Galway Downs Equestrian Center

IEHJA’s Fall Festival Year End Show, Nov. 8-10, 2024.

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Are you ready to compete against riders from throughout Southern California? Are you ready to ride your jumpers, hunters and equitation horses on a dazzling fall themed course with flowers, leaves, pumpkins, corn stalks and a scarecrow or three to distract the horses’ eye? Are you ready for challenging courses that ask for riding solutions? Are you ready for fun, camaraderie and some amazing prizes? You should be ready; you’ve competed all season getting ready to compete in these year-end competitions, to receive the accolades and awards you so deserve!

The IEHJA Fall Festival is open to all riders, no prequalifying required. You do not have to be an iehja member to compete, though, to receive the full benefits from this double pointed show for IEHJA members joining our association maybe something to consider. The show offers iehja medal classes in addition to the iehja medals finals. The medal Finals are the only classes that have a prequalification. Also included are a full complement of classes in the jumper, hunter and equitation divisions. Earn enough double points and you are maybe eligible for further prizes and awards at our annual banquet to be held in February 2025 at Santa Anita Park. Good food, more amazing prizes and awards recognizing our division champions and medal winners, all while taking in the beauty of San Gaberiel Mountains as you sit near the finish line and watch the Thoroughbreds thunder by.

Speaking of Thoroughbreds, The IEHJA Fall Festival is TIP rated and TIP points and prizes will be awarded. In addition, IEHJA is sponsoring a hi-point Thoroughbred award based solely on the points earned at the Fall Festival. To compete, horses must register for the hi-point Thoroughbred in the show office prior to competition. Proof of thoroughbred registration must be provided. The hi-point Thoroughbred will be awarded an embroidered cooler and the rider a jacket. The competition should be fierce. Are you ready for it?

Other special classes include the Fall Festival Hunter Derby which will take center stage Saturday Morning. Hunter Derby warmups will be allowed and assigned a class number. General, ticked warmups will be available on Thursday  for a show ground tune up. A green rider hunter classic and a combined stirrup Classic will be held with cash awards; two mini prix will be offered at the 1.0 m height and a jr./am  at .80 will also receive cash awards. Two Fun classes will be offered including the hunter pairs and the ever-popular stick horse shenanigans.

Are you ready to sign up? It’s easy! Contact www.horseshowtime.com and look for the iehja fall festival under the month of November. Choose your classes online and register you and your horse. For stall reservations and shavings or just general questions contact Gretchen Clark at (909) 798-9479 or (909) 809-0131. To join IEHJA contact Jessica Abbott Clark at abbottjessica88@yahoo.com.

If your ready, we’ll see you at the show!

Sponsor Spotlight – RevitaVet’s Get Ready Blanket

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Every rider, regardless of the discipline, is looking for an edge. 

RevitaVet’s therapeutic systems have provided that edge for many years and the company is taking that to the next level with its Get Ready Blanket. Poised to be introduced later this year, the Get Ready Blanket offers the significant performance advantage of reducing or removing common soreness. 

It’s a “game changer,” says Revitavet’s Tom Neuman.  “No other blanket can do what this can do.”

The new blanket’s primary function is to warm up a horse before competition. “During testing on horses with sore hamstrings, muscles, back, etc., it took the soreness and tenderness out within 15 minutes,” he shares. “This will make the horse perform better because there is no soreness.” 

The blanket also is very useful for post performance.  It’s a great tool for eventing horses, especially after dressage and XC.

Equine therapists are also using the blanket for general therapy.  

How it Works

Along the spine, the blanket has two columns of infrared LEDs that penetrate deeper because this is a common area of soreness in sport horses. 

The blanket works off a rechargeable battery pack or electricity and weighs about 12 pounds. Even though it has 1600-plus red diodes, it produces no heat.  The Get Ready Blanket uses state-of-the-art surface mounted LEDs that are flush with the surface of the blanket.

Easy to use and lightweight, the Get Ready Blanket has an industry-leading two year warranty. It is the ultimate competition blanket.

For more information, visit www.revitavet.com or call 602 971 4353.

Volunteer Spotlight – Hollee Romero

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Our biggest event of the year, the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, brings out the best in every category. That includes our volunteers and Hollee Romero is one of them.

When she retired from her career in education and from her competitive riding days, Hollee brought the best of both worlds as a dedicated volunteer.

Formerly the head of the dance program, a PE teacher and coach at Murrieta Valley High School, Hollee is hardwired for learning. So, she was among the first to bravely embrace e-scribing when it was tested out last fall.

