Madison Hilderman Claim’s Pony Jumper Challenge Victory At The Royal Horse Show

Madison Hilderman And Rhythm Divine Win Big 

TORONTO, ONTARIO – The inaugural Pony Jumper Challenge at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on November 2nd experienced a Divine intervention from the west.

Eleven-year-old Madison Hilderman from Calgary, Alberta took top spot in the $10,000 class with her 15-year-old Welsh cross mare, Rhythm Divine. They were among five horse and rider pairs from 16 starters – and the only non-Ontario entry – to advance to the jump-off and executed a fast and flawless round in 32.66 seconds to claim victory.

In second place was Charlotte Mason of Rockwood, Ontario, on Kirsten Brunner’s Beaverwoods Cinnamon, who also jumped cleanly and finished with 35.52 seconds. In third was Charlotte Millar of Flesherton, Ontario, who rode a speedy round in 30.69 seconds on her pony, Royal, but knocked a rail for four faults.

Although Madison and Rhythm Divine (known as “May”) have won several pony jumper and three-foot open championships in western Canada, including at Spruce Meadows, it was their first time competing at a big indoor show and in Ontario. “At first, May was a little jumpy, but she does anything she’s asked and she focuses on her job,” said Madison. “I was nervous going in, but I told myself ‘Okay, Madison, you’ve got this.’ We’ve never competed in front of a crowd that big.”

The young rider rode with the coolness and confidence of a much older rider to clinch the win and $3,000 first place winnings, to the delight of her parents, Shelley and Greg, who accompanied her from Alberta.

Madison, who started riding at age 5 at a western stable, discovered a love for jumping when she moved to an eventing barn. She wasn’t as passionate about dressage and cross country as she was about the stadium phase, so three years ago she moved to hunter/jumper barn Marit Stables and has been coached by Kerry Marit ever since. Her coach found Rhythm Divine for her in 2010 and “they’ve been an awesome match,” says Marit. Madison will fly home to Calgary this week to attend classes at her school, the Webber Academy, then return to Toronto next weekend to compete in the children’s hunters with her other mount, Little Printz.

The bright lights and large crowd in the Ricoh Stadium may have been partly to blame, but the .90 meter course, designed by Michel Vaillancourt, thinned the field by half as eight horses and riders were eliminated in the first round due to refusals or falls. A particularly airy combination halfway through the course took its toll on several pony and rider pairs.

The 16 Pony Jumper Challenge entries were invited based on results from riders age 18 and under in pony jumper classes at Equine Canada Gold shows during the 2013 show year. Because not every show has pony jumper classes and some classes tend to be small, the aim of the Royal Pony Jumper Challenge is to create greater interest in the pony jumpers and help the classes grow. It’s the first time the Royal has offered a pony jumper class.

“This is a new class and we are trying to build for the future,” explained Christine Reupke, horse show business manager for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The goal is to encourage more juniors to compete in the jumpers, to broaden the base of young jumper riders who will form future Canadian national and international teams.”

Madison is already thinking of her future representing Canada as a show jumper and has lofty goals: “I want to go to the Olympics in 2020 – that’s the year I’ll graduate from high school.”

Written and photographed by: Tracy Hanes

Final Results:

For more information on the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair please visit www.royalfair.org