PrintWest Coast riders could end their seasons a little differently in 2012. Blenheim EquiSports, host of the Las Vegas National (Nev.), and Langer Equestrian Group, host of the National Preview and Los Angeles National Horse Shows (Calif.), are teaming up to re-invent the shows and welcome a new year-end championship series.
“I have long felt that the West Coast needed a set of special, championship shows like the East Coast has had for decades,” said Robert Ridland, Blenheim EquiSports president.
Kicking off the series will be the National Preview, held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Calif. The Preview will host Pony, Junior, and Senior Medal Finals, as well as a $50,000 CSI-W Grand Prix.
Next up will be the Los Angeles National, also held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. The Los Angeles National will host a number of smaller, national-level grand prix classes. It will be the setting for hunter and equitation championships as well.
The marquee event, the Las Vegas National, held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., will be the only indoor competition of the three. The show will conclude with the $50,000 Las Vegas Grand Prix CSI-W.
For those riders that choose to forgo the Las Vegas National, they have another choice before the end of the year. The Los Angeles Season Finale, held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, will provide riders the option to continue competing outdoors.
“Recognizing that not every horse and rider can go to Las Vegas, we wanted to offer an alternative horse show where people can wrap up their season,” said Larry Langer, president and CEO of Langer Equestrian Group.
The series will kick off in November 2012, and it will run for three weeks.
