FEBRUARY 2010
HITS Thermal Underway
Jan. 16 – March 14 in Thermal
Scaled back to its original six-week format this year, HITS Thermal did not scale back the prize money. This grand finale for the hunter/jumper series is the $300,000 Grand Prix on Sun. March 14. The circuit includes 16 Grand Prix classes that serve as qualifiers for HITS new Pfizer $1 million Grand Prix, which takes place in Saugerties, NY in September. The jumping agenda includes four Saturday night World Cup qualifiers on Feb. 6, 13 and 27 and March 6, all held in the exciting atmosphere of HITS indoor arena.
Two USHJA Hunter Derbies and myriad medal classes highlight the non-jumper action and social functions abound. These include the Equine Art Gala and Exhibitor Mixer Feb. 6, a golf tournament Feb. 8, and the Purina Mills Fiesta Day Feb. 28. See you there!
For complete information, visit
www.hitsshows.com.
Bright Star Saddlery Silent Auction
Feb. 20-21 in Los Angeles County’s Agoura
Bright Star Saddlery is having a silent auction on Feb. 20-21. Items for auction will include new and used english, western and dressage saddles, bridles, tack and strap goods. The gift department will feature Arthur’s Court, fine art prints, jewelry, books and sculptures. Bidding will start on many items at below wholesale prices, and customers need not be present to win.
“What do you have to lose?” asks Bright Star’s Karen Hartman Curtis. “You, our customer, set the selling price!
Bidding ends at 3 p.m. Sun., Feb. 21. Winners will be notified by noon the next day. Go to
www.brightstarsaddlery.com for more information.
Shea Center Open House
Thursday, Feb. 25 in San Juan Capistrano
The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding invites all to celebrate the grand opening of the Klein Family Education and Therapy Building. Doors are open from 4-6:30 and tours are available starting at 4:30. RSVP by Feb. 17 to development@sheacenter.org or call 949-240-8441.
Blenheim EquiSports Shows
Various dates starting Feb. 27-28 in San Juan Capistrano
After the briefest of breaks, the Blenheim EquiSports show season is underway, starting with the Blenheim County I at the Oaks in San Juan Capistrano Feb. 27-28. Held at the Oaks or the Del Mar Horsepark in San Diego, the season’s hunter/jumper competitions culminate in the Las Vegas November Festival.
Highlights include the West Coast league’s final World Cup qualifier during the Blenheim Spring Tournament Mar. 31-Apr. 4, the $50,000 Orange County Register CSI-W Grand Prix. Throughout the season there are classics for ponies, amateurs, juniors and open riders. Back by popular demand are the Friday afternoon Hunt Teams as well as the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse / USHJA International Hunter Derby honoring Arthur Hawkins. And that’s just in San Juan Capistrano.
The Del Mar venue hosts the Showpark shows with more outdoor excitement, including two Festivals scheduled the week before and the week after the popular Ranch & Coast Tournament. Highlights include the $50,000 Grand Prix of California presented by Mary’s Tack & Feed, another $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse / USHJA International Hunter Derby, WCAR Selection Trials plus World Championship Hunter Rider points.
Riders and non-riders alike can enjoy social events throughout the season and both venues provide beautiful settings to watch horse sports at their best.
For more information, visit www.showpark.com.
Trifecta Reining Challenge
Various dates & locations beginning March 3 in Scottsdale
With a week’s vacation at the Four Seasons hotel in Maui at stake, there will surely be plenty of reiners going after this year’s Trifecta Reining Challenge. The three-show event begins in Scottsdale, AZ with the Cactus Reining Challenge Mar. 3-7. Next in the series is the Reining By The Bay this July in Northern California’s Woodside, and the closer is the High Roller Reining Classic in Las Vegas in September. All three are managed by Brumley Management Group, which will be tracking prize money all year. The rider with the highest money earnings in the Non Pro Derby divisions will earn the seven-day trip to Maui. Even those who don’t win the grand prize can count on a great show experience with exciting presentation for all shows and at every level.
For more information, visit any of the shows’ websites: www.cactus-reining-classic.com,
www.reiningbythebay.com and
www.highrollerreiningclassic.com.
Heike Kemmer Clinic
March 26-28 in Vacaville
A 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Heike Kemmer makes her first visit to Northern California for a three-day clinic Mar. 26-28 at the Christiane Noelting Dressage Center in the Sacramento area’s Vacaville. Part clinic, part symposium, the event will feature Kemmer working with 10 successful upper level riders from Northern and Southern California. “This is your chance to audit first class training with riders you know,” says Noeltling. “Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to get inspiration from a world class rider on how to tackle various problems you might also have with your horse.”
There will be 10 rides each day. From 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., auditors will watch, listen and learn as Kemmer works intensively with one rider at a time. Early bird auditing discounts are available through Mar. 15. Held in the Center’s indoor arena, the clinic will go on rain or shine.
Visit www.christianenoelting.com for more information and to buy tickets, or call 707-454-0565.
Does your special event deserve special coverage in California Riding Magazine’s What’s Happening Event Calendar? If so, let us know and don’t forget a photo. Send it all to kimfmiller1@mac.com, or call her at 949-644-2165.
Our deadline is the first of the month for the following month’s issue. Please submit your events by March 1st for the April issue. It’s the place to be and it’s free!
|
