Source:  News Release

Versatile Jumpers Continue to Dominate
the Hunter Arena at Gold Coast 2

Demi Stiegler and Hugo make their bid for the $5,000 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus Photo: Tass Jones

For the second show in a row, ex-jumpers proved that their versatility and style were a winning combination in the hunter arena. Jumper-turned-hunter Hugo (Citrus Hills Farms, LLC., owner) and amateur rider Demi Stiegler (Robyn Stiegler, trainer) triumphed in the $1,000 USHJA Hunter Derby at Gold Coast 2 (March 15-17). The young horse and rider combination proved they could handle the stiff competition, which included several previous hunter derby winners like Michael Leon, Tommi Clark, and Snowden Clarke.

As the third rider through the gate, Demi opened the derby with a bang, riding a gorgeous round to score 89 with the four higher options. “Hugo is a ten-year-old Belgium Warmblood. He was imported less than a year ago from France where he was doing jumpers,” Demi elaborated. “When he got here, he wasn’t too sure about the equitation and hunters, but he learned very quickly. I showed him last summer in the Amateur Owner Hunters and Classics, but this is his first show since then because I’ve been away at college.”

Demi attends Texas Christian University and had planned to fly home for some sun and relaxation. “Then I found out there was a show! Me being the horse girl I am, I would much rather be doing that then going to the beach,” Demi revealed. “We thought it would be a good show to bring Hugo to get some hunter and equitation miles for him.”

Despite Hugo’s minimal experience in the hunter ring, Demi knew she didn’t have to worry about him. “Going into the first round, I knew that Hugo was going to be a good boy. I just had to get myself into that confident mind set and remind myself to keep a nice even pace throughout the whole course and just let him relax,” Demi explained. “I focused on keeping him straight and focused on me and the jumps.”

Michael Leon and Copado (Pinon West LLC., owner), eying the $5,000 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus after their hunter derby win at Gold Coast 1, were just behind Demi with a score of 88 in the first round. Tommi Clark and Exemplar (Stephen Borders, owner) were right on their heels with 87.

The second course tested the handiness of both horse and rider. “I liked rolling left into the first fence right off the bat,” Demi said. “For me, I love walking straight into the arena and getting right up into a strong canter to get the perfect distance. There’s no time to get distracted from your plan.”

While watching Michael and Tommi ride, Demi didn’t let the pressure get to her and stuck to her plan for the second round. “Tommi had a beautiful round on Exemplar and then Michael really got it done making the inside turn from fence 1 to 2,” Demi recounted. “After seeing him do the inside turn, I definitely was looking at it. But knowing my horse, it would have been a little squirmy so I decided to just go around and get a nice flowing distance to fence 2.”

Demi’s conservative plan and strong riding paid off with a score of 93 and the blue ribbon. With the win, Demi is the second rider eligible for the $5,000 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus for the Gold Coast series. “I would love to come back and try for the bonus,” Demi related. “If I still have Hugo, I will definitely do it again. However, he is up for sale so we will have to see what happens. I certainly enjoyed it though and had a great time!”

Amy Hess and Audible show what Thoroughbreds can do in the ring Photo: Tass Jones

Trainer Amy Hess continued her successful show season with another sweep in the Low Thoroughbred Hunters division, part of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program offered by the Jockey Club. Amy and Audible (Hess Equine, owner) were champions in the section at Gold Coast 1 and Verdugo Hills 2. Amy and a few of her riders at Hess Equine, including Anne Schroeder and Janet Steeper, have a vested interested in Thoroughbreds because they are all involved in the racing industry as well.

“Anne’s family is very involved in racing and just recently became involved in the breeding of Thoroughbreds, and Janet is a new racehorse owner as well,” Amy enumerated. “It’s just great for everyone involved in the racing world to have this program, and we’re all very excited that LEG supports it.”

In addition to being a new racehorse owner, Janet also recently started leasing Audible, which has proven to be a favorite in the hunter ring. He and Janet were champions in the Adult Amateur Hunters, 36 & Over, and he placed eighth in the hunter herby with Amy aboard. Audible has clearly come a long way from his racetrack and jumper past. “He’s the most honest, solid horse,” Janet shared. “He takes you right down to the jump, and he’s always very willing.”

Janet enjoys coming to the Gold Coast shows. “Gold Coast shows are close and convenient, and they’re really well run and run on time,” Janet noted.

Janet started riding when she was six, but wasn’t able to ride consistently. “My parents couldn’t afford a horse, so I took a lesson once a week, which was the highlight of my week. When I moved to Los Angeles I didn’t ride for years and years because I didn’t have a place to ride,” Janet recalled. “I took it up again about 15 years ago, but I’ve only been riding with Amy and showing at the “A” shows for about four years. It’s a totally different ball game, but I really love it. I’m living my dream so it’s a ton of fun.”

