17 February 2014 – International and national Dressage will return to Royal Windsor Horse Show this year after an absence of 4 years, as the UK’s largest outdoor show becomes a CHI (Concours Hippique Internationale) for the very first time.
The CDI3* FEI Dressage Grand Prix will take place on the evening of Thursday 15 May and the CDI3* FEI Dressage Freestyle on the evening of Friday 16 May. Fifteen competitors will be invited to take part, five from the UK and ten from overseas, and it is expected that there will be six nations competing in total. The addition of the International Dressage competition allows Windsor to reintroduce its popular evening programmes, which will also include equestrian displays from The Household Cavalry and The King’s Troop, as well as The Pony Club Mounted Games, The Shetland Pony Grand National, and an Arab Horse Display from Bahrain.
In addition, a new Advanced Medium Freestyle Dressage Championship has been introduced to the programme. The Royal Windsor Freestyle Challenge will be staged on the afternoon of ‘Windsor Wednesday’ (14 May) when Windsor will throw open its gates to all visitors offering free of charge entry for the day.
A total of 12 competitors will be invited to take part in the Championships. Eligibility to receive an invitation will be awarded to the five best placed horse/athlete combinations at the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Open Final at the NAF Five Star Dressage Winter Championships taking place at Hartpury College on Saturday 12 April, and the five best placed horse/athlete combinations in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Final at the same Championships on Sunday 13 April. An additional two wild cards will be offered at the discretion of the Organising Committee*.
As well as International Dressage, Royal Windsor Horse Show 2014 introduces CSI3* Show Jumping to its already established international Driving and Endurance competitions.
The 71st running of the Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place on 14-18 May 2014 in the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire. For a full programme of events, visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
* In the event of any horse/athlete combination being placed in the first five places of both competitions at the NAF Five Star Dressage Winter Championships, eligibility to receive an invitation will pass to (i) in the first instance, the next best placed horse/athlete combination in the Advanced Medium Open at the NAF Five Star Dressage Winter Championships, (ii) in the second instance, the next best placed horse/athlete combination in the Advanced Medium Freestyle at that same show, (iii) in any number of subsequent instances the next best placed horse/athlete combination in each of the two competitions mentioned above on an alternating basis.
For more information or image requests, please contact Hannah Grissell at Revolution Sports + Entertainment – E: hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk, T: 0207 592 1207.
Tickets can be purchased on the door, online or by telephone. For pre-purchase, visitors should go to www.rwhs.co.uk or telephone the box office on 0844 581 4960 from the UK and +44 (0) 121 767 4660 internationally. Royal Windsor Horse Show is organised by HPower Group, also organisers of Olympia, The London International Horse Show – www.hpower.co.uk.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights Champion the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic
Wellington, FL – February 16, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its sixth week of competition, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, with action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Sunday. On the beautiful grass field at The Stadium at PBIEC, 25-year-old Santiago Diaz of Colombia earned the biggest win of his career riding Tizimin LS in the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby. In the International Arena on the Main Grounds, Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights were victorious in the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic.
Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England set the track for Sunday’s jumper derby that featured 20 numbered obstacles, including the derby bank, table bank, open water, devil’s dyke and more. The number of challenging natural obstacles along with the length of the course tested the stamina of all of the horses and riders competing, resulting in no clear rounds. Last to go, Santiago Diaz and Tizimin LS had one rail down, combined with a fast time in the faults converted format, to finish in 143.98 seconds for the win.
Nicholas Dello Joio and Nathalie de Gunzburg’s Ganjana were faster, but incurred eight faults to bring their total time up to 144.92 seconds to finish in second. James North and Fair Play Farm’s The Man to See had four faults added to his time to place third in 146.17 seconds.
Diaz has owned Tizimin LS, an eight-year-old La Silla gelding, for three years. Tizimin is by the stallion Tlaloc La Silla, out of the Polydor mare Sonora La Silla, the same dam as Daniel Bluman’s Olympic mount Sancha LS. Living in Colombia, Diaz moved up the children’s and junior ranks and is now a professional rider. Diaz showed at the FTI WEF for the first time in 2013 and made his second trip worthwhile on Sunday with the biggest payday of his career.
Diaz explained that although Tizimin is young and very green, he did a derby in Colombia last year, and he felt confident aiming the horse at this class. “I brought him here for the season to have a different experience for him,” Diaz stated. “He is young for this, but I knew that he can do it well. He was really good, and I am so happy.”
Diaz noted that his horse is very fit, and the only thing he did to prepare was practice some water jumps and hills last week. “He is really brave,” the rider added. “When I walked the course, I didn’t have any worries. My horse already did those kind of jumps, and I knew that he was fit for that.”
Diaz stuck to his plan on course as the last to go, but he did have an enthusiastic Colombian cheering section and lots of encouragement as his round went on. “I heard people around the course whistling and saying go forward. In every corner there was somebody,” he laughed.
For Nick Dello Joio, the opportunity to show Ganjana was great, and the rider was happy with his round. He was showing the 12-year-old Hanoverian mare for owner Laura de Gunzburg and started riding her a few weeks ago.
“She had come from a background of doing some derbies in Germany, so Laura said it would be fun for me to ride her in this derby,” Dello Joio explained. “I don’t know her that well, but luckily today it was a friendly course. Richard did a great job, and he made it really inviting. I think I got a little bit flat at the end, but I was thrilled with her. She was great. She jumped well, and she made my job a lot easier.”
He continued, “This is a fun class. It is nice for all of these horses to come out here. You could go out and have a gallop around and have fun. I think a lot of people who watched it probably regretted not showing today, and I think next year there will be a lot more people in this class.”
James North has done this class the last three years in a row with his 14-year-old Holsteiner stallion The Man to See and noted that the course was exactly the same as last year.
“I had a little advantage with that,” he acknowledged, “and I know my horse is super brave, but he is a little cold and slow, so that has always been my issue with him is to keep him fit enough for the course. The last two years I had the last jump down, so this year I was not going to have the last jump down! I was a little careful to that one, but he is a super horse.”
“My plan was exactly the same as last year,” North said. “These courses you don’t worry too much about the rails, you just have to go fast. Mine is a little slow. He is a stallion, and he dwells up in the air, so I just know that I have to keep kicking.”
“It was a good day to go jumping around out there,” North added. “It is beautiful; the sun is shining. It was great.”
Equestrian Sotheby’s representative Tom Baldwin also had fun as a supporter of Sunday’s class and was happy with the great result.
“This is our first time sponsoring an event like this,” Baldwin stated. “We were presented with the idea and we just thought it was so different and original and out of the box. We thought it was a great opportunity to come out here and be a part of a really unique athletic event. It is truly athletes out there, horse and rider at their best on a really beautiful day, so we were really happy to be a part of it.”
In addition to Sunday’s fantastic derby, a special award was presented for week six competition. American rider Kaitlin Campbell was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider of the week after top finishes with her mount Rocky W. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights Win in Classic
Sunday was the Adult Amateur Hunters’ turn to take on the International Arena at PBIEC for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition. The $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic saw the top hunter horses and riders, who qualified for the classic earlier in the week in their regular divisions.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights
Laura Lee Montross and her own Nairobi Nights topped the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic on Sunday afternoon at the FTI WEF. Montross and “Nairobi” bested a field of 77 horse/rider combinations with a total score of 172.5. The pair qualified for the second round of competition after earning a first round score of 86.5. Montross piloted Nairobi to an 86 round two to give them the lead.
Samantha Sommers and Graffiti were second in the class, which called back the top twelve riders to contest a second round of competition. With a first round score of 86.75, Sommers returned in round two to ride Graffiti to a score of 83, finishing second with a total score of 169.75. Wendy Gifford rounded out the top three with Weekend Affair. Gifford and Weekend Affair were the final pair to return for round two after earning a high score of 87 in round one. The duo earned a round two score of 82 to finish narrowly behind Sommers with a 169.
Montross has owned Nairobi, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, for eight years and has enjoyed experiencing their partnership develop. “He’s a nice, big horse. His trot and his canter are very comfortable. I was showing him and he was a little tough. He was very young when I got him and very green, so I turned him over to the professionals for a while,” Montross recounted.
She continued, “He’s always been great in the barn and great to flat, and now he’s just a nice adult horse. He would do anything, I think. His father’s the famous Nairobi, and I think he was difficult for a while too. Morgan [Thomas, former rider] told me they take a long time to grow up and then they’re really good.”
Montross, of Bedford, NY, admitted having a few butterflies walking into the International Arena, but quickly found her stride with Nairobi and simply had fun with their courses.
