In 2017, Capital Challenge also hosted the inaugural USHJA
3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final – East, and, following rave
reviews, the show will do so again in 2018.
Also new for 2017 was the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner
Jumper division, created following requests that the division
be added to Capital Challenge’s jumper schedule, which
already included a $10,000 North American Medium Junior/
Amateur-Owner Classic, a $10,000 Children’s Jumper
Classic, and a $10,000 Adult Amateur Jumper
Classic.
For Kennedy, who still manages the horse show
today, it’s now fun to look back over the past
25 years to see how far the show has come
and to remember that it started with one
chance visit to the Upper Marlboro racetrack.
“There’s something about being lucky enough
that you’re in the right place and the right time
and destiny kind of takes you somewhere,”
said Kennedy. “We had people who saw Billy
and my vision for the show that we put out
there, and they were willing to take a shot on
us – and it’s worked.
“The 25 years of this horse show wouldn’t be
possible without those people and the exhibitors,
sponsors, and staff who support us and believe in the
EE
“The Future Hunter now 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter division
is amazing, and I’m truly impressed with how it has grown
over the past few years,” said three-time United States
Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter
Derby Champion Liza Boyd in a previous interview. “I think
it’s the best thing that has happened to our industry because
it has made people want to go out and buy young
horses. Horses from this class have gone on to be famous
horses, and that is something really special.”
With the WCHR year-end finals and the 3’
and 3’3” Green Hunter divisions and championship,
next 25 years of Capital Challenge!”
Learn more about Capital Challenge at
www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com 45
Capital Challenge has set itself apart
as a—if not the—premier hunter horse show.
However, from the beginning, Capital Challenge
has also been an important destination
for equitation competitors, and that’s something
that has only continued to grow.
“Billy had the idea for a children’s medal, and
we started that from the very beginning,” said
Kennedy of the popular Taylor Harris Insurance
Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Final.
“Originally, we thought we were going to try
to be the warm-up show for indoors; by probably
the second or third year, everybody was
like, ‘No, this is part of indoors.’ ”
Like the other shows in the prestigious fall indoor season,
including the National Horse Show, the Washington International
Horse Show, and the Pennsylvania National Horse
Show, Capital Challenge hosts a prominent junior equitation
final – the Palm Beach International Academy North
American Junior Equitation Championship. However, unlike
other indoors, Capital Challenge also offers major equitation
finals for all ages and levels, hosting both the THIS
National Children’s Medal Final and the Ariat Adult Medal-
Final.
www.CapitalChallenge.org
3. 4.
5. Popeye K, photo by Michelle Bloch
Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman
Hunt Tosh and Liza Boyd,
photo by Jump Media
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
/www.CapitalChallenge.org