Rich Fellers and Flexible. Photo by Fire and Earth Photography.
Lexington, KY – October 27, 2014 – Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital has announced that an award honoring the remarkably hardy show jumper Flexible has been added to the schedule of the Kentucky Experience on Friday, Oct. 31, during the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The Comeback Award is being presented by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, an all-breeds organization whose mission is to fund veterinary research for the benefit of horses.
“We are pleased that one of the co-sponsors of our Kentucky Experience has stepped up to further recognize the relationships between research, veterinary practice, and sport horse competition,” said Dr. Tom Riddle of Rood and Riddle. “Our practice will donate $10,000 to Grayson to further its program of funding research projects for the betterment of the horse and we challenge Flexible’s fans to also contribute to Grayson.”
Flexible, owned by Sam and Mollie Chapman and trained and ridden by Rich Fellers, suffered three distinct and seemingly career-ending problems over a decade. They involved fracture, atrophy, and vascular blockage.
Yet, he overcame them all with expert veterinary care and Fellers’ own acumen, and this year at the age of 18 won the $55,000 Land Rover of Sacramento. Fellers has already begun making plans to try for the 2015 Longines FEI World Cup, which they won in 2012.
“The ultimate benefits of equine research require various stages,” noted Edward L. Bowen, president of Grayson. “We seek the best research projects available, but the expertise of research scientists is then handed off to veterinarians who must be up to date and willing to accept new science. Of course, the owner/trainer also has to be ‘flexible’ enough, so to speak — to accept change as well.”
Rich Fellers and Flexible won the opening World Cup Qualifier at Thunderbird Show Park. Photo courtesy of client
The Grayson Comeback Award trophy will be accompanied by a $500 check to the groom and will be presented on the evening of Oct. 31 during the Rood and Riddle Sport Horse Seminar. The seminar is part of the Kentucky Experience, which also involves visits to horse farms, social events, and free admission to all sessions of the National Horse Show. More than 400 individuals signed up to attend the second annual Kentucky Experience.
“Although we are affiliated with the Thoroughbred industry, the preponderance of the research we fund is as helpful to all other breeds and activities as it is to Thoroughbreds,” noted Bowen. “We like to call Grayson ‘The Friend You Can’t Do Without,’ and regardless of your specialized interest in horses we are there for you by funding research on laminitis, tendon and ligament issues, placentitis — the whole gamut.”
The foundation, which relies on private donations, is funding 19 projects for slightly more than $1 million this year and since 1983 has provided $20.9 million to underwrite 310 projects at 41 universities.
“I’m very proud to be a part of Flexible winning the Grayson Comeback Award. What an amazing horse he has been!” said Fellers, who was asked to elaborate on the amazing sequence of problems and expert solutions Flexible has experienced:
“The first of his three career ending issues began in the fall of 2003 (7 years old). He started going very lame on his right front about 15-20 minutes into a ride. After a few minutes of rest he would be sound again. Needless to say, there were many different diagnoses from different vets. As he lost fitness over time the issue became more severe.
“Late Summer 2004 we took Flexible up to Washington State University Vet School where Dr. Robert Schneider went to work on solving the mystery. He discovered a blockage in the main vein that drained blood out of his right front leg. After numerous practice procedures on test horses he executed angioplasty on Flexible’s vein with little hope that it would help. Afterward, Dr. Schneider advised me to take Flexible home and let him be a horse again. He would monitor his own pain while turned out by resting. We brought him home in early September and gradually started back to work.
“Next ‘career-ending’ injury occurred late summer of 2005. After a successful circuit in Calgary (Spruce Meadows), we shipped back to New York for two weeks of competition at the new HITS venue in Saugerties. During a rest week at Castle Hill farm in Brewster, Flexible had a bad accident in a grass paddock. He fractured his left scapula. We left him at Castle Hill for 5-6 weeks until he was sound enough to load on a trailer and airplane to fly home.
Rich Fellers and Flexible won three World Cup Qualifiers last year at HITS Desert Circuit and finished second at the 2008 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals. Photo by Flying Horse Photography
“A couple weeks after returning home we noticed all the muscles in his left shoulder were atrophied. Diagnostic work revealed damage to his Supra-scapular nerve. He had a condition known as ‘Sweeney Shoulder’. In rare cases the nerve repairs itself and the horse recovers. Most cases the horse is a cripple for life. You know the outcome.
“His most recent issue showed up in June 2013 (17 years old). He started going very lame on his right hind leg 5-10 minutes into a ride. After a couple minutes of rest he would be perfectly sound again. This didn’t take long for my vet, Dr. Mark Revenaugh, to diagnose as the lameness pattern was very similar to that of the vascular blockage issue he overcame 10 years prior. This time it was clotted arteries to the right hind leg. With extensive diagnostics at University of California-Davis vet hospital, Dr. Monica Aleman was able to diagram all of the clotted vessels. The treatment options were: 1) A five and a half hour surgery to clean out the arteries that were accessible, or 2) put him on a daily blood thinner to hopefully halt the clotting process so he could have a somewhat comfortable retirement.
“The experts all agreed that the existing clots would never disappear. We started Flexible on Warfarin upon his return home from UC Davis (end of August 2013). We gradually increased his exercise each week and never looked back.”
2014 National Horse Show Fast Facts
What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 28 – November 2, 2014, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
2245 Stone Garden Lane Lexington, KY 40513
Cindy Bozan
email: cindy@nhs.org
Phone: (859) 608-3709
Fax: (866) 285-9496
Hotels:
HILTON – DOWNTOWN – 859-231-9000 – Approximately 6 miles
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859 – 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT – 859 -977-5870 – Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0232 – Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN – 502-570-0220 – Approximately 6 miles
RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 502-868-8000 – Approximately 6 miles
Attend the Nation’s Top Horse Show While Betting on the Nation’s Top Thoroughbred Racing
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2014) – Off-site wagering for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup races will be available at the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena on Friday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Both walk-up and drive-thru wagering will be available in the parking lot adjacent to the arena, and signs will be posted directing guests along the way. Park admission is not required and parking will be free.
Guests are invited to stay and enjoy the National Horse Show, America’s oldest indoor horse show, both Friday and Saturday, which is taking place at the park Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. Admission to the show is free both days that Breeders’ Cup wagering is offered until 6 p.m., then is $8 in advance/$10 at the door on Friday night and $16 in advance/$20 at the door on Saturday night after 6 p.m. Children 12 and under are free.
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars, and has been held at the Kentucky Horse Park since 2011. Show jumping elite from around the globe will be competing at the event for numerous prestigious titles, including the ASPCA/NHSAA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship, and more than $750,000 in cash prizes, the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.
For more information about the National Horse Show, or ticket information for Thursday or Sunday, call 859-608-3709 or visit www.NHS.org. Media inquiries for the National Horse Show should be directed to 561-753-3389. For information on the Kentucky Horse Park, call 859-259-4200 or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 18,400 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2013. The park is home to the National Horse Center, which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be on-line at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram.
Washington, D.C. – October 26, 2014 – The 56th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) wrapped up another historic week of show jumping in the nation’s capital by adorning ponies with ribbons galore at downtown D.C.’s Verizon Center.
Armani, owned by Pretty Penny Farm and ridden by Claire Campbell, took Grand Champion Pony Hunter honors and was presented with The Miles River Moonglow Trophy donated by Scott Novick and Rustic Woods on Sunday. The WIHS Pony Equitation Finals were held in the afternoon with a win for Caroline Passarelli. The WIHS Regional Finals concluded the day with victories for Thea Bitar and Allison Kilroy.
A 10-year-old Welsh Pony gelding, Armani carried Campbell to her first-ever division championship in the Small Pony Hunter sponsored by Further Lane Farm. For the benchmark achievement, she was awarded The Stombock Saddlery Challenge Trophy donated by Stombock Saddlery in Memory of E. P. (Bud) Stombock.
“This was amazing and a big surprise,” said Campbell of her first divisional and grand champion title all in one day. “I have only been riding him for two months so this is a big deal.”
Campbell, who hails from Cochranville, PA, and Armani became fast friends just weeks ago before starring in the 11-year old rider’s second appearance at WIHS. “He’s really fun, a great jumper and he has a way better canter than any other pony,” she said.
Armani – a breeding stallion until he was seven – adds a charming sass to the small pony hunter division. “He’s sweet, but he wants to eat or bite everything. He has a lot of personality,” added Campbell.
That personality, while maybe problematic in the barn aisle, pays dividends in the show ring. Armani scored an 87 for Campbell to win the Stake and claim the Best Pony Hunter Stake Round Award. They also finished first on Saturday and were fourth under saddle. Arms full with prizes, Campbell returns home on Sunday promising Armani plenty of treats for his performances. She, on the other hand, has restful plans for herself. “I am going straight to bed,” she concluded with a smile.
Playing runner up to Campbell in the Small Pony Hunter Division was Sophie Gochman and Rico Suave owned by Ponies & Palms Show Stables. The pair won the Handy with an 86 for Reserve Champion, along with another second place over fences and third under saddle, but Gochman didn’t leave WIHS without a top tricolor. In the Medium Pony Hunters, she and Truly Noble, owned by Pegasus Show Stables, won the Stake to take Champion and were second over fences and third in the handy class. She was presented with The Shenandoah Sundowner Perpetual Trophy donated by Evan Coluccio and Ashmont Farms, Ltd.
Reserve Champion for the Medium Pony Hunters stayed in the family and was presented to Mimi Gochman after she and True Love owned by David Gochman were second in the Handy and also second and fourth over fences. Mimi Gochman also accepted the Potomac Trophy for High Score Junior Hunter Rider on a Pony sponsored by Riverview Farm, LLC for the second year in a row.
