Tag Archives: ESP Holiday Festival

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Daniel Coyle and Grafton Secure First Win in $25k Equiline Grand Prix at ESP Holiday Festival II

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Daniel Coyle and Grafton. Photo Credit ©ManciniPhotos.

Wellington, FL – December 21, 2016 – Daniel Coyle of County Derry, Ireland and Grafton secured their first major grand prix win in the $25,000 Equiline Grand Prix during the ESP Holiday Festival II competition at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The duo bested the track in 47.029 seconds to take the victory. Captain Brian Cournane of Wellington, FL and Javas Keltic Mist rode to second place after crossing through the timers in 49.144 seconds, while Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL and Bon Jovi secured third place with a time of 49.216 seconds.

Coyle impressed aboard Grafton in the class, in one of the duo’s first competition appearances together. Grafton, a 2010 Selle Francais stallion owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, has been a competitive mount in both national and international competition during his career and Coyle is looking forward to taking over the ride.

“All of the classes that I have been doing in the past week or two have allowed me to start to get used to horses and how they go in the competition arena,” detailed Coyle. “For the grand prix, I wanted to get a result and it was brilliant. I’m starting to figure out the horses a bit more. I’m very happy. This is an incredible opportunity for me.”

The pair bested a class of 50 entries, while only four combinations qualified to contest the jump-off track. Hector Loyola of Wellington, FL held the course designing responsibilities for the competition. Coyle mapped a track for Grafton that he felt would give the pair the best possible chance to place in the class.

“The course rode a little bigger than I had expected and this horse is relatively new to me,” said Coyle. “I was just trying to get to the correct numbers and I know that a lot of people were doing the vertical to an oxer in four strides, but I did three and I think that made a big difference.”

Noting that as Grafton improved as the course went on, Coyle feels that he is beginning to solidify a strong working relationship with Grafton. He commented, “That was really it from there. That’s where the lines just kept getting better and better – I had a good chance at taking the class because I was feeling my way around the course and he was responding perfectly.”

Coyle is making sure to take his time getting to know each of the horse at Lothlorien Farm, which is a process he has enjoyed. With a number of top grand prix mounts ready for the upcoming season, Coyle feels honored to have been given the chance to compete the talented string of horses based at the farm.

“The main thing for me right now is to get to know the horses and then we can decide what we want to do and where we want to go,” he explained. “I want to get to know them for me, so I’m going to take it one day at time and hopefully have a lot of success. There’s a huge team at Lothlorien who are behind this operation and that’s what makes it easier for me.”

“I want to thank the whole Lothlorien team, the grooms, the work riders, the Granges and everyone – they’re the people who truly make results like this possible,” he concluded.

Jumper Highlights

Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL and Vita 24 took top honors in the $10,000 Open Stake presented by Equiline as the pair completed the track in 33.346 seconds. Daniel Coyle of County Derry, Ireland and Dillinger collected second place after finishing the jump-off with a time of 35.001 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL and Cortina 186 rounded out the top three finishers with a time of 36.517 seconds.

Elizabeth Lang of Hillsborough, CA and her own Sothis D Ouilly rose to the top of the leaderboard in the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic with a time of 39.337 seconds. Taje Warrick of Wellington, FL and her own Dersey concluded the competition in second place after stopping the jump-off timers in 39.53 seconds ahead of Andrea Hippeau Vogel of New York, NY and her own Jackpot, who finished the short course track in 43.897 seconds.

Maggie McCormack of Ocala, FL and Chapeau, owned by Marker’s Mark LLC, captured victory in the $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic after the pair finished nearly five second faster than the rest of the competition. Andrea Hippeau Vogel of New York, NY and her own TH Apart collected second place with a time of 46.134 seconds, while Dana Ventrice of Pompano Beach, FL and her own Gerbeaud were presented with third place after completing the track in 46.98 seconds.

The $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Classic saw Isabella Russekoff of Greenwich, CT and Castor van de Kranenburg, owned by Lexus Arbuckle, take top honors with a competitive jump-off time of 44.119 seconds. Katie Tyler of Lyme, CT and her own Shet du Thot were presented with second place for their jump-off round, which they finished with a time of 45.249 seconds. Katherine Benard of Cumberland Foreside, ME and Alaika, owned by Sagamore Farm Inc., rounded out the top three after adding four faults to their jump-off time of 44.71 seconds.

