Photo courtesy of JRPR.

Jacksonville, Florida (September 25, 2015) – From seasoned trainers to young riders making their first trip around the hunter ring, 2015 Southeast Medal Finals competitors filled the Jacksonville Equestrian Center on September 17-20 for their chance to win blue ribbons. The Jacksonville Equestrian Center was proud to host the Southeast Medal Finals for the second year in a row. With a record number of entries this year, the competition offered some riders a way to wrap up the summer show season, while the Jacksonville Equestrian Center’s indoor coliseum arena provided others with excellent preparation for the upcoming indoor National competition in Kentucky. The Southeast Medal Finals included classes for equitation riders, hunters, and jumpers.

“We’ve had a very good week with lots of numbers, and a lot of big classes,” said Philip DeVita, the 2015 Southeast Medal Finals show manager.

Trainer Jane Fennessy of Carriage Hill Farms in Delray Beach, Florida was one of the many contributors to the 300+ entries that the show received this year. Fennessy brought 17 horses and five young riders to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center to compete. As her excited students compiled an impressive collection of ribbons, Fennessy said, “I’ve been working with these girls since they were six or seven years old. I really like bringing them to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. The coliseum is great.”

Carriage Hill riders Siena Easen, Phoebe Alwine, and Erika Jakobson were thrilled with their first and second places rides throughout the competition. “My favorite part of my ride was the jump-off,” said Jackobson about her winning round in the High Children’s Jumper Finals. “There was one line where we took out a stride and then we made this tight inside turn after, so we lost a lot of time there!”

“Everyone seems to be enjoying the show and pleased with the new improvements we’ve put in at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center,” said Dr. Peggy Fuller, the attending veterinarian at the Southeast Medal Finals and vice president of the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society, which is the management group for the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

Show manager DeVita agreed that the facility improvements helped make an even better competition this year. “The indoor arena itself is all new footing. That’s been huge,” he said. “Good footing is one of the key ingredients to success.”

Camryn Halley, a young rider who won the LJ Enterprises Pony Medal Finals on the new footing in the 150 x 300 foot indoor coliseum, was all smiles as she made her victory lap on her mother’s horse Calache. Halley was quick to give credit to her equine partner for their win. “Calache is a really good girl,” Halley said. “I love how she’s always willing to do whatever I ask her to do, with a good attitude. She’s game for anything! I’m so proud of her.”

In addition to the Southeast Medal Finals, The Jacksonville Equestrian Center plays host to numerous shows and events for a range of equestrian disciplines. This is great news for veterinarian Dr. Cara Oliver and her daughter Casey, 12, who loves to jump through the hunter ring as much as she loves to barrel race. This year was Casey’s first year at the Southeast Medal Finals, and she rode her pony Flower Girl in the small pony division.

“Casey loves to show. She loves to jump,” said Cara Oliver, of Ocala, Florida. “She thinks that it’s neat that she gets to come to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center and show her hunter ponies and then she also gets to come back in November and barrel race.”

Now that the excitement of the Southeast Medal Finals has ended for another year at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, it’s time to gear up for upcoming events right around the corner. The facility features an enormous indoor arena, outdoor turf arena, outdoor show rings, and more than 400 permanent stalls. Ample RV hookups and vendor spaces ensure exhibitor comfort and convenience. The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, located at 13611 Normandy Blvd. in Jacksonville, Florida, has amenities to host not only equestrian events, but also recreational, sporting, and community events. For more information, visit www.jaxequestriancenter.com or call Penny Gorton at 904-255-4227.

For more information, contact:
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
Penny Gorton 904-255-4227
PGorton@coj.net
13611 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32221