Roscoe, IL - March 16, 2014 – The winter weather has brought extreme conditions across the nation making indoor horse showing a favorite once again. Showplace Productions offers a great winter series at Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, IL, including USEF A rated shows twice a month and local IHJA (Illinois Hunter Jumper Association) shows once a month. It’s always 70 degrees and clear inside at Ledges! 

The show schedule accommodates working amateurs and local school schedules so kids can show regularly without missing school.  You’ll often find kids finishing their homework between classes at the show.  The flexibility gives kids like Nicole Jenson, 18, an opportunity to qualify for medal finals without leaving home.  Jenson won the USET Talent Search class this weekend on her Dutch Warmblood mount, Talent, now giving her two USET wins.  Jenson of St. Charles has qualified for the medal and Maclay finals in previous years and competed in the 2013 Maclay Finals at the Alltech National Horse Show in Kentucky.

Homework time between classes.

Nicole Janson with her mount, Talent.

“I’m going to go to New Mexico State University and compete in the NCAA,” explained Jenson. “I’m not sure how finals will fit in my schedule this year but we’ll play it by ear.”

Jenson will major in mathematics and plays piano in her spare time.  She also takes care of four horses at their home, which include her old large pony and her old hunter.  Jenson rides with Kim Gardiner and Mara Kranz at Perfecta Farm.

Another Perfecta rider and equitation winner this weekend was 15-year-old Becky Kozma of Streamwood, IL.  Kozma won the Marshall and Sterling Medal, the IHJA Medal and the Maclay Medal this weekend aboard Finn, her six-year-old Dutch Warmblood.

“Kim and Mara help me be a really well rounded rider,” said Kozma. “They are great at providing lots of opportunities to ride different horses.”

Kozma attends Streamwood high school and plans to attend the Maclay Regionals and finals this year, heading toward her goal of becoming a professional some day.

Junior riders Andria Talavera, Brooke Nelson, Becky Kozma,  Emily Kabeshita and Nicole Jenson can easily show without missing school.

Showplace Productions also hosted two exhibitor’s parties this weekend with a Friday night Pizza Party and a Saturday night Taco Party.  Food is provided by Laura Toye and Marie Miller, who have run the food stand at Ledges for years providing the best horse show food around.  The horse show attracts trainers from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota just to list a few places.

The best horse show food around served by Laura Toye and Marie Miller.

Pat and Nicole Boyle have a full year schedule planned at the facility including a Derby Day in July with a pony derby, jumper derby, National Hunter Derby and a USHJA International Hunter Derby.

The facility will also host the region’s USHJA Emerging Athletes Program training session in July. 

Ledges regularly holds USHJA Outreach classes at their local horse show circuit along with a ChicagoEquestrian.com Hunter Derby Series offering series awards and a derby final. The local shows are a great opportunity for riders to gain experience and have the opportunity to try different divisions. There aren’t many places you can qualify for a trip to Capital Challenge Horse Show and ride in a derby at the local level. Showplace Productions offers these opportunities to educate riders. 

Showplace Productions also offers three weeks of AA horse shows in June at Lamplight Equestrian Center as part of the Showplace Spring Spectacular Series.  Warm up shows in April and May will also be held at Lamplight Equestrian Center.

For more information please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.