Category Archives: Championships

Jordan Allen and Carino B Take Ariat Adult National Medal Win at Kentucky Spring Classic

Jordan Allen and Carino B. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.

Lexington, Ky. – May 20, 2022 – Equitation competitors kicked off a beautiful morning at the Kentucky Spring Classic II in the Claiborne arena Friday with the Ariat Adult National Medal. Adult amateur riders took to the arena to show their style on their partnered mounts in the hopes of claiming the top honors. In the end, it was Jordan Allen piloting Carino B, owned by Ashland Farm, who took the blue ribbon and the highest score.

Spring Storms Can’t Stop Cathleen Driscoll and Arome at $37,000 Kentucky Spring Classic 1.45m CSI3*

International show jumping competition at the Kentucky Spring Classic II returned to the picturesque Rolex Arena on a stormy Thursday evening. A field of 56 horse-and-rider pairs planned to enter the stadium to beat the weather and take home the win in the $37,000 Kentucky Spring Classic 1.45m CSI3*. After 29 rounds, Kentucky weather had other plans, ultimately leading officials to pause the class and resume at 8am Friday morning. Although the new two-day format wasn’t typical, it didn’t stop Cathleen Driscoll (USA) and Arome from leading the victory gallop at the conclusion of the class.

Chris Payne and Kelley Farmer Take the Victory Gallop Side by Side for Grand Hunter Championship Title

After successful rides in the StoneLea Hunter Ring at Kentucky Spring Classic, two sophisticated riders emerged victorious as they both claimed the Grand Hunter Champion title. Christopher Payne and Axel, owned by Blue Mountain LLC, and Kelley Farmer on Casting Call, owned by David Glefke, took the hunter ring by storm and tied for the Grand Hunter title on Thursday afternoon following their stellar performances.

Charlie Jacobs and La Fille Rouge Reign Supreme in High Junior/Amateur-Owner 1.40m Jumper

The famed Rolex Stadium welcomed junior and amateur show jumping competitors Friday afternoon to contest the High Junior/Amateur 1.40m Jumper. Continuing with the second week of the Kentucky Spring Classic series, a total of 27 talented horse-and-athlete combinations vied for a top spot on the leaderboard in a one-round competition against the clock. In the end, it was Charlie Jacobs aboard CMJ Sporthorse, LLC’s La Fille Rouge who emerged victorious.

For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows, please visit www.KentuckyHorseShows.com.

Sweetnam and Alejandro Claim $140k Hagyard Grand Prix CSI3* at Kentucky Spring Horse Show

Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.

Lexington, Ky. – May 14, 2022 – Jumper competition at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show reached its pinnacle on Saturday night with $140,000 Hagyard Grand Prix CSI3* in the Rolex Stadium. 38 horse-and-athlete combinations gathered to vie for the victory and the lion’s share of the prize money, and ultimately it was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam aboard Alejandro who was triumphant in the competitive field at the conclusion of the jump-off.

Austen Carries Stephanie Danhakl to Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship

Amateur-Owner hunter competition took to the StoneLea Ring on Saturday morning as riders presented their best performance to vie for the title of Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion. Awarded to the competitor with the most points accumulated in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” and 3’6” 18-35 divisions and Amateur-Owner 3’3” and 3’6” 36+ divisions, Stephanie Danhakl and Austen emerged victorious to be named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion.

For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows, please visit www.KentuckyHorseShows.com.

Jennifer Williams and Joppe K Wins Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series

Jennifer Williams (USA) and Joppe K ©susanjstickle.com.

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2022 – International action for the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 2022 season wrapped up on Sunday, March 27. The grand champions were crowned in both the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Summit Farm Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series.

Joppe K’s considerable talents came to fruition in the grand final of the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series, which he won with 70.052% under the saddle of Jennifer Williams (USA). The horse has an exceptional competition trajectory, having won both the six- and seven-year-old young horse finals at Wellington in 2020 and 2021.

