A Confident Performance Earns Vivienne Zemmel the VHSA/M+S Children’s Medal Victory
Lexington, VA – August 8, 2025 – A poised round and polished test carried Vivienne Zemmel and MTM Avanti to the top of the VHSA/M+S Children’s Medal on Friday evening at the Lexington National Horse Show, presented by Attwood Equestrian. The pair earned a final score of 84 to secure the blue. Katharine Kelly and Zorro 376 claimed the red ribbon with 82, while Addison Purcell and F.F. Calcutta rounded out the podium with 81.
“Going into the course, I felt like all of the preparation this season had really paid off. I knew my horse and how he felt going into the ring, and that let me plan my track exactly how I wanted,” Zemmel explained. “The distances came up perfectly, and it was a really fun course that brought out the best in both of us.”
The course opened with a single vertical on the diagonal, followed by a rollback to another diagonal vertical bending to an oxer at the far end of the ring. Riders then tackled a bending line, before meeting an oxer on the diagonal. From there, they navigated a diagonal combination with a narrow rollback to a single on the diagonal, finishing over an oxer coming home.
The top four competitors were called back for a test that began as soon as they exited the in-gate: canter directly to fences one, two, and three, trot fence eight, halt, rein back, sit trot back to the gate, and walk out. Zemmel’s confident ride in both phases set her apart.
When it came to the test, Zemmel was equally assured. “We’d already seen the first three jumps in that order, so I felt confident,” she said. “At the trot jump, I cut in a little closer to stand out. Coming to the halt, I really wanted to stand out. So I made sure we did our rein back straight and I made sure we did walk forward and halt again as a proper reinback is performed. I made sure it was straight and correct. Then I just kept him quiet and soft in the sit trot.”
Zemmel’s winning partner, known as “Bubbles” in the barn, holds a special place in her heart. “He’s pretty much a giant Labrador retriever in a giant chestnut gelding’s body. I’ve had him for three years, and he’s taken me from the two-foot to the medals, and even my first National Derby in June,” she shared. “He’s the sweetest, most trusting horse I’ve ever gotten to ride.”
The Virginia Horse Center is a familiar and favorite venue for Zemmel. “I came to this show last year for the Medal Final, and I’ve also been to the VHSA Associate Championships in November,” she noted. “It’s always such a welcoming environment, the footing is fantastic, the courses are well set, and everyone here is so nice. It’s one of my favorite places to be.”
With thoughtful riding, a standout test, and a strong field of competitors, the VHSA/M+S Children’s Medal capped off another exciting day at the Lexington National. Competition continues tomorrow with the highly anticipated $25,000 Grand Prix, followed on Sunday by the 2025 AYR Equitation Challenge and the VHSA/M+S Adult Medal Finals.