Harrisburg, PA – Caitlin Boyle and Jimmy Torano kicked off Open Jumper competition at the 2023 Pennsylvania National Horse Show with victories in the $10,000 1.30m Speed and the $10,000 1.40m Speed, respectively, on Wednesday, October 18.
For Torano, the victory at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, came aboard Kochio Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding that Torano has been partnered with for the past two years.
“He’s a horse that’s very, very careful,” said Torano of the gelding that he has ridden to multiple grand prix victories in Kentucky, Tryon and most recently, the Devon Fall Classic. “He’s just a really, really competitive horse. Hopefully, he’ll step up to the big classes soon. He’s already jumped some big 1.50m. Everything I’ve asked of him, he’s done.”
The pair were the seventh of 20 entries to take on the course designed by Nicholas Granat, and they set the time to beat at an uncatchable 51.682 seconds. Second place with a time of 51.829 seconds went to Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue, and Thaisa Erwin and Vanturo rounded out the top three with a time of 53.142 seconds.
“[Nicholas Granat] is probably as good as we have in this country,” said Torano. “He’s probably one of the best up-and-coming course designers. I think we’re going to see him doing some big, big championships in the near future. He really had a good feel for what he was going to see tonight, and it was a very good introductory course to get the horses set up for the week.”
Torano continued, “Harrisburg has been, since I was a little kid, the place that you wanted to go and show. You look forward to coming here every year. When you’re a kid, you want to come here and do the Medal Final. Now, you want to come here and try to win the grand prix.”
For $10,000 1.30m Speed winner Boyle, the PNHS has also been a special show since childhood, but now, it has an even more significant meaning. Boyle’s father, Patrick Boyle, took over the PNHS Competition Manager role in 2021, and her mom, Nicole, and brother, Chris, also now work for the show each October.
“It’s a special family event now, so I think it means even just a little bit more,” explained Caitlin Boyle, who earned the 1.30m win aboard Liza, owned by Beyaert Farm Inc. “I’ve been coming here since I was about 13 years old to compete in the equitation. I never really competed here in the jumpers; last year here was my first year doing so, and it means so much.”
On their way to the win Caitlin Boyle and Liza breezed through the timers in 49.099 seconds. Alexandra Pielet and Hyperbolics earned second place with a time of 50.189 seconds, and Christian Coyle and Gydine took third in 50.470 seconds.
“She’s very fast,” said Caitlin Boyle of the 9-year-old mare that she has been riding for the past five months. “She really likes to go fast, and I really can trust her with anything I ask her for. She’s with me all the way and wants to be a very, very careful horse. She’s a bit of a smaller model, so I feel like I can really cut some corners where I need to to make up some time.”
Boyle concluded, “I’m very excited for the rest of the week with her, and I have one other as well in the 1.40m division, so I can’t think of a better way to start!”
For full results of both classes, visit pnhs.showmanagementsystem.com.
