Throughout the year, riders worked diligently to qualify for one of the eight regional finals, where only the top finishers earned the chance to advance to the championship finals. Leading the way for Region 2 for the second year in a row Michael Hughes, who took home the 2013 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals -East, and looks to add the Maclay National Championship to his growing resume.

Michael Hughes looks to add the Maclay National Championship to his growing resume. Photo by Emily Riden.

Hughes will be facing stiff competition, including 2014 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - West champion Sydney Hutchins, who captured the Region 8 title. Spectators can also expect top performances from Region 1's Ali Tritschler and McKayla Langmeier. Tritschler claimed the regional title, but last week Langmeier beat her out during the 2014 New England Equitation Championship, just days after earning the reserve championship at the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals.

Ali Tritschler with Brenda Tannenbaum, Patricia Adikes-Hill and Mason Phelps. Photo by Peter Weyand.

The winner of the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals was Spencer Smith, whose parents Ken and Emily Smith, are top trainers and hope to see their son make this a banner year with two equitation titles. Spencer is not the only rider with parents who know how to find a winner, though. Caitlin Boyle's father Pat Boyle is the owner of Showplace Productions, and he has been helping his daughter every step of the way, including her winning the Region 4 Finals over Smith.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden in 1987, and Nicole Shahinian Simpson in 1992. The 2012 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Jacob Pope, and in 2013 Lillie Keenan was named the winner.Already a winner at the grand prix level and winner at the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, Victoria Colvin hopes to add one title that is missing from her resume, and that is an equitation championship. With the support of owner Dr. Betsee Parker, Colvin has spent the year focusing on equitation and hopes this will be her year.

Tickets for the 2014 National Horse Show CSI-W 4* are available online at Ticketleap.com, the official ticket provider for this year's event. The top-rated equestrian showcase returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 28 -November 2, 2014.

Tickets purchased through Ticketleap.com are discounted 20% as compared to tickets bought at the gate. Children 12 and under are always admitted at no charge.

Tickets for each prime-time show on Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday daytime can be purchased now at Ticketleap.com at:http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/ 

Online ticket sales end Monday, October 27, after which all tickets must be purchased at the door. 

The highlights for this year's show include on Thursday night, the Copernicus Stables, LLC $75,000 International Open Jumpers - Time First Jump Off. Friday night's feature is the Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gambler's Choice Top Score Costume Class in honor of Halloween night. On Saturday, it's the main event, the $250,000 CP National Horse Show Grand Prix. On Sunday afternoon the National Horse Show plays host to the Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class Presented by Dover's Saddlery beginning early in the morning and continuing with the final round at approximately 3:00 PM. 

All evening sessions begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

For tickets to this year's show visit TicketLeap.com at:  http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/ 

The prize list for the National Horse Show can be downloaded at:https://www.nhs.org/prize-list-and-entry-forms/