Laura Chapot Leads the Way at 75th-Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Laura Chapot rode Calafornia to the win in the $10,000 1.40m on Wednesay, October 20, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

By Emily Randolph/Randolph PR

Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, and Calafornia topped the $10,000 1.40m on Wednesday, October 20, to kick off the Open Jumper divisions at the 75th Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. 

Chapot and the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Laura and Mary Chapot, were the second of 22 entries to contest the one-round speed track set in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex’s Harrisburg Coliseum by course designer Manuel Esparza (MEX).

With 20 horses still to follow Chapot and Calafornia, it seemed there would be plenty of opportunities to top their time, but no one would come close to besting their 55.384-second finish. Second place with a time of 57.592 seconds went to Hadden Frost of Upperville, VA, riding his own Finou 4. Chapot also finished in third with a time of 58.354 seconds aboard Chandon Blue and fourth in 60.766 seconds with Diarado’s Flying Dutchman, both owned by Mary Chapot.

“He’s a speed specialist, and he always been good at this venue,” said Chapot of Calafornia, who also finished in second in the $10,000 1.40m opening class at the 2019 PNHS. “I was really pleased for him to be able to walk in today and put in such a good round. He’s been very consistent. He’s gotten more and more consistent over time, and we’ve really gotten to have a very good partnership now.”

While Chapot has been coming to the Pennsylvania National Horse Show for decades, the introduction of 1.30m and 1.40m USEF 6* Jumper classes, rather than previously held, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI)-sanctioned classes, presented a new opportunity for her.

Hear from Laura Chapot at PNHS

“We really loved the idea of having the two divisions, and it really gives us a great opportunity to bring the young horses here,” said Chapot, who recalls first competing at the PNHS on ponies in the 70s and 80s. “I brought two young horses, and it’s just nice for them to get around over a little bit of a more reasonable-sized course, rather than coming in the first time here and having to jump the top of the standards. A lot of horses are a little bit set back by being indoors with the coliseum feeling, where the stands and the people are above them. That can be very distracting to them. So, it’s really great that they’ve given us this opportunity to give those horses a little bit of experience.

“Harrisburg is a very big tradition in our family,” concluded Chapot. “We love this show, and this is really the only indoor show I go to. Now, it’s the best venue for the horses. The stabling is good, and the improvements they’ve made this year with the expansion of the schooling areas has made a big, big difference. I think that the feedback is going to be very good.”

Willie Tynan and Fancy Girl. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Also earning victory on Wednesday evening was Willie Tynan, who topped the $10,000 1.30m Open Jumpers riding Fancy Girl, owned by Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach.

In his inaugural appearance at the PNHS, Tynan tripped the timers in 58.883 seconds for the win. Second place went to Victoria Colvin who stopped the clock in 59.310 seconds with Gemino, owned by BMT Partners, and Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Isabella van de Zuuthoeve rounded out the top three with a time of 60.241 seconds.

“The show is fantastic,” said Tynan, who is based out of Wellington, FL. “The people are super, and the jumps are fantastic.”

For full results, visit pnhs.showmanagementsystem.com.

$10,000 1.40m Results
Place – Entry # – Horse – Ride – Faults / Time
1.    1369    Calafornia                    Laura Chapot                                  0/55.384                   
2.    1724    Finou 4                        Hadden Frost                                  0/57.592                   
3.    1371    Chandon Blue             Laura Chapot                                  0/58.354                   
4.    1372    Diarado`S Flying…     Laura Chapot                                   0/60.766                   
5.    1751    Locato Van Het…       Christian Coyle                                  0/62.059                   
6.    996      Giana                          Cassandra Kahle                            0/63.530                   
7.    1388    Lochinvar                     Matt Cyphert                                   0/63.909                   
8.    1007    Pyrenes De Louzes    Cassandra Kahle                               0/65.186                   
9.    956      Cassio Melloni             Kaitlyn Williams                              4/59.068                   
10. 1764    Egalini                         Evan M. Coluccio                             4/59.878 

$10,000 1.30m Results
Place – Entry # – Horse – Ride – Faults / Time
1.      1682  Fancy Girl                           Willie Tynan                                 0/58.883                   
2.      868     Gemino                             Victoria Colvin                             0/59.310                   
3.      904     Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen       0/60.241                   
4.      1752  Dekato                                Christian Coyle                            0/60.412                   
5.      901     Gideon                               Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen         0/ 60.488                 
6.      950     Ascalitta Sbk Z                  Devin Ryan                                  0/61.037                   
7.      1373  Gideon                                Laura Chapot                              0/61.231                   
8.      1500  Zaza Z                                Marylisa Leffler                            0/62.748                   
9.      1370  Calmanda 3                       Laura Chapot                              0/63.746                   
10.  1362     Indira              Abbygale Funk                             0/64.879    

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