Mill Spring, NC – July 25, 2017 – Hayley Waters of Sparr, FL and Uppie De Lis took top honors in the $65,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, stopping the second round timers in 36.021 seconds. David Blake of Wellington, FL and Goldbreaker took second place with a jump-off time of 36.632 seconds, while Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL grabbed third place aboard Clouwni and a short course time of 37.755 seconds.
The $65,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix saw 24 entries, twelve of which returned for the jump-off track set by Dean Rhienheimer. Waters explained that when she walked the course with her trainer, Daniel Damen, they tried to focus on each of her three mounts as individuals. Waters placed in the money with two of her three mounts, earning 12th place honors aboard Qurint.
“Everything [about the course] rode how it walked,” she said. She elaborated that while some elements were challenging for her other mounts, “Uppie”, a 2001 NRPS gelding owned by Chuck Waters, is a veteran jumper and completed the course with ease.
“Uppie’s sixteen – he knows what’s going on. With one of my horses, I knocked a rail on the skinny down because we kind of got going around the turn to it. I was a little close on time with the other horse, but I thought it was a good course. I was surprised by how many went clear tonight,” she added.
Waters has been teamed up with Uppie De Lis since this past winter, which she spent in Ocala, FL. “I bought him from Andy Kocher, who has had a lot of success with him,” she explained. “It’s been really nice to have this horse to learn to jump bigger tracks.”
Although her long-term plans for Uppie De Lis are still unclear, Waters explained that they will travel to Saugerties, NY in the near future and she will continue to learn from him in each competition opportunity they get.
“He’s been a great mount for me. I’ve already l learned so much from him in just a short period of time. I’m really looking forward to where our partnership goes. We’ve had a great season so far and I’m proud of the way he’s gone,” she concluded.
Alexis Trosch of Wellington, FL took top honors in the $35,000 Sunday Jumper Classic, guiding his own Opaline Z around the short course in 40.727 seconds. Emanuel Andrade took both second and third place honors aboard his own U and Gran Mamut, owned by Alder International Management Company, with jump-off times of 39.052 and 39.226 seconds, respectively. Andrade and Trosch were the only riders to guide four entries to the short course out of sixteen trips.
Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL guided Luigi, owned by Caron Stucky, to a top place finish in the $35,000 Suncast® Commercial Welcome Stake with a blazing jump-off time of 34.584 seconds. Alexis Trosch of Wellington, FL took second place aboard his own Opaline Z with a short course time of 36.695 seconds, while Darragh Kerins of Wellington, FL and his own Penelope Cruz took third place, finishing the jump off in 37.908 seconds. The class saw twenty-three entries, four of which came back for the short course set by Dean Rheinheimer.
Hunter Highlights
Megan Wexler of Ocala, FL and Amara, owned by Catherine Merrill, rode to victory in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby after collecting a total two round score of 172. Erika Jakobson of Boca Raton, FL and Nobel Laureate, owned by Barn Rat, LLC, finished in second place with a total score of 167, while Robert Stucky of Waxhaw, NC guided The Girl from Ipanema, owned by Caron Stucky, to third place with a score of 164.
The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Division saw Paige Wilson of Charlotte, NC take top honors aboard her own DiCaprio. Emmanuelle Greenberg of Boca Raton, FL took reserve with Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, LLC’s entry Czech Mate.
The Pre-Adult Hunter 2’6″ Division saw Madison McCreery of Madison, MS and her own Secret take championship honors in the division ahead of Catherine Merrill of Reddick, FL and her own Amara, who collected reserve champion.
Madison McCreery also took top honors in the USHJA Hunter 2’6″ Division aboard Secret, ahead of Steve Heinecke of Charlotte, NC and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve, owned by the Freedom Group.
Morgan Michelle Sollenberger of Concord, NC and Tobasco, owned by Emory & Henry College, bested the Marshall & Sterling Adult-Amateur Hunter Division, while Carol Lynn Nelms of Liberty, NC and her own Socialight BR collected reserve champion honors.
In the Children’s Hunter Pony Division, Anna Marie Mayes of Memphis, TN and Half Moon Bay, owned by Heather Hornor, finished on top ahead of Pilar Ojeda of Waxhaw, NC and her own Tide Creek Allegra.
Heather Richardson McCloud of Bristol, TN and One Casual Dude, owned by Miller Henard, took top honors in the USHJA 2’3″ Hunter Division, while Ginny Herndon of Montgomery, AL and Skymiles, owned by Karen Przygocki, finished in reserve.
Steve Heineke of Charlotte, NC piloted Pamina, owned by Sarah Laffoday, to collect champion honors in the USHJA 3′ Division, while Sara White of Pinecrest, FL and Lexington, owned by Dragonfly Stables Inc., earned reserve champion.
For more information on Tryon International Equestrian Center, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 16, 2017 – Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Bon Jovi found success on the Grass Complex at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), overcoming a challenging short course in 38.465 seconds for the win. The pair finished ahead of Aaron Vale (USA) and Stakko, who took second place with 40.145 seconds, and Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) with Sibell BH in third with a four-fault jump-off time of 37.404 seconds.
