Category Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ Take $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12

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Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’. Photo © Sportfot.

Darragh Kenny and Prof de la Roque Dash to Victory in $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m; Scott Stewart and Golden Rule Take All in Perfect Products High Performance Hunters at FTI WEF

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued with its twelfth week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Thursday with a full schedule of jumper action in the International Arena. The Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series hosted its final leg of the twelve-week series with a win for Beezie Madden (USA) and Cortes ‘C’. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Prof de la Roque won the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m, and the young jumpers hosted their first classic of the week.

FTI WEF week twelve, sponsored by FTI Consulting, runs March 26-30, 2014. Friday will host the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old and $20,000 Adequan 7- and 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Classics. The $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final and $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* will be held on Saturday along with round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which concludes on the derby field on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Live streaming is available on Saturday, March 29, at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST for the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. Live streaming will begin with the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final Jump-off. Watch here: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2014-fti-finale-grand-prix-live.

Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) set the track for Thursday’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup competition, which saw 69 competitors in round one with 15 clear rides to advance to the jump-off. Eight jumped double clear over the short course, where Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ blazed through the course in 36.91 seconds for the win, second to last in the jump-off order. The pair surpassed the time of last week’s winners, Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Zigali P S, who finished second in 37.74 seconds. Jessica Springsteen (USA) had another great finish with Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W, placing third with their time of 38.19 seconds.

This was the second win of the series for Madden and Cortes ‘C’ after the pair also topped the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 during CSIO week. They now have their sights set on Saturday night’s big class as the finale to the circuit.

“He is fantastic. He just canters around and jumps over the fences,” Madden praised Cortes. “He makes my job very easy. I know him quite well right now, so I know where I can leave strides out and I know where I might want to do the normal strides. He is so solid about everything; I feel like I don’t have to do this or have to do that, I can do whatever I think is best to jump the course clear.”

Detailing her plan in jump-off, Madden noted, “In the beginning I was going to hunt around nice, but then it looked like I could probably take a shot at winning without taking a lot of risk, especially when McLain (Ward) did seven (strides) up the first line as easy as he did on his second horse. I thought if somebody could do it, then I could do it the same. I was just nice back to the vertical and I knew I could take a cut into that double with him, and then the end was kind of how I would have done it anyway even if I wasn’t blazing around, so it worked out good for me. I would have done the end the same anyway just to get him to gallop. He goes Saturday night too, so it is good for him to really gallop and set himself up at the fences.”

Madden feels good going into the finale grand prix with another win for Cortes and hopes for a good class. “It is nice. Sometimes you wouldn’t run a horse before a big class like that, but I didn’t think I had to run that fast,” she admitted. “He seems to like it, to just be able to go, and it is nice to be able to set the tone for the week and be on a roll.”

Madden chose to use Cortes for Saturday night after making the decision to take Simon back to the FEI World Cup Finals this year to defend his championship title. Cortes remains confident showing day or night, and Madden looks forward to a great end to the circuit.

“He has been confident at night,” she stated. “I have to say when he was younger the first year here, the night bothered him a little, but knock on wood since then he has been very good at night.”

The horse is also very simple to prepare, no matter how big the class. “This morning he got a few bucks out on the lunge line because he had not shown in a while and it was windy and cold,” Madden explained. “He never acts that fresh when I’m on him, but he has it pent up sometimes, so it is nice for him to get some bucks out. Then I flatted him and went. He is pretty simple that way. I will probably give him a light day tomorrow and then a flat Saturday morning and go. He is uncomplicated, and we try to keep it that way.”

Darragh Kenny and Prof de la Roque Dash to Victory in $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m

A $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class was held earlier on Thursday with a win for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Postage Stamp Farm LLC’s Prof de la Roque. Seventy-six entries showed in the one round competition with 14 clear rounds. Kenny and the eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Kannan x Damiro B) completed the fastest round in 59.54 seconds for the win.

They were over a full second faster than second place finishers, McLain Ward (USA) and Zander, who stopped the clock in 60.57 seconds. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane finished third in 61.49 seconds, and Daniel Deusser (GER) and Stephex Stables’ Domingo placed fourth in 61.54 seconds.

Prof de la Roque has had several top placings throughout the FTI WEF circuit, but Kenny noted that this was actually his first win. “It only took 12 weeks to do it,” he joked. “He is a super competitive horse. He was second in a 1.50m and he was second, third, and fourth in some of the other world ranking speed classes. He has been a really good horse for me, and today he was fantastic.”

“He is a little bit odd, but he wants to leave the jumps up,” Kenny detailed. “You can go as fast as you can go with him. You can go so fast, it is unbelievable, and he just wants to miss the jumps. He is actually really easy to ride and he is really fun. He is just better when he is going a lot.”

“I couldn’t believe I was faster than McLain, actually, because McLain was flying,” Kenny said of his round. “I think after the double of liverpools, there was seven strides to the vertical, and then I turned really, really, really tight after that vertical to the next vertical. He is really great because he lands really soft at the back of the jump, so you can turn very tight.”

Speaking about his history with the horse, Kenny explained, “I have had him for a little bit. I jumped him in a couple of world cups during indoors, and now in Old Salem he will jump the grand prix classes and in Spruce Meadows he will jump some of the bigger classes. He jumped one or two grand prix down here good with one down, really unlucky, but he is also great because he can do those classes too and win in the speed classes also. That was his last class of the circuit today, so we went out with a bang.”

Also showing in the International Arena on Thursday, the $10,000 Gut Einhaus 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic was held, awarding top honors to every entry with a clear round. There was an eight-way tie for the championship between Carracci Blue and Christina Kelly, Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Nolita and Vasco Flores, Haylee Jerkins’ El Corda and Sarah Sturges, North Star’s Char Grey and Rodrigo Pessoa, Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Clemenza and Luis Miguel Martinez, Eldato and Shaine Brooks, Jocky Club DB and Maggie Mcalary, and Windosr Farm Sales’ Forget Me Not Windsor Z and Renato Troiani.

Scott Stewart and Golden Rule Take All in Perfect Products High Performance Hunters at FTI WEF

Scott Stewart and Golden Rule were crowned division champions of the Perfect Products High Performance Hunter division on Friday morning of the final week of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Golden Rule, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Stephanie Danhakl, topped the division after finishing first in three over fences classes and second under saddle. The pair also placed fourth in another over fences round.

The reserve champion for the division was Summer Place, ridden by Haylie Jayne and owned by Pony Lane Farm. Jayne piloted Summer Place to sixth, second, fourth, and second over fences and fifth under saddle.

Stewart imported Golden Rule at the beginning of 2014 and debuted the gelding during the fourth week of the FTI WEF. Golden Rule picked up one of his first division championships during the most competitive hunter competition of the season, World Championship Hunter Rider Week 6, and hasn’t slowed down since. Danhakl, one of Stewart’s clients, recently bought the gelding for herself and was division champion of the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division during week eleven of the FTI WEF.

“He’s been great. We got him week four. Week five was his first time. He’s been unbelievable. Stephanie was champion last week the first time showing him, so he’s been a dream,” Stewart smiled.

Stewart carefully chose which weeks to show the horse, making sure to give him several weeks away from the show ring. “This is only his fifth show I believe. So he’s not feeling burnt out. This is still all new to him. Yesterday, actually, in the first class he was a little bit too interested. He was a little bit looky. But he doesn’t feel like it’s Week 12!” Stewart laughed.

Golden Rule has certainly made a statement in his first few months on American soil, and Stewart has been thrilled to see the big chestnut only get better as the weeks go by.

“When he first came, he was so skinny and he had a bridle path that was growing out. When they first saw him, everybody said he didn’t look like a horse that I would have,” Stewart recalled. “But his expression is so good through the bridle. You know, typically I have a pretty bay or brown horse, but I think he’s really attractive going around. I think he’s really matured and physically I think he feels stronger and better.”

That striking look is what drew Stewart to Golden Rule when he saw him in Europe. “The way he went around, with his ears always forward, always interested. He just had a cool expression. And I thought he was going to be a good mover; he won the hack last week and he was second [this week], and he’s really starting to move better and better as he gets stronger,” Stewart remarked.

Golden Rule also caught the eye of Danhakl, who recently purchased the gelding after watching Stewart campaign him in the Perfect Products High Performance Hunter division. Of what he thought appealed to Danhakl the most, Stewart said, “I think his rhythm, and he’s just so stridey and comfortable.”

He continued, “Stephanie’s a really good rider and she’s got a couple of greener horses this year, and they’ve been great too, but this one is probably the easiest horse she’s ridden.”

Golden Rule will take on the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunter division over the weekend with Danhakl before resting up for shows in the spring.

Hunter competition for the FTI WEF continues on Friday with the Ariat National Adult Medal in Ring 7 of the Main Grounds of the PBIEC. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

“Team Pessoa” Takes Over High Amateur-Owner Jumpers at WEF XI

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Alexa Pessoa and Charlotte Jacobs with trainer Rodrigo Pessoa during the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo By: Parker/Russell – The Book LLC.

