Morning De Reve and Emily Smith.  © Al Cook  alcookhoto.com

Four horse and rider combinations managed to navigate the first round of competition without penalty to return for the jump-off against the clock.  Luftzauber and rider Kelly Tropin, New Canaan, CT, were the first to return to try their luck.  Things were going well until they knocked down the NAL plank fence mid-way through the course.  They finished with a total of four faults in a time of 40.170 seconds.  Next to test their skill were Madelyn Porter, Saint Louis, MO, and Dragonfly’s Esmeralda.  They came away with two dropped rails, one at the combination and the other at the liverpool, and a score of eight faults in 37.043.  The third on the good list was Callie Seaman, Bernardsville, NJ, and Heroy Von De Hei.  They also ran into trouble at the liverpool and finished with four faults in 43.993.

The final rider on course had only to go clear in order to win.  Emily Smith, Valparaiso, IN, and Morning De Reve could do just that if they kept their cool, and they were cool, in fact they were as chill as the weather outside as they completed the course fault free in 41.283 seconds.

Morning De Reve and Emily Smith.  © Al Cook  alcookphoto.com

“She has been amazing,” said Smith of her partner.  “I got Molly November 19th so I’ve had her just under a year. She is my only horse and she is so special.  She is pretty strong and Kind of sensitive to ride, you can’t have too much leg, but once she is on her game she is unstoppable.  When we get to the jump-off she knows it’s time to shine. 

It was more pressure for me when I found out I could win if I could go clean.  It has always been a goal of mine to go to indoors and I’ve watched the NAL classes.  Winning one is a dream come true. I’ll be 17 in three days so this is kind of a birthday present.”

The NAL hosts National Finals annually at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, and West Coast Finals at the Las Vegas National Horse Show in Las Vegas, NV. Both Finals include the following five divisions – Children’s Hunter, Adult Hunter, Children’s Jumper Presented by EquiFit, Adult Jumper Presented by SmartPak, and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper.

The NAL qualifying period runs September 1 through August 31. NAL competitions are open to all who wish to compete, however points are only awarded to current members. For more information regarding the North American League, please call (717) 867-5643, email to NAL@Ryegate.com or visit www.ryegate.com.

$5,000 NAL LOW JR/AO JUMPER FINAL, II, 2(a)

Plc                          Horse / Rider / Owner/R1/JO/TIME

1              MORNING DE REVE/Emily Smith/Emily Smith/0/0/41.283

2              LUFTZAUBER/Kelly Tropin/Libertas Farm LLC/0/4/40.170

3              HEROY VON DE HEI/Callie Seaman/Callie Seaman/0/4/43.993

4              DRAGONFLY’S ESMERALDA/Madelyn Porter/Dragonfly Farms/0/8/37.043

5              BRONSON CR/Quinn Larimer/Nestledown Equine Services, LLC/1                            

6              ADOROSE/Kelly Tropin/Libertas Farm LLC/1        

7              LEVISTANO 2/Isabel Ryan/Heritage Farm, Inc./4               

8              LUNDBACK T HASTAK/Abbey Soffer/Abbey Soffer/4     

9              ABILITYDANCE/Isabel Ryan/Isabel Ryan/4                           

10           BOUDI/Madelyn Porter/Dragonfly Farms/4