These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses, giving them exposure to benefit their development with the biggest of world stages in mind. Williams and the eight-year-old KWPN gelding by Harmony’s Rousseau had only qualified a week earlier for the final, earning their ticket at the last opportunity.

Australian Olympian Kelly Layne and Fernando, who qualified via a win in AGDF 3, claimed second place with 68.815%. Layne has been riding Ellen Trouillé’s 10-year-old gelding, by Foundation x Sandro Hit, since he was five. Alice Tarjan rounded out her busy season by taking third place on her own eight-year-old mare Jane, by Desperado NOP. Jane and Joppe K were the youngest horses in the class.

A tactical decision not to contest the previous day’s warm-up class at Intermediate II level with Joppe K paid off. The horse had been competing in CDIs at small tour until just last month.

“Because the I-2 was the warm-up and the day before the class, and there’s the halt at X [instead of at G, as in the Grand Prix, on the final center line], I decided that wasn’t wise for him, because we did his first grand prix on Thursday and I learned that he wanted to halt at X,” explained Williams. “We had to talk about that, and today he was not thinking halt.”

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén of class sponsor Lövsta said: “The thought with the Lövsta Future Challenge is to give the young horses this possibility to get into the international arena with the best judges and with the kind of different atmosphere than a smaller show. They are inexperienced, young horses, and it’s okay if there are mistakes here and there, because it should be educational. It’s not already five-star top grand prix; it’s young horse grand prix. And it should be that quality is the most important part.”

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Stella Wasserman and Munich Steal the Spotlight to Win HITS Equitation Championship

© HITS LLC.

Ocala, Fla. – March 25, 2022 – The 2022 HITS Equitation Championship took center stage on Friday night at the HITS Ocala Stadium as part of the Ocala Championship Week. Working hard to qualify for this special event, 28 riders showcased their skills over two rounds of competition under the lights in the Stadium. At the end of the night, it was West Coast athlete Stella Wasserman whose top scores earned the winning title with Munich. Fellow Shadow Ridge rider Abigail Gordon placed second aboard Heartbeat Z, while third place went to Madison Ramsey riding Maguro.

Hunter Holloway and Liemba Leap to $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Victory

On Friday afternoon, athletes gathered at the HITS Ocala Stadium for the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix as they prepared for Sunday’s highlight event, the Great American $500,000 Grand Prix. With seven horses qualifying for the jump-off, speed became the name of the game. Hunter Holloway galloped away with the victory aboard Liemba, ahead of West Coast athletes Mark Watring riding Limbossini RC and Elisa Broz with Tinkerbell, who rounded out the top three, respectively.

For more results and information, visit HitsShows.com.

Kent Farrington and Easy Girl Handily Win $75k CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship

Kent Farrington and Easy Girl. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 13, 2022 – On Sunday, February 13, the final day of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) fifth week sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, the $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI5* was the featured event. The class saw Kent Farrington (USA) and his newest partner, Easy Girl, fly to the top of the leaderboard.

The day was met with wet conditions as the skies opened up on the final day’s exhibitors. Despite the downpour, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) footing remained solid and international competition continued on without issue.

Featuring 56 horse-and-rider combinations, Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) last five-star challenge defeated 16 entries with a single rail, but allowed for 17 pairs to advance forward to the short track. Ireland, Great Britain, United States, Italy, Egypt, and Belgium were well-represented by the returning field. Of the 17 to come back, only four managed to produce double-clear efforts. It was a win for the home team as Farrington did what he does best and sped to the top with Kent Farrington LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Easy Girl (Conthargos x Nintender) with the unbeatable time of 37.27 seconds.

Margie Engle (USA) and Storm Ridge Show Horses, Garber, and Gladewind’s entry Dicas raced into the runner-up position. She and the 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) closed in on the leading pair but finished roughly a second behind with a clear time of 38.24 seconds. Great Britain got the remaining podium position as Matthew Sampson and his gelding Geneve R clocked in another clear effort with a finish on 38.24 seconds.