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – March 26, 2014 – It was an excellent week for “Team Pessoa” as they dominated the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, taking home both of the tricolor honors during Week XI of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Charlotte Jacobs of North Star Ventures, who trains with Rodrigo Pessoa, captured the victory in the first class on Friday with Cyrina Z, and she then went on to place second behind Alexa Pessoa and Levade 35 in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic. At the end of the day, Jacobs’ efforts were rewarded with the championship title, while Alexa Pessoa rode away with the reserve championship.

On Friday, Jacobs and Cyrina Z kicked off the weekend with a double clear effort in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumper class. The pair bested the 10-horse jump-off with a smooth track that beat the second place finisher by two seconds. “The first day, I had flown in from school. I hadn’t shown the week before, so I was a little nervous,” Jacobs admitted. “Cyrina showed her true colors though, and she really jumped great and took care of me.”

Alexa Pessoa and Jacobs returned to the ring on Saturday for the Classic. Alexa Pessoa was the first to return for the jump-off with Levade 3, and she managed to lay down an unbeatable round with the quick mare. Having walked the course together, Jacobs and Alexa Pessoa had the same track, and Jacobs came within 3/100ths of a second of Alexa Pessoa’s time, taking home the second place ribbon as the last to go.

“Levade 3 is naturally very fast, and when you do all the right numbers and turns she’s just naturally faster than some,” noted Alexa Pessoa. “I think I just got lucky. For her, it was just a medium-fast round. I am really happy and sort of surprised at the way it turned out.”

Alexa Pessoa added, “Rodrigo [Pessoa] didn’t know who to root for in the end. It was great that it was a one-two finish; it was a great weekend.”

“I watched Alexa, but we are on very different horses,” said Jacobs. “Her horse has a much smaller stride, but she was a lot tighter in the turns. My plan was to leave out strides in all of the lines and hope that would improve my time. She was flying though, so I knew I had to really go for it. I thought I was really on it, but I think I went a little wide to the last fence.”

Jacobs continued, “It’s been really great training with Rodrigo. He and Alexa are so much fun to be around. It’s different, but everything is a lot simpler. I ride my own horses in the mornings before I show. A lot of it is up to me, which is different, but good. He’s a horseman, and he’s teaching me every little part of it back at the barn.”

“It was nice to see them first and second,” smiled Rodrigo Pessoa. “Alexa’s mare is a very fast mare. She was first to go in the jump-off, and she had a good plan that she executed well. It was going to take a good round to beat her. Charlotte was last to go and Alexa maybe left a little crack open, so I told Charlotte to go for it, be competitive and take a shot. She came very close.”

Rodrigo concluded, “Cyrina was doing the Mediums throughout the circuit, and this was the first week that she was in the Highs. We were pretty confident that they would have good result, so on Friday she won, and then on Saturday she went clear again. It was very good because she has been working toward this through the season. The year is still very long, so we’ve been careful not to overuse the horses and still keep horses for the summer and the rest of the year. We were very happy with Cyrina, throughout the circuit, but especially this weekend.”

Team Pessoa will continue to show during the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, before traveling throughout the summer to the country’s most prestigious events.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Tiffany Foster and Daniel Deusser Share Victory in $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m at FTI WEF

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Tiffany Foster and Melody des Hayettes Z. Photos © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 26, 2014 – The final week of competition at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off on Wednesday with a dual victory for Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Germany’s Daniel Deusser in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class. Due the large number of entries, the class was held in a ‘California Split’, and awarded two sets of placings with $34,000 for each section. Foster and Artisan Farms LLC’s Melody des Hayettes Z topped Section A and Deusser and Stephex Stables’ Domingo were the winners of Section B.

FTI WEF week twelve, sponsored by FTI Consulting, runs March 26-30, 2014. Thursday’s competition will feature the $10,000 Gut Einhaus 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic, the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m, and the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12. Friday will host the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old and $20,000 Adequan 7- and 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Classics. The $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final and $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* will be held on Saturday along with round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which concludes on the derby field on Sunday.

Live streaming is available for two events this week. Watch them at the following links.

Thursday, March 27, 2:30 p.m. EST: $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2014-wef-challenge-cup-round-12-live.

Saturday, March 29, 6:30 p.m. EST: $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. Live streaming will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final Jump-off: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2014-fti-finale-grand-prix-live.

Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) is the course designer in the International Arena for week twelve. In Wednesday’s $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, D’Ambrosio saw 97 entries over his speed track with 31 clear rounds. Tiffany Foster completed the fastest clear round in 61.01 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding Melody des Hayettes Z. Daniel Deusser finished in 61.41 seconds with Domingo for the win in Section B.

With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Foster and Melody des Hayettes Z, followed by Reed Kessler (USA) and Kessler Show Stables’ Soraya de l’Obstination in 63.23 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) with Eva Castegren’s Alpha VDL in 63.52 seconds.

In Section B, Deusser and Domingo led the way over David Will (GER) and Eveline Kraus’s Black Jack 163 in 63.25 seconds, followed by Eiken Sato (JPN) with Stephex Stables’ Q Royal Palm Z in 63.55 seconds.

Foster has had Melody des Hayettes Z since July of last summer and explained that she has had a great partnership with the mare this winter. “She is really good, and she has been really consistent here,” Foster stated. “She has had a lot of really good placings and top three finishes, but she hasn’t won a class yet, so I was really happy that she won today because she deserves it.”

Before her round, Foster made a good plan with trainer Eric Lamaze and executed everything perfectly. “Eric gave me some really good advice before going in,” she noted. “He said that the most important thing was to go really fast from jumps one to two and to go really fast to the last fence. I kind of started on a really open stride, and I didn’t pull the whole time. Everything showed up really well, so it was really easy to go fast today. Everything showed up coming really forward, so it was fast from the beginning to the end.”

Foster plans to show Melody again in the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Thursday and then the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final. “She is really amazing,” the rider praised. “She is actually pretty straight-forward and she is a really cool horse because she is able to go in these speed classes and go full speed, and then she has been clear in every 1.50m class I have jumped her in so far this circuit. That has been after running in the 1.45m classes, so she is really versatile. She never gets hot, never gets flat, she just keeps jumping up. She is a really high quality horse, and I am very lucky to have her. I am really grateful to have Artisan Farms as owners to have such amazing horses. I have had such a fun circuit with them.”

Daniel Deusser and Domingo
Daniel Deusser and Domingo

With the win in Section B, Daniel Deusser has added to his experience in the winners’ circle with his mount, Domingo, but until Wednesday, a win had eluded that pair in Wellington.

“He has jumped now three shows here, and this is the first class that he has won here,” Deusser pointed out. “He has won a lot of classes. The 1.45m speed classes are definitely his level, but I have to say, I tried already a few times here and I was not fast enough compared to a lot of these horses and riders. There are a lot of riders here and a lot of people who tried. So far I was a little bit unlucky, but not today. He tried again, and it was just good enough.”

Where Foster explained that she got her speed from fence one to two, Deusser noted that that was probably where he lost it. “In that course, there were a lot of long ways between the jumps, so you had to count a lot from the beginning,” he explained. “I think to really be the fastest at the end, I missed it a little bit from number one to number two. I did one stride more than a few other ones that I saw. For the rest, I thought I had a pretty good round and he had the same ideas as me, so I was quite happy with my course.”

“He is a little special,” Deusser described of Domingo. “He has been going to the shows every few weeks since I have been here for two years now, and still every time he goes in the ring, he is a little bit spooky. Especially in the first few weeks here, around the fences on the wings and the flowers on the ground, he was quite spooky, but to be honest, today was the first time that he didn’t give me that impression. He really concentrated on the jumps and tried to do a good job.”

Domingo shows again in Thursday’s 1.45m and then he is done for the winter in Florida. Deusser then looks forward to Saturday night’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* with Cornet d’Amour, who jumped a clear warm-up round with time faults in Wednesday’s class.

“He has jumped a few big classes good already,” Deusser noted. “Three weeks ago he was second in the WEF (Challenge Cup) and fifth in the grand prix. I just rode him in the 1.45m and he gave me a good impression, so I hope we are ready for Saturday night.”

Also showing in the International Arena on Wednesday, Ben Maher (GBR) guided Amy Carr’s Charmeur to victory in the $1,500 Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumper speed class. Laura Chapot (USA) won the $1,500 8-Year-Old Young Jumper speed round with Out of Ireland, owned by The Edge. Chapot was also second in the 7-Year-Old class with Mary Chapot’s Cast a Dream. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Eric Lamaze Eyes $500,000 CSI5* Grand Prix to Close Out Winter Circuit

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Eric Lamaze and Zigali P S celebrate their victory in the $50,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round XI. Photo by Starting Gate Communications Inc.

Wellington, Florida – As the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, draws to a close, Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze is gearing up for the final event of the 12-week circuit, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix Finale on Saturday night, March 29.

With a new string of horses competing at this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival, Lamaze had the opportunity to further each horse’s training as he got to know his mounts better in the competition arena.  With 11 weeks to reflect on, Lamaze has selected Zigali P S as his mount for Saturday night’s $500,000 Grand Prix Finale.

“It’s been a successful tour,” said Lamaze of his time at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.  “I’ve gotten to know my newest horse, Zigali, very well this circuit and that is the horse I am going to use for the Grand Prix on Saturday.”

