Lauren Lockliear-Narducci’s Young Horse Show West Creates New Opportunities

Lauren Lockliear-Narducci of Demerara Stables is known for her skills and expertise with young horses. She’s currently expanding Demerara Stables from its San Gregorio, California location to a second facility in nearby Half Moon Bay. Lauren and her husband purchased the 264-acre property and are designing a 40-stall young horse training and rehabilitation center that includes pastures for all the horses.

Lauren has been training young horses for 3 decades, taking them to their first shows for exposure before they are started under saddle, then to compete under saddle at three or four years old. By the time they are competing, the horses can focus on the job at hand because of this method and their previous experience. As Lauren’s business grew, she noticed a glaring lack of classes tailored to young horses and began sponsoring them in Florida in the early 2000s. When Lauren moved to California, she collaborated with Paso Robles Horse Park (PRHP) to create a young horse division at their schooling show series, starting with walk trot flat and walk trot poles classes for horses at their first show. This year, she expanded her partnership with PRHP, and now sponsors all of their young horse programs. At the Classic Series and B Series shows, they offer three free judged classes, a free warmup class for horses under age seven, and a stall discount at their B Series shows.

“I was already sponsoring young horse classes in California and heard about the Young Horse Show Series, which has a large following on the East Coast and in the Midwest. I reached out to Jean-Yves Tola and decided to attend the Young Horse Show Finals in Tryon, North Carolina in 2022. I met the talented team that put on this series and had the incredible good fortune of scribing for judge Nick Verlies for the entire week. I already knew that this series would be a massive benefit to breeders and young horse trainers on the West Coast, but seeing the team in action prompted me to start working with Jean-Yves to offer the opportunity to our horses out here,” Lauren says.

Jean-Yves Tola created the Young Horse Show Series in 2009 and had a successful first show in 2010 at Spy Coast Farm. After the success of the test show, he realized the need for a dedicated Young Horse Show series to introduce horses to showing, evaluate their potential, gain some valuable experience, and offer a location for breeders and buyers to connect. The Young Horse Show Series has evolved since then, branching out from its locations at Spy Coast Farm and in Wellington to add many venues. The YHS series had 16 shows from April through October this year and then culminated with the YHS Finals at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in November with 124 competitors.

“How do we encourage people to get their younger horses out? Jean-Yves realized this was a need, and I reached out to him because we needed it on the West Coast too,” Lauren adds. Young Horse Show West had their first show in August in the Los Angeles area and a second at the end of October in Solvang, California.

Young Horse Show West

Young Horse Show Series classes are open to horses five years old or younger who are being prepared for jumpers, dressage, eventing, or hunters. Schooling classes are available for six- and seven-year-olds. There is a jump chute for horses ages two through four, with professional handlers included in the class price. Under saddle classes are offered for horses ages three to five in all disciplines. Four- and five-year-old horses also have the option of dressage or jumping classes under saddle. Horses in all disciplines from yearlings through age four can compete in-hand and at liberty.

“The point of the YHS is to give the horses an opportunity to compete where the show staff and other competitors have a background with young horses, so the horses have the best possible experience,” Lauren says. “Young horses get valuable show miles in a low-key environment. At Finals last year, it was very apparent that if there was any problem or question with a class, the decision always came down to what was best for the horse. It’s a great foundation for the horses, and is setting them up for success.”

Although this is Lauren’s first foray into horse show management, there is an incredible support system available through Jean-Yves and the rest of the team managing the YHS shows on the East Coast. Each of these show managers knows and understands what the experience needs to be for the horses and owners, and Lauren can rely on this group when she has questions or is deciding how to manage her shows.

Saret Tola, the wife of Jean-Yves and his partner at Jump Start Farm, judged both of the West Coast YHS shows this year. Lauren also brought in professional handlers from Virginia and California for the jump chute. There is a huge team required to put on each show, and every member plays a vital role.

“We’re hoping to expand the calendar of shows next year. The goal is to have four or five shows and a West Coast Finals.” This includes expanding geographically to Northern California, and her farm in Half Moon Bay, as well as continuing in central and Southern California. “It’s harder to find venues for a jump chute on the West Coast because we need eight-foot high walls. Most indoor arenas are suitable, but we just don’t have as many indoor arenas here compared to the East Coast,” Lauren adds.

Jumping in a jump chute is extremely beneficial for young horses. They learn to use their bodies, be careful with the rails, and ideally learn to leave the fences up. It’s fun to see them go in and figure it out, like a puzzle.

Long-term, Lauren’s vision for Young Horse Show West includes a partnership to help the breeders with their marketing. It’s hard for the smaller breeders, who don’t have the time or staff to market their horses. Lauren brings professional horse show photographers to each show to provide high-quality images to owners. As a buyer, she’s experienced the challenge of finding a young horse and traveling to many locations to look at prospects. Young Horse Show West can work with breeders to make the horses more accessible through the show series. Preparations are already underway for the 2024 shows, with interest and anticipation growing among young horse show breeders and trainers.

“It’s a labor of love, I’ve learned a ton, and I am having a great time,” Lauren concludes.

Learn more about Young Horse Show West at https://www.younghorseshowwest.com/ and visit Lauren at Demerara Stables at https://demerarastables.com/.

All photos courtesy of Lauren Lockliear-Narducci