Congratulations

Desert Circuit Premiere Winners

Sunday, January 13th
Richard Spooner and Gerry the Grey capture the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix. This victory marks the 99th Grand Prix win for Spooner.

Seven Weeks of Culinary Delights by Chef Ric

Chef Ric Orlando and his team have set a new standard for horse show dining and it’s yours for the tasting at Thermal. Now that the all-new HITS Oasis Club is open daily for breakfast and lunch at the HITS Desert Horse Park, members can savor the many fabulous flavors throughout the day.

“We’re from the Napa Valley and are very spoiled when it comes to fine dining,” commented Grand Prix rider Macella O’Neill. “Ric Orlando’s kitchen at the Oasis Club lives up to our highest expectations.” Renowned hunter judge Bucky Reynolds confirmed the acclaim, saying, “This is truly Five-Star dining at a horse show!”

Ric is the chef-owner of New World Home Cooking Co., a favorite dining spot for horse show competitors in Saugerties, New York. His impressive culinary resume spans nearly three decades with experience gathered at groundbreaking restaurants such as the Elm City Diner in New Haven, (the original) Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Wild Goose in Boston, Sugar Reef in Manhattan, Yates Street and Justin’s in Albany, New York. Some of his many honors include the Zagat Award of Distinction, Culinary Institute of America Best of the Hudson Bon Vivant Award and American Culinary Federation 1993 Culinarian of the Year. His New World Home Cooking Co. received the 2006 Santé Restaurant Award for Innovative Cuisine.

Chef Ric’s eclectic background includes stints as a punk rocker, a fashion model, a poet, and a music video producer. Now, when his demanding chef schedule allows, he is working on a book with writing partner Jessica Bard, Ric Orlando’s Hudson Valley Kitchen.
“I relish this opportunity to present my unique style of cooking to a new west coast audience,” said Orlando. “We are delighted to bring a menu with South-of-the-Border and Asian influences to the HITS Desert Circuit. We’re adding our own southern California twist using my trademark Global Heritage and sustainable Clean Food.” Some of the delectable choices on the menu: Roasted Garlic Caesar Salad with Grilled Sugar Cane Shrimp, Jerked Pork Loin with Mango-Coconut Salsa, Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya, Curried Chicken and Mango Salad Wrap, Grilled Salmon with Chimmichurri and Arugula Sauce.

Desserts to die for include: Phyllo Cups with Lemon Curd and Fresh Berries, Chocolate-Glazed Macaroons, Chocolate Truffle Cups.

Enjoy breakfast Ric Orlando style with fabulous scones and Danish pastries complementing cooked-to-order omelets or try French toast with real maple syrup and twice-smoked grilled bacon and ham. Savor the shrimp grits! Throughout the eight-week HITS Desert Circuit Chef Orlando plans to custom develop menu innovations. Ric will be out front meeting folks and inquiring about individual food preferences.

The HITS Desert Circuit VIP Oasis Club is available by membership only with both weekly and circuit price packages. Ask any show secretary for more information or call the horse show office at (760)399-9200.

Hello 2008!

Looking forward to a fabulous year. We are so happy to have Tammy Chipko, Zazou Hoffman and other special guests participate in the newsletter this season. We also welcome Lorri Quiett to our team as Account Executive.

WCAR welcomes Kathy Hobstetter to its team and while EquestriSol will still assist, Kathy will take over the management reins during the next few months. Super things are happening for WCAR from raffles to parties to European Tours, Rider Grants & Spruce Teams.

We will be launching a list of new logos, ad campaigns and web sites this winter so stay tuned. With a growing team that many of you will meet in the upcoming months, we are rarin’ to go!

If you are looking for fabulous marketing, contact us at our new toll-free number (877)538-9508 or contact Tammy directly at (818)472-5930.

BY TAMMY CHIPKO
Anyone who has spent any time at the Jumper Ring has certainly seen Richard Spooner, either on one of his many mounts, or helping someone from the ground. He shows up first thing in the morning with a backpack full of supplies to keep him going all day, including a full supply of horse cookies. He always has a smile on his face and something nice to say. Aware that he is one the most competitive Show Jumping riders in the world, I was interested in researching how he prepares, trains, and keeps his horses fit and happy throughout a hectic show schedule.

After a very busy and successful year in 2007, did you get to take a little time off? Yes, my wife Kaylen and I spent two weeks in the Cayman Islands. It was a very nice break. Do your horses get a break too? Yes, they definitely get a break and we usually start back slowly after Christmas.

How do you prepare for a new season?
I usually start with the three or four horses that have had a lighter year or are greener. This way they can compete in the first half of the circuit. The other horses get a couple extra weeks off then I will start them back in preparation for the middle to end of the circuit. I don’t ask too much from these horses until the end of the circuit.

How do you decide which horses will compete?
Each horse has its own goals so I develop a plan based on that. My top show jumpers will do much less at the beginning of the year and end up doing more towards the middle to the end of the year.