Dressage scribing – even the old-fashioned way, by hand – is usually the hardest position to fill. Doing it all on a laptop added a layer of intimidation for some. But not Hollee.

“I had to learn to use a lot of technology as a teacher, but I’ve been retired for some time now,” Hollee explains.  “I’m not a tech wizard and you don’t have to be one to figure it out. Anyone can do it. When it was introduced at the Eventing Championships last year, they were great about bringing out people from the East Coast to oversee the process and we all figured it out together.”

Hollee tried e-scribing again for two full days at the Pacific Coast Dressage competition in the spring and feels comfortable and confident with it now. “If you know how to use a keyboard, rather than the hunt-and-peck method, you’ll be just fine.”

E-scribing easier in many ways, she observes. Especially at the upper levels where the test movements flow fast and it’s hard to keep up with the judge’s comments and scores for each. Hollee types faster than she hand-writes, so the laptop entry method is an advantage.

It also eliminates having to turn the test page over and simplifies the process of identifying which rider coming into the dressage court.

Education and More

Learning new things and being part of the sport are what’s made Hollee a dedicated volunteer. She volunteers through the entire competition whenever possible and loves the opportunity to support the sport.

“The common denominators of love and enjoyment of the sport are what I like best about volunteering,” she reflects. “Also the ability to watch the whole spectrum of horses and riders. From the 10-year-old who is riding a pony at the entry level to the Olympians and other top notch international riders, and everything in between. I see the girls in pigtails and the women my age who make me think, ‘I could still be doing this!’

“You can cheer for them all.”

Hollee owns two horses and pursues dressage with her much-appreciated coach, Kim Schied of Spring Creek Ranch in Hemet. Scribing for dressage judges adds to her knowledge base in tangibly applicable ways.

“I feel really fortunate because Robert Kellerhouse and his team employ some really outstanding judges. I’ve had the opportunity to scribe for some tremendously knowledgeable people.” Even though scribing requires looking down to input comments and scores during most of the test, there’s takeaways aplenty.

“It’s shown me how crucial the transitions between movements are,” Hollee explains. “At the upper levels, there is a specific box on the score sheet for transitions, and they are incredibly important at the lower levels too because that’s what sets you up for the next movement.”

The importance of the walk is another scribing eye-opener. “We all know what a good trot and canter should feel like, but I think the working walk is less understood. It’s a very different pace and tempo.”

If Hollee decided to return to competitive dressage, she would know from scribing not to salute with the hand holding the whip. “That’s just etiquette, and the judge will make note of it.”

Just Come Out and Do It!

Hollee started riding lessons as a girl growing up in Orange County. “I stayed in Girls Scouts for as long as I could because our troop leader had a stable on the Santa Ana riverbed and I went out every Monday afternoon for lessons. We would not have been able to afford for me to ride otherwise.”

She’s grateful to have found Kim Schied in 1981 and has been riding with her ever since. “I think she is one of the reasons that eventing has taken off in our area,” Hollee notes. “She was doing it when no one else was. She was hosting events and training so many people.”

Hollee’s first horse came her way when its previous owner stopped paying the board bill. “He was a nice old horse and I just went on from there.” She moved into eventing competition under Kim’s watch and thoroughly enjoyed those years. “When I stopped bouncing so well, in my early 40s, I retired from jumping and competing.”

Riding and volunteering continue to be perfect horse fixes. Hollee is especially excited about the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs, Oct. 30-Nov. 3. “There will be such a huge amount of people there and running the gamut of exhibitors.”

Exhibitor Spotlight – Bailie Corless of Shingle Mills Eventing

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Northern Idaho is not a hub of eventing.

Yet…

“We’re more of a rodeo town,” laughs Bailie Corless, head trainer at the family-owned Shingle Mills Eventing in Sand Point, Idaho.

Sand Point is about an hour from Coeur d’Alene, ID and Spokane, WA, in a beautifully forested area around Lake Pend Oreille. Bailie grew up with horses, enjoying recreational and western activities. She discovered english riding in a 4H camp, continued with lessons and “it snowballed from there.”

Which is an understatement given that the sport is now a Corless  family affair.

Bailie brings two horses to the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs and her mother Jodie will compete one. Dad Brian brings his construction experience to help build for CCI1* and Horse Trials cross-country course designer Allesandra Allen-Shinn.

Inspiring Eventers

“We are the only eventing barn in our area,” Bailie explains. The Shingle Mills crew regular hauls 90 minutes to the Spokane Sport Horse Farm for cross-country schooling and recognized competitions. The Farm is a hub for a larger eventing community in the region.

