With a Grand Prix event each weekend, Zone 10 Young Rider Selection Trials, a USHJA Hunter Derby, Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals, Open Jumper Classics and Children’s Pony Hunter Divisions, Blenheim EquiSports hosted four weeks of superb summer horse shows in San Juan Capistrano. Why go anywhere else?
Thank you to all the trainers, owners, riders, grooms, moms, dads, sisters, brothers and friends who came to visit during the last four weeks. From the young riders and horses who entered new arenas for the first time to the seasoned veterans who enjoyed great weather and footing we’ve had a fabulous series and congratulate all competitors.
Saturday, June 12: Derby Day – Forty-one Competitors Take A Turn Around the Derby Course
Blenheim once again set the stage for a fabulous USHJA Hunter Derby. As popular with spectators as it is with competitors, this high performance two-round event is now known as a well-respected and challenging class for the top hunter. Some of the entrants will also be competing in the second annual Derby Finals in Kentucky this August. For those who can’t make it to Kentucky for this prestigious event it will be available live online through EquestrianLife.com.
The first round included eleven efforts, with four 4′ options. The course flowed smoothly, not too many trouble spots, although quite a few rails fell literally knocking several top horses out of the running for a ribbon.
Since this was a 2010/2011 Derby qualifying class, new rules were in effect. Each 4′ option jumped is automatically awarded one point, so up to four points were added to both sets of judges scores.
Young amateur Melissa Doddridge, who had three entries in the class, went early on Best Man and scored a total of 179 and the lead until reigning champion’s Crown Affair (Yellow Dog Farms LLC, owner) with John French in the irons came along twelfth in the order, scoring a total of 181. Several horses tied in points, Forbes (Tonia Cook Looker, owner), a top Derby mount piloted by Jenny Karizissis tied with Doddridge and Best Man at 179. Bentley, also ridden by Doddridge, and Two Goals Farm’s On Top with Keri Kampsen both earned 178. Then came Martel (Star Lane Farms, owner). Trotting in thirty-second in the order the handsome chestnut ridden by Jenny K wowed the crowd and the judges with his style. With scores of 96 and 95, the pair totaled an impressive 191, ten full points above the leader. John French also rode his First Year Green Hunter Truman (Mary Sweeney, owner) beautifully for the second highest score, a total of 184.
The handy round included a trot jump, four 4′ options, a hand gallop to an oxer option and a bounce at the end by the in-gate. Fourteen horses returned, since the twelfth spot was shared by three horses with a 166 score. Of the fourteen horses, junior riders Gabbi Langston, Ashlyn Matheus and Audrey Coulter piloted three and amateur Melissa Doddridge rode two.
Shadows on the jumps and the long gallop to the oxer caused some surprising rails and refusals in this round. Although certainly talented hunters, Forbes, Best Man, Bentley and Catani moved down in placing due to challenges on course. However the top three remained strong and their scores reflected the solid rides the king of the Hunter Derby, John French was third on Crown Affair with a total of 369 and second on Truman with 371. Certainly if he’s the king, Jenny K is the queen of the Hunter Derby and she earned her crown on Martel, topping the class with a grand total of 397.
For the press release and results, visit Blenheim’s Facebook page.
Sunday, June 13: $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix at June Classic I
Sunday turned out to be a picture perfect day for competitor and spectator alike. Zone 10 Teams for the NAJYRC were determined and awarded, based on the results from this week. Nineteen horse and rider teams negotiated the Linda Allen designed course for the $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix presented by Royal Champion.
The course had multiple challenges; most riders met their match on fences 8-13, which included an airy gate at fence 8, a combination at 9ab with a solid black wall in to a square oxer out and the Cavalor wall in line with the open water as fences 11 and 12. In total, this group of jumps caused 21 rails.
Eighth to go, Susan Hutchison and her stable partner, El Dorado 29’s Cantano performed their usual clean and quick ride. After garnering 4 faults on Nicolas Nierenberg’s Santiago earlier in class, returning tenth in the order, Michael Endicott and David Robinson’s big white mare, S.F. Shakira, were the second pair to lay down a fault-free trip in the first round. It appeared as if the jump off would only consist of these two horses when the second to last entry, New Zealander, Maurice Beatson and his own, Apollo Van Evendael, jumped clean to make it three.
