Scott Stewart Sweeps Titles at Capital Challenge Horse Show

Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ, dominated competition at the Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. He and A Lister, owned by Kulkin Equestrian Inc., won the $50,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Professional Challenge, presented by The Gochman Family and the John R. Ingram Fund.

Scott Stewart also topped the $25,000 North American Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” Championship, presented by The Wheeler Family for the 11th time, riding Gracious to the win. Stewart also rode to his ninth Leading Hunter Rider title and his 11th horse to a Grand Hunter Championship, this time with Encore, owned by Rivers Edge.

With a last-minute catch ride, Kylee Arbuckle captured the $10,000 WCHR Developing Professional Challenge, presented by the John R. Ingram Fund on Silver Oak, owned by Maya Cosgrove.

Stewart Tops the List in WCHR Professional Challenge

A Lister proved himself once again at Capital Challenge, this time winning the $50,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Stewart took the lead in the first round with a score of 92.33 and followed up with 90.33 for a 182.67 total. They were presented with the Little Brook Trophy, donated by The Duffy Family and Little Brook Farm.

Second place went to Halie Robinson and Lifestyle, owned by Big Picture LLC. She and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare had equal scores of 88.17 in both rounds for a 176.33 total. Jennifer Hannan rode Stephanie Bulger’s Prospero, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, to third place with scores of 85.67 and 88.33 and a 174 total.

“He's really new to this,” said Stewart of the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Chacoon Blue, “but he's really straightforward and scopey and simple to ride. He's a phenomenal jumper, really beautiful, and very sweet.”

This was Stewart’s fifth time winning the WCHR Professional Challenge; his first win came in 1997 with Dialog L. He appreciates the opportunity that classes like this afford him as a rider and trainer.

“It's fantastic that there is a hunter showcase like this for professional riders, and it also showcases the owners,” he said of the class and its $50,000 in prize money. “Owners put forth a lot, so I think it's really special that they have classes like this. They can watch the horses go and get a little something out of it.”

Stewart had a banner Wednesday; in addition to his wins, he was honored with the WCHR Lifetime Achievement Award and the Old Springhouse Perpetual Trophy from the United States Hunter Jumper Association.

At 62 years old, Stewart said that winning “never gets old,” but his outlook on competition has evolved since the start of his career.

“This is what you do this for and what you want to achieve with these horses,” he explained. “It’s a great feeling to go against a great lineup of horses and riders and to still be able to win.

“I think I'm actually enjoying this a whole lot more now, and it's because I'm fortunate,” continued Stewart. “I have won a lot, and I think over the last few years, there's been some new faces coming up and it has sort of taken the pressure off. I don't have to be leading rider every year. It’s nice that the younger professionals are getting that, and I can enjoy that for them. I can have that off my shoulders and get back to what I really like, which is riding the horses. Don't get me wrong; I'm competitive, and I want to win, but it's also not the end of the world if we have a green horse and it makes a mistake. In general, I enjoy it a lot more.”

Arbuckle Makes the Most of a Generous Offer

When Kylee Arbuckle had the opportunity to compete in the WCHR Developing Pro Challenge thanks to a last-minute offer of a horse to ride, she took advantage of it and came away with victory. She rode Maya Cosgrove’s Silver Oak to scores of 89.17 and 88.33 for a winning total of 177.5 and the Bittersweet Trophy, donated by Rachel B. Kennedy.

Abby Jorgensen and Cosworth, owned by Badger Sporthorses LLC, had scores of 88 and 87.33 for a 175.33 total for second place. Eleanor Rudnicki and Toulido, owned by David Artos, earned third place with scores of 87.58 and 87 for a 174.58 total.
Arbuckle started her own business, Kindred Hill Farm, four years ago with Heather Roades in Nicasio, CA. The pair worked for Hope and Ned Glynn for 10 years before venturing out on their own. After a junior career full of catch rides with her mother, Christy Arbuckle, and Devon Gibson as her trainers, Arbuckle rode on the University of Georgia Equestrian Team and briefly considered becoming an accountant before coming back to the equestrian industry.

This year’s WCHR Developing Pro Challenge was always a goal for Arbuckle, but with a change in plans, she didn’t think it would happen for her. Trainer Marissa Metzger and Cosgrove offered Silver Oak, and Arbuckle hopped on for the first time on Wednesday morning.

“Honestly, I had no expectations coming into today,” related Arbuckle. “I had never ridden the horse before, but I thought he looked adorable. I was excited for the opportunity. In the first round, I just wanted to give him a good, confident ride, and really work on the straightness. In the second round, I was nervous because I was excited about the potential to win the class, but I also didn't really want to put the pressure on myself.

“He gives such a wonderful feeling in the air,” she described of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He's got such a beautiful, explosive jump and is super fun. I'm super grateful for Maya, Marissa, and Lori for giving me this opportunity. Maya was so gracious to let me ride her horse tonight. It wouldn't have been possible without them, so I am so thankful.”

Encore Returns a Grand Performance

Encore, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Rivers Edge, was named the Grand Hunter Champion, sponsored by Brad Wolf after accumulating the most points in the High Performance Hunter division.

Stewart and Encore were presented with The Janet Polk Read and Margaret Hough Sabbatini Memorial Trophy, donated by The Goguen Family, Tim and Kelly Goguen. Stewart was also named the Leading Hunter Rider and presented with the BJ’s Hunt Room Trophy.

