By Rich Chrampanis
Ranney student Emma Blumenkrantz picked up her first major equestrian finals win after taking the top spot in the North American League’s Junior/Amatuer/Amateur-Owner finals in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Oct. 10. Blumenkratz placed first out of 29 entries riding Collin W., a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “My horse jumped incredible,” Blumenkrantz said in a press release. “Going around the course it was really a great op- por tunity to let him go in some places, like from jumps two to three in the jump-of f. I got to watch the first and second ones go. I stood at the gate and got an idea of how it rode and where you could make up time and where you have to check yourself. The hardest part was going to be the turn back to the double (combination), keeping him with me but not letting him cut off the rail, which sometimes he likes to do.”
The Ranney School junior has clearly developed a bond with her horse and it resulted in the impressive victory. “It was an incredible opportunity to even be able to show here,” she said. “It’s just such a great feeling, walking down the ramp and into the ring. Your horse is ready and you’re ready and you’ve worked all year to get here. Winning here gives me confidence going into the next one and knowing he’s going to be there for me and right there with me, ready to game on.” Emma isn’t the first Ranney student to excel in equestrian events. Jessica Springsteen, a 2010 graduate, won a silver medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for the United States in the team jumping competition.
This article originally appeared in the Oct. 28 – Nov. 3, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
