Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter combinations were crowned in the 3’6” and 3’3” divisions on Wednesday morning at WIHS, with Sophie Gochman of West Palm Beach, FL, taking the spotlight of the 3’6” height aboard Colter and Caroline Signorino of Basking Ridge, NJ, securing the 3’3” grand title with Sandori.
Gochman’s success on her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Franziscus) in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division – they received first in the stake, two second places, and a sixth – earned them the overall victory at the higher height. It was the second championship of the week for Colter, who was champion in the Green Hunter 3’9” division on Tuesday with trainer Scott Stewart.
“He is one of the easiest horses I’ve ever ridden,” remarked Gochman. “My first time riding him indoors was at Capital Challenge, but this week I was definitely more aware that he is still a green horse. I was a bit nervous, but he was very brave, and I think that was a big advantage.”
The victory follows a large gap in Gochman’s hunter career after she switched primarily to the jumpers in her final junior years and only picked up the reins on a hunter horse again two years ago.
“It was actually harder than I thought it would be at first to get back into it because I still had been doing the jumpers the whole time,” admitted the 22-year-old. “Scott is always having to yell at me, ‘It’s not a jump-off right now!’ I didn’t compete at indoors last year because they were during school, but I may be going abroad for grad school next year. I figured since my hunter horses were going so well right now that I would prioritize it.
“I have a lot of fun doing the hunters,” she continued, “and I don’t know when I’ll be able to do this again, so I really wanted it to go well. I had a little mistake in the handy round so I was anxious going into the last round and felt a lot of pressure to get it done. I’m so happy I was able to pull it off.”
Young amateur Caroline Signorino rose to the challenge and accepted the grand champion honors with the Signorino Family Farm LLC’s Sandori in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters.
Earning top ribbons across the Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division at the 3’3” height, Signorino guided the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Sandro Boy) to his first of hopefully many WIHS grand championship titles.
“I think knowing that he is green and that I’m going into every round just trying to give him confidence in an indoor is kind of a settling feeling for me actually,” detailed Signorino. “There’s a little less expectation that comes with it, and it helps my mindset.”
Having only been partnered with Sandori since early 2024, she has taken the time and patience to guide him into many of his first experiences and new situations, including his first full indoors season.
“He is just getting to learn the ropes a bit and we are taking our time with him, so it’s been very rewarding to see him progress and figure things out,” she expressed. “This is his first real indoor season, so I am doing my best to just train him over every round and not bring out any of his nerves.”
The title was the first for Signorino, who stated her last big score at WIHS was as reserve champion in the pony hunters.
Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter
Leading Amateur-Owner 3’6” Rider
Amateur-Owner 3’6” 18-35
Champion: Colter, Sophie Gochman, Sophie Gochman
Reserve Champion: Grand Remo, Stella Propp, Aquitaine Equine
Amateur-Owner 3’6” 36 & Over
Champion: Coconut Grove, Irene Neuwirth, Irene Neuwirth
Reserve Champion: Just Apple, Margot Peroni, Margot Peroni
Grand Champion Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter
Leading Amateur-Owner 3’3” Rider
Bucky Reynolds Memorial Award
Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-35
Champion: Sandori, Caroline Signorino, Signorino Family Farm LLC
Reserve Champion: Bauer, Melissa Jacobs, Melissa Jacobs LLC
Amateur-Owner 3’3” 36 & Over
Champion: Loewie, Margot Peroni, Margot Peroni
Reserve Champion: Scout’s Honor, Irene Neuwirth, Irene Neuwirth
The 2024 WIHS continues on Thursday, October 24, with the start of junior hunter competition as well as the international jumpers, which feature the $63,000 Welcome Stake and $32,000 Accumulator Costume Class as part of MARS Barn Night.
