USEF EAST FINALS 2007

Hi everyone!
Just got back from the USEF EAST finals and I wanted to share some thoughts about the competition. The gymnastics course on Saturday was designed in classic Bert de Nemethy style with poles set a strides' distance before and after the jumps and with several transitions from the cantor to the trot between the lines.
After the first two rounds - the flat phase and the gymnastics phase - several Beacon Hill riders were sitting in the top ten contention - Nikko Ritter was in third place, I was in fifth place, Christina Lin was in ninth place and Jessica Springsteen was in tenth place.

On Sunday morning the show jumping phase tested your riding skills on a jumper type course which included an open water jump, a triple combination and a double liverpool. Nikko and Jessie made it into the top four with flowing and beautiful rounds and were ultimately pinned in first and third respectively after the final four competition. Christina Lin, who was riding her five year old horse finished in eleventh place. Although the horse I was riding named, Perfekt, tried to dodge away from a few fences, I held him in the lines and we finished in thirteenth place. (Read more in Nancy Jaffer's postcard on EquiSearch.com.)

Along with two other riders, I was fortunate to be awarded the gold medal which is given after twenty class wins. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who made this award possible especially my parents and my trainers.
Finally, a special thank you to Jim and Ellen Toon for the ride on I Toon. I started the 2007 season shy three wins for the gold medal and with the mare's help was able to realize another goal in my last year as a junior.

This week, the Beacon Hill group will travel to the Washington International Horse show for the competition.
Catch up with me after the show for an update.
Talk to you later.
Maria Schaub