BURBANK, Calif.– Langer Equestrian Group was honored to host three LAHJA Medal Finals at Gold Coast October. Brooke Mostman trained by Stephanie Haney was the LAHJA Junior Medal Final Champion and Abigail Steller trained by Elvenstar was the LAHJA Senior Champion. Twelve-year-old Kyra Palmer trained by Elvenstar took home the title of 2019 LAHJA Pony Medal Final Champion.
“It’s important to recognize that many of the past LAHJA medal final winners have gone on to be top-level competitors in our sport, such as Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum,” said LAHJA President Kay Altheuser. “I was very pleased with the courses overall. The course designer created options for riders and horses to show off more difficult tracks, but also created other options. The arena was well-decorated and the parties each night gave the finals a special feel. My favorite part about the LAHJA medal finals is always how they encourage the competitors to support each other.”
After their first round on Saturday, LAHJA Pony Medalists returned for a second round and work-off on Sunday morning. Kyra piloted Elvenstar’s large pony Burberry to the win, marking Burberry’s second LAHJA Pony Medal Final win. In 2015, Burberry topped the LAHJA Pony Medal Final with Alexandra Farfaras in the irons and this year Alexandra was the LAHJA Junior Medal Final Reserve Champion. Click here to watch their 2015 victory gallop!
“She’s perfect and so much fun to ride,” Kyra said. “This was my first medal final win and I am so excited. The trot fence in the work-off was a bit challenging. I grew up riding at Elvenstar in their academy and I remember seeing the older girls ride Burberry. It’s really cool that now I get to ride her and hopefully one day I’ll get to do the LAHJA Junior Medal Final.”
The work-off test asked the riders to show a variety of skills, including sitting the trot, cantering a fence, and even trotting a fence before halting in front of the judges. In second place was Georgia Bass on Orchard Hills Photogenic owned by Devon Gibson and trained by Karen Perlow.
Congratulations to all the LAHJA Medal Finalists!
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