Grace Shipman takes EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Finals - East Title

Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 2, 2023—The East Coast saw Junior riders contest the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East over September 28-29, during Equitation Weekend at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Taking top honors and claiming the competition title was Grace Shipman and Calamanzo.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have won the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final this year," Shipman exclaimed. "It’s such a fun and technical class, and Capital Challenge is a special horse show, so this win really means a lot to me."

Shipman of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and her own Calamanzo came out on top in a large field of 163 horse-and-rider combinations competition over three phases. The first test was the Flat Phase with judges Mark Jungherr and Virgina Edwards carefully watching riders execute changing their stride length and fluidity of the counter canter. This was followed by the Gymnastic and Jumping Phases designed by Ken Krome.

"The courses were great," remarked Shipman. "They were challenging but incorporated a lot of chances to show off everyone’s abilities. I really had a lot of fun in both rounds, especially with the bounce in the Gymnastic Phase!"

Shipman scored an 86.72 in the Flat Phase to sit in 37th place but made an impressive comeback after moving into second place with an 88 after the Gymnastic Phase. Continuing to impress the judges, Shipman scored an untouchable 89 in the final Jumping Phase, which put her at the top of the scoreboard with a total of 396.72, taking home the title. 

"Each round asked a lot of questions, so my trainer, Val Renihan, and I kept watching and going over the plan for the courses. My horse has a big stride, so I had to focus on putting a curve in most of the bending lines," she said of her strategy. "Phase three started with a forward line, so getting up to pace was important. I definitely felt some pressure heading into the final phase, but I knew that if I stuck to the plan, we’d have a good round. I’m really happy with how everything went."

Shipman has been partnered with her 2008 Holsteiner gelding over a year, and the pair competed in the 2022 EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Finals - East, taking second in the Gymnastic Phase but finishing out of the ribbons overall. They spent the past year figuring out each other's strengths and weaknesses under the guidance of trainer Valerie Renihan, of Wellington, Florida. 

"My horse’s name is Calamanzo, or Cal in the barn. I’ve been riding him for a little over a year and I’m really proud of the partnership and consistency that we’ve built," Shipman said of her mount. "He has a great canter that makes it easy to find the jumps and he really gives it his all in the show ring. He has a big sense of humor and he likes to test me, but that’s part of what makes him so special. Cal is a sweet horse and is usually looking in everybody’s pockets for food, especially bananas."

Sally Ives of Durham, North Carolina, and Jinter Van Het Hagehof earned reserve honors with an overall score of 392.06. Third place was awarded to Logan Thomas of Millburn, New Jersey, and Reverie Sport Horses LLC’s Chacom Ask after they received a total score of 390.75.

The Best Equitation Horse Award went to Anna Coatsworth's Cyrus, ridden by Emma Simon, of New York, New York, and trained by Andre Dignelli, of Katonah, New York. 

"I am so thankful to the team at Findlay’s Ridge for all of the training that prepared me to be successful in this class," said Shipman. "Competing in the 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal has helped me improve my riding over the past few years, and I think it’s a great opportunity that USHJA provides."

The EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal provides Junior exhibitors with the opportunity to develop their equitation skills over a jumper-style course, aiming to help riders gain experience in a format similar to that of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search. The Medal is open to Junior riders who have not reached their 18th birthday as of December 1 of the current competition year and qualify for the Finals by earning points in Jumping Seat Medal classes during the qualifying period.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the Capital Challenge Horse Show team for hosting the Final; Title Sponsor EMO Insurance; Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena and Parlanti; and Awards Sponsors Essex Classics.

For more information about the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal, visit ushja.com/jumpingseatmedal.

USHJA 3'3'' Jumping Seat Medal Final - East Results

Rider | Horse | Trainer | Owner

Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | Overall

1. Grace Shipman | Calamanzo | Valerie Renihan | Grace Shipman
86.72 | 88 | 89 | 396.72

2. Sally Ives | Jinter Van Het Hagehof | Donald Stewart | Sally Ives
87.29 | 85.85 | 88 | 392.06

3. Logan Thomas | Chacom Ask | Michael Dowling | Reverie Sport Horses LLC
88.58 | 86.85 | 85.95 | 390.75

4. Helena Timpany | FRH Remarkable | Abbi Seley-Ferringo | FRH Group
85.45 | 86.35 | 85.75 | 386.45

5. Lily Epstein | Greyson PH | Allison Sweetnam | Lily Epstein
84 | 85.25 | 86.75 | 385.37

6. RJ Maya | Cantinero | Plus SN | Emily Smith | Ashland Farms
88.92 | 86.45 | 82.65 | 383.89

7. Abigail Roberts | Chocolate Chip 12 | Abigail Blankenship | Wendy Dixon
87 | 80.95 | 87 | 382.42

8. Madeline Brooks | Clearview | Anna Schierholz | Hannah Dodd
85.37 | 84.15 | 85.25 | 382.09

9. Emma Whidden | Caruso | Jenny Martin-Rudaz | Eloise Foster
86.95 | 83.95 | 84 | 381.17

10. Harper Phipps | Topper | Stacia Madden | Ruby Ransco
85.92 | 85.74 | 82.95 | 380.44

11. Pavlina Escobedo | Quiwi | Tiffany Morrissey | Ashland Farms
88.53 | 82.45 | 83.35 | 378.90

12. Anika Spaeth | Celtic | Catherine Cram | Anika Spaeth
88.86 | 85.15 | 81.15 | 378.88

Photos: Shawn McMillen Photography