Taylor Cawley & Klaartje Z Kick Off 2025 Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship with Win
The 2025 Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship began with a bang on Thursday evening, October 9 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., with Taylor Cawley and Klaartje Z winning Phase I of the three-part championship.
The pair took the top honor in the $5,000 Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship Welcome Phase I with a time of 58.03 seconds. Second place with a time of 59.24 seconds went to Michaela Munson and Charlene, and Izzy Beisel and Diaz Barbotiere rounded out the top three in 59.25 seconds.
Cawley has had the ride on Klaartje Z, owned by Team Philippaerts and Familie Lens, for just under a year. According to Cawley, the mare’s natural tendency to be quick on her feet paid off in Phase I.
“She’s naturally quite fast, which I think helped,” said Cawley of the 11-year-old Belgian Sport Horse. “She’s a competitor at heart. She has a super fiery personality, and you don’t want to get in her way when she’s in the mindset of winning.”
While their partnership is still growing, “Kai’s” personality is a good match for Cawley. “It’s really an amazing feeling to know that she’s just as competitive as I am,” she said.
Under the bright lights of the Harrisburg Coliseum, Phase I was full of high-speed action over 1.35m fences. The class was full of well-known junior riders, such as Avery Griffin, JJ Torano, and Michaela Munson. Despite the intense competitive energy, Cawley did not let the nerves get to her.
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