Category Archives: Jennifer Wood

Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent Win $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* at WEF 6

Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent. Photos copyright Sportfot.

3’3″ Hunters Garner WCHR Week Championships

Wellington, FL – February 19, 2016 – Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was the winner of Friday night’s $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* aboard a brand new mount, Red Star D’Argent, during week six at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Competing under the lights in the International Ring at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Kenny topped a three-horse jump-off over Laura Chapot (USA) and ISHD Dual Star in second and Sayre Happy (USA) aboard Ludwig’s Joker B in third.

While hunters take center stage on the main show grounds for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week, the international jumpers get a fresh change of scenery competing in both the Global International Ring and the Derby Field at The Stadium through Sunday. The feature “Saturday Night Lights” event will be the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherhill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday, February 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome, sponsored by EnTrust Capital, and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Saturday. The $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 Grand Prix, sponsored by EnTrust Capital, as well as the $50,000 WEF 6 National Grand Prix, will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the course for 42 starters in Friday night’s grand prix with only three clear rounds for the jump-off. Sayre Happy qualified her mount Ludwig’s Joker B, but had a refusal at the second fence in the short course and chose to retire after her horse lost a shoe. Laura Chapot jumped next with Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star, completing a clear round in 39.48 seconds. Last to go, Darragh Kenny and Red Star D’Argent clocked in two-tenths of a second faster to take the win in a time of 39.27.

Kenny just recently got the ride on Red Star D’Argent, an 11-year-old Selle Francais stallion by Quick Star. The horse was previously shown under Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and is now competing with Kenny to be sold. Red Star arrived in the U.S. in the beginning of January, and Kenny has taken his time to get to know his new mount over the last several weeks before stepping up to Friday night’s grand prix.

“My relationship with him is very new,” Kenny detailed. “He was formerly ridden by a very good friend of mine, Sergio Moya. We had talked about the horse coming this winter for me to ride a little bit. He came about five or six weeks ago, and I have just really been getting to know him the last few weeks. He has jumped a lot of good rounds, but has had an unlucky jump down. Today he was fantastic. This was the first grand prix I have jumped him in. I have jumped some WEF (Challenge Cups) and some 1.50m (classes). I did not feel 100% comfortable that I knew him, that I had the right bridle, and everything like that. This week, he felt fantastic. He was really unlucky in the WEF, but fantastic today.”

“The idea is to sell the horse, and that is why he came here for me to ride and show,” Kenny continued. “I have had a lot of horses come and go lately. Some have gotten sold, some have gone to other people, and it does not really bother me because I am trying to produce new horses all of the time so that they can get sold and I can have horses to ride at the top level. The last few weeks I have been very unlucky, so to get this win is really great.”

Commenting on his jump-off round, Kenny said, “I did not actually watch Laura. I know that Laura is an extremely fast rider, and the horse is a super horse. I had one of my friends, Hardin (Towell), watch her. He said that you basically just have to go for it and see what happens.”

“The horse is very easy to turn, and he jumps even better when you turn him back up to jumps,” Kenny continued. “He really tries and is really careful, with good technique, so it makes it easy to turn really short with him.”

Knowing that Red Star turns so well, Kenny had planned to show the horse in Friday night’s grand prix in the smaller arena at The Stadium for the last four weeks.

“I had the aim of jumping him this week. I think this venue suited him,” Kenny said. “He is agile; he is good in a small ring. I knew it would be a careful course, (and) he is very careful.”

Chapot thought she may have been able to take more risk in hindsight, but the rider was very pleased with her jump-off round aboard ISHD Dual Star.

“I thought she jumped fantastic tonight,” Chapot stated. “I do not think she even came close to touching a rail. I think I just played it too safe in the jump-off. I probably should have made at least one of the inside turns, either after the double or to the last line. But with only three in the jump-off and the first one obviously being out, I wanted to put a little pressure on Darragh and not make a mistake. With the way my horse was jumping, I probably should have gone ahead and done that, and that would have made the difference.”

Although Sayre Happy had to retire from her jump-off round, the rider was happy with the way Ludwig’s Joker B jumped on Friday night. The horse was double clear and fourth on Thursday and continued to jump well for his third place finish under the lights.

“My partner and I bought the horse to sell, and I do not think we knew he would be as good as he is,” Happy noted. “I got this horse in July and just did some smaller 1.40m, 1.45m, and this is the biggest class I have jumped with him. The stop was my fault; I was a mile away. He tries his heart out every time, and he is a really fun horse.”

Speaking of the night’s course, Happy stated, “I honestly thought there were going to be a few more clear. Yesterday, the course I walked was what I rode. I watched a bunch of people go and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe I should change my plan.’ But I stuck with it. Tonight I felt the same way. It kind of rode what he set when I walked it, and I stayed with my plan. I thought he did a great job.”

Kenny also spoke of the course, noting, “When I walked the course, it did not look so difficult, but always in this ring, the jumps come up so fast. It ends up riding much more difficult. It suited a smaller horse with more blood. There were a lot of questions here and there about the numbers, but in the end I think he did a super job on the course.”

Chapot, agreed, adding, “This ring rides a little bit more like an indoor ring, and after coming off riding in the International Arena, which is so wide open, it was difficult for horses to adjust that quickly. I thought he posed a lot of questions all throughout the course, and he had rails everywhere.”

Along with the prize money for her third place finish Friday night, Sayre Happy was presented the award for Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for her success in week six. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Douglas Elliman Real Estate in memory of Dale Lawler.

3’3″ Hunters Garner WCHR Week Championships

Stephanie Danhakl wrote the perfect ending to a comeback story for her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding Quest in the culmination of the Osphos® 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division Friday. After much success with Danhakl’s trainer Scott Stewart in First Year competition in 2014, Quest suffered a rare complication involving the veins in his hooves that required over a year of rest to completely regrow healthy hoof.

Stephanie Danhakl and Quest
Stephanie Danhakl and Quest

This week marked the two-year anniversary of his First Year championship at WEF with Stewart, and he celebrated it by carrying Danhakl to first and second over fences, fourth under saddle and a win in the handy on a score of 91 for champion in the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Division.

“I have to credit my vet Haynes Stevens for getting Quest back to full health,” said Danhakl. “After his First Year Championship his feet started getting sore, and we didn’t really know what was wrong. Haynes was the only one who could figure out how to bring him back.”

After over a year off, Quest returned in style and has been back in the show ring with Danhakl for the past few months.

“I’m happy to have him back – he’s an amazing horse,” she said. “He was phenomenal both yesterday and today. I never have to worry about him spooking, and I was confident about him showing in the International Arena. I really look forward to this week with the focus on the hunters. There is a lot of excitement in the air, and it is nice to be able to gallop around and really let out his stride.”

Danhakl admits that her division is a competitive one with a lot of junior riders moving up into amateur competition, but she is happy to be kept on her toes.

Scoring first and third over fences and second under saddle, Vivian Yowan piloted Anytime, owned by Saddle Ridge, LLC, to reserve champion behind Danhakl.

In the Karina Brez Jewelry 3’3″ Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Division, Daryl Portela and Winner, owned by Isalou, Inc., claimed champion after jumping to reserve honors during Week 5. Portela and Winner were first and fifth over fences, second in the handy, and third under saddle to clinch the tricolor.

“I had a great week,” said Portela. “It’s a tough division with a lot of good horses and a lot of good riders, but I feel very comfortable with [Winner].”

Portela has had the ride on the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding for four years after her trainer Jimmy Torano imported him.

“He didn’t have much of a personality and had never done the hunters when I got him,” she said, “but I started him right away. He developed a great personality and became very comfortable.”

For Portela, having a chance to shine in the International Arena is a rare treat. “We never get to show in here. It’s a long way around, but it’s so exciting,” she said.

Reserve champion honors in the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over 3’3″ division was awarded to Lynn Seithel and her own Walk the Moon after a third place finish over fences and a blue ribbon in the handy.

The UHealth Ear Institute 3’3″ Junior Hunter Division saw stiff competition during WCHR week and was split into two sections with Lili Halterman and her own Genuine taking champion in Section A and Mimi Gochman earning champion in Section B aboard Papyrus for owner David Gochman.

Seventeen-year-old Halterman is savoring her final season as a junior competitor at WEF and admits that earning champion during WCHR week was a special bonus.

“This season was most about having fun and enjoying being on my horses,” she said. “I really enjoy big rings, but this ring especially.”

