LAKE VIEW TERRACE, Calif.— The Verdugo Hills August Aloha is always filled with festive fun and this year was no exception. We co-hosted our first Hansen Dam Horse Park Movie Night with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. On Friday night, there were snacks, games, and a screening of Secretariat. On Saturday, the fun continued with a Barn Decoration Contest, the annual Beach Cruiser Equitation Challenge, and a USHJA National Hunter Derby. We wrapped up the weekend on Sunday with LEG Jumper Championship Series Classes presented by Antares and our Sunday Fun Day introductory-level classes.

In the USHJA National Hunter Derby, all eyes were on Shauna Pennell and Lisa Wall who were each in contention for a LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus. Shauna rode Top Story, Zaragoza, and Czech Please while Lisa piloted her longtime partner Tangled Up In Blue, Maestro, and Winterfell. Together, Shauna and Lisa swept the derby, taking home the first through fourth place awards.

It was Shauna and Top Story, a Westphalian gelding owned by Wendy Carter of WJC Farms, who topped the evening with scores of 87 and 93. “We bought this horse as a four-year-old and now he’s seven,” Wendy explained. “We’ve taken our time with Top Story and I feel like he’s coming into his own. Our plan with him is to finish out this year in the 3’6.’’ Then, we would like to move up next year to the 3’9’’ Green Hunters and hopefully qualify for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.”

Shauna and her barn had a great time getting into the Aloha spirit. “It was so fun for our team to wear leis and cheer on Shauna,” said Wendy. “The derby was competitive with a lot of horses and a challenging course. I was excited to see Top Story win and Shauna receiving a LEGIS bonus check was a great way to top it all off.”

This win marked Shauna’s second consecutive win in a 2019 Verdugo Hills USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard Top Story, earning Shauna a $500 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus. If Shauna clinches a third win with Top Story this year at Verdugo Hills, she will be taking home a $750 LEGIS Hunter Rider Bonus.

Stay tuned to see if Shauna wins another bonus check and mark your calendars for more festivities this fall with three weeks of horse showing at Hansen Dam Horse Park!

We’ll see you at the Verdugo Hills Fall Festival (Oct. 3-6), hosting LEGIS League Finalsand the $15,000 LEG Antares Jumper Championships. The Season Finale Horse Show (Nov. 15-17) will wrap up the year at Hansen Dam Horse Park with the all-new LEGIS League CWD Equitation Challenge, the $5,000 Precision Time Jumper Classic, and Verdugo Hills Series Awards presented by Valencia Sport Saddlery.

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