Claire Jan and Catweazle shoot for the optimum time on course at Copper Meadows Horse Trials Photo: Captured Moment Photography

Fifteen-year-old Claire Jan (James and Taren Atkinson, trainer) may have made a last minute decision to show Catweazle (Carolyn Hoffos, owner) at Copper Meadows Horse Trials (Mar 15-17), and she may have only ridden him a handful of times before the show, but that didn't seem to stop her from having a successful weekend. The pair won the Training Rider Junior division with a score of 33.6, and Claire's accurate riding in the cross country phase helped them cross the timer in 5:03--just one second faster than the optimum time. As a result, she also claimed the first place ribbon in the LEGIS Optimum Time Award program for Training.

"I think it's a really cool idea to have an award like this," Claire commented. "Going into the show, I didn't think it was anything I'd be in the running for. I really do think awards like this are good for the sport. The times and speeds are set by the level, and I think they help determine if your horse is fit enough. Your horse should maintain the given speed on course without running around the course or going too slow."

Claire certainly made a good choice in the 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. "He is a very talented horse," she remarked. "He is a bit spooky and quirky but fun to be around and a very willing and rewarding ride. Since it was my first show on him, I was focused on just having an overall good ride. I was actually surprised getting so close to the optimum time. I was trying to stay on my minute markers, but I had a couple of moments on course where I really had to bring him back and lost a bit of time. Everywhere there was a bit of a stretch, I just let him out for a bit of a steady gallop to catch up. Just sticking to my minutes really helped me not get too fast or slow." She had been in second place after dressage, but vaulted to first after cross country and stayed there.

Claire is home schooled through the Open High School of Utah, where she is in tenth grade. This allows her to be a working student for her trainers. "I do school in the morning so I can be at the barn and riding the rest of the day," she explained.

Gina Economou pilots Covert to second place in the LEGIS Training Optimum Time Award Photo: Captured Moment Photography

Trainer Gina Economou of Pepperwood Riding Center was not far behind Claire, placing second in the Training Optimum Time with a time of 5:02 aboard her Covert. In fact, she had a great weekend in general, having finished first in Open Training with Covert with a score of 26.4. She was also second in Open Novice on her Incognito with 26.1, plus they placed second in the Novice Optimum Time. Gina also rode four Preliminary horses, placing fourth with Counterpoint (Sarah Berry, owner). "I thinks it's great to use an award like this to encourage people to focus on the pace and safety of their ride, especially at the lower levels," Gina remarked. "A safe and consistent ride is good for the heart of the sport. Since my horses are insured with LEGIS, I think it's really nice they sponsor this."

Of course, having so many good rides is a reward in and of itself. "Covert went around fabulously; he was super bold and forward," said Gina. "I've had him since October. Incognito is probably the best horse with the best brain I have ever worked with. He just arrived in the States on Febuary 21 of this year from Holland. This was only his second show and first time at Novice. He was really good; he got a bit strong after jump two in the cross country, so I slowed him down for training purposes and it ended up working out great in the end."

Michelle Capparelli and You Don't Know Jack have some fun on the cross country course Photo: Captured Moment Photography

Gina's student Michelle Capparelli finished tenth in Senior Training Rider third for the Training Optimum Time Award on her Irish Sport Horse gelding, You Don't Know Jack. "He was really good throughout the course, and I'm happy that we came in so close to the optimum time," Michelle said. "I've had him for four years. He can be super sweet with a splash of quirkiness. Jack is a labor of love to ride; he makes you work for it, but my cross country ride was really fun. "

Edging out Gina in the Novice Optimum Time Award, Jennifer Wooten of Trinity Eventing and her Anika placed 23rd overall, but in the cross country Jennifer watched her minute markers carefully and finished exactly on the optimum time of 4:56. "The award was a surprise, and I was happy to get it," Jennifer said. "I think this award is great, because it's going to teach riders to ride effectively and safely within the time."

Jennifer Wooten and Anika make their bid Photo: Captured Moment Photography

Diane Slater of 3D Farms was happy to win the Optimum Time Award in the Intro division and third in the overall standings with a score of 46.5 on Fiener Things (Michelle Meghrouni, owner), a twelve-year-old Hanoverian mare. Diane and Fiener Things finished the course in 4:50, with an optimum time of 5:13."Fiener has been having some issues with her confidence at jumps," Diane reported. "She can be strong on course until she gets to the fence, and then she tends to hesitate.  We have dropped her down to the Intro class until she can course without running through the bit. My goal was to keep an even pace and to come in as close to course time as possible without being too fast.  I had seen the announcement in the schedule about the award, but I didn’t realize it was being offered at the Intro level.  I was very surprised when I received it. This was Copper Meadows' first time to offer an Intro level, and they put together a great course."

Diane Slater appreciates the addition of the Intro division Photo: Captured Moment Photography

Like the other winners, Diane thinks the LEGIS Optimum Time Award is a great idea. "I wish it had been offered years ago, and I hope it will continue to be offered for a long time. Our riders have a lot of skills to learn about coursing safely on cross country, and they develop  those skills at the lower levels.  It is great to see riders being acknowledged for coming in close to course time.  It’s not just about getting through the course quickly; there is a lot of time out there on course at Intro, Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training where riders can really learn to develop their pace so they can start moving up the levels safely."

There are more LEGIS Optimum Time Awards to be given out this year. Up next will be the Fresno County Horse Park Trials (Apr 26-28).

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