Burbank, CA – With nary a misstep, Alex Maida, was picked as the winner of the grueling 2005 USEF West Coast Talent Search. The class was held in conjunction with the Los Angeles International Jumping Festival at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, September 21-25. Thirty-eight junior riders qualified throughout the year for a spot in the two-day four-phase finals.

On Wednesday afternoon riders were allowed into the Equidome for a practice round and the class started in earnest the next evening with the flat and gymnastic phases. For the flat section, riders were given two minutes to demonstrate how they would warm their horse up for jumping. Certain elements, e.g. working trot sitting, lengthening of the canter were required, etc. Riders were then asked to complete a series of gymnastic lines designed by judges Leo Conroy and Ray Texel, and assisted by international course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio.

Friday afternoon all 38 competitors returned for the show jumping phase in reverse order of preference, with Maida sitting in the lead. The water jump took its share of victims, as did a triple bar off a short turn. At the end of the afternoon, the judges selected their top four riders after three phases of competition: Maida, Hannah Selleck, Natalie Rae Medlock and Megan Edrick.

After a short break, the four riders returned to compete over a shortened course—with each competitor riding each horse. While all four turned out strong rides, Maida emerged the victor.

"This was so much fun I got to ride all these great horses!" Maida grinned. "There are a lot of finals, but this one is really special. The great thing about the USEF is that you get a chance to really ride a lot of really nice, different horses. This is the best!"

Maida trains with jumper rider/trainer Duncan McFarlane and his wife Gry, and has been their student since she was in the pony division. Following college, Maida hopes to continue on to a career as a professional rider.

Judging the 2005 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West Coast, were Ray Texel and Leo Conroy.

Top ten competitors in order of placing, from the 2005 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West Coast:

1. Alex Maida, 17, of Danville, CA, trained by Gry and Duncan McFarlane with help from Susie Schroer.
2. Natalie Rae Medlock, 18, of Orange, CA, trained by Leslie Steele.
3. Megan Edrick, 19, of Woodland Hills, CA, trained by Mike Edrick, Karen Healey, Joie Gaitlin, and Nick Karazissis.
4. Hannah Selleck, 16, of Thousand Oaks, CA, trained by Nicki Simpson and Karen Healey.
5. Shelby Wakeman, 15, of Westlake Village, CA.
6. Bliss Heers, 18, of Olivenhain, CA.
7. Karrie Rufer, 20, of Sacramento, CA.
8. Morgan Taylor, 18, Salinas, CA.
9. Veronica Tracy, 15, of San Juan Capistrano, CA.
10. Lauren Hester, 18, of Ranco Santa Fe, CA.

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For more information or to obtain photos, please contact Langer Equestrian Group, Inc. at [email protected].

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