Las Vegas, NV – November 17, 2024 – Brooke O’Malley made her first trip to the Marshall + Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships and the Las Vegas National Horse Show a winning one on November 17, 2024. The 15-year-old from Los Angeles, CA, led all the way through three phases of competition to take home the win in the IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal Final – West.
O’Malley was one of 31 entries to take on the first-round, Archer Bailey-designed course on Sunday morning at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. From there, judges Patricia Griffith and Stacia Madden narrowed the field down to the top 20 to return for round two.
Brooke O’Malley and Uno!. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
“I really enjoyed the course, and I thought it was set super nicely,” said O’Malley, who trains with Susie Schroer and the team at Meadow Grove Farm. “It was super pretty, and I think the technicality was super fun for me. I really like when it’s more technical. I’m able to shine a little bit better. We practice a lot of technical courses at home.”
O’Malley’s practice was evident as she earned a first-round score of 89 aboard her own Uno!. From there, the pressure was on, as riders returned in reverse order of their standings for round two. For O’Malley, it’s a situation she has been in before, as she came back in first place in the THIS National Children’s Medal Final just weeks ago. There, O’Malley ultimately ended up in sixth place, but this time, O’Malley really rose to the occasion.
“I was super nervous coming in last on the highest score,” said O’Malley. “I’ve ridden last a couple times, so I wasn’t as nervous as I think I would have been, but it is a lot more pressure. I just always tell myself that I can do it, and I’m able to do it. That helps my nerves settle down. I take big, deep breaths and pat my horse and just go in and have a good canter and go from there.”
Brooke O’Malley and Uno!. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
O’Malley and Uno! proved consistent in round two, again earning a score of 89 to hold onto their lead with a cumulative total of 178. Sitting in second place with a score of 171 was Ava Sabin on Kilroy; Lila Badham and Quadro d’Ag held third with a score of 170, and Rosemary Bilson sat in fourth with a score of 169.5 on Que Color.
With second through fourth place all sitting within two points of one another, the judges called back the top four for additional testing, where O’Malley once again rose to the occasion, only further cementing her lead.
Ultimately finishing in second place was Badham, while Sabin took home third place, and Bilson rounded out the top four.
“When they first set the test, I was a little bit scared,” said O’Malley. “It was kind of hard, but my horse is pretty adjustable, so he was able to come back super nicely in the first line. We had to add a stride. I was actually able to get my canter back pretty quickly, which allowed me to get the forward seven to the double which not everybody did. I think that said something that I was able to have a forward canter. I’m super excited [to get the win!]”
Lila Badham and Quadro d’Ag finished in second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
All contestants were gifted hats and IHSA tumblers, while the top 12 riders were honored with bridle ribbons, rider sashes and saddle pads for their achievements. As reserve champion, Badham received a keeper trophy. As champion, O’Malley was awarded a cooler, a keeper trophy, a pair of Parlanti boots and an Essex Classics show shirt.
The IHSA/USHJA 3’3” Hunter Seat Medal serves as a stepping stone for equitation riders, providing an opportunity to qualify and compete in a national equitation final at the 3’3” fence height. The Medal is open to junior riders, who have not competed in any of the following national equitation finals with fences at 3’6” within the same competition year: the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, ASPCA Maclay Finals, USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals (East or West), WIHS Equitation Classic Finals, Jump Canada Medal Finals or the North American Equitation Championship.
Sunday marked the conclusion of the 2024 Las Vegas National Horse Show. To learn more about all competitions managed by the Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.