Harrisburg, PA – With the best junior hunters in the country competing at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, winning one class is an impressive accomplishment. Sweeping all three of a division’s over fences classes is extraordinary. However, that is just what both Kat Fuqua on Consent and Libbie Gordon on Montauk were able to do on Friday, October 15, at the 75^th annual event.  

The two riders shared the Grand Junior Hunter Championship after Fuqua and Consent swept the Small Junior Hunter, 15 and Under division, and Gordon and Montauk claimed three wins in the Large Junior Hunter, 16-17 division.

For the Grand Championship, Fuqua and Gordon were presented with the Ovation Perpetual Trophy, donated by Dr. Betsee Parker, along with awards courtesy of C.M Hadfield’s Saddlery.

“I’m so proud of my horse and how consistent he’s been over the whole week,” said Gordon, 18, of Statesville, North Carolina. “My favorite moment was probably after my first round. I was really proud of him because this is [Montauk’s] first time at ‘indoors,’ and he really just stepped in and marched right around beautifully. I didn’t really care what my score was, but when I heard it was a 90, I was just so happy and so proud of him because he was just amazing, and the judges appreciated it too!”

That round also earned Gordon and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding the EMO High Point Large Junior Hunter award, and following the conclusion of competition, the judges also named Gordon the Best Junior Rider on a Horse.

“Being [Grand Champion and Best Junior Rider] is so important to me,” continued Gordon, who has had Montauk for two years. “I’ve seen so many great riders win this award and go on to do such great things, so it’s so special. I’ve also come here to this show a lot, and I’ve never been able to get grand champion so it’s really special that my last junior year I got to do it!”

From October 14-23, the 75^th-annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show will host more than 1,200 of the best hunter, jumper and equitation horses and riders from across the nation. In addition to the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships, highlight events of the 2021 horse show include the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final on Sunday, October 16, and the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday, October 23. To learn more, visit www.PAnational.org.