Junior Equitation competitors closed out Week 1 at the 142nd National Horse Show with the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship. Of the 172 riders in the field, one pair stood out, holding the highest-scoring rounds of the day.
After three phases of competition, the title of Champion in the Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3″ Equitation Championship went to Sydney Mohrhardt of Boca Raton, Florida. Riding Saint Louis, a Zangersheide gelding owned by Clear 4 Takeoff, LLC, Mohrhardt impressed the judges, earning two of only four 90+ rounds. Trained by Jacob Pope, she scored 91.50 in Round 1, leading the group, and followed with an 87.25 in Round 2, which came after the flat phase.
The third and final test required the top five competitors to ride the Round 2 course again—this time without stirrups. Mohrhardt secured the championship title with her highest-scoring performance of the day, achieving the overall high score of 93.25.
This marks Mohrhardt’s final show as a junior competitor—a meaningful milestone to end on such a high note. “I never thought I would ever be doing the equitation, especially on this horse,” Mohrhardt said. “It’s just been incredible that we not only get to compete but to qualify for these finals and get in the ribbons—it’s amazing.”
Her partnership with Saint Louis, known as “Junior” in the barn, began in 2021 when the horse was purchased for her older sister as a jumper. “She showed him in the jumpers for a couple of years, and then we brought him back to Florida to sell him,” Mohrhardt explained. “I started riding him and fell in love with him. I tried the equitation because I’d never done it before. It’s all new to us, but it’s been super fun getting to learn it together.”
For Mohrhardt, the early start to the competition day was worth every minute. “I got here at 5:30—I like to take my time. I don’t like to be rushed,” she said. “I just made sure we were here nice and early. I went down, learned my course, and just tried to keep it as chill and relaxing as possible.”
When it came time for the final test—riding without stirrups—Mohrhardt admitted to feeling the pressure. “I was a little bit nervous for the test,” she said. “My horse can be a little tricky without stirrups sometimes, but I just tried to stay calm and remind myself that we made it this far. I was just really grateful to be here and to compete at this event.”
The Hamel Foundation, founded by Kristen Hamel in 2017, has become a cornerstone of the National Horse Show’s junior program. Its mission is to provide riders with meaningful opportunities to develop as competitors and equestrians. “This class has always been a passion of mine since we started it,” Hamel shared. “I love to watch the riders increase their ability throughout the year and be able to do this final. I think it’s very special. The horses are such incredible animals, and seeing the connection between horse and rider is what makes this event so rewarding.”
With her junior career coming to a close, Mohrhardt looks ahead to a bright future in and out of the show ring. “This is my last show as a junior, so I’ll be an amateur,” she said. “I’d like to continue doing the equitation with Junior and move up in the jumpers. I graduate high school in February, and I just want to take some time to get as much experience with my horses and my trainers as possible. Horses will always be in my future.”
Rounding out the top three were Taylor DeMong of Greenwich, CT, earning the Reserve Championship aboard Point Blank Van’t Phenahof Z, a Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Andrus Pitch LLC, and Wyatt Roffi of Brooklyn, NY, who finished third riding his own Dayton De Semilly, a Holsteiner gelding. Both riders shared stories of perseverance—DeMong competing through an ankle injury earlier in the season, and Roffi returning strong after fracturing his foot just weeks before the fall indoor circuit.
As Week 1 concludes, the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Equitation Championship once again showcased the heart and dedication of equestrian sport’s next generation—riders who embody the foundation’s spirit of compassion and horsemanship.
