Upper Marlboro, MD – September 27, 2003 – Coming off a win in the Maclay regionals, Lauren Van Eldik of Ocala, FL, showed off her flatwork in a winning performance in the Monarch International’s Show Circuit Magazine North American Flat Equitation Championship class held on the opening day of the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.

“I think in order to jump well you have to have good flat work,” said Van Eldik, who sees her flat work as a strong point in her riding. The young rider has competed in the Monarch Flat class for a number of years and felt comfortable performing the dressage test required. Topping seventy riders Van Eldik clearly mastered the test.

Van Eldik, 18, trains with Don Stewart, also of Ocala, FL, and has been with the notable trainer for nearly ten years. Stewart has coached Van Eldik to ribbons at all of the equitation finals last year and this fall the young rider will take her final stab at winning the prestigious classes.

Van Eldik rides a ten-year-old warmblood gelding named Caravaggio Delle Roane in the equitation classes and will also pick up rides on other horses belonging to Stewart. The trainer/student combination has been successful team. Van Eldik quickly credits Stewart’s training for her success.

“He’s a fabulous trainer,” she said. “He makes it a lot of fun. I’m kind of uptight and a perfectionist, and he mellows me out so I can go in and ride like I know I can ride. I notice when I ride with trainers who are more serious with me that it makes me worry about too many things.”

The young rider will compete in the Monarch International’s Show Circuit Magazine North American Equitation Championships held on Sunday and will use it as a warm-up for the rest of the indoor finals

The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs from September 27 through October 5 and draws s the top hunter and jumper riders from across the country to compete at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Admission and seating is free throughout the week. The schedule, daily results, and photos can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallengehorseshow.com. For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 260-2467 prior to the show or (301) 952-7944 during the show.