Tag Archives: Charlie Jacobs

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.

M. Michael Meller Presents Style Award to Charlie Jacobs at CP National Horse Show CSI4*-W

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 8, 2016 – Each year, the CP National Horse Show brings together show jumping’s top athletes to showcase their skills during the world-class competition. Katherine Gallagher, M. Michael Meller and Dan Walsh of E2 Show Jumpers are proud to support the exciting World Cup event. This year, in addition to his sponsorship of the competition, Meller presented the M. Michael Meller Style Award, donated in memory of Pat Van Dyke Fischer, to Charlie Jacobs of Boston, Massachusetts.

During the opening ceremonies of Saturday’s $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington CSI4*-W in the Alltech Arena at the CP National Horse Show, Meller and Fischer’s daughter Sandy Van Dyke presented Jacobs with the award after a unanimous decision of the committee.

Fischer was a life-long equestrian with an amazing passion for the sport. The M. Michael Meller Style Award is presented each year to the international equestrian who exemplifies the best style of riding along with maintaining a sportsmanlike composure. Previous winners at events in 2015 and 2016 include Andres Rodriguez, Chloe Reid, Alison Robitaille and Conor Swail.

“Receiving this award is very flattering,” said Jacobs. “I was a lifelong friend to Pat and I knew her quite well. She spent some time at my family’s Deeridge Farm. It is an honor to be presented this award by Michael in her legacy.”

“Charlie is a gifted athlete and very deserving of this year’s award,” expressed Meller. “He is one of very few equestrian athletes that balance success at the top level of the sport with a fulltime career and a family. It’s been wonderful to watch his continued success over the years.”

Meller continued, “At E2 Show Jumpers we believe in supporting world-class competitions that showcase the best the sport has to offer. The CP National Horse Show and the organizers have created an amazing event in Lexington and we are excited to be a part of it.”

As the season continues, Meller and E2 Show Jumpers continue to support the industry by sponsoring awards at the Las Vegas National Horse Show. Founded by Gallagher, Meller and Walsh, the mission of E2 Show Jumpers is to find and produce some of the world’s top young show jumping mounts.

For more information about E2 Showjumpers, please visit e2showjumpers.com.

Contact: Rebecca Walton
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Phelps Media Group Wishes Good Luck to Clients at World Cup Finals

Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual; Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star.

Wellington, Fla. – March 21, 2016 – In just two days, 10 American riders will vie for the winning title during the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. Among the impressive list of competitors heading to Sweden are two of Phelps Media Group’s own:  Peter Lutz and Charlie Jacobs.

Lutz has an impressive list of accolades, including winning the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Las Vegas in November 2015 riding Robin Du Ponthual. Along with Robin Du Ponthual, Lutz will also be taking Retiro to compete during the world-class competition, both owned by Katherine Gallagher and Michael Meller.  E2 Show Jumpers also offers special congratulations to Gallagher and Meller as their horses prepare for this exciting event.

Jacobs competed in his first World Cup Final in 2014 in Lyon, France and he is looking forward to representing the United States once again at the international event. He will also be accompanied by two mounts, Flaming Star and Cassinja S.

“We’re extremely proud to have such accomplished and talented riders as part of the Phelps Media Group family,” said Chip McKenney chief executive officer of Phelps Media Group. “We’re all wishing for the very best of luck in Sweden for both Peter and Charlie.”

Lutz and Jacobs are among an impressive list of American riders that will be competing in Gothenburg. The other eight riders that will be in attendance are Hardin Towell, Quentin Judge, Callan Solem, Katie Dinan, Rich Fellers, and Audrey Coulter.

Everyone at Phelps Media Group would like to wish our American team good luck at the World Cup Final, especially to our talented clients, Peter Lutz and Charlie Jacobs!

Media Contact: Rebecca Walton
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
rjw@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S Capture Modified Grand Prix at International Bromont

Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S.

Bromont, Quebec – August 8, 2015 – The International Ring at the Parc Équestre Bromont, host of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, was alive with excitement as athletes competed in Saturday’s Modified Grand Prix. Eight horse and rider combinations qualified for the jump-off, but it was Boston’s Charlie Jacobs that captured the winning honors with Cassinja S, out-racing Olympian Leslie Howard and Julia Madigan.

