Burbank, California. Paris Theodosakis was the pony rider in demand during the five day USEF “A” rated National Preview held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (Nov. 8-12). The young rider did not disappoint as she piloted Whiskey Rocks to the Grand Championship in the West Coast Pony Finals, and she piloted Slumber Party to the Reserve Grand Championship. The West Coast Pony Finals attracted 60 pony from throughout the West Coast. The event has become very popular among pony riders. For many riders on the West Coast, traveling to Kentucky for the USEF Pony Finals is not feasible. The West Coast Pony Finals provides a challenging championship event closer to home.
Small, Medium and Large ponies compete in their specific size sections and receive awards. The two ponies with the highest cumulative scores after two rounds of competition are named the grand and reserve grand champions. Theodosakis catch rode Slumber Party, owned by Stone Ridge, to the Small Pony Championship in the West Coast Pony Finals, and their high scores garnered them the Reserve Grand Championship. “I just rode Slumber Party for the first time this week,” said Theodosakis. “It was fun.” The pair also captured the Small Pony Hunter show championship.
Theodosakis posted the highest scores of the competition aboard Adrienne Sternlicht’s Whiskey Rocks, where they were also champions in the Medium section of the West Coast Pony Finals. Olivia Kohan rode Liseter Clever Star (Laura King Kaplan, owner) to the championship in the Large Pony section of the West Coast Pony Finals.
Pony Jumpers also compete for a championship at the West Coast Pony Finals, and Jocelyn Neff rode her family’s two ponies, Cinnamon Twist and Havana to champion and reserve champion respectively.
Pony riders also competed in the Los Angeles Horse Shows Association Pony Medal Finals. After two rounds and a work off, twelve year old Emily Hartley led from start to finish. “I’ve been riding since I was six, but this is my first year showing ponies at rated shows. I just wanted to get around the LAHSA medal finals with no big mistakes.” Hartley not only got around, she impressed the judges with her positive riding. “The courses were tricky, but we had practiced a lot of the same stuff at home,” said the young rider of her preparation. “I was nervous…until I went in the ring.” In the work off the judges asked the riders to perform several riding tests, including a trot fence, and then they asked the riders a question. “They asked us to name three parts of our saddle and I knew the parts.” Haley Webster finished second and Tara Spencer rounded out the top three.
The LAHSA Junior Finals attracted over 40 riders and the competition was stiff. Aboard a borrowed horse, Nicole Husky proved that a rider should never give up. A rough lead change in the first round gave her a first round score of 71. She was disappointed as this was her final class as a junior rider, but she was also grateful to have a horse to ride. “My first round was not exactly promising,” laughed Husky good naturedly. “I didn’t really know the horse very well and I rode him in a hunter class and I learned from my mistakes.” Her 89.5 point score in the second round demonstrated her astute adaptations to her new ride. Her high score allowed her to squeak into the third round of the top ten tied in tenth position. Leading the pack going into the third round was Katrina Karazissis.
Karazissis posted another consistent round in the third round, along with Laura Mormann and Allison Van Sickle. Husky also put in another strong performance and moved up to the fourth. Now she was in the work off. The judges were so impressed with the quality of riding in the 3′3″ medal finals that they asked the top four riders to switch horses. Karazissis and Van Sickle switched horses, and Mormann and Husky switched horses.
Where Van Sickle was conservative to the first fence, Karazissis started and finished her round with the same bold, accuracy she demonstrated throughout the competition. “I’ve never been in this position before,” said Karazissis of her lead in the third round. “I was so nervous. And then they asked us to switch horses and I’ve never done that before either.” Although she rides a number of horses at her family’s Far West Farms, switching horses under the pressure of competition was another thing. “When I met the first jump I thought to myself, ‘I can do it.’ The whole experience was so exciting!” As exciting as it was for Karazissis, her mother (and trainer) Jenny Karazissis was a nervous wreck. “I was so nervous watching. We went to Syracuse together (Maclay Finals) and borrowed a horse. It was a great experience and it really inspired Katrina. It showed here.”
When Katrina was called out as champion, she was thrilled. “I was just really, really happy. Everyone in the work off rode each others’ horses really well. I didn’t know what the judges would do.” The judges had no doubt. Nicole Husky moved up to reserve champion. “I was so happy to make it into the third round, and then I was shocked when I made it into the work off. I guess this shows that you should never give up,” laughed Husky who is a freshman at Pepperdine University. She plans to turn professional and already has a job lined up. “I am going to start teaching beginning kids on the weekend. I have a lot to learn and I am really looking forward to it.”
In the LAHSA Senior Medal Finals Katie Taylor could not be beat. Tarah Hill was on her heels, but Taylor never waivered and posted one flawless round after another. In only her first year riding as an amateur, Taylor has now won three of the amateur medal finals. Kristi Siam, who rides with Karen Healey Stables, steadily moved up during the competition and earned reserve champion honors. Crystal Looy was third and Tarah Hill rounded out the top four. Hill posted several excellent rounds, but a rail in the work off cost her second place.
The National Preview concluded with more than 800 horses and wonderful sunny weather. Many of the riders from colder climes appreciated the mild, late fall weather. Complete results are online at Langer Equestrian Group’s website www.langerequestrian.com.
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