Saturday afternoon began with the GGT-Footing Grand Prix Pre Party Sponsored by Windsong Farm benefiting Horse Nation Foundation. We moved into the arena to celebrate 11 lead line riders participating in the event, arguably the most difficult class of the week to judge. Guest judge and course designer Paul Jewell was stumped and awarded blues and special prizes to the adorable kids and their horses!
Style of Riding Awards are always a pleasure for the judges to award to the riders who showed the best style and way of going consistently throughout the week. This week, Hailey Link was awarded the Junior Rider Style of Riding Award and Haley Webster earned the Amateur Rider Style of Riding Award! Congratulations on your fantastic week of competition!
We were honored to have Cynthia Brewster-Keating, the GGT- Footing Sales Team National Account Manager, make the trip from South Carolina to attend the Huntington Beach Surf Classic for the GGT-Footing Grand Prix!
"What I love about the Huntington Beach Horse Show Series is that after the show you have the opportunity to go down to the ocean and enjoy the many restaurants and adorable shops that are by the beach. I saw many riders in their britches and boots after the show downtown enjoying the great atmosphere," explained Brewster-Keating. "Due to its coastal location, the weather is typically cooler and the horses and exhibitors seems to really enjoy the break from the normal summer hot weather. GGT-Footing was proud to sponsor tonight's Grand Prix and we have are excited to continue working with Dale Harvey and his West Palms Events' team. We hope all exhibitors a wonderful time and hope that the spectators enjoyed tonight's performance." Kristin Hardin and Bert lead the way in the six horse jump off, leaving the arena with a clean round and a scorching time of 40.056! The next three riders each had faults, leaving Hardin and Bert in the lead with only two to go. Laura Ware and Ursina du Perchet marched into the arena and put up a clean round in a pace just off the lead, in 41.214 to move into second. Last to go was Hardin on her second mount, Firestone S. They had a bobble at fence eight and had a rail, but were the fastest of the four faulters to take third place! Hardin took first on Bert, with Ware just behind them in second place and Hardin wrapped up the top three on Firestone S! Congratulations!