Gonzalez So Takes Advantage of an Opportunity
Luciana Gonzalez So made a winning debut at Capital Challenge Horse Show when she and Opportunity Mars, owned by Katie Kantrovitz, led the Children’s Hunter 15-17 division after winning both over fences classes. This also secured the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship sponsored by Mary Jane King. For that win, they were presented with The Laura Pickett Memorial Trophy donated by Julie Karpan. Gonzalez So was also given the Best Children’s Hunter Rider Award sponsored by Wild Sky Farm and The Nelson Family.
Luciana Gonzalez So and Opportunity Mars won the Grand Children's Hunter Championship in their first time at CCHS. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Gonzalez So is 16 years old and from Los Angeles, CA. She started riding three years ago but show jumping runs in the family; her uncle Patricio Pasquel is a five-star rider who competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games for Mexico.
Gonzalez So’s love of animals translated immediately when she sat on a horse for the first time, and she has been moving up ever since. She started riding “Marvin” six months ago.
“He's very lazy, but he's kind of floaty,” she described. “He has a huge stride, so it doesn't feel like he's going very slow, so that's nice.”
The decision to compete at Capital Challenge came from the urging of her trainer, Halie Robinson. “She's just the best, and she keeps pushing me to do more things and get out of my comfort zone,” said Gonzalez So. “I love the indoor ring. It’s is my favorite ring I've ever ridden in. My horses really love it, and they jump amazing. There is just something about every ring here that gives you confidence.”
Gonzalez So summed up her experience by praising Marving. “It's all Marvin. He's truly the best partner,” she said of the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lex Lugar. “He tries his hardest all the time. It’s amazing.”
Additional awards included:
Leading Hunter Trainer sponsored by South Haven Farm
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Sponsored by Robert and Sandra Bierman
Champion: Adler, Alice Goodwin, Alice Goodwin
Reserve Champion: Your Welcome BC, Anna Tyler, Donald Stewart
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Sponsored by Boxwood Farm South
Champion: Unprecedented, Ava Barnes, Ava Barnes
Reserve Champion: Circa, Wade Equestrian Farms LLC, Presley Wade
Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Section A
Sponsored by Hesslink*Williams
Champion: Southland, Epic Sporthorses, LLC, Darya Davoudi
Reserve Champion: Chaperone, Kelly Sims, Bridget Harris
Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Section B
Sponsored by Hesslink*Williams
Champion: Ciao, Bridget Harris, Bridget Harris
Reserve Champion: Sundown, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, Kenzie Smith
Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17
Sponsored by The Nolan Family
Champion: Remember Romance, Matalon Equestrian, Taylor Matalon
Reserve Champion: Souvenir, Lydia Callard, Lydia Callard
Children’s Hunter 14 & Under
Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Garry Duffy and Little Brook Farms, Inc.
Champion: Cheers!, Castellrock LLC, Isabelle Castallanos
Reserve Champion: Cassino Royale, Mateo Gomez, Mateo Gomez
Leading Hunter Trainer sponsored by South Haven Farm
Tom Wright
Children’s Hunter 15-17
Champion: Opportunity Mars, Katie Kantrovitz, Luciana Gonzalez So
Reserve Champion: Chazeaux, Seventh Stall LLC, Serenity Wolk
High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under sponsored by Courtyard Farm
Unprecedented, Ava Barnes, Ava Barnes
High Point Junior Hunter 16-17 sponsored by The Bensimon Family
San Pedro 15, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC, Paige Walkenbach
MARSHALL + STERLING Junior 3’6” Trip of the Show
Primrose, Frog Pond Stables, Katherine Mercer
Best MARSHALL + STERLING 3’3” Junior Trip of the Show
Sweet Caroline, Kimberly McCaslin, Ashley McCaslin
Best MARSHALL + STERLING Children’s Trip of the Show
Tie: Opportunity Mars, Katie Kantrovitz, Luciana Gonzalez So
Cheers!, Castellrock LLC, Isabelle Castallanos
WCHR Junior 3’6” Challenge sponsored by Saddle Ridge
Babylon, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC, Paige Walkenbach
WCHR Junior 3’3” Challenge sponsored by Over the Hill Farm
Positano, Northern Ridge Stables LLC, Natalia McCarthy
WCHR Children’s Hunter Challenge sponsored by Meadowview Farms, presented with the Applegate Family Perpetual Trophy, donated by The Applegate Family
Biarritz, Laura van Rooyen, Grier van Rooyen
WCHR Pony Challenge sponsored by Sweet Oak Farm, presented with the Foxlair Poker Trophy
On Tour, Charlotte Kelly, Kenzie Smith
Stewart-Warner Cup for Junior Rider
Given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio
Elizabeth Rinehart
Stewart-Warner Cup for Children’s Rider
Given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio