Wellington, FL – January 11, 2014 – At today’s competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) CDI W, two young riders made their mark in the show ring. Sixteen-year-old Juan Matute, Jr. (ESP) rode Don Diego Ymas to the win in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Chesapeake Dressage with a score of 70.579%. Megan Lane (CAN), at 22 years old, took the top placing in the FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by MTICA Farm, with Caravella and scored 68.980%.
The first week of the AGDF concludes tomorrow with a full schedule of national classes as well as the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle presented by Everglades Dressage. The AGDF continues for 11 more weeks of top dressage competition through March 30.
Matute, Jr. and Don Diego Ymas, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Frederico, have been paired for three years, although the horse has been with Matute’s family since he was four years old. This was their first I-1 at a CDI.
Second place in the FEI I-1 was Heather Mason (USA) on Zar, who scored a 69.789%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Dio Mio placed third after they scored 68.895%.
Matute, Jr. is originally from Madrid, Spain, but now lives in Wellington, FL. Of his first I-1 class, he said, “I think it’s a great opportunity to ride with big riders, like the ones that rode today. I think it was a good test with big judges as well. It was our first I-1 at a CDI, so I think it was very successful. I’m super happy,” he expressed.
For their first two years together, they competed at the junior level and after placing fourth individually in the Freestyle at the European Junior Championships this past summer, they decided to move up to the next level. “We know the horse can do the movements, so why not? It’s a challenge,” he said.
This week was also a learning experience for Matute, Jr. “It’s been a fantastic weekend. We learned a lot and it was great. He’s a bit nervous when it comes to showing and being alone in the ring,” he explained. “The first day he was a bit nervous, but on the second day he was much more confident and listened to me more. We rode more as a couple, more together.”
Megan Lane and Caravella
Megan Lane of Loretto, ON, Canada, and Caravella, a 16-year-old KWPN mare by Contango x Riverman, have made their way up to the Grand Prix level together. After successfully competing at the junior and young rider levels (they medaled six times at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships), they moved up to the Grand Prix last year.
“I have brought her along from the beginning. When I bought her, I bought her as a hunter,” Lane recalled. “She’s the first horse for my first Grand Prix and my first horse that I’ve brought along to this point. It’s very exciting.”
Judge Natalie Lamping noted that Caravella’s passage was “a little too open in the beginning,” but that as the test progressed, “it became more closed and got more elevation.” She continued, “I think she did a really good job at setting the mare up and being organized in the test. She hasn’t maxed out yet. There is a lot of room for the score to go up. Sometimes you’re limited by the scope of your horse, but they haven’t gone there yet. That was nice to see.”
Lane agreed with the assessment and while she said that her piaffe and passage were a highlight of her test today, she also noted that yesterday’s “canter zig-zag” was the best one she has ever ridden. “It’s nice when that happens in the test!” she exclaimed.
AGDF 1 Dressage CDI-W concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle presented by Everglades Dressage. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Wellington, FL – January 10, 2014 – The Adequan Global Dressage Festival kicked off the “Friday Night Stars” series with an exciting FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition and full spectator stands at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Leading the way was Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) on Don Auriello, who won with a score of 81.575%. Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett scored 76.925% for second place. Fellow Dane Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady placed third with a score of 74.825%.
The first week of the AGDF, sponsored by MTICA Farm and Everglades Dressage, runs through Sunday, January 12. The AGDF continues for 11 more weeks of top dressage competition through March 30.
Vilhelmson-Silfven started with a win in yesterday’s FEI Grand Prix class, but with the different atmosphere of the lights and spectators, she felt like Don Auriello handled the change well. “Today was a great atmosphere here. I really had a lot of fun riding in there today,” she said. “I think Don Auriello got a little bit impressed, but then he focused and was really nice to ride the whole way through. It was lovely with so many spectators, and the feeling in here is really great.”
She said of her test, “My highlight was really that he did let me ride, and I had a great feeling. He does everything without a big effort. It’s a really nice feeling when you feel the horse is so mature that you can just ride. I think I had that today. The pirouettes is one of his highlights, and the piaffes.”
Lars Petersen and Mariett
Petersen said that he knows his music “in and out.” He added with a laugh, “I also knew exactly where I was in places that I should not have been! But otherwise it’s a great atmosphere to ride here; I think it’s like riding anywhere.”
He noted that Mariett was “a little bit tense, a little spooky,” but that “overall though, it’s the first show, so I was pretty happy.” He continued, “I think the piaffe, passage was good. I normally get really good marks for my music (too).”
Gundersen has been working on her new freestyle routine for three months and had only ridden it at national shows to practice. “My Lady was unbelievable,” she related. “She was paying attention, not looking at anything outside. I’m crazy about the music. I think it suits her very well. I think I had good piaffes, good changes. I was particularly happy with the walk. She was very relaxed in the walk and did very well. It doesn’t sound interesting to be excited about the walk, but it was a bit of a highlight! I’m glad that she’s relaxed enough with the big atmosphere to show a good walk.”
Gundersen commented on the great turnout for the event. “I know there were a lot of people. I was very happy to see that because it’s the beginning of the season. I’m happy we have so many spectators for a dressage show,” she said.
Janne Rumbough of MTICA Farm, the sponsor of the class, noted, “It’s wonderful that we have this here. I’ve been here a long time and seen dressage develop. Look at these riders and these horses. This is what we worked on for so many years. I look at the spectators tonight, and I believe the freestyle is the answer to have people enjoy dressage. What these three people showed today was beautiful. I’m just so pleased and thanks to Mark Bellissimo for doing this.”
Allyn Mann of Adequan, the title sponsor of the GDF, was also on-hand to watch the first CDI of the season. “I would say year three started off beautifully. It’s really humbling to come here and to have the opportunity to support a wonderful event and to see these wonderful riders and horses really embellish the sport of dressage,” he remarked. “We’re excited, and we did exceed expectations already. If this is as good as it gets for the season, I would be gracious and humbled by it. But I think it’s going to continue to improve. As the prize money does continue to grow, I think we’ll see a continuation of wonderful riders and horses be a part of this great dressage world.”
Caroline Roffman and Bon Chance
It was a win on home turf for Caroline Roffman (USA) and Bon Chance today during the FEI Prix St. Georges. Fellow U.S. rider Heather Mason and Zar followed in second place with a score of 69.711%, and Spanish rider Juan Matute Jr. with Don Diego Ymas rounded out the top three at 68.9974%.
Coming off a year of ‘vacation’ for the 8-year-old chestnut gelding, Roffman was very pleased with how he performed for her. “I haven’t shown him for a year, but for him, he’ll get better with each show,” she commented. “That’s what he needs.”
Bon Chance, imported from Germany, was broke by Roffman herself. With her, he competed in the four, five and six year old US championships, with great success. “He was reserve four year old champion, five year old champion, tied for six year old champion. So yeah, he has had a pretty successful career!” she said with a smile.
Although Bon Chance is a sales horse in her roster, she is more than happy to continue showing him, saying he shows a lot of promise in the ring. “He has a lot of swing, a lot of elasticity, and he’s like a metronome when he trots – it’s always the same tempo,” she described. “He’s a funny looking horse on the ground. When people see him he’s long, he has a skinny neck and he’s just a little bit weird looking. But in the ring he presents himself, I think, in a really good way.”
The gelding also offers somewhat of a challenge to Roffman. “He is a little bit of a handful, so you have to take it all in stride. It’s his first CDI ever, it’s his first international Intermediaire I, and I hope this year he continues to develop and get confident in the ring,” she said.
While the Adequan Global Dressage Festival brings out the best in the world to compete, Roffman prefers to focus solely on the horses. “I find myself keeping a little bit of a goal in mind, but they’re horses,” she remarked. “They have their own feelings, their own agendas. You can want anything, you can plan 100%, but if they’re not ready or willing or able to do it? For me, I just focus on developing the horses, and that’s how you know you’re ready. (They) hopefully get better and better as the show goes on.”
AGDF 1 Dressage CDI-W continues Saturday with the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Everglades Dressage and FEI Grand Prix Special presented by MTICA Farm. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Nairobi Nights and Laura Lee Montross Top Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Section A
Wellington, FL – January 10, 2014 – U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist Laura Kraut earned victory on day three of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) competing with Stone Hill Farm’s Wish in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class on Friday, January 10. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) and Canora also got their second win of the circuit in the day’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge.
Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, runs through Sunday, January 12. The week’s highlights include the $75,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 11, as well as the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday, January 12. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding close to $8 million in prize money.
In Friday’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class, course designer Eric Hasbrouck saw 61 competitors with 26 advancing to the immediate jump-off in the International Arena at PBIEC. Fourteen entries were also clear over the short course, and Laura Kraut and Wish completed the fastest clear jump-off round in 38.669 seconds for the win.
Kraut narrowly edged out fellow U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward, who finished second aboard Ramses du Lavillion in 38.885 seconds. Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) placed third aboard Nathalie de Gunzburg’s Fiego van de Zoneweide in 39.510 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) finished fourth with his time of 40.326 seconds riding Hollow Creek Farm’s Crossfire 10.
Wish, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Numero Uno x Calvados, has been a top horse for young rider Jessica Springsteen, who trains with Kraut. Kraut is keeping Wish in top form through the beginning of the FTI WEF circuit and will continue to ride the mare until Springsteen arrives from school to compete during week three.
Kraut explained, “She is a great mare that we bought for Jessie a couple of years ago, and Jessie has done a ton of winning with her. We found her in Belgium. She was jumping in the 2* in Antwerp, and Nick (Skelton) and I were sitting and watching the class, and Nick leapt out of his chair and ran down to the in-gate. We got there ahead of about three other people that were running to the gate at the same time, and we were fortunate enough to be able to buy her.”
“She is a tiny horse, but her heart is huge,” Kraut described. “She is a trier and she is really easy to ride. She is so brave. She does everything. To me she is a perfect second horse because you can run her and run her and run her, and every day she comes out and she stays careful. She is just a really nice horse.”
Commenting on Friday’s class, Kraut noted, “I didn’t actually expect that I would win. I actually added a stride in the jump-off down one line. I went quick, but I didn’t really push her and she is just very fast.”
“I really liked Eric’s course today,” she added. “I liked them last year too. I thought he did a great job last year, and so far he has done a very good job. Today’s course was different because it was a lot of long gallops, which you don’t often see. I think that was good because you had to really open them up and gallop across the ring. It’s nice. He’s doing a really good job.”
Kraut has an exciting circuit lined up for this year’s FTI WEF with some of her returning top mounts as well as a few new horses. She finished tenth in Friday’s class aboard her newest mount, Andretti S, who she described as ‘a really interesting horse,’ and has high hopes for. Nouvelle will return to the ring for the first time since an injury in June. Kraut also looks forward to competing with her veteran partners Cedric and Jubilee d’Ouilly, who continue to excel at the top of the sport at 16 and 17 years of age.
Kraut has a thriving business with a lot of great students and developing young horses as well this year, and she is excited for the season to come.
“For me, this season is great for bringing along young horses and seeing what you have and developing them,” she acknowledged. “I always love doing that anyway and it is really nice down here because you can have a plan and aim them for whatever goal you have for them. It is also nice that I am not on an airplane every week going to a new show, to a new place, to a new venue, so the horses get relaxed. I am very lucky because I have the best of both worlds. I spend five months here in one spot and then I get to go to Europe and go to a whole lot of interesting, very cool shows and do unique things, but we are always ready to get back here and not get on an airplane again for a while.”
“So far it has been very busy, but it’s good,” she smiled. “We have about 50 horses that we are in charge of here. I have such great riding students, which is really nice. They all ride well. It is a good group, and it makes my job really easy.”
A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge was also held on Friday with 41 entries and a win for Alexander Zetterman (SWE) aboard Canora. The pair also won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class on Wednesday to kick off a great week of competition. They had the fastest of five clear rounds on Friday with a time of 68.352 seconds. Brittni Raflowitz (USA) and ESI Show Jumpers’ Elios placed second in 68.807 seconds. Leslie Howard (USA) and Jane Clark’s Whistler finished third in 70.544 seconds.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights
Nairobi Nights and Laura Lee Montross Top Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Section A
Hunter competition for FTI WEF week one continued on Friday morning with the presentation of championship honors in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Section A. Laura Lee Montross and Palm Meadow Farm LLC’s Nairobi Nights earned the division championship after placing first and second over fences on Thursday and earning second and third place awards over fences on Friday.
Gina Day and Premier finished in reserve. The pair earned a third place ribbon over fences on Thursday and won the under saddle as well as one class over fences on Friday to conclude the division.
Champion mount, Nairobi Nights, is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Nairobi. Laura Lee Montross has owned the gelding for seven years and has seen him develop and mature greatly over their years together. Montross trains with Jimmy Torano, who has helped her with Nairobi Nights since the beginning of their partnership.
“Now that he is all grown up, he is just a delightful horse to ride,” Montross noted. “He is very quiet. He jumps a nice jump. He is just a gentleman. He is easy in the barn and fun to be with. I trail ride him a lot, and he loves that.”
“He is just a really nice horse, but he wasn’t always like that,” Montross admitted. “He was a little naughty when he was a baby, but he has matured a lot. He is a good boy.”
Commenting on her rounds over the two days of competition this week, Montross recalled, “Yesterday he walked right in and was just a joy, very soft and calm and easy to the jumps, and the second round also. Then I was also surprised that he was so good in the mud today. He came right out and did it again, so he was great.”
Montross, of Beford, NY, has been competing at the FTI WEF for ten years and owns a farm in Wellington where her horses live for the winter.
“I love it here,” she stated. “I have a farm here and I live at my farm, and I can just walk to the show. I hack over with my horse and it is just really relaxing. I love the grand hunter ring, and I love not having to move the horses all around and just be here the whole winter season.”
FTI WEF week one, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, will continue on Saturday with the presentation of championship honors in the EnTrust Capital Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. The International Arena will host the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic in the afternoon. The $75,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes will be the feature “Saturday Night Lights” event at 7:00 p.m. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Wellington, FL – January 9, 2014 – Swedish rider Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello topped the FEI Grand Prix, sponsored by MTICA Farm, with a winning score of 77.670% during the first day of competition for the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Danish riders filled out the top three for the class, with Lars Petersen and Mariett finishing second with a 72.880% and Mikala Munter Gundersen taking home third place with a score of 69.600% on My Lady.
The first week of the AGDF, sponsored by MTICA Farm and Everglades Dressage, runs through Sunday, January 12. The feature event is the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, held under the lights as part of the “Friday Night Stars” series at AGDF on Friday, January 10. Gates open at 6 pm, and spectators can also enjoy a musical exhibition by the Frost School of Music from the University of Miami as well as a Western exhibition by reiner Rick Steed.
Vilhelmson-Silfven, who recently climbed to fifth in the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings thanks to a series of high-profile victories in Europe with Don Auriello, was again thrilled with the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s performance during Friday’s competition.
“He competed quite a lot this autumn. I made three World Cup qualifications in Europe before I left. He’s been doing all of those very well. He’s in really good shape,” Vilhelmson-Silfven commented.
“Today, I was really happy with my feeling. The piaffe-passage tour is the one that I sometimes don’t have him on my aids 100%, but I felt like today I could do exactly what I wanted. He usually does it very well anyways, but today it was a feeling more that I could really control,” she continued.
Vilhelmson-Silfven feels she’s gotten to the point with Don Auriello that she can scale back his competition schedule without losing her edge. Following Thursday’s win, Vilhelmson-Silfven will work with a trainer for several weeks before bringing Don Auriello back out for the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W during Week 8 of the AGDF.
“[Don Auriello] has reached the level now that I want to be more restrictive with competing. I don’t need to compete so much I think. He’s going to have a good training session now. I really enjoy having that in this climate, being able to train a lot,” she explained.
After arriving in Florida shortly before Christmas, Vilhelmson-Silfven is looking forward to a season far from the harsh Swedish winter.
“It’s super to be able to train them and ride them [in the Florida weather]. How they feel in their body, in their muscles, is so different when it’s very cold. [The horses that compete in Florida] are in much better shape than the ones that stayed under the winter in Europe – in Sweden anyway,” Vilhelmson-Silfven described.
Vilhelmson-Silfven was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage Style Award for her ride with Don Auriello, who is owned by Lövsta Stuteri.
The AGDF provides world-class dressage riders like Vilhelmson-Silfven a warm winter respite in prime competition and training conditions over 12 weeks of top-level competition January 9 – March 30, 2014. AGDF 1 Dressage CDI-W continues Friday morning with the FEI Prix St. Georges, presented by Everglades Dressage, and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by MTICA Farm as the evening’s main event with gates open at 6 pm.
About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Truman and Christopher Payne Take First Hunter Championship of FTI WEF in Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Hunters
Wellington, FL – January 9, 2014 – The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, hosted its second day of competition for the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) on Thursday with a win for Wilton Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet in the $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1.
Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, runs through Sunday, January 12. The week’s highlights include the $75,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 11, as well as the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday, January 12. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, 2014, awarding close to $8 million in prize money.
Eric Hasbrouck is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition. In Thursday’s $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1, Hasbrouck set the course for 46 entries with nine clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. It was then an exciting race against the clock as six of those cleared the short course without fault.
Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farms, set the pace to beat at 37.498 seconds to eventually finish fourth. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane were next to go and upped the ante with their time of 37.222 seconds, which earned the third place prize. Paris Sellon and Heracross also cleared the course and earned fifth place honors with their time of 38.870 seconds. Up next, Wilton Porter and Paloubet raced through the course in 36.052 seconds to take the lead. Their time held up to the end as Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star were just off the mark in 36.797 seconds to finish second. Michael Dorman and Wyndmont’s Valinski S also jumped a clear round and finished sixth with their time of 39.968 seconds.
Thursday’s win was a big one for 19-year-old Wilton Porter, showing against many of the world’s top international riders to earn the third grand prix victory of his young career. Porter is in his freshman year at Vanderbilt University and began his first spring semester this week, coinciding with the first week of FTI WEF competition. He flew into Palm Beach at 1 a.m. Thursday morning, and definitely made the trip worth it with a great start to the season.
Porter, of Dallas, TX, trains with John Roche and has had his winning mount Paloubet, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Voltaire, for three years . The pair has moved up the ranks, winning their first grand prix together in Kentucky this summer. The WEF Challenge Cup win was significant for the rider in many ways.
“I have been doing ‘WEFs’ for about three years now and haven’t won one yet, so it is especially exciting, and there are a lot of really good riders,” Porter acknowledged. “I haven’t won a competition where there are this many top riders, so that is exciting.”
Speaking about his partnership with Paloubet, Porter noted, “Definitely it has been improving. He is a little bit of a quirky horse, and he has a funny mouth. My trainer, John, does a lot of the hard work. I have to always mention him because he does most of the hard work with the flat work and everything while I’m gone, and even when I’m here, he is the one who flats him in the morning. I think it has definitely developed. I have gotten stronger, and we have gotten him more accustomed to the way I ride. For sure it has come a long way.”
Porter showed his cool under pressure, topping the times of two very fast Irish riders in Shane Sweetnam and Ronan McGuigan, with top competitors like McLain Ward still to go. He took a chance at the end of the jump-off that earned the winning time.
“To the second to last jump, I kind of took a flier out of the turn,” he explained. “It was a little bit of a risk, but it ended up paying off, and then that made the line pretty easy. I did the same numbers of strides as everybody down the last line. I think it looked like I was flying, but I was able to slow up a little bit right before the last jump.”
“It was a great course, and I liked the jump-off because it had just the right amount of turns and galloping, so it was pretty fun,” Porter added. “I thought there were probably just about the right amount of clears to make a good jump-off.”
Paloubet also seemed to like the jump-off, handling some very tight turns and big gallops.
“He turns really fast,” Porter stated. “I have to be really soft on his mouth, but that is something he is good at. Then his stride really does open up as the course goes on, so at the end when you had to gallop down that last line, he had no trouble doing that.”
In addition to the prize money for Thursday’s class, Porter earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. Porter was the first bonus winner of 2014.
Also showing on Thursday, Samantha Senft (USA) kicked off the morning with a win in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class with her ride aboard Early Morning. The class saw 27 entries with 17 advancing to the jump-off, and 12 double clear rounds. Senft and Early Morning completed the fastest jump-off round in 36.67 seconds.
Yann Candele (CAN) and Carol Sollak’s Brooklyn Blues finished second in 37.038 seconds. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Mike Collin’s Cornetiero placed third with a time of 37.905 seconds.
The $2,500 Engel & Völkers, Sollak, Carr High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class was also held in the International Arena on Thursday morning with a win for Jay Land and Nepal. The pair had the fastest of six clear rounds out of 20 entries with the winning time of 69.806 seconds. Robert Jornayvaz IV finished second with a time of 73.334 seconds aboard Like A Dream. Kelly Soleau and Centre Ice were third in 74.047 seconds.
Truman and Christopher Payne
Truman and Christopher Payne Take First Hunter Championship of FTI WEF in Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Hunters
Truman and Christopher Payne took home the first division championship of the FTI WEF on Thursday morning in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunters. Truman, owned by Maypine Farm, won the under saddle class and was fourth in the handy hunter round with Payne on Wednesday before winning the stake round and picking up another fourth place ribbon in the final over fences class on Thursday.
Reserve champion of the division was Enticement, ridden by Kelley Farmer and owned by Glefke, Kensel LLC and Oakland Ventures, LLC. The pair was third in the handy hunter round on the first day of competition before finishing third in the stake round and winning the final over fences class on Thursday.
Payne campaigned Truman as a pre-green horse in 2013 and thought the six-year-old Westphalian gelding handled the step up to the First Year Green Working Hunter division with ease, despite the dreary weather hanging over the first two days of competition.
“This was his first time out at 3’6″. It’s not the best weather for the first time out, but he handled it great. He’s just the sweetest horse. He tries hard every time. He has a wonderful mind and wonderful talent,” Payne commented.
Payne acknowledges Truman’s soft side as one of his favorite things about him.
“He is a lover! He is so happy to see everybody. He’s so affectionate. He’s the sweetest horse every day, every moment of his life,” Payne smiled.
The first week of the FTI WEF was also Truman’s first time in the show ring since October, when he finished as reserve champion in a Future Hunter division at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD.
“For his first time showing since October, he didn’t forget too much!” Payne joked.
Truman has settled in well to the bustling atmosphere at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), and Payne looks forward to seeing where the FTI WEF circuit takes them.
“He’s a big kid. He just takes it all in! He likes the newness of everything,” Payne commented. “We’ll keep doing the first years [the rest of circuit] and keep forging ahead.”
FTI WEF week one, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, will continue on Friday with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers featured in the International Arena and the presentation of championship honors to the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over Section A, in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
The 1.40m Grand Prix Will Take Place Tomorrow 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Wolfstone Stables
Wellington, FL – January 9, 2014 – Kama Godek and Air Force One soared through the jump off in the first event of the Wellington Turf Tour on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Their finesse through the short track allowed them to surpass 17 contenders in a solid 36 seconds. Their time proved untouchable as each consecutive rider attempted to catch their pace, but Godek’s strong turns and quick pace made it an impossible feat.
Godek is no stranger to The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour. Although this is only the second year that Godek has traveled to Wellington for the winter circuit, she has made the Ridge events a permanent fixture on her show schedule. Last year, Godek navigated Air Force One to several top placings in the event, and she returned to take charge for the 2014 series.
“Air Force One is my grand prix horse. I have done some World Cup Qualifiers with him, and he was the horse of the year in Virginia,” Godek said of her mount. “I gave him the last two months as holiday to go galloping down the canals and relax. I like to keep him interested and keep his job fun. Going every single week to the same ring can get really boring.”
Godek continued, “I wasn’t planning on doing a big class with him this week, so I decided to do him in the classes today and then bring him back on Friday to jump in the 1.40m class. Right now, I am playing around with him, having fun and enjoying the change of scenery. It keeps them more interested in their job when they can see different venues. I have a lot of horses for sale, and being able to put them on the trailer and bring them over to jump around without pouring a lot of money into them is ideal.”
Air Force One proved to be in peak condition as Godek navigated the grey gelding through Pierre Jolicouer’s course. Godek had seen Kevin Babington take the lead only minutes before aboard Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC, but Air Force One covered the ground with a quick pace and was right there for Godek as they sliced the turns and beat Babington’s time by a narrow margin of a little over a tenth of a second.
“I didn’t even realize how fast I was going,” Godek smiled. “He is always so fast across the ground that I don’t even have to think about it. As long as I make decent turns, he is always there.”
Kevin Babington and Baloucat
Babington secured the second place aboard Shorapur, while also snatching the third place with the 10-year-old mare Baloucat.
“It is really nice that they have added more venues. One of the downsides of jumping at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is that you are jumping in the same ring week in and week out. The horses get a little bored. I think this breaks it up for them,” Babington explained. “The two I brought today – one is an up and coming grand prix horse that I plan on jumping on Friday in the 1.40m Grand Prix, and the other is a sale horse I wanted to get to know.”
The Ridge events are nostalgic for Babington since he rode Shorapur for the first time during the first event of the Wellington Invitational Series in 2013.
“I have really high hopes for Shorapur,” Babington expressed. “I got her at this time last year and moved her up to the grand prix at the end of her 8-year-old year. She is just turning 9 years old now. This year it is time to see what she really is.”
Such positive reviews were heard from other top riders throughout the course of the day, including Chris Kappler, who brought two of his students to compete in the two classes.
“The Ridge’s Wellington Turf Tour has grown to encompass the type of variety riders want here – to be able to get to different venues with young horses, and even older horses. Most of these venues have beautiful grass footing, and you don’t really get that anymore,” Kappler stated. “We are so thankful to these owners for hosting these events. With the way it is being run it works with the horse show and, at the same time, gives you an outlet for doing some different things. I think it is great for the circuit; it helps to break things up and make it so things don’t get too monotonous for everybody, and provides an exceptional experience.”
It was Schuyler Riley, the host of this week’s event, who rode to the victory in the second class of the day. She entered into a three-horse jump off to ride away with the win aboard Navalo De Poheton, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales. She jumped to a double clear effort in 33.150 seconds. Godek secured the second place aboard Air Force One with another clean jump off in 33.274 seconds. Liz Mahoney and Carpe Diem rode to the third place with a four-fault jump off round in 48.975 seconds.
Not only was the competition fierce for the opening day of the Wellington Turf Tour, but the hospitality was unparalleled. The Ridge at Wellington hosted a beautiful spread for breakfast and lunch, allowing riders, owners and trainers to take a moment to relax in the tranquil atmosphere.
The course opened at 8 a.m. and remained open until 4:30 p.m., allowing competitors ample time to come at their convenience to ride and enjoy the ambiance of Wolfstone Stables. The $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix event will return to Wolfstone Stables tomorrow for the first week of competition, and will then make its way to the International Polo Club Palm Beach for Week Two of the Wellington Turf Tour. The 10-week series will culminate with the $24,750 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale on Saturday, March 22, 2014.
Riders have the opportunity to ride over straight from the show grounds, or trailer their horses over while enjoying unparalleled hospitality and quality competition. The Ridge series is the perfect training opportunity to help riders and horses prepare for the classes held at the Winter Equestrian Festival, helping to end the daily grind and prevent complacency throughout the circuit.
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 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.
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
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro do a lap of honour after breaking the world record in the freestyle.
9 January 2014 – A record number of visitors attended the world’s best equine Christmas party last month, Olympia, the London International Horse Show, which took place from 16 to 22 December 2013.
A total of 95,276 spectators flocked to London’s premier horse show in the famous West London venue to watch the equine extravaganza. Ticket sales were up 6% from 2012 and the additional Gala night on Monday 16 December bought an extra 6,000 people. Well known faces in attendance included HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Denise Lewis, England Rugby legends Ben Cohen and Phil Vickery, Deborah Meaden, Martin Clunes and Rory Bremner.
Highlights included FEI World Cups in three different disciplines, Dressage, Show Jumping and Driving, the thrilling Alltech Christmas Puissance won by Italian rider Luca Moneta, and a breath-taking world record breaking Dressage performance by British superstars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.
The unique entertainment that always makes Olympia so magical, such as the Shetland Pony Grand National, the Kennel Club Dog Agility, the Services Jumping Championship, the vast shopping village and not forgetting the Christmas Finale, were all back again. However, the icing on the cake undoubtedly came from Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art whose outstanding displays of horsemanship mesmerised spectators. It was the first time that the stunning pure bred Andalusian horses from Jerez de la Frontera, south-west Spain have performed in the UK for over 40 years.
Dujardin breaks world record
The show started with a bang as sensational Dressage duo Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro smashed the world record score in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle supported by Horse & Hound on the Tuesday evening performance. Spectators can claim to have experienced one of those spine tingling ‘I was there’ moments when the Olympic gold medallists performed to their famous ‘Great Escape’ music for the last time and accumulated a staggering score of 93.975%. The score beat the former world record of 92.3% set by Edward Gal and Totilas, also at Olympia, in 2009.
Charlotte, who now holds the world record for all three Grand Prix tests, said: “I can’t believe it – I am over the moon and just ecstatic. I really wanted to come here and see if I could break the record to this music and at Olympia. It has been such an incredible journey with Valegro – I have achieved so much more than I ever imagined.”
Winners Luca Moneta & Quovo de Vains clear the 7 ft. 2 in. Puissance wall
Christmas Puissance
Italian rider Luca Moneta won the hearts of a packed house on Thursday evening when he cleared 7ft 2in to win the thrilling Alltech Christmas Puissance. The competition went to five rounds with only Guy Williams (GBR), on Richi Rich lll, and Luca on the gallant nine-year-old mare Quovo de Vains making it through to the final round. Guy’s grey mare just brushed a brick with his knee, leaving Luca to take the gamble. Unbelievably, it was Luca’s first ever Puissance win.
The evergreen John Whitaker, 58, who has won this epic class more times than any other rider, was cheered to the rafters for finishing third on Zantos. Laura Renwick was fourth on the appropriately named Roller Coaster.
Crowds thrilled by Extreme Carriage Driving
IJsbrand Chardon steers to victory in the Extreme Driving FEI World Cup
The Extreme Driving FEI World Cup Leg on Friday evening was won by long-standing champion driver IJsbrand Chardon from The Netherlands. In a tense final round, Chardon beat compatriot Koos de Ronde in an outstanding display of speed, accuracy and boldness. The shock result came from World No. 1 Boyd Exell (AUS) who left an impossible margin to catch up after collecting two knock downs. Britain’s Georgina Hunt, the first ever woman to be granted a wild card at a qualifier, put in a terrific show to finish seventh.
President of the ground jury, Klaus Peppersack, said: “The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I have been to all the qualifying events and would have to say that I have never experienced an atmosphere like it. It is quite the best audience in the world.”
Longines FEI World Cup
A packed house on the Saturday afternoon was treated to a thrilling 11-horse jump-off in the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier presented by H & M, which built to the dream finish from Maikel Van der Vleuten (NED) – the very last rider into the arena pulling off victory. Riding VDL Groep Sapphire B, Maikel beat Belgium’s Francois Mathy Jr on Polinska des Isles by the tiny margin of 5/100th of a second. The 25-year-old also made history at Olympia, The London International Horse Show when he matched his father Eric’s achievement of winning this prestigious competition in 2009.
Maikel Van der Vleuten (NED) clears the London 2012 Bus to claim victory in the Longines FEI World Cup Leg
Scott Brash (Hello Ursula Xll, 6th), Michael Whitaker (Viking, 7th) and Peter Charles (Murka’s Odie de Frevent, 10th) kept home hopes alive by making it into the jump-off but they all faulted.
Young riders celebrated
It was a fairy tale win in the Under 23 British Championship sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and The World Class Programme for young promising rider Jess Dimmock. Jess missed last year’s Olympia because her horse Capello II had to undergo colic surgery. However, he made a full recovery and came back to Olympia this year to help Jess land what is regarded as the most prestigious competition for young riders in the world.
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, again enjoying her annual visit to Olympia on Thursday evening, presented the prestigious Raymond Brooks-Ward trophy, which is given in memory of the late commentator and show director by his three sons, Simon, James and Nick, to the most promising young rider of the year. This year’s recipient was show jumper Louise Saywell, 23, a member of the Lottery-funded World Class Development squad, who was a last-minute call-up to the British team at the FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona in September.
Brits save the best until last
It was a one-two for Great Britain in the final big class of the week, the Olympia Grand Prix, when Ben Maher narrowly beat his 58-year-old compatriot John Whitaker.
Riding his London 2012 hero, Tripple X III, Ben rattled the second fence in the nail biting jump off, but the World No. 2 kept his cool. John then produced his gallant effort, but a tiny check in front of the penultimate fence cost him a fraction of a second and first place in one of the few competitions he has yet to win.
After winning the class, Maher said: “I heard the crowd gasp but, if anything, that helped me. There’s huge prize money all over the world but you can’t beat history and all the people cheering. I’d rather win the Grand Prix at Olympia than anywhere else in the world.”
The H & M Leading Rider of Show accolade went to another popular Brit, Laura Renwick, whose consistency meant she beat Peder Fredricson (SWE) by four points to the award. Jur Vrieling (NED) was third, William Funnell (GBR) fourth, Italy’s Luca Moneta fifth and the talented young Dutchman, Maikel Van der Vleuten, winner of the Christmas Masters as well as the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping, was sixth.
Renwick, Britain’s leading lady rider, summed up the week: “This is right up there with anything else I’ve done. This is the showcase for the year for British riders and so to win this leading rider prize is a great thing for my CV!”
Results:
For a full list of all the results from Olympia 2013, please click here.
Media Enquiries:
For more information please contact Hannah Grissell, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
Email: hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 207 592 1207
Wellington, FL – January 8, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions hosted the first day of competition for the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) on Wednesday with a full schedule of hunter, jumper and equitation competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The day kicked off with a win in the International Arena for 20-year-old Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) of Greenwich, CT, riding Quidam MB in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m. Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze also got a win on the first day of competition in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class with Zigali P S. Alexander Zetterman (SWE) won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed round aboard Canora.
Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, runs through Sunday, January 12. The week’s highlights include the $75,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 11, as well as the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday, January 12. The FTI WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, 2014, awarding close to $8 million in prize money.
Eric Hasbrouck is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition. Hasbrouck saw 20 competitors over his $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed track in the morning with seven clear rounds. Adrienne Sternlicht and Quidam MB secured the win with their time of 66.192 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Baldev finished second with their time of 67.670 seconds. Lauren Hough (USA) and Reconnaissance, owned by Laura and Meredith Mateo, went first in the class and set the pace with their time of 68.575 seconds and eventually finished third. Jimmy Torano (USA) and Ben Maher’s Dolores MB had the fourth place time of 69.997 seconds.
Adrienne Sternlicht has owned Quidam MB, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quidam’s Rubin x Argentinus, for two years now. The pair started in the Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers and then moved up to the High division last year. They have now taken the next step, and started off the 2014 FTI WEF circuit with an exciting 1.45m win. They also topped the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at last week’s Holiday Finale horse show.
“I got down here last week and he showed Saturday in the Highs and won that class and then today he was fantastic,” Sternlicht noted. “It is really exciting (to win the first class). I was hurt last season, so we are really starting out on a good note. I didn’t ride that much in high school, but now I get to practice a lot. Now it is really about setting the right pace for me, so it is a great start.”
Sternlicht trains with Linda Langmeier as well as U.S. Olympic Team Gold Medalist Laura Kraut. She was very excited to win Wednesday’s class over many top international riders, including Kraut.
“It is fantastic,” Sternlicht smiled. “I am definitely an amateur rider. I am just starting to move up and be competitive at this level, and I have started to get a bit of experience at the grand prix level. I sit and watch everything, even when I’m not here. I can learn a lot from watching the riders in the schooling area as well.”
Sternlicht had the advantage of watching the top rounds before her on Wednesday and was able to plan her ride a little bit. She took note of what Shane Sweetnam had done, as he was leading the class before her round.
“I really just tried to think about the right pace from jump one to two so that he didn’t get too hung up at two, and then just carrying a fluid pace throughout the round,” Sternlicht explained. “I wasn’t necessarily focused on winning, but he went in and was so good at the start, so I just kind of kept going. We were wondering whether to do six or seven strides in the last line and he has such a big stride and tends to drift right, but the six really just kind of honed in on itself. That is really what I took from watching Shane’s ride.”
Speaking more about Quidam MB, Sternlicht stated, “He just turned nine, and we are finally starting to call on him, so I’m really excited. He is a really special horse. He is very careful and has a huge stride, so I tend to worry about less things on him and just kind of let him do his job.”
Sternlicht hopes to move up to some bigger classes with Quidam MB during this year’s FTI WEF circuit. She will also compete with some of her more seasoned horses, such as S&L Slingback. She will compete during the first few weeks of FTI WEF and then commute back and forth between school (she is a Sophomore at Brown University). Sternlicht began showing in Wellington at a young age and has seen the show grow a lot. She looks forward to a great season.
“I did a lot of ponies and then took a break in high school, but I have been coming here for probably about ten years and the facility keeps getting better,” the rider acknowledged. “It is really remarkable, and my horses are all really happy, so we are very happy to be here.”
Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze rode to a one-two finish in Wednesday’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class out of 64 competitors. Twenty-three entries advanced to the jump-off and there were 17 double clear rounds. Lamaze won the class aboard Artisan Farms LLC’s Zigali P S in a time of 33.628 seconds. He earned second place honors with Artisan Farms LLC’s Quelmec du Gery in 34.065 seconds. Laura Kraut and Stone Hill Farm’s Wish placed third in 34.268 seconds.
The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed was the final class of the day with a win for Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman aboard Canora. The class featured 37 horse and rider combinations with seven clear rounds. Zetterman and Canora finished in 60.181 seconds, well ahead of second place finishers Larua Chapot and Bradberry in 65.012 seconds. Hayley Barnhill and Cara Cheska’s Zephire placed third in 73.34 seconds.
FTI WEF week one, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, will continue on Thursday with the $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1. The first hunter champions of the circuit will also be named. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 7, 2014 – Sunshine Forever, the 1988 Eclipse Award Turf Champion, died January 7 at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, KY. The 29-year-old stallion was discovered in his paddock at dawn today and a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
The son of Roberto out of the Graustark mare Outward Sunshine, Sunshine Forever had been pensioned at Old Friends since his return to the United States in 2004 from stud duty in Japan.
“Our foundation stallion, the Eclipse Award winner who we brought home after his breeding career was over, is dead, and there’s nothing much more to be said,” noted Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “I don’t think I’ve ever been sadder.”
In 1988 the 3-year-old Sunshine Forever captured fived graded-stakes wins, including a trio of back-to-back GR1 victories in the Turf Classic, the Man O’ War, and – in an impressive fight to the finish – the Budweiser International.
A favorite in that year’s Breeder’s Cup Turf, he narrowly missed the win, coming in second to Great Communicator, but he was nevertheless honored as 1988’s Eclipse Turf Champion.
The bay colt ended his career in 1989 with 8 wins from 23 starts and track earnings of over $2 million.
“I want to thank everyone who ever fed him a carrot or petted him or bet on him or bred to him or just smiled when they saw him,” added Blowen. “You are the ones who had the privilege of knowing how extra special he was in a very special place.”
Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 110 retired racehorses. Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (January 7, 2013) – Beginning this winter at HITS Ocala, HITS Tucson and HITS Thermal, HITS will offer the new 3’3” Junior Hunter division. The new division will be added to the online class schedules in the coming weeks.
“Our riders and trainers are excited about the division and we are hopeful that it will prove to be a popular choice among junior hunter riders,” said HITS Show Manager Kristen Vale-Mosack.
The United Sates Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced the debut of the 3’3” Junior Hunter Division in late 2013. “We received several inquiries about the division this fall, and decided to go ahead and add it to the winter shows. We will continue to offer it this summer in Saugerties and Culpeper as well.”
This new division means junior hunter riders will have more options in the show ring, and HITS is pleased to offer this division at all of its show nationwide beginning in 2014.
Winter competition kicks off January 15 and runs through March 24 at HITS Ocala in Florida. On the West Coast, HITS will be underway January 21 – March 16 at HITS Thermal in California, and January 29 – March 9 at HITS Tucson in Arizona. For complete schedules, please visit HitsShows.com.
Coming up this winter at HITS Aside from new hunter offerings, HITS is excited to introduce qualifiers for the Bayer’s Legend (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix at both HITS Ocala and HITS Thermal. Weekly High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classics will be offered on both coasts, with prize money ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Qualified riders will then have the chance to compete for historic prizes during the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York September 3-7, 2014.
In Ocala, Thoroughbreds will again take their turn in the spotlight with the return of the TAKE 2 Thoroughbred Hunter Division. During Weeks V, VI, VIII and IX, Jockey Club registered Thoroughbreds will compete in a $1,500 3’ division, proving that there is plenty of excitement beyond the track. Meanwhile, Thermal hunter riders will vie for the first ever Leading Hunter Award. Weekly high-point winners will be awarded with a complimentary helmet from Charles Owen.
Further highlighting competition on both coasts is the first-ever opportunity to compete for top honors in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping. With the addition of the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Ocala, grand prix riders will have the chance to cash in like never before and take a chance on the three richest prizes in show jumping.