First to maneuver the shortened track were Hutchison and Cantano. The well-matched pair strategically zipped around the course and turned in a blazing time of 40.323, well under the 48 seconds allowed for the second round. Unfortunately the light top rail of the airy gate came down midway through to give the team four faults. Knowing the door was open just enough, Endicott conservatively rode S.F. Shakira over the seven efforts fault free in a time of 47.506 just half a second under the time allowed. Last to play in the jump off, Maurice Beatson and Apollo Van Evendael strove to surpass Endicott and S.F. Shakira, but fell short by pulling a rail at fence 9a. The error forced the duo into third place with a final time of 46.379. Michael Endicott and S.F. Shakira’s double clean performance earned them the win.
For the press release and full results, visit Blenheim’s Facebook page.
Sunday, June 13: NAJYRC Celebration
After the points were tallied and the teams determined, both the 2010 ‘A’ and ‘B’ Teams were honored during the opening ceremonies of the $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix, presented by Royal Champion.
The 2010 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North, will once again be at the Kentucky Horse Park July 28th – August 1st, 2010. This idyllic location in Lexington will host the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) this fall, so qualified Young Riders will be competing in the same superb setting as the 2010 WEG competitors.
IN 2010:
We have high hopes for our fabulous Zone 10 Teams. Congratulations to each team member and best of luck in Lexington.
IN 2009:
The ‘B’ Junior Rider Team of Samantha Harrison, Taylor Siebel, Alec Lawler and Ricky Neal earned TEAM GOLD. The ‘A’ Young Rider Team earned Bronze. Zone 10 Individuals, Lucy Davis and Samantha Harrison were Silver Medalists in the NAYRC & NAJRC Individual competitions.
IN 2007 & 2008:
The ‘A’ Young Rider and the ‘B’ Junior Rider Teams won TEAM GOLD both years! In 2008 Lucy Davis won the Individual GOLD and in 2007 Karl Cook earned the top honor.
Sunday, June 20: $30,000 June Classic Grand Prix at June Classic II
Susie Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano add yet another win to their list, the $30,000 June Classic Grand Prix, made possible by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. A rather impressive list, this mighty match of horse and rider has led the victory gallop on the Blenheim International Field eight times since April of 2008.
Course designer Javier Fernandez’s goal was to have five horses in the jump-off, and then to have one or two jump double clean. The twisty course demanded a careful ride and sixteen of twenty competitors incurred jumping faults. Nearly every horse with a rail down ran into problems at the triple combination, fences 5a, 5b, 5c, as well as at fence 11a, the first of a purple double combination, a vertical off of a sharp right-hand turn.
As the fifteenth pair to enter the ring, Hutchison and Cantano were the last to negotiate the first round course without a fault and the fourth to advance to the jump-off. The duo joined the company of fifth to go, Australian Harley Brown and Cassiato (Oak Park Group LLC, owner), Joie Gatlin and Camaron Hills Quick Dollar (Camaron Hills Farm, owner), and Lane Clarke aboard McLord’s First John (Mickey Hayden, owner).
Brown and Cassiato were the first to take to the shortened track. The veteran pair looked as though they were going to go double clean but the long gallop to the last jump, the Merrill Lynch planks, caused an unfortunate four faults. Stopping the clock in 43.514 the duo ended up second. San Juan Capistrano’s own, Gatlin and Camaron Hills Quick Dollar, were the next to gallop onto the grass for round two. Gatlin zipped around the course stopping the clock in a speedy time of 39.433 but halfway through the ride the horse pulled a shoe, possibly the reason behind the uncharacteristic three rails, resulting in a third place finish. Third to tackle the jump-off was twenty-four-year-old Clarke and McLord’s First John. In addition to accruing twelve jumping faults, the duo also added three time faults to their second round score, exceeding the time allowed of 47 seconds and clocking in at 49.699 for fourth place. Lucky last to go, Hutchison and Cantano expertly, but cautiously, negotiated the course.
Leaving all of the rails in their cups, the winning team stopped the clock in a time of 47.085, exceeding the time allowed by a fraction of a second and consequently, adding one time fault to their otherwise flawless score.
Course designer Fernandez clearly made his second round more technical. As seen by the results, not only did rails fall but two of the four horses exceeded the time allowed in the jump-off where time wasn’t a factor in round one.
For the press release and full results, visit Blenheim’s Facebook page.
Sunday, June 27: $30,000 Copa De Amistad Grand Prix at June Classic III
Sunday afternoon turned out to be a day for the ladies in the $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix presented by EquiFit, inc. The event welcomed twenty-four horse and rider teams onto the Peter Holmes designed course with seven riders, six of them women, earning spots in the jump-off. With two of the seven spots, it was Mandy Porter aboard Wild Turkey Farm’s LaMarque who led the victory gallop.
Porter also qualified Wild Turkey Farm’s Chesapeake to join Susie Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano, Leslie Steele and Oh My Goodness (OMG!), Joie Gatlin aboard Camaron Hills Quick Dollar (Camaron Hills Farm, owner), and Lauren Hester riding Cracky Z (Hester Equestrian Inc., owner) in the jump-off. Porter also left all the fences up with LaMarque followed by the only male to go clear, Mike Endicott and Fred Bauer’s Zico 13.
First to negotiate the shortened track were Hutchison and Cantano. The excellently matched pair, winners of the previous week’s $30,000 June Classic Grand Prix, had an uncharacteristic run-out at the second fence. Otherwise neat and clean, the duo clocked in at 53.831, accruing no time faults and ending up fifth. Next in the ring was Porter on her first mount, Chesapeake, who brought down two rails in a time of 38.243 to round out the top six finishers. Oh My Goodness and Steele sailed around the second round course in a time of 42.664 but unfortunately lowered the height of three fences along the way for twelve faults, finishing seventh. The duo of Gatlin and Camaron Hills Quick Dollar turned in a great time of 39.985 but regrettably brushed the top rail of the second to last fence for four faults and a solid third place finish. Twenty-two-year-old Hester and her mount, Cracky Z, finished fourth, lowering one jump in a time of 45.738.
With only two teams left to play in the jump-off, spectators watching from atop the hill and in the Medal Club were hoping to witness a clean trip. LaMarque and Porter delivered. The pair conservatively galloped around the shortened course in a time of 42.153, putting the pressure on the final pair, Endicott and Zico 13. Knowing he had to be fast and clean, Endicott executed a ride without error but came up short of Porter’s time by just two-tenths of a second, ending up with second place honors.
For the press release and full results, visit Blenheim’s Facebook page.
Saturday, June 26 – Sunday, June 27: Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals
BY KATIE KOTARAK
On Saturday afternoon, small, medium, and large four-legged competitors twenty-eight in all marched onto the West Grass Field to strut their stuff. Showing began with the conformation portion and was later followed by the handlers tacking up their mounts to earn scores under saddle.
Winning in both the small model and under saddle with high scores of 90 in each class was Mitchell Endicott and his mount, Strawberry Swirl (Annalise Gabler, owner). In the medium division, Skylar Nelson and Wild Sky Farm’s Macy Grey also ended up with blue ribbons in the model and under saddle, scoring and 89 and 91 respectively. Wrapping up competition on Saturday, the larges took to the grass with McKenna Skelton and her own Bestseller winning on the line and placing second under saddle for a total first day score of 171. Large pony rider, Grady Lyman and her mount, A Hoof and A Prayer, were not too far behind, going into the second day of competition with a score of 170, the product of a second place finish in the model and a blue in the under saddle phase.
Bright and early Sunday morning all the ponies were invited back onto the grass for the over fences phase. The thirteen entrants in the small division started the day off. Ella Frey and Just Darlun (Diane Sommers, owner), scored the highest in the class, an 83, to take home the blue. Scoring an 82 over fences, Abigail Beck and Telynau Ballerina not only earned second place in the class but Reserve Champion honors. Endicott and Strawberry Swirl scored a 74.5, which placed third in the class and brought an already impressive first day total to 342, securing the pair Champion honors in the division.
The medium ponies were next to show. Seventh to go in the order, long-time pair, Nelson and Macy Grey, earned an 83 over fences, earning a blue in the class but also the tri-color in the division. Adding to his winning morning, Endicott rode the young, Swingtown (Pegasus Show Stable Inc., owner), to a score of 74.5 over fences making the pair’s grand total, 326 for the Reserve Championship. Both second and third place ribbons were awarded to Grady Lyman, the red for her ride aboard Blue Print, and the yellow to her other mount, Steppin’ Out.
The large ponies wrapped up Sunday morning’s competition. Earning 82 for their work over fences, Skelton and Bestseller not only won the over fences portion, but also were named Large Pony Hunter Champions. Coming up only a few points short, Lyman and A Hoof and A Prayer were Reserve Champions. 