The track, set by Martin Otto (GER), tested 34 entries on the Grass Complex at TIEC, and Andrade commented that while he likes riding on grass and footing equally, riding on the grass is a nice change. “The grass always rides differently. It didn’t look huge, but it was hard, because a lot of people were having rails [down] and there were only five clear. It wasn’t easy at all,” he said.
Bon Jovi, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Verdi x Corland) owned by Andrade, is a talented mount who was able to go clear around the short course and shave more than a second from his nearest competitor’s time.
“My horse is naturally quick and I think it was our day. I showed him last night and this morning I tried to change a couple things and it went great actually. I’m very happy with the results. Everything went correctly and we won,” explained Andrade.
He elaborated, “Sometimes you need luck. Bon Jovi is a winner. He always tries really hard and I really like him. I feel lucky to have a horse like that.”
Andrade and his horses will stay at TIEC for a while longer to contest a few more shows before heading to New York to close out his year at HITS Saugerties. With the win coming at the end of the competition, Andrade noted that the $35,000 1.45m Tryon Challenge CSI 2* was a great way to end the week.
“I’m very happy about it. It wasn’t a great weekend [for me], but I closed the week with a nicer result and I couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 15, 2017 – Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Cocq A Doddle earned the victory in the $86,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix CSI 2*, stopping the timers in an impressive 35.819 seconds at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), in the final international grand prix of the 2017 Tryon Summer Series. Following closely behind was Marilyn Little (USA) and Clearwater with a time of 36.343 seconds to earn second place honors, while Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her trusted mount, Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, took home the third place position with a time of 36.565 seconds.
The anticipated highlight class of the week at TIEC boasted 54 total entries, and saw sixteen of those return to test their abilities around the jump-off track set by Martin Otto (GER), who was the course designer. Ramsay had two horses qualified for the jump-off, the other being California 62, who finished in the fifth place position.
Ramsay had the advantage of riding the jump-off course twice, although both of his mounts are quite different. Ramsay elaborated, saying, “It was nice to have two horses to jump-off and have an idea of the track and how it rides, although they are two very different horses. I went third in the jump off with California 62, and she is naturally competitive and fast. We just wanted a solid round. I was thrilled with her. Then Cocq A Doodle came in and I think this jump off suited her a little more.”
Ramsay added that Cocq A Doodle, better known in the barn as ‘Doodles’, is was an appropriate name for the mare, saying, “She came with the name and it really fits her personality. She’s a fun mare and she is full of opinions. When things work out, it is almost like we are ‘doodling’ about the course. The more I stay out of her way, the better she jumps. It is an amazing feeling.”
Cocq A Doodle, a 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare (Tolan R x Niagara) owned by The Doodle Group, and Ramsay have been partnered for the past year and a half, securing multiple top placings across the country before landing the big win at TIEC.
“We have spent the past year just developing her and moving her up and she has been fantastic,” he commented. “Doodle is a very explosive horse and she has a lot of power. After the first three fences in the jump-off tonight, I kind of got a shot of adrenaline like ‘I’m on it! I’m on it!’ and it keeps you going,” Ramsey added with a laugh.
“Heading to the last fence she just picked up a full gallop and luckily she backed herself up and it worked out for us tonight,” he concluded.
Ramsay is excited about the future with the talented mare, with plans to stay in the FEI classes for the rest of the summer, commenting quickly, “We will see where she decides to take us!”
The week marked Ramsay’s final time competing at TIEC this summer and he elaborated on the convenience of the facility as a whole and his happiness with the victory.
“This is my first few weeks here and it is a great facility. The layout is very efficient. You aren’t trekking all over the place to get to the rings. We have 33 horses here, so it works well being able to get to all of the rings nicely.”
Ramsay concluded, saying, “I was told I could not leave TIEC without a win! The class tonight was really a blast. The jump-off was entertaining when the lead kept changing hands, and I am glad I could have the result I did with Doodles. I am thrilled. Hopefully there will be more to come and we will keep at it.”
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) earned the FEI Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinston of Town & Country Realtors in recognition of her performances in international competition throughout the week.
To learn more about Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 9, 2017 – Abigail McArdle (USA) and Chuck Berry 8, who have earned numerous placings in FEI competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) over the past two weeks, finally earned their place at the top of the podium in the $35,000 1.45m Tryon Challenge CSI 3*. The duo finished their jump-off in 42.931 seconds, ahead of Alexis Trosch (ARG) and Opaline Z, who collected second place with a time of 43.699 seconds. Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Thalys Z took third place after completing the short course in 45.063 seconds.
The class was the first FEI class hosted on the Grass Complex at TIEC during the 2017 Tryon Summer Series and saw 38 entries. Oscar Soberon (MEX) continued with international course designing responsibilities for the class. The morning saw six entries advanced to the jump-off round, as five entries finished with a double clear effort on the day. Trosch, who earned second place, also piloted Cantara Z to fifth place and finished as the only rider with two mounts qualified for the jump-off.
“Having the class on the grass field made it a completely different atmosphere for us. Oscar [Soberon] has been really tough this week. The courses have been difficult and you can tell by the number of horses in each jump-off,” she explained. “Rails came down throughout the course, which meant you really had to be on your game to finish with a clear round.”
