HARRISBURG, Pa.--Isabelle Ehman of Milton, Ga., on Magnolia won the first phase of the $5,000 USEF Junior Jumper National Championship at Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Thursday, Oct, 10.
Isabelle Ehmman on Magnolia (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Olivia Sweetnam on HDB Quality finished second,
Sweetnam went in the middle of the 36 horse order of go, and was clean in the time to beat of 56.71 seconds.
But that lead was short lived lived, as Ehman on Magnolia was the very next in the ring, and she was clean in 56.67 seconds to narrowly edge out Sweetnam.
With Ehman and Sweetnam’s times holding up to the end for first and second place, Mia Bagnato on Florida N was third, clean in 57.52 seconds over the course set by Anderson Lima.
I“I think I was tidy everywhere,” said Ehman. “I don't necessarily have to leave strides out with Magnolia in the lines just because her foot speed is so fast. I know she’s super careful, so if I take a risk, I know that she’ll be able to cover me and help me out. I was a little worried since I didn't do the leave outs. I didn’t know if someone was going to do the leave outs and be tight around the turns. I knew the foot speed was fast, but since I was so close to Olivia’s time, I thought it was beatable. It turned out that her speed helped!”
EHMAN has been riding Magnolia since the winter of 2024 and has been competing the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare in the High Junior Jumper division ever since.
“She’s very fast; it was just about building a relationship with her and making sure I gained her trust, and she absolutely has mine,” said Ehman. “She’s naturally fast, so we didn't have to run her crazy tonight; we’re just letting her do what she does best.”
The $15,000 Prix des States Team Championship and Individual Championship Phase II is Friday class at 6:10 p.m., and that will crown the new Prix des States winning team.
The Prix des States has been competed 45 times since 1970, and Zone 2 of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York and Zone 10 of California have each won it 13 times, the most of any of the other zone teams.
Then the top 60 percent of riders will advance to the Individual Championship Phase III on Saturday at 6:15 p.m., when a new junior jumper national champion will ultimately be crowned.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to go for two steady clears, just maintaining the goal for the team and staying clear for myself as well,” said Ehman, who rides for Zone 4. “Then we’ll finish strong for the last day!”
“I love the ring here," she said. "The atmosphere is amazing; the fact that it's all indoors makes it really special.”
For full results of the $5,000 USEF Junior Jumper National Championship Phase I, or to learn more about the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, visit PAnational.org.