“Who is Paul Rohrbach?” asked many people after he posted his first major grand prix win at the $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix. Rohrbach, a professional from Colorado who runs a successful hunter/jumper training business with partner Corky Shaha, has been steadily posting strong grand prix finishes over the years. After his stellar performance in the grand prix aboard Mary Dunahay’s Shiraz, everyone knew who he was.

Rohrbach came to the Los Angeles National (November 16-20, 2005) by himself to gain some additional grand prix experience for himself and Shiraz. “I’ve been coming here for years,” said Rohrbach of the Los Angeles National. “I never thought I’d have a show like this.”

Guillherme Jorge, who designed the 2005 World Cup Finals courses, designed the track for the LA National Grand Prix. The course was appropriately challenging as a World Cup qualifying course. The sellout crowd packed the Los Angeles Equestrian Center’s Equidome, and Rohrbach led the 35 horse field. “Going first is a great position for me,” said Rohrbach. “There is my plan and nothing else.” He and Shiraz, an eleven-year-old Belgian mare, made short order of the course.

Although Rohrbach made the course look easy, it was far from. Rider after rider had a rail here and a rail there. Two riders had falls and several others retired on course. Hap Hansen and Double Dutch posted the second clear round of the night. Double Dutch is fairly new to the grand prix ranks. The mother-daughter professional team of Barbara Endean and Samantha Lanzone own and train the young gelding. Hansen meets them at the shows and takes over riding duties for the grand prix events.

The audience thought that Rich Fellers would join the jump-off ranks with Gyro, a new grand prix horse for Harry and Molly Chapman. Although Gyro jumped around clear, they were a bit off the pace and earned one time fault. “This was his first big class,” said Fellers. “I knew we were slow, but I didn’t want to rush him because he is so green.”

Eleven horses posted four-fault scores, and Fellers was the fastest with his veteran partner, McGuiness.

After a brief course adjustment, Rohrbach and Hansen returned for the jump-off. “Hap is a significant jump-off rider,” said Rohrbach. “He has beaten me so many times. I rode the best jump-off I could.” Rohrbach’s best was good enough, but it didn’t come without some exciting moments. They made the turn off Fence 3, the second to last effort, and Shiraz slipped and then regained her footing and headed down to the final fence which she cleared without trouble. Hansen and Double Dutch pulled the rail on the first fence which clinched the win for Rohrbach.

The Los Angeles National is the final major “A” show on the West Coast circuit. Many championship honors in equitation, hunters and jumpers are presented throughout the five-day extravaganza.


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