Scott Stewart and Jordan Sweep Grand Hunter Championships at Pennsylvania National Horse Show
Scott Stewart rode Jordan, owned by Sophie Gochman, to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship on Tuesday, October 18, in Harrisburg, PA.
Stewart and the 9-year-old Selle Français gelding claimed two wins and a third place over fences, a win under saddle and a second-place finish in the model on their way to the Green Conformation Hunter division championship, sponsored by Caroline Moran & Goshen Hill. For the division championship, Stewart was presented with the Wild Air Farms Challenge Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Johnson, Jr. and returned to competition by Mrs. Haywood Nelms, Jr. Finishing as the Green Conformation Hunter reserve champion was another of Stewart’s mounts, Whimsical, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC.
In addition to the Grand Hunter Championship, Stewart and Jordan also earned the Grand Green Hunter Championship, for which they were presented with the Kimberton Hills Challenge Trophy, donated by Mrs. H.A.W. Myrin.
“It means a lot because we work all year long to come here and compete against the best riders and horses,” said Stewart, of Wellington, FL. “I’ve come here every year since 1980. It’s a very special place for tradition and all of the trophies.”
For the Grand Hunter Championship, Stewart was presented with another of those trophies, the Beaufort Hunt Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late COL. and Mrs. J.B. Hollis, Jr. Stewart’s top results also earned him the Leading Hunter Rider title, for which he was presented with the Elizabeth M. Solter Memorial Perpetual Trophy and a Vibershield gift card.
Stewart’s great success with Jordan is even more impressive considering the length of their partnership. Stewart has had the ride on Jordan only since August when the horse was initially purchased by Gochman, and the pair has already been division champion two out of their three times out.
“Amanda Steege brought him along and did a great job,” explained Stewart. “He’s not very big, but he has a big stride and a great jump. He’s really sweet and tries to do the right thing. Sometimes he tries a little too hard, but especially today he felt really relaxed and very comfortable.”
Along with earning an array of tricolors with Jordan, Stewart also rode Nottingham, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, to a score of 93 in the Green Hunter 3’9” division to earn the EMO Agency Professional Hunter High Five Award for the highest score in the professional hunter divisions.
In the High Performance Hunter division, the championship went to last year’s Grand Hunter Champion, Cannon Creek, ridden by Hunt Tosh and owned by the Wheeler Family. Taking the reserve championship were John French and Milagro, owned by Kent Farrington LLC.
“Every time we ask him to be phenomenal, he is,” said Tosh of the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He came here last year and was spectacular. He did it again this year. He’s a superstar.
Tosh continued, “The whole horse show has been fantastic. All the new upgrades and revamping everything; the venue’s fabulous. They gave us another ring this year which really made it so much easier, even with the equitation going on Sunday, it gave us a place to ride. You can’t say enough good things about what [show manager] Pat [Boyle] and his crew have done.”
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