Madigan was the first to break the 35 second barrier in the jump-off, setting the pace to beat at a clear 32.57 seconds with Farfelu Du Printemps. Mario Deslauriers attempted to catch her time aboard Cherrypop, but fell just short with a clear round in 32.95 seconds.

Leslie Howard was out to take the win from the first jump with Balboa 6, leaving out a stride in the first rollback and racing to the final oxer. With all the rails intact they broke the beam at 31.10 seconds, but their leading time would not hold up for long.

Charlie Jacobs knew that he would not be able to leave a stride out in the first line, but he did race down the second line with Cassinja S, and the risk paid off. They stopped the clock at 30.79 seconds with a faultless effort to lead the victory gallop.

“To come here and have her run like she did, that big stride just eats up so much ground,” smiled Jacobs after his win. “I couldn’t be happier with her and she’s only 9, so I think she has better days ahead hopefully.”

This is Jacobs first time competing at International Bromont, and he has been very happy with the experience. “The venue looks fantastic to me,” he commented. “I was talking to Roger [Deslauriers] about all the improvements they plan to make for the WEG in 2018 and it sounds like it’s only going to get better. What a place!”

Sunday, Jacobs will compete in the CSI3* event’s major highlight, the Longines FEI World Cup. It marks the first qualifying event for the new North-American League. Starting at 2:30, equestrian sport fans will be able to view the event on FEITV.

Jacobs will be competing aboard Flaming Star, who just returned from Falsterbo, Sweden, where the talented gelding jumped double clear for the U.S. Show Jumping Team in the Nations Cup competition.

“There is a lot of pressure,” admitted Jacobs. “I want to go to Gothenburg and this is where it all starts. I am looking forward to it. There are some really nice horses here, but I am lucky to be sitting on one of them, so hopefully we will have a good day tomorrow.”

Francois Lamontagne and Vigo Massuere Master Gamblers Choice

In the afternoon, Quebec’s own Francois Lamontagne captured a victory in the International Ring, piloting Vigo Massuere to victory in the Gamblers Choice.

Francois Lamontagne and Vigo Massuere
Francois Lamontagne and Vigo Massuere

Kaila Robert set the pace to beat as only the second rider in the ring aboard Rojak, chasing down 730 points, as well as clearing the 200 point “joker fence” for a total score of 930. Halfway through the class though, Lamontagne was able to take over the lead with Vigo Massuere. The pair cleared 10 obstacles, all with point values of 90 or higher, and with the addition of a clear joker fence they earned a total of 1080 points.

Jerome David was the only other rider to earn more than 1000 points, finishing on 1030 with Cassano Z to place second. The final rider to tackle the track, Natasha Begin Fry, took over third place from Robert with Evening Rose, earning a total of 990 points, but it was Lamontagne taking home the top honors.

Lamontagne has been coming to International Bromont since he was 9 years old, and he was excited to have a win on such a special mount. “Vigo Massuere is only 6 years old, so I think it was a little crazy to do this class,” he noted. “But he’s so special and careful that I knew that it was not going to be a problem for him. He’s the easiest horse I’ve ever had.”

About International Bromont
International Bromont presents its fortieth anniversary edition at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park August 5 to 9, 2015. International Bromont would like to thank the Ministère de l’Éducation, de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, as well as the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec for their support. General admission: $ 10 per person, free for children younger than 12 years old. Preferred admission: $25 per ticket.

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League
A total of 14 athletes from the new North American league will qualify for next year’s prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will take place in Gothenburg (SWE) on 23-28 March 2016.

The top seven athletes from the East Coast US, top three from West Coast US, and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for next year’s Final, alongside winners of 13 other leagues around the world.

Information:
Alexandra Hill, communications – International Bromont, T. 450-534-0787 | F. 450-525-2716
communications@internationalbromont.org

Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S Score Winning Trifecta at Spruce Meadows

Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – June 11, 2014 – The Spruce Meadows Summer Series kicked off last week with the ‘National’ Tournament CSI 5*, where Charlie Jacobs of Deeridge Farms and CMJ Sporthorses’ Cassinja S had a dominating performance in the 1.40m Junior/Amateur division. Three double clear efforts led to three blue ribbons as they won the $5,000 Gienow Junior/Amateur Cup, the $10,000 Mercer Junior/Amateur Jumpers and the $10,000 ConocoPhillips Junior/Amateur Cup.

