I’m very grateful that this was his first time indoors, and we got a win out of it. This is definitely beyond my wildest dreams. I didn’t really expect too terribly much coming in, but to come out with a win was really special.”
Young, who is 16 and from Herndon, VA, has been riding Learn To Fly for three years. “He’s my heart horse; I love him so much,” expressed Young of the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Livello.
“I was a little nervous,” she added. “I just trusted him, squeezed my leg, and he was so good.”
The final class of the day was the WIHS Regional Pony Hunter Finals, where Robert Caputo of Richmond, VA, piloted All Star, owned by Wrigley Field, LLC, to a winning score of 84. The pair also finished as overall reserve champions. Bridget Sappington and Jamrock, owned by Linda Willson, placed second with a score of 82. Kinley McAvoy and Brighton Heartbreaker finished in third place but were also the overall champions.
McAvoy trains with Rick Harris and Morgan Hoke at Garrison Forest School of Owings Mills, MD, and has been riding Brighton Heartbreaker for a year. She said that the experienced pony has taught her everything about competing.
“She’s the most perfect thing ever,” said McAvoy of the 17-year-old Welsh Pony mare by Romany River Talisman. “She’s so flowy, and we have such a good connection that it’s so easy to ride her. I trust her with my whole life. She’s the queen.”
Caputo went out on a high note with All Star in his final competition on the seven-year-old German Riding Pony gelding. “I am going to miss the ponies,” he said. “Hopefully, I still get to do a few, but ‘Banks’ is ready to find his next kid.”
Caputo has been riding All Star for two years, starting with him when the pony was only five years old after it was imported by Chris Wynne. “It’s the most rewarding thing in the world,” said Caputo of working with a green pony. “All the progress each day, each week, every show — I’ve had such a great team behind me with my trainers Fiona Turner and Ashland Farms.”
This was Caputo’s first time competing at WIHS. The 13-year-old from Richmond, VA, has been riding since he was eight years old after his mother gave him a riding lesson. He has since moved up quickly, including advancing to the 3’6” equitation this summer and qualifying for the ASPCA Maclay National Championships next week.