The Pegasus Stable Perpetual Trophy, donated by Ms. Fenwick Kollock, was claimed by Kirklen Petersen and All My Love owned by Dr. Betsee Parker after a Stake win clinched the Large Pony Hunter Championship. They were also second and third over fences.
Emma Kurtz of Hudson, OH and Storyteller, owned by Fair Play Farm, chased Petersen as Reserve Champion (they placed first, third, and fourth over fences and were fifth under saddle), but redemption came by way of The Captain V. S. Littauer Perpetual Trophy donated by Hugh J. B. Cassidy, III, Mrs. William Dillon and Miss Marion Lee. She accepted the trophy as Best Child Rider on a Pony, sponsored by Gotham North. Recognized for demonstrating the highest quality in horsemanship and sportsmanship combined with good appearance and courtesy, Kurtz won the award for the second time after also impressing the judges in 2012.
Storyteller is an 11-year-old German Sport Pony and no stranger to success at WIHS with Kurtz in the irons. The pair was Grand Champion Pony Hunter last year and stayed near the top of the results listings again this year. “He is so much fun,” said Kurtz. “You can get to any distance and he’ll jump amazing, so it’s nice to have that sense of security.”
“I was a little bit surprised, but it’s amazing. My trainers have a huge influence on me and how I ride,” said Kurtz after the final awards presentation. She rode under the direction of Amanda Lyerly this week and showed three ponies, as well as a Junior Hunter entry. She did it all while battling a cold throughout the week of her third WIHS campaign. “I’m exhausted,” she said, “but it was so worth it.”
WIHS Regional Champions Crowned
Later on Sunday, the young riders competed in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals with a win for 13-year-old Caroline Passarelli of High Falls, NY. Trained by Robin Greenwood, Passarelli rode Little Black Pearl to the high score of 87 over fences and came out on top after the ride-off under saddle. She was presented the winning Jane Marshall Dillon Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the friends and students of Mrs. Jane Marshall Dillon. Taylor St. Jacques finished second, Ellie Ferrigno placed third, and Wylie Nelson earned the fourth place honors.
Caroline Passarelli and Little Black Pearl
Passarelli has had 21-year-old Little Black Pearl for four years. The pair also won the Small Pony Hunter championship in Harrisburg last week and this was the rider’s last show on her and a special win to cap off their partnership.
“It has definitely been a journey from the bottom to the top,” Passarelli acknowledged. “We got her as just my first pony, never knowing anything like this would happen. I always do the medal finals and pony finals at Washington and I never get called back, but this year I really felt like I wanted to win it. It is my last time in the smalls, and I felt like I really had something to do it for. I went in there kind of just thinking to ride my best and think through the course and by my last jump, I knew that Pearl was perfect.”
“I wasn’t as nervous as the actual pony division. It is a completely separate part to me,” Passarelli said of the final. “You go in thinking that this is a new thing and start with a clean slate. Pearl was so good. I knew that it was my last class on her and that she was going to be perfect no matter what. She always goes into the ring wanting to do her best.”
“She has taught me everything about anything,” Passarelli recalled. “She wants a soft ride. She doesn’t like when you try to get your way and tell her what to do. She just wants to be your teacher. She will never do anything bad. She just likes when you can leave her alone and let her do the job.”
“It is amazing to win this. I definitely wanted to go out on a good note,” the rider stated. “The pony division went really well, she was awesome, but I just wanted to do that much better. I realized that I had to do my best, and it was amazing.”
Concluding the week of competition at the 2014 Washington International Horse Show were the Regional Hunter Championships. The WIHS Regional Pony Hunter Champion was Polka Dot Pal, ridden by Thea Bitar. Bitar (13), of McLain, VA, trains with Ian McCartney and this was her first time qualifying for the final at Verizon Center. Reserve champion was Blackberry and Grace Fulla.
To earn the championship, Bitar and Polka Dot Pal won the final class of the division on Sunday with the high score of 80 over fences. Kendall Youngblood and Pajama Party placed second with a score of 78. Sabrina Daniels and Stoneridge Show Stables’ Masquerade were third with a 76, and Olivia Carmouche and Mary Elizabeth Cordia’s Jumpin’ Jack Flash placed fourth with a score of 72.
Speaking about Polka Dot Pal, Bitar explained, “We went to try him on April 23, 2013, and when I first tried him I knew he would be perfect. He came home the next month, and I have been leasing him ever since. We renewed our lease last April, and we have him for two more months.”
“He is great. He is the sweetest little thing,” Bitar smiled. “You do need a lot of leg on him, but other than that, he is really easy. He goes in a D-ring bit most of the time. He is just a really happy pony. He never gets mad at the other horses, and he is just so much fun to ride.”
“Last weekend I was at Regionals, and I never thought we would qualify to show here,” Bitar admitted. “It is my first time and I guess it turned out pretty well. It is amazing to show here. I have always watched the show since I was little and thought how cool it would be to show here when I was so much older, and now I had this opportunity and I am so thankful.”
The WIHS Regional Hunter Horse Finals followed with a championship win for Inside Scoop and Allison Kilroy. They were awarded The Black, Starr and Frost Perpetual Trophy after winning the division’s final class at Verizon Center with a high score of 80. Hannah Showell and Unbelievable finished second with a score of 77, and Brittani Director placed third with a 73. Isabell Stettinius and Guest of Honor finished fourth and earned the division’s reserve championship overall.
Kilroy (17), of Severna Park, MD, trains with Amy and Streett Moore at McDonogh School. She leases Inside Scoop a.k.a. ‘Tank’ from the school and has ridden the horse for two and a half years.
“He is awesome. He is great to ride, and I am so lucky to have him,” Kilroy stated after her win. “This is actually my last show on him, so it was really special. He is so responsive, and he has the biggest heart of any horse I have ever ridden. He will do anything you ask him to do, so basically you just have to be assertive.”
Sunday was Kilroy’s first time competing in the Regional Final and a wonderful conclusion to her partnership with Inside Scoop. “It is amazing. It is the only show I ever really, really wanted to do, so it was such a great experience,” she smiled. “My round was really fun. I walked in and I just looked around a little bit because it is so cool to be in Verizon Center. Then I got my canter and got a good pace, and we just clocked around. It was a lot of fun.”
Kilroy is captain of the varsity riding team at McDonogh School and plans to stay involved in different activities. “I will probably switch to a different horse and do some local shows,” she noted. “Now I need to focus more on going to college and what’s the next step, so this is a great finale really. It was awesome.”
The Washington International Horse Show thanks their dedicated exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and spectators for supporting 56 years of show jumping in Washington D.C. The 2014 event was a remarkable one, and WIHS looks forward to welcoming everyone back in 2015. For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s premier metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October, more than 500 world-class horses and riders, including Olympic medalists, arrive in Washington for six days of exciting show jumping and hunter competition. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and the WIHS Equitation Finals, an important goal for top American junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Lindsay Brock and Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Ingrid Klimke (GER), multiple gold medallist at Olympic, World and European level, with her 10-year-old Horseware Hale Bob (“Bobby”), celebrated in front of excited fans after winning the first leg of FEI Classics™ 2014/15 at Les Etoiles de Pau. (Trevor Holt/FEI)
Lausanne (SUI), 26 October, 2014 – The beaming smile said it all. Ingrid Klimke (GER), one of the most popular and talented riders in Eventing, finally secured her first CCI4* victory, at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), the first leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/15.
Klimke has won six team gold medals at Olympic, World and European level, and now she looks to have found the complete event horse in Horseware Hale Bob, a 10-year-old Oldenburger by Helikon.
The Jumping course at Pau is always challenging, and this year was no exception, but the influence of yesterday’s Cross Country time meant that scores were spread out and so riders had some leeway for error.
When, to great disappointment, Joseph Murphy’s (IRL) Electric Cruise was eliminated at the final Horse Inspection, Andreas Dibowski (GER) and FRH Butts Avedon moved up into the runner-up spot. Their two fences down did not affect their placing, and meant that Klimke was handed a three-fence advantage, but the spring-heeled Horseware Hale Bob only hit one rail, on the triple oxer.
There were only three clear rounds from the 19 finishers, and Arnaud Boiteau (FRA) with Quoriano ENE HN and New Zealander Jonelle Price on the pretty grey mare Faerie Dianimo produced two of them, moving up into third and fourth places respectively.
Murphy had some compensation with fifth place, despite three rails down, on a keen-looking Sportsfield Othello. Erin Sylvester (USA) made the long journey across the Atlantic worthwhile with sixth place on No Boundaries and Canada’s Kathryn Robinson secured her first CCI4* completion in style with seventh place on Let It Bee.
Nicola Wilson finished eighth and best of the British contingent on One Two Many, a good round just marred by the pair’s misjudgement coming into the double, when they had both parts down.
“This was a pure show jumping course and you needed an adjustable horse for the varying distances, which wasn’t easy the day after a 12-minute Cross Country course,” said Klimke. “Often the Jumping phase is my biggest fear, but this time I had no worries because I knew my horse is a great jumper.”
Klimke was clearly thrilled with her first CCI4* win: “Let’s drink to that!” she said. “I have loved my visit to Pau – it’s a wonderful event with a wonderful crowd.”
About the winner
Ingrid Klimke (GER), 46, is the daughter of the late, legendary Dr Reiner Klimke, an Olympic gold medallist and one of the most decorated Dressage riders in history.