“To say I am over the moon would be an understatement,” expressed Jacobs. “I am so proud of Cassinja S. She is only 8 years old, so I am very excited about her future.”

Throughout the winter, Jacobs focused on a lot of flatwork with the talented young mare, only competing with her in a few Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics at the end of the circuit. “I came up here not really knowing what to expect so we started in the 1.40m,” he explained. “She’s a lovely horse, a real lady. She is very powerful and big, but she’s very sweet and gentle to handle. She has a very calm demeanor, so when she gets to the ring she is all business.”

Jacobs added, “We worked a lot on her turns this winter, which has paid off because she is really excelling. She’s a very big mare with a very big stride, so she covers a lot of ground. This is a big venue with a lot of space between the jumps, so it plays to her strengths.”

With a perfect week in the 1.40m Junior/Amateur division, Cassinja S will now move up to the 1.45m Open Jumpers during Spruce Meadows’ ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO 5*. Jacobs will also be competing aboard Flaming Star at the end of this week as a member of the United States’ Nations Cup Team.

“It’s quite an honor, and I don’t take it lightly,” said Jacobs about representing the U.S. “We have to put our best foot forward. I’ve had conversations with my teammates and Robert [Ridland], and we are ready to deliver.”

The $125,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup will take place on Friday and is a qualifying event for the 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona, Spain.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Alvaro de Miranda and Charlie Jacobs Share Victory in $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2

Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje. Photos © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2014 – Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a busy schedule of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The afternoon featured Round 2 of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, which was held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries. The competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $34,000 distributed. Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje and USA’s Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star shared in the day’s victory.

FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday, January 15, through Sunday, January 19. The week will feature the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday night, and the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Speed Class, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, during the day on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

Luc Musette of Belgium set the course for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with 98 entries competing in total. Out of 98, only eleven were able to clear the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and nine of those jumped double clear. Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, owned by de Miranda and Victory Equestrian Sport BV, had the fastest time of 39.71 seconds overall for the win in Section A. Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star finished in 39.85 seconds for the win in Section B.

The top three finishers in Section A included Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, Lauren Hough (USA) and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Reconnaissance in second place with a time of 40.15 seconds, and Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane in third with a time of 41.52 seconds.

Section B saw Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star on top, with Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Glory Days in second in 41.45 seconds, and Keean White (CAN) and Angelstone Partners’ Pironella in third with a time of 41.81 seconds.

The competition in Wellington has become more competitive each year, and it takes an extremely fast combination of horse and rider to top the talented line-up of international competitors in these classes. Alvaro de Miranda knew what he had to do going into the jump-off, and he went full speed.

“It is very competitive here,” he noted. “Every class you need to go full gas to try to do something. I am very happy because with this horse it was very difficult for me to go fast always in Europe. Today I had a very good feeling in the jump-off. It was very good for me because the left turn is better for him, so I could do a good turn to the double, and he has a very, very big stride, so I did one less stride to the last fence.”

De Miranda was extremely fast galloping down to the final vertical heading towards the in-gate, and he did not hold back.

“You need to just go and the last two strides, almost don’t breathe, just wait and let the horse jump good,” he stated. “It is so fast that if you think about the finish line, you will have a big fault. Making this mistake one thousand times, sometimes you learn, and today was good. When you are not the last (in the jump-off), you know anything can happen and you just wait for the result, but I am very happy with my horse and a start like that is very good. The horse jumped amazing.”

AD Uutje, a 2001 KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is a fairly new horse for de Miranda, and the rider explained that Nelson Pessoa has been helping him for the last three months.

“I have ridden him for only six months, and Nelson Pessoa really trained the horse,” de Miranda explained. “It was very hard for me to ride this horse, but Nelson also rode the horse for me and he found the right bit. He is coaching me two times a week in Holland and also here every day. I am very happy to have Nelson again. I rode with him for 15 years and then I went to Holland, and now we are back again and I am very motivated to have him as my coach.”

The new partnership with AD Uutje is progressing, as de Miranda explained that this was the fastest they have gone without making any mistakes.

“Today I had a very good feeling,” he said. “I was going fast, but he was not losing the jump and getting flat. Maybe to the last a little bit, but it was very fast to the last. I am very happy, and I hope I can keep riding him like today because when I ride him good, he always jumps very good. Most of the mistakes are my fault, and I try to keep improving.”

