Caitlin Boyle winning the ASPCA Maclay Medal at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

March 13, 20012 - With a few weeks left on the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit, several Chicago riders are making their mark among the toughest competition around.

Caitlyn Boyle, Hampshire, IL, is putting Chicago on the Equitation Map by winning the prestigious Washington International Horse Show Medal class overall, not once but twice so far. The WIHS Medal is a two-phase class consisting of a hunter phase and a jumper phase plus an overall award. Boyle has scored 88’s and 90’s out of over 50 of the country’s top junior riders. As of the March 8^th standings, Boyle is 4^th in the country.  The top 40 riders compete at the final at the Washington International Horse Show in the fall.

In the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal, Lauren Tyree, Chicago, has also won two medals and finished 2^nd with other top ribbons.  Tyree currently stands eighth in the National Standings and is qualified for the final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in the fall.  

Both girls are already headed for the ASPCA Maclay Regional finals in Kentucky this fall, earning their slots with top ribbons from the sunshine state. Boyle won the Maclay in week 7 against over 50 competitors.

The USEF Talent Search offers not only a final but also Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for wins along the way.  Winning five classes earns a Bronze, ten classes earns a Silver and 20 earns the Gold. Boyle and Tyree are on their way to a Silver with 8 and 7 wins respectively.  Other medal riders to watch are Stephen Foran, Lake Forest and Niki LaChapelle, Barrington Hills. LaChapelle has 5 wins for a Bronze and Foran has 3 wins.  

Both Tyree and Boyle are qualified for the Equitation Championship at the Winter Equestrian Festival.  The class has 3 panels of judges including George H. Morris plus a schooling ring judge.  Riders are not allowed to have trainers and must walk the course and school by themselves.  Riders are judged not only on their round but on how they warm up.  Additional testing is also required.  We will keep you posted on the results of that class.  It may be able to be viewed on USEFnetwork.org but is not currently on the schedule.