John French, Mandy Porter, Lindsay Archer Among Winners at Central California Horse Show Series

The final weekend of the West Palms Events’ show season proved to be an entertaining and memorable one, with fundraisers and educational opportunities, and special classes!

First out was the Style of Riding Awards Sponsored by Shady Lane Farm. The Best Pony Style of Riding Award went to Olivia Williams, trained by Holly Kilham-Charlebois, the Amateur Style of Riding Award went to Pam Theodosakis, trained by Philip Cillis and the Junior Style of Riding Award was awarded to Molly Pedulla, trained by Cassie Belmont. Congratulations on your wonderful riding and achievement this week for not only style, but sportsmanship. Thank you to Matt and Lindsay Archer of Shady Lane Farm for your continued support of the Style of Riding Awards!

In an exciting competition with a course by designer Leopoldo Palacios, the course contained 15 obstacles. It included an oxer – vertical combination to a line to an oxer across the diagonal. It then lead them around to a triple bar, to a triple combination right on the rail of a boisterous Lounge to their final fence, a large oxer on the rail on the berm.

Mandy Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II take home second in the Oak Tree Grand Prix Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events

First up was Mandy Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II, who have had a very successful two weeks here at the Central California Horse Show Series, including the win in the CWD Wine Country Grand Prix last Saturday. They marched in and dominated the course with a clean round to set the pace and tone of the class.

Marc Grock and Caretol were up two rounds later and put up a clean round to challenge Porter to a jump off. The third and final clean round in the first round was Lindsay Archer and Camerone, who had won two grand prix here at the Horse Park, the LA Saddlery Grand Prix in the Spring and the Oak Tree Grand Prix last year in the Fall.

	Lindsay Archer and Camerone win the Oak Tree Grand Prix. Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events

Headed into the jump off, Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II were successful in their round, with a clean course and a time of 44.347. Grock and Caretol came in second and had another clean round, but not quite as fast as Porter, with a time of 46.158, to take over second place.

Archer and Camerone headed in, taking over the course with a speedy pace and a tight track to take the win, almost four seconds ahead of Porter, a time of 40.689! Archer not only took her third win here at the Horse Park, but was also awarded the Jill Weaver Memorial Trophy, a very special trophy for Linda Starkman, the Horse Park, and all who knew Jill.

“I am so thrilled to have won my first Grand Prix at Paso here last year, and continue the winning streak here today,” said Archer. “We are three for four here and I can’t wait to come back next year!”

Congratulations to our competitors on a spectacular class!

Lindsay Archer on Camerone accept the Jill Weaver Memorial Trophy, Sponsored by Waldenbrook Farm, for their victory in the Oak Tree Grand Prix. Photo by Flying Horse Photography

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Equine Health Wine Social Sponsored by Magnolia Farms Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events

The competitors and spectators learned about UC Davis, were able to ask questions to professionals and even received a gift for filling out a questionnaire! Thank you so much to UC Davis and Magnolia Farms for a wonderful event and providing everyone with an educational afternoon.

The USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by San Marcos Training had 21 starters, including impressive riders such as John French, Nicole Bourgeois, Philip Cillis, and many others. The impressive course was designed by Mike Gallaway of Oregon and contained four high options and two natural log fences.

	John French and Tivoli Z Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events

The flowing course covered all of the Fairway Grand Hunter arena, while spectators enjoyed complimentary wine and appetizers and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Equine Health Wine Social Sponsored by Magnolia Farms.

After the Classic Round, Elizabeth Gabler’s Soldier and John French were in the lead, with French on Tivoli Z and Small Gesture in second and third, respectively. Demi Stiegler and Playlist were in fourth, with young rider Augusta Iwasaki on Illusion in fifth and Nicole Bourgeois and Duck Duck Goose sitting in sixth.

The Handy Round produced great rounds, with Tivoli Z and French taking first, Bourgeois and Duck Duck Goose earning second. Iwasaki and Illusion rounded out the top three, with Stiegler and Playlist in fourth and French in the fifth through eighth spots.

In the end, it was French and Laura Hite’s Tivoli Z who took home the blue ribbon, with Bourgeois and Amy Bean’s Duck Duck Goose earning second place. French and Elizabeth Gabler’s Soldier rounded out the top three and an impressive ride from young rider Iwasaki on Dogwood Hill LLC’s Illusion took home fourth place honors.

Nicole Bourgeois and Duck Duck Good Photo by Alden Corrigan for West Palms Events

Congratulations to all the riders and horses on a wonderful International Hunter Derby and thank you to San Marcos training and Corinne Bevis on your continued support of the Central California Horse Show Series!

John French and Tivoli Z win the USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by San Marcos Training From left: Corinne Bevis of San Marcos Training, John French on Tivoli Z and Taylor Spooner of West Palms Photo by Flying Horse Photography for West Palms

USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by San Marcos Training results: