United States Eventing Association

Get To Know Some of the USEA Area VI Champions!

The USEA Area VI Championships took place at during The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, from Oct. 30-Nov. 3. We caught up with some of the winners!

Preliminary Champions: Soobin Oh & HSH Redfield Hillside Star

The Championships marked a significant milestone in Soobin Oh’s journey with HSH Redfield Hillside Star, her own 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Metropole x Rabon). The pair moved up from sixth after dressage to win the Preliminary championship.

Oh, San Ramon, California, noted big improvements in dressage from their last show at Woodside (Woodside, California), which was a big goal.

“I owe it all to the guidance of my trainers, Helen and James Alliston, who consistently encourage me to improve to be the best competitor and rider I can be,” she said. “Cross-country was the highlight of the weekend! ‘Star’ and I tackled new fences and lines with bravery and confidence, showcasing his incredible willingness to take on any challenge. Over the past year and a half, our partnership has strengthened my confidence in our abilities together as a team. His trust and enthusiasm inspire me every time we’re on course.”

Oh began riding with the Allistons at their Bay Area Riding Academy, then spent several years at a hunter/jumper barn competing in Interscholastic Equestrian Association shows at the regional and zone levels. She brought her jumper mare, Tova, to the Allisstons three years ago and made the switch to eventing.

“Tova taught me the essentials of eventing, from the Intro level up to Modified. I credit my partnership with her for equipping me to be the rider Star needs,” she said. “Star was originally a horse Helen was competing at the Preliminary level, and I was thrilled when she offered me the opportunity to purchase him. His playful personality made him instantly endearing, and I’m immensely grateful to my family and trainers for supporting our partnership. Adjusting to Star’s style of jumping required patience and adaptability, but now, our focus is on refining our dressage together. Star and I are ready to embrace future challenges, and I’m incredibly fortunate to be part of such a positive and supportive community.”

Open Modified Champions: Alexis Helfrich & Casanova

In the Open Modified Championship, Alexis Helfrich rode her own 6-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Casanova (Camargo x Camilla) to the early lead on a score of 21.0. They added no additional penalties to their score to top the field of eight! This was their first season competing at the Modified level together and the USEA Area VI Championships marked their first win at the level as well.

Junior Training Rider Champions: Marilyn Schnackner & Georgie Z

After working their way up from the Beginner Novice level, Marilyn Schnackner and her own 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding Georgie Z (George Z x Peggy) claimed their second win at the Training level in the USEA Area VI Junior Training Rider Championship. They finished on their fault-free dressage score of 30 to claim the top prize.

Modified/Training Champions: Tamra Smith & Kareena K

Five-star rider Tamie Smith is no stranger to the winner’s circle, and she added another win to her belt in the USEA Area VI Modified/Training Championship aboard Julia Guariglia’s 7-year-old Holsteiner mare Kareena K (Cash and Carry x Namur III). They led the division start-to-finish on their dressage score of 23.4.

Senior Training Rider Champions: Sophie Stocks & Rosco

After starting the weekend in third place with a dressage score of 30, Sophie Stocks and her 5-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Rosco (Tyson x Kah Lasina) inched their way up the leaderboard after each phase to take home the win in the division. They only added one rail in show jumping to their score to finish first on a final score of 34.0.

Junior Novice Rider Champions: Katarina Sapia & Magheraboy

Katarina Sapia admitted that her weekend started off with tears of frustration, but ended in tears of joy.

“After dressage, I wasn’t sure and felt I did bad. Then I remembered I do this to enjoy it and have fun, so I told myself to go out and have fun with my horse,” said Sapia.

So she did just that with Kassandra Sapia’s 6-year-old Irish Draught gelding Magheraboy (Kilmovee White Hero x Maghera Beauty) and had what she calls her best cross-country round ever.

“We had so much fun with each other and went double-clear,” said Sapia. “I then had to be clear in show jumping, but I told myself to just go out, have fun, and just ride. We again went double-clear to end up in first place!”

Sapia got into eventing thanks to her mom’s influence and has been eventing competitively for eight years. She has made it a personal goal to make it to the Olympics one day.

