Karen Healey Stables of Westlake Village, CA, had its horses and riders in top form as they competed during week four of competition at the HITS Desert Circuit. Winning leading rider titles, division championships, and big money classes, Karen Healey Stables continued to top the competition.
Kristi Siam, of Chatsworth, CA, was very successful in Thermal this week, winning the award for Best Adult Rider and riding her horse Krosus to the Low Amateur-Owner Hunter reserve championship. Siam and Krosus placed second, second, and third in the division’s individual classes. The pair also placed first in the Ariat National Adult Medal, second in the Foxfield Medal, and third in the USEF Adult Medal.
Siam just recently purchased Krosus and brought him over from Germany in mid-November with the help of Karen Healey. “This is really our very first horse show attempt, and his first time adapting to horse shows in this country. He is just a wonderful guy,” Siam said of the five year-old Oldenburg gelding. “He is very relaxed, very even and rhythmic, and he wants to please. He is an absolute pleasure to ride, and I feel very lucky to have him as mine.”
“As an older amateur rider, getting a five year-old is not always an easy task because of what young horses are about, and so far this horse has been an absolute dream for me,” Siam continued. “When he first got here, Karen worked so beautifully with him and with me, to get us accustomed to each other and to get him accustomed to his new job.”
Siam has been riding and showing with Karen Healey for five years and is very grateful to have the help of such an upper echelon team of professionals. That help is what has led her to be so successful competing in Thermal, and she has really enjoyed herself.
“The Thermal show is very well-run, and the footing is great,” Siam commented. “The classes start when they are supposed to, and you can check the night before for the posted order of when you should be going. You can count on that, which I am very appreciative of. The footing has also been very good in both the warm-up areas and the show rings, and the team there is very diligent in trying to keep it maintained and well-groomed.”
Siam was just one of several riders to achieve championship wins for Karen Healey Stables this week. Rider Navona Gallegos also won a reserve championship during the competition. Gallegos rode her horse Cortes 7 to a tie for the reserve champion win in the Equitation 16-17. Gallegos and Cortes 7 won the first place ribbon in the Equitation 16-17 under saddle and also went on to place first in the USEF Talent Search Medal, first in the CPHA Hunter Seat Junior Medal, second in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, and fifth in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Gallegos also rode Cortes 7 to a first place win in the jumper phase of the WIHS Equitation Classic, coming in third place overall. With Acrobat, owned by Bar X Ranch, LLC, Gallegos was also eighth in the Low Junior Jumpers.
Samantha Harrison was reserve champion of the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division riding Laura Wasserman’s horse Overseas. Overseas and Harrison won a first, three seconds, and a fourth place ribbon in the individual classes and were also fourth in the $1,000 Large Junior Hunter Classic.
Harrison had success with Patricia Applegate’s horse Teddy this week as well. Teddy and Harrison competed in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, placing first in the under saddle and sixth, second, fourth and third over fences. The pair was third in the $1,000 Small Junior Hunter Classic. Harrison competed in the equitation classes this week riding Ampy Benach’s horse, Leon. Harrison and Leon placed fifth in the WCE Junior/Amateur Medal, fifth in the Central Equine Medal, and were sixth overall in the WIHS Equitation Classic after a fourth place finish in the hunter phase and a sixth place finish in the jumper phase.
Another reserve championship for Karen Healey Stables came from Kasey Ament, who rode Walk the Line, owned by Alexandra Block, to first and second place wins in the Adequan Hunter division. Ament competed with several horses in the jumper divisions this week. She rode Sjapoo, owned by Julianna Ball, to a second place finish in the Level 4 Jumpers. Ament rode Chris Surbey’s horse Siendefie to a fourth place finish in the Hidden Creek Farm Level 6 Jumpers and a fifth place finish in the $1,000 Level 6 Jumper Classic.
Jocelyn Neff rode several horses to top placings during this week’s competition. Neff rode Lord Loxley, owned by Liza Finsness, to third place in the CPHA Hunter Seat Junior Medal, fourth place in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal, sixth place in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, and sixth place in the Equitation 16-17 under saddle.
Neff also rode in the equitation classes with Karen Healey’s horse, Safira 9. They placed first overall in the WIHS Equitation Classic after placing first in the hunter phase and second in the jumper phase. Neff and Safira 9 were eighth in the USEF Talent Search Medal.
Neff rode two horses in the jumpers this week; Golden Flip finished in fifth place in the High Junior Jumper division and fifth in the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Neff rode Blue Shot Baco, owned by Donna Neff, to a sixth place finish in the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Mackenzie Baker competed in the jumper and equitation division this week. In the jumpers, Baker rode Kona, owned by Thea Disney, to third and seventh place finishes in the Modified Junior Jumper classes and a fourth place finish in the $4,000 Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Baker rode Safira 9 as well, placing third in the Central Equine Junior Medal.
Grace Shelton rode Eventual, owned by Michelle Morris, for week four of Thermal competition. Shelton and Eventual took home the sixth place ribbon in the CPHA Hunter Seat Junior Medal, the seventh place ribbon in the Equitation 14-15 under saddle, and the eighth place ribbon in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Shelton also rode in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division, placing eighth with Eventual, and eighth with her horse Lanos in individual classes.
Topping off Karen Healey Stables’ successful week of competition, Hannah Selleck placed second in the USEF Talent Search Medal riding Bella, owned by Descanso Farm.
Karen Healey Stables will compete again this week as the HITS Desert Circuit continues with week five of competition running February 24 through March 1.
Reprinted with permission from Phelps Media Group.
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