LEG, Blenheim Shuffle Dates

By Staff Report December 1, 2011

Blenheim EquiSports and Langer Equestrian Group have joined forces to fine-tune Southern California’s fourth quarter jumper season, reshuffling some very high profile events to create a November Championship Series to debut in 2012.

“I have long felt that the West Coast needed a set of special championship shows like the East Coast has had for decades,” Blenheim president Robert Ridland said in making the joint announcement with LEG president and CEO Larry Langer.

The two LEG shows – the National Preview and the L.A. National – will now fall in early November and lead up to Blenheim’s Las Vegas National, which riders will now have to qualify to enter. “It seems like a very small, subtle change, but both Robert and I think it’s a huge change for the West Coast,” said Langer, explaining that since the Las Vegas show – now in its third year – can only accept a limited amount of entries due to capacity issues at the South Point Hotel, it makes sense to schedule it last and have riders “earn their ticket.”

The series will continue to host two FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix (CSI-Ws), but instead of offering one at the L.A. National, LEG will now incorporate its CSI-W into the National Preview, the first week in November. The second will take place at the Las Vegas National the third weekend of the month.

Because the CSI-Ws will take place on their usual dates, the parties did not need FEI approval to make the change, a masterstroke of efficiency that served to expedite the shift.

In a nutshell, the National Preview and the L.A. National move up a week, and the Las Vegas National bumps back (to the old L.A. National date), so the World Cup dates don’t change. “Because the World Cup circuit is kind of fixed, the FEI frowns on moving dates willy nilly, so the idea that the two shows swapped, leaving the dates and the show organizers unchanged made it seamless,” Langer continued, noting that middle week – the date that will now house the L.A. National, “happens to be the week of the Sacramento International CSI-W, which even though it’s 500 miles away does factor in. By making the move we did, it doesn’t impact them at all.”

In addition to the CSI-W, the Preview will also host the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association medal finals for juniors, seniors, and ponies.

The following week the L.A. National will offer its traditional championships and finals for hunters and equitation riders as well as three national level grand prix and special jumper classes.

The Las Vegas National will conclude the three week series with its CSI-W and other special classes.

“The Las Vegas National really gives riders an opportunity to show in a true indoor environment, in a city that is world famous for fantastic events,” Ridland said. “In the Southwest, we are fortunate with our mild weather to be able to show outside almost all year, but having an indoor championship is very special and important for the western part of the United States.”

The third week in November, when qualified horses head off to the Las Vegas National, LEG will host a B-show called the L.A. Season Finale to take place at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center as an alternative for riders who don’t qualify or choose not to go to Vegas.

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