Daisy Farish of Versailles, KY and Balance, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC, finished at the top of the leaderboard in the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic presented by Equiline after collecting two time faults on the short course to finish in 53.523 seconds. Alonso Valdez Prado of Wellington, FL and his own Chief took second place after adding four faults to their time of 48.93 seconds. Caitlin Creel of Kildeer, IL and her own Liberty Son 2, finished in third place with a single time fault from the first round.

Rodrigo Pessoa of Wellington, FL and Chaco 34, owned by Francesca Damasceno, captured first place in the $5,000 1.35m Jumper Classic, besting a class of 27 entries for the win. The pair stopped the timers in 41.777 seconds ahead of Carlos Quinones of Wellington, FL, who took second and third place, respectively. Quinones piloted Sato Yama, owned by Michelle Navarro-Grau, to second place with a time of 42.518 seconds, while Tazman, also owned by Navarro-Grau, earned third after adding four faults to their competitive time of 38.302 seconds.

Sophia Thomson of Jupiter, FL guided The Winter Solider to first place in the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic presented by Equine Couture & Tuff Rider after finishing a speedy jump-off and earning a time of 26.465 seconds. Chloe Jhin of Lake Forrest, IL and her own Liberty, followed closely behind for second place with a time of 26.614 seconds. Samantha Johnson of Skillman, NJ and her own Gallant earned third place after crossing through the timers in 26.772 seconds.

Hunter Highlights

Jean Sheptoff of Littleton, MA and her own Heartcore captured top honors in the $1,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic (3’3″ & 3’6″) presented by Sweet Oak Farm after earning a two round score of 169. Samantha Kramig of Lake Worth, FL and her own Disclosure earned a 164 for second place while Ellie Ferrigno of Newtown, CT and Quintessential, owned by Dapple LLC, received a total score of 161 for third place.

Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, NY and her own Rollingwoods Knee Deep finished at the top of the class in the $500 Small Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc. Lignelli also guided her own IParty to second place, while Chloe Watrous of Evanston, IL and Page 6 rounded out the top three placings.

The $500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc. saw Zayna Rizvi of Greenwich, CT and Anderin’s Momento, owned by Ella Bikoff, take first place. Rizvi then piloted No Drama, owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, to second place. Kyla Sullivan of Wallingford, CT and Not So Secret, owned by Jill Shulman, were presented with third place.

Ella Bostwick of Wellington, FL and Zimba, owned by Grace Busch, won the $500 Large Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc., ahead of Ansley Wright of Manalapan, FL and Serenade in Blue, owned by Deborah Brown-Moon, who took second. Fox Creek’s Antony Quinn, ridden by Anna Richardson of Granbury, CT and owned by Dianna Orona, took third place for their efforts.

Julie Pignataro of East Northport, NY and Harlan, owned by First Blue LLC, rode to the championship in the Children’s Hunter Division presented by UHealth, while Chloe Peebles of Coral Gables, FL and her own Lord Nelson took reserve.

The Green Hunter 3’3″ Division saw Katherine Newman of Wellington, FL and Dandelion, owned by Allwyn Court Inc., take the divisional championship, while Ed Copeland of Brewster, NY and Nickle, owned by Trelawny Farm, LLC, captured reserve.

The Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ Division saw Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her own Quincy take the divisional championship, while Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN and Ice Time, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC, finished the weekend with reserve champion honors.

Katherine Newman of Wellington, FL and Upswing, owned by Jennifer Tavitian, championed the Performance Hunter 3’3″ Division, while Taylor Kain of Boynton Beach, FL and Market Trend, owned by Tanna Seltzer, captured reserve champion.

Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA and her own Unexpected secured champion accolades in the Green Hunter 3’6″ Division, while Farmer also guided High Priority, owned by Zenfield Farm, to reserve in the division.

