Harrisburg, Pa. – October 17, 2024 – Martha Ingram has won major hunter championships across the country, but until Thursday, October 17, 2024, the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship title at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show had eluded her. Not anymore, however. Aboard Jenkins, Ingram not only earned the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division championship, she also claimed the Grand 3’6″ Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mila Lieberman.
“It means the world to win here at Harrisburg, especially because this is my first time being champion in the 3’6” amateurs,” said Ingram, who hails from Nashville, TN. “Then, to add grand on top of it is just very special. What makes it even more special is the horse. He was reserve champion here with Nick [Haness] this week [in the High Performance Conformation]. To finally get that cooler for him meant a lot. They do such a beautiful job here, it’s so special and historic, and it runs amazingly.”
On their way to the division championship, Ingram and Jenkins earned two wins over fences and a second in the under saddle. For the division’s top honor, Ingram was presented with the Wintarra Ring Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mary Lisa Leffler and Rolling Acres Farm.
Of Jenkins, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ingram said, “He’s the most incredible animal ever; he’s just the sweetest horse, and I trust him so much. He doesn’t ever do anything wrong, and I’m just so happy for him to get this award because I think he deserves it.”
Taking the reserve championship in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters 18-35 were Callie Seaman and Silver Lining.
In the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 & Over division, the championship and the Carlos F. Bodwell Memorial Perpetual Trophy went to Margot Peroni and Just Apple for the second year in a row.
“I grew up in Pennsylvania and [the Pennsylvania National Horse Show] and Devon were sort of it as a little kid,” said Peroni. “Last year I was champion on Just Apple here, and it was my first time being champion here. It’s just really special. There’s just so much history here, especially as a kid from Pennsylvania. There was way more crying last year. There’s just a little bit of crying this year! It definitely is one of the shows that we work for all year long.”