Halterman and Genuine collected two first place finishes over fences, a second-place ribbon in the handy, and a win under saddle to secure champion honors.

“He has always been great,” said Halterman of her 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “He always steps up and acts like a babysitter for me, and I have won a lot with him because of that.”

Halterman also earned reserve champion honors in Section A on her own Cussini with a win in the handy, as well as second and sixth over fences.

Taking the Section B Championship, Gochman rode Papyrus to third over fences, adding to his second over fences and wins in the handy and under saddle earlier in the week with Emma Kurtz in the irons.

Gochman, 11, showed in the International Arena at WEF for the first time this week and did it on a new mount. Papyrus, a nine-year-old German Warmblood gelding is one of the youngest and most green horses Gochman has sat on. She only started riding him at the beginning of the winter season.

“I have to be a lot more gentle with him – he is always really cautious so I try to be really soft, which is new to me,” said Gochman. “He took care of me out there today, and it was really a treat. It was fun to have the experience, but also to do well in the big ring. I’m proud that I could keep it together with a new, green horse.”

Mimi’s sister Sophie Gochman collected reserve champion in Section B with Last Man Darling, owned by David Gochman. She won Friday’s over fences class after Emma Kurtz piloted Last Man Darling to fourth over fences and second under saddle earlier in the week.

Week six of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Saturday with more hunter and jumper action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Hunters Rule the International Arena for World Championship Hunter Rider Week at WEF

Scott Stewart and Catch Me. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Conor Swail and Dillinger Win $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Wellington, FL – February 18, 2016 – The arrival of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival heralds the traditional beauty of the hunter discipline, which is featured all week long in the main International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The professional hunter divisions were completed today and seven divisions named champions. WEF 6 runs through Sunday, February 21, with the highlight event, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, as the “Saturday Night Lights” event starting at 6:30 p.m. under the lights.

Jumper competition during week six is held at The Stadium at PBIEC. Ireland’s Conor Swail and Dillinger took the win in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.

The international jumpers get a fresh change of scenery competing in both the International Ring and the Derby Field at The Stadium through Sunday. The $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* will be the highlight event on Friday night in the Global International Ring, the $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome Grand Prix sponsored by EnTrust Capital and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Saturday, and the $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 sponsored by EnTrust Capital as well as the $50,000 WEF 6 National Grand Prix will both be held on the derby field at The Stadium on Sunday. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Perennial favorite Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ captured two championships today; he rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons to the tricolor in the High Performance Hunter division and David Gochman’s Catch Me to the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green Working Hunter championship.

Stewart topped two of the three over fences classes and placed second in the under saddle with the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Havens Schatt settled for the reserve honors with Shaw Johnson Price’s 11-year-old Mecklenburg gelding, Custom Made, topping the under saddle and earning a fifth and two second place ribbons over fences.

Catch Me was recently named the USHJA WCHR Hunter of the Year for 2015 and will receive the WCHR Peter Wetherill Cup on Saturday night. In May of 2015, Catch Me became ill and was diagnosed with botulism, a neurologic disorder that can result in paralysis and may be fatal. Since the disease was caught early and treated, Catch Me was able to make a full recovery and returned to the show ring in August.

“When you saw him at the clinic you would not have thought he was going to make it,” Steward remarked about the ordeal.

He was especially impressed with the gelding’s performance this week. “He’s so careful, and he was awesome,” Stewart detailed. Catch Me’s performance has led him to consider competing him in the Hunter Spectacular.

Stewart looks forward to earning a spot in the coveted class each year. “It’s certainly one of the most special weeks for us here,” he remarked. “It’s still a great thing to try to do.”

Stewart and A Million Reasons won the stake round of the High Performance Hunters with a score of 88 and placed third in another of the three over fences classes. A Million Reasons also earned a blue ribbon in the under saddle class.

The 11-year-old Holsteiner mare walked right into the International Arena on Wednesday, competing for the first time since the National Horse Show in November. “She doesn’t show that much,” Stewart detailed about the mare’s light show schedule. When asked what helps the mare continue to impress year after year, Stewart explained, “I don’t really jump her [four feet high] at home. She has an easy job, so I think she stays pretty interested.”

A Million Reasons, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, may be a small horse, but she never appears to be when on course. “She’s not that big a horse, but she has a giant stride,” Stewart stated. “You just have to do things her way. She’s a little temperamental, but very scopey for a small horse.”

Kelley Farmer and Like I Said settled for the reserve honors after winning two of the three over fences classes. The pair also placed sixth in the under saddle. Like I Said is an eight-year-old Mecklenburg mare, who was recently purchased by Pony Lane Farm.

Farmer and Like I Said moved up to the top tricolor ribbon in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter. Farmer, who splits her time between Lexington, KY and Wellington, piloted the mare to wins in two of the three over fences classes. The pair also placed fourth over jumps to clinch the tricolor win.

Like I Said received the highest score of the week, earning an impressive 94 in the stake round today. “She was amazing; what a horse,” Farmer stated. “The only reason she wasn’t champion in two divisions this week was because I got in her way.”

Farmer and Like I Said also won both of the over fences classes in the High Performance division on Wednesday. “For a First Year horse to walk in the International ring yesterday and win both classes… she’s a heck of a horse, and I think she speaks for herself,” Farmer laughed. “I couldn’t be happier with her.”

Reserve champion honors in the First Year Green Hunters went to Victoria Colvin and Style. Style, who is a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Take the High Road LLC, earned a second place ribbon in the under saddle, and a first and a sixth over fences.

Farmer topped another division in the Shapley’s Grooming Products Green Conformation Hunters with Clever Conversation, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Celestial owned by Kensel, LLC and Woodland Way, Inc. They placed second in the model, won the under saddle, and were first, second, and second over fences. Trainer Larry Glefke was pleased that the horse continued his winning ways from earlier in the circuit in WCHR week, but the young gelding will not compete on Saturday night. “All of them that Kelley rides can jump big jumps, but going out there for the first time under the lights is a lot to ask from him as a First Year Horse,” he explained.

“Clever” is like a “baby Huey”, Glefke described. “He’s like a big puppy dog. He’s beautiful, and he has a tremendous canter. He just flies across the ground. When you’re cantering around, you feel like his feet don’t even touch the ground.”

Farmer added, “He was ready to come into his own. He’s been winning a lot. He’s brave, he’s quiet, and he has a ton of ability. I knew he would walk out there (in the International Arena) and love it.”

Farmer also rode the reserve champion in the division, It’s Me, owned by Farmer, Pinney, & Hill. The seven-year-old Warmblood stallion by Quality won two over fences classes and was third over fences, and placed third in the model.

Farmer, like Stewart, has been reigning in the professional hunters since the WCHR Hunter Spectacular started 20 years ago. When asked about her success during WCHR week at WEF, she stated, “I’ve won that (Hunter Spectacular) class once. I’d really like to say I’m a multiple winner! To keep having horses that are capable of competing on that field and at this week, [qualifying for] the class, it’s a testament to all of my team and what a great job they all do. Larry, Bucky (Reynolds), Debbie (Buchanan) in the barn, and all my great guys, and the horses. I’m lucky to have a group like I do. It’s nice to keep being back in the mix every time.”

For Farmer, it’s a balance of peaking her young and experienced horses at the right time and keeping herself healthy. Last year at WEF 4, a horse she was riding tripped and fell. Farmer tore her rotator cuff and had a hairline fracture in her sternum. Despite her injuries, she was back week 6 and competing.

“Truthfully I wasn’t in good enough shape to ride, and I pushed myself. It probably didn’t benefit my horses, and I didn’t ride the way I should for my horses. This year, I’m back and I feel good,” she said.

Chris Payne of Cincinnati, OH brought home another championship for the circuit with Truman, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Debbie Bass and Maypine Farm, in the Shapley’s Grooming Products Regular Conformation Hunters. They won two over fences classes and were third in the remaining over fences class, and won the model and the under saddle.

“He’s an absolutely amazing horse,” Payne said. “He’s a beautiful horse, he’s very correct. He hasn’t lost an under saddle. He just has a great style and technique. He is what you think of, when you think of a hunter.”

Payne, who imported Truman as an inexperienced five-year-old from Europe, did not have any expectations coming into WCHR week. But he is excited to showcase Truman’s talent in the horse’s first ever Hunter Spectacular at WEF. “The International Ring is very imposing for some. I went into it hoping that he and I had a good time,” he explained. “If the cards played out in our favor, I was happy. (On Saturday night) I’ll go out and have a good time. I’m lucky to get to ride him, and Debbie Bass is an amazing owner for letting me do this.”