“I was a little nervous at first. But then, quite honestly, after the second jump I was just having fun. It was beautiful. It was wonderful; I like that it was wide open and I could gallop. The six to the two [stride] was a little bit snug, but he handled it and it was fun,” Montross commented. “I didn’t worry about anything. I could move up to the jumps, and he didn’t look at anything. He didn’t spook; he was just very soft.”
Montross grew up in the foxhunting tradition today’s show hunter classes are rooted in, hunting with her mother with the Golden’s Bridge Hounds in North Salem, NY. She was an avid Pony Club participant as a child before trying out the show ring. After taking some time off from riding, she got back into hunting when her mother moved to Tryon, NC, joining her on hunts with the Tryon Hounds.
The pull of the show ring was still strong, and while Montross still gets plenty of offers to come join the field after returning to the world of show hunters, she admits she may not have the most appropriate mounts.
“Nairobi’s a good trail horse. He actually probably would hunt now; he’s such a good boy,” Montross joked.
Riding is now a third-generation tradition for Montross, who shares the sport with her 15-year-old daughter and husband. Montross’ daughter shares a trainer with her, contesting the jumper ring under Jimmy Torano’s watchful eye, while Montross’ husband Tad enjoys touring around the 2’6″ Low Adult Hunters.
The 3’3″ classics followed the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic, with the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Classic being the next to hand out awards. Barbara Spizzirro and Hundred Acre topped the class with a cumulative score of 171. Spizzirro rode Hundred Acre to a first round score of 84 before following up with an 87 in the second round to clinch the first place prize.
Martel and owner-rider Olivia Easton earned top call in the $5,000 WCHR Junior 3’3″ Hunter Classic with an overall score of 162. Easton rode Martel to an 80 in the first round before earning a score of 82 for round two.
Earlier in the afternoon, Mary Jane King was recognized as the Grand Adult Hunter for WCHR competition at the FTI WEF for her three over fences wins with Boss, Inc.’s Ebony in the Camping World Adult Amateur 51+ division.
Lillie Keenan and Soulja Boy
Correction: Lillie Keenan was division champion of the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 with Soulja Boy, not on Grayon as previously published. The pair won the under saddle and placed fifth, first, and fifth over fences in the division. Keenan and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s over fences victory came in the handy round, which the pair won with a high score of 94. The score held up for the High Score Junior award, presented to Keenan and Soulja Boy prior to their round in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular. Soulja Boy, owned by James Fairclough’s Stone Horse Farm, ultimately finished tenth in the Hunter Spectacular.
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About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Dear Friends of our Wild Horses and Burros:
At the end of January, I accompanied TCF Board Member and Advocate Extraordinaire, Lisa Friday, on a trip to both Rock Springs, Wyoming and the Onaqui Herd Management Area southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. After we landed in Salt Lake, we hit the road northeast to Rock Springs.
The next morning we visited the Rocks Springs Short Term Holding Corrals near the Bureau of Land Management Office on the north side of town. Over 600 wild horses are currently confined in dirt corrals with virtually no protection from the weather, which frequently includes biting winds out of the west and winter temperatures below zero. From the public viewing platform we stood on the lee side of a sign to get out of the brisk wind and to watch the once-wild horses below us.
Some from the North Lander Wyoming herd have been here since late 2012; however, most are the Salt Wells Wild Horses captured two months ago. Hundreds of mares, some with foals, were crowded in corrals with little opportunity to run or to get out of the wind.
An hour later, we were sitting in a meeting with BLM District Manager, Mark Storzer, and Resource Advisor, Kimberlee Foster. Lisa and I were there to get acquainted and to encourage the BLM to accept our help in constructing wind breaks for the horses. It was a good meeting with a respectful conversation and we felt that the BLM might be open to our offer to help protect horses that could be incarcerated in this feedlot style facility for years.
“Short Term Holding” areas used to be just that. Horses would be corralled, freeze branded, given their shots and males would be gelded. Then younger animals would be made available for adoption in Rock Springs and elsewhere. Older animals used to be released back on the range but in recent years have been removed and sent to long-term pastures. But the long-term pasture areas are full now and adoptions are down as well. Unfortunately, this has not deterred the aggressive BLM helicopter roundups in lieu of bait trapping and use of the safe, dartable, reversible, and effective PZP vaccine.
Lisa and I are trying to make the best of a bad situation, offering ideas to make the multi-year confinement of these once wild, freedom-loving animals more humane. Although we felt good about our visit with Mark and Kimberlee, the National Office will have to approve our offer of help. As yet, I have been unable to get a call back from Wild Horse and Burro Chief, Joan Guilfoyle. As I have often contended, the field people on the local level want to do what is best for the animals, but do not always have the authority to act or the support of their bosses. I hope this is not the case with the Rock Springs Corral situation. Also, I have not been able to meet with Interior Secretary Sally Jewel to make the case for less costly and more humane management of our remaining wild horse and burro herds.
The uplifting part of our Wyoming journey included an afternoon drive up on the snowy White Mountain Wild Horse loop just north of Rock Springs. After a dozen misidentifications (“Sage” and “rock” horses are abundant in White Mountain!) we found our first real wild horse band a half mile or so off a drifted side road. I tried to walk closer to the small band, but found myself knee deep in the slabby drifts that held me up one second and gave way to my weight the next. I had to settle for distant images.
We spotted a couple of bachelors wandering nearby and one handsome fellow did us a favor by walking across the road 100 yards in front of the car. He stopped to eat some snow, casually glancing our way before he ambled on.
The next sighting was near the end of the loop. A band of 10 wild horses were foraging close to the road. Trailing the band was a Curly bachelor stallion. The big sorrel had a wavy mane, tail and coat, characteristics of this rare and hardy breed.
Jay D’Ewart, the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist for the herd, confirmed that there were still some Curlies in the area and he had released a Curly stallion in the last roundup. We watched the horses interact with each other and nibble for scant bits of grass. I know both Lisa and I felt privileged to spend time with these rugged survivors.
We drove back to Salt Lake and the next morning we met Utah Wild Horse and Burro Lead Gus Warr, Public Information Officer Lisa Reid, Field Manager Bekee Hotze, and Wrangler Tami Howell. They were kind enough to take the time to show us a wild horse herd management area called Onaqui, adjacent to the Army’s Dugway Proving Ground. From November through February the 250 wild horses share their home range with over 800 head of cattle.
Typical of cattle use, the black cows were in the low valleys but the mustangs were mostly on the high hills and the BLM led us to over 40 wild horses in multiple bands. The view and the colorful mustangs were breathtaking!
There were pintos of various shades, bays, blacks, grays, palominos, grullos and sorrels. They raced across the hillside below us with the open valleys and distant mountain ranges beyond. I expected them to keep running but they slowed and started to graze. With Lisa Reid’s encouragement we walked slowly toward them and set up our camera. They stared at us curiously and then continued foraging. What perfect candidates for field darting using the reversible, one-year vaccine, PZP.
Several months ago I chatted with Lisa Reid about beginning “on the range management” of wild horses in Utah, with the ultimate goal of balancing reproduction with mortality, thereby allowing all foals born to live their lives in freedom. To our surprise, Gus and Lisa, along with Bekee and Tami, had already begun formulating plans to dart the mares to limit reproduction to mortality.
We were thrilled to hear this and offered our help in making this minimally invasive technique a reality. It is our hope that Onaqui will prove to be the first of many such agency-wide efforts to end the stock-piling of wild horses in costly, tax payer funded corrals and pastures and to allow them to live in freedom.
If the National BLM Office supports the Utah initiative, there will be an Environmental Assessment (EA) developed, which the public can read and comment on. We will let you all know if and when this EA is available for comment and we hope that many of you will support this effort by BLM to manage the wild horses without helicopter roundups and life-long confinement.
Thanks Lisa Friday for sharing this journey with me and for being such a dedicated advocate on behalf of mustang freedom. And thanks to all of you for your support of our efforts to keep wild horses safe with their families on their home ranges in the West!
Rembrandt and Ben Guanciale, 3’3” Performance Hunter. Flashpoint Photography.
As the Jacksonville Winter Series drew to a close and the north and west US were covered in inches of snow, exhibitors are trainers were again reminded why they migrate south for the winter: the Southern Hospitality and Florida Sunshine! Jennifer Berol Bliss, who hails from North Salem, NY, said, “I am based in Wellington for the winter, but I think that the horses benefit from a little change of scenery. The whole management team at Jacksonville works hard to make the shows very fun and exhibitor friendly. They also offer lots of fun classes, from the WCHR week to the USHJA National Hunter Classics and International Hunter Derbies.”