From spring through fall, Bailie and her students train and condition on Shingle Mills’ outdoor arena and 15-acre field. There’s plenty of room for galloping work and legging up for competition. Logs on the ground to Novice level obstacles and a few Training level sized challenges enable preparation and progress.

Snows bring riding to the indoor arena through much of the winter. “You just bear down and get in whatever rides we can,” Bailie explains.

Twice yearly schooling shows have helped nurture interest and participation in eventing throughout the area. The general population throughout Northern Idaho is growing dramatically, and Bailie sees interest in eventing expanding with it. She loves introducing young riders to jumping and cross-country and seeing them get hooked just like she did.

“We are trying to make eventing better known,” Bailie says. “It’s fun to watch kids who have never ridden english, watch one of our shows, see how fun it is and decide it’s something they really want to do. It’s super rewarding to see them find their passion for eventing and the good horsemanship it involves.”

Introductions to the sport at Shingle Mills are often followed by a 3-hour trek to Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT.  During The Event at Rebecca Farm in July, students and their families see eventing on a bigger stage and highest levels and come home further fired up about their own goals.

Going To Galway – Again.

Bailie and Casualleigh will debut together at CCI2*-L, the high point in a two-year partnership. “Casper” was sourced by Bailie’s coach, Jil Walton, the 1992 Olympian who splits her time between Rebecca Farm in Montana and Galway Downs in the winter.

The familiar “leigh” part of Casper’s show name identifies him as one of many strong eventers to come through the Jil Walton pipeline by way of Leigh Gray’s rehoming and rescue efforts. Mom Jodie Corless’s Training Rider division partner, Exactleigh, is another.

Leigh Gray is winding down her efforts, per this US Eventing Assn article, but the horses carrying her will long demonstrate how well horses meant for the track do in the eventing realm.

Casper is a 14-year-old Oldenburg. He is a “very strong powerhouse who loves his job,” Bailie says of her 17-hand partner. She bought him sight-unseen off Jil’s recommendation when looking for a Preliminary horse. Bailie figured out on their first ride that, “he wants you to let him go and stay out of his way.” Their start together was slowed by a knee injury for Bailie, but they’ve now found a balance between “OK, buddy, I can let you go on this one and now you have to listen to me and pay attention.”

Bailie is excited to return to Galway Downs. Thanks to the Jil Walton connection, Bailie and Jodie are already familiar faces. They spent a few winter weeks based with Jil in 2020 and 2021, concluding with Bailie competing Beginner Novice, then Novice, during the Spring International.

A CCI2*-L Debut

Last winter, Bailie spent four-and-a-half months at Galway, with Casper and two other horses. They added Ram Tap and Twin Rivers and a Tucson, AZ, event to their trip. “Spending that time riding for and with Jill was super fun and by the time we were done, Casper and I really got going in our relationship.”

Targeting Galway for their CCI2*-L debut was a natural next step. “I’m very happy with how he’s doing and excited to see how he does.”

Bailie will also compete the 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Just Mister, in the Training/Novice Championship. Also sourced by Jil, Mister is intended to be Jodie Corless’ mount, but mom may have to wait to get him back. “When I was working with Jil last year, we agreed he has potential to go far and do big things, so he’s turned into my ride for now.”

The warm reception the Corlesses have received visiting Galway Downs epitomizes eventing’s friendly, welcoming and supportive character. On each visit, Bailie is wowed by improvements to the venue. In 2020, it was the VIP Pavilion, which was erected during their six-week stay. “Every time we’re there, there’s a new arena, or new landscaping,” she notes. “It’s really amazing to watch how it’s all come together into such a huge, beautiful place.” The prospect of hosting the 2028 Olympic equestrian competition amplifies her excitement to see what’s new at the venue.

Meet Our Community – Juanita Koth

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Juanita Koth is a flag bearer for the important place horses hold in the Temecula Valley – literally and figuratively.

As a founder of the Temecula Eq-Wine Riders club, Juanita and her team often carry flags in parades, for color guard ceremonies and exhibitions. As an individual, Juanita carries a figurative flag for all who love horses and want to see them included in the region’s future.

Juanita advocates for the equestrian and rural lifestyle throughout the Valley, for places where “regular” people can keep and enjoy horses. And for the general public to have access to the joys and benefits that access to horses offer.

