O.C. Equestrian Show Scheduled Sunday

The Interscholastic Equestrian League of Orange County will hold its championship show at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Coto Valley Equestrian Center in Coto de Caza.

Riders from nearly 40 local high schools will compete for team and individual awards in the show, which is the league’s final event of the season.

English saddle riders compete in the following categories: hunt seat equitation, equitation over fences, working hunters, hunters under saddle, IEL medal and jumpers. Western riders compete in equitation, pleasure, obedience, showmanship and on a trail course.

Heading into the show, Santa Margarita is in position to win the team award with a league-leading 1,070 points, St. Margaret’s is in second place with 914 and Marina is in third with 727 after five shows.

Stacey Nichols, a senior at Los Alamitos, is the league’s top rider with 238 points.

The county chapter of the IEL began in 1994.

About 24 riders will compete in the Western saddle division, which was added this year. Riders provide their horses and the sport is not sanctioned by the Southern Section.

The championship show also will serve as the grand opening of the renovated Coto Valley Equestrian Center. New management, Graham Farms, Inc., added arenas to accommodate larger shows and made landscaping improvements.