As the host of three prestigious national equitation finals, the National Horse Show welcomes riders from across the country to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Competitors in the THIS NHS Adult Equitation Championship, Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship, and ASPCA Maclay Final chase what many consider the pinnacle of a junior rider’s career—a chance to etch their name on a trophy whose legacy stretches back to 1933.
But what many don’t account for in that childhood dream are the logistics. Even with assistance programs like the NHS Grant, the 4,000-mile round trip from the West Coast can make attending a final feel just out of reach.
For Samantha Wood of Huntington, California, one creative class at Sonoma Horse Park changed that. The 15-year-old is making her first trip East this fall to compete in the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship, thanks in part to the Equitation Transportation Class, a team event sponsored by Brook Ledge Horse Transportation that awarded the winning riders with a haul to Kentucky.
“I decided to enter the class at the last minute,” Samantha said. “My partner was a trainer from a neighboring barn, and we met each other, and we ended up working really well together.” Her spontaneous decision paid off. The win gave her more than a ribbon—it gave her a way to make her dream trip a reality.
For Meredith Herman, owner of Sonoma Horse Park, that opportunity was exactly the point. “Equitation Transportation is a fun class that we dreamt up at Sonoma,” Herman explained. “We’ve given away things like bicycles, scooters, and even skateboards in the past, all branded with Sonoma Horse Park. This year, when I saw the Brook Ledge truck pull in, I thought—what if the prize was actual transportation? They loved the idea and sponsored the class so the winning team could each earn a trip to Kentucky.”
The partnership with Brook Ledge turned what had been a lighthearted, local favorite into something with national impact.
“It’s a long way to travel from California to Kentucky,” Herman said. “If this class gives a little encouragement to a parent who might not have thought about sending their kid back East, then it’s worth it. It’s so important that these kids come together at national finals to meet riders from all over the country. That’s what this is all about.”
Cindi Pérez, Vice President of the National Horse Show Board and sponsor of the NHS equitation classes, shared how meaningful the initiative is to the broader equestrian community. “As a past president of NorCal Hunter Jumper Association and someone who has spent many show days at Sonoma Horse Park, this just fills my heart. Having Samantha and Cassandra come all this way to represent California with the support of Sonoma Horse Park and Brook Ledge truly represents the spirit and intention of The National Horse Show.”
For Samantha, the result was more than just a haul—it was the confidence to compete in a national equitation final, bolstered by another unique award given at the Sonoma Horse Park.
Samantha not only topped the class but also won the Heritage Farm Style of Riding Award judged by Andre Dignelli. A trainer to numerous equitation final champions, Dignelli carefully watched the class and chose the rider he felt displayed the qualities most likely to lead to success in a national medal final. Out of a class filled with top talent, including fellow junior riders, amateurs, and even professionals, Dignelli chose Samantha thanks in part to her flawless execution of the countercanter.
Armed with a newfound confidence and support from a famed equitation finals trainer, Samantha prepared to make her journey out east.
“This is my first time coming out East,” she said. “I’m really excited to be here—a little nervous about the class, but that comes from me just caring about how I do. The ring is definitely different from the ones on the West Coast, but my horse gave me an amazing feel today. He made it all feel super great.”
Her partner, Diador Von Der Heide—affectionately called Dior at the barn—a 16-year-old Oldenburg, is a seasoned veteran in the world of equitation finals. Since Samantha purchased him last year, the pair have found quick success in the ring, taking Samantha from the 3’0” level last year all the way to qualifying for a 3’3” equitation final this year. On the first day of division competition, she finished fourth in the Pérez & Bennett 14 – 15 Equitation Over Fences Section A and third in the 14–15 Equitation Flat Section A during Friday’s competition.
“He’s the best partner I could ask for,” she said. “Without him, I don’t think this would be possible.”
Coming up for Samantha at the National Horse Show is the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship, and she is ready. “I think it’s great that you can get in the ring before the final. I think it’s gonna set up my success a lot more—I know how the ring rides, and I know what the course is asking now.”
With the opportunity provided by the Sonoma Horse Park community, Samantha is proof that an innovative idea, a generous sponsor, and a determined young rider can turn a dream into a reality and a chance to compete for a national finals equitation championship in the Alltech Arena.
