WELLINGTON, FL (November 28, 2002) – Maggie Jayne, 18, of Elgin, Illinois, won the first phase of the inaugural Victor Hugo-Vidal National Horse Show Equitation Championship at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida, today, scoring 96 out of 100 points. "It's very satisfying because he used to be very green and he's really come together," said Maggie Jayne of Chocolate, a horse she has been riding for two years. "I'm very happy that he's turned out well." Chocolate is a nine-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding owned by Maggie's father and trainer, Alex Jayne. A former dressage horse, Chocolate was imported as a jumper. Maggie and Chocolate won the Regional Maclay, but today's class was their first Finals competition together.

Eight thousand spectators watched the class in the Internationale Arena – a crowd that Maggie said she did not expect on Thanksgiving Day. "It's nice to have people to watch because sometimes, equitation," she paused and smiled, "there's not a lot of people to watch because it's kind of boring." Her horse was also 'surprised' by the atmosphere. "He was a little overwhelmed, but he's so sweet and gentle, whatever I ask, he'll do. He's a baby," said Maggie.

Nine top equitation riders contested today's Phase One-Flat. The next two competitions in the championship – Phase Two-Hunter and Phase Three-Jumper will be held on Friday, November 29, and Sunday, December 1, respectively. Stadium Jumping's Gene Mische, chairman of the National Horse Show, created the championship in honor of the late Victor Hugo-Vidal. The competitors qualified to compete are the top riders from the Medal and Maclay classes, the Washington Equitation Final, and the USET Talent Search on both coasts. The points from each phase carry over to the next, and the ultimate winner will be named the champion and best equitation rider of 2002.

In today's Flat Phase the riders were asked to show working gaits and lengthening in walk, trot, canter, and counter canter, and were also asked to demonstrate a shoulder-in. "I've never had them ask [for shoulder-in] in a flat phase," said Maggie, "but my horse used to do dressage work so he's, very, very disciplined on the flat."

Following that segment, based on scores, three riders were excused from the ring and the top six competitors were asked to exchange horses – first and second switched, as did third and fourth; and fifth and sixth. All riders dismounted in the ring, changed saddles onto their new horse, and then individually each had one minute to work the horse in front of the judges to demonstrate how she would prepare the horse if she were going to jump.

"I was in first place, and the girl I switched with was Erin [Stewart] who was in second," said Maggie. "You could do whatever you wanted to prepare them to jump. I did a circle to the left, a circle to the right; then I picked up the right lead and then I did one lead change; and then I cantered another circle. I just wanted to get all four [directions] – trotting him both ways and cantering both ways. What you think the judge would want is what you need to do to prepare the horse. Normally when you're going to jump you need to canter."

Maggie knew a little about Erin Stewart's horse, which helped her determine how she worked him. "I know he used to be a jumper so I didn't want to gallop too much because I wouldn't be able to bring him back. But he looked very quiet. He's pretty similar to mine. They're both big and they like to be in a frame."

Following this performance, the judges made their decision and placed Maggie Jayne first; Courtney McKay second; and Erin Stewart third.

Maggie explained that the three phases essentially work from easiest to hardest – flat, hunter, and then jumper. "But still it's judged on the rider," said Maggie, "so just before you go in you want your horse to be warmed up his best to show you off." She expects that in the next phase the riders will be asked to jump an eight-fence hunter course without further testing, but that in the final jumper round, they may be asked to switch horses again. "You never know what they're going to have you do," she said.

Maggie competed at the National Horse Show in New York City last year and compared that venue with the show's current home. "It's just completely different, but it's nice. Last year I had pretty much the same [type] horse but you just have to prepare differently. This is a huge open grass field and Madison Square Garden is a tiny little indoor ring. You sometimes need a different horse that collects better for the indoor ring. For a grass field you need more of a game horse that would jump around." Maggie said that she likes the jumpers and considers herself a 'jumpery' person.

The Jayne family has a residence in Wellington near the show grounds and regularly competes in the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins in January. "So we just came down a little earlier," explained Maggie. She added that November is traditionally her family's month off, so she hopes next year the show dates will follow directly after the Washington International Horse Show. "But it's all up to what they can get done. I know it's very expensive to have it in the Garden."

Maggie Jayne recently won the 2002 USA/Pessoa National Hunter Seat Medal Final at the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg, PA, and placed in the top six finalists at the ASPCA Maclay Finals in Washington. This is her last year as a junior rider.