Wellington, FL - January 6, 2014 - The inaugural Citrus Series Horse Show Wellington held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Okeeheelee Park continued on Saturday. Hunters and jumpers showed over courses that ranged from 2 foot to 1.30m. Course designer Gerry Briggs and the Citrus Series management created beautiful, well-decorated and inviting courses.
"I gave the Zone 4 Clinic here last year but I hadn't shown here," said top judge and clinician and 1975 AHSA (now USEF) Medal Finals winner Cynthia Hankins. "It is so close. It is unbelievably easy. I love this. I lived in Europe for 10 years. I haven't owned horses in a while and I bought a couple of very green horses. Before spending an outrageous amount of money, I wanted to give them a chance to get into a ring. I am hoping that others will support this because we have to have these other shows. Not every horse is ready to walk in and win and so they need to come and do this."
"This show offers all the flowers and the color," Hankins said. "The ring is beautifully set. They've set it so I can do hunter classes and a couple of jumper classes."
Salim Radi is a native of Columbia going to at Northwood University who competes in the jumpers. He brought his six-year-old jumper, Charon, to the Citrus Series.
"I was really happy with him," said Radi. "It was great to be able two compete over two different courses at one height and then jump similar tracks a little bit bigger. The difference between his first trip and his last was like night and day. I couldn't get this kind of experience in another show setting anywhere. Plus, the facility and the footing are really fantastic. It is easy to ship in and show. I had no idea it was so close."
Citrus Series organizer James Lala was pleased with the outcome of the first show.
Salim Radi and his young jumper Charon / Photo by Carrie Wirth.
"I was cautiously optimistic for the first show of the series," said Lala. "I am trying to incorporate the wish lists I've discussed with professionals of all levels through the years-we are a little a bit revolutionary. I wasn't sure how it would actually go over. I watched horse after horse, rider after rider improve and leave with a positive experience. I am convinced this concept is really worthwhile. I overheard one trainer say that he accomplished about a month's worth of training in an hour."
Citrus Series returns to Jim Brandon Equestrian Center at Okeeheelee Park February 21-22 with jumpers under the lights on Friday night at 6 p.m. and hunter, equitation and jumper classes starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
The unique features of the show are designed to help trainers, developing horses and riders achieve their goals affordably. Professionals and adults may ride ponies. If time permits, competitors can do do-overs to make sure the horse and rider leave the ring with a positive learning experience. A user-friendly class schedule and sale horse identifiers provide an opportunity to market sale horses.
Owners, breeders, riders, trainers and their assistants are encouraged to bring their up-and- coming horses and riders to come experience Citrus Series, at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Okeeheelee Park a close, convenient high quality facility. Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is located just a three miles / five minutes from the intersection of 441 and Forest Hill Boulevard.