Kate Conover’s name was probably the least well-known to the general public among the six competitors who vied for the $25,000 World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Finals title at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Maryland. But it was the Ocala, Fla., woman who came out on top, over Shelley Campf, Nick Haness, Geoffrey Hesslink, Brady Mitchell, and Leslie Steele.
Three two-person judging panels presided over the competition, in which riders were aboard a horse of their own choosing during the first segment.
The four riders with the best scores–Kate, Geoffrey, Brady and Shelley–returned for the Final Four on equal status, with no penalties. Each was on a horse unfamiliar to them, and all the riders took turns jumping these mounts.
It was the first Pro Finals for Shelley, Brady and Kate, while Geoffrey’s debut in the class was in 2020.
Kate’s final total was 355.33. Brady was runner up with 352.99, Shelley finished third on 341.15 and Geoffrey fourth on 259.32.
Champion Kate Conover and her supporteres. (Photo by Shawn McMillen)
Explaining she had made the class a goal, Kate said, “My brother passed away in January, and I kind of just changed my focus to riding for my family.
“My mom really loves it, so I know she’s watching. I know I made her really proud, and I know my brother is watching. I made this a focus, and I wanted it. I wanted it not just for me, but for my family, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic that it actually happened.”
Kate has long experience on different horses, reaching back to her pony days.
“When I was a kid, and my whole life, I never really had the same horse or pony all the time, so it’s a lot of experience of just trying to make a relationship very fast,” she explained.
“I think it’s that experience of riding them all differently, taking what you have in the moment, and doing the best you can. Every horse you don’t ride the same.”
Geoffrey, who had a rail down that prompted him to withdraw in that round, said, “It wasn’t my night tonight, and that’s okay. I find it an honor to be in this class, and I think Kate is one of the most beautiful and most amazing riders, so I could not be happier for her,” he said.
This was the second year in a row that a first-timer took the win, after Nick earned the title in 2022.