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star

Co-winner, Flaming Star, is a 1999 AES gelding by Fairman that Charlie Jacobs has had great success with. Jacobs was last to go in the jump-off, but did not get to see de Miranda’s ride because he was warming up. The difference between their times was one extra stride down the last line, where de Miranda did ten strides to Jacobs’ eleven.

“I just didn’t have it in me to do ten,” Jacobs stated after the class. “I thought ‘Maybe I do ten, but it’s a gamble. I leave it up, I win. If I knock it down, I’m sixth.’ So I got maybe too cautious, but it’s kind of remarkable that we had 98 starters today. I am so proud of Flaming Star and the way he jumped. He has been great. This is his second of back to back weeks, so he will jump Saturday and then he gets a two-week rest before week five.

Commenting on Flaming Star’s consistency, Jacobs noted, “I am so proud to have him. He is a quirky horse, but once you get to know him, it is like a comfortable suit that you put on. You get in the saddle and he is right there like an old buddy, ready for you. I am so happy. We have a great rapport, and it wasn’t always that way with him and me. We just gelled in the past year or so.”

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

An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was also held in the International Arena in the morning with a win for Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Powerplay. The $2,500 Amateur-Owner Jumpers, sponsored by Engel & Völkers, Sollak Carr, saw a win for Erin Haas and North Face Farm’s As Di Chupito.

Scott Stewart and Lucador
Scott Stewart and Lucador

Lucador and Scott Stewart Claim Green Conformation Hunter Championship for Second Week in a Row at FTI WEF

Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley’s Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division.

Reserve champion for the division was High Regard, owned by Glefke & Kensel, LLC, and ridden by Adam Ottomanelli. High Regard was third in the model and second under saddle with Ottomanelli before placing fifth in the handy round, and finishing second, third, and second over fences.

Lucador, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, first caught Parker’s eye at the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship in Lexington, KY, last summer. Peter Pletcher campaigned the gelding throughout 2013 for then-owner Brian Walker, finishing the year fifth in the Pre-Green Incentive Program Standings for Money Won by a Horse.

Despite Lucador’s substantial winnings, the horse hadn’t actually been in the show ring very often. After taking him out a few times in the fall, Stewart toyed with the idea of giving him another year to get comfortable in the horse show environment.

“I wasn’t sure whether he was going to do another Pre-Green year or not. He’s pretty young. He’s just turning six, and Peter and Brian only showed him three or four times [last year at the FTI WEF] and a few times over the summer. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he’s really brave. The jump is easy for him, and he has a good mind for a young horse,” Stewart detailed.

Stewart decided to make the move up a division with Lucador, but resolved to wait and see how the gelding handled the higher fences. With two division championships in his first two weeks out, it’s clear Lucador has risen to the challenge.

“The original plan was to show him once or twice at 3’6″ and see how he dealt with it, and if he didn’t do so well we could always drop him down. But so far so good!” Stewart laughed.

Lucador also hasn’t been deterred by less than ideal weather, getting wet during week one of the FTI WEF during substantial rainstorms followed by an unseasonably chilly and windy in the second week. Stewart acknowledged that although Lucador is still young, he’s mentally quite mature. At only six years of age, Lucador is already described by Stewart as a horse he doesn’t have to worry much about in the ring.

“He’s got a big stride and he’s not spooky, so you never have to worry about that. He’s also got a perfect lead change, so there are a lot of things you don’t have to worry about. You just have to stay out of the way, and he’ll have a pretty jump. He doesn’t actually need to jump a lot at home, either. He’s pretty easy. He acts like a 10-year-old!”

Shapley’s Grooming Products sponsored the Green Conformation Hunter division, awarding Stewart with a well-stocked bucket of grooming supplies for his victory with Lucador. Stewart’s River’s Edge Farm, based in Flemington, NJ, is already a devoted Shapley’s user thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback from the grooms.

“We use it all the time. It’s great to have Shapley’s sponsoring this class because you can use all of their stuff for the model. The guys love it, and it makes the horses look good!” Stewart remarked.

Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Friday with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers in the International Arena as well as the presentation of championship honors to the Triple Crown Adult Am Hunter 36-50 Sec. A in the Rost Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

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

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

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

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

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star Win $50,000 Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* Grand Prix

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photos (c) Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – November 30, 2013 – The $50,000 Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* Grand Prix was held on Saturday night at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for Charlie Jacobs (USA) and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star. In an exciting four-horse jump-off with over 4,000 fans cheering them on, Jacobs and Flaming Star topped Tim Gredley (GBR) and Unex Chamberlain Z, Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Vindicat W, and Catherine Pasmore (USA) and Bonanza Van Paemel for the win.

Holiday & Horses competition concludes on Sunday with the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (12 p.m.) in the Mogavero Ring and $10,000 Open Stake 1.40m at 1 p.m. in the International Arena.

Anthony D’Ambrosio set a challenging course for Saturday night’s grand prix. Forty-four entries showed in round one and just four were able to advance to the jump-off. All of the jump-off competitors then had faults through the short course. Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star finished on top with one rail down in the fastest time of 48.62 seconds.

Tim Gredley and Unex Competition Yard’s Unex Chamberlain Z also had one rail and finished second with their time of 51.43 seconds. Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W had eight faults in 49.59 seconds to earn third place honors. Catherine Pasmore and Pasmore Stables LLC’s Bonanza Van Paemel had three rails down in the short course to finish fourth with 12 faults in 52.78 seconds.

“I felt like Anthony did a great job with the course,” Jacobs said following his win. “It was a delicate track, to say the least, and also quite technical in my opinion. The time allowed was quite tight, and I think it got some people that were maybe rushing a little in their heads. With the number of competitors that entered, to have four clean obviously was a reflection of the difficulty of the course. You don’t necessarily have to build an entire 1.60m track to make it difficult, and he accomplished that with the technicality of the course.”

Jacobs has had a lot of success this year with Flaming Star, a 14-year-old Anglo-European gelding by Fairman.

“My horse likes the arena,” Jacobs acknowledged. “I think we have had some really good success here in 2013. Under the lights I wasn’t sure what we were going to get tonight. I had a few moments in the schooling area when I was going sideways and I wasn’t counting on it, but he was quite good in the ring. He loves it. I wish it were the rider, but I have to tell you, it’s the horse. He is doing a great job out there.”

Tim Gredley has had his mount, Unex Chamberlain Z, for about a year and a half, but the gelding is coming back from an injury, so the rider was pleased with his performance. “He has been out for about a year, and he just started four or five months ago,” Gredley explained. “He has just been getting better and better. I think he just needed to get fitter, and I needed to get fitter, and it is all just starting to come together with him a bit now.”

Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W
Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W

Finishing third, Jessica Springsteen was happy with her round aboard Vindicat W. Springsteen has been busy in her senior year at Duke University and has not ridden in almost four months.  She was also presented with a special Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

“He has been amazing,” she smiled. “My last show with him was in July, so it has been awhile, but Laura (Kraut) and Mary Elizabeth (Kent) have been riding him and he is in amazing shape. He jumped incredibly tonight, so I was really happy.”

Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday & Horses competition will conclude on Sunday. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

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

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma Race to Victory in $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma, winners of the $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake.

A half a second behind, Charlie Jacobs finishes second with Flaming Star

Hampton Falls, NH – August 8, 2013 – Irish eyes were smiling on a day that started with overcast skies and a hint of rain, but ended in brilliant sunshine in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, as Paul O’Shea and his long-time partner Instant Karma topped a strong field of fifty-five competitors to take the win in the $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake class, the first of the big money classes headed into the big weekend here at the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament.

Munich, Germany’s Olaf Petersen, Jr. is designing the tests out on the huge grass field and today came up with the perfect course, one that yielded fourteen clear rides from the fifty-five that went to the post. Of those fourteen, eight horse and rider combinations went on to be double clear in the chase for the title over the short course.

“I think it worked out pretty well,” said Petersen. “The thing is, it’s only a 1.40m class, but it has to be a little more difficult. It was technical enough with three combinations and some of the jumps at 1.45m. Also, I’m trying to judge how good is the level of riders and horses for the Sunday grand prix. My plan was not to scare them already, but to see what I had in the class,” he said.

Petersen always builds in a progression, leading up to the main event, which in this case is the $75,000 Equestrian Estate Planning Group Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. “And this is really the only chance that I can see the horses and see how to judge for Sunday.”