Once all of the scores were in, sweeping their division with first place finishes in all three classes and a total score of 346, Medium Pony Champions, Nelson and Macy Grey, earned Grand Pony Hunter Champion honors. Having finished Reserve Grand Champion in Zone 10 in 2009, Nelson commented,”I feel accomplished because this was my last year in the ponies. I’ll pass Macy onto my sister Wylie and move onto the jumpers next year.”
Also finishing with a notable total, Endicott and his chestnut mount, Strawberry Swirl, took home Grand Reserve Champion honors. “I don’t get to ride [Strawberry Swirl] much so I think I accomplished a lot today,” noted Endicott. In addition to being proud of his Grand Reserve honors, Endicott was also pleased with the performances of another one of his mounts. “I’m really happy with my green pony, Swingtown, who is only six-years-old.” The young pony ended up Reserve Champion in the medium division.
Cheers to a job well done by all competitors, ponies, trainers and parents!
Saturday, June 26: Softball & BBQ
Great sport didn’t end when the final horse trotted off the course last Saturday. Soon after, three softball games commenced on the East Grass Field. One kids-only game, one pick-up game and the main attraction was the face-off between Team EquiFit, inc. and the Team Huntington Equestrian. Competition was hot and the crowd rowdy – you couldn’t tell that almost every player and fan had already spent a long day at the horse show. After nine innings were complete, Team Huntington Equestrian pulled through for the win and garnered the giant trophy.
To add to the festivities, Bad to the Bone served up delicious barbeque with something for everyone, including cold drinks and tasty desserts.
See some softball photos in the Flying Horse Photo Gallery in this issue, and get ready to get your game on next year…
Saturday, July 3: $25,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix culminates week four of June Series
The $25,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix presented by the St. Regis Monarch Beach, invited 19 horse-and-rider duos onto the Michel Vaillancourt designed course at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.
Vaillancourt remarked, “I think today’s course dimensions are very worthy of this class. It is definitely a solid 1.50m course. We will have a jump off but not certain how many.”
Two riders maneuvered their mounts to double-clean performances but the win was ultimately decided by fractions of a second, with top honors awarded to Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos (Cross Creek Farms, Inc., owner).
Parker was the first of the two qualifiers to step back onto the grass to negotiate the jump-off track. Seventh to enter the ring in round one, Josephina Nor-Lantzman and her gelding, Chello Z also went clean in round one and advanced to the jump-off. With 50 seconds allotted for the second round, Parker and her mount went for the clean and conservative ride initially and then picked up the pace at the end in a solid time of 40.947 and clean, presenting Nor-Lantzman with a difficult task. As spectators on all sides of the International Field looked on, it appeared as though Nor-Lantzman was going to answer the call. Despite a fault-free performance, the pair stopped the clock just over Parker’s time in 41.227, forcing them into a well-earned second-place.
“After four weeks of showing the condition of the footing is still good,” commented Vaillancourt. ” The jump material here is great and the condition of the field is wonderful.”
For the press release and full results, visit Blenheim’s Facebook page.
On Thursday evening of the Showpark All Seasons Summer Classic Blenheim EquiSports hosted the $30,000 Showpark Jumper Classic, presented by Royal Champion. With 42 entries, the event served as a warm-up for Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier as well as an opportunity to ride in the first indoor class of the California season. Scored as a speed class, eight pairs went clean, but fastest of the night were the new match of Jill Humphrey and Tao Tao 3 (Alicia Jonsson Foster, owner). Second place went to Richard Spooner and his partner Ace (S&B LLC, owner) with Keri Potter and Rockford I rounding out the top three.
D’Ambrosio presented the competitors with sixteen efforts. With some ‘delicate’ fences, D’Ambrosio wanted to test the accuracy of the entrants without too many demanding fences in a row. “I had one wide oxer in the triple combination and one in the double, but I didn’t have another difficult fence immediately follow either,” the American designer explained. Some riders lowered the height of the triple bar on course while others found trouble at various areas in the triple and double combinations, as well as fence 11, a daunting vertical jumped on a slight angle towards the grand stands.
As the second rider to step up to the jump off challenge, Menezes knew he had to give it his all. “I had to be fast because Susie [Hutchison] and Karl [Cook] were behind me and they are quick,” the winner said. Jumping around clean in 36.87, Menezes clearly delivered as neither Hutchison nor Cook were fault-free. After having finished second in his share of grand prix events this season, Menezes was particularly happy. “When I felt him in the warm-up ring, I knew he was feeling great,” Menezes said of his 13-year-old partner.