Klimke’s “day job” is producing Dressage horses, as is that of her brother, Michael, but she is best known as a key member of Germany’s extraordinarily successful Eventing team since 2000.
Riding Sleep Late, Klimke won team and individual bronze medals at the FEI European Championships at Blenheim (GBR) in 2005 and team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen (GER) in 2006. With FRH Butts Abraxxas, she won team gold at the 2011 FEI European Championships in Luhmuhlen (GER) and both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.
Riding FRH Escada JS, Klimke won team gold and individual silver at last year’s FEI European Championships in Malmo (SWE) and team gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA).
Until now, her best CCI4* results were second on Sleep Late at Badminton in 2006. Klimke lives in Munster, is married to Andreas and has two daughters, Greta and Philippa.
Swiss riders filled the top three placings at today’s leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League series at Helsinki in Finland led by Olympic champions Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets. (FEI/Tapio Maenpaa)
Helsinki (FIN), 26 October 2014 – Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat, led a Swiss victory gallop at the second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League in Helsinki, Finland today. A new venue presented a real challenge for both horses and riders due to restricted space. But the 32-year-old, and the gelding with which he claimed individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the enigmatic Nino des Buissonnets, used that to their advantage and left the result beyond doubt with a superb run when second-last to go against the clock.
Last man in was Martin Fuchs, and the 22-year-old steered PSG Future into runner-up spot ahead of Pius Schwizer in third. The Swiss were understandably buoyant at the end of the day. “We Swiss are in good shape right now!” said Schwizer this evening.
New venue
As the 30th Helsinki Horse Show moved to the Helsingin Jäähalli, the city’s oldest indoor ice rink, course designer, Frenchman Frederic Cottier, had to be at his creative best. Guerdat explained, “The arena is quite tight, the length is okay but if it was three or four metres wider then it would be easier. The fences came up really quickly for the horses and riders, but the courses got better every day and we got more used to it. Today’s was the best course of the weekend, and this was definitely the best class,” said the man who is now heading the Western European League leaderboard, and well on the way to qualification for the series Final in Las Vegas, USA next April.
Making the cut into the jump-off was not an easy task as there was no room for adjusting stride patterns throughout the 12-fence track. Once riders committed themselves to going on a certain distance they had to stick to their decision even if the fences didn’t come up right, and Italy’s Franco Francesco was eliminated for a fall when the line he took to the penultimate oxer left him too far away, and his grey mare, Banco Popalare Bari Cassandra, decided to slam on the brakes.
With 15 through to the timed round, however, the 7,000 spectators were guaranteed an exciting battle, and it more than lived up to expectations.
Copybook tour
Great Britain’s Yasmin Pinchen had produced a copybook tour when posting the first clear of the competition with her bay mare Ashkari, but it all went wrong for the 21-year-old Londoner at the second fence on the jump-off track. Riders needed to make a sharp turn to this vertical if they were to be in with any chance of a good placing, but the British pair met it all wrong and racked up a total of 23 faults.
Going later in the draw was an advantage as riders could work out where time could be saved as they moved on to the oxer at fence three and swung left-handed to the planks at five which had taken a significant toll in the first round. From there it was on to the water-tray oxer at six which had also proven influential before a roll-back to the first two elements of the former triple combination. Once that was behind them there was only the final Longines fence, changed from an oxer to a vertical this time around.
Third to go, it was young Brazilian star, Marlon Zanotelli, who set the early target with a great round from Extra van Essene in 36.18 seconds. And his lead wasn’t threatened by a nice, but cautious, clear from Finland’s Anna-Julia Kontio and the elegant grey, Fardon, or by French 23-year-old, Alexandre Fontanelle, who, however, was most impressive with breaking the beam in 39.27 seconds with Prime Time des Vagues.
Five-stride distance
Norwegian veteran, Geir Gulliksen, was the first to attempt a five-stride distance instead of six from the second to the third fence with the hard-pulling Edesa S Banjan, but his time of 37.66 seconds still left Zanotelli out in front. However, when, four horses later, Schwizer did the same he swept way into the lead with his stunning eight-year-old Sixtine de Vains who stopped the clock on 35.33. Now it was a matter of who could beat that, and although Frenchman Kevin Staut, with another eight-year-old Ayade de Septon et HDC, gave it his best shot as did Germany’s Christian Ahlmann with Cornado ll, it took last week’s winners, Jur Vrieling and Zirocco Blue, to oust the Brazilian from pole position when crossing the line in 35.78 seconds.
The Dutchman’s chances of doing a back-to-back double were instantly dashed, however, by Guerdat’s super-smooth run with Nino who was in his element as he soared home in 34.96 seconds. And when fellow-countryman, Fuchs, gave chase with PSG Future and sealed runner-up spot when crossing the line in 35.10, there were big smiles all round in the Swiss camp.
Very happy
“I’m very happy! When I saw Pius I knew we would have a Swiss win and I did what I could but I’m very happy with second place!” said Fuchs afterwards.
Talking about the challenge of riding in today’s relatively small arena, Guerdat joked, “Switzerland is a small country so we are used to small things!” And discussing the jump-off, he pointed out that his ride was more difficult than it appeared. “When I saw Pius go, I thought I can go faster than that if I don’t fall asleep! But when I was riding it then it seemed quite far from fence to fence and it felt quite slow. But Nino is so quick, there were not too many options and I could still add a stride from 2 to 3 and be quick enough,” he explained.
With 35 points already on the Western European League leaderboard, the Olympic gold medallist has only a little more to do in order to guarantee his place in the Las Vegas start-list next April. He intends to pick the last few points he needs over the next few weeks.
“Next week I will take Concetto Son to Lyon (FRA) and I will change horse for Verona (ITA) the following week. I’ll go back on Nino for Stuttgart (GER) but I won’t be taking him to the Final. I want to save him for one more championship,” he explained.
For further information on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014 leg at Helsinki, Finland, go to website http://www.helsinkihorseshow.fi/ or contact Press Officer Kati Hurme-Leikkonen, Email kati.hurme@helsinkihorseshow.fi, Tel +358 40 514 4753.
The next leg takes place in Lyon, France on Sunday 2 November. For all information on the French fixture, visit website www.equitalyon.com or contact Press Officer Veronique Gauthier, Email veronique-gauthier@club-internet.fr, Tel +33 967 073 729.
Helsinki, Finland presented the second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League today.
The event took place at a new venue, Helsingin Jäähalli, Helsinki’s oldest indoor ice rink.
The city of Helsinki has hosted the FEI World Cup™ Jumping series for 29 years.
The show this year celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League series takes place over 12 rounds, with riders counting their best six results.
The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Final will be held in Las Vegas, USA from15-19 April 2015.
Today’s course designer was Frenchman Frederic Cottier who also designed the tracks for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 at Normandy, France.
40 horse-and-rider combinations competed.
1 elimination – for Italy’s Francesco Franco for a fall from Banca Popolare Bari Cassandra at the penultimate fence in the first round.
15 qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock.
The winner was Switzerand’s Steve Guerdat partnering Nino des Buissonnets, the horse with which he won individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Swiss riders filled the top three places – Martin Fuchs lined up second with the 10-year-old PSG Future and Pius Schwizer finished third with Sixtine de Vains.
The youngest horses in today’s competition were both 8-year-olds and both qualified for the jump-off.
Schwizer’s third-placed Sixtine de Vains is only 8 years old.
Fourth place went to The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling and VDL Zirocco Blue who won the opening leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League at Oslo, Norway last Sunday.
After two rounds of the Western European League, today’s winner Steve Guerdat, who finished third last weekend in Oslo, now heads the Western European League leader board with a total of 35 points.
In the Western European League, a total of 40 points is usually sufficient to qualify for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final.
Quotes:
Steve Guerdat SUI, talking about the Swiss working as a team in Helsinki – “It’s great to be able to talk together and train together, and it’s great to have a team on site and not to be on your own.”
Anna-Julia Kontio FIN – “I was very happy with both of my rounds. My target was to finish in the top 10 and I made it! Yesterday in the Grand Prix my horse got nervous in the jump-off and we had two fences down. Today I wanted two clear rounds and I’m happy. I’m also happy that Martin (Fuchs) got something to bring home!”
Steve Guerdat SUI – “It was a fantastic course and a great arena. The Organising Committee did a great job, and the atmosphere was even better than it used to be.”
Longines Live Timing Jumping application: available free for download from The App Store (iPhone) & Android Markets. Combining precision and performance, this is a detailed and exclusive application designed especially for Jumping fans – follow live results, see latest Longines Rankings, view competition schedules, obtain exclusive information and alerts on your favorite riders and get all the latest FEI news.
Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping press kit: download all the details from www.feipresskits.org (contains series calendar, competition schedule, online media tools and history).
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.
Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.
Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.
Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.
The Gulf Coast Classic Company is pleased to announce that the Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic was the recipient of the USHJA Members Choice Award for 2014. The Gulf Coast Winter Classics take place each year from February through March at the Harrison County Equestrian Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. This year will mark the show’s 17th anniversary.
“We are thrilled that the Gulf Coast Winter Classic received this prestigious award. While we credit our dedicated team of professionals, our sponsors, the magnificent show grounds and fun exhibitor parties and events, we appreciate being recognized by the show community as being one of their top choices of horse shows,” commented Bob Bell, President of the Classic Company and the Gulf Coast Classic Company.
The fact that Classic Company’s key technical director, Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, Indiana and longtime Classic Company team member, had three of his shows this year win this prestigious USHJA Members Choice Award is no coincidence.
