Sponsors Are Part of the Family at CCHS
The Hallman family has sponsored the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) since its inception and competed there almost every year as well. Led by Penny Hallman, Merrylegs Farm North is based in Oyster Bay, NY, while Merrylegs South is headquartered in Wellington, FL. Their dedication to CCHS shows how owners’ support of the sport over the long term can help make a show special.
Daughters Bridget and Samantha Hallman showed in the first year of CCHS with trainer Bill Schaub and Bridget rode her well-known hunter Clyde Barrow. Both Bridget and Samantha went on to great success at Capital Challenge. Samantha Hallman and Lucky were the 2004 Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champions, while Bridget captured her first Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship in 2005 with the legendary Gray Slipper. They repeated the feat in 2006, and Gray Slipper was also the Grand Hunter Champion with Louise Serio in the irons.
Before that, Serio and Gray Slipper were winners in the Future Hunters (now the Green Hunters 3’-3’3”) in 2001, and Serio won the Regular Working Hunter (now High Performance Hunters) championship in 2004 and 2005. To honor his incredible success at CCHS, Bridget donated the Gray Slipper Award in 2011, which is presented annually to the horse that has excelled at the highest level in both the Professional and Amateur-Owner divisions.
Bridget Hallman and Gray Slipper. Photo courtesy of CCHS
“When Capital Challenge started, it became the perfect addition to many of the other large shows in the area and is now a staple of the fall season. It takes place at a great facility, and the show always runs smoothly thanks to an incredible group of individuals," said Bridget. “Our accomplishments at the show over the years have made it a memorable place for all of us at Merrylegs South, and it is a privilege to sponsor each year.”
Building on her successful competition background and decades of breeding and developing Thoroughbred racehorses, Penny also started breeding sport horses. Her homebred Lulu placed third in the 2013 North American Future Hunter Championship and later found success in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with Bridget.
After her sport career, Lulu became a broodmare and now has four babies in training with Colleen McQuay that will begin competing in 2026. Liza Boyd rode the Hallmans’ Gala to the championship in the Future Hunter Mares division at CCHS in 2015.
Bridget Hallman and Lulu in the rain at the 2015 CCHS. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
“Capital Challenge has offered so much from the beginning,” said Penny. “I love the babies, and it was the only indoor final show that offered classes for ‘future hunters.’ Gray Slipper started at Capital Challenge. At that time, it was considered the show before the big ‘indoors’ competitions, but now, of course, it stands on its own.”
Penny admitted that watching her daughters compete was nerve-wracking, but also very exciting. “I know Bridget is looking forward to coming this year with her horse Brentwood and hopefully she'll do well,” she added. “Capital Challenge is one of the horse shows that I still attend. My kids are older and don’t need their mother there all the time, but I do enjoy going, meeting friends, seeing people I know and respect, and watching all of the competitors.”
Penny continued, “We all need to support our horse shows if we want to have good horse shows. I can't wait to get to Capital Challenge this year. They do a wonderful job, and I'm glad to be a small part of it.”