The reserve champion in the division was Lucador, ridden by Scott Stewart for Dr. Betsee Parker. They were third in the model, second under saddle, and first, second, and third over fences. Stewart plans to compete Lucador in the Hunter Spectacular on Saturday night.

A field of 58 horses vied for the Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ championship, resulting in a California split of the division. Elizabeth Boyd piloted Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan to one of the two championships following two wins and a fourth place ribbon over fences. The pair also placed fourth in the under saddle. Brady Mitchell rode Cassanto to the second championship title. The pair placed first and second over fences and topped the under saddle. Cassanto is a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Emily Perez.

Jimmy Torano piloted Mia Holstead’s Sutherland to one of the Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ division championships. Torano placed second in the under saddle and earned fifth, second, and first place ribbons over fences on the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Victoria Colvin also earned a championship tricolor aboard Havana, who is a 16-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Take the High Road LLC. The pair topped the under saddle class and earned a second and two third place ribbons over fences.

Conor Swail and Dillinger Win $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the course for 70 starters in Thursday’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. Ten entries cleared the first round course to advance to the jump-off where only four jumped double clear.

Conor Swail and Dillinger
Conor Swail and Dillinger

Laura Kraut (USA) and Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s Constable were first to clear the short course in 42.29 seconds, eventually finishing third. Sayre Happy (USA) cleared the track next with HC Sport Horses’ Ludwig’s Joker B to finish fourth in a time of 44.29. Conor Swail was next to clear the jump-off course with Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dillinger, stopping the clocks in the winning time of 39.98 seconds. Last to go, Peter Wylde (USA) jumped into second place with a time of 41.28 seconds aboard Kathleen Kamine’s Paloma.

Speaking of his jump-off round, Swail said, “One to two was just a nice seven strides for him. The rollback was pretty nice and then the eight strides up to the Liverpool were nice for him. Then just on the landing he had a little bit of a stumble and it made me turn a little late there, but thankfully we still got that inside turn. Then the in-and-out and the last fence he did great.”

Dillinger, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (by Contender x Capitol I), is a horse that Swail has high hopes for.

“He just turned nine years old, so this would be the start of the higher level in his career,” Swail stated. “He is a very good horse. We have had him since he was five years old, and he has been very good basically the whole time we have had him.”

“He jumped his first couple of 2* and 3* grand prix at Angelstone at the end of last year and he jumped clear in five out of the six ranking classes, so he has been very consistent,” Swail noted. “This is probably his first big win, but he has had some good placings. He is a fabulous horse. He is very scopey and very careful. It is what we are all looking for,” he said.

The smaller International Ring at the Stadium was a change for Dillinger, but the young horse proved his versatility and made great turns.

“For a big horse that ring is actually quite difficult, so I think it is a testament to how good he reacted, and I was delighted with him,” Swail said.

Dillinger will jump again in Friday night’s $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3*, but Swail plans to take his time developing the horse further.

“We have been building him up gradually,” Swail detailed. “He was out a few weeks ago jumping the two 1.45m ranking classes. He had one down with the fastest time in the first class and he was third the next time, so he is slowly improving. I think he is going to be a championship horse. I really do think a lot of him. Whenever he is more comfortable and more ready to jump the bigger jumps, I think he will tell me when he is ready to do that. In the meantime, he is getting good experience all of the time and I never want to over face him too much, so we will keep just going along nicely. Hopefully towards the end of this year he will be doing some pretty nice things.”

In addition to the winning prize money, Swail picked up a $3,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

While jumper action continues at The Stadium on Friday featuring the $130,000 Grand Prix CSI 3* in the evening, the third day of WCHR competition will host more championship presentations on the main show grounds. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S Win $86k Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at WEF 5

Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Emily Perez Tops Bruno Delgrange Large Junior Hunter 16-17

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2016 – The fifth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, concluded on Sunday with a win for Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Davendy S in the $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Competing in the International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Springsteen topped an 18-horse jump-off to win over Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Rosana du Park in second, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Unbelievable 5 in third. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Bob Ellis (GBR) set his final international track of the week for 67 starters in Sunday’s Suncast® 1.50m. With big prize money on the line, 18 entries cleared the first round course to advance to the jump-off. In round two, eight of those also jumped clear on the short track.

Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S got their first win of the WEF circuit with a super-fast round in 37.71 seconds. The duo pushed Eric Lamaze and Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Rosana du Park into second place with their round in 37.85 seconds. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Windward Farm and Jessica Suida’s Unbelievable 5 clocked in third in 38.28 seconds. Fourth place honors went to Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 with a time of 38.87 seconds.

Springsteen and Davendy S have been in the top ribbons multiple times this season, but had yet to get a win with the fierce competition at WEF. Earlier in the week, the pair set an early pace in Wednesday’s $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic, but eventually settled for fourth place. On Friday, they held the lead in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic, but were pushed into second place by Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083. In Sunday’s 1.50m, it was finally their turn to take the victory.

“I was so determined to win today,” Springsteen stated. “I was really fast on Wednesday and I just messed up one line and finished fourth. Here, if you are not on it everywhere, that is what happens. Then on Friday I was second. Shane Sweetnam got my time at the very end. So today, I was just going for it, and she was amazing. She tries so hard every time.”

Springsteen made her plan with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II) and tried to go as fast as she could “without losing her head.”

“When the fences are higher, you cannot go as crazy fast, so I do not think I went any faster than I have been going,” Springsteen noted. “With a class like this it is a little bit more tough. I went as fast as I could and she tried so hard. I got away with that second to last jump.”

Springsteen began training with Edwina Tops Alexander in 2015 and has also had help from Ben Maher throughout the winter circuit in Wellington.

“I have been training with Edwina over in Holland, but they do not come down here, so I have been training with Ben Maher here, and it has been great,” Springsteen explained. “Ben is so relaxed and he gives you so much confidence. He is really clear, so it has been good. The horses are jumping great and it is nice to be back down here in one place for a while. It has been going well.”

While her top mount, Vindicat W, is sidelined with an injury, Springsteen is bringing along some new mounts this winter.

“Right now I am just focusing on getting all of my horses going well, and getting back into the groove of jumping the bigger grand prix, which I have not been able to do in a while,” she noted.

After jumping so well this week, Davendy S will now have a break before coming back to compete later in the circuit.

“Mostly I will just aim for the 5* (shows) with her, doing the speeds and the 1.50m classes,” Springsteen stated. “I will keep her in her comfort zone that she likes to be in. She is so competitive in these classes, so I will keep aiming towards those.”

Also competing in the International Ring on Sunday, Emily Moffitt secured a one-two finish in the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic. Moffitt was the only rider to clear the first round course with her two mounts, and finished first and second aboard Poden Farms’ Thalis de la Roque and Chaplin W respectively. The $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumper Classic was featured in the afternoon with a win for Giavanna Rinaldi and Anabelle 28.

Emily Perez Tops Bruno Delgrange Large Junior Hunter 16-17

Emily Perez piloted her own Cassanto to the Bruno Delgrange Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship on Sunday afternoon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field. Besting a field of 21 horses, Perez won the stake class with a high score of 88. She also placed first in the handy and earned a third place ribbon in another over fences class. Lilli Hymowitz rode Rose Hill Farm’s Garfield to the reserve honors, earning a first and two second place ribbons over fences and a fifth in the under saddle.

Emily Perez and Cassanto
Emily Perez and Cassanto

Perez, of Pittsford, NY, is a 16-year-old junior at Pittsford Southerland High School. She commutes to Wellington on the weekends in order to compete with her horses in the junior hunter, equitation, and junior jumper divisions. She has been riding for eight years, beginning at a local barn in Rochester, NY. Three years ago, she decided to move to Heritage Farm in order to pursue a more competitive junior career.

Besides riding horses, singing is another one of Perez’s talents. She takes voice lessons near her hometown in Rochester, NY, where she often sings in recitals and at local events. This past summer Perez sang the national anthem for the CSI 3* Grand Prix at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

When Perez originally purchased Cassanto two years ago, he was meant to be her equitation horse. When the pair began competing in the hunter divisions to build on their partnership, it became clear that the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding could be a rather fancy hunter. Perez then decided to focus on the hunters with Cassanto.