Rheinheimer acts as Manager of Equifest, Old Salem and Technical Director of all of the Gulf Coast Classic and Classic Company shows, to name a few. Equifest, Old Salem and the Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic Week III all received the prestigious USHJA Members Choice Awards for 2014.
“I’m very honored to have had three of my shows selected for USHJA Member Choice Awards,” commented Rheinheimer. “I have been fortunate to have a great staff at each event to give the exhibitors such a positive experience to bestow such an award. I look forward to 2015 to improve upon our weaknesses and enhance the showing experience of each exhibitor.”
The USHJA Member’s Choice Award provides participants the opportunity to reward excellence at USEF-licensed hunter/jumper competitions through their feedback relating to competition, facility, location, footing, personnel and hospitality. From world-class grounds, top quality footing and a celebrated show experience, exhibitors rated Rheinheimer’s shows as a top choice.
“We are so proud of Allen [Rheinheimer] and what he has accomplished. To have three shows that he works for win this prestigious award speaks volumes on the value he brings to his shows and his commitment to the industry,” commented Bob Bell.
“We are so happy that Allen is part of the Gulf and Classic Company circuits,” said Bell. “We have always valued Allen’s contribution to our shows and this award makes it clear that the competitors also appreciate all that he does for them and the sport,” he added.
The Member’s Choice Awards Program was developed by USHJA’s Competition Standards Committee to reward technically excellent and exhibitor-friendly event and encourage communication between exhibitors and management.
On Deck:
The Atlanta Fall Classic kicks off on November 4th and draws riders from all over the country to the Georgia International Horse Park, home to the 1996 Olympics. Blue ribbon service and the Olympic venue make this a favorite among equestrians. From the jumper ring to the short stirrup arena, each competition ring is highly decorated and staffed with top-notch, friendly professional show staff.
With more than 300,000 in prize money offered, world-class stabling and arenas, top show management staff and a division for everyone in your barn, there is no better place to be in November.
The $45,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix kicks off the high-stakes action Week I and the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix wraps up the two weeks of top show competition.
Both weeks I and II offer $10,000 Welcome Class and the $1,500 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Week I offers the $25,000 Barry Lane Jumper Classics and the $5,000 1.40 meter High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Week II raises the cash bar and offers the $10,000 NHJL Junior/AO 1.40 meter class and the meter 1.15 $10,000 NAL Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic.
The $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby takes place Week I and each week there is a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby as well as a host of hunter classics.
Time Is Ticking!
Everyone is busy, way too busy to sit down and fill out entry after entry, then add up the time it takes to run to the post office, the cost of overnighting your entries… well, you could have done it all online. Yes, that easy! For a limited time, Classic Company’s Service Provider, HORSESHOWSONLINE.COM, will offer their services for free!
And better news yet! HORSESHOWSONLINE.COM and the HORSESHOWSONLINE onsite software is now integrated with credit card services and capable of processing all major credit cards through Charter Merchant Services. Sign up now and don’t miss the last 2014 Classic Company show!
VIP News!
The entire VIP tent overlooking the Olympic Grand Prix Arena has been upgraded. There are only 100 seats available per event for the Atlanta Fall Classic. That fact plus the best seating, complete with heaters in case the fall chill sets in, and the newly upgraded menu will make you want to book your table now!
Week One: Saturday – Grand Prix BBQ: * Whole Pig, Roasted and Barbequed Pulled on Site * BBQ Grilled Chicken Breasts * Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Creamy Cole Slaw, Corn Bread Muffins Desserts: Assorted Cookies and Brownies
Week Two: Friday – International Hunter Derby Chef’s Carving Station: * Roasted Turkey Breast * Jack Daniels Top Round of Beef * Smashed Garlic Potatoes, Creamy Sweet Potato Mash, Green Bean Almondine Desserts: Pumpkin Pie Mousse, Chocolate Pecan Pie and Martinis
Week Two: Saturday – Grand Prix Surf and Turf Kabobs Grilled on Site * Montreal Seasoned Beef Tips, Sweet Onions, Bell Pepper, Sweet Onion * Teriyaki Chicken, Red Onions, Pineapple, Red Pepper Grilled Citrus Shrimp, Lemons, Limes, Oranges * Vegetable Kabobs, Assorted Vegetables Wild Rice Pilaf Grilled Fall Vegetables Desserts: Assortment of Proof’s Posh Puddings, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana, Key Lime
Every table receives two complimentary bottles of wine and there is a cash bar available. Dinner tables are $400 per seating and seat 8. Single seats are available at $50 each. There are only 100 seats per night, so make sure to reserve your table now!
The covered arena in Pensacola is home to big jumps and crowd filled stands – don’t miss it! Flashpoint Photography.
Pssst… Pensacola is approaching… what are you doing this winter? The Classic Company is going to the beach! Join us on the Gulf of Mexico for the best in show jumping action!
It’s not too late to enjoy the last Classic Show of the year! There is always something for everyone at Classic Company shows and the Atlanta Fall Classic Shows are no exception. So make sure to bring everyone to the Georgia International Horse Park and enjoy Classic Company’s world class customer service, beautifully decorated rings, big prize money, great events and fun for all!
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at classiccompany.com or call them at 843-768-5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at lisa@classiccompany.com.
Stay up to date: Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!
See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
Michael Hughes Masters WIHS Equitation Finals; Colvin and Porter Top Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics
Washington, D.C. – October 25, 2014 – McLain Ward (USA) and HH Carlos Z raced to victory Saturday night in the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI 4*-W, presented by Events DC, at the 56th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). Competing at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C., Ward will have his name etched in WIHS history for now winning the coveted President of the United States Perpetual Cup four times in his illustrious career. The Longines FEI World Cup qualifying grand prix was the highlight event of the week at WIHS as competition concludes on Sunday with the Pony Hunters, WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, and WIHS Regional Finals.
Also competing on Saturday, Michael Hughes won the 2014 WIHS Equitation Finals. Victoria Colvin and Chanel B 2 won the $15,000 SJHOF Ambassador’s Cup High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, and Lucas Porter and Psychee d’Amour topped the $7,500 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio set the tracks for jumper competition throughout the week at Verizon Center. In Saturday night’s grand prix, he saw 26 entries and just four were able to clear the first round course without fault. Rising star Jessica Springsteen, two-time Olympic gold medalists McLain Ward and Beezie Madden, and young Olympian Reed Kessler made up the star-studded line-up of American show jumpers to jump-off to the thrill of a packed house in their nation’s capital.
Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S were the first combination to jump clear in round one and set the pace in the jump-off with a clear round 34.30 seconds to eventually finish second. Kessler jumped next with Kessler Show Stables LLC’s Cylana and had one rail down in 35.50 seconds to earn fourth place honors. Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z followed, and upped the ante with the winning round in 33.52 seconds. Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Simon were last to go and beat Ward’s time in 33.48 seconds, but dropped a rail to place third.
“I have been in a little bit of a post-WEG (World Equestrian Games) rut with four faults,” Ward admitted after his win. “I felt Carlos was going well, so I was really pleased to jump a clear round tonight. Jessica has been impossible to beat. I saw her go in the jump-off and I went back in the schooling area and thought, ‘This is a task,’ but he really responded great. He turned phenomenally, and he is such a careful horse. I was really excited. I felt the horse was due a win, and it was nice for it to come together at a great show like this.”
Saturday’s win marks the fourth time that Ward has earned the coveted President’s Cup after topping the competition with Goldika 559 in 2004 and twice with his superstar mount, Sapphire, in 2008 and 2010. The win with Goldika was for owners Double H Farm and after a few years apart, Ward has once again renewed his partnership with the Harrison Family. They are the owners of HH Carlos Z, the winning 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire).
“Every win is a little bit different,” Ward said of his triumphs. “The two on Sapphire were, as always with Sapphire, always easy. She made life very easy. I remember winning it on Goldika the first time. I had had a couple of second (places) years ago when it was at the Capital Centre, and your first win is always sweet. I’m excited about the partnership with Mr. Harrison, this being one of his horses he flew in for tonight to watch. As everybody knows, I am always proud to ride a horse for him and it was nice to have a victory, so that makes it always special. It was a nice win.”
Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S
Jessica Springsteen’s second place finish concluded a phenomenal week of competition for the 21-year-old rider with wins in Wednesday’s $10,000 Welcome Stake, Thursday’s $20,000 Gambler’s Choice, and Friday’s $25,000 Puissance. Springsteen swept the show’s international jumper championship sponsored by Robin Parsky, earning the championship with Lisona and the reserve champion with Davendy S. She was also presented with the $15,000 Leading International Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by The Boeing Company, along with the Margaret Chovnick Memorial Trophy, and the $10,000 Leading Rider 25 Years of Age and Under Award, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. The Springsteen Family’s Stone Hill Farm was the Leading Jumper Owner sponsored by The Reid Family. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts was named Leading Foreign Rider after winning Friday’s $50,000 Speed Final.
Commenting on an unbelievable week, Springsteen smiled, “I am thrilled. My horses jumped so good all week. Every time I brought them out they felt super, and I am really thankful for that.”
Springsteen got Davendy S in August and this was the pair’s very first grand prix together, although they have had several great wins. “I took her to L.A. and jumped a pretty big class about the size of this, so I felt pretty comfortable bringing her into this grand prix,” Springsteen detailed. “She felt amazing, and I felt like I rode her a lot better today compared to the other days. She jumped great. She was so careful and brave. She is an incredible horse, and I am lucky to have her.”