Chloe Reid Captures Only Clear in $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2*

The weekend concluded with the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2* wrapping up competition in the International Arena. The course proved too challenging for almost all of the 43 entries as only Chloe Reid (USA) and Team Reid LLC’s Crossover 4 found the path to a clear first round.

The final jump on course was the downfall for a large group of the contenders and groans could be heard in the crowd each time it fell and dashed the hopes of a jump-off. Sophie Maher (USA) and Quentin Judge (USA) came the closest to producing a jump-off but suffered at the hands of a single time fault added to their score. As the last combination took down a rail, it was evident Reid’s single faultless round in 64.54 seconds would be the winner.

With her single time fault, Maher took the red-ribbon honors aboard her own 13-year-old SLS gelding Sentimiento LS La Silla (Casall x Santo Domingo) finishing just .17 seconds over the time allotted in 68.17 seconds. Judge rounded out the all-American podium with his time of 68.25 seconds on the Double H Farm’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding HH Zorro Z (VDL Zirocco Blue x Escudo I).

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Grace Debney and Boheme de la Roque Rock $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic

Grace Debney and Boheme de la Roque. © Sportfot.

International competition during week one of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded with the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Jumper Classic as part of the weekly CaptiveOne Advisors Jumper Classic series. Grace Debney (GBR) flew to the win with her trusty mare Boheme de la Roque.

Stormy weather threatened to derail afternoon classes, but the clouds parted ways long enough for the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Jumper Classic to run as scheduled.

There were 20 combinations that competed over a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and Andy Christiansen Jr. (ECU). Time allowed was a factor with eight riders accumulating time faults. Only three riders ultimately advanced to the jump-off.

First to jump off was Brian Moggre (USA) riding Stevie Macken’s Dior P Z who set the time to beat at 36.95 seconds for an eventual third-place finish. Next to challenge was Debney and her own Boheme de la Roque. They shaved almost two seconds off of Moggre’s time, finishing in 35.02 seconds. Matthew Boddy (GBR) was last to go in both the first round and the jump-off, but he couldn’t quite catch Debney, crossing the timers in 36.20 seconds and finishing in second place.

Debney was competing in the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic, presented by Griffis Residential, when it started torrentially downpouring, and management eventually had to put the show on hold.

In Writing and Sterling Malnik Dazzle in T&R Development Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Division

The first championship in the Rost Arena was for the T&R Development Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. Sterling Malnik of Ocean Ridge, FL with her horse In Writing topped three out of the five classes in the division on their way to the championship title.

The division started Saturday and resumed with the under saddle on Sunday morning, in which Philippa Ammann strutted to the win with Katarina Ammann’s Balousock B.B.S. Ammann and the 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Balougraph went on to score an 85 in the stake class for their second win of the day, boosting them to the reserve championship honors.

It was Malnik and In Writing’s consistency over the two days of competition that ultimately clinched the championship. The pair won both over fences classes on Saturday including the handy with scores of 86 and 88. They finished on Sunday with a win in the third over fences class with a score of 86.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Opening 2022 WEF Grand Prix Victory Goes to McLain Ward and Catoki

McLain Ward and Catoki © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 9, 2022 – Premiere week at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday, January 9, with a highlight class of the week, the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix. McLain Ward (USA) and Catoki took the victory in the class.

The Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix had 32 entries that contested a course set by Eric Hasbrouck (USA). Eight were clear to advance to the jump-off. First to return for the jump-off were Thursday’s Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup winners, Hector Florentino (DOM) and ABC Quantum Cruise, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by OBOS Quality x Cruising owned by Wyndmont. They set the time to beat at 37.677 seconds with a clear round.

Robin Schwartz Celebrates a Championship Return to WEF

Robin Schwartz and her horse Back in the Game won all three classes on Sunday to conclude the Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur Hunter Older (Section B) division with the championship ribbon. Sharing the winner’s circle was Nicole Harris and her horse Le Diplomate, who finished with the reserve championship honors. Schwartz, who trains with Devan Cottrell and Matt Piccolo at Arrow Hill Farms, and Harris, who trains with Jason Schnelle at Autumn Chase Farm, both hail from Tennessee.