During Week XI, Lamaze and Zigali P S emerged victorious from a starting field of 95 horses to win the $50,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round XI.  Lamaze’s supporters, Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms, acquired Zigali P S, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Kigali x STB-H Palfrenier), in November from Daniel Neilson of Great Britain.  Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery were purchased last May, giving Lamaze a string of top mounts for international competition, including at this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.

Offering more than $8 million in prize money, this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival was augmented with increased world ranking classes, increased prize money, and the support of Rolex.  Already extremely popular as evidenced by the increased entries and spectator attendance, Lamaze expects more and more top level competitors will be drawn to the sunny locale in the future.

“Florida is fantastic,” said Lamaze, a Rolex testimonee who is based in Wellington full-time from December to April each year.  “The Winter Equestrian Festival has made itself a top facility with top sport.  With Rolex involved and the increase in prize money this year, I think more and more Europeans will start coming.  Once you have experienced this show with the great weather and conditions, it is very hard not to come back.  Every European rider I know that has been here returns the next year.  Everyone has a choice of which venues to go to, but WEF is a very competitive circuit and I think more and more people will start coming here.  Many of us have homes here in Wellington, and it is nice to be in one place for an extended period of time.”

Following the Winter Equestrian Festival, Lamaze will return to Europe where Artisan Farms is based in Vrasene, Belgium.  With plans to compete at CSI5* Antwerp, Belgium (April 24-27), CSI5* Madrid, Spain (May 2-4), CSIO5* La Baule, France (May 15-18), and potentially CSIO5* Rome, Italy (May 22-25), Lamaze will then return to Canada for the Spruce Meadows Summer Series in Calgary, AB.  From there, it’s back to Europe for more competition leading up to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France, at the end of August.  At the last World Equestrian Games, held in 2010 in Lexington, KY, Lamaze won the individual bronze medal while his mount, Hickstead, earned the title of “Best Horse” after jumping clear for all four riders competing in ‘The Final Four’ format used to determine individual medals.

Lamaze, who would be making his sixth consecutive World Equestrian Games appearance, is aiming Powerplay for this year’s World Equestrian Games, saying, “It’s something that I plan to do with Powerplay, but Zigali has jumped really well in Florida, and he has been getting better and better with every grand prix that he’s jumped in.  My thoughts are that Powerplay will be the horse for WEG but if Zigali keeps going like he has been, there might be some thought that Zigali could be the horse.  It’s too early to make a final decision at this point.”

Lamaze and Powerplay, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Limbus), have now been members of the Canadian Team on four occasions for Nations’ Cup competition, including the recent FEI Nations’ Cup held February 28 in Wellington, FL, where Canada scored a resounding victory over a starting line-up of 12 nations.

Lamaze is based full-time with Artisan Farms in Vrasene, Belgium, and Wellington, Florida.  For more information on Eric Lamaze, please visit www.torreypinesstable.com.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Alexander Zetterman Wins $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Final

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Alexander Zetterman and Flecu. Photos © Sportfot.

Victoria Colvin Takes Overall Series Victory; Ben Maher and Diva II Top $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic; Rachael Barnes and Tye Donaldson Triumph in ASPCA Maclay

Wellington, FL – March 23, 2014 – Week eleven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, concluded on Sunday with jumper action on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman and Flecu topped the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final. Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, was the winner of the series overall. Great Britain’s Ben Maher won the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with Diva II. The ASPCA Maclay sponsored by Sidelines Magazine was held in two sections at the main showgrounds, with wins for Rachael Barnes and Tye Donaldson.

Watch an interview with Victoria Colvin and Alexander Zetterman.

Starting off Sunday’s competition on the derby field, Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman and Flecu jumped to victory in the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final, presented by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte.

Twenty-eight entries showed in the final, with eight entries qualifying for the jump-off and three double clear rounds over the short course. Zetterman and Flecu were the winners with the fastest round in 40.21 seconds. Sarah Hubbard and Chamcara finished second in 42.36 seconds, and Hayley Barnhill and Cara Cheska’s Zephire placed third in 43.91 seconds.

Flecu is a ten-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Hip Hop x Flamingo. Zetterman has been showing the horse in bigger classes such as the 1.50m and the WEF Challenge Cup this winter and decided to use the young rider classes to help build the horse’s confidence.

“I got him when he was six,” Zetterman detailed. “I wasn’t overly sure about how far he could go because he has a little bit his own style, but we started off and we won the big seven-year-old young horse final in Falsterbo. He did that very good, and he has been developing along the way. He was just a horse who needed a lot of time to get to the solid 1.50m level, to do it week in and week out. That took an extra year. Last year here, we went up, we went down. We did one 1.50m and then we went down to the 1.40m. We gave him one more year and now he is 10 this year and he has just responded so well. We have never had to play around too much. We have basically been able to go in and do the big stuff, and he has been very good.”

“He has been doing quite a lot of tough classes, so it was actually a little bit of a step down for him to do a nice class,” the rider noted. “He likes the big grass ring as well, so that was good for him. He is always good in a big field with a lot of galloping. It definitely helps him in the jump-off because he is good at covering the ground.”

Building Flecu’s confidence definitely paid off in Sunday’s jump-off when Zetterman took a big risk to the last fence that worked out in their favor. “I was a little bit nervous I wasn’t going to get there,” he admitted. “I kind of felt from the turn that I could get there, but then he was kind of backing off too much, so I started kicking and eventually we got there and he was good.”

Although he shows in many big grand prix classes against some of the best riders in the world, Zetterman values the opportunity to show amongst his peers and gain valuable experience under a little less pressure.

“It helps you in so many different ways,” he noted. “We all know how difficult the step is from being a young rider and then getting into the seniors. To have a class like this every now and then is nice. When you are going into the jump-off for example, if you are in against some of the best riders in the world, you sometimes do a little bit more than what you or your horse is capable to do. You go a little bit over your head sometimes. When you feel that you are in an equal league, then you have a good feeling and you make better decisions. In that way, it is very good; you have a chance at least. Wilton has been amazing in the big classes and Lillie Keenan and all of those riders, but still, getting in against Ben Maher and those riders is not so easy for anyone in the world to do, especially not when you’re young.”

Zetterman showed in one young rider grand prix last year and decided to get more involved in the series this year when he realized the opportunity that the classes provided.

“Many years ago they had a similar series in Europe, but I think for sure this series is a lot better setup,” he noted. “It is a little bit like a championship because you have the speed round, a team competition. The team competition was very good out here because you got a bit of atmosphere to it. The semi-final I didn’t jump, but the final today was super. It is a fantastic idea, and I think they should do it more in Europe.”

Sarah Hubbard, who finished second in Sunday’s class with Chamcara, just recently stepped up to the bigger classes and also valued the experience of the series. She is 20 years old and from Cornwall, CT.

“I actually just used her for today. I used my other horse for the speed and the semi-final,” Hubbard noted. “I usually use her for the 1.50m and some of the WEF (Challenge Cup) classes. She is really special to me because she has let me move up and do some bigger classes where I have never done anything like that before. It is nice to come in here and jump around on the grass and she was really good. She was really good to me in the jump-off. I kind of got down between jumps nine and ten, and she just tried really hard for me. I am very happy.”

Hayley Barnhill (20) of Colliersville, TN, got several new experiences with her mount Zephire in the series and had a great round on Sunday to finish third.

“She is 10 this year, and she has never done anything like this before,” Barnhill stated. “She jumped 1.35m in Europe. The Cheskas got her this time last year and showed her a little in the 1.35m and 1.40m stuff. I got her in September and did a few 1.40m classes before I came down here, so this has all been a new experience for her and it has been great to test her through everything. She had never jumped under the lights before and she did that great. We haven’t ever jumped on a grass field before and she was great out there, so this was a good experience.”

“My plan for the jump-off was to go for it a little bit,” Barnhill noted. “I know where I could have been faster; I could have done one less after the wall, but I actually haven’t done a jump-off on her all circuit. We were a little rusty on some of the turns, but I thought she jumped great and I was really happy with her.”

Victoria Colvin and Don Juan
Victoria Colvin and Don Juan

Sunday’s class was the final event in the 2014 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series, which also awarded top prizes on Sunday for its overall standings. Sixteen-year-old Victoria Colvin was the series winner for her performance in all four of the series’ events. Jordan Macpherson finished second and Wilton Porter placed third. Jennifer Goddard, Hayley Barnhill, and Sarah Hubbard were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

As the winning rider of the series, Colvin was awarded free entry to the Chantilly CSI 2* horse show on the Global Champions Tour in France in July, with tickets to the VIP lounge, and transportation provided by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. She was also awarded a custom Bruno delGrange saddle.

“It feels amazing to win,” Colvin smiled. “I didn’t think I was going to win it. I thought Jordan was going to win it, but I guess my four faults today counted, so that was good. I feel like I have gotten a lot of experience this year. Me and Don Juan are not perfect all of the time, but I think doing all of these classes, and to keep doing them, I think it has gotten a little better.”

