Raleigh Hiler rode Cassina 64 to victory in the 2020 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHF) Year-end Championship, held on October 31 at the National Horse Show in Lexington, KY. Hiler topped a field of 24 entries in the National’s $25,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur Grand Prix which served as the Series’ year-end Final.
Raleigh Hiler on Cassina 64. Photo by Elaine Wessel/Phelps Media Group.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series to provide an opportunity for amateur, amateur-owner and junior riders to compete at higher levels. The Series hosts separate divisions for amateur/amateur-owners and juniors in two Conferences – East and West – and follows Grand Prix rules and specifications. The Series serves as a proving ground for many who aspire to represent the United States in international competition. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series is sponsored by SmartPak, Blenheim EquiSports, the Hampton Classic, Kentucky Horse Park, National Horse Show Association of America and United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA).
In the Championship, six of the 24 entries reached the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the first-round course designed by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge. Hiler was then the only entry to finish clean over the jump-off course with each of the other five scoring four faults. Placing second with the fastest four-fault time of 32.41 seconds was Grace Debney on Zarina De Vidau with third place going to Dominic Gibbs who finished with four faults in 32.65 seconds on Delia B.
Raleigh Hiler on Cassina 64 in their presentation ceremony with National Horse Show President Jennifer Burger. Photo by Georgie Hammond/Phelps Media Group.
“I felt really confident on her,” Hiler said of Cassina 64. “She jumped great the first day and then the second day she jumped even better. The Speed class yesterday was really technical; she is a type-y horse and great at turning, so I was really happy that I had her here for this.
“I was planning on doing six strides for the jump-off from the one-stride to the orange oxer, but then my trainer and I decided to do seven because there were no clears. She will jump great if you give her that little bit of room. I was trying to be quick, but also careful and clear.
“Cassina is great. I love her so much. I have had her for about two years now. I’ve done a lot of the High classes and some CSI2* classes on her, so she is one of my best horses that I feel most comfortable on. She is also great at indoors. She just gave me her all. I couldn’t have asked for more. I’m in college and for me to fly back and forth is hard. To end on this kind of note, while coming from school, is truly amazing!”
Earlier this fall, Zume Gallaher rode Edita to victory in the 2020 Show Jumping Hall of Fame West Conference Championship at the Blenheim EquiSports’ International Jumping Festival in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
About the Show Jumping Hall of Fame
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, Kentucky. Plaques honoring those who have been honored with induction into the Hall of 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 and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, click here.