For more information on Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) and to see a full list of competition results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti Win $25,000 Sergio Grasso Holiday Finale Grand Prix

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Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – January 5, 2015 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) concluded it 2014-15 Holiday Series this week with Holiday Finale competition on December 31 – January 4, 2015, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Thursday featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake with a win for Aaron Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck. Sunday highlighted the $25,000 Sergio Grasso Holiday Finale Grand Prix with victory for Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY set the track for Saturday night’s grand prix competition under the lights with 32 entries and five clear rounds to jump-off. Alexander Zetterman was first to jump-off aboard Springfield Showjumpers’ Zidane and cleared the track in 46.95 seconds to eventually place second. Sarah Wayda and her horse Faroukh jumped next and went clear in 48.37 seconds for third place honors. Wilhelm Genn and Eduardo Leon’s Bugatti followed with the winning clear round in 45.11 seconds. Sophie Simpson and Simpson Showjumping, Inc.’s Why Not were faster in 42.12 seconds, but dropped a rail on course to finish fourth, and Michael Dorman and Wyndmont’s Valinski S made it to the jump-off, but retired after trouble at the first fence.

Class winner, Bugatti, is an eight-year-old KWPN gelding (Heartbreaker x Pilot) that Wilhelm Genn has brought along since his four-year-old year. Saturday night was the horse’s first time showing outside under the lights and a great step in his development, according to his rider.

“The first grand prix here he was a little nervous and then he settled, and then the last grand prixs he jumped clean and was third and seventh, but those were daytime,” Genn explained. “He felt really good. He still has a very young mind, but he is getting better and better and better. His body is a little slow, but his mind is very active, so I am just trying to figure out how to connect that all. Even tonight, I felt that he was really ready and I was very excited to do him in this class, but you never know.”

“He is a very careful jumper and he can still get very green at moments, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Genn detailed. “He was a little nervous in the first round. He was very excited, and he was fascinated with the jumbo-tron. Every time I went by he just kept staring, and I couldn’t get his head over. He was very playful in the warm-up. He laid down all morning and that was a good sign. My horse Happy used to do that. If she laid down on grand prix day, it was a good sign, and he has started to do that too. He won one other grand prix this summer, and he laid down also on the same day. It’s just little things like that. In the jump-off he felt amazing. He felt green in the first round, just insecure, but in the jump-off he felt super.”

Detailing his round in the short course and where he made the time over Zetterman, Genn stated, “I did six strides to the combination, and that was it. From the beginning, I thought the winner was going to do six there; I just didn’t know I was going to be the one. I was not sure if I could do the six because you never know where Bugatti is going to be on the next stride because he is still so inexperienced, but I told myself if I kept the oxer going forward out of the turn, I could keep going in six and it worked out.”

Commenting on the course, Genn noted, “I thought it was a beautiful course, especially for a younger horse to move up. The jumps were a nice height. They weren’t too big, because you have the lights as a factor, and you probably had a lot of younger horses in tonight and some younger riders. I was very happy when I walked it. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a piece, but I loved it for my horses. Anthony built beautifully all week.”

Genn plans to stay in Wellington through April to compete at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins on Wednesday. He is excited to develop his horses throughout the circuit.

“My plan is to now scale it back a little bit with the two young horses, Bugatti and the mare, Welcome Cor,” he stated. “They have done very well, and I don’t want to overwhelm them. They will take a little break and then do some 1.45m and 1.50m classes, then maybe some of the Thursday or Friday grand prixs and then go from there. They are very young still, and I like to produce them so they last for a long time.”

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Thursday with a win for Aaron Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck, owned by Troy Glaus. Thirty-eight entries showed in round one, with 19 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off, and ten double clear rounds. Vale and Quidam’s Good Luck completed the fastest double clear in 37.01 seconds for the win. Todd Minikus took second and third place honors, riding Carl Brem’s Cordonos through the timers in 37.77 seconds, and finishing in 38.62 seconds aboard Two Swan’s Farm’s Arino du Rouet.

The Holiday Finale concluded ESP’s 2014-15 Holiday Horse Show Series as the Palm beach International Equestrian Center prepares for the start of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) this week. The 12-week WEF circuit begins on Wednesday, January 7, and continues through March 29, 2015. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

Competitions, Show Jumping

Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane Win $25,000 Nutrena Holiday III Grand Prix

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Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – December 22, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Holiday Festival III this week on December 19-21, 2014, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Friday featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake with a win for Nina Fagerstrom and Flower. Sunday highlighted the $25,000 Nutrena Holiday III Grand Prix with victory for Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane.

Hector Loyola of Wellington, FL was the course designer in the International Ring for Holiday III competition. In Sunday’s Grand Prix, he saw 34 competitors with six clear rounds to jump-off. Only three were able to clear the short course, where Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane went first and set a blazing pace at 39.88 seconds that would hold on for the win.