Her partnership with “Winter” is two years in the making and she calls him one of her best friends.

“We imported him about two years ago off a video when he was four years old,” said Sapia. “Mom wanted a horse for me that is strong and would last. I am so grateful to have a horse like him. He has such a big heart and personality and loves kisses, attention, and anything he can eat.”

Senior Novice Rider Champions: Dawn Scott & Ghost

When Dawn Scott partnered up with the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Ghost (Shannondale Sarco x Riverion Mist) earlier this season, ‘Rosie’ was just coming off of an extended break.

“She was imported from Shannondale Sport Horses and has competed through Preliminary, but that was a long time ago,” shared Scott. “When she came into my life this year, I decided to take it very slowly as she can get anxious, and I wanted to understand how to manage that and to see if I could encourage her to relax more.”

Slowly but surely, as their partnership matured, Scott felt Rosie really mellow out and begin to enjoy her job as an event horse again. Perhaps Scott could relate to Rosie--- having competed as a child herself then taking a 20-year hiatus before making her way back to the sport after establishing her career in the field of IT.

Scott and Rosie took the early lead in the field on their dressage score of 25.6 and held onto their position throughout the weekend, a feat she was quite proud of!

“My favorite part of the weekend was coming out in first place on both of my horses after dressage,” she said. “I have been working on my flatwork very much, so it was gratifying to feel the improvement!”

She is eternally grateful for all of the trainers who have helped her along the way.

“I really appreciate the support of my trainer Andrea Baxter of Twin Rivers Ranch, along with Bec Braitling, and in dressage, Chemaine Hurtado has been extremely helpful. I am very lucky to work with these outstanding professionals and call them friends.”

Like many of her fellow Area VI Championship competitors, Scott was also very complimentary of the experience that the Area VI community creates.

“I also want to give a shout-out to Area VI for organizing this outstanding Championship show. It is a great experience! And to the Area VI Adult Riders for an amazing course walk.”

Training/Novice Champions: Mia Brown & Casa de Prestige

Mia Brown’s partnership with her 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Casa de Prestige (Christ x Pasadena) only just began this May.

“This is still a fairly new partnership for both of us,” said Brown. “She came from the jumpers and competed up through the 1.20m in Germany before being imported. She came to Chocolate Horse as a sales horse at the end of March where she was introduced to eventing. Tommy Greengard took her around her first three Novices and it was clear that eventing was her calling. My trainers Andrea Pfeiffer and Tommy Greengard suggested I sit on her and we clicked right at the start.”

Brown has previously competed up to the CCI2* level, but ‘Lolli’ is the first green horse that she has had a hand in producing. She says it has been a rewarding process so far and this finish at Galway was icing on the cake of a great year together.

“I could not be happier with how our weekend went. Our goal was to get Lolli exposure in a bigger venue and continue having confident and fun outings. She’s a natural competitor and rose to the occasion in the exciting atmosphere and big rings this weekend. I am continually impressed by how this mare shows up and shows out at shows and I think the pieces are really coming together as we move up.”

Her favorite part of the weekend was cross-country, because of Lolli’s confidence around the entire course, but she also thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by her Area VI friends and family.

“The Area VI eventing community is a tight-knit and supportive one,” noted Brown. It means a lot to me to have familiar faces at every show and a community I can always call on for support when I need to. This was especially evident during our area championships and I always look forward to competing and celebrating at the end of the season. I’m proud to be able to represent Area VI and West Coast eventing.”

Novice/Beginner Novice Champions: Lisa Peecook & SZ Raudo

“The stars aligned,” said Lisa Peecook regarding her weekend with her 5-year-old Argentine Sport Horse gelding SZ Raudo (Coronet D Champs x Guaru Casstora).

Coming into the Area VI Championships, Peecook had zero expectations set in place since her relationship with “Rupert” is still fairly new.