Perez enjoys showing her gelding in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field because of the ring’s physical openness, which allows more flow on course. “It went really well for me this week,” Perez remarked. “I thought today he was jumping really well. I enjoyed the courses as well. Today there was a line going to the right and he really opened up his right lead for me and made a great effort.”

“He’s got a really cute personality. He knows he’s really special,” Perez said about her beautiful chestnut gelding. “He’s super brave and always does whatever you ask him.”

Perez looks forward to showing Cassanto in the Large Junior 16-17 division next week during WCHR hunter week. She hopes to qualify him for the WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, which will take place in the International Arena on Saturday night of WEF six. “I also really want to compete in a hunter derby this year,” Perez said about her future goals with Cassanto. “They are so fun.”

WEF continues in week six with World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition featured in the International Ring from February 17-21, 2016, while the international jumpers compete at The Stadium at PBIEC, both in the Global International Ring and the grass derby field, in their CSI 3* events all week. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Peters and Rosamunde Make Statement on First Day of Competition at AGDF 5

Steffen Peters and Rosamunde. Photos: ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 10, 2016 – Steffen Peters (USA) and Rosamunde, owned by Four Winds Farm, made an impressive jump to the top of the standings with a score of 75.380% in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). The CDI 3* Grand Prix competition started off the fifth week of AGDF, which is sponsored by Diamante Farms, at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The CDI 5* competition will begin tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the FEI Grand Prix, presented by Diamante Farms, preceded by the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI 1*, presented by Kirk Arabians at 8 a.m.

Peters and the impressive 2007 Rhinelander mare maintained their consistency with their performance at AGDF, as they have only competed on the West Coast so far this season. Today’s competition had only the top three combinations break the 70% mark, with Peters and Rosamunde receiving a 75.380%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo finished in second place with a 72.240%, while Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet collected third place honors with a 71.020%.

“She felt great today,” said Peters. “She came into this show with some huge results from shows in California. There’s always that bit of pressure there, but she felt great today and probably was just as good as she was in L.A. I thought we had a very clean test. I saw a bunch of 8.5 and 9.0s in the test, which is exciting, but there is always room for improvement.”

While elaborating on the small improvements Peters would like to make with Rosamunde over the next few months, a few specific movements will be the main focus, including the one-tempis. He explained, “I think it’s clearly in the one-tempis. She still is swinging quite a bit. It’s interesting because when you watch the scoreboard, you can watch what the leader got as you’re watching other tests and she was at an 81% after the trot work and there again right before the one-tempis. Those are still expensive and you know, with her finding that perfect tempo for them. If it’s too forward, she’ll swing, and if it’s too collected, she does the same. It’s a bit tricky.”

“At the end of the day though, we have to appreciate that they even do the one-tempis,” laughed Peters. “This will take a little bit of time, but there’s nothing wrong with a 75% for a nine-year-old horse. I’m very proud of her and honored that I get to ride a horse like her.”

Shelly Francis and Danilo
Shelly Francis and Danilo

Shelly Francis and Danilo performed another beautiful test in the Grand Prix, riding late in the order and securing second place with a 72.240%. She said, “Overall, from the last show to this show because I’m going show by show, he’s more in front of my leg in certain places. There are a few moments where I think he could be a bit more, but he’s trying really hard to keep up with me.”

“Now that I’m making him more sensitive, I have to make sure that I’m making less mistakes myself,” noted Francis, who has seen consistent improvement from Danilo over the course of the past year and a half at the Large Tour.

“He feels really good. I had to squeeze a little bit in a few places, but he’s just improving, which is what I want him to continue doing,” she continued.

The 2004 Hanoverian gelding was a solid mount for Francis last year, but has come into his own in the Grand Prix over the past year, setting her up nicely for a strong winter campaign alongside Francis’ top mount Doktor.

“It’s constantly about getting him fitter without overdoing it too much. I just steadily, two days a week, do a bit harder days with a day in between of lighter work. We do it week after week and he gets fitter, stronger, even more willing, and responsive,” said Francis. “You put the pressure on once or twice a week and then he just gets better and better.”

Perry-Glass has also admittedly come leaps and bounds since taking the 2015 AGDF circuit by storm in Small Tour competition with “Dublet”. The pair has been extremely competitive in Large Tour competition so far this season, in just their first few international competitions so far this year.

“We really worked on that connection and through-ness in the off season. Today we had a bit of an issue in the extensions. It started off a bit rough, but he came back to me so nicely and that’s also what we’ve been working on with Debbie [McDonald],” she explained. “It’s about getting his attention in a positive way and even if we make a mistake here and there, he always seems to come right back to me. We’re getting him stronger and more comfortable in the Grand Prix.”

Perry-Glass has been working with U.S. legend Debbie McDonald since her recent permanent relocation from her original hometown of Orangeville, CA to Wellington, FL. She and Dublet continue to display poise and control in the ring, and Perry has learned to continue riding through the mistakes that may arise during their tests, which has helped their scores tremendously.

“Specifically right now we’re keeping him really happy. I feel like if he’s doing everything in training in a positive way. We are working it day by day on that through-ness and connection. It’s about the balance. I’m riding with Debbie four days a week and having that consistency is really important for us,” she noted. “It’s more now about getting him focused in the arena and keeping him really connected with me in the ring.”

Competition at AGDF continues tomorrow at 8 a.m. with the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI 1*, presented by Kirk Arabians, followed by the FEI Grand Prix CDI 5*, presented by Diamante Farms, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Global International Arena. For more information on AGDF please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 7 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $650,000 in prize money for the seven international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area.

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

Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414

Carly Weilminster
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z Capture $216,000 Ariat Grand Prix CSI 4* at WEF 4

Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Mallory Taylor Tops the Beval Saddlery Palm Beach Adult Medal

Wellington, FL – February 7, 2016 – Concluding the fourth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Check Picobello Z jumped to victory in the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4*. WEF continues on February 10-14 with CSI 5* competition. WEF hosts 12 weeks of competition and awards more than $9 million in prize money at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.

Forty entries competed and five jumped clear over the Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed course. With three double clears, Lamaze won in 43.65 seconds. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Untouched finished second in 45.52 seconds, and Marilyn Little (USA) and Corona 93 placed third in 46.20 seconds.

Margie Engle (USA) and Georgina Bloomberg (USA) each dropped rails in the race over the short course to finish fourth and fifth respectively. Engle and Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds, dropped the second to last fence and clocked in at 44.10 seconds. Bloomberg and Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Lilli had the last jump down in 45.55 seconds.

Lamaze continued his winning momentum from earlier in the week with Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Check Picobello Z. After winning Thursday’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4, the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) stepped up to Sunday’s grand prix ready to go.

“I was thrilled with him on Thursday. Winning the WEF (Challenge Cup) was already a big step up for him and this was another level from the WEF; it was much higher fences,” Lamaze noted. “This was by far the biggest thing he has ever had to do, so to come out with a win, I could not be happier with him. He is a bit of a different horse. He is not the easiest to maneuver around, but at the end he takes care of the fences for me. He has proven that he can be competitive.”

“That was the only jump-off at this height that he has ever done,” Lamaze detailed. “Last year I got into a few jump-offs in the 1.50m and he felt like he was a bit empty coming back every time and did not quite understand what the second round was there for. This year he seems to have grown up quite a bit. I think every rider at this level knows how much you can push your horse without putting the fences at risk, and at this moment he is giving me a lot of confidence that he is going to stay off the fences.”

Nick Skelton has a talented new mount in Poden Farm’s nine-year-old Westphalian stallion, Untouched (Untouchable x Capitol I), and was happy with his second place finish in Sunday’s grand prix.

“He is really relative low experience at this level, so I am very pleased with him,” Skelton said of Untouched. “He has been graduating over the last four weeks and he is getting better all the time.”

“I plan to bring him along until Big Star is back in a couple of weeks,” Skelton continued. “Big Star picked up an infection in his leg from a cut, but when I get him back going, I will have two really nice horses.”

Skelton spoke of the first round and then detailed his plan in the jump-off, stating, “I think the course was quite difficult today. There were very tall verticals and the combination was in a difficult place. All in all, it was a good four-star course.”

“I planned to go as quick as I could and not put the fences at risk because I knew whatever I did, Eric was going to beat me,” Skelton said of the second round. “He is always going to be faster; the only chance I had was if he had one down. That was my only hope I think, but I was very pleased with the horse anyway. I have not been in the jump-off in a couple of years, so I am really pleased.”

Marilyn Little also competed in this week’s 2016 Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, at PBIEC and was thrilled to finish out the weekend with an excellent grand prix finish. Little was aboard Raylyn Farms’ Corona 93, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare (Cordalme Z x Lenz XX) that she has owned for one year.

“I have had a wonderful group of people behind her,” Little explained. “Andrea King, Angel Karolyi, Christina Kelly, and my mother Lynn Little have all helped to bring her along at the shows when I could not be there. I got to step onto a very lovely horse in December and take my time getting to know her. She is an experienced horse and certainly has more scope than I have ever had the privilege to ride. It has been a dream out there.”

Little, who was the team and individual gold medalist in Eventing at the 2015 Pan American Games, spoke about stepping into the grand prix ring after the weekend’s Eventing. “The jumps looked very big today – less solid, but very big,” she said. “It was really exciting for me to be here. I have not jumped in a grand prix in quite a few years now. I have been Eventing and focusing on that. The Pan American Games were a very big push last year and I would not trade the experience at Eventing for anything, but I also would not trade the feeling out there for anything either. It was such a thrill.”

“I was proud that she went so well, and to be part of a jump-off with names like the ones that were all coming behind me… If Nick felt like he could not be fast enough, you can imagine how I felt,” Little laughed. “I was hoping to go clear. I do not know the horse so well; she is a new ride for me in the last three weeks. I was hoping for a double clear, and she did the job. Then I got to watch Nick and Eric show me how to do it.”

A special $500 Groom’s Award was also presented to Martina Natali as the groom of winning horse, Check Picobello Z. Tiffany Foster (CAN) was named Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for her success in week four, an award presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Douglas Elliman in memory of Dale Lawler.

Also competing in the International Ring on Sunday, Giavanna Rinaldi was the winner of the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJOHF High Junior Jumper Classic riding Pony Lane Farm’s Dulf van den Bisschop. The $10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was pinned in a California Split with 102 entries. Melissa Orlick-Zbierski and Isotropic’s Viekie were the winners in Section A. Mackenzie Drazen and Rusty Girl topped Section B.

Mallory Taylor Tops the Beval Saddlery Palm Beach Adult Medal

The Palm Beach Adult Medal, sponsored by Beval Saddlery, took place in ring 8 on Sunday morning at PBIEC. Eleven exhibitors vied for the win, first competing in a jumping round and then returning for a flat phase. Mallory Taylor, of Lexington, MA, impressed the judges in both phases, successfully piloting Caroline Kuldell’s mount Sir Thomas to the win.

Mallory Taylor and Sir Thomas
Mallory Taylor and Sir Thomas

Taylor, a 22-year-old recent graduate of Trinity College, had never competed in a show with Sir Thomas before this weekend. She rides out of Stoneymeade Farm and is trained by Joyce Mersereau and Sarah Tyndall. While Taylor has ridden the 19-year-old Warmblood Cross gelding a handful of times at the farm, the mount was new for her in the show ring. Sir Thomas, who was given to Taylor as a catch ride, is “one of the good horses at the barn,” she explained.

“He likes to dance around and get a little excited, but he behaved himself perfectly and he just listens really well. He’s a perfect horse to catch ride and do well on,” Taylor explained. When asked how she felt about her jumping round this morning, she replied, “I was really happy with it. My horse was great today.”

Taylor, who has been riding since age seven, intends to focus on riding more competitively this year. “I’m going to start showing again finally this year,” she said. “I’m out of college, so I’m trying to focus more on riding. I’m working full-time too, but I’m definitely trying to get back into it.”

Taylor competed consistently in the big equitation classes and the junior hunter divisions as a junior rider. In college she was a member of the Trinity College Equestrian Team and competed in some IHSA events. Now, Taylor will juggle her full-time job at a specialty insurance company with her riding career. She currently competes in the three-foot equitation, the adult equitation and the three-foot adult hunter divisions, but hopes to expand into more divisions as the year progresses.

WEF continues with its fifth week of competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, on February 10-14, 2016. The week will feature the $380,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 13. Other highlights include the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic on Wednesday, the $130,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 on Thursday, the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic on Friday, and the $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Shane Sweetnam and Buckle Up Win $35,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Shane Sweetnam and Buckle Up. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Alliy Moyer Rides Carlson to the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 Division Championship

Wellington, FL – February 6, 2016 – Shane Sweetnam (IRL) was the winner of the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with a brand new mount on Saturday during week four of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the course for 38 entries in the morning’s 1.50m, with four clear rounds, and a win for Sweetnam aboard The Blue Buckle Group’s Buckle Up. WEF 4 concludes on Sunday, February 7, with a feature class, the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4*, in the International Arena on the WEF show grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Cian O’Connor (IRL) was first to jump-off in the 1.50m riding Callisto, owned by Ian O’Grady, Philippe de Balander and Ronnoco Jump Ltd. The pair set the pace at 39.70 seconds, eventually settling for second place. David Blake (IRL) and Pine Hollow Farm’s Binkie were next to go, dropping one rail in the short course to finish fourth in 44.95 seconds. Sweetnam and Buckle Up followed with the winning double clear in 38.93 seconds. Last to go, Jordan MacPherson (CAN) jumped into third place with one rail in a time of 39.57 seconds, riding Sved Stables’ Aldine.

Buckle Up is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Colandro x Caretino) that Sweetnam recently got the ride on.

“It is a new horse. I have only had him two weeks,” Sweetnam explained. “I bought two horses in a syndicate including Lisa Lourie, the Gilbertsons, the Devries, Paul Tracy, and me. We are excited to get such a good result already.”

Buckle Up was purchased from Norwegian rider Ole Meland and has shown in major Nations Cup and World Cup competitions.

“He did a couple of 4* Nations Cups last year and he did the World Cup in Madrid in November, so he was ready to go and do this already,” Sweetnam noted. “He is very careful. I am still getting to know him, but he makes life easy for you. He wants to leave the jumps up, and he is brave. He is nice to ride.”

Commenting on the course and his winning jump-off round, Sweetnam detailed, “I thought Guilherme did a great job. The first round was nice. It was a full 1.50m: nothing stupid, but enough to make us pay attention. Then the jump-off, I was later to go of the four. I saw what Cian did, and I did what he did, just a little quicker. Then I just hoped that the last one did not beat me.”

Buckle Up will jump again in next week’s CSI 5* competition and possibly come out again during week seven.

“I’m just getting to know him at the moment, so I just have to play it by ear, but hopefully we will do big things,” Sweetnam concluded.

Also showing in the International Ring on Saturday, Emanuel Andrade won the $15,000 MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding Belita.

Alliy Moyer Rides Carlson to the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 Division Championship

Alliy Moyer, of Indianapolis, IN, won three of the four over fences classes aboard Carlson on her way to the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division championship. Moyer also placed fourth over jumps and first in the under saddle atop the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Vivian Yowan piloted Ransom to the reserve title, placing first, second third and six over fences, and second in the under saddle.

Alliy Moyer and Carlson
Alliy Moyer and Carlson

Moyer, a 21-year-old student at the University of Indianapolis, is no stranger to the winner’s circle with her mount Carlson. The pair has numerous championship honors and a USHJA National Hunter Derby win under their belts. As a full-time student, Moyer commutes to Wellington on Thursdays to compete in the Amateur-Owner divisions.

“I have had him for six years, so we know each other really well,” she explained about her longtime partnership with Carlson. “He is kind of like my pet now; I just love him to death.

“He is so good. He knows what he is supposed to do in the ring and he is just great,” she remarked.

Moyer’s strong bond with Carlson was on full display this weekend, beginning with their two wins over fences on Friday.

“The rounds yesterday were really good,” Moyer stated. “He was just spot on and knew what he was supposed to do. Today he was a little extra fresh than what he normally is, but he still jumped great.”

Moyer, who trains with Tammy Provost, spoils her horses with cookies every morning as incentive to perform their best. “They have all been great this week, so I am really lucky,” Moyer said.

Moyer will continue to show Carlson in the Amateur-Owner Hunters during the WEF circuit. She also plans to compete with him in some of the national derbies this year. “But we don’t push him too much. Sometimes he’ll just have a few weeks off. He doesn’t really take much prep. He is just a natural,” she said.