McArdle, a notoriously fast rider who always is near the top of the standings, has had a great two weeks of competition so far at TIEC, collecting numerous second and third place finishes with Chuck Berry 8, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco-Blue x Watzmann) owned by Plain Bay Sales.
“I ended up going later in the jump-off and was able to watch Alexis take his horses around the course. I saw the lines, the combinations, and how they were riding,” she commented. “I know my horse moves quickly across the ground and I added a bit at the beginning, but think that I really made up the time at the end of the course over the oxer and after the skinny, leaving out more of the gallop strides.”
Chuck Berry 8 is a newer mount for McArdle, added to the Plain Bay Sales team after the winter season in Wellington, FL. McArdle’s goal is to compete the talented gelding in grand prix classes by the end of the year, but has taken a methodical approach to his development.
“He’s a ten-year-old and he’s really turning into a top horse. After this we’ll head back to our home base in Virginia for a few weeks before heading to Michigan to do some of the FEI classes up there,” explained McArdle, as she discussed Plain Bay’s schedule and her plans with Chuck Berry 8.
“We’ve been trying to develop him a bit slower, doing the 1.40m and some of the Under 25 Grand Prix classes, but I’m hoping to be able to move him up to be a grand prix horse this summer. I had a lot of second place finishes last week on this horse and it feels great to finally get the win,” she added.
Collecting her first international win at TIEC this season on the Grass Complex, McArdle expressed her thoughts on the condition of the field and the important flexibility it provides the show, offering riders an opportunity to test their horses in a different environment.
“I thought the footing on the field held up great with all of the rain that we’ve had here in the evenings this week. The base feels awesome and there’s great drainage out there,” detailed McArdle. “It’s been great and it adds a totally different dynamic to the competition.”
Hunter Highlights
The $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ Classic saw Kianna Luscher of Hawthorne, NJ and Carissima W, owned by Northeast Equi-Wave Therapy, LLC, take victory with a total score of 165. Christina Fisher of Alpharetta, GA and her own Levland earned second place with a score of 162, while Bergen Sanderford of Santa Rosa Beach, FL and her own Perspective rounded out the top three with a 160.
Christina Fisher of Alpharetta, GA and Enchanted Evening, owned by Lizabeth Fisher, took top honors in the $1,000 Amateur Owner 3’3″ Classic with a score of 166. Kaitlin Porath of Charlotte, NC and her own Breaux finished in second place with a score of 164, while Alexandra McReady of Annapolis, MD and Corassini, owned by Spring Landing Farm, rounded out the top three with a score of 157.
Thea Bitar of McLean, VA and her own LPF Woodford secured the win in the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3’6″ Classic with a top score of 161.5. Siena Vasan of Boca Raton, FL and Namesake, owned by Palm Ponies, LLC, finished in second place with a 160.5. Avery Lynch of Charlotte, NC and Ledger, owned by Five Henry Stables, rounded out the top three on a 155.
Emmanuelle Greenberg of Boca Raton, FL and Czech Mate, owned by Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, LLC, finished with a win in the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3’3″ Classic on a final score of 163 to secure the win. Katarina Muhlhauser of Claifon, NJ and her own Adele finished in second place on a 157.5, while Katie Kittrell of Madison, GA and her own Javite earned a 156 for third place.
The $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Hunter Incentive 3’3″/3’6″ saw Terry Brown of Canton, GA and Besotted, owned by Showcase Limited, ride to the top of the class. Natalie Geller of Canton, GA and Homepage, owned by Fit to Print Farm, collected second place, while Taylor Ann Adams of Ocala, FL and Leroux, owned by CRA Equestrian, rounded out the top three placings.
Jennifer Smith of Wellington, FL and her own Ocean Mist took top honors in the Adult-Amateur Hunter 50 & Over Division, finishing as the week’s champion combination. Holly Sims of Atlanta, GA and Homepage, owned by Fit to Print Farm, earned reserve champion.
Elizabeth Tarumianz of Charlotte, NC and Renoir Z, owned by Allison Mills, collected champion honors in the Adult-Amateur 36-49 Division ahead of Ashley Waters Whitman of St. Augustine, FL and Heart Breaker, owned by Meredith King, who took reserve.
The Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ Combined Division saw two champion combinations in Christina Fisher of Alpharetta, GA and Enchanted Evening, owned by Lizabeth Fisher, alongside Kaitlin Porath of Charlotte, NC and her own Breaux. Reserve champion honors were bestowed upon Emily Jones of Jacksonville, FL and her own Game Boy, as well as Claudia Pollex of Troutman, NC and her own Lover Boy.
Christina Fisher of Alpharetta, GA and her own Levland, rode to collect champion honors in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6″ Combined Division, ahead of Bergen Sanderford of Santa Rosa Beach, FL and her own Perspective, who finished in reserve.
The Animobile Children’s Hunter Horse 14 & Under Division saw Wiley Johannesmeyer of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and her own Quincy take top divisional honors ahead of Abby George of Franklin, TN and Cornadinski, owned by The Jaeckle Center, who earned reserve champion.
Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, NC and Celtic Gold, owned by Meg Valnoski, were presented with champion honors in the High Performance Hunter 4′ Division, while Blythe Karolyi of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, collected reserve champion accolades.
The Marshall & Sterling Adult-Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division was championed by Grace Bridges of Eatonton, GA and her own Valducchy. Reserve champion was earned by Allison Cederberg of Billings, MT aboard Zero Tolerance, owned by Dru Cederberg.
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 8, 2017 – Andrew Kocher (USA) piloted Navalo De Poheton to an impressive FEI win, topping the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo sped to a jump-off time of 38.89 seconds to finish ahead of Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Casper who collected second place with a jump-off time of 39.194 seconds. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Button Sitte rounded out the top three placings after stopping the timers in 40.379 seconds.
Kocher and Navalo De Poheton bested a large class of 53 entries, as each horse and rider combination tried to capitalize on the difficult track set by Oscar Soberon (MEX). Only seven pairs advanced to the jump-off round, with three of the qualified riders incurring four jumping faults. The time was tight to beat in the first round, nearly adding five more combinations to the jump-off, but a single time fault kept them from taking their turn around the short course.
“I think course building is hard. It’s hard to get it right, but I thought that Oscar [Soberon] did a great job tonight,” said Kocher. “He used a lot of old fashioned elements around the track. There was that hedge and some filling in the jumps that I think made some horses look or even get a bit more careful.
“The smaller ‘S’ curve in the middle of the track caught people off guard and A to B of the triple combination started to back people off a bit, but he got seven in the jump-off, which was the number you were really looking for,” he added.
Knowing that a strong contingent of fast riders was slated to enter the George H. Morris Arena behind him in the jump-off, Kocher was prepared to produce a fast round, but wanted to try and avoid making risky errors, which he admitted are typically is downfall.
“The mistakes that I usually make are going way too fast and having rails down. I knew I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to go fast, but be comfortable and try to leave two out in the last line. I got lucky with Kristen [Vanderveen]. I think she could have left three out and would have beaten me by a mile,” he laughed.
Navalo De Poheton, a 2001 Selle Francais gelding (Cumano x Double Espoir) owned by MKO Equestrian LLC, spent most of his upper level international career with U.S. rider Schuyler Riley before changing hands to Kocher and team earlier this season. Originally purchased as a potential sale horse for an amateur rider, Kocher quickly realized the gelding had not yet had enough of the grand prix atmosphere.
“He was Schuyler Riley’s top horse for many years. He injured himself shipping back from Spruce Meadows and had been laid up and rehabbing for some time. I anticipated selling him as a Low Child/Adult jumper, but he can get a bit strong and has an attitude, so I decided to try and jump him myself and the rest has been history,” he explained. “He’s probably my top horse at the moment. When we first started together, he won two grand prix classes in Tulsa, OK and then we went to Devon and won there too.”
Kocher has been extremely pleased with how the pair’s partnership has started since his purchase, as they took top honors in the Welcome Stake CSI 4* at Devon Horse Show earlier this spring and also placed well during the Upperville Horse Show CSI 4*. The gelding has seen some of the biggest tracks in the world, adding an additional and versatile threat to Kocher’s ever-growing string.
“He is older so I’m trying to be conservative with him too. He hasn’t jumped a single fence since Upperville, which was at the beginning of June. He did well in the Welcome Stake here on Thursday too,” elaborated Kocher. “His next class won’t be until the FEI World Cup Qualifier in Bromont, Quebec later this summer.”
With Kocher’s father, Kelly Kocher, based locally in the Tryon area, it’s always a pleasure and highlight for Kocher’s team to return to the venue and hopes to, at some point, use the area as a summer base for his operation. He explained, “I bought some property here and love to see this venue keep growing. In the future I’d like to base here for the summer and use that property to be able to be here more often.”
Attesting to and recognizing the crowd size and enthusiasm of the night, Kocher commented on the engaging and electrifying atmosphere surrounding the George H. Morris Arena, which always gets him excited to compete under the lights.
“This is one of the best rings in North America. I’ve been everywhere and go to a lot of smaller shows that most professionals wouldn’t go to, just in some of the more obscure areas,” he said. “This is one of the best venues that I’ve ever been to. Of course, it’s a beautiful facility, but they do an amazing job getting a great crowd here week in and week out. We love it here.”
Kristen Vanderveen captured the FEI Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinson of Town & Country Realtors once again this circuit, based on her winning performance in the $35,000 Suncast® Commercial Welcome Stake CSI 3* on Thursday aboard Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili and her fifth place finish in this grand prix. Andrew Kocher’s groom, Chance Williams, was presented with the Absorbine® FEI Groom’s Award, which honors the groom of the winning grand prix combination, shining well-deserved light on their hard work and commitment to the care and well-being of the winning mount.
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 7, 2017 – Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA and Flamingo-K, owned by Ceil Wheeler, finished as the winning pair in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo were tied for second place after the first round with a combined score of 177 and turned in another strong performance in the handy round, earning a score of 200, for a total score of 377. Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, NC and Celtic Gold, owned by Meg Valnoski, secured the second place honors with a two round total of 368, while Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI and Olympic Fire, owned by Roger Smith, rounded out the top three with a score of 363.
