Elvenstar Riding Academy Student Wins Championship

Moorpark's Elvenstar Riding Academy was well represented at the recent prestigious Washington International Horse Show, where rider Olivia Esse rode to success, winning the grand junior championship.

Since 1958 top equestrians the world over have congregated in our nation's capital to compete in the annual event that attracts crowds filled with dignitaries, celebrities and horse enthusiasts of all ages in the tens of thousands.

This year's six-day show brought about 500 leading horses and their riders to Washington D.C.'s Verizon Center to compete for prize money and championship titles in show jumping, hunters and equitation events. 

Esse, a student of Elvenstar founder/trainer James Hagman, rode in the Small Junior, 15 & Under Hunters division on her horse Illusion. Their first, second and third place finishes in the over fences (jumping) competition and second place finish in the under saddle (seated) competition gave them enough points to capture the grand junior hunter championship.

"Illusion's rhythm felt great and he gave me a lot of confidence showing in that small, spooky arena," Esse said. "It seemed that he stepped up with me; He knew it was important."

Participating in one of the oldest and biggest, indoor horse shows in the United States requires extraordinary levels of commitment, ability and resources. As Hagman explained, "It's extremely competitive and only those riders with national standings are allowed to compete."

To earn national standings, a rider has to attend a lot of shows, all over the country, and win the vast majority of them; an effort that puts most West Coast equestrians at a disadvantage.

"The East Coast horses have the upper hand because it's a much bigger sport there. They have a lot more top level, local shows to go to," said Meaghan Mallory, operations manager at Elvenstar. "So for California kids to be able to make national standings, they have to do really well every time they step in the ring."

Hagman, who founded Elvenstar's Riding Academy in 1986, has coached students to many local, regional and national title wins, but Esse's Washington International achievement is Elvenstar's first division national championship.

"It's been really exciting and feels great to end the show year on that note," said Esse, who recently turned 16.

To Hagman, the win is the "icing on the cake" of his original dream to build a first-class, community-oriented riding program, a system founded on and grounded in the principles of horsemanship for all ages and levels.

"We created our programs to develop the rider from toddler through adulthood," said Hagman. "So there's no need to go from stable to stable; It's all right here."

Elvenstar's foundational training is built upon the English style of riding, whose fundamentals can be taken to disciplines like, dressage, hunter/jumper, equitation and trail riding.

"All of the above have graduated from Elvenstar Riding Academy," said Hagman.

Students can begin their equestrian development as early as age 3 with Elvenstar's Mommy and Me leadline classes. From there, they can advance through the many programs the academy offers:  tiny tots, beginning equitation, walk/trot/canter and horsemanship, and beginning through advanced jumping classes.

Elvenstar also offers day camp programs, and birthday parties that include a riding and grooming lesson.

"It's really important to us that our programs reach a wide array of lifestyles and economic situations," Hagman said.

"We have riders that started with us at very young ages, some from difficult backgrounds, who've continued to train, compete and even teach others well into adulthood," he continued. "They become staff members and role-models for our other students."

Esse, who's been riding since the age of 7 and has been an Elvenstar student for the past two-and-a-half years, remarked that the academy inspires, "a real sense of community. Everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming."

It's this supportive environment that brings riders of all levels to Hagman and his academy.

"Jim is a phenomenal teacher. He truly cares about his students and the horses, and is always calm," said Esse. "He has a wonderful way of explaining things, not just so that you mimic an action, but that you understand the connection between the rider's and the horse's movement."

Being the quintessential coach, Hagman motivates his students outside the arena, as well, by encouraging them to participate in other activities and maintain good grades.

"They're only kids once, so I encourage them to do as many things as they like," he said. "There needs to be a balance."

Esse, who Hagman describes as an "exceptional and talented person with a fabulous attitude," finds that balance by playing on her school's volleyball team, maintaining excellent grades and spending time with friends.

For more information on the Elvenstar Riding Academy and its equestrian programs, visit its website: http://www.elvenstar.co/Riding Academy.html

And to learn more about the historic Washington International Horse Show, visit: http://www.wihs.org/