May 25, 2015
Saturday evening brought the LA Saddlery Grand Prix, the first Grand Prix to be held at the Paso Robles Horse Park! With a sold out VIP and a berm filled with anxious spectators, the class of 16 kicked off at 5:15PM. The class was full of thick competition, with impressive riders such as Lauren Hester, Marc Grock, Hap Hansen, Guy Thomas, and Jill Humphrey, among others, joined the event!
The course was designed by world-renowned course designer Heiko Wahlers of Germany and contained 15 efforts. The course included two combinations, one being an impressive triple combination along the long-side next to the VIP, followed by a roll back to a triple bar headed back towards the VIP.
Lauren Hester and Warinde B win the LA Saddlery Grand Prix / Photo By: Flying Horse Photography
It was necessary that the riders and their mounts maintained tidy turns and kept an upbeat tempo, with a time allowed of 88 seconds in the first round. Nicole Bloom and her mount Camerone put in a wonderful round, unfortunately with 2 time faults to leave her out of the jump-off. Guy Thomas and Black Jack came in as the 11 rider in order, with a few rubs, but ultimately put up the first clean round to advance to the jump-off!
Jill Humphrey and her own Zidane came in looking calm and collected, executing the trying course to overcome all the obstacles with a clear round, just under the time allowed! Last to go in the LA Saddlery Grand Prix was Lauren Hester on her second ride, her own Warinde B. The pair flowed through the course with no problem, putting up the third clean round for the jump-off!
The annotated jump-off course allowed the horses and riders to flow over the Fairway Field Grand Prix, allowing them the opportunity to gallop their horses from fence to fence, ending with a nice, lovely oxer heading towards the berm and crowd!
Lauren Hester and Warinde B win the LA Saddlery Grand Prix / Photo By: Flying Horse Photography
The exciting jump-off pleased the crowded berm and busy VIP, with three great riders battling for the blue ribbon. Guy Thomas and Jill Humphrey put up great rides, but unfortunately ended with 11 and 5 faults, respectively in the jump-off. Lauren Hester was last to go and she and Warinde B took the class with the only double clear round and an impressive jump off time of 54.199!
It seemed fitting that Lauren won the LA Saddlery Grand Prix, being dress from head to toe in all LA Saddlery clothes, including wearing a brand new Winston jacket that she just picked up here at the Central California Memorial Day Classic! LA Saddlery’s Renee Spurge and Jesse Holycross could not have been more excited!
“It was a great day for the sport of show-jumping and we are ecstatic that everyone came out to watch the LA Saddlery Grand Prix,” says Dale Harvey of West Palms Events. “The first week at the Paso Robles Horse Park has been fantastic and we’re beyond happy that all our competitors, owners, sponsors, parents and trainers have enjoyed the facility. Thank you again to Linda Starkman for this great opportunity!”
Reposted from West Palms Events.