Tosh and family made a special trip to TIEC for the weekend, bringing only Flamingo-K to contest the duo’s abilities in this very class. Navigating the handy round with precision and beauty, the duo ended the day with a blue ribbon, proving the journey to be well worth their travels. Tosh and Flamingo-K have only been partnered for a short time and this was Tosh’s second class with the 12-year-old chestnut gelding.
“He is very new to us,” Tosh explained. “The Wheelers bought him for me at Devon this year because they have been looking for that special derby horse. I showed him in one other derby before this, so I am really just getting to know him.”
Flamingo-K only started competing in the hunter discipline this year, originally coming from the jumpers, and his transition to the hunter derby ring has been flawless. Tosh detailed how Flamingo-K is very well suited for derbies, saying, “He finds the jumps really well. I hate trot jumps. I think I’ve lost more classes because of trot jumps, but he is a good trot jumper and that helps out! With his scope, you just have so much range. You can be where it’s not optimal and he makes up for it. He has a great rhythm and is just really fun to ride.”
Although the mount is rather new, he spoke very highly of the horse’s ability to perform in the big George H. Morris Arena.
“He is a blast to ride. He is super scopey, brave, very careful, and really just a sweet horse. I think he is going to be an amazing derby horse.”
Tosh’s daughter, Maddie Tosh, competed multiple mounts in last weekend’s $10,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Tosh had never showed in this arena and therefore relied on his daughter’s insight for the class.
“The best part about Maddie is that she is so hands on in the barn and she knows all of the horses just as well as I do and everything about them. I told her tonight she would have to give me pointers on how to show in this ring because I have never shown in it before! So I asked her how it rode and for her advice,” laughed Tosh.
Tosh and his team have loved their experience at TIEC, especially after his impressive win. Tosh commented on the layout details of the TIEC, saying, “We love it here. The footing and the facility overall is just so nice. You are standing under shaded covers with fans in-between rounds. I mean you can’t ask for more accommodations at a horse show. What they have done here is phenomenal.”
Tosh was very appreciative of the opportunity to compete in such a large ring, while also expressing his gratitude to the Wheeler family, saying, “I can’t thank them enough for buying him for me to ride. They have been after me for a derby horse for quite some time, and we finally got one!”
Todd Minikus and Exceptional Take $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL and Exceptional were just that in the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC. Minikus and Exceptional bested twenty-six other pairings with phenomenal scores of 92 and 96, capturing the win by more than ten points with a final score of 188. Taylor Ann Adams of Ocala, FL and Lucretia finished in second place with a two round score of 177.5, while Kianna Luscher of Hawthorne, NJ and Carissima W took third place with 175 points after two rounds.
Todd Minikus and Exceptional
Minikus explained that he wasn’t sure how to approach the inside turns for the handy round in particular with this horse, and needed to improvise a bit on course, which Exceptional, owned by Todd Minikus LTD, handled with ease.
He commented, “I thought it was a very nice course. The inside turns in the handy were really inside, which I do have some practice with, but he’s a very green horse and I didn’t know how he would take it. He handled it exceptionally well and evidently the judges thought he did it as well as I did!”
The pair has been together since midway through the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit in Wellington, FL when a friend of Minikus found Exceptional in Belgium and connected the two. A six-year-old bay gelding, Exceptional has only done six or seven shows in his career.
“He was champion both this week and last week, so he’s turned himself into a real winner,” said Minikus. “We make our living selling horses, so hopefully somebody wants to have a winner and buys him from me, but until that time, I’ll continue to show him in his prospective division and these derbies. Hopefully we’ll keep winning,” he added with a smile.
Sharn Wordley and Famoso D Ive Z Take $6,000 Nutrena® 1.40m Classic CSI 3*
Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Famoso D Ive Z topped the $6,000 Nutrena® 1.40m Classic CSI 3* on the Grass Complex at TIEC, stopping the jump-off timers at 37.09 seconds. Kyle Timm (CAN) and Georgie B sped to second with a 38.179 second dash, while Erynn Ballard (CAN) took third place aboard Thalys Z, stopping the timers in 39.845 seconds.
Famoso D Ive Z, a 2007 Zangersheide gelding (For Pleasure x Chin Chin) owned by Sky Group & Sharn Wordley, has been with Wordley for two years now and the pair have amassed an impressive record together.
“The horse came from Europe, so he jumped on grass quite a bit, but I’ve had him for two years and this was my fifth class on grass,” he explained. “We don’t have much grass around. He loved it today and he was fantastic.”
In the last year, Wordley and Famoso D Ive Z have won seven ranking classes together at TIEC alone and Wordley emphasized that he is an important horse in his successful string.
“He wins a lot of classes. He’s fast. He does the ranking classes to save the grand prix horses or if there’s a grand prix that’s appropriate to him. He’s a good horse and very fast.
“I love TIEC. It’s one of my favorite horse shows. I think now, too, they’ve got the grass fantastic to ride on and it’s really good,” he said. “Oscar [Soberon] did a great job and always builds good courses. He’s a great course designer.”