Jacksonville is honored to have been again chosen to be a World Champion Hunter Rider Member Event. The WCHR Program was founded in 1995 to recognize and celebrate the hunter rider. Professionals, Developing Professionals, Amateur Owners, Adult Amateurs, Juniors, Children’s and Pony riders compete to qualify for National and Regional Awards by earning points at Member Events held across the country throughout the qualifying year. Each year the top ten nationally ranked riders and top six regionally ranked riders in each category come together to compete in the WCHR Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Each week of the 3 week long series featured a $2,500 National Hunter Derby sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance Group, Hunter Division Classics, and Children’s/Adult Jumper & AO Jumper Classics. Week 2 offered a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby sponsored by Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club & Week 3 features a $10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic & a $10,000 Open Jumper Classic. Week 3 of the circuit was honored to have been chosen to host a Zone Handy Hunter Challenge, especially during the Inaugural season for these classes. Exhibitors in their home Zone enter this one round Handy Class, free of charge, and compete over option jumps for the $1,000 purse, which is sponsored by USHJA. The Southern Hospitality is certainly not lost in this series, as Spectators and Exhibitors alike can enjoy dinner and drinks in the heated VIP tent each week while watching the week’s highlighted event. Adequan and Mandarin Equine Veterinary Services generously sponsored lunch Pizza Parties under the Pavilion so exhibitors, trainers and spectators could grab a quick bite to eat while they were up at the ring preparing to show. Amanda Steege of Bedinster, New Jersey shared her sentiments about Jacksonville: “At Ashmeadow Farm we really love starting off our winter circuit at the Jacksonville horse shows. They have nice footing, pretty jumps and nice courses, and a great staff. They make an effort for the hunters by hosting a WCHR show, an International USHJA hunter derby, as well as weekly national derbies and pre green incentive classes. It is a great area with nice hotels and some unbelievable restaurants… we will definitely be back in 2015.”
With Equestrian Connect, you complete your entry form online with just a few clicks of the mouse. You now have the option to submit your entries electronically to a growing number of horse shows across the country or print and mail the hard copy. Equestrian Connect posts entry forms for over 800 USEF “A/AA” shows nationally and 30 select Canadian shows. Class schedules and prize lists are also posted.
Congratulations to Week 3 Champions:
Performance Working Hunter CH – Karla ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Roberta Previ
Res – Thoughtful ridden by Keri Guanciale and owned by Kristen Gill
Green Working Hunter CH – Esco ridden by Winn Alden and owned by Alexis Hale
Res – Portofino ridden by Keri Guanciale and owned by Alison Maine
Amateur Owner Hunter CH – In Your Dreams ridden and owned by Krista Dietrich
Res – Bengale ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ CH – Exakt ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Res – Karla ridden and owned by Roberta Previ
Junior Hunter CH – Comissario ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Redfield Farm
Res – Sovereign ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Lindsey Ward
Junior Hunter 3’3″ CH – In Our Time ridden by Victoria Wymer and owned by Ben Guanciale
Res – Celestial ridden and owned by Alle Justyn
Small Pony Hunter CH – Juliet ridden and owned by Laurel Bennett
Res – Benlea Missou ridden by Madeline Schaefer and owned by Hannah Hoch
Medium Pony Hunter CH – Hands Up ridden by Madeline Schaefer and owned by Jordyn Rose Freedman
Res – Sportster ridden by and owned by Madeline Schaefer
Large Pony Hunter CH – Blind Date ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller
Res – Illusion ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Jeffrey Ayers
Green Pony Hunter
CH – Sanibel ridden by Victoria Wymer and owned by Keri Guanciale
Res – Candy Land ridden by Dominique Gonzalez and owned by T. M. Hills Farm International Corp.
Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 CH – Gibralter ridden by Alexis Newman and owned by Laine Foshee
Res – Indiscretion ridden and owned by Krista Dietrich
Adult Amateur Hunter 36+ CH – Gallant ridden and owned by Millie Russell
Res – Roulette ridden and owned by Alice Dunn
Children’s Hunter CH – Loyal Heart ridden by Madison Scott and owned by Laine Foshee
Res – Robinson ridden by Katherine Weisenmiller and owned by KMW Ponies LLC
Secret Santa and Jeffrey Ayers, 3′ Pre-Green Hunter. Flashpoint Photography
Pre-Green Hunter CH – Secret Santa ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Daniel White
Res – Roland Park ridden by Megan Young and owned by Dudley MacFarlane
Short/Long Stirrup Hunter CH – Diamond ridden and owned by Janine Pappas
Res – Chicago ridden by Rachel Mason and owned by Nicole Mason
Low Children’s/Adult Hunter 2’6″ CH – Double Down ridden by Margaret Beeson and owned by Jennie Edwards
Res – Portofino ridden and owned by Allison Maine
Special Hunter 2’6″ CH – Allure ridden by Terry Gonzalez and owned by Judy Boccaccio
Res – Fabulanos ridden by Jamie Reinheimer and owned by Karen Fredenhagen
Special Hunter 2’9″ CH – Three Wishes ridden by Ben Guanciale and owned by Rebecca Johnson
Res – Cortona ridden by Stephanie Von Bidder and owned by Deborah Snyder
Hopeful Hunter CH – For Sure ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Sally Culhane
Res – Cortona ridden by Stephanie Von Bidder and owned by Deborah Snyder
Low Children’s/Adult Jumper CH – Markos ridden and owned by Michelle Kunz
Res – Confidant ridden and owned by Teri Austin
Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper CH – Hennessey ridden and owned by Madison Johnson
Res – Grappelli ridden by Lindsay Standley and owned by Gail Sonnenberg
Congratulations to Our Classic Winners:
AO Hunter – Exakt ridden and owned by Gerald Camera
Junior Hunter – Comissario ridden by Morgan Ward and owned by Redfield Farm
Pony Hunter – Blind Date ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller
Green Pony Hunter – Candy Land ridden by Dominique Gonzalez and owned by T. M. Hills Farm International Corp.
Adult Amateur Hunter – Gallant ridden and owned by Millie Russell
Children’s Hunter – Say No More ridden and owned by Olivia Albright
USHJA Pre Green Stake – Secret Santa ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Daniel White
Short/Long Stirrup Hunter – Diamond ridden and owned by Janine Pappas
Low Children’s/Adult Hunter 2’6″ – Portofino ridden and owned by Allison Maine
$10,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic – Florestano ridden and owned by Christie Cesery
$10,000 Open Jumper Classic – El Grecco ridden by Robert Lee & Owned by Brook Run Farm LLC
A special Congratulations to the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby Winner sponsored by Jerry Parks Insurance Group – Exakt ridden by Jeffrey Ayers and owned by Gerald Camera.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA Pony Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Thank Heavens ridden and owned by Katherine Weisenmiller.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA 3′ Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Gibralter ridden by Alexis Newman and owned by Laine Foshee.
A special Congratulations to the $1,000 USHJA 3′ 6″ Handy Hunter Classic Winner – Romanov ridden by Isabel Noto and owned by Janine Pappas.
Congratulations to Circuit Champions:
Kodiak BF and Michelle Moen, Baby Green Hunter. Flashpoint Photography
Amateur Owner Hunter: Exakt & Gerald Camera
Adult Amateur Hunter: Gallant & Millie Russell
Junior Hunter: Comissario & Morgan Ward
Pony Hunter: Illusion & Morgan Ward
Children’s Hunter: Say No More & Olivia Albright
Children’s Pony Hunter: Willy Wonka & Carly Hoft
Green Hunter: Portofino & Ben Guanciale
Low Adult Hunter: Mackenzie & Cynthia Kellogg
Low Children’s Hunter: Double Down & Margaret Beeson
AO/Jr. Jumper: Dexter & Mackenzie McGehee
Pre Green Hunter: Secret Santa & Jeffrey Ayers
High Performance Hunter: Rembrandt & Ben Guanciale
Short Stirrup Hunter: Into the Mystic & Janine Pappas
Baby Green Hunter: Kodiak BF & Michelle Moen
Jay Land pilots Nepal over an oxer to the win in the $25,000 EMO Welcome Class. Flashpoint Photography.
Valentine’s Day was sweet for the Land family of Alpharetta, Georgia when father Jay and daughter Frances were the only two to finish clean in the $25,000 EMO Welcome Class yesterday. Jay Land turned in a fault-free first round in a time of 81.951 seconds riding his and wife Kim’s Nepal, while his daughter Frances rode her own Vieanne, also clean in a time of 78.514 seconds. After turning in a jump off round in 42.9810 seconds, Jay Land and Nepal took the win while Frances and Vieanne accepted second place honors. Theo Genn of Lebanon, Ohio rode Paradox, owned by Thomas Bruinsma, to third place in a first round time of 85.978 seconds with one fault. Fourth place went to Scott Lenkart and his own Impulsive who turned in a first round effort in 76.930 seconds and four jump faults.