German course designer, Olaf Peterson Jr. created a challenging track consisting of sixteen efforts. With a large field of rookies and veterans alike, Peterson Jr. wanted to design an inviting course to suit the variety of entrants. “It was a difficult field to set for,” he noted. “There were young horses, young riders, and also experienced couples; they all had to be considered.”
While there were many vying for the top position, it was the 10-year-old German bred Celsius and Azcarraga’s well thought out plan that secured the win. “With 14 in the jump-off, I really had to go for it,” Azcarraga said. “I took the five strides to the combination and I think that paid off.”
Representing the West Coast, Duncan McFarlane piloted the eight-year-old Mr. Whoopy to an impressive eighth place finish, dropping just one rail on course, and Helen McNaught rode Caballo to the thirteenth position with an eight fault score.
The WEG is here!
Thirty-nine leading West Coast junior equitation riders competed in Blenheim Farm’s covered arena on the evening of September 18th. With thirty returning for the flat phase and five for the work-off, it was 16-year-old Kylee Arbuckle aboard Kimberly Lynch’s D’Anconia Copper, who finished on top.
“[Kylee’s] work-off was great,” commented Arbuckle’s trainer of three years, Karen Healey. In addition to being happy with her student’s test, Healey was also glad to see that Arbuckle’s over fences trip was scored properly despite pulling a rail on course. “Her first round was scored just how it should have been – as if the rail didn’t come down – and then four points were taken off of her [final over fences] score.”
It’s time to gear up for a “suite” show in Sin City. All of the exciting event details are coming together for the Las Vegas National at the beginning of November and you don’t want to miss out. With a new VIP Lounge, fabulous Vegas parties with sweet deals for VIP and a show schedule spanning several divisions, there is no reason not to treat yourself (and why not bring your horse) to a place that offers a suite room right above your barn. Not to mention the nine restaurants, casino, theatres, shows, bowling alley and shopping just at South Point alone, with the Vegas Strip a free shuttle ride away.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010: $30,000 Blenheim Jumper Classic
As the sixth pair to take on the first round course, Spadone and her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood, Melisimo, (Morgan Hill Partners, owner) were the second duo to cross the timers clean and advance to the jump-off, following the first to do so, Richard Spooner aboard Ace (S&B LLC, owner). Soon afterwards the young and talented firecracker, Ashlee Bond, rode her chestnut horse Cadett 7 to a clear round. Also fault free was the tried and true team of Australian Harley Brown and Cassiato (Oak Park Group, owner) who were sixteenth to go.
“I decided to come to California because of Joie Gatlin and Morley Abey; they are amazing people,” said Spadone. “I love Joie because she is so competitive and she really makes you want to win for her.”
Thirty-three horse and rider duos stepped up (or in some cases down) to the challenge of the Leopoldo Palacios designed course in the $35,000 Summer Classic II Grand Prix, presented by Equ Lifestyle Magazine. Of all those who had aspirations of going clean, only the first two on course, Lane Clarke aboard Bay Rose’s Nikko and Hannah Selleck riding the fiery mare Tosca of Descanso Farm, were able to do so. Both young and ambitious, it was twenty-one-year-old Selleck who came out on top with a stellar double clear ride for the win.
As the rest of the competitors took to the course, Palacios’ challenge was evident. All remaining exhibitors picked up faults of some kind – rails fell, time allowed was exceeded, hooves landed in the water, and refusals, run-outs and accidental dismounts also occurred.
Bright and early Wednesday morning riders were invited back onto the grass to turn in their classic trip, which counted for 40% of their overall score and would determine the champions. The Large older section started the day. The twelfth to go in the order, Henter aboard Victory Road (Ashley Pryde, owner), won the class. Second place, as well as Reserve Champion in the division, was awarded to Stephanie Danhakl’s After Five with Cayla Richards in the irons. With a fifth place finish in the classic plus the two blue ribbons from Tuesday, the tri-color in the older Large section was awarded to a stellar Superman and Goodson-Cutt.
In the younger Small section it was the dappled grey Cruise and his partner Donovan, who coasted to the top prize as well as the division Championship. Just barely scoring below Cruise in both the classic round and division, Illusion and Esse left the grass with a second place ribbon and an overall total that proved high enough for the Reserve Championship.
