“We heard about the LEGIS League Medal Finals and we really wanted to come because it was the first year and thought it would be great to win it,” commented Allegra Wetterings (Natalie Rae Medlock, trainer). Fourteen-year-old Allegra came to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center for the inaugural LEGIS Medal Finals at the LA Season Finale (Nov 16-18). Amateurs and juniors alike hoped to be first on what will be a long list of medal final winners, and Allegra was ecstatic to win the LEGIS League Children’s Medal Final on her mare, Rolls Royce. “This win means a lot to me. It’s my first medal final win and my first big win on Royce so that was really exciting,” she said.

The win was perhaps all the sweeter since this is a new partnership. “I just got Royce over the summer and we actually found her in a backyard. I’ve always had mares, but Royce and I developed a particularly special bond.” The pair obviously clicked, and they went straight to the top of the standings and maintained their lead through the two rounds of the medal final. The second round course (Michael Roy Curtis, designer) included a halt and a back, as well as several bending lines and rollbacks. Alivia Hart (Cross Creek Farm, trainer) placed second on Scarlett.

Allegra made it a weekend of wins, earning the blue in her  Low Hunters and winning her first jumper class on Behind the Scenes (Chelsea Treser, owner). “Doing jumpers for the first time was a lot of fun. Overall, it was a good weekend and I’m really happy with my performance,” Allegra noted.

Mary Cimolino is tops in the LEGIS League Adult Medal Final Photo: Flying Horse Photography

It was Mary Cimolino (Joe Thorpe, trainer) who topped the LEGIS League Adult Medal Final aboard her Jovi. “I’m the inaugural winner, so it’s very cool," Mary commented. "I thought the medal class was wonderful. In particular, I loved the courses and how everything was connected. There weren’t any little ‘gimmee’ jumps. You had to put everything together.”

Mary and Jovi put two good rounds together and led the class from the first round, while Darcie Grote (Shauna Pennell, trainer) and her Brenin placed second. The win was a good end to Mary’s season, which was her first full year back in the show ring after a 22-year break to raise a family. Mary found the perfect horse to return to the ring with, and she and Jovi have had a successful season, winning reserve champion in the LEGIS Gold Coast series Equitation 36 and Over. “Cyndi Merritt found Jovi for me when I was riding with her and I’m super happy with him," Mary explained. "He was really picky about who he liked on his back, and he was passed around a lot. But we clicked and now I spoil him with carrots and he always performs amazingly.”

Mary’s barn mate, Caroline Bersch, also had a great show on Karisma (Samantha Schoenberg, owner) and took home the win in the LEGIS League Mini Medal. “It was the first medal final I’ve ever done, so I was kind of nervous at first, but I thought it was a really fun experience,” Caroline said. “I definitely want to do the LEGIS League again next year.”

The LEGIS League Mini Medal Final was open to any beginner rider and included an over fences and a flat phase, with the jumping phase worth 60% and the flat phase worth 40%. Morgan Shayler (Heidi Misrahy, trainer) and Prince Caspian were in the lead after the jumping phase, but Caroline moved up to first with her great flat ride and Morgan settled in second.

Veteran show horse Karisma carried Caroline to the win as he has with so many other young riders. “Karisma is 23 years old and he’s a really good teacher. He’s trained so many people,” Caroline shared. In addition to winning the LEGIS League Mini Medal, Caroline was champion in the Green Rider and Short Stirrup divisions with Karisma.

In the LEGIS League Child-Adult 2’6” Medal Final, Abbe Stauffer (Natalie Rae Medlock, trainer) bested juniors and amateurs alike on her Chicago as the only pair to score in the 80s for both rounds. They also excelled in the hunter ring, earning Low Adult Amateur Hunters Champion. Junior rider Samantha Vaughan (Randy Cano, trainer) placed second in the LEGIS League Child-Adult 2’6” Medal Final on her On Star E.T.

Amy Garcia is ultimate in the LEGIS League Jumper Medal Final Photo: Flying Horse Photography

The LEGIS League Jumper Medal Final combined equitation and jumper tests, which was the perfect combination for Amy Garcia (Erin Sinclair, trainer) and Ultimate 1 SE. “My whole life I’ve done hunters and equitation," Amy said. "That's where we started Ultimate 1 SE, but we realized those classes just didn’t suit her well. So we started doing jumpers about halfway through the year, which was new for both of us. She’s done really well, so we thought this medal would be a perfect fit for both of us because of her jumper skills and my equitation background.”

For the first round, riders had to ride one jumper style course and if they were clear, moved on to the jump off phase. However, the jump off phase was styled more as a work off and included a trot and a halt fence. Time was not a factor and riders were scored on their performance. The second round was judged on a typical jumper style course with a time allowed. The two scores were added for the final score.