For more information on Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 6, 2017 – Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili won yet again at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), this time victorious in the $35,000 1.45m Suncast® Commercial Welcome Stake CSI 3*. Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili stopped the timers in 36.296 seconds to take the win ahead of Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cade, who earned second place with a time of 36.514 seconds. Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Terceira collected third place, finishing the short course in 37.722 seconds.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili went towards the end of the class order, which saw 75 entries test the track set by Oscar Soberon (MEX). Seventeen combinations qualified for the short course, in which seven pairs finished the morning with a double clear effort on the day.
“I thought the course looked really challenging when I walked it, so I was surprised that there were so many clean. I didn’t think it would be such a big jump off,” said Vanderveen. “The strides worked out a little bit nicer than I thought. There were a few half strides that I was debating, but everything came up nice when riding.
“I thought [Oscar] used some spookier elements today to keep it interesting, so that was fun for both the horses and riders I think,” she added.
Vanderveen added four jumping faults at the last fence with her first ride Bull Run’s Testify, but was able to return to the jump-off aboard her impressive mount Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, more commonly known as “Frosty” in the stable. She commented, “It was really nice that Frosty pulled through and gave me another try for win.”
Vanderveen will now wait see how many horses she will be able to enter in the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, July 8, but noted that she’ll choose Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili for Saturday if she has to pick between the two. Vanderveen will be one of more than forty entries expected to contest Saturday night’s competition.
This win follows a string of impressive accomplishments for Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, a 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, as their consistency has outmatched other combinations at TIEC all season. When asked what makes them so good together, Vanderveen emphasized how rare her situation actually is.
“I’m just enjoying it while it lasts. Every rider knows this doesn’t happen so often, so I’m just trying to soak up every minute of it. He’s in top form right now and it’s working out for us. I’m just thankful.”
Vanderveen elaborated on why she enjoys showing at TIEC, as the venue has brought her some of her fondest career victories and her appetite to win has been exercised to its fullest extent. She laughed and said, “It’s working out great for us. The horses love showing here and I love winning!”
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Todd Minikus at award ceremony for finish on Incitatus in the $86,000 Adequan® Grand Prix FEI CSI2* (Photo courtesy of Todd Minikus)
Tryon, NC (July 6, 2017) – Todd Minikus and Incitatus opened up the Week V competition at Tryon CSI 2* in a big way, handily winning the $6000 1.40m Nutrena Power CSI 2* and Speed Open, by besting a field of 56 entries. After going clean in the first round, the duo prevailed in the jump off, finishing out the round with a sizzling 31.45. Lawaetz’s flashy Oldenberg gelding Incitatus then forged onward with Minikus at the helm, seizing an impressive 3rd place amongst 45 entries in the $86,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI2*.
Minikus noted, “This was a nice win for Incitatus. His owner, Alice Lawaetz, and I are so pleased with his progress. He continues to show his great potential and I am excited to see how he develops. I think he is going to be a top-notch jumper.”
As usual Minikus’ feet barely hit the ground between rounds – jumping from one mount to another to notch additional wins and top placings on a bevy of mounts throughout the competition. VDL Excel continued to shine in the 1.40m Open Jumper division, seizing another first place win and several additional top placings. Minikus and Chablis S owned by Los Establos SportHorses, dominated 55 other horse and rider teams to win first place and bragging rights in the Adequan 1.30m Open Jumper class. Chablis S and Minikus then stayed the course, picking up another reserve ribbon in the same division to boot.
Minikus continued on with this winning ways with his own horses — Exceptional outperformed in the Green Hunter 3’ 3” classes again, winning a championship ribbon and taking three reserves. Minikus’ mare Spring Girl took a second place in the 1.10m Open Jumper class with Minikus at the reins.
“Most of these horses are young and gaining experience. This summer at Tryon is all about bringing them up the levels. It is so rewarding to see them come into their own and fulfill their potential,” explained Minikus.
Minikus is scheduled to compete at Tryon throughout July 17th. To keep up with FEI Nations Cup veteran and U.S. Pan American Games Team Bronze Medalist Minikus and his crew, follow on Facebook and Instagram @Todd_Minikus, or visit www.ToddMinikusShowJumping.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 5, 2017 – Santiago Lambre (MEX) guided Casino N to a win in the $6,000 1.40m Nutrena® Power & Speed CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Lambre and Casino N topped the class with a time of 30.805 seconds. Abigail McArdle (USA) also enjoyed another top three placing aboard Chuck Berry 8, after finishing with a time of 31.091 seconds. Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Thalys Z rounded out the top three after stopping the timers in 31.49 seconds.
Lambre and Casino N, in their first outing in the past few weeks at TIEC, put forth a carefully executed power round before capitalizing on efficiency and skill in the speed phase of the course. Forty-four entries opened up the first day of international competition, while 31 pairs advanced to the speed portion of the class. Oscar Soberon (MEX) will handle course design for FEI classes in both the George H. Morris Arena, as well as on the Grass Complex.
“He’s fast and we’ll jump again tomorrow in the ranking class,” said Lambre. “I thought the course was nice and it was two phases, so there were some short turns in the second portion of the course. You could do fewer strides in your line and we had a very nice round.”
Lambre is a notoriously quick rider and was sure to bring that quality to the ring. He commented, “I left out a stride in the speed portion of the class. The line walked as a seven and we did six instead and we turned very quickly to the vertical.”