The Kastel Denmark Exhibitor Party under the VIP tent was a huge success during the $25,000 EMO Welcome class. Susan Benson, representing Kastel Denmark, hosted the reception which offered complimentary wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres for all.
“The day was a huge success,” said Gulf Coast Classic Company President, Bob Bell. “The exhibitors really enjoyed the party and the class went really well,” he added.
“I had a great time hosting the Kastel Denmark party at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic,” said Kastel Denmark’s representative Susan Benson. “We really enjoyed seeing everyone and especially all of the Gulf Coast Classic Company staff wearing the Kastel Denmark jackets!” she added.
FREE LIVE WEB STREAMING OF ALL WELCOME AND GRAND PRIX CLASSES!
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic is proud to offer everyone the opportunity to watch show jumping action LIVE! Click on this link and catch the action LIVE and FOR FREE!
The complete schedule for free, live web casting is as follows:
Gulf Coast National II Sunday February 16 2:00 pm $35,000 EMO Grand Prix
Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic III Friday, February 21 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday February 23 at 2:00 pm $50,000 CWD Grand Prix
Gulf Coast Mid-Winter Classic IV Friday February 28 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday March 2 at 2:00 pm $50,000 Grand Prix
Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic V Friday March 7 at 8:00 am USHJA International Hunter Derby
Friday March 7 at 3:00 pm $25,000 Welcome
Sunday March 9 at 2:00 pm $77,700 Governor’s Cup Grand Prix
Gulf Coast Finale VI Sunday March 16 at 2:00 pm $25,000 Grand Prix
This Sunday the $35,000 Nutrena Grand Prix takes to the world class turf field and there is no better place to watch the action than the VIP tent. Tables are only $325 a week and Sunday’s luncheon will be catered by the Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Official Restaurant Partner, Salute Italian. Salute Italian Seafood Restaurant is located in Gulfport and offers a fine dining experience in a casual dining atmosphere. They will bring their classic Italian dishes made from the finest traditional ingredients as well as coastal inspired seafood dishes to the VIP tent this Sunday. For only $325, you and seven of your friends, family or clients can sample the award-winning Italian coastal cuisine and enjoy a complimentary bottle of champagne. Make sure to see Jonathan in the show office to secure your table today!
The Gulf Coast Classic Company and the Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. Together, they offer the best exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events each winter. Please visit them on the web at www.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.
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Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
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Defending series champions, Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, strolled to victory when posting a new personal best score on home ground at the sixth qualifying round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League 2013/2014. Photo: FEI/Karl-Heinz Freiler.
Neumunster (GER), 16 February 2014 – Defending series champions, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, strutted to victory with considerable ease at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League in Neumunster (GER) today. A performance that oozed confidence, cohesion and comfort ensured the 31-year-old rider and her 14-year-old stallion have satisfied the qualifying criteria for the Final, and they did it in style when posting a personal best Freestyle score of 90.375.
They pipped runners-up Anna Kasprzak and Donnperignon from Denmark by almost seven percentage points, while Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl celebrated her 28th birthday by clinching third with a highly impressive performance from Unee BB. And with Isabell Werth (Don Johnson) lining up fourth and Fabienne Lutkemeier (D’Agostino) finishing fifth, the raw strength of the German contingent was indisputable. Team trainer, three-time Olympic team gold medallist and double FEI World Cup Dressage champion Monica Theodorescu, will be spoiled for choice in deciding the three riders to represent Germany at the Final which will take place in Lyon (FRA) in April.
Early lead
Going third of the 15 starters, Charming Boy belied his veteran status when the 18-year-old gelding took the early lead with a score of 75.225 for Sweden’s Sofie Lexner. However Finland’s Terhi Stegars and Axis TSF soon re-set the target when posting a mark of 77.175. The pure appeal of this neat and handsome 15-year-old Trakehner stallion is always difficult to resist, and the small but packed stadium of spectators showed their appreciation with a wild round of applause for this pair’s performance.
It was The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud who was holding the advantage at the halfway stage however on a score of 78.350. The Dutchman brought a new ride, the 12-year-old stallion Johnson B, to the German fixture and placed seventh in yesterday’s Grand Prix, but the horse showed even more of his potential today with nice piaffe, extravagant canter pirouette and big, open movement that rocketed him, temporarily, to the top of the leaderboard.
Minderhoud described Johnson B as inexperienced even though he has had the horse since he was a three-year-old. “He did all the Young Horse classes; he went to Verden and did the Small Tours but then he was out for a while and was breeding a lot. Now he has grown up and he knows all the stuff, so he’s now ready for the World Cups and bigger international shows,” the Dutch rider explained.
Overtaken
His score would be overtaken by Lutkemeier and D’Agostino who, third to go after the break, produced a mark of 80.050, only for that to be blown away by Langehanenberg’s result with Damon Hill. The defending champions cruised through their Freestyle floor plan, nailing every movement and flawless in their communication. Such is their understanding of each other now that the pair move as one, the stallion seemingly keen to put on his best possible show each time he enters the arena, just like his rider.
“He is so much with me and working with me and he wants to present himself to the crowd. The arena here is only as big as a dressage arena with no extra space so the audience is very, very close. That’s not easy for every horse, although most of them seemed to manage it really well today, but it surely suits Dami (Damon Hill NRW) because he just can’t get close enough to his fans – he loves it!” said Langehanenberg afterwards.
From there it was always going to be a procession for the minor placings, and Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak produced a Freestyle full of strong canter pirouettes, bouncy canterwork and rhythmic passage to rack up 83.575 to go into runner-up spot. That proved too good for the remaining two, Isabell Werth’s Don Johnson FRH posting 80.250 that left her fourth place when, last in, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl earned a mark of 82.425 to slot into third. This latter score marked another step-up in form for this German rider whose results have been ever-improving all season.
Von Bredow-Werndl comes from a family with a real sporting tradition: her father, Klaus, is a former German sailing champion and her mother, Micaela, was a member of the German junior national ski team for seven years. Her brother, Benjamin, also competes for Germany in Dressage and her parents run Dressage Centre Aubenhausen which is located between the towns of Bad Aibling and Rosenheim, Germany.
Best result
“This is the best result my horse and I have had,” von Bredow-Wrendl said. “We really enjoyed it and we had a great ride I think; we had a lot of fun. I didn’t have to change anything for today (after yesterday’s Grand Prix). Having said that, the warm-up arena is cold and the main arena itself is extremely warm so it feels like you’re entering into a sauna! My horse really enjoyed it though, and I think the crowd did as well,” the German rider added.
Runner-up, Anna Kasprzak, said she was “super happy” with the performance of Donnperignon. “I knew yesterday (after the Grand Prix in which he also finished second to Damon Hill NRW) that he would be better today. For every competition that we have together we keep learning so much from each other. It is such an amazing feeling to become even better every time, every performance,” the Danish rider pointed out.
Judge at C, America’s Liselotte Fore, admitted to finding today’s competition quite a jaw-dropping experience. “I had never seen the horses or the riders here before, so I came in with a fresh pair of eyes. The performances were incredible and my eyes kept getting wider and my mouth didn’t stop dropping – it was unbelievable!” she said.
“It is great when a judge can use the upper scale of the marking, always wanting to give 9 and 10s! It was great to see the riders and horses working in such harmony; the performances were exceptional and I enjoyed it tremendously,” she added. It wasn’t just the riders who showed courage and determination today however as the Ground Jury didn’t hesitate to mark riders for what they saw on the day regardless of those rider’s results in yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix competition, and there were some significant changes.
High points
For Langehanenberg, the satisfaction of achieving another personal best Freestyle score and her faith in her ever-reliable stallion were the high points today. She laid down her previous personal best of 89.775 when topping the second round of the current Reem Acra series at Stuttgart (GER) last November. “Another personal record – it is really incredible!” she said. “Dami is so willing to work and he enjoys so much being in the arena. He’s absolutely amazing!” she added with delight.
And she applauded the spectators for their support for all the competitors today. “We are here in North Germany where there are so many great horsemen and I think the audience really has a great understanding of the horse. They clap every rider, no matter how they perform, and they give us all a great feeling. No-one always has a good ride, but even if you go badly here you go home with a good feeling because you know the spectators appreciate what you are trying to achieve.”
She thanked the show organisers and sponsors. “Thank you to Paul and Bettina (Schockemohle) as the show here is fantastic and I want to thank our sponsors, especially Reem Acra and her support for the Dressage FEI World Cup series – it’s really special. In an era when it is difficult for organisers to find sponsors, the likes of Reem Acra are there and ready to invest in our sport,” Langehanenberg said.
