Encore Returns a Grand Performance
Encore, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Rivers Edge, was named the Grand Hunter Champion, sponsored by Brad Wolf after accumulating the most points in the High Performance Hunter division.
Stewart and Encore in Tuesday's presentation.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Stewart and Encore were presented with The Janet Polk Read and Margaret Hough Sabbatini Memorial Trophy, donated by The Goguen Family, Tim and Kelly Goguen. Stewart was also named the Leading Hunter Rider and presented with the BJ’s Hunt Room Trophy.
“He's always really brave, and you never have to worry about him,” said Stewart of the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Tsunami de Hus x Quartz de Frely. “He jumps the four foot really easily; he was a fun one to ride this week. He really went great in every round.”
Encore, previously named Del ‘Arko D’Henvet, was a prolific breeding stallion at the Holsteiner Verband in Germany before Stewart imported him. Encore’s 139 offspring include Well Played, the Green Conformation Hunter champion this week with Christina Serio.
Stewart started in the Green Hunter division in 2025 and moved up to the High Performance Hunters at the Upperville Horse Show in June 2026. This year though, he has mostly shown to great success in the junior hunters with Emi Richards.
This was the 11th horse that Stewart has ridden to a Grand Hunter Championship.
Additional professional hunter awards included:
Grand Champion Conformation Hunter
The Kenneth M. Wheeler Perpetual Trophy donated by BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez
Odette, ridden by Victoria Colvin, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC
Grand Champion Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3”
Sponsored by David Belford and Christopher Payne, New Hope LLC
“A Rare Diamond” Perpetual Trophy donated by “The Friends of Mickey”
Central Park, ridden by Victoria Colvin, owned by Wade Equestrian
Grand Champion Green Hunter 3’6”
Sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters
The Monarch Memorial Trophy donated by Geoffrey Hesslink and Brendan Williams
A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC
Grand Green Hunter Champion
Sponsored by Carleton and Traci Brooks, Balmoral
A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC