The Memorial Day Classic is behind us, but the memories will last forever. Here are a few of them.

After The Finish Line Reaps Rewards at MDC

Sunday night's $10,000 Memorial Day USHJA International Hunter Derby presented an exciting class in the ring, but it also served as a fundraiser for After The Finish Line (ATFL), which grants funds to organizations that help off-track thoroughbreds find new homes after their racing careers are over. As a special treat, world-renowned artist Fred Stone was on hand to sign the first available prints of his new work, "Hickstead," with a portion of the sales to go to ATFL. Fred is a long-time supporter of  ATFL, feeling strongly that it provides a necessary service. "They're saving a lot of horses from slaughter," he noted. "With this economy, not as many people can afford horses, and not as many people are showing as there used to be. I feel very strongly about this issue, because it's something no one cares about these animals except those who are involved in horses. It's up to horse people to take responsibility and make sure these animals have homes and don't go to slaughter." The poster is also a fundraiser to help send the Canadian Equestrian Team to the London Olympics and is the official poster of EQ Canada.

Dawn Mellen of ATFL was thrilled to be part of Memorial Day Classic for the second time. "I think it's wonderful that we can work with LEG to promote the off-track thoroughbreds to hunter/jumper riders," she remarked. "People are recognizing the talent of these horses and their ability to compete at a high level, and more and more of them are finding second careers in the show ring."

Also part of the fun, Renee Connolly and Tabitha Knaub got in on the act as well, conducting a Hunter Apparel Challenge, where they put together several non-traditional, yet legal, outfits and asked hunter equitation judges to score the outfits on their appropriateness for the show ring. Then, participants in the challenge scored the outfits based on what they thought the judges said. "We want to get people to talk about the options in the hunter equitation classes and maybe get away from the traditional navy coat and white shirt," Tabitha explained. "The rules are very minimal about what you are and are not allowed to wear." Renee and Tabitha discuss the rule, present the outfits, and explain the judges' viewpoints on their blog at eqgirl.

Morgan Geller

Morgan Geller has a great show with Fabricio Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Morgan Geller had a successful show on her Fabricio. Together they placed fifth in the $10,000 Memorial Day USHJA International Hunter Derby, were a part of the winning team in the Memorial Day Equitation Challenge, and won the Washington International Equitation Class, winning the Jumper Round and placing second in the Hunter Round. “My plan for the jumper round in the Washington International was the same as any of my hunter or equitation classes," Morgan said. "Though the tracks are different, Fabricio’s energy is always the same and he’s used to doing handy hunter courses, which have similar turns to jumper courses. I’d like to start doing jumpers more regularly in the future if I can find a good jumper horse.”

Hero Stevenson

Hero Stevenson (Carleton Brooks, trainer) won both the Children's Hunters 15 thru 17 and Under Saddle classes  on her Clever Z. “I used to do more equitation classes but I decided to do hunters instead so I could let the reins go a little bit and just relax,” Hero said. It was her first time in the newly enlarged East Ring. When she’s not riding, Hero loves to take photographs and is the photo editor of her school newspaper at the Archer School for Girls.

Derek Chang

Derek wins in the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers 1.30M Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Derek Chang (Mark Watring, trainer) was ecstatic to finish on top of a Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper class 1.30M with his Viktor 79. "In the first round, I just wanted to go clean," Derek commented. "I just tried to package him and go forward. In the jump off, I decided to go fast and clean." Derek just got Viktor 79 two months before the show, so they are still getting to know one another. "He's a rock star. Very willing." Derek also added that he enjoys showing at Memorial Day Classic, stating, "It's fun showing every day from Friday until Monday, and showing on the grass is very enjoyable."

Samantha Sommers

Samantha Sommers (Chris Iwasaki, trainer) on Small Kiss (Iwasaki & Reilly, owner) received a first and a second in two classes of Large Junior Hunters 16 thru 17 (Handy). "I'm a junior at Oaks Christian School," she explained, "and I want to study history or film in college."

Anne Schroeder

Anne Schroeder wins the LEGIS Jumper Medal Class Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Anne Schroeder (Amy Hess, trainer) won the LEGIS Jumper Medal Class and the Ariat National Adult Medal Class aboard her Starajan. “Starajan used to be a jumper, but due to a recent injury, we started showing in equitation instead,” Anne explained. It was only Starajan’s third show doing equitation, but the LEGIS Jumper Medal Class was a familiar format for him. “We’ve been working really hard on making him a quiet hunter, so it was really fun to let our hair down for the LEGIS Jumper Medal Class.”