Speaking of the facility here at Silver Oak, Petersen said, “It’s great. It’s amazing. There are not many places like this in all of the world and the footing is very good. Though it was raining a bit early this morning, the field is still perfect and there’s not one place to complain.”

That’s pretty much been the sentiment of all of the riders competing here this year. Leslie Howard called Silver Oak “the Spruce Meadows of the East.” Another rider said the grass footing is “like a carpet.”

Those ideal conditions led to the fourteen clear, but in the jump-off it was decided right away with the first three to return for the tiebreaker taking the top three spots in the final order.

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photo by Kenneth Kraus
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photo by Kenneth Kraus

The first to master the first round course and first pair to return, Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorses’ Flaming Star made it look easy the second time around as well, dodging the in-ring photographer and still putting up a stellar time of 45.025 seconds, a time that in the end would be a half a second too slow.

Darragh Kenny challenged next with the flashy chestnut Quiz, owned by Oakland Ventures, but crossed the finish line 9/10ths of a second off the pace set by Jacobs, tripping the timers in 45.961 seconds.

And then, as the third to go, O’Shea and his mare sealed the deal on the Welcome Stake.

With a quick start over fence #1, O’Shea and Instant Karma were off and running and never let up until the end. Neat and tidy all the way around and then a great cut to the double combination headed for home and a fast gallop to the final oxer set O’Shea up for the win as he raced across the finish line in 44.547 seconds, the only rider on the day to break through the 45 second barrier.

“She’s been a great mare for me,” said a beaming O’Shea following his victory gallop. “I’ve had her since she was a foal, so a long time. I bought her with a friend of mine and she’s been a really, really successful mount for me.”

O’Shea talked about his winning ride.

“I thought to come to the first jump on the left rein. I thought that would be a faster approach and it turned out to be right,” he explained. “It gave me a straighter line to the second fence. Coming around to fence #9, it was important to stick close to the oxer in passing and we did that. Fence nine was a big enough oxer, that’s for sure. And then it was a matter of keeping the pace through the turn for home, over the double combination. Finally, it was eight very long strides to the last fence. I saw Charlie Jacobs, the first to go, was able to get the eight, so I thought I’d have a go at it too,” he said.

O’Shea found a great gallop to that final fence and Instant Karma gave him a huge effort to seal the win. “Walking the course, that was actually a normal ten stride walk, so you think, going against the clock you could do nine, right? But to get the eight strides, you really have to go to get that and we did.”

“She’s very good in her turns, very rideable, very balanced, and that’s makes it a lot easier to get the job done,” O’Shea added. “But, I really think I won it going to number one; I think I saved a lot of time coming off that left rein.”

“I love this place. I think it’s the nicest show I’ve ever been to really,” O’Shea commented. “It’s a beautiful setting. It’s a dream for any horse or rider. The ground is absolutely fantastic and they have everything for us. Food, fruit, water, they even have carrots for the horses, they just really want to look after us and make sure we’re happy. The stalls are huge. I can’t say enough nice things about this show.”

Speaking of the big grand prix field, O’Shea noted, “A good grass surface is very rare these days. The horses love it and we riders really love it, so it’s great to have that.”

“Hopefully I’ll have three horses ready to go on Sunday and we can bring that one home as well,” he said in conclusion.

As we mentioned the first three were all alone at the top of the leaderboard.

Finishing in fourth place, almost four seconds off the winning pace was Ramiro Quintana and St. Bride’s Farms’ Whitney. Quintana tripped the timers in 48.416 seconds. Fifth place went to Goodwin’s Loyalty, owned and shown by Kevin Babington. They crossed the finish line in 48.531 seconds. Babington nailed down sixth place as well, stopping the clock in 49.119 seconds on Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC.

Ziedento, another St Bride’s Farm entry, finished seventh with Ramiro Quintana in the irons and eighth place went to Lilli, owned by the Gotham Enterprizes and shown by Georgina Bloomberg.

Earlier in the day, Paul Halpern guided Super G to victory in the Open Jumpers 1.30m Power and Speed. Halpern was clean through the Power phase and raced home in the Speed phase in 34.724 seconds for the win.

