Source:  News Release

Gold Coast October Hosts
CPHA Child/Adult and Horsemanship Medal Finals:
Isabelle Garcia and Gabby Kamins Claim Their First Medal Final Victories

After coming close several times, sixteen year-old Isabelle Garcia (Linda Cooper, trainer) finally clinched a medal final win in the 3’ CPHA Child-Adult Medal at Gold Coast October (Oct 16-18). “Finally getting the win this time was so meaningful! Just recently, I was reserve champion in the LAHJA Horsemanship Medal Final,” Isabelle shared. “In 2013, I was also reserve in the CPHA Horsemanship Medal Final so I’m thankful it all worked out this time.”

Isabelle and her Orlando navigated two difficult courses, staying consistent in both rounds and earning second place in each. Course designer Meghan Rawlins (CAN) did not make it easy on the riders and challenged them with a rollback option in the second course. “The rollback option allowed riders to decide which way they wanted to turn, based on whether their horses were better turning one way or the other,” Meghan explained. “Depending on whether they took the left or right rollback, it affected the angle of the skinny box to the combination, which determined whether they needed to add or leave out a stride in the final combination.”

The rollback stymied several riders, but Isabelle’s active riding worked to her benefit. “Horses kept swapping leads in the rollback and riders kept making mistakes,” Isabelle recalled. “I kept my reins short, held my hands in line with my horse’s mouth, and held a light seat. At one point, my horse pushed out towards the railing so I had to use my outside leg to push him back.  We ended up adding a stride in that line, but I went with the flow of the ride and it all worked out.”

Isabelle’s active riding is just what Meghan wanted from the riders. “I wanted the riders to showcase their decision making skills like whether they added or left out a stride or took the inside or outside track,” Meghan commented. “At the same time, I also wanted to build tracks that allowed riders to show how they could lengthen and shorten their horse’s strides while keeping them supple.”

In addition to Isabelle Garcia, three other riders proved their equitation skills and made it to the work off: Isabella Sabino (Courtney Cochran, trainer), Charlotte Murray (Corinne Bevis, trainer), and Jordan Gurevitch (Nancy Frost, trainer). The work off included a trot fence and a halt following a combination. Isabelle Garcia was up for the challenge and moved up to first after a flawless work off. “I enjoy work offs. The adrenaline is going and you get the best feeling after a solid work off,” Isabelle elaborated. “I knew that I had a great work off and I couldn’t stop smiling because I was so happy. Everything felt so great and flowed smoothly together.”

Isabelle’s work off shot her to the top of the leader board while Isabella Sabino earned second place and Charlotte placed third. When Isabelle heard that she had won, she was speechless. “I was shocked!” she exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so thankful that everything went so well, especially against such tough competition.”

In the CPHA 2’6’’ Horsemanship Medal Finals, it was Gabby Kamins (Cha Cha Jago, trainer) who took top honors aboard her horse, Debonaire. “I’ve had my horse for about a year and we’ve been focusing primarily on equitation,” Gabby noted. “The course was different from the courses I usually show over so it was definitely a challenge, but I was proud that I gave it my all.”

Gabby and Debonaire certainly gave it their all and earned a clean sweep in the medal finals, winning both rounds. “I was definitely feeling the nerves!” Gabby shared. “In the warm-up arena, I was a little all over the place. But once I got into the ring I really focused and pulled it together.”

In the first round, Gabby demonstrated her ability to lengthen and collect, which made her stand out from the pack. “In one of the lines, I made a choice to move up and ride forward, which paid off,” she recalled. “Then I collected on a one of the downhill lines. Throughout the course, I kept my horse collected and up, so he was not on the forehand.”

Despite leading in both rounds, Gabby was unsure her name would be called for the win. “Honestly, I felt one of the other riders had a better work off than I did,” she admitted. “I was preparing to be called for second so when they said my name, I was speechless! I was thrilled that I could make my trainer proud too.” Gabby plans to compete in more medal finals, including the 2’6’’ LEGIS League Cornerstone Medal Final, and ride in the Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL) shows for her school, Marymount High School.

Stay tuned for more coverage of Gold Coast October, including results from the $1,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, the Gold Coast Series Championship Photo Essay, and more!