Upper Marlboro, MD –– Six years ago the management of the Capital Challenge Horse Show realized there was a need that existed for young hunters. The pre-green hunter division was popular at the show but needed to further satisfy trainer and owner needs. Because of this need the Capital Challenge Partnership created what we know now as the Future Hunter division.
The Capital Challenge, held this year from September 30 – October 8, is an ideal venue to run a division, which showcases young hunters. With the top hunter riders and trainers convening at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center for the show’s nine-day run, it is an opportunity to bring along their young hunters in order to gain valuable show experience indoors and out.
Gary Duffy of Ithaca, NY, owned Glory Days, the 2002 winner of the $20,000 North American Future Hunter Championship class. He said of the unique division after the win, “ It really encourages people to go out and buy pre-green horses.” Glory Days went on to compete in the junior hunter division two years later with Duffy’s daughter Kelsey.
There are many hunters who have successfully shown in the Capital Challenge Future Hunter division, and the earlier pre-green division, who have gone on to win ribbons in other division in later years. In 1999 Hollywood collected the pre-green hunter championship with Rick Fancher aboard. The following year Hollywood picked up ribbons in both the first year green division and the green conformation division with rider Tim Goguen. In 2001 Hollywood dominated the green conformation classes collecting two firsts, two seconds and a fourth in the division.
By 2002 Hollywood earned the regular conformation hunter championship.
In Disguise is another hunter to start out his Capital Challenge record in the Future Hunter division. In 2000 In Disguise placed 10th in the Championship class and first in the five and under stake class with Jimmy Toon in the irons. By 2003 In Disguise earned the “Best Hunter Performance” award for posting a perfect score of 100 with Sachine Belle at the reins. It was only the second perfect score awarded in Capital Challenge history (the first going to Osczar in 1997). Belle and the Dutch Warmblood went on to collect the championship in the second year green division and the reserve championship in the green conformation division.
In 2001 it was Dream Date who dominated the Future Hunter division, topping all three jumping classes in the colts and geldings section. Ridden by Louise Serio, Dream Date also collected the blue in the Championship class. Only a year later Dream Date and Serio returned to collect two firsts, a second and a third in the first year green division. By 2003, Dream Date’s owner, Rachel Geiger, took the reins, and the two of them collected ribbons in the small junior hunter 16-17 division.
Gray Slipper, a future hunter back in 2001, did the most recent display of talent by a past future hunter. In 2004 the gray gelding collected the reserve champion younger amateur owner title with owner Bridgett Hallman and the regular working hunter championship with Louise Serio in the irons. Last year Gray Slipper had a repeat performance in the regular working hunters and went on to earn the grand amateur owner hunter championship with Hallman.
There are numerous success stories like these, and as the years go by there will be many more. This year’s newest crop of young hunters can be witnessed in the Future Hunter division held on Monday, October 2 and Tuesday, October 3. The Future Hunter excitement culminates on Wednesday, October 4 with the $20,000 Future Hunter North American Championship class.
Admission and parking are free throughout the week. The schedule and results can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallenge.org or on www.ryegate.com. For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 260-2467 prior to the show or (301) 952-7944 during the show.
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