Cara Garito and Ever Wonder Are Wonderful in $10,000 North American League Adult Hunter Final, sponsored by R&R Hunter Horses

The hunters took over The Show Place Arena on Sunday afternoon to cap off competition with the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Final, sponsored by R&R Hunter Horses where Cara Garito and Ever Wonder, also known as “Kenny,” landed the win.

In the class’s opening round, 26 pairs vied for the championship sash, but only the top 12 highest-scoring riders were asked to return for a second round. Contenders worked throughout the year in horse shows across the country to qualify for this featured event.

“I started doing the Adult Hunters in Florida with Kenny, and we did several Classics,” explained Garito, “and we were consistent. We kept pecking away at it.We were worried we wouldn’t get in, but we were lucky, and it all worked out.”

Cara Garito and Ever Wonder's winning jumping form.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Garito’s first-round score of 85 saw her and her 11-year-old Warmblood gelding returning fifth from the top in the second round, but she met her goal of scoring higher in the second round with an 86 and a two-round total of 171 points.

“My plan in the second round was to do better than I did in the first round, and I did one point better,” she laughed. “I was hoping to move up but I was completely surprised that we moved up to first. He was super consistent in both rounds.

“We love Kenny,” added Garito. “I leased him about a year ago for six months, and then we liked him so much we leased him for another six months, and then I liked him so much I purchased him. He's never leaving! He is totally reliable and dependable. I walk in any ring on him, and I know he's got me. He just walks in and owns the ring and makes you feel so confident.”

Sarah York maintained her runner-up position from round one, adding scores of 87 and 83.5 aboard her seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Qrumpet, for a total of 170.5. Tricia Barr and Party Started, her own 10-year-old Westphalian gelding, earned equal scores of 84 in both rounds to earn third place with 168 points.

For Garito, the win was a sweet welcome back to The Capital Challenge Horse Show, which she hasn’t attended in five years.

“When I came here last, I was on a different horse, and I did these same finals five years ago,” she stated. “I forget if we came in third or fourth, but I had a very young, green horse who was a little newer to this. To be able to come and win this class today is high on my highlight list, for sure.”

Cara Garito was all smiles during her presentation ceremony with Ever Wonder.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Today’s North American League (NAL) Finals are a 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 series includes classes held at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada, giving riders in these divisions a chance to ride in year-end finals at two major shows – the West Coast Finals at the Sunshine 1 Horse Show in Thermal, California, October 28-November 1, and the National Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, September 23- October 4.

Competition at The Capital Challenge Horse Show resumes Monday, September 28, with the start of the Green Hunters, High Performance Hunters, and Performance Hunters.