Gracious is Good in Green Championship
Scott Stewart stood for yet another winning presentation after he rode Gracious to victory in the $25,000 North American Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” Championship, presented by The Wheeler Family. The seven-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Rivers Edge scored 87.75 in the first round and 88.5 in the second round for a winning total of 176.25. For their win, Stewart and Gracious were presented with The Beverly Brooks Solter Memorial Trophy donated by Hilary Scheer Gerhardt and Zan Martin Dillon.
Scott Stewart rode Gracious to the win in the Green Hunter North American Championship.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
John French rode O’Rockstar, a seven-year-old KWPN gelding by Big Star owned by Maddock Horses LLC, to second place. They scored 87.58 and 88.58 for a 176.17 total. Stewart picked up third place on Cardiff Castle, another Rivers Edge entry. The seven-year-old Holsteiner mare received scores of 89 and 87.08 for a 176.08 total.
Stewart found Gracious through Lisa Williams and bought him off a video. The horse was in Luxembourg, and Stewart was attracted to not only the horse’s talent, but its lineage. Gracious was bred in France and is by Malito de Reve, the same sire as Stewart’s former top hunter, Everly. Everly is the dam of Lafitte de Muze, two-time winner of the WCHR Professional Challenge at CCHS.
“He's a beautiful horse, a beautiful mover, and he's a great jumper,” described Stewart. “This was one of his best shows. He was really relaxed. My favorite round was yesterday. He ended up second, but he went fantastic.”
In addition to first and third places, Stewart rode Basano, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, to sixth place and Confetti, owned by Sachi Kawabata-Porto, to eighth place.
The appeal of buying and bringing along young horses is still fundamental to Stewart’s business with his partner Ken Berkley and one of the main reasons he continues to compete after decades in the industry.
“I'm very fortunate. I still feel great and love what I do,” expressed Stewart, who competed 19 horses this week. “Ken and I own a lot of young horses, and it's very rewarding to get them to this level and have them succeed.
“It’s the idea, and the dream, of what they could become,” he continued about his reason for finding young horses. “I've been lucky; a lot of them have turned out. I think it's just always chasing that dream.”
Additional awards included:
Michelle Bloch Excellence in Expression Award
Halie Robinson
Connaway & Associates High Point North American-Bred Horse Award
I’m Blue, ridden by Kelsey Duffy, owned by Little Brook Farm
Marshall + Sterling Green Hunter 3’ & 3” Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Marshall + Sterling
Journey, ridden by Jennifer Hannan, owned by Stephanie Bulger: 91.5
Marshall + Sterling Professional Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Marshall + Sterling
Crystal Blue, ridden by John French, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
Derbydown Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Louise Serio
Crystal Blue, ridden by John French, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
American Style of Riding Award – Developing Professional Challenge
Sponsored by Bill Rube
Kylee Arbuckle
American Style of Riding Award – Professional Challenge
Sponsored by Bill Rube
Havens Schatt
Developing Professional High Point Award in Memory of Jeff Wirthman
Awarded to the Developing Professional who receives the highest-scoring round in a Professional division
Sponsored by Sea Change Farm and Sunset View Farm
TIE: Lauren Patterson and FPF Prince, owned by Hudspeth Sport Horses LLC; Augusta Iwasaki and Positano, owned by Victoria Lacagnina
Horse Show Hero Award
Sponsored by Bill Rube
Kenneth Marash
Tribute Award
Tribute Perpetual Trophy, donated by Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley, Rivers Edge
A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC
William “Bill” Ellis Horsemanship Award
Sponsored by Julie Karpan and Dr. Robert and Michelle Barber
Dedicated in memory of Bill Ellis for his exceptional commitment to horsemanship, awarded to the best turned out horse in the Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” North American Championship
Cardiff Castle, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Rivers Edge
The 2026 CCHS continues on Thursday, October 1, with grand championships for amateur and adult hunters as well as the $10,000 North American League 1.15m Junior Jumper Final and the $10,000 NAL 1.15m Amateur Jumper Final.