“We change bits all of the time,” she noted of Don Juan. “He is delicate. He is careful, so that’s good, but sometimes he is too quiet and sometimes he is too fresh, so we just have to go in and see how he feels that day.”

Colvin is excited for the opportunity to travel to Europe for the first time to compete and plans to keep doing what she is doing to get ready. “We will go to the Devon Horse Show and then just keep going until I get there, and we will see what happens. I have never shown in Europe before, so that will be my first time and I am very excited.”

Second place finisher Jordan Macpherson (24) is from Toronto, Ontario, and has had great success in this young rider series with her horse Piccobello du Val de Geer.

“Pico is amazing,” the rider smiled. “I have had her for four years, and since the first time I stepped in the ring in the young rider series, it has been amazing. I have learned and grown from her. She came out here like a pro and was amazing today. I over-achieved the nine-stride a little bit and had a rail, but it happens unfortunately. [My trainers] the Millars are always talking about consistency and if you ride consistent, eventually you will win and start doing well, so I think I have learned that lesson this year.”

Wilton Porter (20) of Dallas, TX also performed consistently with his horse Radio City this year and has earned valuable experience and knowledge throughout the series. “It was a great series,” Porter acknowledged. “Radio City was the only horse that I used throughout the series, and she was fantastic. I think the series had a lot more structure to it this year. That’s not to say that it wasn’t good in the past, but it was really solid on other fronts as well as the jumping this year, with the interview training and the sponsorship opportunity, and I am really thankful to the Zieglers and Dutta Corporation for sponsoring it. This last competition was really special. I think they had a great jump-off. There were just the right number of clears and it ended well.”

The winner of the Equiline Young Rider Sponsorship was Chloe Reid of Washington, D.C. Reid was part of a group of riders who wrote an essay, completed interviews, did sponsorship networking, and was observed for attitude, spirit, and performance during the AFYRGP Series. Reid will represent Equiline America by wearing their products, participating in advertising and outreach events, and provide feedback on the functionality of products. Also participating for the sponsorship were riders that were recognized for the following awards: Best Essay – Caitlin Ziegler, Most Creative Essay – Lucas Porter, and Best Interview – Nicole Bellissimo. The Equiline Amateur Sportsmanship Award went to Wilton Porter of Dallas, TX. All of the winners will be presented with their awards next weekend at FTI WEF 12.

Artisan Farms owner Carlene Ziegler commented on the event, stating, “I’m really pleased with the progression of the series. We had some new things this year; we made it more of a true championship. We went through four classes and this was a $50,000 FEI class and that was really exciting. It’s been nice to see the riders progressing and we saw a new crop of riders this year. It’s really gratifying to see their progress. That’s been one of the most gratifying parts. The first year we knew we had a group of strong riders – Reed (Kessler) that won, the group that went to Leipzig, the Coulters, (Caitlin) Ziegler, (Katie) Dinan. They have truly made the next step. Nayel Nassar winning the World Cup West Coast standings. It’s really exciting. We hope that happens to the more recent winners as well; we think it could. The trip to Chantilly – one of the exciting things this year is that the winner gets the opportunity to go to Global Champions Tour in Chantilly. It’s one of the things that these young riders wouldn’t have the opportunity to do. I think that it’s a big incentive to the participants in the series. Additionally this year, they had the ability to vie for a sponsorship from Equiline; that’s something that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise.”

Sunday’s competition on the derby field also featured the $10,000 Horseware Ireland Don Little Masters Classic with a win for Deborah Ball and Cypriano.

Ben Maher and Diva II
Ben Maher and Diva II

Ben Maher and Diva II Top $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Ben Maher has been unstoppable lately and added another victory to his tally with a win in Sunday afternoon’s $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at the FTI WEF. The class was held on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the PBIEC with 53 entries over the Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) designed course. Petersen saw ten clear rounds to advance to the jump-off with six double clear rounds. Maher was once again the winner, this time with a new mount in Tatiana Korsakova’s Diva II. The pair jumped the fastest track without fault in 43.20 seconds for the win.

Ian Millar (CAN) and Team Works’ Star Power finished second in 43.70 seconds. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Alberto & Ricardo Simhon’s Apardi placed third in 44.25 seconds.

Diva II is a nine-year-old Anglo European mare by Kannan x Berlioz that Maher got at the beginning of December. Tatiana Korsakova had previously owned a horse for Maher that got injured and decided to buy him, “a horse to have some fun with,” as the rider explained. “I chose Diva and I said that she could be a fun horse, and she seems like she’s working out well right now. I had already tried the horse beforehand for somebody else and that didn’t come of anything. I always thought the horse was talented. She was with Liz and Ted Edgar in England. They bred her and they had her whole life, so she has been very well brought up and looked after.”

“She had not done a lot for her age,” Maher continued. “She was still in the 1.35m division towards the end of last year. Week one or two here, we were in the back ring in the schooling jumpers and she was jumping high and I was having to ride hard because of the shadows and everything, and she has just gradually improved more and more. She has been clear in a couple of ‘WEFs’ and things in the last two weeks with one or two down in the jump-off when I’ve gone quick, just where she’s not ready. Today I took a chance again because the prize money is so big, and some parts didn’t feel so comfortable. In the double we came very hard in on the angle and kind of swerved around a little bit, but luckily it paid off today.”

Maher trained with Liz and Ted Edgar for almost two years as a working student, starting when he was 16 years old, before moving on to work with Beat Mändli. He knew that Diva had a great upbringing and saw the mare’s potential.

“They know a good horse, and they really believed in this horse all along,” he stated. “I think she has a way to go yet; we are only kind of halfway there. She needs to gain a lot of experience, but she’s a real mare, she’s a fighter and she’s always feels like she wants to win as well, which I love in a horse.”

This was the second win in two days showing on the grass for Maher after he topped Saturday’s $50,000 Live Oak Grand Prix CSI-W 2* in Ocala as well. He noted the refreshing atmosphere of the beautiful derby field in Wellington.

“It has been a great change. We took Aristo up to Chester Weber’s Live Oak to support that show yesterday and it was a great arena and grass field, as is this one. It is slightly different here; it’s a lot bigger in Wellington, which suited Diva actually. It is just nice; it’s great to have a change from the sand arena. Diva in particular hasn’t jumped here, but I did jump one class with her on a field, so I knew she was okay on grass. She needed to jump on grass to see if she was comfortable and she certainly felt fine today, so it is nice to know that we have all those options when we go back to Europe now for what shows we will go to. I think everybody loves the atmosphere over here. It is slightly more relaxed, more space for the horses, and the more they can use this arena, the better it will be over here, I think.”

Maher looks forward to progressing with Diva after they head back to Europe in a few weeks after all of the horses take a break in April.

“We have gone slow with her during the circuit; we just kept her behind the others,” he explained. “Obviously I am in a very lucky position that I don’t need to rush her. I think she will probably be done for circuit now. Maybe we were going to do one class next week, but maybe we are better to quit while we’re ahead. All my horses will pretty much take April off and start up again in May. They have worked very hard for the last few months, so they all deserve a rest.”

First, there is one more week of competition still to come at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Maher has Jane Clark’s Cella fresh and ready to go for next Saturday’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. He has won five of the eleven grand prix classes on the circuit so far and hopes to take home the big pay day in the final week.

Rachael Barnes and Tye Donaldson Triumph in ASPCA Maclay Sections A and B

Barnmates Rachael Barnes, 18, and Tye Donaldson, 15, emerged victorious from Sections A and B, respectively, of the ASPCA Maclay on Sunday afternoon at the FTI WEF. Barnes and Donaldson both train with Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run, who also enjoyed top finishes in Friday evening’s George Morris Excellence in Equitation class, presented by Alessandro Albanese.

North Run continued its winning ways on Sunday morning, first with Barnes, who topped Section A of the ASPCA Maclay aboard Salt Lake, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Joe and Mary Tyree. Barnes, of Buffalo, NY, started leasing Salt Lake at the beginning of the FTI WEF circuit and was thrilled with their early success.

“We just immediately clicked,” Barnes said of Salt Lake. “It all came together today, and I’m just so happy with him. We get along really well, and he’s such a good boy.”

Of their quick bond, Barnes remarked, “I tried him in November, and I got on him and it worked out really well. I just knew I could do well on him. He’s a little horse, but he has a nice big stride and covers the lines well. He’s very adjustable, and I really like that about him.”

Salt Lake has proven to be a versatile mount for Barnes, who also contests the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, WIHS Equitation, and Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal classes with him. While she enjoys the unique challenges posed by all four classes, she appreciates the type of courses typically seen in the ASPCA Maclay. Barnes also finds it easier to take a breath and stay focused without the pressure of a timer.

“I like that there’s no time allowed in the Maclay, so you have time to know what you’re doing. I like that there’s a lot of bending lines in the Maclay, so you have a lot of options in the course,” Barnes described.

Sunday’s course offered several different options for riders, which Barnes believed helped her earn a score high enough to be called back on the flat.

“I definitely think the last three jumps [made the difference in my round]. It was kind of like a half circle at the end of the ring. I saw [other riders do] six [strides], I saw sevens, I saw eights. I ended up doing a seven to an easy eight. I think I just really smoothed that out and that made me get called back,” Barnes explained.

