William Fox-Pitt (GBR), who holds the top three places at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), on Cross Country leader Seacookie TSF. (Photo: Trevor Holt/FEI)
Lausanne (SUI), 26 October 2013 – William Fox-Pitt was simply outstanding on the Cross Country at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), first competition of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, and in an incredible result, is now holding first, second and third places.
All three of Fox-Pitt’s horses, the leader Seacookie, Cool Mountain (second) and Neuf des Coeurs (third), went brilliantly and finished inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 48 seconds. A large crowd, enjoying the bright sunshine, showed their appreciation as they loudly cheered him home on Cool Mountain, the last of the 76 Cross Country starters.
“They were foot perfect,” said an understandably elated Fox-Pitt, naming the athletic, French-bred Neuf des Coeurs as the best galloper of the trio. “They’re all horses I know well and they’re all good jumpers.”
However, although he has three chances for a second Pau victory tomorrow, Fox-Pitt does not have a Jumping fence in hand over the competitive American rider, Phillip Dutton on new mount Mr Medicott, who is breathing down his neck in fourth place.
“It’s pretty neat to have the ride on him,” said Dutton, who recently took over Greman Frank Ostholt’s 2008 Olympic gold medallist from compatriot Karen O’Connor. “The idea of coming here was to get used to Pierre Michelet’s courses and walk his lines (before next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen).”
The home side’s star of the show was 26-year-old Maxime Livio (FRA), a newcomer at this level, who also competes in Jumping. He put in a great performance on Cathar de Gamel, winner of the Sandillon (FRA) and Haras du Pin (FRA) CIC3*s this year, and is in fifth place.
“We’ve had a really nice season, so perhaps it’s not such a surprise to do so well here,” said Livio. “But I was quite surprised that my horse could go so fast over a course that’s nearly 12 minutes and I’m feeling pretty impressed to be sitting here in a press conference with these two superstars [Fox-Pitt and Dutton].”
Last year’s winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL) had mixed fortunes. He is in sixth place after a smooth performance on Mr Cruise Control, but he had a run-out with Quimbo, equal fourth after Dressage, at fence 20 and he retired his first ride, CCI4* newcomer Viscount George.
Britain’s Sarah Bullimore rode two great clear rounds inside the time to rise eight places to seventh on Valentino V, and 34 places to 15th on My Last One. Donatien Schauly (FRA) made it look easy on Pivoine des Touches to climb 11 places to eighth, and Clark Montgomery (USA) on Universe and Rodolphe Scherer (Makara de Montiege, FRA) rose 22 places apiece to ninth and 10th.
Dressage leaders Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) and Flying Finish were quick across the country but are out of contention after a frustrating run-out right at the end of the course at the influential complex at 25. Some riders who were up on the clock, including Fox-Pitt, had the luxury of taking the long route here.
Lucy Wiegersma (GBR), sixth after Dressage on Simon Porloe, retired after a refusal at the duck-shaped fence in the first water complex, and Frank Ostholt (GER) and Little Paint, lying eighth, were pulled up near the end of the course.
There were 35 clear rounds, nine of them inside the optimum time, and 53 completions, but Pierre Michelet’s accuracy questions certainly had riders thinking and made for a thrilling day’s sport.
William Fox-Pitt commented that he was surprised by the amount of problems at the first water complex. “Horses didn’t seem to read it that well. There were all sorts of ways you could approach it and it was interesting to watch.
“By contrast, it was amazing how well horses coped with the last water. You don’t meet many fences with five elements, under trees and involving water, but it just shows how good our horses are now.”
Watch tomorrow’s Jumping action live on FEI TV www.feitv.org and keep up to date with the scores throughout on www.event-pau.fr.
Prize money
At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.
HSBC Rankings
The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott (Libby Law Photography)
Dutton Seventh, Burnett Eleventh
Pau, France – The second day of dressage at the 2013 Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* hosted the final 35 combinations, five of which were representing the U.S., as they performed their tests in front of the Ground Jury of Angela Tucker, Christina Klingspor, and Alain James. Leading the way for the United States after the first phase are Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott on a score of 44.2 in seventh place. Marilyn Little, Kristi Nunnink and Michael Pollard, who are also competing in France thanks to Land Rover’s support, headed down centerline on Friday as well. The first U.S. pair in the ring Friday was Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant-recipient Lynn Symansky and Donner, who are competing in their first European competition.
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) only began riding the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s 14-year-old Irish Sport gelding in late June, but the pair is putting their partnership to the test this weekend in France. On Friday, they earned their best score to date with a polished performance that earned high marks for the canter work and flying changes at the end of the test.
“I’m very pleased. I don’t know the horse that well so it’s not about educating him it’s about getting to know him more,” said Dutton. “There are still parts to improve but I’m very pleased.”