Now for the defending champion it is time to settle back and plan her campaign before the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in April. “Normally we don’t do too much between shows but it depends on the length of time – we will have to sit down and discuss what to do after this weekend,” Langehanenberg explained. She is buoyed up by today’s score: “We are absolutely in the 90s now, and I really believe in Dami,” she said. And she is looking forward to Final.
When asked today if she can reclaim the title, she replied, “I don’t know; every day is a new day. We will try to do a strong performance without mistakes and we will do our very best – we can’t do any more than that!”
For further information on the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series at Neumunster, Germany, go to website http://pst-marketing.de or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan, Email andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel: +49 430 782 7973/+49 341 678 6012.
The next and last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday 1 March. For details of the Swedish fixture, visit website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officers Matilda Hjertstrand, matilda.hjertstrand@ridsport.se, Tel + 46 709 79 56 31 / Mayvor Thorin, mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46 705 82 84 20.
The competition took place in Neumunster’s Holstenhalle, a listed building that has been home to world-class equestrian events for the last 50 years.
There are two further qualifying legs yet to go in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series – at Gothenburg (SWE) on Saturday 1 March and at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) on Saturday 22 March 2014.
15 horse-and-rider combinations competed in today’s qualifying round.
The winner was defending champion Helen Langehanenberg from Germany with Damon Hill NRW, the horse she rode to victory at the 2012/2013 Final in Gothenburg (SWE) last April.
This year’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Lyon (FRA) from 17-21 April.
Ground Jury for today’s competition – At E, Jacques van Daele; At H, Dr Evi Eisenhardt; At C, Liselotte Fore; At M, Leif Tornblad; At B, Marietta Almasy.
Today’s winning score was 90.375%.
A total of 15 competed.
Today’s competition took place in front of a capacity crowd of 3,500 spectators.
The oldest horse in today’s competition was the 18-year-old Charming Boy ridden by Sweden’s Sofie Lexner who finished tenth.
The youngest horses were both 12-year-olds – Don Johnson FRH who finished third for Germany’s Isabell Werth, and Johnson 6 who finished sixth for The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud.
Quotes:
Helen Langehanenberg GER: “He (Damon Hill NRW) doesn’t mind if it is loud, and the more people there are the more he likes to go for it! It was a really good ride today.”
Judge at C, America’s Liselotte Fore: “The atmosphere in this particular show is amazing and the public is so knowledgeable that when the horses got a bit excited they quieted down until it was a bit more relaxed – that tells you how much they know and care about the sport.”
Paul Schockemohle, Event Director: “As you know we do a few shows in Germany, and they are all different, especially Neumunster which has a really special atmosphere. For me, it is a great pleasure to be here. A big thank you to the spectators; they were unbelievable. The people here have such horsemanship which is why I love to organise this show so much as well.”
FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.
The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2014 – World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition peaked on Saturday evening under the lights of the International Arena at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The country’s top professional, amateur, and junior hunter riders went head-to-head to earn top call in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, concludes on Sunday, February 16, with the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Hunter horses and riders have been showcased throughout week six of the FTI WEF in WCHR competition. Riders qualified for the class during competition for their respective divisions throughout the week.
Sixteen-year-old Victoria Colvin topped the class for the third year in a row with champion mount Ovation, who she rode to the 2013 title as well. Ovation, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won the class with a score of 89.66 with Colvin in the irons. Not only did Colvin clinch her third title in the Hunter Spectacular, she took the top two spots. She rode Way Cool (the 2012 WCHR Hunter Spectacular winner), a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding also owned by Dr. Parker, to second place with a score of 89.16.
Kelley Farmer and Certainty, owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, were next best, taking third place with an 87.50. Peter Pletcher and Empire, owned by David Gochman, rounded out the top four after also finishing with an 87.50.
Colvin had the disadvantage of going first out of the 29 entries for the class and did her best to lay down a round with a score that would hold up. She was happy with an 89, but she admitted she never thought it would stick. “I thought the first [round], [the judges] wouldn’t give too high of a score. I thought 89 is a good score, but it’s also very beatable,” Colvin acknowledged.
Colvin returned mid-way through the order with her second mount Way Cool, the gelding she rode to victory in the 2012 Hunter Spectacular that can have a penchant for untimely misbehavior. She admitted she was unsure how either mount would act under the lights of the International Arena, but went into the ring determined to best her score with Ovation.
“I picked horses that are unpredictable, and I didn’t really know how they were going to go when they walked in, but I was very happy with how both of them went. Way Cool, I wasn’t sure when I trotted in what he was going to do, but he went right around. He was a little freaked out at the people, but he went right around,” Colvin remarked.
She explained, “They’re both a bit spooky, but they’re old souls in a way. The night, the people, it’s just a big class for both of those horses to do.”
With two “byes” for the class thanks to previous wins, Colvin could have had her pick of horses to take in the ring for the class, but she settled on Ovation and Way Cool based on their good behavior earlier in the day during the Junior Hunter divisions. Dr. Parker admitted that she didn’t want either of the horses to go in the class, but was ultimately happy that Colvin remained the voice of reason.
“I kind of love the way our team works because we have a lot of back and forth between us, (trainer) Scott (Stewart) and I, and Tori and her mother. Nobody seems to have the primary voice. And tonight I really didn’t want Tori to ride either of those horses, and I’m so glad the team didn’t listen to me!” Dr. Parker laughed.
While many successful riders her age are all too eager to leave the hunter divisions behind for the thrills of the jumper ring, Colvin still campaigns multiple hunter mounts. Colvin admitted that with horses like Dr. Parker’s, she’s in no rush to transition out of the hunter divisions. “I do really like the jumpers and the jumpers are really fun, but I have so many nice hunters, and these classes I love, so I think that I will continue to do these classes,” Colvin expressed.
Colvin’s piece of the $100,000 prize will be donated to Danny & Ron’s Rescue, a cause that is near and dear to Dr. Parker’s philanthropist heart. With the prize money doubled this year for the Hunter Spectacular, Parker was especially thrilled to be able to share the wealth, especially after having doubts whether Colvin could pick up a third victory.
“I was really excited tonight to win the Hunter Spectacular for the [third] time because first of all, I told my team members, I don’t believe lightning strikes [three] times in the same spot, so I was wrong. I was thrilled to be wrong tonight!” Dr. Parker smiled. “It’s important to find a good cause to get behind and bring it forward, like Danny and Ron have been brought forward. I was really thrilled for that.”
Kelley Farmer and Certainty
Like Colvin, Farmer also had her pick of a barn packed with talent. She ultimately chose one of her greener mounts; Certainty hasn’t even turned six yet. The Oldenburg gelding has been brave and scopey ever since Farmer first swung her leg over him last summer, so she had no doubts he would rise to the occasion on Saturday evening.
“From the first day we got him, he has been just as brave as can be,” Farmer beamed. “I was pretty confident with him. With one that young and that green anything can go wrong, but I knew that he wasn’t going to come in here and have a meltdown. He was great this week both days. He’s got that mentality; he thinks he’s too good. The only thing we did wrong was let Tori show up!”
Pletcher was happy to be mounted on a more experienced horse. Empire, an 11-year-old Warmblood stallion, is regularly seen in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with owner Becky Gochman and Pletcher contested the Hunter Spectacular with him in 2013.
“There’s nothing better to ride than a good amateur horse. You take away a lot of the pressure to know that horse is going to go around like he’s going to go around. He went super; I couldn’t be any happier with the way he went. I thought that was as good as he’s gonna be, so I was very happy,” Pletcher commented.
Pletcher was also pleased with how the course rode, feeling that course designer Steve Stephens produced a very fair course for Saturday night’s field of horses and riders. With junior and amateur riders and horses with a wide range of experience, Stephens had to build a course that everyone could handle, yet was also still a challenge.
“I thought it was a good course. It wasn’t really hard in any aspect one way or the other. Steve is a very good course designer for sure, and he knew the group of horses that were coming into this class, and he did the course perfectly for it,” Pletcher described.
Lilli Hymowitz and Tiffani
Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6″ Divisions Award Top Honors Saturday Morning
The Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6″ division champions had the shortest turn-around to Saturday night’s competition after only qualifying earlier in the day. First to take on the International Arena on Saturday morning was the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law. Tiffani and owner-rider Lilli Hymowitz took home the tricolor honors for the division. The pair won two over fences rounds before finishing third in the final jumping class to clinch the title. Reserve champion went to Imagine, owned and ridden by Jake Wasson. Wasson piloted Imagine to seventh under saddle and fourth, second, and first over fences.
The Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division was topped by Akinda and owner-rider Victoria Press. Akinda was first under saddle and eighth, second, and first over fences with Press in the irons. The reserve champion for the division was Crystal Clear, owned and ridden by Coco Fath. Fath piloted Crystal Clear to sixth under saddle and sixth, first, and second over fences.
Next to award championship honors was the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division. Lexi Maounis and her own Sienna conquered the division after placing second, first, and first over fences. The reserve champion for the division was Zoom, owned and ridden by Laura Sexton. The pair were first and second over fences and third under saddle.
Lyn Pedersen and Silhouette were champions of the Hunt Ltd Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division. Silhouette and Pederson were first, fourth, and third over fences and eighth under saddle. Behind Silhouette by only one point was Amarillo, who was ultimately reserve champion with Katie Jacobs-Robinson. Jacobs-Robinson rode Amarillo to fifth under saddle and first and third over fences.
It was a battle of the sport’s top teen superstars for the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Lillie Keenan edged out Colvin for the division championship. Keenan piloted Grayon to top call for the division after placing fifth, third, and third over fences and second under saddle. The pair were presented with the Toad Hall Perpetual Trophy, donated by Missy Apmann, for their victory. Colvin and long-time partner Way Cool were reserve champions for the division, winning two over fences classes.
Colvin didn’t stay out of the winner’s circle for long; she was champion and reserve champion of the EnTrust Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Colvin topped the division with Canadian Blue. The pair won two over fences classes and placed second in another to earn the championship title. Colvin and Canadian Blue were presented with the Awesome Perpetual Trophy, donated by Patricia Tanner, for their winning effort and were also crowned Grand Junior Hunter Champion for the weekend. Colvin piloted Ovation to the blue ribbon under saddle and finished third in two over fences classes.
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Saturday’s competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured a $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, held on the beautiful derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), with a win for 24-year-old Alexander Zetterman (SWE) aboard Cafino. Twenty-eight entries showed over the Richard Jeffery (GBR) designed course with five clear rounds to jump-off. Zetterman and Cafino were first to go in the jump-off and set an unbeatable pace with their double clear round in 46.34 seconds.
Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q were the only other pair to clear the short course without fault and finished second in 48.27 seconds. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) was clear over the course, but incurred two time faults in 51.14 seconds aboard Mike Collins’ Zoe II, to place third. Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and S&L Slingback had four faults in 49.65 seconds to finish fourth, while Abigail McArdle guided David McArdle’s Cade de Guldenboom to fifth place honors with four faults in 49.85 seconds.
Cafino, a 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Roderik 856), is still a relatively new mount for Zetterman since the partnership first formed in September. The duo won the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Holiday I Grand Prix in one of their first classes together in December and has since earned many top placings in the first half of FTI WEF competition.
The pair finished fourth in week two’s $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*, placed fifth in week three’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 Section B, and also placed fifth in week three’s $125,000 Fidelity investments Grand Prix CSI 3*.
“Obviously the partnership has developed more and more,” Zetterman stated after his win on Saturday. “It has taken a bit of time, but when you really want to get to know them at the top level, you have to work on all of the small details and those parts are falling into place more and more.
“I still have had a lot of success,” Zetterman noted. “He had his first fence down in a very long time last night, but I think my rounds are smoother now. I feel better with him. Even if I have had success, I still feel that I can ride him even smoother, and he has been jumping even better.”
Saturday was Cafino’s first time jumping on the grass field at The Stadium, and Zetterman said that he felt great.
“I think he likes it,” the rider noted. “He is spooky; probably in a good way, but he does look at everything a little bit. He jumps some very funny jumps sometimes when he looks down at the water or something, but he knows exactly what he is doing.”
The extra spook played to Zetterman’s advantage with Cafino in the jump-off, since he knew his horse was being extra careful over the jumps. “You can really trust his carefulness,” Zetterman detailed. “I know I have a really fast horse, so I knew that if I could just keep going on stride and just try not to add too many strides, I would probably have a hard time to catch.”
While working on the smoothness and small details of his ride with Cafino this winter, Zetterman has been working with trainer Michelle Grubb, and explained that her expertise has been very helpful. “She has been a very good complement to our team,” he acknowledged. “She knows the set up here in the USA and we have a great dialogue about not only riding, but about everything from flatting and jumping, to the care of the horses and management. That has been great.”
As the FTI WEF circuit continues to amp up week by week, Zetterman has his sights set on week twelve’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. With his many top finishes, the rider is in a good position to qualify moving forward, and noted that competing at the different venue this week has been great for the horses and riders heading into the remaining six weeks of competition.
“I think it is good to get this week here to do something different, to jump in the dressage arena, and today on the grass,” Zetterman said. “It was a good, fresh breath before the last few weeks now; it is going to be very tough.”
One more class will be featured at The Stadium this weekend as week six of FTI WEF competition concludes on Sunday. The $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby is set to begin at 2 p.m. on the derby field. For full show results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Amateur-Owner and Junior 3’3″ Hunters Crown Champions of WCHR Competition at FTI WEF
Wellington, FL – February 14, 2014 – A special $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* was held on Friday night at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with another exciting win for Kent Farrington (USA) and his speedy mount, Blue Angel. The pair has been on fire this season and topped the class almost three seconds faster than second place finishers Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Carolus Z. Australia’s Benjamin Meredith and Bernadien van Westuur finished third.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, runs February 12-16, 2014. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
As the hunters are featured on the main showgrounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competition will be held on the adjacent showgrounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. Exciting jumper classes will be held on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium, including the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
On Friday night, Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery set the course for 42 starters in the grand prix, held in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC, with eight clear rounds to jump-off. Third to go in the order, Kent Farrington and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel slammed the door on the other competitors, not leaving little room for improvement on their blazing fast time of 36.58 seconds for the win.
Cian O’Connor and Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s Carolus Z tried their best and finished second in 39.28 seconds. Benjamin Meredith and River Farm Sporthorses’ Bernadien van Westuur finished third in 41.56 seconds. The only other pair to clear the short course without fault, Thomas Dresler (DEN) and Never Say Never, placed fourth in 42.52 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Hollow Creek Farm’s ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z had the fastest four-fault round in 37.89 seconds.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel kicked off the winter with a great win in the $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix CSI 2*, presented by Rolex, in January and also had a great start to this week with a win in Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. The momentum of that win just one day prior definitely helped keep the pair on their toes for Friday night’s class.
“Blue Angel is a very consistent horse. She has been a real winner for me over the last year, and I think she is just starting to hit her stride for this season,” Farrington stated after his win. “Yesterday was a great warm up. A ‘Table A’ class like that really suits the horse in this venue, and I thought it was the same tonight. It really suited the horse’s strengths, and in the jump-off, I really just let her do her thing.”
“I thought I got a couple lucky rubs actually in the first round, and she came out for the jump-off and really upped her game and jumped much better,” Farrington noted. “She was back on form and felt more like herself in the jump-off.”
Talking about his super-fast pace through the short course, Farrington detailed, “It’s a very competitive horse. She has had a lot of experience and we have gotten to know each other really well, so she’s looking for the fences now off the corner. More and more, the more I ride her, the more she knows me. We know each other’s moves, and she knows what to expect.”
Farrington also acknowledged the great venue at The Stadium at PBIEC for Friday’s class, which was a nice change for both horses and riders as well as a more intimate setting with the fantastic Friday night crowd.
“I think this is a great change of pace from the other venue,” Farrington stated. “It’s great for the horses not to feel like they are showing in the same ring over and over again. This has an indoor feel to it in terms of dimensions with a close audience to the arena, and I think they could really use this ring for World Cup qualifiers. I think it would really help prepare our horses for World Cup Finals much better than the bigger arena over there (on the Main Grounds). It’s always sort of a shock to our horses to go from a huge gallop outside to a tiny indoor ring, so that could be really beneficial to us in the future.”
Blue Angel has won classes in many different venues and proved that she likes the ring at The Stadium with back to back wins this week. “She’s pretty versatile like that, but I think as rideable as she is, she can really excel in an arena like this,” Farrington said.
Cian O’Connor and Carolus Z
For Cian O’Connor, the second place finish was great with Carolus Z, who he explained is a fairly new mount.
“It’s the first grand prix placing with him, so I’m pretty happy,” O’Connor stated. “I knew it was going to be mission impossible to beat Kent, so I just tried to jump a clear round and hopefully hold on for second place. It was great prize money tonight, so thanks very much to the sponsor. It is fantastic to come to a different venue, but also to jump for this kind of money is fantastic. Some people are jumping younger horses or new horses, and it’s great; it’s worthwhile.”
“I just got him in the winter, so I did a few indoors with him,” O’Connor said of Carolus Z. “He is a big horse to keep together and I’m just getting the hang of him, so hopefully good things to come.”
