Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. BRILLIANT DISGUISE accept their awards. Photo AlCookPhoto.com

Harrisburg, PA - October 18, 2013 - Giavanna Rinaldi, of Wayne, Illinois, beat a field of 25 starters in the $5,000 North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Final on her own G.P.S. BRILLIANT DISGUISE at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show today.

Rinaldi, just fourteen years old, was one of only eight riders to make it to the jump-off round, setting an unbeatable time of 34.993 seconds as second rider into the ring. Madeline Thatcher and ESQUILINO BAY, owned by Pony Lane Farm, were last to go in the jump-off, and put in a very exciting round, nearly parting ways at one point, but she recovered like a pro to cross the timers fault-free in 35.180 seconds to take second place.

"The class was really fun because last year I had a rail in the first round so I wanted to redeem myself this year", said Rinaldi with a laugh.

Rinaldi bought the big grey gelding in Ocala last year as a medium juior horse, but has done a grand prix recently to prepare for tonight. "He's really easy to ride", said Rinaldi. "We've been doing a lot on the flat to get him off my leg, get him a little hotter, and do lots of bounces to get him ready for this".

For winning the NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Final, Rinaldi received a custom tack trunk by David R. Fowler Custom Tack Trunks, and a pair of D-Teq Custom Boots by EquiFit.

Rinaldi will also be competing tomorrow in the NAL Children's Jumper Final - presented by EquiFit.

The North American League (NAL) offers year-long Series in six divisions - Adult Jumper Presented by SmartPak, Children's Jumper Presented by EquiFit, Adult Hunter Presented by Practical Horseman, Children's Hunter, Pony Jumper, and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper. The Series includes classes held at hundreds of horse shows across the United States and Canada. The NAL gives riders in these divisions a chance to ride in year-end finals at two major indoor shows - The NAL National Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show at Harrisburg, October 10-19, and the NAL West Coast Finals at the Las Vegas National Horse Show, November 12-17. Further information on the NAL is available at www.ryegate.com or by contacting Ryegate Show Services at 717-867-5643orNAL@Ryegate.com. 

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the 2011 National Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year and the sixth ranked horse show in North America in the 2012 North American Riders Group (NARG) annual rankings, is one of the largest indoor horse shows in the U.S.  It hosts horses and competitors from across the country with 10,000 spectators attending from the Mid-Atlantic region.

With over 1,400 qualified horses competing for $450,000 in prize money, the show features Hunter and Jumper competition and is the site of the Pessoa/US National Hunter Seat Medal Final Presented by Randolph College, the Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships, North American League (NAL) National Finals and the $85,000 Grand Prix de Penn National.

In addition to world-class equestrian competition, the horse show offers a unique shopping environment with boutique vendors that offer everything from fine art to custom jewelry, clothing, accessories and horse show memorabilia.   

Proceeds from the event benefit community equine and youth programs. Since its inception in 1945, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation has donated over $1.5 million to charitable entities.

Horse show competition can be viewed live free of charge at www.usefnetwork.com and live scoring and results are available at www.Ryegate.com.

For more details on show events, competitors and vendors, please visit the show's website,www.PAnational.org or contact the Pennsylvania National Horse Show at 717-236-1600 or by email,eventinfo@PAnational.org.

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