“It has been a great year,” Young beamed. “I never expected it to be so wonderful. I’m the luckiest kid ever. It has been a great final junior year.”Young is enrolled at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida, to study psychology.

$100,000 Tavern On The Green Metropolitan Cup

Georgina Bloomberg, 21, of New York City, won the $100,000 Tavern On The Green Metropolitan Cup, a three-phase competition contested on November 4, 5, and 6 in a modified World Cup format. Bloomberg and Lumina 2 placed 11th in the Round 1 $25,000 Speed Class; riding Nadia, she won the Round 2 $25,000 Jump Off Class; and again riding Nadia, Bloomberg won the Round 3 $25,000 Two Round Final. Based on her overall rankings, Bloomberg claimed victory in the Metropolitan Cup, besting the field of 19 riders that participated. Bloomberg’s horses are owned by Gotham Enterprizes. Bloomberg was also awarded the Whitney Stone Memorial Challenge Trophy donated by the late Mrs. Whitney Stone for her win in the Metropolitan Cup.

“It was my day,” said Georgina Bloomberg. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in the audience to watch his daughter ride win and congratulate her. “He was just happy to see me go and see me do well,” beamed Bloomberg. Kent Farrington of Chicago, Illinois, and his mount Madison owned by Alexa Weeks placed second. There was a two-way tie for third place between Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, Texas, riding Charmed for owner Alex Dillard and Laura Linback of Mundelein, Illinois, riding Quintin for Woodrun Farm.

$50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Liberty Cup

Georgina Bloomberg also captured the win in the $50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Liberty Cup, a three-phase competition contested over the same three nights as the Metropolitan Cup, and also in the Modified World Cup format. Riding Action owned by Gotham Enterprizes, Bloomberg placed second in the Round 1 $12,500 Speed Class, first in the $12,500 Jump-Off Class, and was in a three-way tie for first place in the $12,500 Two Round Final, which clinched the victory for her in the Liberty Cup. Danielle Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, aboard Lojano tied for second place with Blythe Marano of Denville, New Jersey, riding River.

In three nights of competition for the two Cups, Bloomberg, a college student at New York University, rode a total of 11 jumping courses and posted 10 clear rounds. “I find once you have one under your belt you go off of it and the self-confidence helps, so I find they’re easier to put together,” she said of her streak of clean trips. “Self-confidence is probably the number one thing you can go into the ring with.”

$25,000 Open Jumpers

This year’s $150,000 Jumper Division also included two $25,000 Open Jumper classes.

Joie Gatlin of San Juan Capistrano, California, riding SunCal’s King for owner Canyon Capital Insurance won the $25,000 Open Jumper on November 3, besting a field of 12 horses. Gatlin was the only rider to produce a double clear performance. “It’s very, very exciting because this is my first time back here at The National,” said Gatlin, 37, who had competed as a junior at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. “I was so thrilled to be able to come here and show, so it makes it extra special to win.”

Maggie Jayne, 20, of Elgin, Illinois, won the $25,000 Open Jumper on November 6, claiming victory over a field of 15 aboard Jubulent owned by Alex R. Jayne. The performance marked Jayne’s debut in indoor Open Jumper competition. “He was my junior jumper and I just started doing grand prix the past two years,” said Jayne, who rides as a professional. “I just wanted to have a good solid clean round. He’s naturally really fast so he was just fast on his own,” she said of her winning jump-off time.

Dressage Night Featuring the Continental Cup

The second annual Dressage Night featuring the Continental Cup – a team Musical Freestyle competition – was held as the opening competition of the evening session on November 3. A rider at Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, and First Level made up each of three teams. The riders on the “Park Avenue Team” won the Gold Medal. The team consisted of Cynthia Payne of Jupiter, Florida, aboard Laredo scoring 81% in the Grand Prix; Gabriel Armando of Argentina who resides in Flemington, New Jersey, riding Euclid scored 80% in the Intermediaire I; and Isabelle Leibler, 9, of Greenwich, Connecticut, riding her German pony Get the Picture scored 78% at First Level.

Individual ribbons were also awarded to the riders based on their individual scores, with Chelsea Allen taking the blue for First Level; Gabriel Armando for Intermediaire I; and Cynthia Payne at Grand Prix.

“What I loved about my performance was that Laredo really rises to occasions like this,” said Payne. “He really enjoys the spotlight and I love that. He gives 200% every time out and tonight was another 200% night. I’m very proud of him.”

The Dressage Night competition was by invitation only. The riders were selected and teamed up by two-time Olympian Lendon Gray who also acted as announcer for the night’s freestyles. The judges were Margaret Freeman of Mt. Kisco, New York, and Heather Mason of Lebanon, New Jersey.

Hunter Champions

For The Music, owned by Krista Weisman of Sherborn, Massachusetts, and ridden by Ken Berkley of Flemington, New Jersey, won the Craven Cup Trophy. The Craven Cup, named for long time National Horse Show manager and ringmaster Clarence "Honey" Craven, is awarded annually to the horse accumulating the most points in any of the rated hunter divisions. For The Music's points came from the Regular Conformation Hunter division. "This has been fantastic. I've never really been a leading hunter rider at any major show and to be Champion at Capital Challenge, a few points off the top rider at Harrisburg, and then Leading Hunter Rider at Washington, and Grand Champion at New York – are you kidding? This is by far the best indoors I've ever had," Berkley said with a laugh.