It was a narrow victory as Leslie Howard finished just 2/10ths of a second off the pace to take home second place honors with Moon Doggie and then finished third with Zaragoza. Howard broke the beams in 34.954 seconds with Moon Doggie for the red ribbon and crossed the finish line in 35.518 with Zaragoza.

Halpern returned to pick up the white ribbon for fourth place with Marquis, finishing the speed phase in 36.549 seconds.

Kevin Babington and Lauren Tisbo rounded out the top six placings with Tamina and Sting Van de Withoeve.

Tomorrow, Open, Junior-A/O Jumpers and the popular Pro Am team competition takes center stage.

The $75,000 Equestrian Estate Planning Group Grand Prix dominates the Sunday schedule in Hampton Falls as an elite group of top riders will vie for big prize money in the class and the $25,000 Boston Strong Bonus. The $25,000 cash prize will go to any horse and rider combination that win both the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak and the Grand Prix at Fieldstone next week. Sunday’s Grand Prix is preceded by the $15,000 Agero Speed Classic.

Saturday’s session features a number of exciting show jumping competitions, including the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics for top Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers and the $15,000 DG Ventures Speed Derby, a challenging test over 18-20 obstacles in a race for the title.

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Charlie Jacobs Tops Leader Board for Deeridge Farms at Spruce Meadows ‘National’

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star placed third in the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier. Photo By: Holly Burns.

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – June 11, 2013 – The best riders in the world traveled to the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta during the past week, and that included amateur rider Charlie Jacobs. Representing his family’s Deeridge Farms, Jacobs piloted his leading mount Flaming Star to an impressive third place finish during the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier.

The week’s highlight event gathered a large crowd at the international ring as they watched the top show jumpers compete over the technical track designed by Werner Deeg of Germany. Only four horse and rider combinations managed to best the first round, the second of which was Jacobs aboard his 14-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding by Fairman owned by CMJ Sporthorse LLC, Flaming Star.

When Jacobs returned for the tiebreaker, he opted for the tidy route, which paid off when he crossed the finish line aboard Flaming Star, all the rails intact and the clock stopping at 53.62 seconds. Professionals Kent Farrington and Reed Kessler managed to beat Jacobs time later in the jump-off, but his effort held up for the third place honors as the United States swept all three of the top positions.

“It was amazing,” expressed Jacobs. “There were four that jumped clean, and the course was very solid. It was a meaty track and it caught people at different places. I was ecstatic to jump clean in the first round, and when I came back second in the jump-off I went tidy, but not to the wall fast, and was clear, but then those two came in and were faster.”

Unlike Farrington and Kessler, Jacobs has a fulltime job in Boston with the Boston Bruins hockey team. He does not have the option to ride as much as he would like, but he still manages to compete with the best in the world.

“I love to ride, and I think it speaks volumes about the support that I have not only from my wife and kids but also the team that looks after the horses and rides them at Deeridge when I can’t be there,” he explained. “It’s great to be part of the team with all the people at Deeridge.”

Jacobs added, “Flaming Star is a great animal. He’s a quirky little guy and has particular things that he likes. If you get to know him well enough though and form a partnership, he gets done what needs to get done. He’s all heart and he’s a real competitor; he always goes for it.”

Jacobs will compete again in a few weeks with Deeridge Farms at the Lake Placid Horse Shows in New York before heading to Traverse City, Michigan for Horse Shows by the Bay.

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Flaming Star and Charlie Jacobs Top $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4

Quotable and Holly Orlando’s Hot Streak Continues Week 4 of the FTI WEF

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 31, 2013 – Week four of the2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a win for Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse, LLC’s Flaming Star in the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. In a 23-horse jump-off, Jacobs and Flaming Star topped an all-star field with second place honors going to Conor Swail (IRL) riding Lansdowne and third place awarded to Brianne Goutal (USA) aboard Nice de Prissey.

Week four of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, will continue through February 3. The week will feature the $100,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.

Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela set the course for an impressive field of 81 starters in Thursday afternoon’s $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. A total of 24 entries jumped clear in the first round to advance to the jump-off, and 23 of those returned to jump the short course. Out of 23, ten jumped double clear, and the times got faster and faster as the race for the top prize progressed. The final three competitors earned the top three spots.

Continue reading Flaming Star and Charlie Jacobs Top $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4