Ward, Madden, and Springsteen all have their sights set on the Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas in April 2015 and earned valuable points in Saturday night’s class. For Springsteen, it would be her first time qualifying. “I really want to go to Vegas. I have never been (to the finals) before, so it is my goal to go next year,” the rider stated. “I won one qualifier already and now I was second in this one, so I am happy I have the points.”
Ward agreed, stating, “Beezie and I are a little behind the eight ball on World Cup points. We were focused on the WEG and missed some early qualifiers. Being that it is in Vegas, which is a great event that we love going to on home soil, I know I for one am desperate to go. I was getting very, very nervous. Last week I didn’t get any points and knew if it didn’t happen in the next couple weeks I was in trouble, so it is a nice leg up and hopefully we’ll have one or two more good results and it will look better, at least.”
Madden, who won the World Cup Final in 2013 with Simon, is also looking to return to the event this year. “I would really like to go to Vegas and this is only the second qualifier that I have done as well,” she said. “I got a few points last week, but not great, so this is a good score, and I am happy to have it under my belt.”
Commenting on the night’s round with Simon, Madden noted, “I saw Jessie go and I knew McLain was faster than her, so I thought, ‘Oh, it’s not so easy.’ It was actually a good jump-off for me because it wasn’t too much running anywhere. I just tried to use his turning ability to be faster and that’s where I was fast was on the turn from two to three, and then spinning around at the other end of the ring as well. He was very fast there, but the eight stride got a little steadier than I thought it would. I thought I had it fit in, and his momentum carried me a little deeper than I thought there.”
Ward commented on the course, explaining, “I thought it was very good tonight because when I walked it, I thought it was a little on the soft side to be honest, which I think is a great sign. When you walk a course and it seems very complicated or hard, that is an obvious test, but when a course designer comes up with a course that seems smooth and fair and you get a limited number clear, I think that is always a sign of a good test. I thought Anthony did a good job.”
D’Ambrosio explained his plan for the track, stating, “I thought I had a very good field and that I could build a real 1.60m World Cup qualifier, which I did, and I really like the way it unfolded. I had a nice number clean. I would have been happy if I had more clear, but it worked out well with regard to the number we had. We had a lot of four-fault rounds. I think a lot of riders felt really good about the way the horses performed. That means a lot to me, and I am pleased with that. It was a good competition.”
Rounding out a wonderful night of competition, Erik Moses, Senior Vice President of Events DC, remarked, “Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for Washington, D.C., so our job really is to help support and attract first-rate events like this to the nation’s capital, and we are so pleased to be able to support this. Having an equestrian event at such a high level in an urban city in North America in the nation’s capital I think says a lot of things to a lot of people. McLain was telling me he had a chance to go to the National Portrait Gallery and that’s good. We want people to see Washington when they are here and squeeze it in between competition. It was fantastic to watch tonight and see these riders compete at such a high level. I think it is great for our visitors and our residents who get to come out to such a wide array of events that we have in Washington, so we could not be more pleased.”
Hughes Wins WIHS Equitation Finals
The 2014 WIHS Equitation Finals concluded Saturday evening with a win for Michael Hughes (18) of Allendale, NJ. Hughes rode Jordyn Rose Freedman’s Finnick through the first two phases of competition, finishing with a score of 88.50 in the hunter phase and 90.25 in the jumper phase. Returning for the final work-off sitting in second place overall, his ride aboard Mckayla Langmeier’s mount Skyfall scored a 93.50, giving a three round total of 272.50 for the win. He is trained by Missy Clark and John Brennan at North Run along with Linda Langmeier.
For his win, Hughes was presented with the WIHS Equitation Classic Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. G. Ralph Ours, III. Finnick was awarded The Lugano Memorial Trophy donated by Stoney Hill as the winning horse of the night.
Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS finished second with a 267.375 total. Holloway rode Hays Investment Corp.’s Any Given Sunday in the first two rounds with a score of 89.13 in the hunter phase and 89.75 in the jumper phase. Her final work-off round aboard Caitlin Boyle’s mount Loredo scored an 88.50.
Mckayla Langmeier of E. Granby, CT placed third with scores of 86.75 and 89.50 riding Linda Langmeier’s Skyfall in the first two rounds and a 90 in the final work-off aboard Michael Hughes’ mount Finnick to total 266.250.
Hughes had no experience with either of the horses he showed in the competition this week, but the rider’s talent and experience guided both of his mounts to great rounds. Finnick was a borrowed ride just before the final, and the seven-year-old Westphalian gelding (by Cayetano L) excelled.
“I didn’t really know my horse too well,” Hughes explained. “I have only ridden him about three times, but I have seen him go a lot and he is a fantastic horse. I was so lucky to ride him this week. I can’t thank Linda Langmeier and the Freedman family enough for letting me ride him.”
Langmeier explained that the gelding had never even been to indoors before. “He does the equitation for a 14-year-old girl who just started in Florida this past year,” she detailed. “The opportunity for Michael to ride him arose through the suggestion of Julie Welles and we just sort of pulled the team together to try and help Michael have the best opportunity possible. The family was so amazingly generous to allow us to use the horse. It was also a great experience for the horse to be here because he has never competed at indoors before, and he is only seven.”
Commenting on his rounds with Finnick and Skyfall, Hughes stated, “”The jumper phase was pretty basic. You got to see a lot of the lines all day. For the switch, I have seen Mckayla’s horse go a lot. I saw her go earlier, so I kind of knew what I had to do and Linda knows the horse very well and so does Missy and everybody. The biggest thing was just picking up the left lead. They said just right when you get in the ring, he is very easy and he was. He was really straightforward. I didn’t need too many jumps to get used to him because you really just sat there and let him do everything, especially since he had jumped the course already once.”
Hunter Holloway was on a horse that is new to the equitation ring with Any Given Sunday, who is usually her mother’s grand prix mount. Last week in Harrisburg was the horse’s first equitation show, and he has taken to the discipline easily.
“I just borrowed him for indoors this year, and he has been absolutely amazing,” Holloway acknowledged. “He is such an amazing horse just to come here. I did a grand prix on him a week before Harrisburg, and he came in and was perfect at Harrisburg. He came here and he was super yesterday and super today. I can’t thank my mom and Hays Investment Corporation enough for letting me ride him.”
Holloway also had a great round with Caitlin Boyle’s mount Loredo, who is owned by Micaela Kennedy. “He was super straightforward and super easy. It was a great round. I liked the course and the jumps came up nicely, so it worked out well. I have known Caitlin for a while and have seen him show multiple times and throughout indoors and watched her. I had an idea of what I was getting on.”
The judges for the class were Jimmy Torano and Linda Hough on panel one and Philip De Vita and Mark Leone on panel two. Torano weighed in on the judge’s decision following the competition, stating, “It is the same for all of these classes. You are talking about splitting hairs. All three of them rode super rounds and did an amazing job on the others’ horses. Not only the top three, the top six; they just came in and had some amazing rounds. Michael’s round on Mckayla’s horse was flawless. They are all super riders.”
Trainer Missy Clark spoke about her team’s preparation for the competition and her confidence in Hughes’ ability going into the final. He also won the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talents Search Finals in 2013 and has been very successful throughout his junior career.
“It is kind of a continuation to what we do all year,” Clark noted. “There isn’t any special prep necessarily, although Michael had a horse switch here, so we had a few lessons early in the week out at Prince George’s (Equestrian Center) so he could get to know this horse. Michael has ridden for years and he has had so much mileage that I knew it wouldn’t be a big issue for him to hop on at the eleventh hour and get along well with the horse. He is such a great rider and such a talent.”
Heading on to next week’s ASPCA Maclay Finals in Kentucky, Hughes feels good about his chances and was honored to win such a prestigious class. “I think it is going to give me a little bit of a boost of confidence going into next week,” he declared. “It feels amazing. It is my last junior year and hopefully I can come back next year and do the open jumpers or something. I haven’t come to this final as much as the others and there is a lot of history behind this. Some great riders have won, including McLain Ward, Julie Welles and others.”
Victoria Colvin and Lucas Porter Win Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics
The $15,000 Ambassador’s Cup High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, saw a win for Victoria Colvin (17) and Karen Long Dwight’s Chanel B 2 on Saturday afternoon at WIHS. Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, rode the nine-year-old Mecklenburg mare (Cellestial x C-Indoctro) to victory to earn The Ambassador’s Cup Perpetual Trophy donated by Ambassador and Mrs. Marion H. Smoak.
The Ambassador’s Cup saw 21 entries with six to jump-off and only two double clear rounds. First to go over the short course, Colvin and Chanel B 2 set the pace at 33.96 seconds that would hold up for the win. Two riders were faster, but incurred faults along the way. Chloe Reid was the only other competitor to go clear in the jump-off with Chloe D Reid LLC’s Windbreaker and finished second in 34.52 seconds. Lauren Fischer and Offenbach du Granit had the fastest four fault round in 33.02 seconds to earn the third place prize.
After Saturday’s win and a second place finish in Friday’s jump-off class, Colvin and Chanel B 2 were also awarded the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper championship, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown. They were presented the Greenberg Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg. Colvin, who trains in the equitation and jumpers with Andre Dignelli, began riding the mare this winter.
“She is one of my new jumper rides. We got her at the end of WEF (Winter Equestrian Festival) and she is a different ride,” Colvin described. “She is a woman, so she is a little opinionated. She likes to have her hand held a little bit, so in the jump-off we try not to go too fast because she gets nervous. In the indoor she is a little funny with the crowd. On Barn Night she was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there are a lot of people.’ I thought today she might be a little star-struck too because of all the people, but she went amazing.”
