Riley Hogan Rises to the Top of the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East

Upper Marlboro, Md.—Oct. 4, 2021—Riley Hogan entered the Capital Challenge Horse Show’s Show Place Arena for the third and final Jumping Phase of the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East sitting in second place overall. As she made her entrance, a crowd of people high in the stands stood watching, some hanging over the rail and others videoing with their cell phones. As it turned out, E. Sue Bopp, of title sponsor EMO Insurance, had talked Hogan’s family and friends into joining her at the show to watch their hometown Warrenton, Virginia, rider vie for the title.

After Hogan and her mount, Wengen, jumped the final fence, the cheering erupted. It grew even louder as her score of 93 was announced, giving Hogan what would become an insurmountable lead in the Jumping Phase and the overall victory by more than 14 points.

“I was ecstatic; I mean, it was unreal. For my final round, I had a pretty precise plan of what I wanted to do,” said Hogan. “I thought that the horse just followed me the whole way through to the last part, and at the end, there was an inside turn and actually I took the double inside turn that was originally maybe part of the plan, but I wasn’t solid on it. When I turned, he introduced it right to me and just followed me the whole way through, and it just ended up going exactly how I wanted it to.”

Judges Scott Hofstetter and Julie Winkel were impressed, giving Hogan the highest score of the class by 3 points.

“She was wonderful,” said Hofstetter. “You know what I loved? She came in second and took a risk going inside and inside—the double inside turns to the last line. Plus, she was so beautiful and had such a great style. We loved her and were so glad she had a solid round. She put a little pressure on the last girl, which is hard to do.”

Winkel continued, “She has a beautiful position and a great feel and beautiful partnership with her horse. It was just a pleasure to watch.”

Hogan added her name to the roster of winners during the fifth annual Final, which attracted 153 riders from coast-to-coast to vie for the title. The winner started out strongly on the flat, where the judges asked a variety of questions, including lengthening of stride, collected work as well as counter-canter, a flying change and simple change. In the Gymnastic Phase, Hogan scored 89 after mastering the challenging yet fair course designed by Kenny Krome that included a bounce combination, bending lines and shortening and lengthening questions.

“The first two phases I thought went really well,” said Hogan, who scored an 85 on the flat and an 89 in the gymnastics. “The flat phase I would have maybe liked to have a little higher score, but he couldn’t have been better, and it was right where I thought I needed to be going into the jumping. I didn’t want to be too high going into the gymnastics because I feel like there’s more pressure when you’re going in high. I was going in top 20, which I thought was a really good place for me to be mentally. Then he was just super in the gymnastics and was second, so coming into tonight I was able to not have the pressure of going last but still be able to go out and do my best.”

Lauren Jorgensen, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, rode Adolesco to second place overall with an 89.5 in the Jumping Phase, and Addison Keyworth, of Whitefield, Maine, who led the way going into the final phase, placed third overall aboard Liam with a solid score of 82.80.

Following the class, Hogan’s mount, Wengen, was named the Best Equitation Horse by judges Hofstetter and Winkel.

“He’s actually only 8 years old. We have only had him for a couple months, since right after Junior Hunter Finals this summer actually,” said Hogan of the horse owned by Don Stewart, Jr. “We’ve had to figure each other out, but he was second at the (ASPCA Maclay) Regionals last weekend, and it’s just all starting to come together and it’s a great feeling. He’s always right where I need him to be.”

For her victory, Hogan received a pair of Parlanti paddock boots, a gift from Straight Arrow, and an Essex Classics Show Shirt, in addition to a cooler, keeper trophy and sash. On hand to help present the awards to the top place finishers was E. Sue Bopp from title sponsor EMO Insurance. Stewart’s Wengen received a CWD git certificate for being named the Best Equitation Horse as well as a keeper trophy and ribbon. The top 12 riders received embroidered EMO Insurance saddle pads and Straight Arrow gift bags.

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.

New in 2021, the USHJA 3'3" Adult Jumping Seat Medal extends the opportunity to Adult Amateur riders. Riders who have not competed in a USEF Talent Search or jumped at 1.30m or higher in the same competition year can qualify for Finals by earning points during the qualifying period. Dates and locations for the 2022 inaugural Finals will be announced soon.

The USHJA extends special thanks to the entire Capital Challenge team for hosting the event as well as Title Sponsor EMO Insurance; Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital; Championship Sponsor Straight Arrow; and Awards Sponsor Essex Classics.

To learn more about the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal and the new USHJA 3'3" Adult Jumping Seat Medal, visit ushja.org/JumpSeatMedal.

Photos by Tricia Booker/USHJA

EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East Results

Placing - Rider - Horse

1 - Riley Hogan - Wengen
2 - Lauren Jorgensen - Adolesco
3 - Addison Keyworth - Liam
4 - Eve Westfall - Bon Amour
5 - Kaitlyn Roman - Pacific Heights
6 - Isabel Rudaz - Diasandro
7 - Kate Hagerty - Spotlight
8 - Kaitlyn Kiely - Cool De Reve
9 - Lucas Mejia Fanjul - Lucky Quid
10 - Ariana Marnell - Coltino
11 - Paige Walkenbach - Quadro D’Ag
12 - Elianna Kirson - Ilyana