This was Schwartz’s first time back showing at WEF in 19 years, and it has been an emotional return.

“It feels amazing to be back at WEF, and I am blessed to have such an awesome horse,” said Schwartz. “[The E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring] was always my favorite ring to show in.”

Schwartz’s daughter’s developing passion for horses got her back in the saddle.

Schwartz explained, “I knew if she liked it, then I’d have to get back into this, because I love all things about this.”

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135: USEF Eventing CCI 4*-L National Champions

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 ©Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – November 14, 2021 – The final day of The Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) saw the new national champion crowned at the CCI 4*-L level Sunday after a thrilling Show Jumping competition. Woods Baughman (USA) claimed the Dutta Corp/USEF 4*-L Eventing National Championship with C’est La Vie 135 on a score of 29.4, enjoying a sweet comeback after overcoming a broken back and improving from a third place finish in 2020. Sweetening the victory even more was finishing just ahead of his coach, Sharon White (USA) aboard Claus 63, her own 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Levisto), who wrapped up their weekend on a score of 36.7 for reserve after adding .8 penalties for time to their total. Will Coleman (USA) and Chin Tonic HS had one rail down to finish third, scoring an even 38 points with the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ x Quinar) owned by Hyperion Stud LLC.

Baughman was the only CCI 4*-L rider to pilot his mount to a double-clear over the Cross-Country course set by Captain Mark Phillips (GBR), solidifying his lead heading into Show Jumping competition in Tryon Stadium. The goal was to keep the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I x Aarking xx) owned in partnership with James Baughman Jr. and Kim Baughman calm and relaxed, Baughman reported, but also himself:

“On Cross-Country yesterday, he was such a machine. I wasn’t sure about the time at the end, so I just dropped the reins. I let him do his thing, and we ended up well inside the time. Overnight, I was just keeping him as relaxed as possible, so he didn’t get all tight, especially with it being so cold this morning.” Though worried about his horse’s energy after flying around the track on Saturday, it was evident that C’est La Vie 135 was full of run after his win, Baughman noted. “He had so much energy left today that I was still holding him back in the Show Jumping. I felt pretty confident going in. I actually lost control a little bit in the victory gallop, but it’s all good!

“I wasn’t doing so well this morning,” Baughman admitted of his own trouble relaxing before the final phase. “Mia was making fun of me at breakfast because my hand was shaking so bad while I was just trying to drink coffee! He is so genuine and he jumps so well, though, that by the time I was done warming up, I was quite relaxed. I just had faith in my horse and let him do his thing.”

View full results from the Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event here.

On-demand replay of live streaming is available through the USEF Network.

For more info, visit www.Tryon.com.

Cross-Country Change-Up for Tryon International Three-Day Event Leaderboards

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie ©Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – November 13, 2021 – The Dutta Corp/USEF CCI 4*-L Eventing National Championship podium has rearranged after Cross-Country, with the same trio of horse-and-rider pairs holding onto top three spots ahead of Jumping competition on Sunday. Woods Baughman (USA) and C’est La Vie are the new pair to beat, adding nothing to their Dressage score after blazing around the Cross-Country course in nine minutes and 36 seconds. Will Coleman (USA) and Chin Tonic HS added 7.6 time penalties to their 26 for a total score of 33.6 for the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ x Quinar) owned by Hyperion Stud LLC, while Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63, her own 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Levisto), sit at 35.9 points for third place after adding six time penalties to their score.

Baughman and the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I x Aarking xx) owned in partnership with James Baughman Jr. and Kim Baughman were the solo pair to navigate the Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) course design without time faults. Jumping clear was an accomplishment that only nine entries managed, with five horses picking up 20 penalties and seven competitors failing to complete the course. In short: competition was stiff, and Baughman arrived at the base of the infamous hill with four jumps to conquer and an unsure sense of his time, he reported.

