SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.—The 40-acre Oaks Blenheim Show Park had its fall tournament, the $50,000 Blenheim 2011 Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier. It is one of many events, which offer riders opportunities to be selected as one of the 2011 World Cup team members.
The Oaks Blenheim is an icon in the international horse show community. It is noted for its elegance, beauty, and the friendliness of the staff. The Fall Tournament ran from Sept. 15-19.
Riders from the United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Puerto Rico rode the challenging jumping course designed by well-known course designer Guilherme Jorge from Brazil.
The course consisted of 13 fences, which ranged from 1.45 meters in height to 1.60 meters, with the biggest fence being 1.60 meters high and 1.90 meters wide. The course is an indoor course, which makes the jumping pattern more tightly spaced and challenging.
The course total time allowed without accruing time penalties was 81 seconds for the initial pattern and 47 seconds for the jump-off. A speed of 350 meters per minute is needed to achieve this.
Riders from the United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Puerto Rico rode the challenging jumping course designed by well-known course designer Guilherme Jorge from Brazil.
The course consisted of 13 fences, which ranged from 1.45 meters in height to 1.60 meters, with the biggest fence being 1.60 meters high and 1.90 meters wide. The course is an indoor course, which makes the jumping pattern more tightly spaced and challenging.
The course total time allowed without accruing time penalties was 81 seconds for the initial pattern and 47 seconds for the jump-off. A speed of 350 meters per minute is needed to achieve this.
Hail Yeah
The atmosphere was lively with music and the wonderful opening display of horsemanship given by Ray Ariss, the founder of Starbrite Riding Academy in Norco, Calif.
Ariss was riding his bay Mustang “Hail Yeah.” Ray was one of 100 trainers chosen from 29 states to participate in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Houston.
Ariss and his horse were a picture of stillness and calm in each phase of their presentation, even when Ariss rode around the arena shooting balloons with a special pistol. Many members of the audience flinched each time he shot but his horse never wavered. Ray and Hail Yeah’s story will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Epoch Times later this month.
Ariss shared that he had changed some of his training approaches with Hail Yeah.
“I think every horse I train evolves me. Hail Yeah did not fit the mold, and I only had 100 days to train him. This forced me to evolve my training from making a horse do something to including him. Taking into consideration his feelings, instead of: ‘You will do this or else.’
“I made Hail Yeah a partner. I learned to make the training about an invitation to work with me, not an ultimatum.”
Mark Watrang told The Epoch Times, he hopes to qualify for the Pan American Games in 2011. Then he’ll attempt to make the Olympic cut for 2012.
Watring rode for the U.S. team for years, representing them in the 1984 Olympics. However, Watring was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to the United States at the age of 5. He has dual citizenship. This enabled him to choose to ride for Puerto Rico after the 1984 Olympics.
Watring said, “The Oaks Blenheim is a super quality presenter, I have competed here for years. I have cloned Sapphire [Watring’s grey Holsteiner gelding], the foal is seven months old and will be at my farm.”
The Grand Prix riders and their horses exhibited focus and balance as they sped around the tight course.
The final placings are:
1. Michelle Spadone on Melisimo (USA)
2. Ashlee Bond on Cadett 7 (USA)
3. Richard Spooner on ACE (USA)
4. Harley Brown on Cassiato (Australia)
5. Tani Zeidler on Ranville (Canada)
The next Blenheim EquiSports show jumping presentation is in Las Vegas. Save the dates of Nov. 3-7.
Ariss was riding his bay Mustang “Hail Yeah.” Ray was one of 100 trainers chosen from 29 states to participate in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Houston.
Ariss and his horse were a picture of stillness and calm in each phase of their presentation, even when Ariss rode around the arena shooting balloons with a special pistol. Many members of the audience flinched each time he shot but his horse never wavered. Ray and Hail Yeah’s story will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Epoch Times later this month.
Ariss shared that he had changed some of his training approaches with Hail Yeah.
“I think every horse I train evolves me. Hail Yeah did not fit the mold, and I only had 100 days to train him. This forced me to evolve my training from making a horse do something to including him. Taking into consideration his feelings, instead of: ‘You will do this or else.’
“I made Hail Yeah a partner. I learned to make the training about an invitation to work with me, not an ultimatum.”
Dual Citizen
Mark Watrang told The Epoch Times, he hopes to qualify for the Pan American Games in 2011. Then he’ll attempt to make the Olympic cut for 2012.
Watring rode for the U.S. team for years, representing them in the 1984 Olympics. However, Watring was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to the United States at the age of 5. He has dual citizenship. This enabled him to choose to ride for Puerto Rico after the 1984 Olympics.
Watring said, “The Oaks Blenheim is a super quality presenter, I have competed here for years. I have cloned Sapphire [Watring’s grey Holsteiner gelding], the foal is seven months old and will be at my farm.”
The Grand Prix riders and their horses exhibited focus and balance as they sped around the tight course.
The final placings are:
1. Michelle Spadone on Melisimo (USA)
2. Ashlee Bond on Cadett 7 (USA)
3. Richard Spooner on ACE (USA)
4. Harley Brown on Cassiato (Australia)
5. Tani Zeidler on Ranville (Canada)
The next Blenheim EquiSports show jumping presentation is in Las Vegas. Save the dates of Nov. 3-7.
