October 20, 2025 – Upper Marlboro, MD
Grand champions and class winners were named during the 2025 WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship at the Salem Farm Showgrounds in Upperville, VA, on October 16-19. The annual event showcased local and regional riders and is the precursor to the 67th Annual Washington International Horse Show, presented by MARS Equestrian™, held October 20-26, at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Laila Theurer Wins MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals
Laila Theurer of Darnestown, MD, and Northern Star, owned by Theurer’s trainer, Courtney Morton of C Stars LLC in Poolesville, MD, won the Maryland Horse Shows Association (MHSA) Gittings Horsemanship Finals, which was the featured event on Saturday at the WIHS Regional Horse Show.
Theurer and “Camille” triumphed through the initial jumping round, the top 10 flat phase, and a test of the top four riders. Sitting in second place coming into the test, Theurer rode through the test course that included counter-cantering a jump, a simple change of lead, adding a stride in a line, and hand galloping the final jump.
After graduating from her large pony after the 2024 USEF Pony Finals, Theurer made a significant change to Camille, a horse with an imposing height. “She’s really big,” confirmed Theurer of the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by Chopard VDB Z x Clinton. “She’s probably the biggest horse I’ve ever ridden. She has a huge step, but she’s really adjustable, and it just makes getting down the lines super easy on her.”
Theurer took her love of riding in the pony hunter handy classes directly to the 3’ and 3’3” equitation classes. “When my trainer asked me if I wanted to move into the equitation, I was really excited because it was getting to do those difficult questions and courses that really keep you thinking,” she explained. “It was definitely a change at first, but I’ve loved it since I started doing it.”
Riding in her first Gittings Horsemanship Finals, Theurer was thrilled to earn the victory. “I just wanted to put my best foot forward,” she remarked. “That was the goal, to put in a good round.
“It means a lot to me since it’s my first year in the equitation,” she continued. “It’s been a dream of mine to be successful in the equitation, so to step into a class like that — let alone a final — for my first time and win, especially on such a wonderful horse, is really special.”
Second place in the MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals went to Haven Harrison of Berlin, MD, riding Cinco de Mayo, owned by Hilary Gibbons-Neff. Abigail Roward, of Churchville, MD, and Calantus, owned by Serenity Valley Farm LLC, placed third.
The winner of the 13th Annual Laura Pickett Excellence in Horsemanship Award will be notified today and presented on Friday, October 24, during MARS Barn Night, presented by Walkenbach Equestrian.
Laila Theurer piloted Northern Star to win the MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals in her first appearance in the class.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship Result Highlights
Grand Champion Amateur Jumper and Recipient of the Papillon Peanut Perpetual Trophy Donated by Wendy Libert
Nida van de Kransvijver, ridden and owned by Gillian Aiken of Alexandria, VA
Grand Champion Adult Amateur Hunter and Recipient of the Glyndon Memorial Trophy Donated by Patti and Bruce Schindler
Archive, ridden and owned by Skye Zeidan of Mechanicsville, VA
Gillian Aiken and Nida van de Kransvijver galloped to the Grand Amateur Jumper Championship.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Skye Zeidan and Archive were presented with the Glyndon Memorial Trophy donated by Patti and Bruce Schindler.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Grand Champion Green Hunter
Cadello, ridden by Guy Cambria of Upperville, VA, and owned by Amanda T. Brown of Charlottesville, VA
Grand Champion Children’s Hunter
Learn To Fly, ridden and owned by Emily Young of Herndon, VA
Grand Champion Children’s Pony Hunter
Crown Ridge Royal Jubilee, ridden and owned by Evangeline Pirolli of Davidson, NC
Learn To Fly and Emily Young won the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Cadello and Guy Cambria in their winning presentation.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Crown Ridge Royal Jubilee and Evangeline Pirolli stand for their grand championship presentation.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Thank you to our exhibitors and fans for continuing to make this competition a meaningful part of the WIHS legacy. WIHS Regional Horse Show also expresses great appreciation for the support of its sponsors, including: The Lowham-Ruzzo Family, The Peterson Fellows Family, Frank Mangano Foundation, MARS Equestrian™, Orchard Manor Show Stables, Garrison Forest School, United Metro Golf Cart, Charles Ancona, and The Clothes Horse.
The excitement will continue this week at the 67th annual Washington International Horse Show CSI5*-W presented by MARS Equestrian™ running October 20 through October 26, 2025, at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. WIHS attendees will experience the beauty and athleticism of the finest horses and riders in the country and the world, including Olympic veterans, plus enjoy entertaining exhibitions, boutique shopping, historical displays, VIP hospitality, and WIHS Kids’ Day presented by Delta Air Lines. As a 501(c)(3) event, WIHS benefits Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Tickets are available on Ticketmaster. A special half-price offer is available for U.S. military and first responders for Thursday evening tickets. Daytime admission is free every day.
Written by Jump Media LLC