Donaldson was equally happy with her ride with Cortes 7, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Royal Palm Equine LLC. Donaldson, of Chepachet, RI, admitted the course didn’t ride exactly as it walked, but her horse’s big stride helped her stay steady.

“The last two lines, I walked it an eight [stride] to an eight [stride] and then ended up doing a seven. Most people did eight strides in the second line, but he has such nice big stride and landed left that I just went for seven,” Donaldson noted.

She continued, “I really liked the course. I thought it was great. A lot of it was off the left lead, which is easier to land with him, so that was better for us.”

A stand-alone combination with butterfly wing standards tripped up several riders that tried to cut the turn a little too sharply. Donaldson stuck to her plan, knowing if she rode a wider track to meet the jump head-on, Cortes 7 could take care of the rest. She had good reason to put her complete confidence in the gelding; he helped Adeline Audette and Charlotte Jacobs to multiple equitation wins throughout their highly successful junior years.

“He’s an amazing horse,” Donaldson beamed. “I love him to death. He’s an old pro and a good guy.”

She continued, “I love his huge stride. He’s really nice to get up in a light seat with; he keeps his pace really nicely. He’s got a great jump, and he’s great to flat. He’s pretty much all around an amazing horse.”

Donaldson was happy to share her victory with fellow North Run rider Barnes, especially since Sunday marked the first time Donaldson had ever won a class at the FTI WEF. “We’re really good friends. It’s both of our first time winning this week, and it’s my first time ever winning at WEF. I started doing the equitation here last year,” Donaldson shared.

Donaldson also expressed gratitude for the entire North Run team’s hard work and contributions to her riding. She described Missy Clark’s thorough preparation for the ring as one of her favorite elements of the North Run training program.

“I love how Missy gets you to the ring. When she explains [the course] to you, you can see how she wants you to jump every jump, the line and track you’re supposed to have. She maps out a great plan for you, and if you follow that, you’ll be great,” Donaldson smiled.

Donaldson and Barnes’ wins wrapped up hunter competition for Week 11 of the FTI WEF, presented by Artisan Farms. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Victoria Colvin Captures Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series

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Victoria Colvin riding Don Juan won the 2014 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series. Photo by Sportfot.

Wellington, Florida – Victoria Colvin emerged the winner of the fourth annual Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series (AFYRGPS), presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte.  With four different competitions held throughout the 12-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, the Series attracted more than 50 participants competing for increased prize money under FEI sanctioning.

Following three qualifying events, the top 30 riders in the overall standings were invited to contest the $50,000 CSIU25 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final.  Held Sunday morning, March 23, at The Stadium, riders and horses alike enjoyed competing on the expansive grass field.  Following a seven-horse jump-off, Alexander Zetterman of Sweden emerged victorious riding Flecu in the Series Final.  However, Victoria Colvin was at the top of the leaderboard coming into the final event and, despite having four faults with Don Juan, maintained her lead to emerge as the overall winner of the 2014 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series.

“The Series helps build confidence; you just keep doing more classes and jumping higher and going up against better riders,” said Colvin, who participated in all four qualifying events this year with Don Juan.  “I’m used to doing the High Juniors, which are really high and have good riders, too, but this is another step up.  There are amazing riders in the Series, including people over 18.  It’s a step up from Juniors, but it is between having to compete against someone like Maclain Ward.  It is a lot of fun and it makes you feel more confident that you are going to do well.”

Open to riders aged 16 to 25, regardless of nationality, the AFYRGPS was designed by Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms to provide a bridge between the junior and amateur divisions to the grand prix level, allowing up and coming riders to gain experience at the upper levels of show jumping sport while still competing against their peers.

At only 16 years of age, Colvin was one of the youngest riders in this year’s AFYRGPS.  As the overall champion, Colvin was awarded a Bruno Delgrange saddle valued at $6,000, and was presented with an invitation to compete at the CSI2* Chantilly Horse Show, part of the Global Champions Tour, held from July 25-27 in France.  In addition to their entry, the winner also receives two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge and transportation for one horse generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte.

“It is amazing!” exclaimed Colvin, who is based year-round in Wellington, Florida.  “I get to go somewhere other than Florida!”

Canada’s Jordan Macpherson, who has participated in the AFYRGPS since its inception, was crowned the reserve champion in this year’s Series.  The 24-year-old university student from Toronto, ON, trains with 10-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar and his children, Jonathon and Amy.

“This Series is portrayed and modeled as a stepping stone, so the course designers and the riders treat it as such; it’s more challenging and more technical without over-facing either the horse or the rider,” said Macpherson who rode her young mount, Aanwinst, in the first two events and her veteran partner, Piccobello du Val de Geer, in the final two events.  “I think it’s a great structure, and it gives the riders and the horses more experience in different situations.  Having the team event under the lights gives it more pressure, too.  There is nowhere else that you get to compete as a team without it being a nations’ cup which is great, because how else are you supposed to learn how to work as a team without being able to practice it?”

Macpherson continued, “I think it’s wonderful that so many people and companies are sponsoring and supporting the Artisan Farms Series this year.  Thank you to Artisan Farms and everyone involved for giving us such amazing opportunities.”

New for 2014, participants in the AFYRGPS were invited to apply for a one-year sponsorship with equestrian clothing apparel company, Equiline.  Riders submitted essays outlining why they felt they would be ideal candidates, conducted interviews, did sponsorship networking, and were observed for attitude, spirit and performance while competing in the AFYRGPS.  Last year’s winner of the AFYRGPS, Chloe D. Reid of Washington, D.C., was awarded the Equiline sponsorship, while additional awards were presented to Caitlin Ziegler for Best Essay, Lucas Porter for Most Creative Essay, and Nicole Bellissimo for Best Interview.  Wilton Porter earned the Equiline Amateur Sportsmanship Award.

Colvin now joins an elite list of champions in the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series.  Previous winners include Reed Kessler of the United States (2011), Nayel Nassar of Egypt (2012) and Chloe D. Reid of the United States (2013), all of whom are currently enjoying incredible success as their careers advance.

“I am really pleased with the progression of the Series,” said Carlene Ziegler, who is the driving force behind the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series.  “We added some new things this year, we made it more of a true championship in the way that you went through the four different classes and that you had to qualify for the Final, which was a $50,000 FEI class.  We feel it is very important to provide the next generation with a spring board that is both relevant and beneficial as they progress.”

With over 50 entries this year alone, it’s obvious that the Series is not only popular, but also succeeding in its objectives.

“It’s been nice to see the riders themselves progress,” said Ziegler.  “We are attracting a new crop of riders each year and it’s really gratifying to see their progress.  One of the most gratifying parts is being able to provide a stepping stone up to the next level for these young riders.  The first year that we did this, we knew that we had a very strong group of riders – we had Reed Kessler for the win and we had a group of riders that went to Leipzig that included Reed Kessler, Charlotte Jacobs, Caitlin Ziegler, and Katie Dinan – these are people who have now truly made the next step, and our Series helped provide that for them.  The second year we had Nayel Nassar, who is now leading the west coast standings for the World Cup Finals.  That’s very exciting!  We hope that the same level of success happens for the more recent winners as well, and we think that it can.”

Ziegler continued, “One of the things that is exciting for this year is that we are giving the winner the opportunity to go to the Chantilly show.  It is a Global Champions Tour show in the most beautiful location in France.  It’s something that these young riders wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do.  I think it’s a big incentive to the participants in the Series.  Additionally, that they had the opportunity to vie for a sponsorship with Equiline is something that they wouldn’t have gotten to do otherwise.”

Riders aged 16 to 25, regardless of nationality, are eligible to participate in the AFYRGPS, which provides a valuable stepping stone from the junior and amateur ranks to the grand prix level.  Featuring fences set at 1.45m, this year’s AFYRGPS offered four events held in three different venues, exposing developing grand prix riders to everything from competing on grass and in a team format, to jumping under the lights at night.

Leading by example, Artisan Farms is committed to the continued improvement and promotion of competitive show jumping.  Based in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium, Artisan Farms is home to rising amateur Andy Ziegler, young professional Caitlin Ziegler, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, and Olympian Tiffany Foster.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Lauren Hough and Böckmanns Lazio Lead the Way in $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4*

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Lauren Hough and Böckmanns Lazio. Photos © Sportfot.

Hannah Patten and Charlie Clinch Equitation 15-17 Championship

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2014 – Lauren Hough led the victory gallop in an exciting top four finish for the women of USA in Saturday night’s $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Hough and Böckmanns Lazio topped a six-horse jump-off over Laura Kraut and Nouvelle (2nd), Lucy Davis and Barron (3rd), Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks (4th), Ben Maher and Urico (5th), and Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (6th).

Watch an interview with Lauren Hough.

