Langer Equestrian Group, Inc., kicked off the 2008 show season with record entries and sunny skies at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (LAEC) Season Opener, January 18-20, 2008, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Junior rider Laura Ware started off 2008 on a winning streak. She piloted Parker to the large junior championship, and then showed the gelding’s versatility by garnering wins in equitation as well. The pair captured both the USEF Medal and the ASPCA Maclay, as well as a second-place finish in the USEF Talent Search.

When Ware bought Parker, he had little experience and proved difficult to ride. However, she persisted and Parker has become a solid performer. Ware ended 2007 by winning the LAHJA Junior Medal Finals, and this year she hopes to secure a berth on one of the two Zone 10 Junior/Young Rider teams with her jumper, Tustin. Ware is the daughter of professional horseman Carolyn Biava, and as such she does not have the luxury of buying made horses. However, the process of bringing along young horses has given Ware invaluable experience.

Besides being a top junior rider, Ware maintains a straight A average and plays the violin in a youth orchestra. At the shows, Archie Cox steps in to assist with coaching duties.

Ali Ohringer (Jim Hagman, trainer) was another junior rider who had her eye on some ambitious goals for 2008. Last year, riding as a 13-year-old, she won the LAHJA’s Rosewood Finals and was one of the youngest West Coast riders to qualify for the Maclay Finals. She made the trip east and got a top prize at Capitol Challenge before contesting the Maclay Finals. Although she did not get a prize, Ohringer garnered valuable experience.

At the beginning of this year her horse, Orlando, had to be laid up for a few months. However, Ohringer was asked to ride D’Anconnia Copper since the gelding was for sale. She earned prizes in all her medal classes, qualified for the CPHA Junior, and won the CPHA Foundation out of a very large field. "I had so much and by the last day of the show I really figured out how to ride Classy (D’Anconnia Copper)."

Amateur rider Gina Groth is off to a good start this year. After years of training with DiAnn Langer, Groth switched to Philip Klipa’s Marlay Farms after Langer moved to South Carolina. "I was nervous about working with a new trainer," said Groth, "but I am really enjoying Philip, and he is really helping me with both of my horses."

Ali Leopold rode Neverland to the pre-green championship, and then Groth won the championship in the adult amateur hunters 36 and over.

The jumper division was so large that the show opened a second jumper ring. Holly Scapa dominated the junior/amateur owner jumpers by riding Bingo Bongo to champion honors and Country Girl to the reserve championship.

Mary Sweeney was another dual winner in the jumpers with Cahlcore and Windarco in the low child/adult jumpers. Mary Megla coached her to both champion and reserve champion honors.

Alexandra Block (Jim Hagman, trainer) may be a veteran in the junior hunter ranks, but jumpers are new for her. However, she lost no time by earning the children’s jumper championship aboard Kool Shoes. She also earned some top medal placings with Dante.

The complete calendar of all Langer Equestrian Group’s shows are online at www.langershows.com, along with complete results of the Season Opener.