Gray Slipper Dominates Hunter Classes

Upper Marlboro, MD – October 4, 2004 – On the opening day of the hunter classes at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD, a few horses and riders stood out in the crowd. Gray Slipper a regular working hunter owned by Bridget Hallman topped both over fence classes with Louise Serio in the irons. Gray Slipper is an eight-year-old Hallman has owned for four years. Serio started the gelding in the future hunter division back in 2001 and now competes in the regular workings with Serio and in the amateur-owner hunters with Hallman.

“He’s a wonderful horse,” said Serio. “He’s really consistent, and he has great scope.” Gray Slipper proved that today scoring a 90.5 in the second over fence class. There were three 90.5’s awarded today –Jenny Karazissis on Ballari, Dick Carvin on Back In The Game, and Gray Slipper. All three are in the running for the “EMO Trip of the Show,” an award given to the horse and rider with the highest score.

In the Future Hunters it was The Promise who stood out. Owned and ridden by Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, Texas, the five-year-old bay mare topped the future hunter mares class and took a fifth in the second over fence class.

Pletcher bought Promise one year ago at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Pletcher showed the mare in California over the winter and “won everything” in the baby green division. After taking the summer off the mare came out again at Culpepper last week and seems to have picked up where she left off. “She doesn’t act like a mare. She has a wonderful personality,” said Pletcher who is pleased with his young mare. “She’s a different ride. She has a floating gait.”

The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 10 and will showcase the nation’s best hunters and jumpers. Tomorrow’s schedule includes the conclusion of the regular working hunter division as well as all the future hunter divisions.

The $40,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix is the highlight of the jumper action. Held at 7:30pm on Saturday, October 9 the FEI World Cup Qualifying class is a great opportunity to witness US Equestrian Team veterans tackle a demanding course. As always admission to the show is free and classes run in two rings throughout the day. Evening classes are held Tuesday through Saturday. Results, photos and the time schedule can be found on the Capital Challenge website: www.capitalchallenge.org . For more information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show call (301) 260-2467 prior to the show or (301) 952-7944 during the show.