It was a patriotic evening at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show for Military Night, sponsored by Yards Brewing Company, as competitors and spectators saluted those who have served in USA's military. A men's choral group opened the evening's festivities with beautiful renditions of God Bless America and the National Anthem, as Cadet Major Zihra Alizada, Cadet Captain Brandon Faux, Cadet Command Sergeant Major Neil Painter, and Cadet Major Evan Shuey displayed the American Flag. The $5,000 Speed Challenge was the big class of the night with 41 entries, in which competitors tried their best to complete the 11 jump course fault-free in the fastest time. It was an exciting competition as our nation's top riders galloped around the course cutting corners where they could to clinch the win. Olympic rider McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Zander were the fastest of the night, jumping clear and crossing the timers in 55.857 seconds for the blue ribbon. Karen Polle of New York, NY, and What Ever took second place completing in 61.396 seconds, while third placed Leslie Howard of Darien, CT and Moondoggie finished in 61.416 seconds. After the prize giving Ward, Howard, and fifth placed Laura Chapot, rode their horses over to the stands and kindly handed their ribbons to three delighted young girls sitting in the front row, who were very star-struck to say the least! 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. Live coverage of the competition, scoring results and more details on the show are all available at www.PAnational.org.