The win was particularly sweet for Amy for a few reasons. “This is my last show with Ultimate 1 SE before we turn her around for lease. I wanted to come to this show because I thought it would be a great ending for us,” Amy enumerated. “My trainer, Erin Sinclair, helped me so much this year with my green horse. It’s been a rough year, but it makes it all worthwhile when you have a show like this where you do so well.” Kira Stevenson (Heidi Misrahy, trainer) placed second in the LEGIS League Jumper Medal Final on her O’Leary’s Diamond Lace.

The LEGIS League Medal Finals also offered a weekend getaway vacation to the leading trainer among the five medal final classes. It was a close race between Natalie Rae Medlock and Joe Thorpe as each had two medal final winners, but it was Natalie who clinched the weekend getaway to a luxury resort at her choice of South Lake Tahoe, Phoenix, or Palm Desert.  

Although the LEGIS League Medal Finals were a focal point of the LA Season Finale, champions and blue ribbons winners reigned throughout the weekend. Annastasia Lieb shone in the jumper ring aboard her mare, Gotz Moxie. Annastasia placed first in every class she entered and was co-champion of the Adult Amateur Jumper section with Debbie Friedrich and her Luciano. Annastasia returned to Los Angeles six months ago after a long absence. “I attended Centenary College in New Jersey and studied Equine Business Management. I brought Gotz Moxie with me to the East Coast and showed quite a lot in New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. However, I recently decided to pursue a degree in Accounting at Loyola Marymount University. Being a student, I can’t attend shows that are far away so it’s nice to be able to show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.”

Annastasia and Gotz Moxie have been together for six years and have a strong connection as a result. “My horse and I really trust each other. She’s really fast and loves to strut her stuff and show off. She can easily pull off the inside turns and will always take the long distances if I ask her for them,” she commented.

In the hunter division, riders had a chance to shine in the Children’s and Adult Amateur Hunter Classics. Darcie Grote and her Brenin not only won the Adult Amateur Hunter Classic, but were also Adult Amateur Hunter Finale Champion and Adult Amateur Hunters 18 thru 35 Reserve Champion. Darci and Brenin are another new partnership. “My trainer, Shauna Pennell, has an amazing eye for horses and helped me find Brenin at a three day eventing barn. I just got him in May and he’s been a godsend. It’s been a really phenomenal few months, and we’ve really come a long way in such a short amount of time.”

Like Mary, Darcie took a long break from showing to focus on her family and returned to the show ring two and a half years ago. Her career as an amateur is reaching new peaks with Brenin. “We’re considering moving up in fence heights. I think I finally have a horse that can do the Low Amateur Owner Hunter classes and maybe some medal finals.”

Alivia Hart has heart in the Children's Hunter Classic Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Twelve-year-old Alivia Hart took top honors in the Children’s Hunter Classic on Scarlett (Erin Mikulec, owner). “I catch rode Scarlett last week at the LA National, and I’ve only ridden her for these two weekends," Alivia reflected. "She’s for sale so I wasn’t so focused on winning, but more on just helping her get miles and get her name out there.” Though Scarlett is a green horse, her inexperience didn’t show as Alivia piloted her to second place in the LEGIS League Children’s Medal Final, reserve champion in Children’s Hunters 13 and Under, and first in the Children’s Hunter Classic.

Alivia feels the best is yet to come. “I have been doing a lot of catch riding this year at Thermal, Blenheim, and the Oaks. It’s been a lot of fun, but I have a pony at home I’ve been working with a lot because she wasn’t really treated well before we got her. I’m really excited for next season because we’re going to start showing her.”

LEG wishes to thank everyone who made our 40th Anniversary year special. Please join us for the 2013 season, which gets underway in January. In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

LEGIS League: Child and Amateur Riders get a League of Their Own

The exciting new LEGIS League, modeled after the East Coast's Marshall & Sterling League, launched this year. The LEGIS League is designed to encourage and enhance the competition level of Children's and Adult riders by providing the opportunity to qualify for a prestigious finals competition.

"We wanted to offer something special for the West Coast riders where they could have a big final of their own right here," explained Marnye Langer, head of LEGISequine.com and founder of the LEGIS League.   “Many riders can’t travel long distances to compete in finals and championships, so we wanted to create a special program where riders can work these types of events right here on the West Coast.” 

The LEGIS League comprises qualifying classes at shows all over the West Coast, where riders compete for a place in the top standings the opportunity to compete in the year-end final.

"This League is in the West, by the West, and for the West," added Melessa Lee, Executive Director of the LEGIS League. "It'll be exciting to see people from all over the Western states compete together."

Membership in the League will be complimentary through 2013, and participants simply need to ride in a LEGIS League class at a show hosting the LEGIS League to receive a membership to the LEGIS League.  More information is available at www.legisleague.comor by contacting Melessa Lee.