USA: Onondarka Medal Finals to Move to the Del Mar International Horse Show

West Palms Events is pleased to announce Del Mar International will host the 53rd Anniversary of the prestigious Onondarka Medal Finals this Fall! The Onondarka Medal Finals will be held during Del Mar International World Cup Week CSI-3*, October 14-18, at the picture-perfect Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA.

The qualified riders will not only secure a place to compete in the Finals, but will receive personal invitations to attend the annual Del Mar International Youth Workshop this year, hosted by Richard Spooner. In addition, the winner of the Onondarka Medal Finals will receive a $10,000 show scholarship for the 2015-2016 West Palms Events Show Season.

“Being given the opportunity to have the Onondarka Medal Finals at Del Mar International is incredible,” says Dale Harvey of West Palms Events. “The Onondarka Medal Finals have been held at the Los Angeles National Horse Show for 30 years, so to have the honor of having this event coming to the Del Mar International is really special and we are really excited that the Simingtons have entrusted this to us.”

Del Mar International Horse Show  Photo By: McCool Photography

The Onondarka Medal Finals has a very distinguished history and an impressive list of past winners. Some of the previous winners include Susie Hutchison, Francie Steinwedell and Lise Quintero. Elli Yeager won the 2014 Onondarka Medal Finals, dedicating her win to Shelby Drazan.

“I was determined to win the Finals in 2014,” explains Elli Yeager. “I worked consistently throughout the whole year, it was my biggest goal to win the Onondarka Medal Final! The Medal is important for my age group, it was an honor.”
Yeager succeeded in this goal, joining a prominent list of winners who have won the well-known medal final over its 53 year history. Winning the Onondarka Medal Finals is a major goal of many young riders.

 

Elli Yeager wins the 2014 Onondarka Medal Final From left to right: Don Simington, Melissa Jones, Elli Yeager, mounted, Lou Yeager, and Tasha Visokay Photo By: Jack Yeager

Onondarka’s history began in the 1930’s and 1940’s as a small Los Angeles Equestrian Center, which included both adult and youth riding programs, sales horses, stabling and multiple riding rings. Harry Simington’s award winning Onondarka Drill Team was founded at the stable in 1947, setting a high standard of horsemanship that remains to this day at the stables.

Don Simington of Onondarka Riding School, Inc. Photo from: Onondarka Riding School, Inc.

Don Simington, son of Harry, who took over 

Polo in Thermal, CA, continues the program’s impressive legacy as a full service training and riding school for remarkable riders and horses. The Onondarka Riding School sponsors the Onondarka Medal Class, which is open to junior riders, 12 and younger who are current members of PCHA.

“The Medal has always been a very special thing to the family,” explained Don Simington. “My dad started it when there was no other medal final for younger riders. It is exciting to have it at Del Mar and we are looking forward to it.”