Propp and Leong Nab Overall Honors

Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships drew to a close Saturday afternoon Flintfields Horse Park as eight national champions were crowned, including two grand champions at the two fence heights offered.

Clara Propp of New York, NY, is following in her sisters’ footsteps and riding to top finishes, taking three wins in the Large 3’6” Juniors 15 & Under and claiming championship honors with Arabesque, owned by Aquitaine Equine. Her three wins across the competitive division also earned her the overall 3’6” grand championship.

“She has a good personality, and she’s always super sweet and really spoiled,” Propp, 14, said of Arabesque. “She’s just been amazing ever since we got her. I got her when she was eight and she was still green, but she’s just proved herself time and time again.”

Trained by Brianne Goutal-Marteau, the young rider has many impactful mentors in her life, including her sisters, Stella and Juliette. “I have two sisters, and I’ve learned a lot from them,” Propp continued. “They both did the 3’6″ [hunters] and the jumpers before me. I just tried to follow in their footsteps. They were both super successful, and I try to be like them. We don’t have a competitive nature, so we’re just all super supportive of each other, and that’s really nice to have built-in friends.”

New to Traverse City but a previous overall grand champion at Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships with the same horse, Propp is enjoying her time and hopes to continue her success in future years. “This is not only my first Junior Hunter Finals in Traverse City, but my first time being here in general,” she continued. “I love the venue. It is so pretty. The ring felt really special. It was big and they built up the jumps a lot, and it was very decorative. It was just super fun to compete in this ring.”