Smith and Orchard Zweed Sweep Over Fences for Grand
Kenzie Smith, 15, and Orchard Zweed, owned by Rivers Edge, won all three over fences classes and were third under saddle to finish as champions in the Large Pony Hunters, sponsored by the Goodwin Family and were presented with The Tampa Horse Show Trophy donated by Dr. Suzanne Smith. The Large Pony Hunter reserve champion was Chapeau, ridden by Annie Cooper for Monarch Farms LLC.
Three class wins easily gave Orchard Zweed and Kenzie Smith the Grand Pony Hunter Championship.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Their top ribbons gave them the Grand Pony Hunter Championship sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable and The Endicott Family. For their win, they were presented with The VanderMoore Designs Trophy. Smith was presented with the Best Pony Rider Award sponsored by Archibald Cox, Karli Postel, and Brookway Stables and presented with The Kitty Borissoff Memorial Trophy donated by her many friends. With a score of 93.25, the pair also won the Best Marshall + Sterling Pony Trip of the Show.
Kenzie Smith stands for presentation.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
The 11-year-old Dutch Welsh Pony gelding by Leuns Veld’s Winston was bred at Orchard Stud in the Netherlands. After standing at stud and a jumper career in Sweden, Scott Stewart imported the buckskin and gelded him. Immediately after, he was leased to Charlotte Morasutti, who trained with Samantha Schaefer. They had great success, and “Apple” came back to Stewart at the beginning of 2026; Smith was handed riding duties.
Smith has ridden for Stewart for three years. “She loves the horses and ponies,” he described. “She's a hard worker; she'll ride all day long. If things don't go well, she takes it well and she's really good with the ponies.”
“He's so much fun,” said Smith of Apple. “He’s very cuddly, and he likes his treats.”
On riding the talented pony this week, she explained, “He definitely takes me around the course a little bit. Yesterday, I just wanted to go in and have a nice, smooth, confident round, and it worked out great. Today I wanted to step it up a little bit more, and he did that really well. In the handy, I can do a lot of inside turns, but today I kind of played it more safe on him. I went around a few places where I could have gone inside, but I was really happy with it.”
This was Smith’s second grand championship at Capital Challenge after she won in 2025 with On Tour. Winning at Capital Challenge is always memorable for her.
“They make the awards feel very special, and like a big deal with the medals and ribbons. I think they try really hard to make it feel like a very special show.”
Small Pony Hunter
The Harper Taskier Wright Memorial Trophy, given in memory of Harper by her loving parents Michael and Alexandra Borissoff Wright, friends, and family whose lives she touched.
Champion: Clovermeade Heartthrob, ridden by Grace Stenbeck-Werner, owned by Swede Ventures LLC
Reserve Champion: Keepsake, ridden by Gabrielle Pitts, owned by Rivers Edge
Medium Pony Hunter
Champion: Hopscotch, ridden by Annie Cooper, owned by Joe Currais
Reserve Champion: Super Sport, ridden by Jasper Bloomberg, owned by Gotham Enterprizes
Children’s Hunter Pony
Sponsored by DFG Stables
Champion: Ever So Blue, ridden by Madison Rodrigue, owned by First Blue LLC
Reserve Champion: Gentle Touch, ridden by Marlowe Martin, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright
Stewart-Warner Cup for Pony Rider
Given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart and Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio
Lilly Ward
Small Junior 3’6” 16-17
Sponsored by Three Ships LLC
Grand Champion Junior Hunter 16-17
Champion: Styles, ridden by Lilly Herzog, owned by Rivers Edge
Reserve Champion: Sinatra, ridden by Ella Tarumianz, owned by First Blue LLC
Large Junior 3’6” 16-17
Sponsored by Beacon Hill Show Stables
Champion: Kapatero, ridden and owned by Alice Goodwin
Reserve Champion: Circa, ridden by Presley Wade, owned by Wade Equestrian Farms LLC
The 2026 Capital Challenge Horse Show concludes on Sunday, October 3, with grand championships for 3’6” and 3’3” junior hunters as well as the children’s hunters.