United States Eventing Association

In the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers Horse Trials, four-and five-year-old youngsters demonstrated they not only had talent, but a great deal of patience, in divisions which kicked off mid-day and did not crown the winning horses until early evening as the sun set in Paso Robles, CA.

Judith McSwain’s handsome grey Holsteiner Fleeceworks Cinco by Cascani took home top honors in the four-year-old division with a stellar score of 86.7. The gelding presented by Tamra Smith wowed the judges to earn the Championship Ribbon and a multitude of prizes, including a Wellfleet Bridle from SmartPak Equine, Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set, Charles Owen Helmet Bag, and Back on Track wraps. Despite having never been to a recognized event, Fleeceworks Cinco looked like a professional, and proved he is most certainly one to watch in the coming years.

Close behind Tamra Smith with a final score of 84.5 was Sarah Berry, who showed the four-year-old chestnut Holsteiner gelding Counterpoint (Concerto Grosso x Natalina). Berry purchased “Count” at the beginning of the year as a coming four-year-old from Alabama and hopes to eventually do a CCI* with the West with the Wind Bred Gelding. Counterpoint demonstrated he has ability to possibly even excel past the CCI* level Sarah has set as their goal, as he showed off his impressive gallop and jump to division judges and on lookers.

Maxance McManamy and Astro NSF (Baron Verdi x Astra) defended their 2010 four-year-old West Coast Championships title by scoring an 86.5, this time in the five-year-old division to take home top honors. The Trakehner gelding has shown great promise since Max purchased him last year, from New Spring Farm where he was bred. With his tidy jump and flashy gaits, not to mention an eye-opening gallop, he looks to be one of McManamy’s big time horses in years to come. To add to their prizes from last year, Astro earned himself a silver plated trophy, a custom Stackhouse Saddle, Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set, Charles Owen Helmet Bag, and Back on Track wraps from division sponsors.

Only a point behind Astro, another dark bay five-year-old earned himself the reserve champion ribbon with a score of 86.5. Happenstance owned by Mary McKee and presented by Kelly Prather received the best dressage score of the day in the five-year-old division, coupled with an impressive demonstration of jumping talent to put them just on the heals of the leader. The Holsteiner gelding (Hunter x S’Brina) was bred by Wendy Webster of W2 Holsteiners.

The USEA Young Event Horse Championships would not be possible without its fabulous sponsors: Stackhouse Saddles, Fleeceworks, SmartPak Equine, and SUCCEED.