Colleen Floyd

Colleen Floyd (Cyndi Merritt, trainer) on Chaucer (Cyndi Merritt, owner) won the Maiden Equitation Over Fences 17 & Under and also placed second in the LAHJA Horsemanship Medal Class. “This is only my second win ever!" Colleen explained. "The last time I won a blue ribbon was on my old horse, Marshmallow, who passed away a few months ago. It was especially meaningful because this is also my first A show and it was a great confidence booster.”

Julia Otter

Julia Otter enjoys her last show on Ace of Hearts Flying Horse Photography

Riding her Ace Of Hearts, Julia Otter won the Low Child/Adult Amateur Jumpers 1.00M and the Low Children's/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic. In Classic, Julia was the first to go in a field of 25 and had a clear round. The class was run under an A/B jump off option. “Since I went first, I didn’t want to have to wait around for everyone to finish and then have to come back. It was better to get it over with, otherwise I would have been stressing the whole time,” Julia noted. “Going into the jump off, I tried to take the shortest corners possible and go really fast because that’s the only way to win.” Julia had a clear round in the jump off with a blistering pace of 30.932. Though many riders tried to catch her time, no one could reach the high standard she had set. Mia Farley, riding Sir Stoney (Vicki Warmington, owner), came close when she came back at the end of the class to do her jump off. She rode tight turns and galloped quickly, but came up just short with a time of 31.102. Julia was ecstatic to win and explained, “This win was particularly meaningful to me because it was my last show on Ace Of Hearts. I’m looking forward to getting a new horse in the summer, but I’m glad Ace Of Hearts and I could finish our last show together on such a high note.”

Katie Gardner and Stella Buckingham

Katie Gardner and Chrush crush the competition Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Katie Gardner had a highly successful weekend, not only earning a trip to Maui courtesy of LEG by winning the Memorial Day Classic Equitation Challenge, but she also topped the $4,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby with Chrush (Q Of E Farms, LLC owner). "He was so amazing! Katie gushed after the class. "I can't believe this horse isn't even five years old yet. He's spectacularly brave and a beautiful jumper. I think the height of the first jump really impressed him, so he was really bright on the rest of the course. He did even better in the handy round; it was like the more complicated it got, the more interested he was." Chrush's owner, Kristen Buckingham of Q of E Farms, LLC, has also shown Chrush in the Modified Hunters.

Stella Buckingham wins her first Children's Pony Hunter Classic Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Kristen's daughter, Stella Buckingham, had her own reason to celebrate after winning  several classes in the Short Stirrup Hunters and Children's Pony Hunters aboard Shimmer (Lanes End, owner), but the highlight of the weekend was winning the very first Children's Pony Hunter Classic she'd ever entered. "It was fun," commented Stella, an eight-year-old second grader at Brentwood School. "He was really good. I just tried to set my pace and get the strides."

Bowling for Dollars

First placed team Bowled Over (from left) Teri Salazar, Katie Salazar, team captain BC Cameron, Dylan Jimenez and Derek Gray. Photo: The Equestrian News

Monica Ward attended her first CPHA Bowling Benefit and was thrilled with the fun filled event. The event raised about $4,000 this year for the California Professional Horsemen's Foundation, a benevolent organization for professional horsemen in need, and was held at the Pickwick Bowl across the street from the LA Equestrian Center. Dinner and a festive atmosphere accompanied the fierce competition. “It was a great crowd," Monica recalled. "There was a wonderful, positive energy throughout the night and everyone was there to come together and have fun." The fundraiser brought together 100 bowlers involved in many different aspects of the horse sport, and as Monica commented, “It was such a lovely  event and everyone wanted to be a part of it. Everyone was there bowling and laughing and having a good time.” It was Monica’s first time bowling (excluding Wii bowling), and she was a natural, bowling a 99 in her first round. Monica was all smiles and laugher as she recalled the event and said, “It was hysterical, and I had a blast!”

For more information on Memorial Day Classic, including the prize list and complete results, visit the LEG website.

Jumping competition continues at LAEC with Gold Coast 4 (June 15-17). In Northern California, the Woodside show season will continue with the Woodside Circuit Opener (June 20-24), and in Colorado the show jumping action returns Sep 6-9.

Connect with LEG on Facebook for fun contests and prize giveaways, the latest news, photos, memories for the 40th Anniversary, and more!