T.J. O’Mara was definitely the underdog going into the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Sunday night. But that didn’t stop him from taking all the risks and going full tilt. It paid off, earning him the big win.
“I just can’t believe it. Two years ago I got my first ribbon here and it meant the world to me,” said O’Mara. “I am in shock right now. I never expected this to happen. My goal was just to be in the test, I would have been happy with a top four ribbon. I just can’t believe it right now.”
So what exactly set T.J. apart from the three other finalists? The judges say it was all in the counter-canter.
Following a preliminary round of 276 riders, the top 25 were called back for the second round, which was whittled down to an additional test for the top four.
The final test required riders to complete a course of six jumps including a roll back from the second fence, counter canters at the third and fourth fences and a hand gallop to the final fence. Annabel Revers was the pathfinder and chose to do a simple change for the counter canter, good enough for second place.
“I was hoping to land both leads on the counter canter, but that didn’t work out for the first one so I had to do a simple change, which was fine,” said Revers. “This was a really exciting day for me because coming here I was definitely not expecting to be second. I’ve never even gotten a ribbon at a major equitation final. Today was really my day.”
McKayla Langmeier struggled on her second counter-canter and slipped out of contention for the championship ribbon.
“McKayla came in on top and even when she did the first simple change, she played it safe, which was a smart thing to do because she was winning the class,” said Torano. “Then for one second she maybe let up and it cost her, but she still rode great.”
T.J. O’Mara and Kaskade. PC: Al Cook Productions
But T.J. worked the counter-canter flying changes like a boss, executing textbook changes and running the rest of the course just as smoothly, making him and mare Kaskade the unanimous winners.
“My mare is just incredible at doing flying changes,” said O’Mara. “I was expecting her to land right at the first counter canter but when that didn’t happen I had to switch gears and do the changes, focus on the next part of the test and completing the test.”
Taylor St. Jacques took fourth, and her mount Charisma, owned by Heritage Farms, was named best equitation horse.
Top Ten Results
1. T.J. O’Mara, Rumson, NJ
2. Annabel Revers, Weston, MA
3. McKayla Langmeier, East Granby, CT
4. Taylor St. Jacques, Glen Allen, VA
5. Emma Kurtz, Hudson, OH
6. Sydney Hutchins, Westlake Village, CA
7. Lucy Deslauriers, New York, NY
8. Madison Goetzmann, Skaneateles, NY
9. Katherine Strauss, Southampton, NY
10. Louisa Brackett, Grayslake, IL