Hagerty Claims Victory at EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals - East

Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 1, 2024—Junior riders from across the East Coast contended for the top spot in the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East, held over September 25-27 during the Capital Challenge Horse Show's Equitation Showcase in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Brooke Hagerty of Terrebonne, Oregon, and Olivia Robertson's Astro de Ravel came out on top in a large field of 175 horse and rider combinations, judged by Julie Winkel and David Beisel over three phases of competition. 

"This is really exciting. It was my second time doing the class here. I really wanted [the win], and I knew my horse and I could do it, so I'm really happy," exclaimed Hagerty.

The competition was kicked off by the Flat Phase, where Hagerty finished in a three-way tie for 14th place, with an 83.75. This was followed by the Gymnastics Phase, designed by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, which saw Hagerty top the Phase with a score of 90. She sat in second overall at the conclusion of day one, heading into the Jumping Phase. 

"I felt really prepared, so I knew I had a chance of winning. I wanted to stay consistent because it was a big group of people, and I felt really good coming in [to the final round]," remarked Hagerty. "I was really happy with how I did [in the first two Phases], so I knew if I just kept it up, I could definitely come back on top. I liked coming back in second, and I think I would rather that than coming back in first. The scores were pretty close, only separated by a point, and I'm really happy with how it went."

Returning in reverse order, Hagerty was the penultimate to go in the Jumping Phase, and her three-round score of 394.25 put her in first with one rider left to go. Tight scores warranted a work-off between the top two riders—Hagerty and Katherine Mercer, of Wellington, Florida—after which Hagerty remained on top.

Hagerty and Astro de Ravel, a 2013 Selle Francais gelding, began their partnership at the beginning of 2024. The pair spent the winter strengthening their relationship in Wellington, Florida, under the guidance of Valerie Renihan, owner and head trainer at Findlay's Ridge LLC based in North Salem, New York. Alongside the class win, Astro de Ravel was also awarded the prestigious Best Equitation Horse honor.

"I started leasing him at the beginning of the year. He's super experienced and has had a bunch of different riders, but I'm one of the youngest who's had him in a while, so it was definitely a transition, but I feel like we just clicked," Hagerty said of her mount. "He's really, really smart, so I just tried to keep calm because he picks up on everything. I wanted to keep my nerves at bay because I knew we could do it."

Earning reserve overall honors was Mercer and Ask for the Moon LLC's Goyard, with a total score of 394.225. Scoring an 85.35 in the Flat Phase and 87.25 in the Gymnastics Phase, Mercer came into the Jumping Phase in fourth overall but finished in second. After the Jumping Phase, Mercer worked off against Hagerty to pin the winner.

Grace O'Connell, of Long Grove, Illinois, finished in third aboard Dutch Valley Sporthorses' Capitolino DVE with a total score of 391.2. O'Connell sat in first overall going into the Jumping Phase, earning an 86 in the Flat Phase and an 89 in the Gymnastics Phase.

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 Supporting Sponsor 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*
*Work-Off was not scored

1. Brooke Hagerty | Astro de Ravel | Valerie Renihan | Olivia Robertson

83.75 | 90 | 87.75 | 394.25

2. Katherine Mercer | Goyard | Savannah Talcott | Ask for the Moon LLC

85.35 | 87.25 | 89 | 394.225

3. Grace O'Connell | Capitolino DVE | Abigail Blankenship | Dutch Valley Sporthorses

86 | 89 | 85.85 | 391.2

4. Wrenn Warren | Bravo Zulu | Ridley Warren | Wrenn Warren

81 | 86.25 | 88 | 386.375

5. Lillian Valiquette | Charolette | Stacia Madden | Lillian Valiquette

85.75 | 83.33 | 87.5 | 385.745

6. Elizabeth Rinehart | Halouet | Richard Rinehart | Donald Stewart

85.5 | 83.63 | 87.25 | 385.445

7. Ivy Bonds | Super Vision | Catherine Cram | Ivy Bonds

83 | 84.65 | 87 | 383.975

8. Helena Timpany | Astro RW | Abbi Seley-Ferrigno | Robertson Family LLC

79 | 86.75 | 86.5 | 382.125

9. Katelyn Martin | Relevé | Caroline McLeese | Katelyn Martin

83.25 | 87.5 | 83.5 | 381.5

10. Quinn Hunter | RF Marvel | Frank Madden | Marilyn Little LLC

84.75 | 82.33 | 82.75 | 373.745

11. Alice Goodwin | Baloudarco PS | Abigail Blankenship | Ashland Farms

82 | 86.95 | 79.3 | 371.025

12. Eliana Klane | Danton du Houssolf | Valerie Renihan | Eliana Klane

79.25 | 80.12 | 85.75 | 370.93

Photos: Shawn McMillen Photography