Pennsylvania National Horse Show: It's All Gold For Katherine Strauss in the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship

Source: News Release/Classic Communications

It's All Gold For Katherine Strauss in the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship

Strauss also named William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award winner.

Harrisburg, PA - In a nail biting fight to the finish, Katherine Strauss, 17, of Southampton, NY, took top honors riding All In, owned by Katherine Strauss, LLC, in the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship

at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund. The win was all the more special as she was competing in her final year as a junior rider.

"I couldn't have been happier with the way my horse jumped this week, I am so proud of him. This is my third year competing with him here and it feels great to finally come back and have this finish," said Strauss. "This has been a class that I have watched for many years and to represent Zone 2 and compete with riders that have worked so hard to get here all year is so special. I'm even more thrilled to have this win with my teammates and my barn mate. It's a true testament to how strong the Zone 2 riders are."

Strauss' teammates Madison Goetzmann, 15, Skaneateles, NY, and Lauren Fischer, 17, Bedford Hills, NY, were all members of the Zone 2 gold medal winning team in the Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States Team Championship, which took place on Friday evening. Strauss and Goetzmann also train together with John and Beezie Madden.

Katherine Strauss and All In © Al Cook - alcookphoto.com

In the final phase of the Championship, scores are carried over from the previous two phases. The top three, Strauss, Goetzmann and Fischer, all entered the final phase of the competition without having knocked down a single rail. The margin between them was one and one half faults, meaning there was no room for error in order to capture gold.

Riding in reverse order of merit, Fischer was the first of the three to ride. Fischer and her mare, Tosca du Feugre, were easily negotiating the Steve Stephens-designed course until the final fence, where they came in at an awkward distance and the mare made a herculean effort to leave the rails intact.

"I didn't see anything," said Fischer about the distance at the final fence. "I was like, it's the last jump, I can't have it down and I panicked, but I knew she had my back. I said, 'Come on Tessa!' And she cleared it. She's a good girl. She had my back.

In the beginning she really didn't like me very much. It took me actually 12 months to figure out how to ride her so it makes this moment more special."

Goetzmann followed Fischer riding on Wrigley. Fischer had already gone clear and Strauss was waiting in the wings, so the pressure was on. The young rider had no problem going clear and clinched silver.

"It's such an amazing accomplishment," said Goetzmann. "My horse, Wrigley and I continue to grow and grow. I've had her for about two years now and each show our partnership gets better and better. It's an amazing feeling having both of my teammates finish well. No matter what the end result was, I was going to be happy."

As the final rider of the 18 who competed in the final phase, Strauss had a long wait before entering the arena. Her teammates had already gone clear, so she and All In needed to be flawless to win gold.

"These two definitely put the pressure on, they are so hardworking, so talented and so accomplished," said Strauss. "I was definitely nervous, but I had total confidence in my horse. He's such a special horse."

Strauss also won the William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award, sponsored by Karen Healey Stables. The award is presented to the Prix des States Junior Jumper Rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation and the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman.

Individual medal winners in the Neue Schule/ USEF Junior Jumper Championship

L t o R on Podium: Madison Goetzmann, Katherine Strauss, Lauren Fischer

Presentation for the Neue Schule USEF Prix des States Team Championship.

Zone 2 Won gold, Zone 4 Took Silver and Bronze Went to Zone 5

More About the PNHS

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1999 that assists in funding therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs. The proceeds from the PNHS are divided between the PNHS Foundation and The Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation. The PNHS Foundation gives to equine programs while the Kiwanis Foundation donates to youth programs. The PNHS has donated $1.68 million dollars to the Kiwanis Youth Foundation since its inception in 1947 and has donated $350,000 to local therapy and equine groups since 1999. Applications for grants are accepted throughout the year with action upon requests awarded in September.

Now in its 71st year, the PNHS is one of the most historic horse shows in the U.S., featuring the best in the sport of hunters and jumpers and is the launching ground for many future Olympians. 15,000 spectators, and 1,000,000 live feed viewers will enjoy ten days of national top competition as 1,400 top Junior and Adult competitors vie for eight national championships - including the prestigious Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final and the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual and Team Championships. The top jumping riders and horses are expected to compete in the $100,000 Prix de Penn National Grand Prix Presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, which will be held on the final day of the show on October 22.

Immediately following the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund will be The Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale, a live concert that will be held in the main competition arena. Ben Gallaher is a Sony Nashville recording artist, singer, songwriter and a Central Pennsylvania native. Gallaher's special performance is presented by L.B. Smith Ford Lincoln and will begin at approximately 10 p.m.

Tickets for the Grand Prix and Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale are available NOW at www.PANational.org and ONE ticket allows guests to enjoy BOTH the Grand Prix and the Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale. Ticket proceeds assist in funding the PNHS Foundation's therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs along with the Kiwanis Youth Foundation programs. Reserved Tier Seating ranges from $40-$50 and Family 4-pack packages range from $75-$175. General Admission for students and senior citizens is $25.Children aged 10 and under are admitted FREE and parking is FREE. Tickets are also available for ALL sessions of this year's Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

The show also features special theme days, Family Fun Day, and great shopping, with over 70 vendors featuring clothing, antiques, art work, jewelry and equestrian products. For more information, updates, promotions, and more, visit www.PANational.org or call (717)770-0222. For those who cannot make it to PNHS in person, the World Equestrian Center Live Feed can be viewed throughout the 10 days of the show and can be accessed through a link on the PNHS website at www.PANational.org or through www.EqSports.net.