While Lambre now pilots the 2007 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Careful x Ahorn) owned by Stephex Stables, the horse was initially meant to be a ride for Lambre’s wife, before realizing that the horse’s scope and talent were quality at the FEI levels.
“I’m going to keep the horse fit and competing before she starts riding again in November. She’ll take over the ride again at the beginning of the next winter season,” he explained. “Once you win on the first day you have some good motivation to do as well the next, so I am hoping that we will have another top result tomorrow when the class gets a bit bigger.”
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
Santiago Lambre and Ibabco Take $35,000 Tryon 1.45m Challenge CSI 2*
Mill Spring, NC – July 2, 2017 – Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili topped another grand prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), this time laying claim to the $86,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 2*. Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili stopped the jump-off timers in 38.341 seconds to take the win ahead of Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Silteplait De Circee, who earned second place with a time of 41.389 seconds. Todd Minikus (USA) and Incitatus collected third place, finishing just behind Kerins in 41.945 seconds.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili went towards the end of the class order, which saw 45 entries test the first track set by Ken Krome (USA). Ten combinations ultimately moved forward to the short track in which six pairs finished the morning with a double clear effort on the day.
“He felt ready to go last night and I knew that he would do well, so I was a little disappointed in the way the weather rolled in, but he gave me that same feeling today and we just went for it,” said Vanderveen. “He stays about the same for classes during the day and at night because he just loves to compete.”
The pair’s partnership has reached new heights, as their consistency and tenacity together have outmatched other combinations at TIEC all season. After walking the course, Vanderveen thought that it was tricky enough to catch some riders off guard, which ended up being the case.
“I thought that it walked a little tough to be honest, which it should though. It was tricky and it needed to be. I think that Ken knew he needed to build a bit technical since there are so many top horses here for the 2*,” she explained. “The lines came up quite fast and there were a lot of turns and half steps where you could make your own decisions, making it a bit more challenging.”
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, a 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, also proved their handiness in the jump-off round, which saw nine other competitive entries vie for the win. Vanderveen commented, “He felt super. That was just one of those jump-offs where everything shows up out of the turn like you plan on and there was just enough running and turning to make it tight. It was really smooth for him.”
With top performances coming in international competition at TIEC throughout the duration of their partnership, Vanderveen has sights set on expanding her growing business, as well as potentially representing the United States in FEI Nations’ Cup™ competition if the opportunity arises.
“I have a really strong client base right now and we just imported some talented young horses that arrived here last week,” she elaborated. “If we get the chance to do a Nation’s Cup competition, it would be a dream come true.”
Speaking to her growing confidence, Vanderveen explained that her success with Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili has in turn helped her riding on each of her other mounts, as she now feels consistently competitive on a major international stage.
“He’s really helped me with the other horses too. I go into the ring now with the mindset and idea that I can do this and I can win,” she said. “He’s given me that extra confidence that we belong here and have every reason to believe that we can win against the best in the world.”
Abigail McArdle (USA) received the FEI Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award presented by Meg Atkinson of Town and Country Realtors, while Vanderveen’s groom, Luis Salvaras, was awarded with the Absorbine® FEI Groom’s Award, honoring his care and commitment to Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili.
Emma Jolly of Keswick, VA and Mischief Managed, the winning combination of the $10,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, were welcomed to the George H. Morris Arena for a special recognition ceremony before the highlight class of the week to honor their achievements during the first annual USHJA Foundation Pony Hunter Spectacular. Roger and Jennifer Smith of Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP) also presented William Dobbs of the USHJA Foundation with a check of support from TEP for the organization and their mission.
Santiago Lambre and Ibabco Take $35,000 Tryon 1.45m Challenge CSI 2*
Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Ibabco, the winning duo of the past Thursday’s $35,000 1.45m Suncast® Commercial Welcome Stake CSI 2*, also earned top honors in the final FEI class of the week, racing to victory in the $35,000 Tryon 1.45m Challenge CSI 2*, which followed the conclusion of the $86,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 2* in George H. Morris Arena.
Santiago Lambre and Ibabco
The duo completed the jump-off track in 38.442 seconds to secure the win ahead of Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Aristoteles V, who crossed through the timers in 39.813 seconds. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Caiman Des Sequoias finished in third place with a jump-off time of 39.813 seconds.
Forty entries tested the track, also set by the week’s FEI course designer Ken Krome (USA). Only four pairs advanced to the jump-off round, while the top three finishers completed the class with the only recorded double clear efforts.
Ibabco, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Nabab De Reve x Darco), flew through the jump-off track with Lambre piloting from the irons, earning their third FEI win at TIEC since the end of May.
Kady Abrahamson and Charline 28 Win $20,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Jumper Classic
Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, OH and Charline 28, owned by Abrahamson Equestrian, finished atop the $20,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Jumper Classic after blazing through the jump-off track to best the competition by nearly three seconds.
Abrahamson and Charline 28 finished the track in 35.487 seconds ahead of Abigail Evans of Spicewood, TX and her own Cyrus, who took second place with a time of 38.058 seconds. Simon Salame, who competes internationally for the country of Mexico, took third place aboard Elmo 19, owned by Christian Glaneman.
