Talking Capital Challenge With Patricia Griffith

Patricia Griffith became a working student at Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm in 1997 and by the year’s end, she rode to the Reserve Championship at the USET Talent Search Finals. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Heritage team as a professional and has worked alongside Andre for more than 25 years. Over the years, she has enjoyed developing young horses and has produced a few grand prix horses along the way.

Spearheading Heritage Farm’s pony program, Patricia has coached numerous USEF Pony Finals Champions, five USEF Pony Medal Final winners, and has won the Emerson Burr Perpetual Trainer’s Award five times. As a licensed USEF "R" judge, she also enjoys judging officiating at shows each year.

Patricia Griffith with Tara Metzner at the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show. Photo by Jump Media

Q: How long have you been attending the Capital Challenge Horse Show?

A: Twenty-eight years. I've been at Heritage Farm for 28 years, and we've gone every year.

Q: What brings you back to the Capital Challenge Horse Show every year?

A: I feel like it’s one of the only shows where it's really the best of the best. That doesn't necessarily mean that you had to qualify – you might have an awesome horse that you just got that maybe doesn't have the points to be eligible for Harrisburg, which makes Capital Challenge even more competitive.

Capital Challenge is always on our radar as one of the “final four.” If you were doing any other sport, it would be considered one of the “majors,” and for us, this is one of the major events. I love that it showcases the hunters. It's probably one of the, if not the, most competitive hunter shows there is.

Patricia Griffith and Vida Blue showing incredible form in the 2008 WCHR Professional Challenge. Photo by Jump Media

Q: What’s your favorite memory from showing at the Capital Challenge?

A: I won the [World Championship Hunter Rider] Professional Challenge in 2008, and it was special for me because I had the honor of riding a very special horse, Vida Blue. She was honored about two years ago as the winner of the Gray Slipper Award. She was a special horse, and that class is a very special class to win. I'm honored to be on the list of people who won it.

Q: What sets the WCHR Professional Challenge apart from other hunter classes?

A: The class running at night adds a little excitement. The Professional Challenge usually plays a big role in determining who qualifies for the Professional Finals, so everybody is trying to bring their best horse and put their best foot forward to earn those bonus points. The prestige of the show and the competitiveness of the class make it feel much more special than any other.

Patricia Griffith and Vida Blue smile for the camera following their victory in the 2008 WCHR Professional Challenge. Photo by Jump Media

Q: How does showing at the Capital Challenge Horse Show help your students develop as riders?

A:  I think the added pressure is significant. Not every show brings that kind of pressure, and this is one of the four or five shows where you get the feeling that it's a real championship. You have to give it your all because when you show up, whoever performs the best will be crowned the champion.

The presentations and awards at Capital Challenge make it feel more special. I think the show is also on many of my students’ lists of favorites, so I think everyone is trying to do their best there.

Patricia Griffith (third from left) and the Heritage Farm team join Lillie Keenan and Clearway in their winning presentation in the 2012 PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships. Photo by Jump Media

Q: What are you most looking forward to for the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show?

A: This year, I will be doing Green 3’6” Hunters and young hunters. I'm riding a very special mare named Divine Romance in the Green 3’6” division. We got her from Nick Haness, but she originally came from the Beerbaums. We missed out on getting her at first because Nick was in Europe before us. I tell the story that I basically stalked him until he sold us the horse.

I'm excited that we’ve brought her along over the past two years and that she's proving she can compete with the best horses, so I look forward to showing her at this year’s Capital Challenge.