WEST PALMS LA SUMMER CLASSIC, LOS ANGELES, CA, AUG. 16-20, 2023, #388 | SOLDIER
In 2021, I went to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center with my friend Lisa Socransky Austin. She graciously introduced me to the Riders Cup Grand Prix, a horse jumping competition I had never seen anything like before; I couldn’t believe my eyes! Horses and Riders were jumping 1.45m high, and easily. Their athleticism and grace were awe-inspiring to me! For me to imagine myself in the LA Equestrian Center Arenas competing felt like a million years away…I mean, I wasn’t even jumping higher than 12”, and I didn't even have a horse. Although, I left that night imagining myself getting a trainer, practicing, getting better, raising the rails to a competitive height, getting my own horse and one day riding in the LAEC arenas as a competitor. I believed I could do it.
In August of 2023, 2 years later, I went back to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center as a competitor to the same LA Summer Classic that I was introduced to in 2021. I was here, jumping in the arenas and competing as competitor number 388!
Soldier and I have been working hard on our pacing, control, lifting up and doing an entire and complete round…all 10 jumps, through to the very end, past the timers before we relax our focus. I was ready and excited to COMPETE in my hometown and Soldier REALLY likes the LA Equestrian Center, I could tell he was very happy and comfortable there.
School has started for some kids in Los Angeles and my teammate Paris was one of them who has begun her school year. The show began in the middle of the week and Paris was unable to realistically get from Compton to Los Angeles, ride, and then head back to school in Compton for the first day of the show. So, our CJE team trainer, Victoria, asked if I would ride Paris’ horse, Ollie / “Natural Ability” to get him warmed up and ready for Paris for the next day events. “Of course!”, I said.
On Thursday, I started my first day at LAEC West Palms Summer Classic helping out my teammate, Paris and I picked up my first “catch ride”. A catch ride is when you are asked to ride a horse you typically haven’t ridden or practiced on as a favor to the trainer or horse owner. To pick Ollie up in a competitive class was new and a great riding challenge for me. It also means, I'm getting to be a skilled and trusted rider by the horse owner, my Trainer and teammate.
Ollie’s an ex-world class jumper so .65m rounds are easy for him and getting to ride the course on him was good practice for me before I took Soldier into the arena to compete. My first run of the day, on my first catch ride, for the first time ever riding Ollie, I took 2nd place. I dedicated our success to my teammate and friend Paris! When I told her how I dedicated the ride to her, she said, “That ride and success was your ride, and you won that round all on your own.” She’s one of my most supportive teammates and I truly appreciate her encouragement and genuine confidence as a friend.
My first .65m round on Soldier was a good practice run as I was getting focused on the next class, .70m Jumpers. The first .70m class, we did it: 1st Place! I got closest to the optimum time, within 2/10 of a second and even beat a professional trainer on a green horse she was training.
The second day, my teammates who had school the day before were able to make the show. We all competed in the .70m class together, and I did it again! I got 1st Place, besting 13 other competitors on the course. And my teammates, Adrina Player, took 3rd on a catch ride, Kilauea, and Paris Scott took 5th on Ollie / Natural Ability! At one point in the round, we were: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! As all the riders finished their rounds, we all ribboned in this class, together!
CJE was bringing it to the LAEC show!
When you win a 1st place in any class you receive a special “ticket” where you get to select a prize from the first place table. The table is filled with different types of prizes depending on the show you are attending. This West Palms show had branded journals, backpacks, bags, horse treats, games, branded glasses, cups, hats, and other tchotchke type items. The first prize I selected was an official Rider’s Cup baseball hat and the next one I picked was a West Palms backpack that I will use for school.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Hilary was coming fast and as we watched the Grand Prix Riders Cup, they made the announcement, "West Palms decided to cancel all classes on Sunday."
I did question what “could have” happened if we competed on Sunday, and where would I land in the Grand Champion standing for my .70m class. My trainer, Victoria reassured me and said no one would have caught me on points, no matter what I would have possibly placed on Sunday’s round of .70m’s. As you win ribbons, you are awarded points for the places you take in each class. For example, I placed 1st in .70m jumpers on Thursday, equaling something like 10 points. Then the next day, Friday, I placed 1st again, so another 10 points for me. I was carrying 20 points coming into the final day of competition for the .70m class on Sunday. Even if another competitor took a top ribbon, they wouldn’t have enough points to beat me out of the Grand Champion position.
Because West Palms made the safest decision to cancel all classes on Sunday, the existing standings of all classes and competitors would determine the Grand Champion of the Show. Coming home on Saturday evening, Soldier and I returned to the CJE barn as the Grand Champions of the .70m’s class!
Watching the Riders Cup, I was still preparing my mind and focus to take one more first place on Sunday, but I was excited and happy to understand that even without Sunday’s classes, we did it! Soldier and I did it! Our first Grand Champion Ribbon! We won our first Grand Champion in .70m class. And as I reflect on the LAEC events, I know every competition is also a learning experience. Both Soldier and I must work harder on practicing to make tighter turns so we can shave off seconds and next time dominate all the classes we compete in!
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