In the First Year Green Working Hunter section, Scott Stewart of Flemington, New Jersey, took Championship honors with Dynamic owned by Carolyn Kelly of New York City.

In the Second Year Green Working Hunters it was Southern Lights and Samantha Conroy of Colts Neck, New Jersey, picking up the Championship.

The Championship in the Green Conformation Hunter division was awarded to Protégé owned by the All Seasons Farm of Cincinnati, Ohio, and ridden by Elizabeth Towell of Camden, South Carolina.

In the Regular Working Hunters it was Mandarin, owned by Jane Fraze of Tucson, Arizona, taking the 2004 title. Joie Gatlin of San Juan Capistrano, California, rode Mandarin to the championship.

Amateur Owner Hunters
In the 18-35 Year Old Amateur Owner Hunters, Leah Schwendeman of Belleville, Illinois, won all three classes. Riding her mare La Cara, Schwendeman was also named Grand Amateur Owner Hunter Champion.

In the 36 & Over section of the Amateur Owner Hunters, it was veteran competitors San Siro and Tracy Weinberg of Lovettsville, Virginia, winning in a hack off for Champion.

Adult Amateur Hunters
The 18-35 year old Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunters was Piano Man, owned and ridden by Carolyn Becker of Encino, California.

In the 36 & Over Adult Amateur Hunters, Holly Caristo of Hauppauge, New York, piloted Indian Summer to the Championship.

Manhattan Cup Equitation Championship
Top amateur Senior Members of the USEF were invited to compete November 3rd and 4th in the National Adult Hunter Seat Equitation Finals for the Manhattan Cup. Alison Agley, 36, of Aspen, Colorado, aboard Archie owned by Anchor Farm earned the Championship, topping a class of 13 horses. Agley trains with Archie Cox in Los Angeles, California. “I wanted to support a big equitation finals back east. I am hoping this will become a special equitation finals,” explained Agley. It was a special win for Agley who recently sold Archie, her partner of five years, to Jane Fraze. “He was so great,” said Agley. “He is very easy and cooperative. This is a great way to finish riding him. I want to thank my mom, who bought him for me, and Archie Cox, my trainer.”

Junior Hunters
Megan Young of Jacksonville, Florida, piloted Navigator owned by Manhattan Mortgage to the Grand Junior Hunter Championship on November 6th. In addition, Young was named the Best Child Rider at this year's Metropolitan show. Navigator showed in the 16-17 Year-Old Large Junior Hunter section. "It was a wonderful way to end my junior career, Young said. “He's a wonderful horse and I have to thank everyone at Waterside and Manhattan Mortgage for letting me ride him for the last few years."

In the 16-17 Year Old Small Juniors it was Sara Rutenberg of Tampa, Florida, piloting the eight-year-old Holsteiner Wedgewood to Championshiphonors. “This is my last junior year,” said Rutenberg. “This is my last horse show right here, so this was really, really great."

In the 15 and Under Small Juniors, the Championship went to Lexy Reed of Ocala, Florida, on Double Cinco. Reed has owned the 10-year-old Westphalian for two years. Double Cinco was Grand Hunter Champion at the 2003 Metropolitan. Reed trains with Don Stewart.

In the Large Junior Hunters 15 and Under, Caitlin Donovan of New York City picked up the Championship with Rodin, a 13-year-old Dutch-bred.

Alexandra Arute Rides All About Me to Grand Pony Hunter Champion at the Metropolitan National Horse Show

Ponies
Samantha Schaeffer of Westminster, Maryland, was named Best Child Rider on a Pony.

Alexandra Arute, 12, of Avon, Connecticut, piloted All About Me owned by Richard Prant to Grand Champion Pony honors. Arute trains with Scott Stewart. All About Me showed in the Medium Pony Hunter section. “He’s seven years old and this is his first time ever indoors, so he started out kind of rough but he’s improved so much through Harrisburg and Washington and here in New York he really got it together, so I’m really, really happy,” Arute explained.

In the Large Pony Hunter Section, 10-year-old Schaeffer Raposa rode Orlando owned by Maggie Mcalary to the division Championship. Maggie’s mother, said, “Do you believe it? The pony is five, the rider is 10 and the trainer is 14!” Maggie Mcalary is 14 and helps Schaeffer with Orlando.

Eleven-year-old Samantha Schaeffer of Westminster, Maryland, took home both the Champion and the Reserve in the Small Pony Hunter section with Rainbow Canyon and Halcyon Hawthorne respectively.

For complete results, visit the Metropolitan National Horse Show website at: www.nhs.org.

For further information on the Metropolitan National Horse Show, contact the National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd., PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548. E-mail: NationalHS@aol.com; Phone: (516) 484-1865; Fax: (516) 484-1982. Or on the web, visit: www.nhs.org