Faith Schuttemeyer and CC Umami Lead From Start to Finish in PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships
Five days of intense equitation competition came to a close on Sunday, September 27, at the 2026 Capital Challenge Horse Show Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com. The last set of junior equitation riders took center stage in The Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, for the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Equitation Championships. After two rounds, Faith Schuttemeyer of Boynton Beach, FL, maintained her lead to emerge victorious.
Course designers Meghan Rawlins, Ken Krome, and Joe Carnicom got to work setting their final equitation course of the weekend, integrating a variety of bending lines, combinations, and unique fences. Three panels consisting of two judges per panel judged the top 125 junior equitation riders in North America. Ginny Edwards and Phillip DeVita made up panel one, Claire Kellner and Tammy Provost acted as panel two, and Tony Sgarlata and Geoff Case were on panel three.
Faith Schuttemeyer and CC Umami displayed excellent form to win the PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
As the seventh to go in round one, Schuttemeyer set the early tone, receiving an average score of 89.13 from the judges and putting herself in the lead for the remainder of the class.
“I actually like going at the beginning of the class,” explained Schuttemeyer. “I feel like if I watch too many, I get a little in my head. I have more experience at the 3’6” height now, so I was really hoping to do well in this class this year.”
In the pinnacle position of the second round, Schuttemeyer and First Blue LLC’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, CC Umami, laid down a trip that scored 91.17 for a total of 180.5. Schuttemeyer was officially named the winner with no tiebreaker necessary.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure going at the end of the second round,” she detailed. “He was jumping very high, so while he usually jumps well, I wasn’t sure if he stayed in form.”
Faith Schuttemeyer stands for her winning presentation aboard CC Umami.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
The young gelding only moved to the U.S. over the summer when acquired by Jenna Weinfurt of First Blue LLC during the Traverse City Open Sales Auction in July.
“This is only his third equitation show, but he's really caught onto it fast,” expressed Schuttemeyer. “We've been practicing bending lines, tight turns, and spooky jumps, but honestly, he's quite smart, and it's been a pretty easy transformation.”
Following the second round, Kaitlyn Linck and her 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Don Touch de Tiji Z, paired scores of 88.68 and 89.33 to claim second place with a 178.02 total. Parker Peacock and Montverdi, Ashland Farms’ 13-year-old Westphalian gelding, rounded out the top three with scores of 87.67 and 90.33 for a total of 178.
See how Faith Schuttemeyer rode CC Umami to victory