FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aspen Farms, Yelm, WA
Sunday, September 13, 2026

Sunday at Aspen Farms Horse Trials in Yelm, WA brought rain and the final jumping phases of the three-day competition. Competitors from Training through Intermediate levels completed the show jumping course designed by Chris Barnard of Florida, and the lower level divisions rode the cross-country course designed by Morgan Rowsell of New Jersey. Thanks to generous show sponsors, over $20,000 worth of prizes were awarded to top finishers.

In Open Intermediate, Sara Sellmer and Sportsfield Supernatural (pictured above), a 7-year-old Irish Sporthorse owned by Samantha Quinn, added just one rail to win the division of 13 starters.

Sellmer was proud of her horse’s performance all weekend, as it was his first time moving up to Intermediate level.

“We’ve been working on the dressage; we put in a nice little test,” said Sellmer. “On cross-country he was so bold. He feels so fast. I think there’s definitely more in there. He makes the tables feel like cavalettis.”

Marc Grandia and GHS Calexico, owned by the Calexico Syndicate LLC, finished second in Open Intermediate. Jen Moody and Fixin de Conde, an 11-year-old Selle Francaise gelding owed by Willis Kurtz, moved up from seventh to third.

Patience O’Neal and Viva Las Vegas, owned by Betsy Kunert, led the Open Preliminary division from start to finish, finishing on a score of 26.1. Stephanie Goodman and Cord Johnson, owned by Deanna Briggs, finished second on 33.1, and Jeanine Allred and Luna des Terdrix finished third on 39.9.

“I really enjoyed the show jumping course,” O’Neal said after their clear round. “It was similar to the Novice course I rode yesterday–you turned, and then turned,” she said, making a swooping figure-8 gesture. “It was very forgiving to find a distance off the turns. It rode exactly how we walked it; we stuck to our plan.”

While O’Neal celebrated her win in Preliminary with Viva Las Vegas, she also shared the highlight of the weekend was the growth she felt in her Open Novice winner, Decadent Blue, a 5-year-old half brother to Viva Las Vegas also owned by Betsy Kunert.

“He cantered all the jumps on cross-country today,” said O’Neal. “His rideability keeps getting better. It’s very rewarding to feel the progress being made; I’m very excited about this horse!”

In Preliminary Rider, Brynn Josey and Gentle Gallucci reclaimed their earlier lead thanks to a double clear show jumping round. Ava Good and Czarina finished second, and Anna Weston Smith and HSH Enticement, owned by Martha Wehling, moved up one place to finish third.

Lorilee Hanson and Dionysos. Photo by Elizabeth Knight Photography.

The Training level division winners were as follows:

  • Open Training Winner – Stephanie Goodman and Kremer VD Falieberg
  • Junior Training Winner – Camille Smith and Kensington LV
  • Training Amateur B – Lorilee Hanson and Dionysos
  • Training Amateur A – Karyn Smith and Supernova
  • Training Horse – Maya Black and Django HS

Another exciting development at the show was the first-ever Northwest International Young Rider Team Challenge running concurrently with Aspen Farms Horse Trials. It attracted over 20 Junior riders from British Columbia to participate against USEA Area VII Young Riders representing Team USA.

The goals of the Team Challenge was to foster team camaraderie and sportsmanship, provide riders with experience in a Championships-style environment, build connections between Young Riders from British Columbia and USEA Area VII, and support the development of future upper-level riders.

Caterina Ritson and Tiz Franklin of Team USA won the Intermediate level portion of the Challenge.

“My horse is a 13-year old Thoroughbred,” Ritson shared after the Awards ceremony. “He’s a great horse. I really had a good time with him this weekend. It was the best he’s been on cross-country. I was very proud of how he handled everything, and he really rode all the questions well. Show jumping is definitely his weakest phase, but I felt like he was pretty strong today and definitely did the best that he was able to do.”

Ritson and many other Junior competitors mentioned enjoying the Team Challenge over the course of the weekend, which included an Opening Ceremony, stall decorating contest, and other social activities.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Ritson. “We don’t get to do stuff like this very often. We do things with our own Area VII Young Riders, but to be able to include Canada in this was great. Meeting new people, having a sense of camaraderie, and riding on a team… It had the same feel as getting prepared for the Young Rider Championships. It was great to be able to ride with different people and get to know people from another country.”

See live scoring from all divisions online at ShowConnect, here. Find additional show coverage on Aspen Farms Horse Trials Facebook Page, or follow us on Instagram @AspenFarmsHorseTrials.

📷Photos by Show Photographer Elizabeth Knight Photography
🎥 Reels by Halite Creative