Source:  News Release/Classic Communications

Spencer Smith Wins Pessoa/ US Hunter Seat Medal Final Presented by Randolph College at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Harrisburg, PA - The excitement in the air was palpable as the nation's best equitation horses and riders tried their best to win the coveted Pessoa/ US Hunter Seat Medal Final presented by Randolph College at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show today.

A total of 244 riders and horses took to the arena beginning at 7 a.m., but it was 17 year-old Spencer Smith of Wellington, FL, who wowed the judges over three fantastic rounds which earned him the championship and the beautiful Adrian Van Sinderen Memorial Perpetual Trophy. It was third time lucky for Smith who has ridden in the Medal Final twice before, and it was the first time in 12 years that a male rider has won the Medal Final.

Spencer Smith wins the 2014 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals  (c) Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

"The first two years I was a little off here and there - the first year very off!" he said with a laugh. "This year just came together. I had a better mindset, and with a really good horse like BEAU VAN HET KEYERSHOF you have a lot of confidence. And I had a great team helping me."

Don Stewart, Smith's trainer of four years along with Geoff Teall and his parents, Ken and Emily Smith, was thrilled with Smith's win. "We were thinking he was going to deliver - I gave him the lucky tie!" he joked. "He's just better focused now," said Stewart about his student who admittedly prefers the jumpers over hunters. "He certainly has the utensils to do it, it was a matter of getting him to calm it all down."

Reserve Champion Mckayla Langmeier (c) Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

 Mckayla Langmeier, who has already had several successes this week at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, took Reserve Champion in tonight's penultimate class. The diminutive 13 year-old was over the moon with her result. "I'm truly honored to be reserve champion here!" she said. "It's been a dream of mine to test here in the Medal. I'm thankful for my Mom and my great trainers that got me here."

Langmeier rode her own SKYFALL, who has made a fantastic comeback in his own right after having colic surgery in February. "He's really straightforward, and he's quite awesome to ride," said a grinning Langmeier.

Ali Tritschler took third place after three great rounds aboard HELIO ROUGE. "I'm just honored that I got to test, and it was a really great experience," said the 16 year-old who trains with Timmy Kees and is also a successful pony rider. "I'm glad I have trainers that could keep me in the position I started in and kept me in the ribbons."

Famed international show jumper Candice King and Cynthia Hankins, a top hunter/jumper trainer and former Medal winner herself, were the course designers and judges of the competition. Out of the original 244 entries, 25 progressed to the second round, out of which five were chosen to compete in the final test which included a trot jump, a transition to walk, counter-canter to a jump, and a halt.

"I'm very pleased. They're three great riders," Hankins said. "Keeping the connection was the

Spencer Smith produced three confident rounds (c) Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

weakness we saw in the other riders, and that's what we built the course to do. To have a nice flow, and not to be tricky or trappy,"

"Spencer showed that maturity and confidence," said Hankins. "He has the art of looking like he's doing nothing, which he obviously has worked hard for."

"Mckayla was very good, but there were just a few minor things that made the difference," said King. "It wasn't lack of riding ability that made the difference, it was more having that little extra bit of confidence to go in there and give us what we wanted to see."

Smith's father Ken Smith was overjoyed. "I'm just a proud father. He told me not to cry during the presentation, but I may have a little bit."

The Best Equitation Horse Award and the Doris H Clark Memorial Perpetual Trophy, sponsored by Missy Clark, was awarded to CHEMEANCAR, who was ridden by Coco Fath.

Third placed Ali Tritschler (c) Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) is one of the largest indoor horse shows in the U.S., hosting horses and competitors from across the country with 20,000 spectators attending from the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 1,400 qualified horses competing for $485,000 in prize money, the show features national Hunter and Jumper competition and is the site of the Pessoa/USEF National Hunter Seat Medal Final, the Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships, North American League (NAL) National Finals and the $85,000 Grand Prix de Penn National.

In addition to world-class equestrian competition, the horse show offers a unique shopping experience with boutique vendors showcasing one-of-a-kind, equine inspired products including jewelry, fun fashion and accessories.

The 10-day event is being held from October 9th to 18th at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. Proceeds from the event benefit community equine and youth programs. Since its inception in 1945, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation has donated nearly $2 million to charitable entities.

Live coverage of the competition, scoring results and more details on the show are all available at www.PAnational.org.

Barnmice News story brought to you by Omega Alpha

Omega Alpha has you covered for all your equine natural supplements -
plus human and pet needs too!