FTI WEF week eleven, sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, concludes on Sunday with the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final (9 a.m.) and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic (2 p.m.), to be held on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The FTI WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

A special ceremony was held before the start of the grand prix to honor Anne Heyman, who passed away from a fall at the FTI WEF this season. Friends and family gathered to honor Anne, who was known for her incredible philanthropy and love for her family and horses. Save the Date for a benefit and concert for Anne’s ‘village,’ the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, which will be held on September 13 at Double H Farm in Ridgefield, CT, during the American Gold Cup. For more information, email annesnight@gmail.com.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the track for 45 competitors that qualified to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* with seven entries jumping clear to advance to the jump-off. Seven others finished the course with just one time fault in a very tight time allowed. The jump-off saw four double clear rounds.

Ramiro Quintana (ARG) and St. Bride’s Farm’s Whitney were the first pair to jump clear in round one, but withdrew from the jump-off, leaving 17-year-old Lillie Keenan (USA) to blaze the trail over the short course. Riding Chansonette Farm LLC’s Pumped Up Kicks, Keenan set the time to beat at 49.27 seconds, and eventually finished fourth. Twenty-one-year-old Lucy Davis (USA) jumped next and upped the ante with Old Oak Farm’s Barron in 47.13 seconds to earn third place honors.

Hot off of a win with Aristo Z in the $50,000 Live Oak Grand Prix CSI-W 2* earlier in the day, Ben Maher (GBR) took to the course next with Jane Clark’s Urico. Looking for his sixth grand prix win of the FTI WEF circuit, Maher did have the fastest time of 44.46 seconds, but had a rail down at the second to last fence and would have to settle for the fifth place prize.

Seeing that Maher had a rail encouraged Lauren Hough to go for broke in her round, next to go with Karina Rotenberg’s Böckmanns Lazio. Hough knew that two very fast competitors were still to follow and did her best to ensure a top time, blazing through the course in 45.64 seconds for the winning round.

Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel were fast, but also had a rail to finish sixth with a time of 46.44 seconds. Last to go, Laura Kraut (USA) and the Evita Group’s Nouvelle jumped into second place with a clear round in 46.66 seconds.

This was Hough’s second win of the circuit with Böckmanns Lazio, a 14-year-old Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere. Hough started riding the horse in the fall and kicked off the circuit with a win in week one’s $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Since then the pair has had several top finishes in a quickly developing partnership. Hough explained that the horse had a lot of experience showing under several international riders before her, most recently Cassio Rivetti of Ukraine and Gilles de Balanda of France.

“He is a wonderful animal, and I am really lucky to have the ride on him,” Hough praised. “He is 14 now, so he has been around for a while, and he has had quite a lot of success from other riders. I acquired him in October and did a couple of shows in the fall and then started straight away having success down here. He has just been very, very consistent. It was a very good jump-off for him tonight; I could sort of just keep galloping him all the way around. He has a very big stride.”

“When it’s over nine strides I don’t actually like to count,” Hough detailed. “Missy Clark, who has been really helpful to me this winter, said, ‘You can do nine to the last.’ I think Ben did it slowing down, but it looked really far away, so I thought, ‘I better keep kicking and not pull.’ I think last week I went one too many to the last jump.”

Hough breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Maher have a rail right before she went in the ring. “I’ve been getting a lot of red ribbons lately, which I am very grateful for,” she said. “I am very happy to be second with these kinds of riders and this caliber, but it was a little bit of a relief when he had that one down tonight. I still had a lot of fast riders coming after me though, so I knew I had to hit the gas and not let up.”

Hough plans to show Böckmanns Lazio in next week’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* and looks forward to a great final week of competition at this year’s FTI WEF. With plenty of mileage and success under the lights, the horse will rest up and then jump one class during the week in preparation for the circuit’s finale event.

Laura Kraut and Nouvelle
Laura Kraut and Nouvelle

Finishing a close second to Hough on Saturday night, Laura Kraut has had great results with her mount Nouvelle this year after the mare came back from an injury last season. The pair also finished second in week eight’s $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, and had a fantastic finish Saturday despite the fact that Kraut was briefly not quite sure where she was going in the jump-off.

“I’m so happy with her,” Kraut smiled. “This was her second time under the lights. Last week I had a couple down, but they were green mistakes, and tonight she came out and seemed to have it figured out. I’m really pleased with her.”

“I rode a little bit slow to the vertical, the last one, because to be fair, I kind of wasn’t sure that was the right fence,” Kraut laughed. “I didn’t get a chance to watch any go because she was a little upset with the music and having just come out of the ring, so I had to stay on her and circle. I was looking at the jump and thought, ‘It just doesn’t look right,’ but then I looked at the number, and said, ‘Yeah, it’s #6.’ I don’t think I could have beaten a horse with so much experience though, and Lauren was fast. I think I still would have been second, so I’m very thrilled.”

California’s Lucy Davis proved that she is a force to be reckoned with when the young rider earned the biggest victory of her career this past September in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Lausanne. Davis and Barron also finished third during FTI WEF week five in the $370,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Rolex, just behind the number one and two ranked riders in the world.

“I was really pleased with the performance tonight,” Davis said after the class. “My horse jumped incredible, again, and I am really lucky to have him. In the jump-off, we were just focused on being smooth. Sometimes I get a little excited and things get hectic, but my trainer Markus (Beerbaum) told me to have a nice, smooth round and I think that is what we did.”

All of the riders agreed that the time allowed caused problems for a lot of riders in the night’s course.

“I thought it was a good course, but the time was very tight,” Hough noted. “I don’t know how many were clear with time faults, but obviously that was the biggest factor tonight. We have shown a lot, and we have a big class coming up next week. Some younger horses are coming out, some are preparing for next week, so I think he did a good job. Yes the time was tight, but I think it was doable.”

“The course took a lot of concentration,” Kraut added. “If you wanted to be under the time, you didn’t have three strides to spare. You had to be on it. Every step of the way, to the end and through the timers, there was no letting up. There was no taking a breather. Everyone was pretty tense about how tight the time was. It definitely added an element of difficulty that sometimes is annoying, but I think for tonight it was a good test for the horses that went, and I think it was good.”

On behalf of the class sponsor, Engel & Völkers, Carol Sollak and Amy Carr were on hand for the competition, and congratulated the riders on a job well done.

“I loved it,” Sollak smiled. “We love everything about the horse show. We love everything about the sport, and we will continue to support it.”

“We just started our company in January 2013, so we did up our sponsorship of the horse show this year because we got just a bit of the feeling last year and were quite happy with it,” Carr added. “We will continue to support the show. We love this sport, and for sure we will continue.”

Two other special awards were also presented during the night’s class. Davis was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider of week eleven after her success throughout the week’s competition. The award is presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

A special award was also presented to young rider Sophie Simpson before the class. Simpson was awarded the Potcreek Meadow Farm Junior Sportsmanship Trophy in memory of Candida C. Fortsmann. The trophy is awarded at the end of the FTI WEF circuit to the junior rider that consistently demonstrates outstanding conduct, horsemanship, attitude, and courtesy appropriate for a competitor at the highest levels of our sport.

Hannah Patten and Charlie
Hannah Patten and Charlie

Hannah Patten and Charlie Clinch Equitation 15-17 Championship

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Patten of Williamstown, MA and Boca Raton, FL earned the division championship title aboard Charlie in the Equitation 15-17 division on Saturday afternoon at the FTI WEF. Patten and Charlie, a six-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Patten’s trainer Monty Kelly, won the flat class and placed third over fences to secure the championship title over 29 horse and rider pairs.

The reserve champion for the division was Lilly Higgins aboard Centerfold K, owned by Henge Hill Investments. Higgins and Centerfold K were fifth on the flat and first and fourth over fences, coming up just short of Patten by only one point.

Nearly all 29 riders contested the flat class of the division. After watching riders go around the ring in the first direction, eight were called out by the judge as the top eight competitors. After excusing the remaining riders, the top eight were asked to continue in the second direction before being awarded ribbons. Although she managed to out-ride 28 other riders, Patten modestly insisted that the only stand out part of her ride was her attire from the jumper ring.

“I had the [junior jumper] classic today, so I had white pants on. I kind of stuck out like a sore thumb!” Patten laughed. “My horse was perfect, though.”

Patten admitted that her horse was upset by a pestering insect that wouldn’t leave him alone, but was thankful the judge let the minor head-tossing slide. Charlie was actually a last-minute substitute for Patten’s original mount in the class, Agostino. Agostino had pulled a shoe earlier, so despite having a late night in Friday night’s evening class, Charlie stepped up to the plate.

“My horse went last night in the George Morris [Excellence in Equitation], so he was kind of tired. He was really good. I was really happy with him,” Patten explained.

At only six years old, Charlie has already helped Patten to the winner’s circle on multiple occasions. She was champion of this same division during the 2013 FTI WEF, which she achieved when the horse was only five.

“He’s a freak of nature. I was second at [ASPCA Maclay Medal] Regionals on him as a five-year-old, and he’s only been in training for two years. He’s gone out and done more than we could have possibly imagined,” Patten smiled.

Patten described Charlie as a horse that acts much older than his age; he’s been a relatively straight-forward ride for her from the get-go. “He’s just so simple. You look one way, he’ll land on that lead. You look the other way, he’ll land it. You press him for a line, he’ll go. You pull him back and he slows down and balances up. You say ‘trot,’ he trots. He’s pretty right on,” Patten explained.

