Lexington, KY – November 21, 2017 – Emma Waldfogel of Palo Alto, CA, topped a field of 16 competitors to win the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Year-End West Coast Championship on Sunday, November 19. The Championship, held at the Las Vegas National Horse Show, was an exciting climax to the year-long Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.
Waldfogel rode Diableur and was the only rider to make it through the course fault-free with a time of 69.690 seconds. Waldfogel had the difficult position of going first. When asked about how she felt watching the other riders, she stated, “There were a couple that were nail biters, people had the last rail down quite a few times but I’m really happy with my horse.”
Emma Waldfogel and Diableur jump to victory (c) Amy McCool
Junior rider Natalie Dean of Palo Alto, CA and Chacco’s Goldy took second place with four faults and a time of 66.447 seconds. Emma Waldfogel also took third place aboard Bowmore VDL with four faults and a time of 66.859 seconds.
Waldfogel also won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Amateur-Owner West Division aboard Bowmore VDL. “I got him almost exactly a year ago now,” said Waldfogel talking about Bowmore VDL. “We started in the meter 25 modified jumpers at Paso Robles last year and then this year I definitely didn’t expect it to go this way but I’ve been really lucky. He’s such an amazing horse and we’ve just been playing it by ear.”
Emma Waldfogel is presented with the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Amateur-Owner West Division award (c) Amy McCool
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two Conferences – the East Conference and the West Conference. Series standings are used to help determine junior and amateur-owner entries at the National Horse Show and Las Vegas National Horse Show.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under Grand Prix rules and specifications. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series is designed to give amateur-owner and junior riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.
Any horse show offering a class that meets all the criteria set forth in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series specifications and has prize money of at least $1,000 is eligible to be part of the Series.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Plaques honoring those who have been honored with induction into the Hallof Fame can be seen at the Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium. Mementos and artifacts from the sport’s history are on display as part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame collection at the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Wheeler Museum at the Horse Park.
For more information about the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, including Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, please visit the Show Jumping Hall of Fame website at www.showjumpinghalloffame.net.