#BestOfBlenheim – A Closer Looke with Trent McGee and Julia Rossow
In this first edition of the year, meet young, up-and-coming professionals Trent McGee and Julia Rossow!
Trent McGee
After joining Brookway Stables as working student three years ago, Trent McGee, 19, is now a working student for the Lake View Terrace, CA-based farm. During the Blenheim Ranch & Coast Classic, McGee earned the win in the U25 Jumper Classic.
Trent: I’ve always been told by those closest to me to follow my dreams, which has made all the difference in my life. My advice to other riders would be to obsess over the preparation leading up to competition. If you demand perfection at home, then you’ll be in the best mindset come showtime.
Who is your biggest influence?
Trent: It’s hard to choose just one. In my personal life it would definitely be my parents. They’ve sacrificed a tremendous amount to allow me to pursue my goals. In my riding there have been many people. My boss and trainer, Archie Cox, has completely changed my career. Caitlin Steimle has been my primary mentor, along with Cassio Rivetti and Karli Schroeder.
What’re you streaming?
Trent: My taste in music is really all over the map. I’m currently streaming a lot of Guns N’ Roses, Imagine Dragons, Luke Combs, and Jay-Z. I’m more of a movie guy, but who doesn’t love watching The Office?
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of horses?
Trent: Usually I spend a lot of time with my family. I’m a huge fan of other sports like F1 and baseball so usually I’m watching that with my brother.
What’s your best horse show memory? And your best Blenheim memory?
Trent: My best Blenheim memory came not too long ago – winning the grand prix here in April. My best horse show memory was definitely winning team bronze for Zone 10 at Prix des States in 2020.
Julia Rossow
Julia Rossow, 27, turned professional in 2017 when she began working for Chad Mahaffey Stables as an assistant trainer. Now, Rossow is making a name for herself as a top hunter professional.
Who is your biggest influence?
Julia: That’s a tough one! If I started a list it would go on forever. I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and receive guidance from many of the incredible professionals in our industry. The generosity I’ve received from these professionals sharing their time and knowledge has been an integral part of the development of my career. To say I am grateful is an understatement.
Julia: Well, let’s start with the fact that I had to ask David Portener what he meant by streaming! I truly don’t watch much television because it puts me to sleep, but if I happen to stay awake, I enjoy documentaries specifically about music. Recently I have watched “Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives”, “David Foster Off the Record,” and “Dolly Parton: Here I Am.” If you don’t like music, the Abercrombie and Fitch documentary was absolutely fascinating!
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of horses?
Julia: I travel a lot for horse shows, so when I am home I am a total homebody. Right now, I am on a cleaning and organizing streak. It can keep me occupied for hours.
If you know me, I am a handful of nuts and a coffee type of gal, but there’s this diner by my house that I cannot stay away from so breakfast there has become a Monday morning tradition.
What’s your best horse show memory? And your best Blenheim memory?
Julia: I have two horse show memories I hold close to my heart – one as a rider the other as a coach.
In 2020, I won the WCHR Developing Pro Challenge aboard Chantilly, owned by Malibu Valley Farms. It took a village to get there and I am beyond grateful to everyone who helped me along the way.
As a coach, I will never forget being at Middleburg in 2019 with Marina Boudreau and again, Chantilly. Marina was showing in the 3’3” juniors and laid down the round of a lifetime scoring a 92 from the judges.
The Blenheim shows here at “The Oaks” are one of the first places I got to show on the A circuit, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Most recently, I won the $15,000 USHJA Professional National Hunter Derby aboard West Coast Equine Partners’ Crowd Pleaser. It was such a fun class and definitely a standout Blenheim moment for me!
All photos by McCool Photography
