Sneak Peek of Stardom With Erin Nichols and Elian Royale

Friday, May 5, Temecula, California. Erin Nichols and Elian Royale were the only contenders in the CDIU25 Intermediaire II, but they put on quite a show. A pair for just eight months, 19-year-old Erin and the KWPN by Glocks Johnson NOP earned a 69.441%, putting the world on notice before joining the U-25 European Tour next month with Team USA.

Photo ©thewestequestrian.com

"He's very hot," said Erin, who juggles prepping Elian and her longtime partner Handsome Rob for Europe while finishing her freshman year at Chapman University. "He's a little firecracker and has lots of go and so much power. I'm always like 'Easy buddy... We don't need any more than this.'"

Perfect Prep for Euro Tour

The DASC Spring Benefit class, sponsored by Sean Caddell & Associates Real Estate, is the perfect prep for Europe, Erin said. "He only had one CDI under his belt before we got him and we wanted him to get a little more experience with the bigger arena, atmosphere and all the judges."

Erin's trainer David Wightman found Elian while on the European tour last year. "He's a hot, tricky horse and they'd had some trouble finding a match for him," Erin recounted. It was love at first ride for Erin, though. "We clicked automatically. His owner, his trainer Dirk Glitz and David were like, 'Wow!'"

Erin makes the most of his hot temperament by "being his Zen, telling him it's okay."

The judging panel for the CDI3* Grand Prix and the CDIU25 Intermediaire II was comprised of Maria Schwennesen, Sarah Geikie, Stephen Clarke, Brenda Minor and Jane Weatherwax.