Oklahoma State University Athletics
Harrison Wins Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search West
September 25, 2012 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Sept. 25, 2012
Los Angeles - Samantha Harrison of the Oklahoma State equestrian team took home top honors in the 2012 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search West this past Saturday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
Harrison was particularly happy to win on her horse Santika, which also won the Best Horse Award, as the pair has been together for many years and has come up short of their goals the past few years.
"I've had her a really long time," Harrison said. "We've had a connection ever since I got her, and we've only gotten to know each other even better. We've really learned to figure each other out over the years."
Harrison was selected to the final four of the event after compiling one of the top four scores after the flat, gymnastics and jumping phases of the competition.
The work-off phase featured the top four riders, where every rider had to ride the other competitor's horse and compete.
Because of her experience riding for Cowgirl equestrian team, Harrison was no stranger to riding unfamiliar horses, which gave her an edge in the work-off and contributed to her consistency.
"She rode really well on all four horses and was very, very solid on every horse she rode," judge Chrystine Tauber said. "She was solid enough that the little mistakes some of the others made caught up with them."
The USEF Talent Search West is one of the most prestigious equitation finals in the sport, with over 100 riders every year competing at this event.