That doesn’t mean Charlie doesn’t have his green moments every now and again, but Patten and her trainers at Stepping Stone Farm happily work through them since the horse is so often on his game. His irresistible personality doesn’t hurt his case, either.

“He is a lover. He just wants to snuggle. I’ll be standing at the in-gate and he’ll turn around waiting for me to pet him,” Patten said.

She continued, “He does this thing with his lips – he makes his lips really loose and then he shakes his head so they flop around. I’ll be standing in the line-up [at the end of a class] and he’ll start doing it. I’m just like ‘Really Charlie? Right now? Of all times?’ And then he’s covered in spit. He’s so cute though.”

While Charlie enjoys a day off on Sunday, equitation competition at the FTI WEF marches on. The ASPCA Maclay Medal, presented by Sidelines, starts off the final day of competition for the week in Ring 9 on the Main Grounds of PBIEC. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Victoria Colvin and Patrick Are Best in George Morris Excellence in Equitation

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Victoria Colvin and Patrick. Photos © Sportfot.

David Will and Black Jack 163 Beat the Odds in $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m

Wellington, FL – March 21, 2014 – Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, added yet another accolade to her long list of accomplishments with a win in the George Morris Excellence in Equitation, presented by Alessandro Albanese, during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Colvin, 16, topped the class with Patrick, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding leased by Dr. Betsee Parker and owned by Catherine Tyree. Also showing on Friday, Germany’s David Will and Black Jack 163 won the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.40m speed class.

FTI WEF week eleven, sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, continues through March 23, 2014. The $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* will be the feature event on Saturday night at 8 p.m. The grass derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC will host the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final (8 a.m.) and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic (2 p.m.) on Sunday.

Live streaming of Saturday night’s $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* will be featured on The Chronicle of the Horse website. The link to view the live streaming is: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2014-100000-engel-volkers-grand-prix-live.

A special ceremony will be held tomorrow evening before the start of the $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix to honor Anne Heyman, who passed away from a fall at the FTI WEF this season. Friends and family are gathering to honor Anne, who was known for her incredible philanthropy and love for her family and horses. Everyone is invited to watch a video in her honor and remember Anne and her work. Save the Date for a benefit and concert for Anne’s ‘village,’ the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, which will be held on September 13 at Double H Farm in Ridgefield, CT, during the American Gold Cup. For more information, email annesnight@gmail.com.

Equitation competition in the George Morris Excellence in Equitation was held over two rounds and a final test, with the top twelve riders being called back for round two. The top four from round two were then asked to return to test to determine the final standings.

The judges for the class included two panels and a schooling judge. Panel 1 consisted of Cynthia Hankins and Katie Prudent. Panel 2 included Alex Jayne and Anne Kursinski. Karen Golding served as schooling judge.

After round one, Colvin and Patrick were ranked second with a score of 93.5. The top score in round one belonged to eventual third place finisher Megan MacPherson and Class Action. MacPherson and Class Action returned to round two to earn a score of 80 for third place in the standings, where they remained after the test.

Michael Hughes and Curtis
Michael Hughes and Curtis

Colvin earned a second round high score of 92.5 before being chosen as the winner of Friday evening’s class. Second place went to Michael Hughes and Curtis, who earned scores of 91 and 84.5 in the first and second rounds, respectively. Madison Goetzman rounded out the top four with Stallone. Goetzman climbed from tenth in the standings to fourth in round two with a score of 85. The pair scored an 85.75 in the first round.

Prior to the final test, two special awards were presented to the four-legged competitors of the class. Clearway, owned by Heritage Farm and ridden by Caitlin Boyle, was announced as the Best Equitation Horse for the second year in a row. Heritage Farm received a ceramic bowl courtesy of Alessandro Albanese for the award. The Best Turned Out Horse was Charlie Z, ridden by Daisy Farish and also owned by Heritage Farm. Charlie Z’s groom, Umberto Balades, was also recognized for his hard work with an Alessandro Albanese jacket.

Colvin also received a bevy of prizes from class sponsor Alessandro Albanese, taking home a custom show jacket, show shirt, and breeches, as well as a championship jacket from Equestrian Sport Productions. Colvin’s family was also presented with a Nespresso machine for their contributions to their daughter’s win, as was second place finisher Hughes’ family. Trainers Missy Clark and John Brennan received an Alessandro Albanese jacket and tureen bowl for her role in the top rider’s victory.

Colvin, who trains with Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run, only began riding Patrick at the beginning of the year. While their partnership is still developing, Colvin is already completely enamored with the lovable chestnut. “I still don’t know him very well, but he’s just perfect. I love him!” Colvin smiled.

Of the decision to leave her other top equitation mount, Stallone VDL, in the barn and ride Patrick, Colvin said, “[Patrick] is a little easier. They’re both really easy, but he’s just a tad easier and I thought he would be great in this class. I rode [Stallone] on Thursday, and we thought he would be way too quiet to do three tests.”

One of the trademarks of the George Morris Excellence in Equitation class is the restriction for riders to prepare themselves completely unassisted by their trainers. Riders are totally cut off from communication with their trainers, even turning in their cell phones to the in-gate during the riders’ meeting. For Colvin, the rule represents an exciting challenge.

“I love it! Not that I don’t love my trainers. I think it’s a really fun class to be able to see how you do by yourself,” Colvin pointed out.

Colvin admitted to feeling a little bit of pressure going into the test ranked first, but was relieved when she heard what the judges were requesting. Riders were asked to canter fence one, turn right for a bending line to fence four, then turn back to the left over fence ten. Riders then hand galloped fence eleven before returning to a trot over the final fence.

“I felt like the test was much easier than the second round,” Colvin noted. “It had no counter canter or walk jumps, but I was nervous. I don’t know [Patrick] very well, so I don’t know what he does at everything. He’s such a great horse; he went right around for me.”

Second place finisher Hughes, who also trains with North Run, echoed Colvin’s sentiments, especially after a second round that asked several challenging questions. “When they announced the test, we had done the majority of it in the first round, so I knew it was going to be a little bit easier than the second round,” Hughes explained.

Of the second round course, Hughes commented, “I was a little bit worried about the walk jump. I had never walked a jump with Curtis before. He was good about it. I need to be a bit more patient. For me, I was most worried about the trot jump. It was such a short line to come off the forward eight strides, but he was great at it.”

Trainer Missy Clark enjoyed the one-two finish for North Run in the class, and was especially pleased to see her two star pupils do so well. “They were great. They’ve been so solid all year, and they’re both such great riders and amazing competitors. It’s so fun to work with two kids like this. They’re unusual,” Clark said.

Clark never doubted either Colvin or Hughes’s ability to prepare themselves, and enjoyed sitting back and watching them shine. “It was great; I got to sit down and I had my dogs with me and we sat back and watched. They do everything from grand prix to hunters, and they’ve been in the trenches for years, so I had complete confidence in both of them,” Clark smiled.

Class namesake and American show jumping legend George Morris was on hand to offer his commentary on the evening’s competition. The multiple tests of rider ability in round two were reasonable in Morris’s opinion, but he acknowledged that they tripped up many young riders.

“This was an interesting class. I was happy with the second round. The tests are all very doable. Trotting fences, walking fences, counter cantering, flying changes, they’re all doable, but caused quite a distraction. It was very difficult [for riders],” Morris explained.

While Morris wasn’t judging, he still provided input for the course design. The walk jump certainly caught a few riders off guard, but Morris was unsurprisingly full of praise for the old-school element.

“That’s a very, very, old [test]. I don’t know what number test it is, but that’s been in the tests forever,” Morris described. “Victor Hugo-Vidal and Ronnie [Mutch], those old judges, myself, every class they tested [in the past]. Every 14-18 open [equitation class], even under 14, they tested. Tests educate the riders and their horse training.”

Morris was happy to see Hughes and Colvin, graduates of his 2014 Horsemastership Training Session, continue to succeed at the top level of their sport. “It’s not that you’re partial, but you’re pleased to see results. You don’t like, as a teacher, wasting your time. I don’t like wasting my time,” Morris commented. “They’re great students. Great future.”

Competition for week eleven of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Artisan Farms, continues on Saturday afternoon with the Equitation 15-17 division in Ring 8 of the Main Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

David Will and Black Jack 163
David Will and Black Jack 163

David Will and Black Jack 163 Beat the Odds in $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m

Germany’s David Will got the win in Friday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with Eveline Kraus’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Black Jack 163 (Escudo I x Drosselklang II). Will had the fastest time to beat out three Olympic gold medalists for the win, with Beezie Madden (USA) in second, Eric Lamaze (CAN) in third, and Laura Kraut (USA) fourth.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the speed track for 47 entries in the 1.45m class with 11 clear rounds. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Amadora were first to go and set a very fast time of 60.31 seconds that eventually finished second. The pair was beat out by David Will and Black Jack 163, who were over three seconds faster in 57.19 seconds. Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Check Picobello Z, owned by Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines, finished third in 61.55 seconds, and Laura Kraut (USA) and MH Sporhorse’s Andretti S placed fourth with a time of 62.03 seconds.

