The professional hunters began their competition today at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, which runs through Sunday, October 10, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Four rated divisions had classes in the indoor arena, while five Future Hunter divisions began outside.

The professional hunters will award championships on Tuesday and Wednesday. The highlight classes of the week for the professional hunter riders are the $15,000 WCHR Professional Challenge on Wednesday, October 6, and the $7,500 WCHR Professional Finals, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund, for the top six hunter riders in the country on Friday, October 8.

Kelley Farmer and Listen, owned by Jane Gaston, were first in the Green Conformation Hunter over fences class and also topped the model class. The Green Conformation Hunter division is sponsored by Lisa A.H. Cudahy.

Farmer, and trainer Larry Glefke, found Listen last summer, and the stunning grey gelding came to Capital Challenge to compete in the Future Hunters in 2009. They won a class, and then went on to be one of the best First Year horses in the nation in 2010. Listen is currently leading the USEF standings for the Green Conformation Hunters, placed well in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, and was the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over champion at the Devon Horse Show.

Despite being only six years old, Listen steps into any ring without fear. “He might be the bravest young horse I’ve ever ridden,” Farm remarked. “He went into the derby in Palm Beach at night and moved from tenth to fourth. He walked into the derby finals. He doesn’t think that anything could go wrong. He doesn’t think there’s a jump too big to jump, that anything is too scary, or that he should be nervous about anything. It’s a blast to ride.”

Kelley Farmer and Listen

As with most talented young horses, Farmer and Glefke had high hopes for Listen, but didn’t know what he could achieve until they saw it happen. “We all hoped that he would be great. But from the first class he did at the Middleburg Classic last year he won, to being good here, we thought he would be great. He’s always tried to get a blue ribbon. He’s always been quiet, easy, careful, and tried to win. As a Pre-Green horse, you don’t always know, but he had tons of ability. He was aiming in the right direction,” Farmer recalled.

Glefke added, “He’s truly a once in a lifetime horse. He’s one of my favorites of all time. I love him. He’s beautiful, he’s cocky, and he thinks he’s wonderful too! He’s a made horse now. He walked in there today and got a 90. He didn’t even blink or look sideways, and he was high over the top of the jumps.”

Farmer swept the over fences classes in the Regular Working Hunter division on Rosalynn, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Earnest M. Oare. Farmer also won the under saddle with Timber Ridge.

“Rosalynn was great,” Farmer said. “She tries hard; she always gives you 110%. She’s quiet for a mare, but she’s careful, slow, and never spooks. If you don’t win, it’s not because she let you down.”

Glefke believes that Rosalynn is even better jumping four feet. “I don’t think there are any limitations. Every time we’ve asked her, she’s been sensational. She’s fresh now and ready to go. I think she’ll have a marvelous indoors. I’ll be surprised if things don’t go brilliantly with her,” he said.

Scott Stewart and Way Cool captured the first Second Year Green Working Hunter over fences class today, while John French and Small Affair led the way down victory lane in the second jumping class. Garfield and Samantha Schaefer won the under saddle class.

The First Year Green Working Hunters were divided into two sections with winners like Showman and Sandy Ferrell, who were last year’s Grand Future Hunter Champions. Showman, who is owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman, had the high score of the day with a 90.5 from the judges.

The winner of the second class in the “A” section of the First Year Green Working Hunters, sponsored by Peter Pletcher and PJP Farm, was To the Nines, ridden by Tracey Fenney. Fenney also had the ride on a Section B winner MTM Bragging Rights, while last year’s WCHR Professional Finals winner Hunt Tosh won the second class in the B section, sponsored by the Kellogg and Sadrian Families, on Good Humor.

In the outdoor ring, the early morning winner was Sight Unseen, ridden by Molly Sewell, in the Future Hunter – Mares division, sponsored by Penelope Ayers and Ravens Wood Farm. The winner of the second class in the Mares division was Patina, ridden by Laena Romond. In the Future Hunter – Five & Under division, Kate Conover captured the win with Triton Z.

Kelley Farmer piloted Habana, owned by Spencer Ranch, to the blue ribbon in the second class of the Five & Under division. Farmer also found success outside in the Future Hunter 3’3″ division on Crown N Scepter, and the winner of the second class in that division was Harry Potter 47, ridden by Ken Berkley. The Future Hunters 3’3″ division is sponsored by Pegasus Show Stable, Inc./Christa and Michael Endicott and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt Tosh.

The Future Hunter – Colts and Geldings division, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Tim Goguen and Boggs Hill, had an over fences and an under saddle class today. On the Hour and Kelley Farmer won the jumping class, while Surf’s Up and Havens Schatt trotted their way to the win in the under saddle.

Glefke noted, “We have a great group of young horses. Habana I have the highest hopes for. On the Hour is owned by Ashton Chewning, who rode with me as a junior. This is the second horse show of his life and he won outside. They’re all sensational animals, and we can’t wait for December first!”

The final class of the day was in the Future Hunter – Six & Over division, sponsored by Ruth and Hal Douglas and Stonebrook. The under saddle win went to Parkland, ridden by Patricia Griffith. Earlier in the day in the Outdoor Ring, Kate Conover and Kohl captured the win over fences.

Glefke is a big fan of the Future Hunter divisions at Capital Challenge. He said, “It’s marvelous to have the Future Hunters here. I hardly show my Pre-Green horses all year long. All of those horses, if they’ve shown twice, it’s a lot. You can really showcase them here and it’s fun to do here.”

The Capital Challenge Horse Show continues tomorrow with more professional hunter classes and championships for the Second Year Green and Regular Working Hunter divisions, plus championships for all of the Future Hunter divisions.

For full results and more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org. If you can’t attend the Capital Challenge Horse Show, remember you can log on to www.equestriansport.tv to see all the action live.

Highlights of the upcoming week at Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Emerging Pro Challenge (Oct. 6), Future Hunter World Championship (Oct. 6), $2,500 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Challenge (Oct. 7), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 8-9), the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 8), and the WCHR Professional Finals (Oct. 8).

In its 17th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show takes place on October 2-10. Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes. For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org or visit the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook!

Photo Credit: Kelley Farmer and Listen won two classes today in the Green Conformation Hunters at the 2010 Capital Challenge Horse Show. Photo C Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.

C 2010 Jennifer Wood Media Inc.