Kira Kerkorian guided Lisa Kerkorian’s Cassiopeia to second place honors in 40.87 seconds, and Juan Ortiz jumped Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.’s Phenix Royal to third place in 42.75 seconds. Two entries were able to surpass McGuigan’s time, but incurred faults along the way. Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Eternal had four faults in 39.27 seconds to place fourth. Darragh Kenny and Spruce Meadows’ Quiz had eight faults in 39.36 seconds and finished fifth.

Capall Zidane, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Concorde x Baloubet du Rouet, has had an incredible season with many grand prix wins. The pair also won the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake the week before in ESP’s Holiday II competition.

Commenting on his ride on Sunday, McGuigan noted, “He was very good. He felt nice and fresh. I didn’t jump him since Thursday, so he was well rested for Sunday. He won the stake and had a rail down in Thursday’s grand prix and then he did nothing until today, so he was pretty fresh with himself today.”

First to go in the jump-off with six in it, McGuigan knew he had to set a fast time to make the other riders chase him.

“I knew Darragh Kenny was coming behind me with that Quiz horse, who is very fast and has beaten me previous times, so I knew my horse can go just as fast as his,” McGuigan stated. “I just tried to put as fast a clear round up as I could without taking too many chances and hopefully push Darragh a little harder so that he might make a mistake. It’s not often that he makes one, but he was my main worry. A few other people got very close to the time though.”

Describing the first round course, McGuigan detailed, “It was a little smaller than it was on Thursday here or there, but the later half of the course was quite technical. Most people were able to jump around the first seven or eight jumps okay and then the last five or six jumps were tough. There was a plank at the gate with a short five stride that took a lot of people out. The very last fence, the in-and-out, was short and that also took a lot of people out. It was a nice course. He started nicely and then built you up and got a little more technical at the end.”

On Sunday, McGuigan also had the added bonus of having his parents there to see his win.

“My mom and dad came in as a surprise. I didn’t know they were coming, so they were there today to be able to watch that,” the rider smiled. “I think that is the first time they have ever seen me win a class, so that was nice for them.”

Capall Zidane will now have a short break through the holidays and then come back to compete in the FEI classes during week two of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in January. He finished out the season with a lot of great wins and McGuigan feels good going into the winter circuit.

“I feel confident now. I came down here during Holiday & Horses and he won a class there and he just had an unlucky rail in the World Cup qualifier,” McGuigan noted. “I think I have jumped him in five classes and he has won three of them, so we are heading into circuit feeling pretty confident.”

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Friday with victory for Nina Fagerstrom and Finca Horse’s Flower. Out of 32 entries, seven made it to the jump-off, and Fagerstrom completed the only double clear round for the win. David Blake and Pine Hollow Farm’s Cassinjo had three time faults and finished second. Darragh Kenny and Spruce Meadows’ Quiz had the fastest time, but incurred four faults to finish third.

The 2014 ESP Holiday Series concludes with its Holiday Finale on December 31 – January 4. The week will feature the $10,000 Open Stake on Thursday, January 1, and the $25,000 Holiday Finale Grand Prix on Saturday, January 3.For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

Competitions, Show Jumping

Ian Millar and Star Power Top $25,000 ESP Holiday II Grand Prix

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Ian Millar and Star Power. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – December 19, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Holiday Festival II this week on December 16-18, 2014, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The week featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake on Tuesday with a win for Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane, and the $25,000 Holiday II Grand Prix on Thursday with a win for Ian Millar (CAN) and Star Power.

Hector Loyola of Wellington, FL set the courses in the International Arena for the Holiday II competition. In Thursday’s $25,000 Holiday II Grand Prix, Loyola saw 29 entries with six clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Three entries jumped double clear over the short course, where Canada’s ten-time Olympic veteran, Ian Millar, completed the fastest time of 49.84 seconds aboard Team Works’ Star Power to earn top honors for the second week in a row. Millar also won the $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix with Baranus last Sunday.

Christine McCrea and Candy Tribble’s Win for Life finished second in 52.52 seconds, and Wilhelm Genn and Eduardo Leon’s Bugatti stopped the clock in 53.42 seconds to place third.