Benjamin Meredith was quite pleased to get a top finish with his mount, Bernadien van Westuur, and explained that this was his first time showing in a big grand prix at the FTI WEF.
“I’m stoked to be here with these guys; this is very exciting for me,” Meredith said. “Thank you very much to Sheila Johnson for sponsoring the class. My partnership with this horse is relatively new, and I’m actually not the rider of this horse. My client, Haley Schaufeld, who normally rides it, is up north at a funeral and Fred Schaufeld is part owner of a couple of things with Salamander, so it is really exciting that this could work out.”
“This is actually my first big grand prix in Wellington, so it’s pretty exciting really, and it’s really cool to ride here,” Meredith acknowledged. “The horse was really great tonight. She has not jumped this big in a while, so halfway through the first round she was jumping a little too high, and then she went ‘Oh right, I remember,’ and then it was fine.”
“She has to keep going, and I just thought, ‘Why not?'” Meredith said of the decision to jump in the night class. “I did the ‘WEF’ (Challenge Cup) and she was really fun, so I thought I would give it a go and it worked out!”
Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, was thrilled with the fantastic class and praised the riders on a job well done.
“First of all, I would like to thank the Bellissimos,” Johnson stated. “This is incredible. I think all evening, I have been hearing how much the spectators love this venue and I think the riders like it, it’s much more intimate. We love the other ring also, but this is much more of a European-type ring. I just have to say that as the sponsor, I live my life believing in the double bottom line. The sport has been so terrific for my family and my daughter. Kent is my daughter’s trainer, which I am thrilled about. This is my way to be able to give back to the sport and I think that’s very important. I hope that there are many other families that want to give back to the sport as well.”
“It has been terrific for my children to grow up in this environment, and to be able to really see them strive for the passion that they have and for the love of the sport,” Johnson continued. “It is really just an honor to be able to be a sponsor tonight. It is also a way of showcasing the third act of my life- this is my third company, so it just really fits into this venue with the equestrian feel. The resort in Middleburg is an equestrian resort of the highest caliber, so we are just very excited for its future and invite anyone to come see it, especially the riders!”
Amateur-Owner and Junior 3’3″ Hunters Crown Champions of WCHR Competition
As World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition continues at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunter divisions set at the 3’3″ height awarded top honors on Friday afternoon. For the victories, Friday’s champions will earn spots in the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Junior Hunter 3’3″ Classic on Sunday morning.
Enough Said and Stephanie Danhakl
The FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunter division was the first to announce division championship recipients, with Stephanie Danhakl taking champion with Enough Said as well as reserve champion with Quest.
Danhakl was thrilled with her one-two finish with her two new mounts. Enough Said, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, won the under saddle class and finished first in the final over fences round for the division in the International Arena. Quest, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding, was second to Enough Said in the under saddle before earning first and sixth place ribbons over fences.
“I am so happy with them. They were both so amazing!” Danhakl beamed. “Enough Said was a little spooky yesterday, but ended up winning the hack. I came in here today thinking there was no way [Enough Said wouldn’t be spooky again]! He’s really green, and he’s only been to a few shows. But he was just perfect.”
Both horses are relatively new to Danhakl, who just acquired them at the end of last year. Enough Said and Quest are both still green, evidenced by Enough Said’s extra spirit during the jog for the class in the International Arena. Danhakl admitted she’s enjoying still getting to know them, and both horses’ talent is undeniable. In addition to Friday’s results, trainer Scott Stewart rode Quest to the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter championship on Thursday morning.
Despite being mounted on green horses, Danhakl was excited to take on the sprawling International Arena, explaining that it suited Enough Said quite well. “Enough Said has a huge stride, so I’m constantly thinking about steadying and collecting everywhere in the ring, so it was nice today to just be able to go on his natural stride and go with a little more pace. It was definitely fun for me to ride him in here and it was lucky that we didn’t get going too fast!” she said with a smile. “It’s nice to have the space to just get out and gallop and have fun.”
Seasoned partners Daryl Portela and Winner, an eleven-year-old Warmblood gelding, were next to pick up top honors. Portela and Winner were second under saddle before finishing second and first over fences. Reserve champion for the division was Positano, owned and ridden by Missy Luczak-Smith. Positano and Luczak-Smith won the under saddle class and placed third and second over fences.
Winner has continued to live up to his name, picking up countless division championships with Portela in the irons over the last several years, but his worth goes far behind his raw talent. “I’m really competitive, so it’s nice that I can always count on him and trust him. It’s different going into that big [International Arena], but I can trust him and know he’s not going to do anything stupid,” Portela expressed.
As with many top horses, Portela and trainer Jimmy Torano carefully pick which shows Winner goes to in order to keep him in top form without over-showing. Winner is always aimed at WCHR week at the FTI WEF, and Portela believes he can sense when an important class is at stake.
“We pick and choose our shows, but I think he knows. He knows the prestige and he rises to the occasion for sure. We’re both really competitive and aim for the same thing, and the results have been good!” Portela smiled.
One of the highlights of the week for Portela was her top score in the handy round for the division. Winner has always done well in those classes, but Portela was particularly excited to win the class with a 90.
“It’s nice when you get 90s thrown at you. You see 90s in the professionals and the top juniors, but [not as often] in the amateurs. You’ll get the 86s and 88s, maybe an 89. So it’s nice,” Portela acknowledged.
Thirteen-year-old Daisy Farish picked up the final division championship of the day with Larkspur in the Junior 3’3″ Hunter division. Larkspur, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and Farish won two over fences classes and placed second in another to clinch the championship title. The reserve champion for the division was Bombay, ridden by Samantha Cohen and owned by Lyn Pedersen. Bombay and Cohen were first in the under saddle and first and second over fences.
Farish has earned plenty of championship prizes in the pony divisions, and as she continues to transition up into horses, she’s maintained her edge. Her first time riding Larkspur was only a few days ago, but the pair kept their cool in the International Arena for the final class of the division. The Jumbotron, towering palm trees, and spread out course tripped up quite a few riders and horses, but Farish laid down a consistent round with “Larry” to win the class.
“Larry is such a great horse. He doesn’t spook at anything. He was more confident than I was about the course!” Farish laughed. “He makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about him doing anything bad or being fresh.”
She continued, “He’s really fun. He’s got a really great rhythm and the jumps come right up. He was really easy to get to know. He’s very sweet and consistent. He made it easy.”
Farish has enjoyed learning the ropes of the horse divisions, which she admitted were an entirely different world from ponies. “I like it. Horses are so different from ponies because the competition is harder. There’s people that have been doing it longer and I’m smaller [than most other riders in the division], but it’s definitely fun!”
Farish’s win wrapped up WCHR competition on Friday. The 3’6″ junior and amateur-owner divisions will kick off the final round of championships on Saturday before the feature event that evening, the WCHR $100,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Eduardo Salas and Balloo / Photos by Carrie Wirth.
The Ridiculously Affordable Show Now Even More Convenient with Updated Schedule
Wellington, FL – February 14, 2014 – Making your plans to show at Citrus Series Tuesday show just became even more convenient. The show has revised the schedule so it is easier to plan when you should arrive to show. On Tuesday, Feb 18, Citrus Series will open for flat at 10 a.m. with classes starting at 11 a.m.
“Our first Tuesday was really fun. We had a great group of developing riders and in the afternoon many top, international riders with horses needing show ring mileage,” said James Lala who manages the popular new show. “Tuesday is the day that was most requested when I asked trainers, riders, owners and breeders.”
The Citrus Series Tuesday, Feb 18 Schedule:
Ring open for flat 10-10:30 a.m.
Hunter and jumper classes at the same heights are held at the same times.
All Day CLASS 100 – JUMPER TABLE II AND HUNTER WARM UP
11 -11:45 a.m.
CLASS 1, 2 – .70m JUMPER TABLE II / CLASS 3, 4 – 2’3″ HUNTER
12 -12:45 p.m.
CLASS 5, 6 – .80m – .85m JUMPER TABLE II / CLASS 7, 8 – 2’6″- 2’9″ HUNTER
1:30-2:15 p.m.
CLASS 9, 10 – .90m JUMPER TABLE II / CLASS 11, 12 – 3′ HUNTER
3-3:45 p.m.
CLASS 13, 14 – 1.0m JUMPER TABLE II Sec.2 (b) / CLASS 15, 16 – 3’3″ HUNTER
4-4:45 p.m.
CLASS 17, 18 – 1.15m JUMPER TABLE II Sec.2 (b) / CLASS 19, 20 – 3’6″ HUNTER
5 -5:30 p.m.