WEF 4 competition comes to a close on Sunday, featuring the Palm Beach Adult Medal in ring 8. Jumper competition also concludes with the $216,000 Ariat® CSI 4* Grand Prix taking place in the International Arena at 2:00 p.m. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Alexander, Moffitt, Heise, and Yates Win $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Team Event

Emma Heise and Quentucky Jolly. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Eduardo Menezes and Caruschka 2 Top $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic; Amy Heckler and Carfield Awarded Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A Championship

Wellington, FL – February 5, 2016 – Week four of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) featured a busy schedule of competition, with jumper action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday. The $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic was held in the International Ring on the main show grounds, with a win for Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Caruschka 2 in the afternoon. The $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 Team Event, sponsored by The McNerney Family, was the highlight event in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC in the evening. The competition saw a win for Team 3, which included Taylor Alexander, Emily Moffitt, Emma Heise, and Tina (DiLandri) Yates.

WEF 4, sponsored by Ariat®, continues through February 7, 2016, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The week will feature the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® on Saturday, February 6. Other highlights include the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Saturday, and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* in the WEF International Ring on Sunday. Also held on Saturday at The Stadium at PBIEC is the Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. All of these events will be live streamed at www.COTH.com. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Seventeen teams made up of 65 riders in total contested a Richard Jeffery (GBR) designed course for Friday night’s $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Team Event, sponsored by The McNerney Family. The top eight teams then returned in reverse order of merit based on their scores from the first round.

Combining the scores from both rounds of competition, three teams ended up in a tie for top honors on eight faults. A tie-breaking jump-off was then held with one rider from each team to determine the final standings.

The winning Team 3 was made up of Taylor Alexander riding Alexander LLC’s G&C Flash, Emily Moffitt aboard Poden Farms’ For Sale 6, Emma Heise riding Old Willow Farms LLC’s Quentucky Jolly, and Tina Yates aboard Highpoint Farm LLC’s Zelote VDL, led by Chef d’Equipe Laura Kraut. Alexander, Moffitt, and Heise all train with Kraut and her partner, Nick Skelton, while Yates is trained by her husband, Jonathen Yates.

Alexander was the drop score of eight in round one, but returned to jump clear in round two. Moffitt was the only rider from the team to jump double clear. Heise had a score of four in round and a clear in round two, then jumped off for her team with another clear round in the fastest time of 34.99 seconds to secure their victory. Yates scored four faults in round one and another dropped four faults in round two.

Heise and Quentucky Jolly completed an unbeatable jump-off round that helped their team get the win. The 16-year-old rider from Chicago, IL was competing in the event for the first time with the 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding (by Nirvana V) that she purchased at the end of last year’s WEF circuit.

Speaking of their partnership, Heise stated, “He is very special. He likes to do his own thing and he is definitely one of my more technical rides. It was difficult for me in the beginning to figure out how to get him bent around me in the turns going to the jumps because he likes to shift in a lot. He has come so far in such a short time. We really stared clicking a few months ago and this is the third or fourth big class that I have done him in. He is going amazing, and I did not really expect for us to click so well.”

“It has taken a little bit of time to get with him and stay on him, but he pulled through and jumped two amazing clear rounds,” Heise continued. “My plan was to send it in the jump-off. Go hard or go home. There were only three, so we were going to end up on the podium, so I figured I would give it a shot. We were the first ones in, so I did not have too much pressure because if I watch more, then I would have been too nervous. Going first was nice because I set the pace and stayed on it.”

Seventeen-year-old Emily Moffitt (Los Angeles, CA) was also competing in the class for the first time and jumped double clear aboard her mount, For Sale 6. Moffitt has only been riding the 10-year-old Westphalian mare (For Pleasure x Cassini I) for three weeks and was pleasantly surprised at the result.

“It was not in the plan to show her in this at all, so to have a double clear round is unreal,” Moffitt smiled. “She is the best horse I have ever ridden; everything about her is perfect.”

Taylor Alexander, of Castle Rock, CO, is 21 years old and competed in the Under 25 team event for the first time last year. Alexander was aboard her horse G&C Flash, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Forrester x Grannus), that she has had for two years.

“I got him as a seasoned horse; he has been there, done that, with a lot of people,” Alexander noted. “It is really nice to go in there on a horse who has done it all and done Nations Cups before.”

Yates (24) is from Scottsdale, AZ, and also competed in this team event last year. She bought her mount Zelote VDL three years ago and built the 12-year-old KWPN stallion (Chin Chin x Libero H) up to jumping the 1.40m level.

For Yates, competing in a team competition is a valuable part of any rider’s education and the Under 25 event provides the riders with great experience.

“You are always competing as an individual, so to be a part of a team is a great experience, especially because I am sure we all have aspirations to be on some Nations Cup teams and represent Team USA,” Yates said. “It is really great to come here and get a little feel for what that is like, and obviously winning is the icing on the cake.”

Heise agreed, stating, “It is a good stepping stone and I like the team feel. We never get to compete on teams, and it is so much better winning with a team than it is by yourself.”

Moffitt shared the sentiment, adding, “I think it is a great experience because it ups your pressure level a lot, but it is not from one extreme to the next; it gradually gets you ready for the big grand prix on Saturday nights.”

Team 4 finished second for Canada, with Sarah Bagworth riding her own Goldfinger vd Hengstenpoel, Quincy Hayes on her own Calgary 56, Sarah Johnstone aboard Lillie Ann Morris’s Bolocia, and Ben Asselin riding Attache Stables’ Wahrhaftige.

Bagworth had the drop score of eight in round one and returned to jump a clear in round two. Hayes had four faults in round one and a second clear for the team in round two. Johnstone cleared round one and finished with the dropped score of eight in round two, and Asselin scored four in round one and cleared the second round track. Asselin then completed the jump-off with a clear round in 36.80 seconds to place his team in second.

Team 8, for Sweet Oak Farm, included Lacey Gilbertson and Seabrook LLC’s Bijzonder, Noelle Barry riding Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Venturo 9, Kaely Tomeu aboard Siboney Ranch’s Gentille, and Brett Burlington with Alden Burlington’s Bluf.

Gilbertson had four faults in round one and the dropped score of 13 in round two. Barry had the dropped score of nine in round one and returned to jump a four fault round. Tomeu and Burlington each jumped double clear for their team, and Burlington then returned for the jump-off, finishing on four faults in 38.02 seconds to secure third place honors overall.

Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, the Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series will feature four more events showcasing top young talent in show jumping sport this winter. For the final event of the Series, the top 30 riders in the point standings will be invited to contest the $50,000 CSI-U25 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Final held on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Saturday, March 26.

Eduardo Menezes Tops 1.45m

The $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic was held in the International Ring at PBIEC on Friday morning with a win for Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and his 12-year-old Oldenburg mare Carushka 2 (Caspar x Continue). The pair beat out Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Eternal by 4/100ths of a second with their winning time of 62.65 seconds. Vanderveen settled for second place in 62.69 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dillinger placed third in 63.22 seconds, and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) finished fourth in 63.59 seconds riding Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083.

Eduardo Menezes and Caruschka 2
Eduardo Menezes and Caruschka 2

Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the speed track for 47 starters and yielded 13 clear rounds in total. Menezes explained that he went 38th in the order and had a good plan set by the time he entered the ring.

“Caruschka is like an ATM machine,” Menezes stated. “If I have the best plan, then normally she is in at least the top three. She is really fast and really careful. This time I was late in the order, so I had time to watch some rounds and see where I could win a couple seconds and where I could also be a little bit more careful here and there, and the plan worked very well.”

“I watched Eric (Lamaze) and I saw Conor Swail. They are both very fast riders,” Menezes continued. “Eric took a little bit of a chance to the triple and I was maybe thinking of doing the same strides there. Then I saw him have one down, so I thought that was a place to save a little bit. Then Conor’s round was pretty good, so I set my plan and it worked well.”

Speaking on where he made up the slight 4/100ths of a second to take the lead, Menezes detailed, “I think the two lines, from jumps one to two and ten to eleven. My mare has a big stride, and instead of doing the lines straight, I bend the lines a little bit. I think that helped me because you can do it faster instead of slowing down. I think that makes the little difference.”

Menezes and Carushka 2 will show again in next week’s CSI 5* competition, once again contesting the 1.45m and 1.50m classes.

“She came to do these classes. She is a real speed horse and that is what she likes,” he concluded.