“Prior to Galway Downs, we only had two outings under our belt,” she reflected. “Andrea Pfeiffer, my long-time good friend and coach helped source this economy-sized imported Argentinean Sport Horse. Rupert had an introduction to eventing in Argentina, but I really knew nothing about him when I bought him sight unseen. Just having a horse to enter and joining my fellow Chocolate Horse Farm teammates at Galway was a pleasure, but getting to run the cross-country on a horse with such a brilliant work ethic and natural boldness was a reminder of why I love eventing.”

What she loves most about Rupert is how much he reminds her of horses she has loved so dearly from her past.

"Rupert reminds me of several of my favorite horses rolled into one,” said Peecook. “My old FEI partner, Beetle Bailey, is clearly in Rupert's ear, egging him on in cross-country and inviting me along for the ride. I began eventing at age 10 in England when my family was stationed overseas. It wasn't until I moved to Wild Horse Valley Ranch in Napa in my early twenties that Beth Perkins revived my desire to compete. To fund my training and competition expenses as a single mother, I worked two barn management jobs and developed OTTBs for resale for many years.”

One of those former racehorses was Blackfoot Mystery, Boyd Martin’s famous Olympic partner.

“I bought Blackfoot Mystery just off the track at age 3 from Leigh Gray and rode him through Intermediate,” reflected Peecook. “Then Andrea Pfeiffer and her then-protege Kelly Prather took “BM” all the way and Boyd Martin recognized his potential and took on the ride and made him famous.”

While bringing home the win in the Novice/Beginner Novice Championship was a major highlight, Peecook noted that it wouldn’t be possible without all of the wonderful people in her life.

“While my ambition is still intact, it takes a village to get to every show. I thank my incredibly supportive and long-suffering husband, Michael Collins, and my Chocolate Horse Farm friends, William Robertson, Andrea Pfeiffer, and Tommy Greengard for their love, laughter, encouragement, and support.”

Senior Beginner Novice Champions: Nazila Hejazi & Tessa

Nazila Hejazi and her 20-year-old mare Tessa (Goldfinger LJ x Machine’s Sensational Kate) have had a longstanding partnership since 2019. The pair were victorious in the Senior Beginner Novice Championship, adding just four jumping faults to their dressage score of 28.4 to conclude their weekend in first with a total score of 32.4.

Starter Champions: Elisa Karnavy & Foxens Little Treat | Junior Beginner Novice Champions: Elisa Karnavy & Buzz Ryder

Elisa Karnavy had a pretty impressive weekend, racking up not one, but two Championship titles at the Beginner Novice and Stater levels.

“I was really happy to have everything come together this weekend and the ponies feeling their best,” said Karnavy who competed the 11-year-old mustang gelding Buzz Ryder in the Junior Beginner Novice Championship and Isabella Martin’s 18-year-old Welsh gelding Foxens Little Treat (Penrhyn Sporting Chance x Rosecroft Smart Cookie) in the Starter Championship.

“’Buzz’ had a better-than-expected dressage test, no issues with any of the jumps in cross-country, and a fun and just good enough jump round. I was a little bit disappointed with the dressage test on ‘Cookie,’ I know that we can do better, but I couldn't be prouder of how brave he was on cross-country, although perhaps a bit faster than I would have liked.”

While Karnavy has been riding since she was five thanks to the support of her grandparents, her introduction to eventing was a bit of a “happy accident.”

“The pandemic forced us to change barns, and I was lucky to end up with the opportunity to lease Cookie through Isabelle Martin and train with Sigourney Jellins,” said Karnavy. “She said I should try eventing, and I have loved every minute since, even the dressage, although not at first.”

She later partnered up with Buzz this February.

“He was foaled at a rescue that saved his mom, who was a mustang. No one knows who his dad was, so I consider him a mustang mutt,” she shared. “We got him from Cassandra of Fresh Start Sport Horses this February, and then he wasn't able to compete until August due to a shoulder injury from a pasture kick. So, this is such an incredible result for him! I feel like this partnership is just beginning, as we learn to trust each other more and more.”

She is grateful for her trainers, Sigourney and Amelia of Miramar Sport Horses, for their support, to the Martin family for trusting her with Cookie, and to the entire Miramar team.

“They are the best!”