When she’s not riding herself, Janet is spreading the love of horses to the next generation. “I’m getting my two grandkids interested in riding. My children never showed much of an interest so they don’t ride at all, so it’s kind of funny that it skipped a generation,” Janet shared. “My grandkids have a pony so I try and bring them out for riding lessons when I can. One is two years old and the other is four, so it’s a crackup to watch them ride.”

Janet’s barn mate Anne also started riding at a young age, but wanted to ride in a different discipline. “We had some close family friends that did team roping so they would just put me on their horses in the big western saddles and take me around the trails,” Anne recounted. “I learned the very basics that way, and I wanted to go into barrel racing. I went to a western trainer, and she told me I should take English lessons first to get a really good seat and then come back to her. But once I started jumping, that was it.”

Anne Schroeder and Brantemar show how jumpers can shine in the hunter ring Photo: Tass Jones

Anne did some barrel racing and team roping in high school, but today she’s focused on the hunters and equitation with her horses Brantemar and Ziegfeld. Anne and Brantemar were reserve champion in the Adult Amateur Hunters, 18 thru 35 and the ‘B’ Amateur Hunters, 18 & Over. Brantemar is another jumper who has taken well to the hunter ring. “He came from Holland and he’s only been in the country about a year maybe,” Amy noted. “It’s been a retraining process, but yesterday we did our first medal ever, the Ariat National Adult Medal Class, and we won! I think that he likes the medals more because they’re a bit more entertaining than the hunters, but he’s going along well in the hunters.” Brantemar and Amy also placed fifth in the hunter derby.

“I’m really looking forward to doing more medals on him and I’m hoping to qualify for the finals this year,” Anne commented. “I also have a young thoroughbred, Ziegfeld, who is doing remarkably well for his third show. I’m looking forward to showing him more in the upcoming year as well.”

Tierney Smith struts her stuff in the equitation ring Photo: Tass Jones

Tierney Smith (Michael Edrick, trainer) took on the equitation classes with gusto aboard her Coeur’s Light, AKA Bullet. The 17-year-old is chasing points and successfully captured many this weekend. “I’m trying to qualify for the Maclay and some of the finals back east since I age out this year,” Tierney explained. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to be able to go back east, so I’d love to try and qualify.”

She and Bullet have been making a great effort so far this show year, which is Tierney’s first year showing at 3’6”. The pair won the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Class, placed second in the CPHA Jr-Am Medal Class, and were third in the WCE Junior-Amateur Medal Class. The Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Class featured a difficult work off, which included a counter canter and a halt, both of which Tierney executed beautifully. “I am pretty comfortable with work offs, generally. But I have to say I like the jumping work offs much better than the flat work ones,” Tierney admitted with a laugh.

Riding runs in the family for Tierney. “My mom’s been riding for many years. I think my riding started when my mom decided that she wanted her daughter to have a pony. Of course, she quickly realized that was a big mistake,” Tierney joked.

Jamie Skaggs and San Marcos tear it up in the jumper ring Photo: Tass Jones

In the jumper arena, 16-year-old Jamie Skaggs (Kim Baxter, trainer) rode San Marcos (Hanna Mauritzon, owner) to the reserve championship in the Low Children’s-Adult Amateur Jumpers. “We were champion at Gold Coast 1, so it was nice to continue that success,” Jamie noted.

Jamie has ridden San Marcos for about a year now and is happy to be riding such a veteran show horse.“I started out doing some equitation with him, but we like doing the jumpers. He really likes his job and loves to jump. He used to do the bigger jumpers, so everything I do is pretty easy for him,” Jamie explained. “He likes to go fast. He’s 17, but I think he forgets how old he is sometimes.

Jamie’s grandparents were on hand to support her and clapped enthusiastically after her round was over. “They come out and watch whenever they get the chance,” Jamie said. “They really love to see my sister and me ride. My mom used to ride when she was little, but she never competed. She still loves horses, so it’s fun to come out to the shows together.” Jamie hopes to move up to the 3’6” jumpers soon.

The next show at LAEC will be Gold Coast 3 (Apr 5-7), and by popular acclaim the Gold Coast May Show (May 17-19) is back on the calendar. Look for information online, and the schedule is e included with the Memorial Day Classic prize list.

Also in Southern California, the next Verdugo Hills show will be Verdugo Hills 3 (March 29-30). In Northern California, things will get under way with the Woodside Spring Preview (Apr 25-28), while the Colorado show season will continue with the Colorado Springs April 1 and II (Apr 11-14 and 18-21).

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