Vendor Feature: Charles Ancona

How long have you been coming to the Capital Challenge Horse Show as a vendor?

It's almost where everything started for me. I’ve been coming to Capital Challenge for about 14 years. It was one of my first big shows. Back then, I was just there by myself, and I met a lot of people there. So many things came out of being there; I met other people that I still see there, and they have led to other opportunities, like providing show coats for the U.S. jumping team.

What do you enjoy most about the show?

Capital Challenge is a big deal for us because my business revolves around hunters, equitation, and ponies. I love that all of my core business is right in front of me, at the show, and I like the arena. We sponsor the back numbers and heavily promote our brand during the show. We always speak highly of Capital Challenge and tell everybody about it. We have grown alongside the show. It's a partnership that's pretty darn good.

Why do you choose to be a vendor at Capital Challenge?

Everyone on the Capital Challenge team is a pro. The way it’s run is how everyone should run a show. It's just really well done and easy to work within. It’s one of our best shows and a great showcase for me. Capital Challenge is so aligned with what I do, and we get to see all our returning clients there from across the country.

What is something new for Charles Ancona?

Our factory is on the 17th floor of a building on 39th Street in New York City. I managed to secure the 18th floor, which is also the penthouse, for a new showroom. We will have a full studio for photo shoots and 4,500 square feet to showcase everything we offer. It's different from horse shows, where you're usually operating in a 10-by-20-foot space. Plus, there's no dirt and no rain. It's a controlled environment. I'm so excited to have a space where I can bring people through.