Also showing in the International Ring on Friday, Kelsey Thatcher and Pony Lane Farm’s Everything were victorious in the $2,500 MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY High Amateur-Owner Jumper class. Silvana Cabral and Louis Pedro Biraben’s Toulouse 66 topped the $1,500 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper class. The $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge concluded the day, pinned in a California Split with 122 entries. Todd Minikus and Plum Creek Hollow Farm’s Con Capilot completed the fastest time overall to win Section A. Laura Chapot and her own BEC Hugo topped Section B.

Amy Heckler and Carfield Awarded Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A Championship

Amy Heckler topped the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A aboard her own Carfield this Friday afternoon. Heckler, of Wellington, FL, has owned the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding since he was four years old and has piloted him to numerous championship honors during the pre-circuit shows at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Heckler performed consistently this week with her gelding, earning three second-place ribbons and a third over fences. The pair also placed fourth in the under saddle.

Heckler, who took a 25 year hiatus from riding, purchased the gelding five years ago upon her return to show jumping. Training with Jason Clukey at Fox Stone Farm, Heckler has been competing consistently in the Adult Amateur divisions. Her trainer, Clukey, also shows Carfield in the professional divisions.

Heckler enjoys spending her winters in Florida. “This is my fifth winter coming down here,” Heckler commented.

“I like that I have to push myself here even though I’m nervous,” she added about the elite level of competition. “It is just a nice feeling of accomplishment,” she explained of her win this week.

The pair has grown to know each other quite well during their five-year partnership. “He does not look at anything, (and) he is a very good boy. He is very easy going and very smart,” Heckler detailed. “He has a lot of personality. It shows in the barn and the ring. I know what he likes to do and what he does not like to do,” she added.

Heckler put in consistent rounds with Carfield over the two days of competition. “Everything just felt easy and relaxed and fun. He was really good,” she said. Her main competition came from Sherri Geddes, who rode Geddaway Farm’s Geddaway to the reserve title. The pair earned second, third, fourth and sixth over fences, and first place in the under saddle.

Carfield will take a week of rest during WEF 5 in preparation for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week, which takes place at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during WEF 6.

Hunter competition continues on Saturday, February 6, at PBIEC featuring the Bainbridge Amateur Owner 18-35 Hunters. Jumper action also continues in the International Arena with the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic followed by the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments®, in the evening. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Three for Three: Lamaze Tops $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4

Eric Lamaze and Check Picobello Z. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Kelley Farmer Clinches the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Championship aboard Like I Said

Wellington, FL – February 4, 2016 – Week four of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Thursday with a win for Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Check Picobello Z in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. The win marks three in a row for Lamaze in this year’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, with victories in weeks two and three aboard Rosana du Park.

WEF 4, sponsored by Ariat®, runs February 3-7, 2016, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The week will feature the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® on Saturday, February 6. Other highlights include the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic in the WEF International Ring and the $25,000 Artisan Farms U25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, at The Stadium at PBIEC on Friday; the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Saturday; and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday. Also held on Friday and Saturday at The Stadium at PBIEC is the Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. All of these events will be live streamed at www.COTH.com. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3, offering more than $9 million in prize money.

Guilherme Jorge (BRA) is the international course designer for WEF 4 and set the track for 56 entries in Thursday’s Challenge Cup. Fourteen jumped clear in round one, and 12 continued on to the jump-off, where six double clear rounds were completed.

Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q set the pace in 42.02 seconds, which eventually placed third. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Conconcreto Believe were next to clear the short course in 42.57 seconds to finish fourth. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Chansonette Farm LLC’s Super Sox were next to go, clear in 41.86 seconds to take over the lead, but eventually finish second. Audrey Coulter (USA) also cleared the jump-off with Copernicus Stables LLC’s Alex, placing sixth overall, with a time of 43.46. Lamaze and Check Picobello Z followed with the winning round in 41.43 seconds, and last to go, Pedro Muylaert (BRA) jumped into fifth with a time of 42.90 seconds riding Rubens Takaneo’s Colorado.

Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Brighton, and Todd Minikus (USA) and Babalou 41 were each faster than Lamaze, but incurred faults.

Check Picobello Z is a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) that Lamaze purchased from Ilan Ferder when the horse was seven years old. Check Picobello Z is owned by Artisan Farms, LLC & Torrey Pines. The gelding had an injury that kept him from competing at the end of the 2015 season, but he came back to place second in the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week one and now picked up a win.

“I am really excited, especially today,” Lamaze stated following his round of honor. “I believed in this horse from the beginning, but it was a long time in the making. He was not the easiest horse to ride, and he was always really careful. He is still a little hard to maneuver at times, but I always believed that he could be a really good horse. He started to show us that by the middle of Spruce Meadows in the summer tour, and then he got hurt, so he missed the rest of the summer. I was not sure what I was going to have at the beginning of this circuit with him, but he came right back where he left off, so I could not be happier.”

Lamaze watched some of the early jump-off rounds and made his plan to do nine strides in one line where everyone else paced ten, but once in the ring, he did not need to leave out the stride.

“I did not count between jumps one, two, or three, to be honest,” Lamaze detailed. “After fence one, we landed a little right, so I just got back on track and then I stayed on ten strides. I got a good slice at the Liverpool and then I knew I could trust him at the double. He has a big stride, so coming home was good. I was not sure if I was on it. It did not feel like the fastest jump-off to me, but today it was good enough.”

The rider spoke further about Check Picobello Z and the transformation that the gelding has made in the last couple of years, specifically coming back for jump-off rounds.

“His ride is a bit different,” Lamaze said. “He does not really appreciate help. He likes to go his own way, and you have to just leave it up to him and he really does amazing things. At the beginning of last year in Florida, he jumped a lot of clear rounds, but I had trouble coming back in the jump-offs. I always had a rail or two, either from conditioning or from him trying so hard in the first round and being tired for the jump-off, or me trying too hard in the warm-up. It just did not work in the jump-offs. Now a year later, things have changed. This is his first big win.”

“As an eight-year-old, I never went fast in any classes because he was not so easy to ride, and I did not believe it was a good thing for him to learn,” Lamaze continued. “When he was nine I tried, and by then I was a little bit confused about how to come back with him in a second round, but by the summer he started getting things.”

With another win under his belt, Lamaze plans to bring out his big guns next week with another horse, Fine Lady 5. ‘Fine Lady’ was the rider’s mount for three out of his five Challenge Cup wins in the 2015 circuit and will contest the class in next week’s CSI 5* competition.

“That is my most ready, competitive horse,” Lamaze stated. “She is so dependable, and I know her so well. She is so quick. She will do two 1.40m classes this week and come out in the WEF (Challenge Cup) next week, so we will see what comes of it. I am starting every horse very easily. I do some easy classes and then I come into these classes with horses that are fresh and capable, but you need a certain amount of luck as well, which I seem to be having on Thursdays.”

In addition to the winning prize money, Lamaze picked up a $3,000 bonus for the third week in a row for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. That brings his tally up to $9,000 in bonus money for the circuit so far.

Also showing in the International Ring on Thursday, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Kerry Anne LLC’s Glamour van de Kakebeek won the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m jump-off class. Emanuel Andrade was victorious in the $2,500 MAYBACH – ICONS OF LUXURY High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class with Belita.

Kelley Farmer Clinches the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Championship Aboard Like I Said

The First Year Green Hunter division, which was presented by Equine Tack and Nutritionals, awarded Kelley Farmer and Like I Said championship honors on Thursday morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field. Kelley Farmer and Tara Metzner had to stand out in a competitive field of 23 entries in an intense battle for the championship win. Having earned only a second-place finish over fences on Wednesday, Farmer needed wins in both jumping classes on Thursday to beat out Tara Metzner and Davlyn Farm’s Cy Young. Farmer succeeded, winning both over fences classes on Thursday.

Kelley Farmer and Like I Said
Kelley Farmer and Like I Said

Farmer shined in the second over fences class, earning an impressive score of 98 and securing her championship victory by one point. Metzner and Cy Young settled for the reserve honors, after winning both over fences classes on Wednesday, placing fourth in an over fences class on Thursday, and earning a third in the under saddle.

Like I Said is an eight-year-old Mecklenburg mare owned by David Glefke and Kent Farrington. The mare is a recent import from Europe, and this was Farmer’s inaugural show with her. The cancellation of professional hunter divisions due to rain prevented them from competing last week.

