Flintridge Horse Trials: Something for Everyone

By Caroline Craven April 1, 2012

The sun was shining and the grass was green at Flintridge Riding Club during their 33rd Flintridge Horse Trials. This boutique show offered competition and schooling options for all levels. The theme was “the Grass is always Greener… on the other side of the fence,” and that was true not only for those in the blue ribbon circle, but for every rider that made it around the course March 10-11.

Local trainer Gina Economou of Pepperwood Riding Center won two out of four classes, rising in a field of 11 starters in Open Training on Groovy, and coming on strong in a herd of 15 to win Open Beginner Novice on Gemini. Melanie Mullens finished a strong second in Training Level on McLaren. Cara Lavigna was third on Kynynmont Absolutely Irish. (The fourth-place winner came all the way from Wyoming Christian Eagles on Gisele.)

Gayleen Sharon, a clubmember who organized the event with FRC trainer Wendy Wergeles, emerged top in her class of 10, Open Novice, riding Beaufort West. Second place went to Michelle Meghrouni and Big Billy Tate (owned by Diane Slater), finishing on their dressage score of 31.70%.

Sarah Berry was the winner of the U.S. Eventing Association’s Young Event Horse competition for 5-year-olds; her Counterpoint won with an 87%.  Berry, representing Leg Insurance Solutions, was also the co-sponsor of the FRC/ LEGIS Horsemanship Trophy, won by Sharon. Second in the YEH was Calidore owned by Samantha Magowan and ridden by Gina Economou, with an impressive 83%.

Scoring in the YEH class was based on a number of factors, including conformation, type and suitability as well as dressage and jumping. “It’s kind of a general impression of the horse,” Economou said. “So if, initially, a horse refuses a jump but turns around and then goes back around and jumps it boldly, they’re not going to mark down that much. Because it’s understood they’re young horses. So it’s very subjective.”

Due to their high scores, both horses qualified for the year-end U.S. Eventing Association’s West Coast Championships.

To support the historic 33^rd Trials, there was as much going on off the field as on it. Long-time equestrian and FRC member Gail Martin made a wonderful humorous cartoon depicting the theme and used on signs, T-shirts and note cards, and Martin’s drawings were sold to help raise funds for the Horse Trials.

The Horse Trials wouldn’t have been possible without the many FRC volunteers helping with everything from sponsoring jumps to judging and managing the logistics of moving the horses and people throughout the facility.

Many FRC Patrons and Friends helped sponsor the event this year, sharing in the dedication of the volunteers and organizers who make the show so enjoyable. The Compton Posse sent several volunteers who helped as jump judges. They got high marks for their work!

For the first time the FHT was sponsored by the newly formed TIP―this stands for the Thoroughbred Incentive Program promoted by the Jockey Club encouraging and rewarding of Off the Track Thoroughbreds in sports beyond the track.  Learn more at their website http://tjctip.com/.

Sharon’s mount, West, is an off-track-Thoroughbred (OTT). “He is an ex-racehorse, bred in Kentucky, by West by West,” Sharon said, noting he had a race career in Canada before she purchased him from a woman who bought him straight from the track and started him on his eventing career.  “Wendy Wergeles helped me find him through her former mentor, trainer Paul Popiel. We have been working with Wendy for our XC training, Heidi Misrahy for stadium and Gerhard Politz for dressage ― all of them based at the Flintridge Riding Club.”

Sharon, an “ardent supporter” of OTTs, said she was extremely happy to have TIP represented at the Flintridge Horse Trials to show what Thoroughbreds can do besides run fast.

For the full list of results please visit  http://www.useventing.com/competitions/results?event=14911

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