Precision was key for Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious as they took home an early win in the first phase of the Neue Schule/USEF Jr. Jumper Championships at the 73rd Pennsylvania National Horse Show. They won the first Phase, a faults converted into seconds competition, with a fault free round in 58.112 seconds. Samantha Cohen aboard Carmen, who held the lead early in the class took second with a time of 58.432 seconds, and Isabella Bleu Baxter with Jahil took third in 59.971 seconds.
Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious (c) Al Cook
The course, designed by Ken Krome of Westminster,MD, featured eleven jumps with thirteen jumping efforts at 1.40m with a time allowed of 73 seconds. In a field of 29, Madison Goetzmann piloted her own Prestigious, an 11-year-old bay Westphalian gelding, produced a round that was quick, tactical, and above all, fault free. Making short work of course, Goetzmann and Prestigious were one of only eight horse-and-rider combinations to go clear.
“I’ve gotten used to the tighter track,” said Goetzmann. “I feel like I do have an advantage because I’ve been coming here (Pennsylvania National Horse Show) for so many years. My horse (Prestigious) is little and neat and very tidy so this course went very well for him.”
A regular at the Pennsylvania National Horse show, Goetzmann looks forward to showing at the Prix de States every year. “Competing at this event is such an honor, it has such a prestigious reputation,” said Goetzmann. “This is my fourth year competing at Prix de States and it starts the championships in a perfect way. I feel confident and set up for the rest of the show. It’s fun be a part of a team for championships. It’s such great experience.”
Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious (c) Al Cook
The duo, trained by John Madden of Madden Sales, Inc. located in Cazenovia, NY, looks forward to the rest of the competition and some team bonding. “John and I are here alone so we are both grooming, and drove here this morning together, we’ve been up since 3:30 a.m! We decided to do some team bonding this week it’s fun, John’s a fantastic groom!”
The Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championship culminates on Saturday with the Individual Phase III competition. Scores from the first two phases are converted into points and are carried over with the top 60 percent of competitors from Phases I and II, who have not been eliminated, eligible to take part. The individual champion is the competitor with the lowest number of combined penalties after Phases I, II and III.