Mary Mairs Chapot has been a trailblazer on the American horse show scene since her earliest days as a student of Jimmy Williams and her career history is riddled with 'firsts.' She was the first West Coast rider to win the AHSA Medal and ASPCA Maclay Championship at the age of 16, the youngest woman rider on a U.S. Equestrian Team and the first woman to win a Pan American Games Gold medal. She and Kathy Kusner became the first women to ride on a U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In 1965 she married her teammate Frank Chapot and the pair became the first husband-wife combination to ride for the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET).
Harry Rittenhouse Gill was instrumental to many aspects of equestrian sport and a major force in the world of Grand Prix show jumping for many years. He had an eye for discovering new horse prospects and owned many of the nation's most famed horses. His slew of champions included the legendary Idle Dice, Twist du Valon, Victor, Bean Bag, Sloopy, Nanticoke, Philco and Number One Spy to name but a few.
As owner of these horses, Gill created partnerships with some of the nation's leading riders including Rodney Jenkins, Michael Matz, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Katie Prudent, Debbie Stephens and Todd Minikus.
One of the sport's foremost authorities on footing, Gill served the industry by improving horse show venues and riding conditions and served as a member of several Boards of Directors including Stadium Jumping, Inc., the American Grandprix Association and the Devon Horse Show. Gill played an enormous role as a member of the Organizing Committee for the 1981 World Cup Final held in Baltimore, helping to bring the Final to the U.S. for the first time. He was also a member of the Organizing Committee for the Baltimore Jumping Classic, Devon Horse Show and the American Gold Cup, which he helped out of its financial troubles and then helped establish it as one of the sport's premier events. In 2002 Gill was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
"We are delighted to honor such instrumental equestrians in our sport," said Susie Webb, PNHS Executive Director. "Induction into the Hall of Fame is in recognition of their extraordinary efforts, commitment and dedication to excellence in horse showing and to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. We congratulate them and their families."
Previous inductees include: Mary Gingrich Brand Caswell and Rodney Jenkins (2015); Irvin S. Naylor and Steve Stephens (2014); Gerry Hempt and Frank Chapot (2013).
The 2016 PNHS took place October 13-22 and featured the best in the sport of hunters and jumpers and is considered the launching ground for many future Olympians. 1,400 top Junior and Adult competitors vied 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. 15,000 spectators and 1,000,000 live feed viewers enjoyed ten days of national top competition. This year's event also featured the historic Ben Gallaher Country Music Finale which took place after the Grand Prix, special theme days, Family Fun Day, and great shopping with over 70 vendors featuring clothing, antiques, art work, jewelry and equestrian products.