It has been a few years since Isabelle Castellanos last competed at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, but she made her first trip to the show aboard a horse a winning one by piloting Castellrock LLC’s Cheers! to the Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Championship, presented by Marshall+Sterling Insurance and sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian.

Samantha Teller and Edgewood’s Wonder finished as the reserve champions in the division.

“It’s my first time winning something so big like this, and it’s a special show to win it at,” Castellanos said. “He’s such an amazing horse, and I’m so grateful for him.”

Two wins and a fourth over fences helped Castellanos and “Coco” also win the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship, presented by Marshall+Sterling and sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian.

“Today was definitely very consistent,” she said. “We tried to stay as consistent as we could from Friday after doing so good. He’s been jumping just amazing.”

Castellanos got Coco just under a year ago, and she has been bringing him along with the help of her trainer Tori Colvin. She said he is very smooth and comfortable, but her favorite thing about him is his personality.

“I love how much he loves to cuddle,” she said. “He’ll rest his head on my shoulder, and he’s just so sweet.”

Luciana Gonzalez So Makes Her Cross-Country Trek a Winning One

Luciana Gonzalez So had never come to the East Coast before, but she made the trip from California well worth it by piloting Katie Kantrovitz’s Opportunity Mars to the Children’s Hunter 15-17 Championship, presented by Marshall+Sterling Insurance and sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian.

“It’s been amazing,” Gonzalez So said. “I tried to not have so many expectations, not get them too high or low, but it actually exceeded my expectations. It is such a cool horse show, and it’s amazing that everything is indoors. It’s just really different.”

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is the pair’s second show on the East Coast. They started their trip at the Capital Challenge Horse Show where they were grand champion, and they kept their winning streak alive in Harrisburg. Gonzalez So rides with Halie Robinson, and she has only been riding “Marvin” for about seven months.

“He’s very sweet, and he’s just the best,” she said. “He just tries his hardest every single time he’s in the ring, and he’s just so nice to ride. He has such a lofty jump. He’s just so easy. He makes my job easy. He’s absolutely perfect.”

Finishing behind Gonzalez So as the reserve champions in the Children’s Hunter 15-17 division were Hazel Pratts and Snowcloud, owned by Grier School.

Earning the win in the final Children’s Hunter class of the day, the $10,000 Penn National Children’s Hunter Final, presented by Marshall+Sterling and sponsored by Walkenbach Equestrian, were Tyler Wilson and En Plus du Givre.

For full results of the Children’s Hunters, presented by Marshall+Sterling, click here.