Emma Mann-Meginniss and Anne Sherwood Prevail as 2020 PCHA Medal Final Champions

Photo © ESI Photography

For Immediate Release:

THERMAL, Calif. – November 7, 2020 – Equitation competition continued on Saturday morning with both the PCHA Horsemanship Medal Finals 18-34 and the PCHA Victor Hugo-Vidal Horsemanship Finals 35 & over. After two days of competition, in the lower age division, the champion ribbon was awarded to Emma Mann-Meginniss (Oakland, CA), trained by Matt and Lindsey Archer, and the upper age division champion was Anne Sherwood (Los Angeles, CA), trained by Michelle Morris. 

Photo © ESI Photography

In both classes, riders were tested against eleven obstacles with additional tests of a trot fence and halts added in. The courses were technical and asked many different questions during each round. After the second round, judges asked back the top two riders and tested them even more with difficult turns and truly making them rise to the occasion.

“The course designer did a great job both days,” explained Sherwood. “I found all the courses to be very challenging but asking different questions and with the trot fences and halts, all the tests worked in, it was great to ride.” 

Sherwood was head over heels with her win as it is her first major medal finals win ever. “I have so many goals. This is all just a dream come true. I never won any medal finals as a junior so to win a medal final at middle age is so thrilling.”

For Mann-Meginniss, this is her second big win of the week and she was elated. “It is really cool. I think the hardest thing for a rider is consistency and keeping the same rhythm and being in the moment,” mentioned Mann-Meginniss. “Knowing how your horse is going is great and to have that energy from yesterday and then today just staying super consistent, I am just super proud of him and us as a team.”

About the Desert International Horse Park

With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.