October 3, 2007 — Maria Schaub of Holmdel, N.J., sat quietly atop the chestnut mare I Toon and made two rounds in the Monarch International North American Junior Equitation Championships look effortless as she posted the highest scores in the history of the class. Schaub, an EquiSearch.com blogger, finished with a two-round total of 191.6 to lead the victory gallop on September 30 at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Md.
The North American Equitation Championships were the first of three championship classes held on Sunday in the Show Place Arena. The class drew 92 entries and the order read like a Who’s Who of the nation’s junior riders.
A panel of five judges narrowed the field to 20 and those riders returned in reverse order of preference to compete over a second course of fourteen fences. The top five riders all held titles from Saturday’s classes and battled it out for the blue. Jessica Springsteen, who won the Monarch International Flat Championship, returned in the fifth position. Sara Green, who collected the 15-year-old division championship, returned in the fourth. Chase Baggio was the 13- to 14-year-old division champion held the third spot, while Katherine Newman, the 16-year-old section champion held the second.
But no one could touch Schaub who led the first round with a 94.2. The young rider, who also collected the 17-year-old championship on Saturday, concluded her successful weekend at the Capital Challenge by flawlessly tackling the second course and posting a 97.4 on the board.
“I loved the course,” said Schaub. “I thought it was challenging in terms of striding and yet for younger less experienced kids you could change the striding. There was a winning track, and there was a track that you could take if it was your first time or to gain experience. I always love that about this horse show. They always do a great job of setting a course for everyone.”
2007 North American Junior Equitation Championship Results:
1. Maria Schaub
2. Sara Green
3. Chase Boggio
4. Katherine Newman
5. Shelby Wakeman
6. Emma Lipman
7. Carolyn Curcio
8. Elizabeth Lubrano
9. Jessica Springsteen
10. Nicoletta Von Heidegger
The Capital Challenge Horse Show will continue through October 7. Spectators can enjoy the show jumping action as well as the many boutiques. Admission and parking are free throughout the week. The schedule and results can be found at www.capitalchallenge.org.
Visit Maria Schaub’s blog for an inside look at the horse show scene at special.equisearch.com/blog/mariaschaub.
