WASHINGTON, D.C.--Christina Mangano Mackenzie on Good to Go won the Washington Regional Hunter Finals for Horses on Monday, Oct. 21, the first day of the Washington International Horse Show that features an impressive lineup of Olympians competing in the Open Jumper division beginning Thursday evening.

Christina Mangano Mackenzie on Good To Go (Photo by Shawn McMillen)This year top riders will be competing for points to compete at the Jumping World Cup Finals in Basel, Switzerland next April.

Among the expected competitors are McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, and Kent Farrington, who were all members of the 2024 Paris Olympic Team with Laura, McLain and Karl Cook winning the team Silver Medal in Jumping.

Other Paris Olympians that will be showing include Daniel Bluman from Colombia, Shane Sweetnam and Daniel Coyle from Ireland and Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa.

Other top riders include Richard Vogel of Germany, making his debut at Washington and past Olympic participants such as Abdel Said of Egypt, Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain and Margie Goldstein-Engle.

 The Washington Regional Hunter Finals were the feature classes of the opening day at the Show.

 

MACKENZIE won the Hunter Finals for Horses, while Zoey Chambers on Highlight won the WIHS Regional Pony Hunter Finals.

Mackenzie of Upperville, Va., rode her new mount in their first indoor competition to score 86 for victory.

She bought Good To Go last June 2024 and competed at a handful of shows before qualifying at the Washington Regional Horse Show this past weekend.

Mackenzie was a competitive junior rider before taking a 20-plus year break from riding.

When her three children were old enough to start riding, she started looking again for a horse for herself.

“I gave my trainer Christine Fiore a long laundry list of items that I was looking for, and he was the first one I sat on. He was really good to go,” she said. “He's sweet, easy, and like a puppy dog. He’s a dream horse.”

Good To Go lives at Mackenzie's and they often trail ride. This was the horse’s first time showing indoors.

“I was proud that it went well,” she said. “It’s a lot to get here with just one horse, so I was thankful for everyone that helped along the way to get me here.

“Coming here as a junior, this was THE big show,” she said. “I competed at US Air Arena and the Verizon Center. This is more ideal to get ready for the classes here. It just means so much to win here. I didn’t think I would do this well, but I’m so happy.”

Kate Chan on Fan Favorite was second, and Kirsty Welch on Zealand was third place, and was the Regional Hunter Champion while Mackenzie on Good To Go was reserve champions.

Zoey Chambers, 12 of Owings, Md., rode Highlight to win the WIHS Regional Pony Hunter Finals.

“The beginning of the course was kind of hard because it's his first time here, but he made out well and he was really good," said Chambers. "At the beginning, my mom was telling me to get the gallop that I needed to go to the first jump and to have a good pace throughout the course.

“I've had him only a few months,” she said. “He's really improved since we've had him at the beginning to now, and I'm really proud of him.”

Grace Fennell on Gypsy’s Sweetheart was second, and Kinsley Sutherland on Jamrock, was third.

Lane Costa on Love Letters was the Washington Regional Pony Hunter Champion, while Chambers on Highlight was reserve champions.