Source:  News Release

 

 

The Competition was Deep at Gold Coast 5
Ashley Brien Cleans Up

Ashley Brien and Manhattan (Garland Farms, owner) swept the Modified Junior Hunters at Gold Coast 5 (July 22-24). The pair joined forces in February and they have garnered numerous wins in both the Modified Junior and Junior Hunters. Trainer Mark Purcell has helped Ashley make the shift from equitation to hunters. “This year I've had to transition from medals and equitation to focus on hunters because Manny is primarily a hunter," she explained. "I've really enjoyed the change thus far.” Ashley is eyeing some year-end awards and is on track for such honors.
Besides ambitious riding goals, Ashley is looking forward to college and beyond. “I always strive to gain experience and be satisfied and proud about the way I ride overall,” she added. This plan seemed to have worked, as they came out champion of the Modified Junior Hunter section and reserve champion in the Junior Hunters.

Over in the jumper ring, young Sydney Hutchins (Kay Altheuser, trainer) was a star in not only the .80m Jumpers but the .85m and .90m Jumpers as well aboard Arco (Kira Zelman, owner). The pair won almost every class they entered; in fact, Sydney is a very successful rider in every ring she enters, although the jumper division is new for her. She and Arco seem to be a very good match.

Another jumper star was Lorraine Rowe (Candice Stormes, trainer), who clinched the Low Children’s/Adult Jumper championship with her own entry, Latest Release, with two wins in the section. Lorraine has been riding ever since she was a small child, taking lessons as early as age four with her three quadruplet siblings. The four of them have been riding with Candice Stormes for the past three years, and Lorraine has been riding Latest Release (AKA Malcolm) since she purchased him in March of 2009. "Gold Coast 5 was my first show of that size and I was nervous," she recalled. "Our main goal was to get the show experience, because we have mostly been to one day shows. I hoped to be successful in the Low Children's Jumpers, which we were. There was a lot of good competition!" She noted that Malcolm has competed barefoot ever since she had his shoes pulled when she bought him. "He does great without shoes. I'm a big proponent of barefoot horses," she added.

After her success, Lorraine plans to go to many more Gold Coast shows this year. "I want to get more competitive in the upcoming shows," she said. "Malcolm and I need to be more technical when we move up. He's a great horse and very honest. He will jump anything and won't refuse if you set him up correctly. He is an ex-racehorse and needs work on his flying lead changes, but we're getting there."

The big equitation was also very competitive, and with as many as 23 entries in some of the classes it was a big accomplishment to take a win. Samantha Harrison (Karen Healey, trainer) is home from Oklahoma University where she rides on their collegiate equestrian team, and aboard a borrowed horse she captured a win in the USEF Talent Search. Showing her depth of talent and experience, Samantha also won the WCE and the USEF Adult in her first year riding as an amateur.

Grace Shelton, who also rides at the Karen Healey Stables, captured the LAHJA Junior Medal, while Erin Fry (Robyn Steigler, trainer) captured the USEF Junior. Shannon Gamarra earned dual blue ribbons in both the ASPCA Maclay and the CPHA Foundation under Alison Sherred’s watchful eye.

Throughout the three day show riders and horses earned points toward the LEGIS Gold Coast Series awards which will be presented at Gold Coast 7 (Oct. 20-23).

For more information about Gold Coast 5, including complete results, visit langershows.com/laec.

The LEG show season is ramping up to be a great fall. In Southern California, the show season continues with Gold Coast 6 (Sep 1-4) at the LAEC and Verdugo Hills League Preview (Oct 28-29) at Hansen Dam. In Northern California it will be the Woodside Labor Day Classic (Sep 2-4), and in Colorado, the jumping action returns after the summer hiatus with the High Prairie Fall Preview (Sep 8-11).

Did you enjoy Gold Coast 5? Please click here to vote for us in the USHJA Members Choice Awards Program, designed to reward excellence at USEF Licensed Hunter Jumper competitions.

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