How do you keep your Grand Prix horses fit and happy with such a busy schedule?
Fortunately, I have a large pool of horses. I can back off with one for a while because I have other horses to fill their shoes. I am lucky that way and it certainly keeps the horses much more excited about their job.

Are you going to compete in Europe this year?
Yes, one of my goals is definitely to spend time in Europe. I really enjoyed it last year. I plan to compete on the Global Champions Tour (read more about this tour below), which starts in Doha, Qatar then proceeds to Hamburg, (GER) Cannes, (FRA), Monte Carlo, (MON) Estoril, (POR) Valkenswaard,(NED) and Arezzo (ITA). To top it off, the Two Million Dollar Euro Final will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

What an amazing tour - how many horses will you take?
Two or three, and this will be those horses’ top goal for the year.

How are you able to travel so much and have your business here in CA?
I am very fortunate to have a terrific staff! A great team effort is absolutely essential to facilitate this type of schedule. Chris Pratt can prepare horses and show them either on different circuits or on the same circuits as I do. He also works well with clients and is all around a tremendous asset to me.

Is their anything most people don’t know about you?
No - (laughing)

Maybe that would be a different interview…

Well, you are certainly starting the year off great with the first
Grand Prix win of the season aboard Gerry the Grey.
Good luck with your 100+ Grand Prix goal and be safe!

BY ZAZOU HOFFMAN
The start of the New Year is a good time to formulate a game plan for your riding. Take a realistic look at your riding skills, the ability of your horse and the amount of time and money you can devote to the sport. Come up with a list of goals. Then go to your finance person for a consultation - this is most likely your parents, although you may be able to make a contribution yourself if you have an after-school job or other money saved up. Once you know how much you have to spend, you can sit down with your trainer and review your options.

If you are interested in doing equitation, start by learning about the different types of medal classes available on a local, state, and national level. The bigeq.com website is a great resource. Make sure that you join ALL the organizations as quickly as possible and take copies of your cards to every show. Nothing is more heartbreaking than winning a Medal class only to find that your points are invalid because your membership is not current.

Learn how to access the websites and track your points. Here’s a firsthand example of how important this is. When I was chosen for the George Morris Horsemastership Sessions in Wellington, Florida, it was based upon the Bates Equitation Rankings. The rider’s Big Eq placings are supposed to be reported by each horse show directly to Ryegate, the clearinghouse for Bates Equitation points. As recently as last year many of the horse show managers in the western states were not familiar with the program. I tracked down several hundred missing points that were ultimately crucial to my ranking on the Bates list which in turn qualified me for the George Morris Sessions. Although the reporting of points has been streamlined with better computer software, the onus is still on YOU, the rider, to report any missing points and follow up on the corrections.

If you are going to try to qualify for the Indoor Medal Finals in the fall, write the dates on your calendar now and make your hotel reservations early. The more modestly priced rooms get booked up. One I’ve used is equestriantravel.com. They block-book rooms at a discounted rate and you can place your request with them.

If you don’t have an equitation horse, but have a hunter, look into the World Champion Hunter Rider Program. I know the name is waaaay over the top, but it’s a great program. I stumbled on this award program when my homebred children’s hunter, Andy Warhol, had quite a bit of success at the local shows and I wanted to get some experience against more competitive horses. I used this program’s show dates as my template for the entire year. It takes the four highest scores out of designated WCHR shows throughout the year. At ahjf.org/wchr-info.shtml you’ll find more detailed information. The year-end Awards for the Southwest are presented at an elegant dinner at the Menlo Park Charity Show. The prizes are beautiful leather halters, embroidered saddle pads and splendid tack trunks. In my case it gave me a goal for the year and gave me experience at the most competitive shows without having to spin my wheels with frustration knowing that I could never acquire the year end points that riders aiming for Devon, Washington, or Harrisburg were going for.

I want to mention two other programs, the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final and The Ronnie Mutch Scholarship.

The first one is hard to find on the USEF website so here’s the link, but you may still have to call. It’s a wonderful competition on borrowed horses with riders from foreign countries. Much of the cost is picked up by USEF and the FEI. The qualifier for our region is at the Oaks in San Juan Capistrano in the fall. The one show--that’s it.

The Ronnie Mutch scholarship information can be found here. It provides for one rider and one working student to get an inside look at the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida for two weeks and includes instruction from top trainers, accommodations, and a horse show stall. The applicant must be 15 years or under, jumping 3 foot courses or higher, and submit a video of their riding. The deadline is early January. Winning the Working Student Scholarship is the reason that I was able to meet Missy Clark and move into the 3’6” Medals and the USET Talent Search. It afforded me the opportunity to qualify for the Indoor Finals and opened my eyes to a world that I would never have otherwise experienced.

