42 SIDELINES JANUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
By Kim MacMillan
It all came down to the fnal horse swap. Four riders were called
back to execute the test required by judges Hap Hansen and
George Morris in the 2012 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Horsemanship
junior hunter equitation fnals at the Alltech National Horse Show
in Lexington, Kentucky, in November. After the fnal fence was
jumped, Jacob Pope of Columbia, Maryland, heard his name
called as the winner of the prestigious title, joining the names
of such equestrian greats as Frank Chapot, George Morris and
William Steinkraus on the trophy.
Jacob, who has ridden his trainer Andre Dignelli’s bay
warmblood Uno since August, has had quite a year in 2012
- taking third in the Washington International Equitation Finals,
sixth in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals in
Harrisburg and winning the Platinum Performance/USEF Show
Jumping Talent Search East. In additionhe won the Emerging
Athletes Program in 2011.
“I am still in shock that I won the Maclay. I think it is a huge honor
especially under judges George Morris and Hap Hansen. They
are equestrian legends and it makes me feel great to know that
horsemen as prestigious as they thought I was worthy of winning.
It is unreal. Just being on the trophy in such legendary company…
it is awesome. It is a dream come true. I couldn’t have imagined
the end of my year to be any better,” said the 18-year-old.
Jacob is a high school senior at the McDonogh School where
he participates in the equestrian program and also on an area
interscholastic riding team. He lives with his parents, Andy
and Barbara Pope, and younger brother, 11-year-old Edward,
who also rides. The Pope family shares their “farmette” with a
miniature horse named Monty who was a Christmas present from
the boys’ grandparents, an adopted Thoroughbred named Timmy
and a rescued shelter Dachshund named Noodles. “I have never
owned a horse that can compete at this level,” Jacob explained.
“I have never had a steady ride. I think that really helped with the
ride-off, because I am used to riding anyone.”
Jacob started riding because both of his parents ride and they
always had horses around. So, he asked for riding lessons and
has done hunters and equitation, dressage and some basic
eventing. “My equitation experience as a whole, I think, will give
me a fantastic, strong foundation on which to base the rest of my
riding career. Short term, I would really like to continue my riding
at the national level somehow during college. I will probably also
ride in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association just to keep
me in the saddle every day. Long term, I would love to become a
professional rider and successful trainer and help kids succeed.
I have not yet chosen where I am going to college, but we are in
the application process. I think that I would like to study something
along the lines of business,” Jacob said.
Andre Dignelli and his team from Heritage Farm coached
Jacob through his preparation for the equitation fnals. “Jacob has
tremendous feel and work ethic. I am not surprised he won this
class. He’s pretty much won a big class at every show we have
been to since I started helping him. When I was able to purchase
Uno I knew that this could be magic – a great rider on a great
horse. Jacob has been very appreciative and hard working and
that’s why good things keep happening for him.”
Jacob, who now rides among legendary company, graciously
answered a few fun questions for Sidelines:
What word or phrase do you overuse when you are speaking?
Literally, awesome and amazing.
Besides riding, what talent would you most like to have?
I wish that I would be able to vault onto a horse from behind.
What horse would you most like to ride?
I would love to ride Reed Kessler’s horse that she took to the
Olympics, Cylana, because she is just my favorite horse to watch.
She seems like she wants to win so badly and is literally amazing
and awesome.
Do you have a motto?
Be passionate about your riding and about horses and ride as
many different horses as you can.
Rides In Legendary Company
Jacob Pope and
Uno on their way to
winning the Maclay.
All photos by Allen
MacMillan/MacMillan
Photography
Winning
Smiles! Jacob
(center) joined
by fellow
Maclay winners
Catherine
Tyree (left) and
Lillie Keenan.
The ASPCA
Maclay Medal
competition
judges for
2012, Hap
Hansen, (left)
and George
Morris,
assisted by
Sally Ike.