Pennsylvania National Horse Show: Dean Dignelli Triumphs in North American League Adult Jumper Finals

Source:  News Release/Classic Communications

Dean Dignelli Triumphs in North American League Adult Jumper Finals At Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Harrisburg, PA - In only his third year of riding, Dean Dignelli, 27, Katonah, NY, captured the win in the North American League (NAL) Adult Jumper Finals, presented by Smartpak, riding Redefin, owned by Heritage Farm, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, presented by The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund. Phoenix Cooke, Chardon, OH, and Skys Burnin Blue were second and Joy Slater, Unionville, PA, was third on Oilean Uno, owned by Fat Chance Farm.
"It meant the world to me to win. I just won a national championship! I went from a lunge line to competing here now in just three years," said Dignelli. "This was a huge achievement for me and I am just very blessed to have a great family and great support behind me. I owe it all to my horse and the whole staff at Heritage Farm."
 
Dean Dignelli and Redefin © Al Cook - alcookphoto.com
The top 30 in the nation qualified for the Finals; with eleven going in the jump-off and six going double clear on the Bernardo Cabral-designed course. Samantha Karp blazed the trail on David, owned by Coker Farm, going clear in 32.824 seconds. Courtney Logan and Prince Royal, owned by Patty Foster and Whitney Lind and Wanant, owned by Whish, LLC, went clear, but not fast enough. Slater and Oilean Uno jumped to the top of the leaderboard, going clear in 32.180 seconds, but it was short lived. Dignelli went next and shaved off two seconds, stopping the clock in 30.045 seconds. Cooke and Skys Burnin Blue tried to catch Dignelli, but crossed the timers in 30.156 for second place.
"My strategy was to go as fast as I could and really believe in everything that my coach and brother, Andre Dignelli, told me. He said to believe in myself, stay focused, execute the plan and not to do anything fancy. My brother is unbelievable and I listen to anything he says," said Dignelli. "I just had faith in my horse and put it in his hands. I just tried to stay tall and stay out of my horse's way."
Dignelli had good reason to believe in his horse. Redefin once belonged to Olympic legend Ian Millar. "He was Ian's grand prix horse and he's been an absolute saint across the board, from grand prix to now teaching and developing me in the adults. That horse doesn't owe me anything. He is very special to me."
Dignelli started riding because of his family's involvement and the one-on-one relationship with the animal. "I grew up on Heritage Farm, but it didn't really appeal to me at first," said Dignelli. "When I finished playing baseball in college, I thought, 'you know, I think I can do this', I got a good feel for it. 
 
"Winning here was a huge achievement for me and I am just very blessed to have a wonderful family and tremendous support behind me. The horse industry has great people and great horses. I was able to start a horse transportation company, Iron Horse Transport, and I take great pride in that and my riding. I think if you work hard and stay focused, good things will happen. The sky is the limit." 
 
   
 Dean Dignelli Triumphs in NAL Adult Jumper Finals © Al Cook - alcookphoto.com
The NAL hosts National Finals annually at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, and West Coast Finals at the Las Vegas National Horse Show in Las Vegas, NV. Both Finals include the following five divisions - Children's Hunter, Adult Hunter, Children's Jumper Presented by EquiFit, Adult Jumper Presented by SmartPak, and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper.

The NAL qualifying period runs September 1 through August 31. NAL competitions are open to all who wish to compete, however points are only awarded to current members. For more information regarding the North American League, please call (717) 867-5643, email to NAL@Ryegate.com or visit www.ryegate.com.
NAL Adult Jumper Finals Results
 
Place, Horse, Rider, Owner, Score
1. Redefin/Dean Dignelli/Heritage Farm/0/0/30.045
2. Skys Burnin Blue/Phoenix Cooke/Phoenix Cooke/0/0/30.156
3. Oilean Uno/Joy Slater/Fat Chance Farm/0/0/32.180
4. David/Samantha Karp/Coker Farm/0/0/32.824
5. Wanant/Whitney Lind/Whish, LLC/0/0/33.624
6. Prince Royal/Courtney Logan/Patty Foster/0/0/34.143
7. Cassandra Dreams/Olivia Lawton/Olivia Lawton/0/4/31.608
8. Black Friday/Alyson Gurney/Alyson Gurney/0/4/32.449
9. Au Girl/Caitlyn Epperson/Kierland Farm/0/8/34.197
10. CL Debutante/Maureen Blackstone/Maureen Blackstone/0/12/33.197
11. Baileymenta Z/Jennie Edwards/Shannon Stimson/0/12/44.385
12. Vendetta/Nicole Wood/Nicole Wood/4/56.482
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.

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