Calgary, Alberta – June 12, 2012 – After successful competitions at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows and the Devon Horse Show, junior rider Abigail McArdle has now traveled to Spruce Meadows, one of the leading international events in the world. During the first week of show, McArdle piloted her top mounts Cosma 20 and Bravoman to excellent finishes in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers. She also traveled to Rocky Mountain Show Jumping for their June Classic, where she was victorious in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search with Apartico.
“The rings at Spruce Meadows are fabulous and my horses have been super consistent,” said McArdle. “It’s been cold and rainy here, but it’s helped because the horses have all stayed really fresh. The courses have been really difficult, and it’s very tough competition. It’s not like any other place where we show; I love being here. It’s such a wonderful experience and every class feels like it is really special.”
McArdle kicked off the week with a fourth place finish in the $5,000 – Gienow 1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumpers aboard Cosma 20, but stepped it up on Friday to finish second in the $10,000 Friends of the Meadows Junior/Amateur Jumpers with a double-clear effort. She also qualified for the jump-off on Saturday, placing third in the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup.
“Cosma was great,” noted McArdle. “On Friday we really went for it in the jump-off. We were really tidy, but there were a couple things we could have done to make up time. It was great to get experience jumping off in a new venue though, and it was a great learning experience.”
McArdle was also successful with her second mount, Bravoman, who competed in the 1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumpers. A double-clear effort in the $3,000 Coril Holdings Jr/Am Welcome netted them the second place award. “I showed Bravoman in the 1.30m this week, and I’ll move him up to the 1.40m over the next few weeks,” she explained. “The course had the water and some tricky combinations. There were also a lot of places to gallop across the field, and that’s where Bravoman can really shine. In the jump-off, there weren’t many clean, so we wanted to go for a quick and confident round, which ended up paying off. I was really happy with him; it was a great first week.”
Over the weekend, McArdle also took some time to compete at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping’s June Classic with her equitation mount, Apartico. The pair proved unstoppable and earned the top call in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
“I brought Apartico up here because I wanted to stay in the groove with him,” commented McArdle. “Rock Mountain Show Jumping has a great facility with nice footing, and it’s really close by. I couldn’t have asked anything more from Apartico, he went wonderfully and I was really thrilled with him.”
McArdle will continue her stay Alberta, Canada, competing during all five weeks Spruce Meadows, one of the leading international events in the world.
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com