Additional Highlights from LA Masters Grand Slam

More highlights for you from Los Angeles as I report from the Longines Los Angeles Masters in the heart of downtown LA.

Hollywood is known for its special effects. If they could only make my face to scale. . .

I got to meet fellow blogger Carey from Me Jump Pretty One Day. Talk about small world, she boards her horse Cosmo at the same barn where I met Knight! Knight, by the way has settled in nicely I’m told. He trailered well to his new home not far from my home, and has made friends with the horses in the stalls next to him. I worried about him but he has literally been to every racetrack in California. And he was born in Florida and ended up in California. I think the horse probably is used to new places. But more on Knight later.

Who knew the LA Convention Center could put on such an amazing horse show? The last time I was here was for a teen club volleyball tournament. The horses are being stabled in the parking garage. Sounds weird, but I spoke to a groom from Canada (wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt–we had a little talk since the Bears play the Packers tomorrow) who said the show laid carpet down in the parking garage for the stable area. She said it’s quite comfortable down there.

I also met a Horse Junkies United blogger from. . . Illinois! And she ALSO has an ex-racehorse. We bonded over the Midwest and our awe of Kent Farrington. I told her that my horse trainer from Illinois told me I HAD to go up to him and say hi, and that he’s a really nice guy. (Of course he would be–originally from Illinois).

Bruce Springsteen walked literally four feet away from me. I’ve lived in Los Angeles long enough (okay, the OC isn’t technically LA, but I was in Pasadena for years) to have had my share of celebrity sightings. For some reason though, it’s still just fun, even if I’m not a particular fan of the celeb. (The biggest celebrity sighting I had was several years ago at the Restoration Hardware in Santa Monica. I saw a woman who looked soooo familiar and I couldn’t figure out who she was. I thought, “Is that Heidi’s friend?” Heidi being my roommate at the time. Then I realized, “That’s Rita Wilson. Wait! If that’s Rita Wilson then. . .” and I looked at the tall man wearing a hat and sunglasses next to her. Yes, it was Tom Hanks. That was a thrill for obvious reasons.)

Speaking of stars. . . in the lobby of the Convention Center they have placed dozens of large industrial strength stickers to commemorate show jumping greats of the equine variety. I remember Ian Millar’s 17.3 hand Big Ben. Do you?

In case you’re wondering how I knew it was a sticker, I bent down and actually tried to pry up a corner. I HAD to because it looked so real. A guy saw me do it and chuckled. I said, “I had to figure out how they did that.” I think he knew I wasn’t really a thief. There were stars for Sapphire and Special Envoy and a host of other famous show jumpers.

So part of what is very unique about this event is the fact it’s in downtown Los Angeles. Not the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Not at some of the nice showgrounds in San Diego or Orange County. Not at Del Mar or Santa Anita Racetracks. We’re right next door to an area of the city that has undergone some transformation recently. Unlike Chicago, my hometown, downtown LA has not really been much of a destination itself. The skyline is quite lackluster (if you’re used to skyscrapers like New York or Chicago, etc.). Other than going to Staples Center to see a sporting event, there was never a huge draw for downtown activities, unless you worked downtown.

Things are changing. The city is trying to revitalize and woo a professional NFL team is what I hear. They’ve opened a new area called LA Live. Nokia Theater is there. The Grammy Museum as well. There’s a bowling area and restaurants and bars. Some new hotels.

I’ve found it so interesting to see riders in white breeches and tall boots walking around town.

In front of the Staples Center I caught a glimpse of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a couple of young riders.

They passed so quickly I couldn’t get a good look at them (I would be the world’s worst paparazzi). I think it might be Scott Brash and Constant van Paessschen. Perhaps my European readers can confirm this.

I believe this event will be held here again next year. If you’re so inclined, it would be definitely worth your while to try to attend. If you’re somewhat close to California. Or even if you’re not. There’s so much to see and do. I haven’t even told you about the shopping and art yet. Or my photo op with Richard Spooner.

Check in soon for another update.

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