To sum up, it’s important to set attainable goals so that you don’t become discouraged. Riding should be fun. At the same time it’s important to dream big dreams and set your sights high. Challenge yourself. That said, you could be limited by your horse. It’s difficult to take a cold hard look at your horse’s strengths and weaknesses but you have to do it. The alternative is to waste a lot of horse show fees and your travel budget on an unattainable goal. You can also challenge yourself in other ways. Here in Southern California, there is the unique Foxfield Jumping Derby over a course of stadium and cross country (natural) jumps, the Santa Barbara Amateur Horse Show, which offers great beginner jumper classes, some for optimum time and with children’s classes broken down by specific age, and the Flintridge Children’s Horse Show Hunt Team class which awards the best three person tandem horse and rider team for their precision in riding a course of jumps, keeping equal distance between riders, their three abreast jump, and the most creative theme and costume. All three of these are at beautiful venues where you can bring your family and friends. Maybe one of them will fit as a goal for you and your horse. Happy New Year and let’s all dream big equestrian dreams!

Zazou Hoffman is a 16-year-old from Santa Monica, CA. As a 13-year-old, having only shown locally, she decided to apply for the Ronnie Mutch Working Student Scholarship. She won, which led to working with respected East Coast trainers Missy Clark and John Brennan. Through hard work and commitment, by Jan. ‘07 Zazou was one of seven elite riders chosen to work with Olympic Chef d’Equipe George Morris in Wellington, FL. She has competed in the Medal Finals for the past three years. She counts her win at the Maclay Regional, her 4th in “the Medal” at Harrisburg, her 5th in the USET Talent Search East at Gladstone, and her 3rd in the WCE amongst her notable accomplishments.

For the first time ever the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Classic will be offered on the west coast during the Desert Circuit Championship week on the HITS Thermal Circuit.

The R.W. Mutch Educational Foundation is a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) educational foundation that sponsors both a scholarship and the annual R.W. (Ronnie) Mutch Equitation Classic. This special invitational class is open only to those young riders who qualify by winning one of the major equitation classes during any of the Winter Circuits, including HITS-Thermal, HITS-AZ, HITS-Ocala, CN-WEF & the Gulf Coast Winter Series. It is a highly sought after honor to be invited to participate.

Ronnie Mutch was a life-long horseman. An early student of Gordon Wright and Al Homewood, Mutch won the AHSA Medal finals in 1950 at the age of 15. At 18 he was the youngest rider at the time to ride for the USET. By 1970, Mutch had established with his wife, Sue Bauer, one of the most successful show jumping stables in the country, Nimrod Farm. Twenty-eight years after Mutch had won the AHSA Medal Finals, Mutch’s son, Bert, won the Medal Finals. Ronnie and Bert Mutch are the only father and son combination to have won the Medal Finals.

The one-of-a-kind format for the R.W. Mutch Equitation Classic offers a unique challenge to the riders who are isolated from their trainers and are required to prepare on their own. The competitors are responsible for the management and schooling of their mounts and are to walk the course all without the assistance of a coach. Communication between riders and trainers is not allowed. The competition format features two extremely challenging rounds plus the possibility of a third round work-off, with the potential of exchanging horses and answering oral questions.

Class specifications:
The class is open to winners of any USA Equestrian Medal, ASPCA Maclay, BET/USET Talent Search or W.I.H.S. Equitation Classic from all Winter Circuits, including HITS-Thermal, HITS-AZ, HITS-Ocala, CN-WEF & the Gulf Coast Winter Series, prior to HITS Championship week. It will be judged by two hunter judges and two jumper judges using the open numerical system. Two separate judges will observe the schooling area and make a report to the panel prior to the final judging. This report may include any questionable practices or procedures by the riders from the time the horses enter the holding area and during the class. All horses for the R.W. “Ronnie” Equitation Championship must remain in the schooling area during the entire class under supervision of the judges. Riders will be responsible for the management and schooling of their own horses. Trainers will not be allowed to enter the designated schooling, rider seating or holding areas at any time during the competition. Riders will not be allowed to leave the above mentioned areas at anytime during the competition. No communication between the rider and his/her trainer is permitted, and if it occurs, will result in immediate elimination from the competition. The course walk and schooling will be the sole responsibility of the rider.

Round I. Each rider will compete over a course of fences, which may include gymnastics, trot fences, oxers, verticals, and combinations.

Round II. Each rider chosen by the judges to compete in the second round will ride a course of his/her own choosing. A written course will be submitted to the judges prior to the rider’s turn and will by announced by the rider before executing his/her round. The course must consist of 8-10 jumps, 1 simple change of lead and 1 flying change of lead.

Round III. At judges’ request, if necessary, this round may include USA Equestrian tests 1-19, oral questions and exchange of horses.

Special Awards:
Best Equitation Horse
Best Turned Out Horse
Groom’s Award
Trainer’s Award

Past Winners of the Equitation Classic:
1999 Sarah Willeman
2000 Vanessa Haas
2001 Brian Walker
2002 Kate Landau
2003 Whitney Roper
2004 Brianne Goutal
2005 Sloanes Coles
2006 Maria Schaub
2007 Maria Schaub