Sydney Mohrhardt Sweeps THIS National Children’s Medal Finals
September 27, 2025 — Upper Marlboro, MD — Sydney Mohrhardt, of Boca Raton, FL, was named champion of the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals on Saturday, September 27, during the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, hosted 41 junior riders who qualified over the course of the year for the 32nd year of this prestigious finals.
“When I found out I won, I couldn’t believe it. It was just amazing. All of the hard work I did with my horse and my trainers paid off, and I’m so grateful to them that they were able to get me here,” shared Mohrhardt, who trains with Jacob Pope and Nick Pongracz of Hickory Ridge LLC.
Sydney Mohrhardt and Saint Louis were presented as winners. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
For Mohrhardt and her mount, Saint Louis, this win caps off their first year competing in the equitation divisions together. Known as “Junior” in the barn, the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Clear 4 Takeoff, LLC, has been in the family for six years and was first matched with Mohrhardt’s older sister in the jumper rings before Mohrhardt took the reins a year ago.
Each rider competed over a first-round course by the design team of Meghan Rawlins, Ken Krome, and Joe Carnicom, and their performance was evaluated by three panels of two judges each. Panel one included Brian Lenehan and James Waldman, panel two was Geoffrey Case and Mark Jungherr, and panel three was Sissy Wickes and Robert Crandall. Each panel presented a score, which was then averaged to give each horse-and-rider combination their official mark. The top 10 scoring riders returned in reverse order for round two.
Mohrhardt and Saint Louis dominated both rounds of competition. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Scoring an 87.5, Mohrhardt led the first round by less than two-tenths of a point. She and “Junior” returned last in the order and executed the second round seamlessly to earn another top score of 89.5, earning her championship title on a score of 177 without the need for additional testing.
“The second round was super fun. He loves these technical courses, and he’s really good at them, so I tried to just ride it the same and keep it fun and confident,” explained Mohrhardt.
With the win, Mohrhardt gets to add her name to the banner of previous champions, cementing her in history as the 2025 winner of the THIS National Children’s Medal finals.
Mohrhardt and Saint Louis led the victory gallop. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
“All week I’ve been looking at the names, so it’s great that my name is going to go up there,” she continued. “It’s been so much fun competing at Capital Challenge. This was my first time here. We came for this medal final, and I've had such a blast. It’s such a cool horse show, and I’m really grateful I was able to come here.”
Carsyn Korotkin steered Blue Gate Stables, LLC’s Indigo Van De Muggenhoeck to the next-highest score in the second round of 87.66. Combined with her first round score of 85.33, she earned second place with a total score of 172.99. Kenzie Smith finished just behind Korotkin in third with scores of 86.58 and 86.33 for an overall score of 172.91, riding Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Lagerfeld.
Maggie King and Kentucky accepted their championship ribbon. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
In the outdoor arena, the top three riders from all age equitation divisions held throughout the Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, were invited back to take the rail for the North American Junior Flat Equitation Championships. Maggie King, of Spring, TX, rode Oakland Ventures LLC’s Kentucky to the win, qualifying from her standout performance in the 16-Year-Old Equitation Section B earlier in the day.
George Kelly and Glasgow Win in Style in North American League Children’s Hunter Finals
On Saturday evening, 31 horse-and-rider combinations contested for the top prize in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals, presented by Charles Ancona, during the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show. George Kelly, of Charlotte, NC, and Glasgow, owned by Callari Horses LLC, galloped away with the blue ribbon after two rounds of competition.
Riders qualified for this class throughout the year, competing at horse shows across the country for this chance to ride in The Show Place Arena. Judges Mark Jungherr and James Waldman scored each rider, and the top 12 pairs were invited back for a second round to determine the final winner.
George Kelly and Glasgow laid down two stylish rounds to win. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Kelly navigated the first course with ease to hold second place with a score of 87 heading into the final round. The rider, donning a bowtie, noted that the bending lines on course required some concentration, but he otherwise felt that the tracks designed by Meghan Rawlins, Ken Krome, and Joe Carnicom were fair.
“I started wearing bow ties because my dad couldn't come to all the horse shows, and my mom had no clue how to tie a tie, so she resorted to getting the clip on bow ties,” shared the young rider about his striped neckwear. “I wear it on important days for luck.”
George Kelly and Glasgow were presented as winners by Annette Longnecker of North American League and receives the Laura Palmer Pickett Memorial Perpetual Trophy. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Laying down another smooth trip, the young rider earned a score of 85 in the second round for a final score of 172, moving him up into the top spot. Evelyn Sigler Benson rode her own Freshman to a first-round top score of 88 and a second-round score of 81.50 to take second place with a mark of 169.5. Third place was awarded to Grier Van Rooyen and Laura Van Rooyen’s Biarritz with scores of 83 and 86 for an overall score of 169.
Kelly and Glasgow took their lap of honor around The Show Place Arena. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
This victory is bittersweet for Kelly and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding, called “Teddy” in the barn, as this class marks the pair’s final time competing together before their lease ends. Kelly reflected on the evening, sharing, “It’s my last show with him. It’s sad, but it's also a good way to go out. I was hoping to have one last, final win with him and just finish strong.”
He added that the gelding’s best skill in the show ring is “looking good,” and that, although lazy at times, “Teddy” has been a reliable partner for him over the past year.
Today’s North American League Finals are the culmination of the NAL’s year-long Series that includes classes at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada. The NAL offers year-long series in six divisions – Adult Hunter Presented by R & R Hunter Horses, Children’s Hunter, 1.10/1.15m Amateur Jumper Presented by SmartEquine, 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper, 1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper, and 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Presented by Parlanti. The NAL features year-end Finals for those who accumulated the most points in their divisions over the course of the season and we are proud to be hosting these Finals.
Five age group equitation section B division champions and reserve champions were also named earlier in the day:
12 & Under Equitation Section B
Champion: India Kulkin, of Santa Barbara, CA, riding her own Milan
Reserve: Robert Caputo, of Richmond, VA, riding Ashland Farms’ Floris Van De Vosheuvel
13- & 14-Year-Old Equitation Section B
Sponsored by Grafton Ridge
Champion: JJ Torano, of Wellington, FL, riding The Northjet Group’s Favorite Edition Z
Reserve: Emi Richard, of Middlefield, CT, riding Heritage Farm, Inc.’s Kingsroad
15-Year-Old Equitation Section B
Sponsored by Two Goals Farm LLC
Champion: Baylee Rowan, of Little Compton, RI, riding Xavier Gomez’s Eleonara
Reserve: Faith Schuttemeyer, of Boynton Beach, FL, riding SHL Farm’s Patronus
16-Year-Old Equitation Section B
Sponsored by Kent Farrington, LLC
Champion: Parker Peacock, of Pfafftown, NC, riding Ashland Farms’ Montverdi
Reserve: Eleanor Pieters , of Chepachet, RI, riding Tibri LLC’s Tibri’s So True
17-Year-Old Equitation Section B
Sponsored by Ashland Farms
Champion: Adriana Forte, of Water Mill, NY, riding Julie Thibault’s Zinzano
Reserve: Harper Phipps, of Locust Valley, NY, riding Redfield Farm’s Ypaja Kashmir
The 2025 Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, will conclude on Sunday, September 28, with the ultimate day highlighting the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Championships and the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals, presented by R & R Hunter Horses. The 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show will then continue with hunter and jumper competition through October 5, 2025.