CLASS 21, 22 – 1.30m JUMPER TABLE II Sec.2 (b) / CLASS 23, 24 – 4′ HUNTER
5:30-6 p.m.
CLASS 25, 26 – 1.40m JUMPER TABLE II Sec.2 (b)
6 p.m. Requested heights after dark under the lights.
Citrus Series will hold its regular monthly show on Saturday, February 22. Please note that Friday, Feb 21 has been cancelled.
Cynthia Hankins and Noah
Citrus Series shows are held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center at Okeeheelee Park, a wonderful facility offering great footing, permanent stalls, plenty of parking and permanent restrooms. Citrus Series offers beautiful courses and decoration – perfect to prep for shows like WEF. The show offers unique features such as warm-ups and do-over options to make give more opportunity for horses and riders leave with a positive experience under their belt.
There is no ship-in charge, no office fee, no grounds fee and permanent day stalls are available. It is the ideal, affordable competition series for developing horses and riders.
About Citrus Series Horse Shows
The unique features of the show are designed to help trainers, developing horses and riders achieve their goals affordably. Professionals and adults may ride ponies. If time permits, competitors can do do-overs to make sure the horse and rider leave the ring with a positive learning experience. A user-friendly class schedule and sale horse identifiers provide an opportunity to market sale horses.
Owners, breeders, riders, trainers and their assistants are encouraged to bring their up-and-coming horses and riders to come experience Citrus Series, at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Okeeheelee Park, a close, convenient, high-quality facility. Ship-ins are welcome at no cost and permanent day and overnight stalls are available. Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is located under three miles/five minutes from the intersection of 441 and Forest Hill Boulevard.
Manager: Lala Land Productions, LLC, James Lala (561) 906-6668 – jdlala@aol.com
Secretaries: Cindy Bozan and Randi Muster
Veterinarian: Reid and Associates
Farrier: Ignacio Cardenas
Stabling: James Lala
Judge: Dee Thomas, Wellington, FL
Course Designer: Gerry Briggs, Smyrna, TN
Directions to Jim Brandon Equestrian Center:
FROM I-95
Exit Forest Hill Blvd. Go west on Forest Hill Blvd. for approximately six (6) miles. After passing Pinehurst Dr., make the next left into Okeeheelee Park South.
FROM the NORTH on FLORIDA’S TURNPIKE
Exit #97 – Southern Blvd. After toll booth, turn left onto Pike Rd. (South). Make a left onto Southern Blvd. (East) and go to Jog Road. Make a right onto Jog Road (South) to Forest Hill Blvd. Make a right onto Forest Hill Blvd. (West). After passing Pinehurst Dr., make a left into Okeeheelee Park South.
FROM the SOUTH on FLORIDA’S TURNPIKE
Exit #93 – Lake Worth Rd. and go east to Pinehurst Dr. Make a left onto Pinehurst Dr. (North) and go to Forest Hill Blvd. Make a left onto Forest Hill Blvd. (West). Make the next left into Okeeheelee Park South.
FROM the WEST on FOREST HILL BLVD.
Cross over Florida’s Turnpike and make a right into Okeeheelee Park South.
Carrie Wirth for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Wellington, FL – February 14, 2014 – The International Polo Club Palm Beach was alive with exhilarating jumper action today as riders gathered to compete on the turf for the sixth week of the Wellington Turf Tour Grand Prix Series. Jeffery Welles and Antaris S were today’s pathfinders, riding to a double clear effort in an amazing 35. 590 seconds.
Beth Underhill was the first to attempt the course this morning. Eric Hasbrouck was the sixth week’s course designer. He utilized a liver pool, in-and-out, standalone oxers, a triple combination set on the outside, and a triple bar. Faults fell throughout the course, but Underhill was the first to navigate the track, as well as the first to post a double-clear effort. Her time of 40.520 seconds aboard Viggio would prove good enough for the fifth place finish, with a field of 34 competitors fighting in a battle of the best.
Jeffery Welles was only the second rider of the class, but his 9-year-old mount Antaris S was on fire as they traversed the turf. They cleared the first round with ease, and had their sights on the prize as they picked up a blazing speed for the jump off. Welles left a stride out of the first line, doing seven strides from the oxer to the vertical. To shave the time he made quick and tidy turns, with Antaris S siding in on the triple bar, slicing the seconds. They tripped the timers in an astounding 35.590 seconds.
“I am riding Antaris S for a good friend of mine, Natalie Gizzi,” Welles explained. “I showed him a little bit last summer in two shows, and then down here I have been riding him since the beginning of the circuit. He has been coming to George and Nona’s shows for the last three weeks, and has also shown at the Winter Equestrian Festival.”
This was not the pair’s first time winning the blue ribbon for The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour, having captured the victory in the 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers at Wolfstone Stables during Week V. “The horse was great today. This has been really nice jumping on the grass at these venues. Everything that George [D’Ambrosio] and Nona [Garson] are doing with the help of these facilities is really nice, and allows us to jump on the grass.”
Ramiro Quintana and Caramello Z
Each consecutive rider attempted to catch Welles’ time, but none would avail today. Samuel Parot and Thea were the first to get within a second, but a rail at the final oxer would cost them. It was Ramiro Quintana, winner of Wednesday’s 1.30m-1.35m Jumper class, aboard Caramello Z who would take the second place. Their double clear effort was completed in 37.251 seconds. Debbie Stephens and Dryden captured the third place finish with a time of 39.684 seconds, leaving all rails intact.
Welles concluded, “I think that different venues each week is great for them. It breaks up the monotony and boredom of showing in the same facility every week. The show is great, but this is something different. This gives you an opportunity to jump 1.30m-1.40m on grass at different facilities, and it has been great for all of the young horses I have been riding.”
Chris Ewanouski and Carlos 455 were awarded the fourth place for their clean round completed in 39.987 seconds, while Underhill claimed fifth. Sarah Wayda and Spargel were the last of the double-clear efforts, completing the course in a conservative 42.517 seconds.
Riders should get their entries in to avoid post-entry fees. The stakes are increasing each week as top riders, amateur and professional, vie for their invitation into the $24,750 Invitational Grand Prix Series Finale Saturday, March 22, 2014, and the newly announced Leading Rider Bonus.
Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Friday events. The transportation is a nominal fee of $50 per horse, and will be calculated into the final show fees. To make a reservation for one of the three pickup times, 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., please call Peter Tufano of Meadowbrook Horse Transport at (954) 415-7217, or call Nona Garson at (908) 500-0996.
The Wednesday and Friday events will run from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Riders are encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible for the approaching events. Turning in entries early will ensure that they get the time that they desire.
Show Net is onsite for all Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour events, capturing footage and providing live results for each class. For full results and videos, please visit: www.shownet.biz.
The Ridge still has available sponsorships for the Invitational Series. For more information, call (908) 500-0996 or download information at www.theridgefarm.com.
Sponsorships are available for the $25,000 Finale, $15,000 Weekly Grand Prix, $2,000 Weekly Hospitality Text, $3,500 Show Jump Sponsor for series, $750 Ring Banner for the series and $500 Weekly Class Presenter.
All checks should be made payable to the Ridge Farm LLC.
The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Series
C/O Eda Tordiff
110 Edwards Rd.
Parsippany, NJ, 07054
The Ridge at Wellington Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour offers their popular 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix for its second year, with an open in gate format taking place once a week at beautiful venues throughout Wellington. The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Finale will take place March 22, 2014.
The Turf Tour also will host 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers every Wednesday beginning January 8, 2014 and running until March 19, 2014.
Young Jumper Classes and both Children’s/Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour.
The Ridge at Wellington offers Equitation Shows every Tuesday of the month from January – March 2013. There will also be a series of schooling shows at the Ridge at Wellington for all experience levels.
Two USHJA International Hunter Derbies will take place February 7, 2014 and March 21, 2014.
What:
The Ridge at Wellington series includes several weeks of competition throughout the Winter Season with USEF Rated Equitation Shows. This winter will also feature five two-day schooling shows. The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour will offer 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix, Young Jumpers, Children’s/Senior Classics, and two hunter derbies.
Barn & Show Phone 561-791-1471 | Barn Fax 561-791-1543
When:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday, January 10, 2014 – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Hours:
8:30am-5pm daily
Directions:
From the Florida Turnpike: Take the exit for LakeWorth Road West. Continue on Lake Worth Road approximately 6 miles to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Continue to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
From Route 95: Take the exit for Forest Hill Blvd West. Continue on Forest Hill Blvd to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Once on South Shore Blvd, continue straight at light at Pierson Road and again straight through the intersection at Lake Worth Road, to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
Information:
Before Show – (561) 791-1471, Email: RidgeShows@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (561) 791-1471, Fax: (561) 791-1543