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Tuesday with a win for Ronan McGuigan and his own Capall Zidane. Eighteen entries showed in the class with five in the jump-off and four double clear rounds. McGuigan and Capall Zidane won in a time of 40.25 seconds. Wilton Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet finished second in 41.40 seconds, and Gemma Paternoster and her own and Julia Harrison Lee’s Osiris placed third in 42.31 seconds. Ian Millar and Star Power geared up for their win later in the week with a fourth place finish in 44.31 seconds.

The 2014 ESP Holiday Series continues immediately into the Holiday Festival III on December 19-21, 2014. Friday, December 19, will feature the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake and Sunday, December 21, will highlight the $25,000 Holiday III Grand Prix. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping

Ian Millar and Baranus Win $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix

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Ian Millar and Baranus. Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – December 15, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Holiday Festival I this week on December 12-14, 2014, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The week featured the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake on Friday with a win for Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Goldbreaker and the $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix on Sunday with a win for Ian Millar (CAN) and Baranus.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY set the courses in the International Arena for the Holiday I competition. In Sunday’s $25,000 Equiline Holiday I Grand Prix, D’Ambrosio saw 40 competitors over his first round track with ten clear to advance to the jump-off where six went double clear. Ian Millar and the Baranus were the winners by a margin of over four seconds with their time of 37.90 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Testify finished second in 41.92 seconds, and Margie Engle and Eckham van het Steentje were third in 41.95 seconds. Alexander Zetterman and Zidane jumped into fourth place in 42.12 seconds.

Millar, a ten-time Olympian for Canada, is no stranger to the winner’s circle, but he was particularly thrilled to be there this weekend with Baranus, a horse that he has been working with for two years.

“It has been a lot of development like anything else,” Millar said of the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Balou du Rouet x Centauer Z). “It takes a long time to develop these horses and hopefully this is going to be his year where everything pays off and it starts to turn into results in the competition ring.”

“When I got him he looked like a fantastic prospect at that stage, and then it is all about the development,” Millar continued. “He has been consistent in his results. He has been learning his lessons. There is quite a list of lessons that they have to learn to be able to do this kind of thing. In the beginning he had his reservations about liverpools and water. That can take a long time to get a horse over that, and it did take a while, but that seems to be behind us now.”

Commenting on his extremely fast jump-off round, Millar laughed, “I didn’t mean to be four seconds faster. That suggests that there is that much more risk and you only want to take enough risk to win, but I must say that I was concerned about the last one coming at me. Alexander Zetterman is a very, very fast rider, so I thought I better make it plenty difficult for him, which was the plan. I carried a lot of pace to jump one and with that much pace the inside turn was that much more challenging. If you went a little slower to number one the inside turn, although tight, was very manageable, but to do it at the speed I did was quite a trick. That was probably worth at least a second if not more. Then over the number ten jump I turned very quickly and came right back on the combination. That might have been worth another second, and then I never squared up to the second to last jump. I just came right through the corner and caught it and then finished up in the leave out, so that would have been another second.”

The time that Millar has taken to bring Baranus along properly definitely paid off in the turns and the speed in that course, as the rider detailed, “He is beautiful to ride. It has taken awhile to get it, but he is such a cat that you can do anything you want with him. In that particular jump-off, there were a couple of areas that if you could keep coming through the tight turn it would save you some time. So many horses just don’t have the ability to come through at that speed, but he’s a cat.”

As the winter season approaches, Millar hopes to keep seeing improvement in Baranus and see how he does in the top classes.

“It is a long tour here, but we will see how far we can go because he absolutely is ready,” Millar stated. “There is nothing there to protect. His knowledge is there, his ability, his soundness, his fitness, it is all there. So I will go as far as I can go with him.”

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake was held on Friday with a win for Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and her own Goldbreaker. Thirty-four entries showed with 14-horse jump-off and eight double clear rounds. Derbyshire and Goldbreaker completed the fastest double clear in 42.74 seconds ahead of Tom Foley (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Beluga in 43.060 seconds. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) and Zidane finished third, just fractions off Foley’s time in 43.067 seconds.

The 2014 ESP Holiday Series continues with its Holiday Festival II on December 16-18 featuring the $10,000 Open Stake class on Tuesday, December 16, and the $25,000 Holiday II Grand Prix on Thursday, December 18. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488