PCHA 14 & Under Horsemanship Medal Finals winner Grady Lyman, with trainer Karen Stubbs and coach Karen Healey, and some of the many people who make the Portuguese Bend National Horse Show the USEF-sanctioned

Grady Lyman, Virginia Fout & Jesse Schurtleff among stars at Portuguese Bend National Horse Show.

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is far from the only beneficiary of the Portuguese Bend National Horse Show. Designated a “heritage” show by the United States Equestrian Federation, the PBNHS celebrated its 58th year, Sept. 4-6 in the Los Angeles area’s Rolling Hills Estates.

It blends top regional competition with genuine community appeal and involvement, including an army of cheerful volunteers all clad in blue and white checked shirts.

Finley Burger & Freedom C.

Elli Yeager & Copperfield 39, 4th place finishers.

Long Beach Mounted Police.

Rounding the corner in the stick horse race. Everybody won!

The Pacific Coast Horse Show Association’s 14 & Under and Adult Medal Finals were highlights of this show, along with the $15,000 Seahorse Jumper Classic. We caught the last two rounds of the 14 & Under Horsemanship Medal Finals on Sunday and were impressed with all the entrants.

Grady Lyman took top honors in this one, after super smooth second and third rounds. The field started with 32 who had qualified for the finals throughout the year, and was narrowed down to 13 (due to a tie, it’s normally 12) for the third round showdown.

Judges Steve Wall and Scott Williamson added a trot fence, counter canter, hand gallop, halt and a sitting trot exit to the jumping efforts, but those challenges did not shake up the standings as Grady led all three rounds for a decisive win. The San Diego-based rider is a student of Michelle Stubbs, with an assist by Karen Healey, and is a regular in the equitation and jumper winners circles.

Pony Rides!

Gentle Carousel Therapeutic Miniatures were popular visitors.

Tommi Stockham finished seventh.

Kaitlyn Lovingfoss & Wurlitzer galloping to a second place finish.

Grady Lyman & Sinatras Ruhm lead the victory gallop.

Putting in terrific efforts behind Grady were Kaitlyn Lovingfoss, Finley Burger and Elli Yeager in the top five slots. A student of Kasey Ament’s, Finley also finished as the show’s Best Child Rider honors.

In the two-round PCHA Adult Medal Finals held on Saturday, Virginia Fout took top honors, along with the Best Adult Rider title for the competition. In the PCHA Finals, Virginia, a student of Archie Cox’ Brookway Stables, was followed by Kathy Nolan, Margrethe Munkdale, Kathy Austin and Karen Landau.

After the 14 & Under Finals on Sunday, the jumps were raised for the $15,000 Seahorse Jumper Classic while the crowd enjoyed the Haybale Boutique, the Children’s Circle of fun activities and plenty of good food. Jesse Shurtleff and Biscocho emerged victorious from this crowd-pleasing class, at first at the 1.35m height for this Nick Karazissis, Jr., coached young rider.

Jessie was followed in the top five by Danielle Lean and Quantum Leap, Shota Soejimi and Sig Careful, Kristin Hardin and Firestone, Cuba Scott and Ailee. 

– photos and report by Kim F Miller.