Raiszadeh Dominates EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Finals - West
San Juan Capistrano, Calif.—Sept. 25, 2024—Junior riders from across the West Coast gathered for the highly anticipated EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - West held during the International Jumping Festival from September 18-22 in San Juan Capistrano, California. Topping the competition with a commanding performance, Katalina Raiszadeh and her own mount, Dublin, claimed top honors. Taking reserve was Brooke O'Malley on Quijote while Molly Copeland and Jinter Van Het Hagehof collected third.
"I'm super excited that I won this," exclaimed Raiszadeh. "This is my first time winning a Final, so I'll always be grateful for this opportunity and to everyone who made this possible."
Twenty-three horse-and-rider pairs competed for the prestigious title, evaluated by judges Melissa Bark and Rachel Kennedy over three challenging phases. The competition kicked off with the Flat Phase, where Los Angeles native O'Malley and her own Quijote took an early lead, scoring an impressive 90. Hot on her heels was Addison Henssler of San Diego, California, aboard Maggie Dumrauf's Cover Girl, earning an 89, while Emilia Dencik of Pasadena, California, and her own Cissecou R rounded out the top three with a score of 88.5.
Initially, Raiszadeh under the tutelage of San Marcos, California-based trainer Emily Esau Williams, found herself in fifteenth with a score of 76.5, but she staged an impressive comeback in the remaining two phases: the Gymnastics Phase and the Jumping Phase, both designed by renowned FEI "I" level course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio. Her skill in the technical rounds propelled her to the top, showcasing the talent that ultimately earned her the championship title.
Raiszadeh, hailing from Rancho Santa Fe, California, scored an impressive 82 in the Gymnastics Phase, propelling her up 13 spots to third place. She continued to wow the judges in the final Jumping Phase, earning an untouchable score of 89. This secured her a total score of 377.5, giving her an eight-point overall lead and clinching the championship title in commanding fashion.
"The [International Jumping Festival] is one of my favorite shows," said Raiszadeh. "I enjoy riding here because [the facility] is beautiful and my horse Dublin likes it a lot here too."
O'Malley and Quijote claimed reserve honors with a total score of 369.5. Third place was awarded to Copeland of Clyde Hill, Washington, aboard her own Jinter Van Het Hagehof, finishing with a score of 366. Under the expert guidance of Morgan Thomas from Bellevue, Washington, Copeland's horse also earned the prestigious Best Equitation Horse Award, rounding out a remarkable performance.
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 Blenheim EquiSports 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 - West Results
Rider | Horse | Trainer | Owner
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | Overall
1. Katalina Raiszadeh | Dublin | Emily Esau Williams | Katalina Raiszadeh
76.50 | 82 | 89 | 377.5
2. Brooke O'Malley | Quijote | Susie Schroer Inc | Brooke O'Malley
90 | 81 | 79 | 369.5
3. Molly Copeland | Jinter Van Het Hagehof | Morgan Thomas | Molly Copeland
81 | 78 | 84 | 366
4. Kate Kaderabek | Caliber | Shayne Wireman | Kate Kaderabek
82.5 | 77 | 81 | 360
5. Laurel Piombo | Impression | Julia Nagler | Nicasio Valley Barn, LLC
84 | 72.5 | 80 | 352.75
6. Ella Dalton | Quathageno | Lee Flick | Dalton Equestrian Llc
87 | 85 | 69 | 352.5
7. Rosemary Bilson | Que Color | Stephanie Haney | Cherokee Show Horses
80 | 86 | 71.5 | 352
8. Lila Badham | Quadro D'Ag | Alicia Saxton | Dayle Lemire
76 | 70 | 82 |345
9. Ava Sabin | Kilroy | Lindsay Stefanko | Isabella Erlick
86 | 76 | 70 | 340
10. Riley Delaney | Capalo | Cassie Belmont | Riley Delaney
86.5 | 79 | 64 | 333
11. Anika Phillips | Big Picture | Ireland Bloem | Anika Phillips
82 | 71 | 72 | 332.5
12. Addison Henssler | Cover Girl | Hailey Scharping | Maggie Dumrauf
89 | 69 | 68 | 328.5
Photos: Julia B Photography
