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Harrisburg, PA - October 16, 2008 - Abbie Ross and her mount TNT exploded over the fences to win the $5000 North American League Pony Jumper Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA.

Ross, 12, of Wheaton, Il, took over the ride on TNT, a 14 year old mare, from her sister Lillie Ross, who had placed fourth on the mare in the 2007 Final. Lillie had successfully shown the mare for many years and decided to move up and gave her sister the ride. Abbie, who qualified for the NAL Final for the first time, had a lot of pressure. "I was nervous", said Ross. "This was the biggest thing that I have ever done."

Only three riders were clear over the first round course which was tough and technical, to advance into the jump-off. Eight horse and rider combinations were eliminated in the first round, either to spills or refusals, attesting to the challenging questions the course asked of these young riders.

In keeping with her faultless first round, Ross and TNT were clear over the shortened jump-off course and crossed through the timers in a very fast 31.998 seconds, more than a full second faster than their nearest challenger. Elizabeth Solomon and her mare Hip Hop also completed the second course fault free, but in a time of 33.026 seconds and had to settle for second place. Gillian King on Crum Creek could not manage leave the jumps up in the second round and with a score of 12 faults, 3 rails down, in a time of 33.347, placed third.

The NAL runs season-long series in six hunter-jumper divisions - Adult Hunter, presented by Practical Horseman, Children's Hunter, Open Jumper Speed, Adult Jumper, Children's Jumper and Pony Jumper. All horses competing in the NAL finals earn U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse-of-the-Year points. The NAL qualifying period started September 1, 2007 and ended August 31, 2008. While riders did not need to be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, only current members earned points toward year-end finals.

The NAL series is sponsored by horsetrader.com. Horsetrader.com reaches horse people coast to coast looking to find, buy, or sell that perfect mount, select the perfect stallion, locate a dream ranch, find a great trainer, or load up with a trailer for show season. Horsetrader.com works for more buyers and sellers, faster than any other equine website, delivering both online and in print with horsetrader.com's alliance publications. Find, buy, or sell anything from A to Z, apparel to zebras, on horsetrader.com with 56 categories to search. Horsetrader.com's founder is the publisher of California Horsetrader, the voice of the horse industry in the West since 1979, a twice-monthly all-breed, all-discipline news and classified publication.

For more information on the North American League, please visit the Ryegate Show Services website at www.Ryegate.com.