Julia Rossow and Sophia Hankey Ride to Major Under Saddle Wins

Forty-seven of the nicest moving horses and ponies at the Desert International Horse Park took on February 7’s featured under saddle classes, with the entry fields ultimately whittled down to two new under saddle champions.

In the $20,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery Under Saddle Championship the winning honor went to Julia Rossow and South Coast. In the $5,000 BRAINJUICE For Kids Pony Under Saddle Championship the top title was awarded to Sophia Hankey and Wellspring’s Roxstar.

The $20,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery Under Saddle Championship took place under the lights on Friday evening, with the starting field of 30 horses narrowed down to the top 12 for an exciting hack off. The 12 horses and riders showed off their gaits in the Grand Prix Arena as, one by one, they were called into the middle of the arena in what would become the reverse order of their placings. By the end of the class, only Rossow and South Coast remained on the rail, showcasing the gelding’s stunning, floating trot.

Finishing in second place behind South Coast were Winn Alden and Twain, owned by Becky Equestrian LLC, and third place went to Karli Postel and Oackley Du Lys, owned by Barbara Brown.

“[South Coast] is actually a brand-new ride opportunity for me!” said Rossow of the 6-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by West Coast Equine Partners LLC. “Shari Rose, his trainer, and Nick Haness, his usual rider, asked me yesterday if I would want to do him in the class, and I said, ‘I would love to!’”

Rossow continued, “I practiced on him yesterday in the 3’3” Performance Under Saddle, and he was amazing. He’s wonderful. I mean, he’s just so levelheaded and very confident, but in a calm, wise way. He knows he’s good, and he’s confident in that and can just go do his job.”

While Rossow may have only gotten the ride on South Coast a day prior to the class, she put in the work in that short time to make sure that she gave “Coaster” the best shot at success.

“The horse park has been great, and they’ve left the ring open for hacking early every morning. If you want to get up really early when it’s still dark, the lights are on,” said Rossow, who chose to take advantage of the opportunity and get up very early. “I took him out in the morning on a hand walk under the lights. I thought that would be a fair chance for him to just see a similar environment. He just walked around with his head on my shoulder. He didn’t seem to notice it was anything abnormal, so he did the same thing tonight. He just walked out here like that’s what he was supposed to do.”

Of the $20,000 Under Saddle Championship, held annually at the Desert International Horse Park, Rossow concluded, “There are so many things that are special about this class. It’s available to professionals, amateurs and juniors and horses that may not always get to compete against one another or with one another. Some of those horses only compete with the professional or only with the junior, and they wouldn’t go against the other horses…Because it’s only on the flat, you can really go give it your all for the entire time and push yourself a little bit. It’s been fun!”

In the $5,000 BRAINJUICE For Kids Pony Under Saddle Championship, the class followed the same format, with ponies called into the center and relegated to second through 12th place until only Hankey remained.

Second place went to Victoria Fuglesang and So Dashing, and India Kulkin and D’Artagnan took home third.

“He’s so perfect,” said 14-year-old Hankey of Wellspring’s Roxstar. “We worked a lot on the trot because that’s his best.”

Hankey, who trains with Bridgeport Farms, has been partnered with the 17-year-old Welsh Pony Cross, owned by First Blue LLC, since last spring, and she looks forwarding to continuing to compete the gelding at Desert Circuit this year.

“I love showing here because I get to see friends from everywhere, and it’s just such a big, fun horse show,” concluded Hankey.

To learn more about all competition at the Desert International Horse Park, visit www.deserthorsepark.com.