Morgan Geller Gets the Top Prize in the ASPCA Maclay Regional Finals 

San Juan Capistrano, CA – September 18, 2011 – Thirty-six leading West Coast junior equitation riders competed in Blenheim Farm’s covered arena on the evening of September 17th in the ASPCA Maclay West Coast Regional Finals. With thirty returning for the flat phase and four for the work-off, it was Morgan Geller aboard Fabricio who finished on top. Geller and up to twenty more riders earned an invitation to compete in the 2011 ASPCA Maclay National Championship at the National Horse Show November 2nd – 6th in Lexington, KY.

With a long gallop to the first oxer, Scott Starnes’ course of thirteen obstacles asked the riders to commit to a flowing pace right from the start. Followed by several related distances in bending lines, the track required accuracy and focus in an indoor setting. First to go in the posted order, Geller commanded the track as she often does with her fantastic partner Fabricio. Returning in the final group for the flat phase and on top in the work-off, Geller handled the pressure with precision and earned the blue.

In the flat phase, judges R. Scot Evans and Linda Hough asked each group for a lengthening of stride as well as to work without their irons. Several riders were solid in their seat and four were asked to return for further testing, Savannah Jenkins (Karen Healey, trainer), Alicia Gasser (Mark Bone, trainer), Olivia Esse (John French, trainer) and Morgan Geller (James Hagman, trainer). The select group were asked to hand gallop to a jump, turn to a trot jump, flow in a bend to a single, then while turning left to execute a flying change to the counter lead, turn the corner and jump another single, halt and sit trot back to the line. First to go Jenkins had an unfortunate refusal at the trot jump but otherwise had an excellent work-off, including a flying change to the counter lead without an interruption in flow. The remaining riders all rode the test carefully and without error.

Not new to the winners’ circle, Geller and Fabricio won the 2010 CPHA Medal Finals, a 2011 $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the 2011 USEF National Junior Hunter Championships, West Coast. The talented teenager explained, “The course was straight forward, more based on smooth turns and style. I was nervous all day about going first, but in the end it was better because I didn’t sit around and watch everyone and get even more nervous!”

With a busy show schedule upcoming, Geller will compete in the USEF Talent Search Finals West Coast next week and head back east for the Capital Challenge, Harrisburg and the National Horse Show where she’s qualified in both the junior hunters and the medal finals.

Although winning is glorious, placing in the top sixty percent of the class possibly up to twenty-two riders will earn an invite to the prestigious finals in Lexington this November. Once the eight final regional competitions throughout the country are complete, the exact number of qualified riders per regional will be announced.

Photo © CapturedMomentPhoto.com. High resolution image available upon request.

2011 ASPCA Maclay West Coast Regional Finals
1. Morgan Geller (James Hagman, Katie Gardner, Kay Altheuser, Custis Ferguson)
2. Olivia Esse (John French, Katie Taylor)
3. Alicia Gasser (Mark Bone, Jamie Taylor)
4. Savannah Jenkins (Karen Healey, Tasha Visokay, Melissa Jones)
5. Oliva Smith (Robyn Stiegler)
6. Conor Perrin (Nick Haness, Richard Slocum)
7. Gabbi Langston (Archie Cox)
8. Alexis Graves (Nick Haness, Richard Slocum)
9. Hannah Von Heidegger (Nicole and Will Simpson)
10. Demi Stiegler (Archie Cox, Robyn Stiegler)
11. Clementine Yost (Benson Carroll)
12. Sage Flynn (Hap Hansen, Trudi Fletcher)
13. Haley Webster (Patty Ball)
14. Kylee Arbuckle (Karen Healey, Devon Gibson)
15. Madison Bradshaw (Hope and Ned Glynn)
16. Devon Manze (Joe Thorpe)
17. Zoie Nagelhout (Archie Cox)
18. Rebecca Heller (Dick Widger)
19. Erin Fry (Robyn Stiegler)
20. Hannah Ellerbrock (Hap Hansen, Trudi Fletcher)
21. Grace Shelton (Karen Healey, Tasha Visokay, Melissa Jones)
22. Henley Adkins (James Hagman, Katie Gardner, Kay Altheuser, Custis Ferguson)

Reprinted with permission from Blenheim EquiSports