It’s both a lot and the least she could do given that it was horses who led Juanita to Temecula in the first place.  She grew up in San Diego County’s Escondido. “My grandparents had a 20-acre ranch that now has 80 tract homes on it.”

“I know what it was like to get on your horse and ride into the mountains, out on the trails and then back home. Now going back to that area in San Diego, people would never dream that you could ride a horse through those foothills.”

She visited family friends in Temecula throughout her youth. In college, Juanita helped cover expenses by training young Quarter Horses from Wildomar horseman Clyde Morris and developing them for sale.

An Equestrian Community

It was during that time that Juanita began to dream of living in Temecula, thanks in large part to the Los Ranchitos housing development.

“It is one of the oldest equestrian communities in Temecula, and one of the first that I knew of where you could have an affordable place to live on five acres, keep horses and have equestrians as neighbors. I knew I wanted to live there some day.”

Career and marriage took her to Texas for a while, but when her husband was transferred to Southern California, Temecula beckoned.

The appeal of Temecula’s rural, horsey lifestyle is such that Juanita didn’t mind the commute to her job as a critical care nurse at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego for the past 20 years. 

She joined the Rancho California Horsemen’s Association and expanded her network of trail riding friends and horse enthusiasts. For Juanita and her favorite cowgirls, galloping through winery vineyards epitomized the Temecula equestrian lifestyle. This “perfect blend” of horses and wine spurred the idea for the Temecula Eq-Wine Riders club.

As people and businesses moved to Temecula, Juanita foresaw the need to cultivate win-win relationships between the equestrian community and those propelling Temecula’s population growth and commercial development.

Looking for Win-Wins

“We wanted to form a club that would help support the business of the wineries,” Juanita explains of her proactive approach. “A lot of people would come ride in the vineyards, but then not support the business. Our idea was to come ride here, then water, feed and hitch our horses and go in and have lunch.”

Today, 17 of Temecula’s many wineries have hitching posts so visiting riders can do exactly that. They were installed by the Rancho California Horsemen’s Association that has long advocated for the equestrian lifestyle in Temecula and beyond.

That cooperative concept was applied more broadly as Eq-Wine Riders cultivated sponsors, staged trail rides at special venues including Galway Downs and the California Ranch Company, and brought their horses, drills and color guards to many charitable events.

Those opportunities and requests for public performances led to the formation of a sister organization, the Temecula Cowgirls Parade and Drill Team – again helping horses have a place in the public spotlight.

Among many appearances, the Cowgirls have ridden in the Rose Parade, performed at Galway Downs and led Temecula’s big 4th of July parade.  The team has a resume of many first-place parade awards, but the “thrill of drill” is what they love riding the most.

Temecula Eq-Wine Riders Club continues to serve its core function of organizing safe, fun trail rides throughout Temecula and beyond. Training clinics, fundraisers and camp-outs are membership offerings. All Club members are automatically made members of the California State Horsemen’s Association.

TEWR prides itself on fostering “saddle pals to last a lifetime” and promoting responsible, respectful horsemanship on the trail and in the city.

A Big Umbrella

While equestrian competitive sports can seem siloed in their specific disciplines and/or breeds, Juanita stresses that all horse owners and fans “should be able to stand under the same umbrella.”

“A horse is a horse,” she asserts. “Whether it’s a Three-Day Event horse, a Western Ranch horse or a Mini, the passion for the horse and the relationship with the horse transcends the different disciplines. Everybody who ever loved a horse, rode a horse or even fantasied about a horse should be under that umbrella.”

Everybody’s help is needed to maintain a place for horses – even in such a horse-friendly area as Temecula.

“We’ve had to show up at City Council meetings and fight tooth and nail for trails that were there for decades,” she explains. “We have to protect trail easements. Once fences, gates and concrete go in, it’s very hard to get the trail back.” The same goes for safe connectors between trails throughout the area.

Temecula Valley Rural Lifestyles is a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to the preservation of Wine Country’s Trails Network.  “Temecula Eq-Wine Riders have donated our money, time, support and talents throughout the years in an effort to achieve our shared goals,” says Juanita.  “Multi-use trails are not only for equestrians but also for hikers and bikers to enjoy our beautiful, rural community. 

Having horses in Temecula is great for tourism, too, Juanita notes. “Whether it’s me walking my pint-size Mini through Old Town, or a horse pulling a wagon for the Temecula Carriage Company, the Temecula Cowgirls in a parade or us riding in the vineyards, random people often stop to take our pictures. They see us and shout “Hello cowgirls and cowboys!’”

For more information, visit www.temeculaeqwineriders.com.