“He was fantastic. I mean, he’s a total powerhouse on course. I set him up for the important combinations, and everywhere else, I just let him run. And then we got to the end of the course, we had that big hill and I wasn’t exactly sure of my time, because I had that hold on course.” Baughman chose to see what his ride had left in the tank as they powered up the hill for the last few obstacles, and “as I headed to the hill, I decided not to take any chances, and I just dropped the reins and let him run.”

Baughman and C’est La Vie have been in almost this exact scenario before heading into Show Jumping in Tryon Stadium, which Baughman thinks bodes well for their round – as long as C’est La Vie remains relaxed.

“He’s a pretty solid jumper, so that always helps you feel a little bit more comfortable. It gives us a bit of confidence knowing how he’ll react to that big ring. And the real plan is just to help him stay relaxed and easygoing into tomorrow because he can get pretty uptight pretty fast. And then,” Baughman explained, “he stops his back and can have one behind. It’s just [a matter of] keeping him relaxed through the night and happy in the morning, and we’ll give it our best shot tomorrow.”

For Baughman, the biggest difference between this year’s 4*-L championship contest and last year’s was the orientation of the Cross-Country course, which started at the top of the hill in 2020. “It was definitely interesting doing the course the other way around this year,” he concluded. “It had a much different feel than last year, because the hill going down in the beginning kind of set the pace early.” The route had a completely different feeling when topographically reversed, he revealed. “This year, knowing that it was kind of lurking over you the whole way around the course, that you’re gonna have to run [up it] at the end, really, you had to be ready, and a bit ahead of your markers with enough force to actually keep coming. It was a completely different style.”

View all results from the Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event here.

Full schedules and viewing information, including live stream links, are available at www.Tryon.com/eventing.

For more info, visit www.Tryon.com.

Tryon International Three-Day Event Dressage Days Results

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS ©Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – November 11, 2021 – The Dutta Corp/USEF CCI 4*-L Eventing National Championship kicked off at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) with two days of Dressage competition as part of The Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event. The week features CCI 1*-4*-L competition alongside CCI 4*-S competition and the Adequan®/USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge East Coast Finals. In the chase for the national title, Will Coleman (USA) and Chin Tonic HS hold the lead going into Cross-Country, dancing to a score of 26.0. The remainder of the podium is also all-American at the moment: Woods Baughman (USA) and C’est La Vie, the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I x Aarking xx) owned in partnership with James Baughman Jr. and Kim Baughman, scored a 29.4 in the sandbox for second, and Sharon White (USA) sits in third with Claus 63, her own 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Levisto), after their 29.9-point performance in Dressage.

Coleman and the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ x Quinar) owned by Hyperion Stud LLC) are contesting their third-ever Advanced competition, so he’s aiming for an educational yet competitive experience. “He’s a very talented young horse,” Coleman detailed. “He’s very green for this kind of competition, but we feel that he’s ready. He showed some of his greenness in his test, but he has so much quality that he can get away with it. I feel fortunate to be where we are and recognize I’m riding a really good horse in that phase.”

Since it’s Chin Tonic’s third run at the Advanced level, Coleman is proceeding with caution but is excited to contest the Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) course design on the White Oak Cross-Country Course Saturday. “The main thing we want to think about is just giving him a good run for his future and development, but we’re here to be competitive as well,” Coleman shared. “We’re formulating a good plan for him, and then we’ll go out there tomorrow and try our best to execute it.

“It’s been great here as always,” Coleman commented on the venue. “Tryon is first-class. The horses get a sense of the atmosphere that you might encounter at big-time events around the world. I think it’s wonderful that we’re able to compete here.” he concluded, “Fingers crossed for tomorrow. I hope everyone has great runs and that we have a great day of sport!”

View all results from the Dutta Corp Tryon International Three-Day Event here.

Full schedules and viewing information, including live stream links, are available at www.Tryon.com/eventing.

For more info, visit www.Tryon.com.