David Will and Black Jack 163 finally got their win on Friday after several close finishes this winter. The pair finished second to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 earlier this week in Wednesday’s $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m. They placed second behind Sweetnam and Cyklon in the same class during week seven too. They were also third in week seven’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and fifth in that same class during week nine as well.

On Friday, Will had the advantage of going before Sweetnam and putting the pressure on, and it was not the Irish rider’s day. “Maybe I was lucky; Shane already had the first fence down, but I knew that it would be very difficult today even for Shane,” Will stated. “Black Jack is a naturally very, very fast horse and I just got the turns that I wanted. I got to leave out the strides in almost every distance, so I was very happy with him today.”

“This was his first win here, but he is always winning a lot,” Will added. “He has been very good in the indoor season. I actually stepped him up a little bit higher and he was doing the 1.50m, 1.55m classes already. Here, it was a little bit difficult in the beginning when we came outside. He is a little bit of a nervous horse and he was not going as good in the beginning, but now he is used to going outside. He is comfortable with it again, so he is going super well.”

Speaking about the course, Will noted, “When I walked it, it didn’t walk like a classic speed class. There were some points, after the first double for example, where you could do a really short turn. Then almost every distance you could leave out a stride if you wanted to. It was actually very nice to ride it fast. It was a good course; I liked it very much.”

Will showed in Wellington two years ago and has noticed the increase in competition coming back in 2014. He brought four horses for this year’s FEI classes.

“It is very hard,” the rider noted. “The level is really, really high. There are a lot of good riders. What makes it very difficult is that you have to qualify on Thursday for the Saturday night grand prix, and there are always like 100 starters. If you want to be in the top 45, to qualify for the grand prix it is actually very tough.”

Will plans to show Black Jack again during week twelve and will then travel home to Europe. He hopes to step the horse up a little more this season after the great experience that Black Jack got competing in Wellington.

Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, Laura Chapot kept her winning streak alive in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. With 102 entries, the class was held in a California Split and awarded two sets of placings, putting Chapot’s leading times in the top of both sections. Chapot and Bradberry won Section A with the fastest time of the class. Chapot and Zealous finished on the top of Section B with the second fastest time. The rider also took fifth place in Section A with Shooting Star and second place in Section B with Castellana.

For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Laura Cardon and Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Eric Lamaze and Zigali P S Win $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11

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Eric Lamaze and Zigali P S. Photo © Sportfot.

Elizabeth Solter and On The Town Take Top Honors in CWD Saddlery Performance 3’6″ Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2014 – Week eleven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued in Wellington, FL, on Thursday with a win for Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze with new mount Zigali P S in the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11. Lamaze beat out Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Elky van het Indihof and USA’s Beezie Madden and Simon to take the top spot in a fifteen-horse jump-off.

FTI WEF week eleven, sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, runs March 19-23, 2014. The $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m will be held during the day on Friday and the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, presented by Alessandro Albanese, will be held Friday starting at 4:30 p.m. The $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 3* will be the feature event on Saturday night at 8 p.m. The grass derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC will host the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Final (8 a.m.) and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic (2 p.m.) on Sunday.

Live streaming of Saturday night’s $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* will be featured on The Chronicle of the Horse website:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2014-100000-engel-volkers-grand-prix-live

Course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) saw 95 competitors over his first round track in Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup. A tight time allowed in the first round yielded ten entries with single time faults and 19 more were able clear the course without fault to qualify for the jump-off. Four entries opted out of the second round, where fifteen continued on over the short course with five double clear rounds.

Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Candy Tribble’s Special Lux were first to jump-off and eventually finished fourth with their time of 39.11 seconds. Gabriela Mershad (USA) posted the next clear round in 42.60 seconds to earn fifth place honors with Mershad Stables LLC’s Skara Glen’s Basel. Beezie Madden was next with Abigail Wexner’s Simon, and raced through the course in 38.78 seconds, which eventually finished third. Immediately following, Eric Lamaze and Artisan Farms LLC’s Zigali P S stole the lead in 37.59 seconds. The only other jump-off competitor to clear the short course, Lorenzo de Luca blazed through the timers in 37.66 seconds, securing the second place prize with T&L NV’s Elky van het Indihof.

After his win, Lamaze noted that he almost didn’t even show in Thursday’s class when it started off with a string of clear rounds, but he made the decision to go anyway, and it paid off in the end. “At first I wasn’t going to go in because the first four were clear and I am pre-qualified for the grand prix, so I was thinking I was going to do the 1.45m tomorrow,” Lamaze laughed. He has a new string of horses this year and is carefully planning each horse’s show schedule and taking time to get to know them.

“They are new horses for me. Zigali I just got just before I came here,” Lamaze stated. “I liked everything about him from the beginning. He came close to winning a few times this winter, but it just didn’t happen. As I get going fast in the jump-off with him towards the end, I need to get to know him a little better, but he is a fantastic horse. He feels to me like he comes back in the second round like a winner. He gets better for the second round.”

“I took some time off and Artisan was nice enough to purchase some young horses for me to make up, but I got quickly over that and then wanted to get back in the real sport,” Lamaze said of his new starting line-up. “They were so generous to purchase Powerplay for me, which I love, and then Zigali afterwards and Quelmec (du Gery) as well, so I am back with a string of horses to compete.”

“Zigali, I can’t ask for more,” he continued. “I knew the horse was a winner, but this is a time where you can’t buy success in a way. In the sport there are great riders, there are great horses, but you have to be a match with a horse. You can’t buy success unless you become a match with the horse. I am a great believer in that. With Zigali, as with Powerplay, I think I made a great match with these horses. Powerplay is more of a championship horse. He has big scope and everything else, but this horse is a real competitor for modern day grand prix.”

The day’s jump-off provided a big track for the horses to really open up their strides and gallop, which suited Zigali and Lamaze perfectly.

“He is so fast,” the rider emphasized. “I have yet to even go fast on that horse. It feels great when you have a horse where it doesn’t matter who is leading, you feel like you have a chance to win, and with that horse I really feel like I have yet to even put the full throttle.”

In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, Lamaze earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

Also showing in the International Arena on Thursday, an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class was held in the morning with a one-two finish for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny with Spruce Meadows’ Quiz and Caroline Lloyd’s Sans Souci Z. Alexandra Crown and Zafira topped the Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.

Elizabeth Solter and On The Town Take Top Honors in CWD Saddlery Performance 3’6″ Hunters

After over a year away from the show ring, On The Town proved he hadn’t missed a step after being crowned division champion of the CWD Saddlery Performance Hunter 3’6″ with Elizabeth Solter at the FTI WEF. Solter, of Berlin, MD, rode the nine-year-old Brandenburg gelding owned by Lysa Burke Horkan to a blue ribbon finish under saddle in addition to second, seventh, and first over fences.

Elizabeth Solter and On The Town
Elizabeth Solter and On The Town

Solter has ridden On The Town for several years, contesting the First Year Green Hunter division for the horse’s previous owners. The pair picked up several notable wins, including the reserve championship title at the prestigious Devon Horse Show (Pa.). Current owner Burke Horkan then bought the gelding, but took a hiatus from the show ring for the last year and a half and asked Solter to help her get On The Town back in shape.

“He’s really like a first year green horse, experience-wise,” Solter explained. “Not his attitude or ability, but show ring-wise.”

She continued, “He’s been good. Each week he’s gotten better and better. He has a lovely attitude, a big step, and a really good front end. He’s a pretty sweet horse.”

Solter described the gelding as consistent and affectionate, with one of the best attitudes of any of the horses she rides. He settled back into life in the show ring quickly, and Burke Horkan hopes to get back in the saddle soon.

“He’s one of the most gorgeous horses I’ve ever seen. He wins the under saddle and jumps outrageously. He’s one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever had. You go in his stall, and he doesn’t want to leave!” Burke Horkan smiled.

Solter agreed that On The Town has always possessed a puppy-dog personality, adding that the horse is just as fun in the ring as he is in the barn. “He has a real smooth canter. He’s really comfortable to ride, and he’s really brave about the jumps. He’s got lots of scope. He’s really fun to ride,” she smiled.

Burke Horkan added, “Elizabeth and I have known each other for more than 20 years, probably close to 30 at least. I love having her ride him.”

Competition for the eleventh week of the FTI WEF, presented by Artisan Farms, continues on Friday with the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, presented by Alessandro Albanese. The class begins at 4:30 p.m. in the International Arena on the Main Grounds of PBIEC. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Don’t Miss CBS Sports Network Coverage of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Primetime Tonight

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Wellington, FL – March 20, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions is pleased to announce that the major event from week nine of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network in primetime tonight on March 20, from 8:30-9:30 p.m. EST. Watch live or set your DVR – don’t miss this grand prix action!

A huge television audience will have the chance to watch world-class show jumping in their living rooms tonight when CBS Sports Network broadcasts the $280,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix presented by The Bainbridge Companies. The event, which was held on March 8, features the world’s best show jumpers.

The broadcast is a great opportunity for fans from all over the country to watch the best equestrian sport in the United States and for sports fans of all types to become familiar with equestrian athletes from the U.S. and abroad. Use the CBS Sports Network Channel Finder to find CBS Sports Network in your area, and tune in!

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com