Thermal, Calif. – Jan. 21, 2022 – Equitation athletes took to the Grand Eq Ring on Friday morning for the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*. After a round of jumping and intense testing on the flat, Avery Rose Glynn emerged as the winner in the first major equitation class of the 2022 Desert Circuit. Second place was awarded to Naomi Wegner while Gabrielle Sokolow claimed third place honors.
Avery Glynn and Donatello. Photo by ESI Photography
Each of the entries in the prestigious class completed a technical course of 11 jumping obstacles set at the 1.15m height, featuring two double combinations, a jump set on the bank at the south end of the arena, plus the option to jump an open-water jump or an oxer for the final obstacle on the course. Glynn, from Petaluma, CA, piloted Donatello around the course with precision and grace, meeting each jump naturally and carrying a forward yet balanced and consistent stride throughout the demanding course.
Naomi Wegner and First Choice. Photo by ESI Photography
After all athletes had jumped the course, they were invited to compete in the flat portion of the class to test their abilities and further impress the judges in order to take the top prize. The riders were asked to demonstrate their skills on the flat including the extended trot, sitting trot, extended canter, and counter canter in both directions. At the conclusion of the flat phase, Glynn was awarded the overall top score of the class, giving her valuable points toward qualifying for Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals in the fall of 2022.
The daughter of top trainer Hope Glynn, Avery Glynn is making a name for herself on both coasts as a top equitation and hunter rider. She rides with various trainers across the country and extensively plans her show schedule so she can get the most experience and exposure throughout her junior years. She spent the first two weeks of the winter show season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, where she claimed top honors in the WIHS Hunter Phase against some of the top equitation talents in the nation. Balancing showing, training, being a working student, and a rigorous academic course load, Glynn stays focused every day of the week in order to get the most out of her time and work towards her goals as a rider and a student of the sport.
Gabrielle Sokolow and Go For It B. Photo by ESI Photography
Equitation athletes will have more opportunities to shine during Desert Circuit I in Saturday’s ASPCA Maclay Medal, Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, and CPHA Hunter Seat Medal, plus additional equitation classes at the 3’3” height including Friday’s USHJA Jumping Seat Medal 3’3” and Sunday’s NHS Hamel Foundation Medal 3’3”, both of which have prestigious finals in the fall. Show jumping action continues Saturday with the $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Avery Glynn – Winner, Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
About Donatello
“I rode this horse for the first time two days ago. This is my first equitation class I’ve ever done with him and I believe this is his first equitation class as well. My friends Nicole and Ryan Haunert are the trainers of this horse and they asked me to show him this weekend. He was just lovely in this round. I got to jump the open water in this round, and it’s so nice to ride a horse who doesn’t have a second thought about that. He’s just a lovely horse to ride and, for being green in the equitation, I think this is where he wants to be. His flatwork was lovely as well.”
On her plan for the course:
“I liked this course because it had a lot of flow. I like this ring – we get to use the bank – so I really wanted to get up to pace and stay on that nice, open gallop. That’s why, with my horse, I decided to leave out a stride in the last line and the first line. Especially to the open water, I felt like I liked the flow it had throughout. My plan for going up the bank was to keep a nice, collected canter and keep him balanced when I come down the bank. That’s a place where it asks your stride to get a little too big and it’s hard to regroup after that.”
On balancing showing across the East and West Coasts:
“At the beginning of the year, during December and early January, I try to come up with a show schedule for the upcoming months and I’m lucky enough to have a lot of different trainers I get to ride with on both coasts. I reached out to them to see what shows they were going to. I also like to get ahead on schoolwork as much as possible; on Mondays and Tuesdays I try to catch up on that so I’m ahead by the time I go to the east coast and show. My goal is to try to be as organized as possible between school, trainers, horses, flying, organization is key.”
On her equitation goals for Circuit:
“For this circuit, I plan to do the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship during Week VIII, so I’d like to have a positive ride in that and hopefully get a ribbon this year. I’ve done it a couple years prior, but I’ve been a little unlucky in my riding in those rounds. So I’d really like to have a positive and fun time this year.”
DIHP:
“I’m so impressed by the changes they’ve made here. In the past, this was not my favorite show, but now I really look forward to coming here. It’s a show I really prioritize and I love bringing my horses here because there’s great footing. I love the grass arena they put in; it’s going to be really exciting if I get to show on it. I think they’ve done such an amazing job making this place into what it is now.”
RESULTS
Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
- Donatello / Avery Rose Glynn / Elle Rose
- First Choice / Naomi Wegner / Naomi Wegner
- Go For It B / Gabrielle Sokolow / Sophie Root-Stevens
- H De Revel / Gable Gering / Gable Gering
- Clearing / Lauren Kolbe / Haylee Hall
- Denver / Katie Smith / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman
- One Cool Dude / Sierra Geisler / Sierra Geisler
- Bruce Wayne / Makenzie Damus / Makenzie Damus