“He's always really brave, and you never have to worry about him,” said Stewart of the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Tsunami de Hus x Quartz de Frely. “He jumps the four foot really easily; he was a fun one to ride this week. He really went great in every round.”

Encore, previously named Del ‘Arko D’Henvet, was a prolific breeding stallion at the Holsteiner Verband in Germany before Stewart imported him. Encore’s 139 offspring include Well Played, the Green Conformation Hunter champion this week with Christina Serio.

Stewart started in the Green Hunter division in 2025 and moved up to the High Performance Hunters at the Upperville Horse Show in June 2026. This year though, he has mostly shown to great success in the junior hunters with Emi Richards.

This was the 11th horse that Stewart has ridden to a Grand Hunter Championship.

Additional professional hunter awards included:

Grand Champion Conformation Hunter

The Kenneth M. Wheeler Perpetual Trophy donated by BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez
Odette, ridden by Victoria Colvin, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC

Grand Champion Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3”
Sponsored by David Belford and Christopher Payne, New Hope LLC

“A Rare Diamond” Perpetual Trophy donated by “The Friends of Mickey”
Central Park, ridden by Victoria Colvin, owned by Wade Equestrian

Grand Champion Green Hunter 3’6”
Sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters

The Monarch Memorial Trophy donated by Geoffrey Hesslink and Brendan Williams
A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC

Grand Green Hunter Champion
Sponsored by Carleton and Traci Brooks, Balmoral

A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC

Gracious is Good in Green Championship

Scott Stewart stood for yet another winning presentation after he rode Gracious to victory in the $25,000 North American Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” Championship, presented by The Wheeler Family. The seven-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Rivers Edge scored 87.75 in the first round and 88.5 in the second round for a winning total of 176.25. For their win, Stewart and Gracious were presented with The Beverly Brooks Solter Memorial Trophy donated by Hilary Scheer Gerhardt and Zan Martin Dillon.

John French rode O’Rockstar, a seven-year-old KWPN gelding by Big Star owned by Maddock Horses LLC, to second place. They scored 87.58 and 88.58 for a 176.17 total. Stewart picked up third place on Cardiff Castle, another Rivers Edge entry. The seven-year-old Holsteiner mare received scores of 89 and 87.08 for a 176.08 total.

Stewart found Gracious through Lisa Williams and bought him off a video. The horse was in Luxembourg, and Stewart was attracted to not only the horse’s talent, but its lineage. Gracious was bred in France and is by Malito de Reve, the same sire as Stewart’s former top hunter, Everly. Everly is the dam of Lafitte de Muze, two-time winner of the WCHR Professional Challenge at CCHS.

“He's a beautiful horse, a beautiful mover, and he's a great jumper,” described Stewart. “This was one of his best shows. He was really relaxed. My favorite round was yesterday. He ended up second, but he went fantastic.”
In addition to first and third places, Stewart rode Basano, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, to sixth place and Confetti, owned by Sachi Kawabata-Porto, to eighth place.

The appeal of buying and bringing along young horses is still fundamental to Stewart’s business with his partner Ken Berkley and one of the main reasons he continues to compete after decades in the industry.

“I'm very fortunate. I still feel great and love what I do,” expressed Stewart, who competed 19 horses this week. “Ken and I own a lot of young horses, and it's very rewarding to get them to this level and have them succeed.

“It’s the idea, and the dream, of what they could become,” he continued about his reason for finding young horses. “I've been lucky; a lot of them have turned out. I think it's just always chasing that dream.”

Additional awards included:

Michelle Bloch Excellence in Expression Award

Halie Robinson

Connaway & Associates High Point North American-Bred Horse Award

I’m Blue, ridden by Kelsey Duffy, owned by Little Brook Farm

Marshall + Sterling Green Hunter 3’ & 3” Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Marshall + Sterling

Journey, ridden by Jennifer Hannan, owned by Stephanie Bulger: 91.5

Marshall + Sterling Professional Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Marshall + Sterling

Crystal Blue, ridden by John French, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC

Derbydown Trip of the Show
Sponsored by Louise Serio

Crystal Blue, ridden by John French, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC

American Style of Riding Award – Developing Professional Challenge
Sponsored by Bill Rube

Kylee Arbuckle

American Style of Riding Award – Professional Challenge
Sponsored by Bill Rube

Havens Schatt

Developing Professional High Point Award in Memory of Jeff Wirthman

Awarded to the Developing Professional who receives the highest-scoring round in a Professional division

Sponsored by Sea Change Farm and Sunset View Farm

TIE: Lauren Patterson and FPF Prince, owned by Hudspeth Sport Horses LLC; Augusta Iwasaki and Positano, owned by Victoria Lacagnina

Horse Show Hero Award
Sponsored by Bill Rube

Kenneth Marash

Tribute Award
Tribute Perpetual Trophy, donated by Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley, Rivers Edge

A Lister, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Kulkin Equestrian LLC

William “Bill” Ellis Horsemanship Award
Sponsored by Julie Karpan and Dr. Robert and Michelle Barber

Dedicated in memory of Bill Ellis for his exceptional commitment to horsemanship, awarded to the best turned out horse in the Green Hunter 3’ & 3’3” North American Championship

Cardiff Castle, ridden by Scott Stewart, owned by Rivers Edge

The 2026 CCHS continues on Thursday, October 1, with grand championships for amateur and adult hunters as well as the $10,000 North American League 1.15m Junior Jumper Final and the $10,000 NAL 1.15m Amateur Jumper Final.