Danhakl Is Grand Aboard In Sync

Pacific Palisades Rider Wins Equestrian Federation Junior Hunter National Title

Pretty soon, Palisadian Stephanie Danhakl is going to have to look for new places to store all of the trophies she’s winning. She and her mount In Sync were named Grand Champions at the fifth annual Show Circuit Magazine/U.S. Equestrian Federation National Junior Hunter Championships held August 16-17 in San Juan Capistrano. Danhakl, who graduated from Harvard-Westlake High in June, is no stranger to winning equestrian events. She rode another horse, Callaway, to first place at the 2004 Championships on the West Coast. In Sync, meanwhile, won the 2003 Championships on the East Coast, making him the first horse in history to claim championships on both coasts. “Being my last year, it was really great that I could have a repeat performance and do just as well on a different horse,” said Danhakl, who is bound for the University of Pennsylvania. “I went into the last round just wanting to ride my best. I didn’t really know that I had won overall until later on’it was kind of a surprise.” Danhakl said she shares a special bond with the nine-year-old In Sync, who she claimed is “at the top of his game.” Just two years ago, Charlie Jayne rode the same horse to win the 2003 Monarch International/USA Equestrian National Junior Hunter Championships, East Coast. “I’m really lucky be able to ride him,” Danhakl said. “In Sync is so different from any other horse I’ve ever ridden. I can’t even describe it. I love my horse so much and every time I get to ride him, it’s so much fun.” Danhakl received the Show Circuit Magazine perpetual trophy, a crystal trophy that she will be able to display until next year’s championships. Donated by Show Circuit Magazine, the trophy tops a list of prizes, including a Pessoa saddle and a Blue Ribbon Blanket by Royal Rider. In the Small Junior Hunters 16-17 division, Danhakl captured the River Edge Farm Perpetual Trophy riding her own horse, Galatea, a 1995 Oldenburg mare. Then, in the Large Junior Hunters division, she won the Magic Word Trophy on In Sync. Riding a horse named Marcellus, Danhakl finished seventh in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. She also placed sixth at the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation and eighth in the WIHS Hunter Phase. Danhakl was the senior captain of her equestrian team at Harvard-Westlake and won last year’s Large Hunter points championship on her favorite horse, Lifetime, with whom she earned three straight High Point National Junior Hunter Rider championships. She won the Small Hunter title on Galatea. “For nationals I go to two shows a month,” Danhakl said. “At each show there are four rounds of jumping and you are judged in each category. You accumulate points at each show and the rider with the most points at the end of the year wins.” Danhakl’s success is the product of hours in the saddle. During the school year she drove to Middle Ranch in Lake Futeres to train for two hours after her classes and practiced for as much as six hours on weekends. Her training has paid off in the form of numerous wins, trophies and accolades.