SJC LIVING
GUEST OPINION | The Cowgirl Designer by Marlene Holmquist
THE NATIONS CUP IS COMING: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WILL HOST THE WORLD IN MAY W hen my husband Tom and I moved here 18 months ago from San Diego County, I had no idea San Juan Capistrano was home to an equestrian Olympic competitor and coach, and apparently, I am not alone! Robert Ridland and his company (The Ridland Group) have managed Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park since 1998, and Robert has been coach of the US Olympic Equestrian show jumping team since 2013. The recent and prestigious honor of being announced as the host of the third leg of the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup puts San Juan Capistrano in company with other host locations in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden. There are 10 legs to the competition, starting with Abu Dhabi in January and culminating in Barcelona, Spain, for the finals in September. San Juan Capistrano has become “The Equestrian Capital of the West” due to the efforts of The Ridland Group, along with our truly unique landscape. The
upcoming 2022 Nations Cup is our very own “International Super Bowl,” and our U.S. Equestrian team deserves our enthusiastic support just like any other sports team representing the USA. Understanding show jumping comTHE COWGIRL petitions involves a DESIGNER learning curve. I will BY MARLENE HOLMQUIST be writing future informational articles, one of them introducing the riders and how Robert selects them. But, bottom line is, this is the first time The Nations Cup has been held on the West Coast, and it is a unique opportunity for SJC to shine in the eyes of the world. It is a majestic event for anyone to enjoy, bringing with it prosperity to business owners in Orange County and inspiration for riders of all ages and disciplines. Events and parking are free, and the public is encouraged to enjoy the
entire experience, including unexpected activities and a vendor shopping area. While garnering personal attention has never been on Robert’s agenda, mentoring individual riders has been. His strategy to create the 5-person U.S. team by pairing two young riders with three veterans is unique and has been quite successful. According to Robert, “No other country has that type of participation from the next generation of stars.” In a sport in which riders can compete well at advanced ages, Robert has assembled other equestrian teams where three out of four have been under age 25. Our current U.S. Olympic equestrian team representing us on May 10-15 has yet to be decided by Robert. The names will be announced. Robert’s wife, Hillary, works in unison with Robert to mentor and encourage our U.S. riders. An award-winning jumper in her own right, Hillary’s successes and efforts do not stop there. The Ridland Group was recently selected to enter into negotiations to continue managing the
ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK
RMV Riding Park. Since then, Hillary has also been working tirelessly to elevate the discipline of Western riding, with events that started in January. She is passionate about the concept of “Horsemen United” and welcomes input and suggestions for the future of the Riding Park for everyone. For more information and to keep up with everything going on at The Riding Park (including soccer, concerts, and other events), visit theridingpark.com. Marlene Holmquist, ASID, owns Luxury Ranch Interior Design, a full-service interior design company specializing in remodels for residences and small businesses. An avid equestrian known as “The Cowgirl Designer,” she is a member of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition and Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding Club. luxury-ranch.com or thecowgirldesigner.com. CD
PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.
Sudoku
Phoebe
BY MYLES MELLOR
SOLUTION:
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium
THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
Eleven-month-old Phoebe is a pretty kitty who is ready to find her purrfect match. Her favorite pastimes are birdwatching and chasing toys, though she wouldn’t say no to a tasty treat or a scratch behind the ears. Phoebe gets along with other cats and would make a great kitty companion. Could she be the one for you? If you are interested in adopting Phoebe, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/ to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.
The Capistrano Dispatch February 25-March 10, 2022
Photo: Collin Breaux
WHAT’S HAPPENING: PHOTO FROM THE COMMUNITY
The Kids’ Pet Parade hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association on Saturday, Feb. 19, was a cavalcade of colorful animals and fun presentations by local kids. See who won and more photos from the event at thecapistranodispatch.com. Page 22
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