California Riding Magazine • June, 2009

Del Sol Classic
San Diego show exceeds expectations
and prepares for its second year.

“If you want something done right, do it yourself,” is an adage Mark Conley took to heart when he staged his first Del Sol Classic Horse show last August. As the owner and operator of San Diego training barn fixture, Concord Equestrian Center, Conley has competed himself and taken students to many shows through the years. When he set about staging his own, he knew just what he wanted: quality.
The second Del Sol Classic Horse Show will take place at the Del Mar Horse Park Aug. 12-13, and it is set to reflect Conley’s commitment to a safe, pleasant and rewarding show experience on many levels.

That starts with an efficient and friendly office staff and ends with terrific prizes for every class and each championship. “You don’t have to win two or three classes to get a prize at my show,” he notes. “You get a prize every time you win a class.” Mrs. Pasture’s cookies and three-dimensional puzzles were among the hot prizes last year and Conley promises even better bounty this year. “Our show secretaries last year said they couldn’t believe how much office traffic there was just from people checking out our prizes.” These are in addition to long, lovely ribbons that participants raved about last year. The quality emphasis carries into the arena with beautiful jumps, unique courses for each medal class and top judges. USEF officials Joe Lombardo and Carleton Brooks are lined up for this summer already, with a third judge to be named soon.

“I do need to make money on these shows,” says Conley with his manager’s hat on. “But to me it’s about putting on a quality show.”
He is excited about a new rider sponsorship program in which hard working juniors and young riders can apply to earn free enrollment in the show. The program is designed for working students who do not own their own horse and are in training with a recognized professional. Applicants should e-mail Conley explaining why they deserve this opportunity and get a sign-off from their trainer. He plans to pick two or three recipients this year.

Conley is equally excited about the return of the show’s expanded Walk/Trot division. “Normally there are just two classes per day in that division,” he notes. “Kids come for that then go home.” The Del Sol Classic offers four Walk/Trot classes each day in Rail, Pleasure, Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle divisions. “The way I see it these kids are the future of our sport,” Conley observes. “They need show mileage and encouragement to move onto the next level.”

Hunter Classics in the 2’6” and 3” divisions are another Del Sol highlight. Here, as in the Children/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic, the prize money is $200 and year-end points will be awarded in each fence height.

Sanctioned by the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Assn. and the Orange County Horse Shows Assn., the Del Sol Classic will be held at the Del Mar Horse Park. The medal classes will all be staged in the large indoor arena. This will be great practice for the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Assn. finals, which will be held in the Del Mar Fairgrounds now-covered Del Mar Arena.

The best example of the Del Sol Classic’s emphasis on providing a quality experience is the gift bag of goodies trainers receive upon registration. “What other show does that?,” Conley asks.

And he would know. As the proprietor of Concord Equestrian Center, also located at the Horse Park, Conley is a veteran competitor as both coach and participant. When not competing, he’s plenty busy training and managing the multi-tiered Concord Equestrian, where students can do everything from take their first pony ride to showing at the top hunter/jumper levels. In between, all Concord equestrians are taught to be true horsemen.

For more information about the Del Sol Classic Horse Show and/or Concord Equestrian Center, please call 858-259-1148 or visit www.delsolclassic.com or www.concordequestriancenter.com. E-mail applications for the Del Sol Rider Sponsorship program to Mark Conley at markconley@earthlink.net.