Thermal, California, USA – January 07, 2023 – Skylar Wireman’s (USA) professional career is off to a flaming start. After an incredible junior career, the 18-year-old has turned professional and is lighting up the jumper ring. Saturday afternoon of Desert Circuit I, aboard Coolio 23, she took home one of the biggest wins of her entire career, and undoubtedly of her professional career, in the $50,000 Valencia Saddlery Grand Prix.

“I honestly can’t even explain the feeling,” Wireman, of Bonsall, CA, said of winning the class. “It is incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to do it with. I’ve only had this horse for a little under a year. In the jump-off there was a clear [round] before me, so I knew I was going to have to be fast and leave all the jumps up. The ride before was five seconds faster than the 4-faulters. So, I thought I had to shave time off of [Cameron Trimino]’s time.”

Though their partnership is still newer, Wireman is proving she and Coolio 23 are a match made in heaven. With her mom, Shayne Wireman’s, 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding, she already scored one win in the Grand Prix Arena in the $10,000 Welcome Speed, but solidified the partnership even further with Saturday’s victory.

The class was set up in Wireman’s favor, especially considering her confidence at higher speeds. Over Ken Krome’s (USA) course, five pairs jumped clear and advanced to the jump-off. Of those five, Wireman and Coolio 23 had the pole position of jumping last.

Only one pair, Cameron Trimino (USA) and Firewall, had jumped double clear as Wireman stepped into the ring, so she knew just what she had to do. She shaved off over one second and claimed the win for herself.

Trimino took second while Kyara Semrau (CAN) and Carola Z took third, making the entire podium a display of teenage excellence.

Wireman has been preparing for her professional career for years, earning extensive experience as a junior with challenging horses and getting to know all sorts of rides. “With this horse, he gets a little bit excited in the jump-off,” she explained of Coolio 23. “If you think about going fast, he gets a little excited. But he turns really well. I was just planning to shave time off in the turns and do fewer strides from back to jumps.”

One of the most noticeable differences in Wireman’s tack with Coolio 23 is the gelding rides without a noseband, which is not common outside of the western world. “I used to use [a noseband] on him,” Wireman explained. “He likes to go with his mouth open and move his lower jaw a little bit. [No noseband] seems to work well for him. He loves it. He looks a little like a western horse sometimes.”

Wireman’s junior career was filled with goals, and her professional goals are just as – if not more – lofty. The young rider jumped her first CSI4* at the end of 2022, and the FEI schedule during Desert Circuit is perfectly set for helping riders like her rise in the ranks and get more comfortable at the 1.55m height. “We’re hoping to qualify for the Young Rider team this year. I’m on the older team now, so the 1.50m team. And then I’ll start competing in some more FEI [divisions],” she said.

Wireman is also now a contender for the $100,000 National Grand Prix Rider bonus to be awarded at the close of Desert Circuit Desert Circuit I concludes Sunday with the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic and the $10,000 Voltaire Saddlery 1.35m Open Classic.

Final Results – $50,000 Valencia Saddlery Grand Prix

1) Skylar Wireman (USA) & Coolio 23 / Shayne Wireman -0 / 0 – 40.839

2) Cameron Trimino (USA) & Firewall / Cameron Trimino – 0 / 0 – 42.065

3) Kyara Semrau (CAN) & Carola Z / Kyara Semrau – 0 / 4 – 43.216

FULL RESULTS

Source: Press Release by Tori Bilas for Desert International Horse Park

Photos: © DIHP / High Desert Sport Photo