Colvin went first in the jump-off and had to set the challenge for the other competitors, but wanted to keep her mare’s nerves in mind and give her mount a positive round. “I got the unlucky draw of first,” Colvin remarked. “I wanted to go fast enough, but I wanted to have a clean round because I watched the low juniors and they didn’t have a clean round until the middle. I thought a little slow and steady would win, but not too slow. That is what I tried. I don’t really like going first, but it worked out.”
Karen Long Dwight purchased Chanel B 2 for Colvin to ride at the end of the Florida circuit this winter. The mare had been with German rider Andre Thieme showing at the 1.45m level, and Colvin knew the mare had experience indoors with him.
“I am pretty sure Andre showed her a lot in Germany indoors, but I had never shown her in the indoor and this was one to start it off with, with the schooling ring this size,” Colvin noted. “She is a little afraid of traffic, so I wasn’t sure how she was going to handle that, but she was amazing and she didn’t care at all.”
Colvin had two very different rides in the class with Chanel B 2 and her other mount, Don Juan, who was unfortunately eliminated. “I ride her like a hunter,” she detailed. “Don Juan is the total opposite. You just sort of let go with her. You have to hold her at the base to keep her comfort because she gets a little like, ‘Where am I going?’ but she likes to put her head out and just stroke along.”
Hunter Holloway and Hays Investment Corp.’s I Love Lucy were the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper reserve champions after winning the first two classes of the division. Holloway was also presented with the 2014 SHALANNO Style of Riding Award. The award is presented each year to the Junior Jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation and the respectful, dignified manner of a true sportsman.
Earlier on Saturday, Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Psychee d’Amour jumped to a redeeming win in the $7,500 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, sponsored by The Strauss Family. Not only is Psychee d’Amour coming back from an injury that sidelined her for two years, an unlucky rail yesterday left the duo with only one choice to secure Champion: win the Classic.
“This has been a really good show in the Lows for me and I knew going into today that if I won, I would be champion,” said Porter who approached the course from the final position in the order. “Last is the best position, but I feel the pressure to win when I go last. My focus was to stay calm in both rounds, get in a half seat and let her do her thing.”
Porter finished clear in 37.211 seconds. The Classic blue guaranteed them Champion honors and earned Porter the Foxbrook Perpetual Trophy donated by Joy Slater in honor of Space Citation. Saturday’s win combined with a first and seventh-place ribbon gave them a total of 25 points. For the Classic win, he was presented the Swan Lake Perpetual Trophy, donated by Beagle Brook Farm, in honor of the 1992 winner Swan Lake ridden by Jennifer F. Miller.
Porter was one of nine to return over the short course from an original field of 23 in the Classic. The first double clear came five trips into the jump-off when Yasmin Rizvi and Heritage Farm’s Vivell-C crossed the timers fault-free in 38.959 seconds. One of only two to best the jump-off, Rizvi finished second, while Sima Morgello and Zopala, owned by Double S Farm, were the fastest of the four-fault rounds to take third. Morgello also earned Reserve Champion with 12 points.
A sizable oxer set against the rail of the Verizon Center ring was the first fence of the jump-off and saw more than half the field bring down the front rail. Porter was one of a few to rise to the occasion. “I held her to the first rail but gave her enough leg to get over the back rail, and it showed up right out of the turn,” he said. “The line set up nicely and the rest of the course was smooth. She [Psychee d’Amour] is super-fast, careful and a winner. She loves to win just as much as I do, so we’re a perfect match.”
Psychee d’Amour, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare, returned to work this spring after a ligament injury at Kentucky in 2012. However, two years of careful rehab have returned the mare to top form, according to Porter. “She’s the same horse she was before the injury. She’s spicy, but it’s all part of her winning personality,” he said. “She wants to be fast, clean and win. I was really disappointed when she was injured, so my focus now is keeping her sound.”
To that end, Psychee d’Amour will rest between WIHS and the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, while Porter’s other mounts head to The National Horse Show in Kentucky. This winter, Porter will focus her on the Medium Jumpers.
While showing full time, 17-year-old Porter is a junior in high school and attends classes through Stanford University Online High School. Coupled with success in the show ring, he is also making plans for his future. Considering coursework in Engineering and Architecture, he has his sights set on attending Stanford University, or following in the footsteps of his older brother to Vanderbilt. “They are my top two, but they are also really hard to get into, so I just have to study hard,” he concluded.
Porter hails from Texas, but now calls Wellington home under the direction of his parents, trainers John Roche and Chelsea Sundius, as well as groom Oscar Marin.
The Washington International Horse Show concludes on Sunday with a day full of pony competition as well as the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals and WIHS Regional Finals. The final day of competition will be live streamed, sponsored in part by The Nutro Company, at www.wihs.org and www.usefnetwork.com.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s premier metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October, more than 500 world-class horses and riders, including Olympic medalists, arrive in Washington for six days of exciting show jumping and hunter competition. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and the WIHS Equitation Finals, an important goal for top American junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Dan James will perform at the National Horse Show on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Lexington, KY – October 25, 2014 – The National Horse Show returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, beginning on Oct 28 and running through Nov. 2, with a full array of classes, featuring the finest equestrians and world-class horses, coming to Kentucky from around the globe. This year’s line-up features numerous Olympians, including a handful of Gold medalists, plus many of the sport’s fastest rising stars.
The event offers an impressive $755,000 in prize money. The National Horse Show features an International Open Jumper division with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and Under 25 Jumper sections.
The National Horse Show, for the fourth year in a row, received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was again named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in back to back years.
In addition to the top-notch equestrian competition, this year’s show features nightly entertainment during the prime-time evening sessions.
All performances have been sponsored by Shownet – a pioneer in online show information, recorded video, and live streaming content. Shownet has helped some of the sport’s busiest trainers be more productive, and streamlined recorded video viewing and purchase with their highly integrated mobile platform. They’ve also created a signature style of streaming broadcast, from some of the sport’s most prestigious events. As the official NHS videographer, Shownet is proud to sponsor this year’s entertainment.
This year’s roster includes American Parkour (APK), whose performance team is sometimes called “The Tribe.” They will join us with six total performers. At its center, the discipline of parkour is often called inspiring, uplifting and exciting, words that accurately describe what they do, and what they’re about. For sure, their amazing feats of agility will keep the National Horse Show audiences entertained as they join us for spectacular, choreographed performances and shoot t-shirts into the crowd.
Amazing horseman Dan James will be with us on Friday and Saturday night. Dan’s specialty is horsemanship, which he presents in many ways, from liberty, to roman riding, to reining. Born in Queensland, Australia on a small cattle farm, Dan James first began his lifelong passion with horses at six weeks old. In 2008, James was recognized as a world-class colt trainer when he won the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia Pacific. In 2012, James wowed judges again with his incredible training techniques winning the coveted Road to the Horse International Colt Starting World Champion title. James has continued to push the limits of horsemanship and entertainment and will be a joy to watch at this year’s National Horse Show.
Friday night is Halloween and the National Horse show will host Barn Night. Area barns are encouraged to be creative and show their barn spirit in costume and compete for a golf cart from Southern Lawn and Equipment, a ton of feed from Hallway Feeds, a wheelbarrow filled with prizes from Dover Saddlery and more!
The Pub, the National Horse Show’s new sports bar, will be open daily on the Alltech Arena concourse. On Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, the Pub will offer off-track betting for the Breeder’s Cup!
Expect a lively and festive musical atmosphere and so much to see and do.
Tickets for each prime-time show on Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday daytime can be purchased until Monday, Oct. 27 at Ticketleap.com at http://nationalhorseshow.ticketleap.com/nhs2014/.
Tickets purchased through Ticketleap.com are discounted 20% as compared to tickets bought at the gate. Children 12 and under are always admitted at no charge. After Monday, all tickets must be purchased at the door.
The highlights for this year’s show include, on Thursday night, the Copernicus Stables, LLC $75,000 International Open Jumpers – Time First Jump Off. Friday night’s feature is the Chansonette Farm $45,000 Gambler’s Choice Top Score Costume Class in honor of Halloween night. On Saturday, it’s the main event, the $250,000 CP National Horse Show Grand Prix. On Sunday afternoon the National Horse Show plays host to the Maclay National Championship for the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class Presented by Dover’s Saddlery beginning early in the morning and continuing with the final round at approximately 3 p.m.
All evening sessions begin promptly at 7 p.m.
2014 National Horse Show Fast Facts
What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 28 – November 2, 2014, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
2245 Stone Garden Lane Lexington, KY 40513
Cindy Bozan
email: cindy@nhs.org
Phone: (859) 608-3709
Fax: (866) 285-9496
Hotels:
HILTON – DOWNTOWN – 859-231-9000 – Approximately 6 miles
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859 – 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT – 859 -977-5870 – Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0232 – Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN – 502-570-0220 – Approximately 6 miles
RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 502-868-8000 – Approximately 6 miles
Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Horseware Hale Bob, cross country leaders after a superb fast round at Les Etoiles de Pau, the opening leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015. (Trevor Holt/FEI)
Lausanne (SUI), 25 October, 2014 – Ingrid Klimke (GER) is poised to win her first CCI4* after a superbly committed Cross Country round on Horseware Hale Bob at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), opening leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.
The double Olympic gold medallist was cheered to the finish by the large crowd enjoying an exciting and sunny afternoon as she flew home just two seconds over time.
Klimke now has a fence in hand for tomorrow’s final Jumping phase over Joseph Murphy (IRL) and Electric Cruise, the only pair to achieve the optimum time of 12 minutes 2 seconds.
