Thermal, Calif. – Twenty-nine of the best-moving horses at Desert International Horse Park took to the Grand Prix Stadium on Friday night, February 6, for the $25,000 Frank & Eileen DIHP Under Saddle Championship. As the class progressed, judges narrowed the field until only one horse remained: the defending champion South Coast.
For the second year in a row, Julia Rossow rode South Coast, owned by West Coast Equine Partners LLC, to the win in the competitive class, held as part of Desert Circuit 5’s World Championship Hunter Rider week. Finishing in second place were Paige Walkenbach and Walkenbach Equestrian LLC’s San Pedro 15, and Hailey Eynon and Castelino 5, owned by MZ Farms LLC, took home third.
“[South Coast] has this effortlessly cool calmness about him,” said Rossow. “He knows he’s amazing, but he’s not really cocky about it. He just kind of goes and does his thing, and he likes it. I think he really enjoys it being out there with his friends. He’s just so special.”
Throughout the past year since his last DIHP Under Saddle Championship win, South Coast has competed successfully across the U.S. with Nick Haness, Kate Conover and Lise Quintero in the irons. However, when it came time for this year’s championship class, it was Rossow’s turn to reunite with the now 7-year-old Warmblood gelding.
“Since the class last year, I just did the 3’6” Green Under Saddle this week [and last week] on him,” explained Rossow. “So that was our reunion and our practice. Then, we practiced this afternoon and went for a little hack and just kind of made sure we knew all the gears. He’s had amazing guidance by Nick Haness and Kate Conover and Lise Quintero, and I get to join up with him and let him shine at what he does in this class!”
Rossow continued, “It’s a fun reunion, and it’s cool to see the progression. He’s grown up in his body physically, and he’s stronger. He’s learned so much. He feels like a grownup compared to last year when he was like a new baby. So, it’s fun to really feel all of that work everyone put in, and they’ve done such an amazing job.”
For full results of Friday’s $25,000 Frank & Eileen DIHP Under Saddle Championship, click here.
The week’s WCHR competition at Desert International Horse Park continues through Sunday, with additional highlights including Saturday night’s $20,000 Frank & Eileen Winners Circle Hunter Stake.
“Getting to put [the hunters] under the lights and really feature them is so important,” concluded Rossow. “I love that the horse park and the management and WCHR have brought that in and valued that and made it so special.”
Learn more at DesertHorsePark.com.