2004 Capital Challenge Horse Show

The Competition

In order to be named to one of the four spots for the Professional Rider Finals, riders had to qualify during the year by competing in WCHR recognized shows (of which there are 40 throughout the U.S.). AHJF keeps point totals based on each rider’s top four WCHR shows. Added to that is their top score (in WCHR recognized divisions) earned at the Capital Challenge. The top six riders from each region and the top 10 riders in the standing are then invited to compete at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in the WCHR Challenge Class (the one Fish won). Those points are then added to the overall points to determine the final four.

The riders alternated on riding four different horses which they had not ridden before. These included Cento, a 16.1 hand grey gelding (by Double Cento) owned by Bliss Heers; Matrix, a 5-year-old bay Warmblood gelding, owned by Montoga, Inc.; Foyle Primetime, an 8-year-old brown Dutch/Irish Warmblood gelding, owned by Chetana Daniels; and Maverick, a 17.1 hand bay gelding owned by Don Stewart Stables.

The riders were allowed to briefly warm-up on their first horse but for all subsequent rides they had to go directly to the 3’6” course in the ring. And while the fences were the same for all four courses, the order in which they were jumped changed each time.

Pletcher warned the riders beforehand to pay attention to the course they were on knowing how easy it was to confuse the courses and go off course.

The rounds were scored by five judges using the open numerical system. The four riders who qualified were being judged by Jeff Ayers, Sellersville, PA; Russell Frey, Argyle, TX; Hap Hansen, Encinitas, CA; Mike Rosser, Southern Pines, NC; and Steve Wall, Waukesha, WI.

The judges were really impressed with the riders and with Pletcher’s final round. “Where else could you go and have four of your best professionals school your horses,” explained Frey, adding that the horses got better after each round. “Everyone rode great. They are all winners and that’s why they got here.”

Ayers agreed noting that here you had the top hunter riders competing on horses they’d never ridden before and you could see the horses improve as a result of this. Rosser noted, “I thought the class and the riders were exceptional. Where else can you have four of the best professional riders all in one spot?” Wall supported everyone else adding, “They all rode really well. Each time they went the horses went better. It was a lot of fun to judge.” Hansen agreed, “They rode beautifully.”