“It was a very challenging course with lots of places where you could run out, but it was wonderful to ride,” said a delighted Klimke. “I am very proud of my horse because it’s his first year at CCI4* level and he had two run-outs at Luhmühlen.
“I knew I had to remain very focussed, but Bobby is clever so I could take the lines I wanted. I know tomorrow’s Jumping will be big, but that’s great for me because he’s a big scopey jumper. And what is even better is that he is my own horse, so I am hoping that he will have a wonderful future.”
Course Designer Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) twisting, technical course demanded an obedient, flexible horse and Andreas Dibowski (GER) hardly took a pull on the beautifully trained FRH Butts Avedon. He finished with the good score of 5.6 penalties and is in third, on the same score as Murphy, who is higher placed due to finishing nearer the optimum time.
Murphy was the hero of the day, the only rider to complete with two horses. He was pathfinder on Sportsfield Othello, rising 16 places to fourth with another fast clear, for 2.4 penalties.
“Both my horses are very good jumpers and had great experiences today, but they are very different,” said an elated Murphy, who is on the brink of the best CCI4* result of his career.
“Electric Cruise is very careful and travels at a good cruising speed, but he’s very careful. He’s a special horse. I enjoyed my first round as well – once I’d jumped fence 4! The only problem was that I knew I had to do it again, but I think that stood me in good stead. It was a real rider’s course, definitely more technical than last year.”
The Irish rider made it look easy, but thereafter others were considerably less fortunate. Both William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Pippa Funnell (GBR) pulled up their first rides. Fox-Pitt decided to retire Seacookie at fence 6, feeling that the ground was too firm for the 15-year-old, and Funnell and Mirage D’Elle fell afoul of the sharply angled corner at fence 4.
This notoriously difficult obstacle, where the direct route is approached “blind” after a tree, also claimed New Zealand’s Jock Paget (Shady Grey) and Britain’s Francis Whittington (West Side) as victims.
It wasn’t Fox-Pitt’s day because he later withdrew his joint Dressage leader, Parklane Hawk, and matters worsened for Funnell when she was unseated from her second ride, Redesigned, when the long-striding chestnut clipped the second arrowhead at fence 20.
The time proved highly influential, with Arnaud Boiteau (FRA) and Quoriano ENE HN, incurring only four penalties and, as a result, they have leapt 12 places from 17th to fifth and best of the home riders.
New Zealand’s Jonelle Price, now in sixth place after a great ride on the nine-year-old Faerie Dianimo, was one of very few riders to take all the direct routes with the grey mare, and making two huge leaps over the boats in the second water complex she still clocked 11.2 time penalties.
North America is well represented in the top ten, with Erin Sylvester (USA) and No Boundaries in seventh, ahead of British-based Canadian Kathryn Robinson, who achieved her best CCI4* Cross Country result to date with eighth place at this stage on Let It Bee. Lauren Kieffer (USA) and Veronica have slipped to ninth place with 27.2 time penalties.
Nicola Wilson (GBR), fourth after Dressage on the former Bill Levett (AUS) ride One Two Many, had a frustrating run-out in the final water complex at fence 25, but with an otherwise good round and only 11.6 time penalties, she remains in the top ten in 10th place.
Julien Despontin (BEL) and Waldano 36, sixth after Dressage, had a bold clear round but lost time with a few steering problems and are now 12th with 42.4 time penalties.
There were 22 completions from the 31 Cross Country starters and 15 clear rounds.
Olivier Philippaerts and Carlito C Top $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final; Firestone and Holloway Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owners Jumpers; Inclusive Earns Grand Junior Hunter Championship; Abbygale Funk Named Best Child Rider on a Horse
Washington, D.C – October 24, 2014 – The 56th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Friday with an exciting day of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The $25,000 International Jumper Puissance, presented by The Boeing Company, was the highlight class of the evening with a win for 21-year-old Jessica Springsteen (USA) aboard Stone Hill Farm’s Lisona after clearing the wall up to 6’10” (2.08m).
In other competition, Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) topped the $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final, Christina Firestone and Hunter Holloway triumphed in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and T. J. O’Mara led the WIHS Equitation Finals Hunter Phase. Inclusive and Victoria Colvin also earned the Grand Junior Hunter Championship, and Abbygale Funk was named Best Child Rider on a Horse. WIHS continues through Sunday, October 26. The $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, will be the highlight class on Saturday
Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY is the course designer for the jumpers at WIHS this week and fittingly holds the 31-year indoor Puissance record for his win at 7′ 7 1/2” aboard Sweet ‘N Low in 1983. He set the wall for the evening’s $25,000 Puissance presented by The Boeing Company, starting at 5’6” (1.70m) in height, and continuing up to 6’10” (2.08m) in four rounds of competition.
For the win after clearing all four heights, Lisona became the first recipient of a brand new trophy named in Sweet ‘N Low’s honor, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Tober. Springsteen was presented with The Sweet ‘N Low Trophy as well as The Armed Forces Cup, presented by The Boeing Company. She also accepted The Congressman’s Challenge Trophy, donated by the Late Honorable Rogers C. B. Morton and the Late Honorable F. Robert Watkins, as the owner of the winning horse.
The Puissance course began with four fences to clear, including an oxer, vertical and triple-bar leading up to the wall set at a starting height of 5’6” (1.70m). Five combinations, including Kevin Babington (IRL) and Goodwins Loyalty, Kama Godek (USA) and Sandra Zimmerli’s Apollo Mission, Todd Minikus (USA) aboard Coverboy Group’s Vougeot de Septon, Springsteen and Lisona, and Leslie Howard with The Utah Group’s Utah all jumped clear in round one and continued on. The second round had a triple bar set before the wall at 5’11” (1.80m), and all five horses and riders once again jumped clear. In round three, the imposing 6’5” (1.96m) wall came down for Babington, Godek and Minikus, leaving all three tied for third place. Springsteen and Howard each cleared the 6’5” height, but Howard took second place honors after choosing not to return. Springsteen and Lisona secured their victory with a fourth and final round as the only pair to jump the wall set at 6’10”, and they cleared it with ease.
Friday marked Springsteen’s third win in as many days at WIHS after topping the $10,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake aboard Davendy S on Wednesday and also taking top prize in Thursday’s $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice with Lisona.
An added incentive for the international riders this year includes new cash bonuses that will be awarded to riders accumulating the most points in the division. A $15,000 bonus will go to the overall leading international rider, sponsored by The Boeing Company, and a $10,000 bonus will be awarded to the overall leading rider 25 years of age or younger, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. Although Springsteen had originally not planned on jumping the Puissance, her trainers Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton encouraged her to do the class when they found out it counted toward the bonus. She took their advice and was obviously happy with the outcome.
“I had a feeling that Nick would convince me because he is also the one that made me do it two years ago,” she stated. “I knew that once he found out that it counted towards the leading rider points he would make me do it, but it was really fun. Lisona jumped it so easily, so it gave me a lot of confidence and I am happy I did it.”
In 2012, Springsteen jumped the WIHS Puissance with her horse Temmie and cleared 6’3” (1.90m), but was eliminated in the third round after failing her attempt at 6’9” (2.01m). Her success at 6’10” with Lisona is an exciting feat accomplished with great confidence in her mount.
“I doubt she has done a Puissance before, but she has so much scope and she is actually better the higher the fences, so we had a feeling that this would be a good class for her,” Springsteen said of the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality x Porsch). “She gets impressed by it, and she felt like she was just flying over the wall.”
“I felt confident,” the rider stated. “She is such a scopey and brave horse that I knew nothing disastrous would happen. Classes like this, you kind of have to have fun with it, so we were all just having a good time. It is important to have a brave horse that wants to do it and she did. I think she enjoyed it actually.”
Springsteen also had added confidence in her own ability after many big wins this year and let that momentum take her into the challenge of jumping the biggest height of her career.
“Winning definitely gives you confidence. Your spirits are high, but you can’t get overly confident. That is one thing I have learned in this sport,” she remarked.
Another thing Springsteen learned is that riding to a Puissance wall is much different than cantering to your standard jump. “I didn’t know you had to ride a wall that size differently,” she admitted. “It is so big that you just want to gallop down to it, but you are supposed to go really slow and get close to it so that they kind of climb over it. That is kind of the opposite of what your instinct is telling you to do, so it takes a couple of times to really learn how to ride it correctly.”
The high jump competition is a fan favorite at WIHS as spectators watch the incredible power and athletic ability of horse and rider attempting to clear a wall set at record heights, and the fans were in full force on Friday night as they took in the competition.
“It is so fun. It is not normal in the States when you have so many people that come to watch, and they really know what’s going on,” Springsteen stated. “You have all of the younger kids that are really excited about it, like the pony riders, so it is really fun. It makes it an exciting event for the riders, and I think the horses feel it too.”
“I have been coming to this show since I was maybe ten years old on ponies almost every year. Last year was one of the first years I didn’t come, so I have spent a lot of time here and it is nice when the crowd knows you,” she added. “The experience has changed a lot over the years. I think I was actually more nervous when I was coming for the pony hunters and the equitation finals. There is a lot of pressure in those classes. I think it is actually much more relaxing doing the open division.”
Belgium Is Best in International Speed Final
Prior to the Puissance, a $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final was held in a faults converted format with 22 entries and a victory for Olivier Philippaerts (21) of Belgium riding Franz Lens’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Carlito C (by Kannan). The pair was one of five entries to clear the course without fault and finished with a time of 54.79 seconds.
Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo also jumped clear and finished second in 55.68 seconds. Daniel Bluman had the fastest time of 54.15 seconds, but four faults were added to place third in 58.15 seconds. Reed Kessler (USA) and Kessler Show Stables LLC’s Ligist also had one rail down, adding four seconds to their time, to place fourth in 59.24 seconds. Leslie Howard (USA) and Moondoggie were clear in 59.49 seconds to earn the fifth place prize.
Philippaerts started showing Carlito C in June after his brother, Nicola, showed the horse for several months. With the new partnership, he has had a great season with several top finishes competing throughout Europe and Canada, and looks forward to continued success. “He is a very particular horse and he is a very big horse, and in the beginning I thought in this ring it would be quite hard for him. It’s a big horse in a small ring, but in the end, he did really well,” Philippaerts stated. “He has been great the whole year, so if he keeps continuing, then hopefully we can keep it up for a while.”
Detailing his plan for the night’s course, Philippaerts noted, “I was looking a bit and walking the course, and I didn’t really know what to expect since it’s the first indoor show for him. I didn’t really know how he was going to react, but he did very well. I made my plan and it worked out and I was quick enough.”
“I’m here for three shows: Washington, Kentucky, and Toronto. He’s a very quick horse, and he has won a lot of classes, so I thought maybe I would take him,” Philippaerts said of the decision to bring the horse abroad. “It looks like I made the right decision and hopefully I’ll do well the other two weeks as well.”
This is Philippaerts’ third year competing at WIHS and he has enjoyed the fantastic crowd and great event. “I think first of all, it’s a great show. I really like coming to these three shows, and also for the World Cup points,” he remarked. “It counts in Europe as well, but that’s what we are here for. They do a very good job here in Washington to make the show. It’s a very small place for the horses, but they make it fit. I’m very happy they keep organizing this show.”
“Tonight was very good,” he continued. “It was more people than I expected to come. They really were motivating the riders to go quicker, and it’s very nice. I’m very happy to ride for such a crowd.”
Junior Hunters Award Championships
The Junior Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition at WIHS on Friday morning with the presentation of their championship awards. The Grand Junior Hunter Championship was awarded to Dr. Betsee Parker’s Inclusive ridden by Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL. They were presented with the Ides of March Perpetual Trophy, donated by Linda Lee and Lee Reynolds.
On their way to earning the grand championship, Colvin and Inclusive won the tricolor in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, sponsored by Chansonette Farm, after topping all three classes over fences. They were awarded the Chance Step Perpetual Trophy, donated by Brooke Carmichael McMurray-Fowler and Pam Carmichael Keenan. The division’s reserve champion was Kerry Anne LLC’s Imagine ridden by Kerry McCahill. The pair won under saddle and placed second, third and sixth over fences.
“Inclusive has gone amazing this week,” Colvin stated after their win. “He has an amazing jump. His stride is not the biggest, so you have to go a little forward, but he is really fun. You know he is never going to spook. He would jump anything and leave from anywhere, and he is an amazing ride.”
Inclusive made a big comeback this year after a year-long break due to problems with sciatica in 2013. He came back to win at the Devon Horse Show in May and most recently the PA National Horse Show in Harrisburg just last week.
“It is important to remember this this is a comeback for him because last year he was not here,” owner Dr. Betsee Parker stated. “The year prior to that he had what is known as the ‘triple crown of indoors’ when he was champion at all three indoor shows. As of today he is poised to possibly do that a second time and that has never happened before in the history of indoors, but who knows, anything can happen.”
Inclusive now has a lighter training schedule in between competitions, but he knows his job and goes to work when he gets to the show ring.
“He flats for 20 minutes every day, and he rarely jumps,” Colvin detailed. “He maybe jumps once before coming to the show, but he is better that way. Less is more with him.”
A benefit to Colvin’s riding is her focus on the equitation this year and the additional help of top trainers including the legendary George Morris. “I have a better position, and I know how to flat more for equitation,” she acknowledged. “I have gotten a couple lessons from George Morris, so basically all of my hunters are flatted like that and I know my position is better around the course.”
Colvin also earned a championship tricolor in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division, sponsored by Dogwood Hill, riding Dr. Betsee Parker’s Canadian Blue. The pair placed first, first and fourth over fences and fifth under saddle. Meridian Partners LLC’s Good Humor and Megan MacPherson earned reserve honors, placing first, second and third over fences.
“Canadian Blue felt good,” Colvin said. “He is still a little green. His first round yesterday it was his first time jumping around here since last year and he was a little looky and quick, but he got better each round he did. His handy he felt unbelievable. He is so special because he jumps so high. Anything you put him at, he will jump very, very high. He was on this week.”
In the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, sponsored by Entrust, Abbygale Funk guided West Coast Equine Partners LLC’s Neander to championship honors after placing first, first and second over fences and fourth under saddle. The pair also had the best Junior Hunter stake round of the day with a high score of 88 to earn the Lyrik Challenge Trophy, donated by Ashley and Courtney Kennedy. Lili Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Tiffani placed first and fourth over fences to earn the division’s reserve championship. They were also awarded the Georgetown Trophy, sponsored by Sheila and Britton Sanderford, as the high score Junior Hunter riding his or her own horse.
For her success aboard Neander, 13-year-old Abbygale Funk of St. George, KS was named Best Child Rider on a Horse and earned the special DiVecchia Perpetual Trophy. The award was sponsored by Gotham North; the trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick DiVecchia.
Trained by her mother, Funk showed at WIHS in the pony hunters five years ago and this is her first time back and a memorable first WIHS win. “Winning is just amazing. I never thought I would be able to do it,” Funk smiled. “He is the most amazing horse I have ever ridden.”
Funk has ridden Neander, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding by Nimray B, for just a few months. His owner was kind enough to let her keep riding him to get to indoors, and it ended in wonderful success.
“Last year I qualified, but the horse sold to somebody else to do indoors with,” Funk explained. “We took Neander and he got better and better, and we got qualified. We didn’t expect it, but we did. He has been amazing this whole time. He doesn’t spook at anything, and he never misbehaves.”
“This is very different with riding all night long and no sleeping, but it’s amazing to do the show in the middle of the city and do this with him,” Funk noted. “He has proven over and over that he doesn’t care about anything. He came here and went in the ring and was totally perfect. I have never won a Best Child Rider before and it is amazing. I just wanted to go around and be good. I didn’t expect to win and be champion or any of it.”
Concluding the hunter division’s for the day, the Small Junior Hunters 15 & Under awarded championship honors to Autumn Lane, owned by Eugenie Kilb and ridden by Grady Lyman, with two wins over fences. Reserve honors went to Melissa Wight’s Chromeo with Samantha Wight in the irons, placing second and fourth over fences and third under saddle.
Firestone and Holloway Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers
Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers competed in the afternoon in their first jump-off classes of the week with wins for Christina Firestone and Hunter Holloway. The $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper time first jump-off class, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, saw the second win of the week for Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, riding Hays Investment Corp.’s I Love Lucy. Twenty entries showed in round one with eight advancing to the jump-off. Four were able to clear the short course without fault and Holloway blazed to victory in 32.85 seconds to earn The Cover Story Perpetual Trophy donated by Rolling Acres Farm.
Victoria Colvin and Karen Long Dwight’s Chanel B finished second in 33.85 seconds. Virginia Ingram and Riverview Farm’s Urban placed third in 34.11 seconds, and Chloe Reid stopped the clock in 34.91 seconds aboard Chloe D Reid LLC’s Athena to earn the fourth place prize.
The $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper time first jump-off class was held earlier in the afternoon, sponsored by The Strauss Family with a win for Christina Firestone aboard M/M Bertram Firestone’s Zodiac. The competition saw 22 entries with eight clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Only two were able to go double clear over the short course, and Firestone and Zodiac completed the fastest time of 31.13 seconds for the win. They were presented with The Eleanor White O’Leary Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashton Hill and Miss Linden Joan Hill.
Nikki Prokopchak and her horse Sofia Car finished second in 37.18 seconds. The fastest four-fault round in the jump-off belonged to Katie Tyler and Seattle 6 in 30.49 seconds to place third.
Equitation Begins with Hunter Phase
In addition to Junior Hunter championships during Friday’s day session, WIHS hosted the hunter phase of the WIHS Equitation Finals with an early lead for T. J. O’Mara riding Walstib Stables LLC’s Kaskade to the high score of 90.
Hunter Holloway finished second after riding Hays Investment Corp.’s Any Given Sunday to a score of 89.125. Michael Hughes and Jordyn Rose Freedman’s Finnick scored the third prize with an 88.500. Victoria Colvin scored an 88.250 aboard Dr. Betsee Parker’s Clearway, and Caitlin Boyle finished with an 87.500 riding Micaela Kennedy’s Loredo.
The WIHS Equitation Finals will continue on Saturday with all riders returning for the jumper phase. The hunter and jumper scores will then be averaged out to determine the top ten riders who will participate in the final work-off. The riders change horses by determination of a random draw by lot and then compete over the jumper course for final scores.
The competition will also continue on Saturday with the opening classes for the pony hunters followed by the $7,500 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by The Strauss Family, and the $15,000 Ambassador’s Cup SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown. The jumper phase for the WIHS Equitation Finals will close out the afternoon session.
The evening session begins at 7 p.m. with the WIHS Equitation Finals work-off with the top ten riders. The $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, will conclude the night.
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety, sponsored in part by The Nutro Company, at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s premier metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October, more than 500 world-class horses and riders, including Olympic medalists, arrive in Washington for six days of exciting show jumping and hunter competition. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and the WIHS Equitation Finals, an important goal for top American junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