“Wow,” was Farmer’s excited response to her impressive score of 98 today over fences. It was an unexpected honor that left Larry and Kelley visibly overjoyed. “This was her maiden voyage. She was great!” Farmer remarked.

“She just does it so easily, and she jumps so careful and high. You never have to pick up the reins on her,” Farmer explained about what she believes makes this horse and her round today so special. “She goes so smooth and then gets high and crisp,” she added.

“She is easy, brave, simple… she just wants to do it,” Farmer said. Like I Said also competed in the High Performance Hunter division on Wednesday, earning a second and a sixth over fences.

“I think she can do a little bit of everything. I think she has it all,” Farmer noted about her future plans with the mare that she will continue to show throughout circuit in the First Years and the High Performance Hunters.

The fourth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with a busy schedule on two sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic will be featured in the International Ring, and the Asheville Regional Airport Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A will award championship honors in the Rost Arena in the morning. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, will be held at The Stadium at PBIEC in the evening. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z Win $35,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at WEF 3

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z. Photos copyright Sportfot.

Emma Pell and Wink and Smile Victorious in the Visse Wedell Small Pony Hunters

Wellington, FL – January 31, 2016 – Week three of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Adequan®, concluded on Sunday, January 31, with the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Held in the International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z jumped to victory out of 54 entries and a 13-horse jump-off.

Luc Musette of Belgium set the course for Sunday’s 1.50m. With 13 in the jump-off, only four were able to clear the short course without fault. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Unbelievable 5, owned by Windward Farm and Jessica Suida, were the first pair to clear the jump-off in 38.45 seconds. They won the class last week, but settled for second place this time around. Richard Spooner (USA) and Little Valley Farms’ Chivas Z cleared the course next to take third place honors with a time of 40.08 seconds. Mac Cone (CAN) and Chadburn Holdings Inc.’s Gasper van den Doorn jumped the next clear round in 44.73 seconds to finish fourth. Last to go, Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z blazed the winning time of 37.14 seconds.

The 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire) had a long break after the Royal Winter Fair in November and is getting back into top form to begin his 2016 season.

Commenting on the build up to Sunday’s win, Ward noted, “Our schedule got a little screwed up this week with the weather. Normally I like a warm-up class with him, but he had to go straight into the WEF (Challenge Cup) on Friday. He actually jumped great. I did not ride very well. I think I over-rode him a lot, so I tried to settle down a little bit today and just ride him normal. I thought he jumped a good first round. There were a few kinks I still wanted to work out, and then when he gets in the jump-off, you normally have a pretty good chance.”

“There was an option from jumps two to three,” Ward detailed. “I saw Meredith get the five (strides), and when I walked it, I thought I could do it. He is a funny horse because he is a small, little horse, but he has this huge stride at times, but not always. I definitely was going back and forth on it a little bit, but I decided that if I got one and two the way I wanted, I would keep going and I did. Then the last line was a little long, but he stayed really careful.”

“We needed a clear round and a win,” Ward admitted. “I always feel like I start a little rusty after the break and it is certainly good for the confidence.”

The rider also commented on the first round course, stating, “It was good. I think Luc is a great course builder. For me, I think he actually comes a little early in the season because I think he builds difficult and I don’t know if I am quite ready for difficult, but I thought he had the right number clear for the number in the class.”

Also competing in the International Ring on Sunday, Lucy Deslauriers and Lisa Deslauriers’ Hester topped the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. Nicole Bellissimo was victorious in the $10,000 Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Animo USA, riding Bellissimo LLC’s Visette.

Emma Pell and Wink and Smile Victorious in the Visse Wedell Small Pony Hunters

It was tough competition at “Pony Island” on Sunday morning as some of WEF’s youngest riders duked it out for the Small Pony Hunter championship presented by Visse Wedell. Emma Pell, who rides at Skyland Farm in Virginia, guided Virginia Bonnie’s Wink and Smile to the top of the class. The pair earned two blue ribbons over fences on Saturday and placed third and eighth over jumps on Sunday. Reilly Gogul piloted Sweet Oak Farm’s Mr. Magoo to the reserve honors, winning the handy round as well as second and sixth over fences and sixth in the under saddle.

Emma Pell and Wink and Smile
Emma Pell and Wink and Smile

Pell has only been riding the 14-year-old Welsh Pony gelding for three weeks, but it has proven to be a successful match. During WEF 2 the pair earned two second-place ribbons over fences in the Small Pony Hunter division.

“He’s really fun,” Pell remarked about her mount. “He’s a really good pony.”

“He is really easy, and he helps me a lot,” Pell commented about her catch ride on Wink and Smile, who she will continue showing until he is sold. Pell also competed in the division with her own mare Forget Me Not, who she earned consistent ribbons with throughout the weekend, including a fourth place finish over fences on Sunday.

“It was really good competition,” Pell commented about the field of 18 she competed against. “I’m glad I was champion because I think he deserved it.”

WEF continues with its fourth week of competition, sponsored by Ariat®, on February 3-7, 2016. The week will feature the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, on Saturday, February 6, and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* on the derby field on Sunday, February 7. More fun continues at The Stadium at PBIEC where the Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will have some of the best Eventing horses and riders compete on Friday and Saturday, February 5-6. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Callie Seaman for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Tuny Page and Woodstock March to Victory in FEI Grand Prix Special at AGDF 3

Arlene Page and Woodstock. Photos: ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2016 – The final day of Grand Prix competition at the AGDF 3 CDI-W presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association, and the third week of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), concluded with the Grand Prix Special, presented by Yeguada de Ymas. Today’s competition was held in the Global International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), and showcased a clean sweep by the Americans for the top three placings. Arlene “Tuny” Page (USA) rode her own Woodstock to the top of the class, winning with a score of 73.059%.

The FEI Grand Prix Special is the most demanding test in the dressage world, requiring more passage, one-tempis changes, and variations in the transitions into and out of piaffe and passage. Page and Woodstock, her KWPN gelding, showed excellent consistency throughout the test and impressed both his rider and the judges with his professionalism.

Page said, however, that she knows they have the potential to earn even higher scores as the season progresses. “I need to keep improving my riding to accommodate his energy and I felt like I got closer today. There are so many points still there, and my goal is to improve his confidence that he can move like that and I can ride like that show by show.”

She attributes their recent successes to her new approach of not riding how he might react but instead “trying to be in the moment with this horse and allowing me to ride with very close focus; he loves it!”

Page and Woodstock will join the other members of the top three in the CDI 5*, presented by Diamante Farms, at the next week of competition at the AGDF on February 11-14.

Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) continued her superbly successful first CDI at the Grand Prix level with Goerklintgaards Dublet, the 13-year-old Danish gelding (Diamond Hit x La Costa) owned by Diane Perry. The pair was very close to Page and Woodstock, earning a 72.902%.

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet
Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet

Perry-Glass, when asked how it felt to be new to the level and sitting between established dressage competitors such as Page and Francis, responded, “I’m lucky to have two awesome women next to me. They’re strong competitors and good friends.”

She and Dublet have worked to build their relationship to develop the power, skills, and confidence to move up to the big tour, and she thanked Debbie MacDonald for helping her to reaffirm and re-establish their partnership.

Third place went to Shelly Francis (USA) riding Patricia Stempel’s Danilo, the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Annabelle). The pair earned a 71.900%, capping a very successful weekend for Francis, who also placed sixth in the FEI Grand Prix and third in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with Stempel’s Doktor.

Francis noted that one of the challenges Danilo poses is his extraordinary energy and power. She said, “If I ride full out all the time, he’ll go over the edge, so I do a lot of interval training to keep him sane and happy.”

She and Page also discussed the challenge of preparing horses who spent the summer and early fall competing in Europe to come home and peak for the winter season. Both riders are fitting up their horses as they progress through the shows with the goal of steadily improving their performances and earning spots on the squad that will travel to Europe. Perry-Glass would also like to make that squad, but she, like Page and Francis, is approaching the season one show at a time.

Judge Janet Foy expressed great enthusiasm over the quality of today’s rides. “The panel was very excited about these horses, and we could have been closer to 78% with all three of these ladies had there been no mistakes. Judges hate mistakes! We’re really rooting for all of them, but it is still early and they’re still getting stronger and used to the venue. I think in a couple of weeks we’ll see scores closer to 80% and we love that.”

The third week of AGDF concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle, presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 7 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $650,000 in prize money for the seven international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area.

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

Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414

Allison Kavey
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com