Joie Gatlin is Clear as Day Winner at Desert Circuit 5
Thursday, February 6, was a good day to be Joie Gatlin as she rode to two championships and a reserve championship amidst a highly competitive World Championship Hunter Rider week at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA.
Gatlin kicked off her day at Desert Circuit 5, presented by Fobi, by taking home the top tricolor in the High Performance Hunters with Oslo, owned by Alexis Meadows. The pair came into the day with a first and a second place over fences, as well as a win in the under saddle, and they added a fourth-place finish to their points tally to clinch the championship. Finishing as the division reserve champions were Emily Esau Williams and Star Quality.
“Oslo is probably one of the best hunters I’ve ever ridden,” said Gatlin of the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding that she has been competing since 2022. “He’s beautiful. He’s big strided; he’s athletic. He’s just an amazing horse. I’m always looking forward to riding him. His owner, Alexis Meadows, shows him in the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters, and he does that job beautifully as well. We’re very grateful to have him.”
Week 5 of Desert Circuit has particularly suited the gelding, as the hunters are center stage in the Grand Prix Arena for the week.
“This big ring out here is great for him because he’s got a huge stride,” said Gatlin. “I can actually gallop a little bit. He’s got the perfect hunter gallop. It’s fun that the hunters are going in the big grand prix ring. It’s a nice opportunity for them to jump some different jumps and open up and to actually be able to see what a horse gallops like – what originally a hunter would be doing out in the hunt field.”
One of Gatlin’s next mounts of the day, Clear As Day, also took quite well to the Grand Prix Arena. The 9-year-old Westphalian gelding, owned by Balmoral, jumped to two wins over fences and a win in the model – as well a fourth place in the handy and a fourth place in the under saddle – to earn the Green Conformation Hunter championship. The reserve championship in the division went to Jamie Sailor and Normandy.
“Clear As Day is a catch ride that Carleton [Brooks] asked me to ride for him,” explained Gatlin. “I ride it one week, and then Nick Haness will come ride it the next week. We’re kind of just building the horse up. Carleton and Traci bought it for Nick, and so when Nick is here, he shows it. When Nick has other obligations, I fill in. He’s a really fun horse. I’ve just gotten used to him; I think my last round in the Green Conformation was probably the best round I’ve had on him. Everything came so easy. He’s a really, really fun little horse.”
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Joie Gatlin is Clear as Day Winner at Desert Circuit 5 | Desert International Horse Park
