News

Lauren Gee Gets the Win in 2024 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East at Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Harrisburg, Pa. – October 22, 2024 – A field of 46 top junior equitation riders took on the 2024 US Equestrian/National Collegiate Equestrian Association Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East on Sunday, October 20, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. At the conclusion of three phases of competition, the gold-medal win went to Lauren Gee of Valdosta, GA.

Lauren Gee. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

The class kicked off on Sunday morning with the jumping phase, which asked riders to complete a 3’3” equitation course, set in the Keystone Arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. The field was then narrowed to the top 10 for a flat phase, and, from there, the top four advanced to the bracket phase.

In the bracket phase, the riders swap horses to compete head-to-head on unfamiliar mounts, with the fourth and first place rider competing on the same horse and the second and third place rider competing on another same mount. In an experience similar to that of competing on a NCEA equestrian team, the top two riders from the bracket phase then go head-to-head once again over a final course.  

“I love the format of the NCEA Final because it adds a little excitement for riders!” said Gee, 17, who is already committed to the Oklahoma State University’s NCEA team. “This class is really great practice for what I’m going to experience when I go to college next year. It’s also just a really exciting class for everyone to do and watch.”

Lauren Gee was presented as the 2024 winner of the USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals – East. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

For the first round and flat phase, Gee was partnered with Curb Service, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Gee’s trainer, Don Stewart.

“I’ve ridden [Curb Service] for a couple of months,” said Gee. “He’s the type to go slow. He’s kind of slow motion, but it’s really smooth when he goes around the course. He’s just a really good partner for me. I’ve grown with him these last couple of months, and I’ve really gotten to know him. He’s just a really fun horse to ride.”

At the end of the jumping phase, Gee and Curb Service sat in third place on a score of 87.5. Once that score was coupled with an 88 in the flat phase, Gee slid into second place and advanced to the bracket phase.

Aboard Acocento, ridden in the first round by Nyla Semaan, Gee went head-to-head with Emma Brody, earning a score of 89.

Second place went to Nyla Semaan. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

“Acocento is my friend Nyla’s horse that she rode,” explained Gee. “He was a very big horse. He also kind of goes the same as Curb with a little slow motion, but I really just kicked him forward and got a little pace to him. He went around perfectly.”

With that smooth round turned in, Gee advanced to the final face off, while Brody ultimately took home third place aboard her own Corzico Melloni Z. In the second half of the brackets, it was Ivy Bonds and Semaan going head-to-head, with Bonds finishing up in fourth place and Semaan moving forward to ride against Gee.

Both Gee and Semaan train with Stewart at his Don Stewart Show Stables, making it an even more enjoyable experience for each of them.

In the final round, Gee rode Bond’s mount Super Vision to a score of 90 to take home the win, with Semaan finishing as the silver medalist.

“The second horse I rode, I told my mom after, he was like a large pony,” said Gee. “I did ponies a while ago, and he felt so nice to ride. His jump was beautiful. That was probably my favorite part of the class, because he was just really nice and fun to ride.”

For full results of the 2024 USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final, click here.