Stewart Tops the List in WCHR Professional Challenge
A Lister proved himself once again at Capital Challenge, this time winning the $50,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Stewart took the lead in the first round with a score of 92.33 and followed up with 90.33 for a 182.67 total. They were presented with the Little Brook Trophy, donated by The Duffy Family and Little Brook Farm.
A Lister's multiple accolades from this week culminated with the WCHR Pro Challenge win.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Second place went to Halie Robinson and Lifestyle, owned by Big Picture LLC. She and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare had equal scores of 88.17 in both rounds for a 176.33 total. Jennifer Hannan rode Stephanie Bulger’s Prospero, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, to third place with scores of 85.67 and 88.33 and a 174 total.
“He's really new to this,” said Stewart of the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Chacoon Blue, “but he's really straightforward and scopey and simple to ride. He's a phenomenal jumper, really beautiful, and very sweet.”
This was Stewart’s fifth time winning the WCHR Professional Challenge; his first win came in 1997 with Dialog L. He appreciates the opportunity that classes like this afford him as a rider and trainer.
“It's fantastic that there is a hunter showcase like this for professional riders, and it also showcases the owners,” he said of the class and its $50,000 in prize money. “Owners put forth a lot, so I think it's really special that they have classes like this. They can watch the horses go and get a little something out of it.”
Stewart had a banner Wednesday; in addition to his wins, he was honored with the WCHR Lifetime Achievement Award and the Old Springhouse Perpetual Trophy from the United States Hunter Jumper Association.
At 62 years old, Stewart said that winning “never gets old,” but his outlook on competition has evolved since the start of his career.
“This is what you do this for and what you want to achieve with these horses,” he explained. “It’s a great feeling to go against a great lineup of horses and riders and to still be able to win.
“I think I'm actually enjoying this a whole lot more now, and it's because I'm fortunate,” continued Stewart. “I have won a lot, and I think over the last few years, there's been some new faces coming up and it has sort of taken the pressure off. I don't have to be leading rider every year. It’s nice that the younger professionals are getting that, and I can enjoy that for them. I can have that off my shoulders and get back to what I really like, which is riding the horses. Don't get me wrong; I'm competitive, and I want to win, but it's also not the end of the world if we have a green horse and it makes a mistake. In general, I enjoy it a lot more.”