Taylor Cawley Dominated PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships
September 28, 2025 – Upper Marlboro, MD – The 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, concluded on Sunday, September 28, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, with the Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA) North American Junior Equitation Championships and the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals, presented by Lauracea.
Taylor Cawley and Cheap Trick WM Z cleared the triple bar with grace and style. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
In the PBIA North American Junior Equitation Championships, Taylor Cawley of Wellington, FL, topped the competitive field of 125 riders aboard Cheap Trick WM Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Ardencote Stud. Despite being relatively new to the equitation discipline, the young horse is already amassing impressive accolades with Cawley, having also won the Gladstone Cup together over the summer.
“I think he was very quick to adjust,” said Cawley of the gelding’s development in the equitation rings. “He naturally has a huge stride and a really nice rhythmical canter. He’s been so much fun to work with, and I'm so happy I get to ride him.”
The 2024 winner Maddie Tosh passes the torch to Taylor Cawley. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Course designers Meghan Rawlins, Ken Krome, and Joe Carnicom tested riders’ skills over two winding courses with in-and-out combinations, a wall, and a triple bar. Three panels of two judges each awarded a score, which were averaged for the rider’s official mark. Ginny Edwards and Geoffrey Case sat on one panel, Brian Lenehan and Dale Pederson made up a second panel, and Robert Crandall and James Waldman were panel three.
With a score of 91, Cawley held first place after the first round. The 20 highest-scoring riders were called back in reverse order of standings to contest a shorter course.
“The first round, I thought, was a bit more of a simple course that needed to be perfected. The second round was a bit more technical,” explained Cawley. “The last line was a one-stride and a patient six to a Swedish oxer with the high side on the outside, which I think was a big test. Also, being in an indoor ring, the horses tend to cut off the ends of the ring a bit quicker. The test there is to get your horse back enough that you can be right in the middle of the jump while having enough for him to be able to push across the back rail as well as clear the front rail.”
Taylor Cawley is presented as winner by Joanne Weiner of PBIA, 2024 winner Maddie Tosh, Frank Madden of Capital Hill, and Cathy Grady of Holly Hill Farm. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Cawley brought home another top score of 92.50 in the second round for a total of 183.50, leading the final standings by three points to take the class without the need for a test. Anna Markcrow, of Manchester Center, VT, took second aboard Daphne Markcrow’s The Diplomat with scores of 90.25 and 90.16 for a total of 180.41. Adriana Forte, of Water Mill, NY, rounded out the top three by scoring a 90.50 and 89.58 with Julie Thibault’s Zinzano for a total score of 180.08.
For her win, Cawley also claimed the title of Best Equitation Rider, and Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables was named the Leading Equitation Trainer as Cawley’s coach.
Madelyn Godard, of Aiken, SC, was presented the Glenna Wirtanen Sportsmanship Trophy by Peter Lane, an award designated by stewards and schooling supervisors to recognize a junior rider who has demonstrated the exemplary qualities of a true horseperson, sportsmanship, horsemanship, and turnout of horse and rider.
The Marshall+Sterling Equitation Trip of the Show award, presented by Sue Bopp of Marshall+Sterling Insurance, was presented to JJ Torano, of Wellington, FL, for achieving a score of 90.5 over fences in Section B of the 13- & 14-Year-Old Equitation division with The Northjet Group’s Favorite Edition Z.
Sweet Victory for Kendall Casaccio and Freya D’Ambel in NAL Adult Hunter Finals
The day concluded in The Show Place Arena with the NAL Adult Hunter Finals, presented by Lauracea, taking the stage. Adult amateur riders competed over the course of the year to qualify for this final class, and 28 horse-and-rider pairs competed for a chance to take top honors and the championship sash. In the end, it was Kendall Casaccio riding her own Freya D’Ambel that impressed judges Mark Jungherr and Sissy Wickes most.
The partnership between Kendall Casaccio and her own Freya D’Ambel shined in the NAL Adult Hunter Finals. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Casaccio, from Marmora, NJ, ended the first round on a score of 86.5 just behind Lexie Looker and her own Dot Com’s score of 88. Casaccio and Freya D’Ambel returned second-to-last in the final round, feeling confident and ready to navigate the course.
“Coming back in second was the perfect spot for me. It gave me a little bit of room to move up, and I didn't feel the pressure of walking in on the top,” explained Casaccio. “[The second round] rode so awesome. My mare jumped really well, and I’m very grateful for her. She just gives it her all, and it just felt so good coming down the last line and knowing that she’s right there with me.”
The duo landed with a score of 86.5 for a total of 173.5 points overall to take over the first-place position. Devon Corrigan and Twin Oak Ventures LLC’s Park City earned marks of 84.75 and 88 for a total score of 172.75 to claim second place. Kelly Champion and Lily Claire Hedley’s Lost King scored an 85 and 85.5, which totalled to 170.5 for third place.
Kendall Casaccio and Freya D’Ambel are presented as winners by Annette Longenecker of the NAL and received The Lisa A.H. Cudahy Perpetual Trophy. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Casaccio, from Marmora, NJ, ended the first round on a score of 86.5 just behind Lexie Looker and her own Dot Com’s score of 88. Casaccio and Freya D’Ambel returned second-to-last in the final round, feeling confident and ready to navigate the course.
“Coming back in second was the perfect spot for me. It gave me a little bit of room to move up, and I didn't feel the pressure of walking in on the top,” explained Casaccio. “[The second round] rode so awesome. My mare jumped really well, and I’m very grateful for her. She just gives it her all, and it just felt so good coming down the last line and knowing that she’s right there with me.”
The duo landed with a score of 86.5 for a total of 173.5 points overall to take over the first-place position. Devon Corrigan and Twin Oak Ventures LLC’s Park City earned marks of 84.75 and 88 for a total score of 172.75 to claim second place. Kelly Champion and Lily Claire Hedley’s Lost King scored an 85 and 85.5, which totalled to 170.5 for third place.
Today’s North American League Finals are the culmination of the NAL’s year-long Series that includes classes at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada. The NALoffers year-long series in six divisions – Adult Hunter Presented by R & R Hunter Horses, Children’s Hunter, 1.10/1.15m Amateur Jumper Presented by SmartEquine, 1.10/1.15m Junior Jumper, 1.20/1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper, and 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Presented by Parlanti. The NAL features year-end Finals for those who accumulated the most points in their divisions over the course of the season and we are proud to be hosting these Finals.
The 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show will continue on Monday, September 29, with the start of the Green Hunters, High Performance Hunters, and Performance Hunters.