The class saw sixteen entries, while only four combinations produced a clear round inside the time, moving them forward to the short course. Abrahamson and Evans were the only two riders to finish with a double clear effort in the jump-off.
Isabella Durnell of Suwannee, GA and her own Carlton Diva were victorious in the $1,000 Pony Jumper Classic in the George H. Morris Arena after finishing with a jump-off time of 26.615 seconds. Ansgar Holtgers Jr. of Wellington, FL and Fort Lauderdale, owned by Daisy Talbert, captured second place with a jump-off time of 27.572 seconds. Isabella Cheers of Shallotte, NC and her own Park Avenue rounded out the top three with a jump-off time of 30.689 seconds, while adding four faults to their score.
Hunter Highlights
Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA and Uptown, owned by Douglas Wheeler, took first place in the $1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive with a total score of 88. Daniel Geitner of Aiken, SC and Eleventh Hour, owned by Brenda Mackay, collected second place with a score of 87, ahead of Natalie Geller of Canton, GA and Homepage, owned by Fit to Print Farm, who finished in third place with a score of 86.
The $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3’3″ & 3’6″ saw Alexandra Desiderio of Chester, NJ and Joker De Fallogne, owned by Tranquility Farm, ride to a score of 163 for first place. Kimberley Quinn of Charlotte, NC and her own Sail On take second place with a 161, while Kaitlin Porath of Charlotte, NC and her own Breaux collected third place on a score of 158.
Siena Vasan of Boca Raton, FL and Namesake, owned by Palm Ponies LLC, took top honors in the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3’6″ Classic with a score of 164. Vasan also secured second place aboard Skolar, owned by Carriage Hill Farm, after receiving a 163. Tanner Korotkin of Wellington, FL and Aribo, owned by Sandalwood Farms, rounded out the top three with a score of 156.
Beverly Davis of Harrisburg, NC and her own Alchemist secured victory in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic 3’3″ with a total score of 150. Raegan Landrum of Winter Park, FL and her own Contano took second place with a score of 139. Emmanuelle Greenberg of Boca Raton, FL and Czech Mate, owned by Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, LLC, finished in third with a score of 138.
Maddie Tosh of Milton, GA and Love Me Tender, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, rode to victory in the $2,500 Pony Hunter Classic after receiving a final score of 167. Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC and Childs Play Hot Topic, owned by Mia Abelo, finished in second on a score of 166.5, while Abigail Gordon of Statesville, NC and her own Farmore State of the Art, rounded out the top three with a score of 165.5.
The $500 Green Pony Hunter Classic saw Emma Jolly of Keswick, VA and Sunset’s Sparkle, owned by Sunset Farm, finish with a final score of 151 to top the class. Marissa Santaniello of Waxhaw, NC and her own Bed Head Ned took second place with a score of 142, ahead of Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC and All Yours, owned by Jessie Marie Spade, who placed third with a 139.
Stephanie Zimmerman of Atlanta, GA and her own Crusader finished as divisional champions in the Marshall & Sterling Adult-Amateur Hunter Division, ahead of Ashley Waters Whitman of St. Augustine, FL and Heart Breaker, owned by Meredith King, who collected reserve champion.
Jennifer Smith of Wellington, FL took both champion and reserve champion in the Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur 50 & Over Division aboard her own Ocean Mist for champion and Olympic Fire, owned by Roger Smith, for reserve.
The Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Combined Division saw Kaitlin Porath of Charlotte, NC and her own Breaux finish with champion honors. Emily Jones of Jacksonville, FL and her own Game Boy collected reserve champion accolades.
Grayson Shelton of Charlotte, NC and Accomac, owned by Ashlen Rowe, captured top honors in the Children’s Hunter Horse 14 & Under Division. Sophia Mitchell of Wrightsville Beach, NC and her own Keepsake finished with reserve champion.
The Green Hunter 3’3″ Division saw Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL and Exceptional, owned by Todd Minikus, Ltd., ride to collect champion honors. Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA and Lights Out, owned by Ceil Wheeler, were presented with reserve champion.
The Green Hunter 3’6″ Division saw Hunt Tosh guide Patriot, owned by The Wheeler Family, to solid performances throughout the week, ultimately placing them atop the division. Jodi Vazquez of Mettawa, IL and Hula Hoop, Elizabeth Corey, take reserve champion.
The High Performance Hunter 4′ Division was championed by Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA and CasanoVA, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, while Blythe Karolyi of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, finished with reserve champion honors.
Maddie Tosh of Miton, GA and her own Cozy Up, rode to the top of the Medium Pony Hunter Division, while Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC and C.E. Remarkable, owned by Fielding Stichman, collected reserve champion.
The Small Pony Hunter Division saw Abigail Gordon of Statesville, NC and her own Farmore State of the Art ride to collect champion honors. Jessie Marie Spade of Terrell, NC and her own With Applause were presented with reserve champion.
Marissa Santaniello of Waxhaw, NC and her own Bed Head Ned rode to the top of the Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter Division. Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC and All Yours, owned by Jessie Marie Spade, finish in reserve.
For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.