The combination will set out on Pierre Michelet’s technical track Saturday looking to climb higher up the leaderboard with a quick, clear round. Dutton will use the experience earned representing both his native Australia and the U.S. at numerous Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games to produce a top result in his four-star debut with the gelding. Mr. Medicott also brings a wealth of experience, having completed the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in addition to garnering two top-10 results at Pau (2008 and 2011) with Germany’s Frank Ostholt. The talented gelding was also ridden by Karen O’Connor to ninth place at the London Olympic Games.
“It’s a very different course than I’ve ridden before but it’s good to be here and see it because he (Michelet) is the designer for the World Championships next year,” said Dutton. “There are lots of lines and angles we don’t usually see.”
Little (Frederick, Md.) and Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare RF Demeter were the final U.S. pair to perform their dressage test, scoring 51.2. They earned high marks for their consistent trot-work to begin the test, but mistakes in the first and second flying changes kept them from landing higher up the leaderboard. The pair, which placed seventh at the Luhmühlen CCI4* in June, set on Saturday’s cross country standing in 27th place.
Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and her own Donner completed the first phase in 38th place on a score of 53.3. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding began the test with a tense entry that kept the first set of marks down, but the 2011 Pan American Games Team gold medalists kept their poise through the remainder of the test to produce consistent work.
Nunnink (Auburn, Calif.) and her own 12-year-old Holsteiner mare R-Star were the third U.S. entry in the arena of Friday and finished the dressage in 41st place. The 2013 USEF National Open Horse Trial Reserve Championships scored 54.5 in a test that was highlighted by the mare’s flying changes.
Rounding out the U.S. effort at Pau were Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) and Carl Bouckaert’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Mensa. The combination earned a score of 55.2 for a consistent performance which was just marred by the gelding breaking into canter during the extended canter. They head into the cross country standing in 47th place.
On Thursday, Hannah Sue Burnett and Clark Montgomery completed their tests with Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot and Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith’s Universe, respectively. At the conclusion of the first phase Burnett (The Plains, Va.) stands equal 11th on 45.7, while Montgomery (Witlshire, UK) is 31st with a 52.
Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks and her Olympic veteran Flying Finish hold the lead following the first phase on 39.2. William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain stands in second and third on scores of 41.5 and 42.2 with Seacookie TSF and Cool Mountain, respectively.
Montgomery will be the first U.S. competitor on course Saturday for the U.S. at 2:19pm local time, Burnett is next out at 2:39pm, followed by Symansky at 3:03pm. Pollard will set out 20 minutes later at 3:23pm, closely followed by Nunnink at 3:43pm. Dutton starts on course at 4:15pm and Little is the final U.S. rider at 4:27pm.
McLain Ward and Wings Top $50,000 Open Jumper Speed Final; Hymowitz and Strauss Victorious in Junior/Amateur-Owners Jumpers; Sommers, Hymowitz and MacPherson Tie for Grand Junior Hunter Championship
Washington, D.C – October 25, 2013 – The 55th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Friday, October 25, with an exciting day of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The $25,000 Open Jumper Puissance, presented by The Boeing Company, was the highlight class of the evening with a win for Great Britain’s Tim Gredley and Unex Competition Yard’s Unex Valente, clearing the imposing wall in five rounds up to a height of 2.10m.
McLain Ward (USA) topped the $50,000 Open Jumper Speed Final, Cloe Hymowitz and Katherine Strauss triumphed in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and Meredith Darst took the early lead in the Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals Hunter Phase. Samantha Sommers, Lili Hymowitz, and Megan MacPherson all finished in a three-way tie for the Grand Junior Hunter Championship. Sommers was also named Best Child Rider on a Horse for 2013.
WIHS continues through Sunday, October 27. The $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, will be the highlight class on Saturday, October 26.
Venezuela’s Leopoldo Palacios is the course designer for the jumpers at WIHS this week. Palacios set the wall for the evening’s $25,000 Puissance at 1.70m in height and continued through five rounds up to 2.10m (6’11”). The Armed Forces Cup, presented by The Boeing Company, was awarded to Gredley and Unex Valente for clearing the 2.10m wall in the final round. Gredley also accepted The Congressman’s Challenge Trophy, donated by the Late Honorable Rogers C.B. Morton and the Late Honorable F. Robert Watkins, on behalf of Unex Competition Yard Ltd. as the owner of the winning horse.
The class began with four fences to clear, including a vertical, oxer, and triple-bar leading up to the wall set at a starting height of 1.70m. McLain Ward and his brand new mount, Kroner Z, had an unfortunate stop at the triple-bar that immediately took them out of the running. The four other competitors, including Aaron Vale (USA) and DaSilva Equine LLC’s Smartie, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Walstib Stables LLC’s Aragon Rouet, Charlie Jayne (USA) and Pony Lane Farm’s Uraya, and Tim Gredley aboard Unex Valente all cleared the first round to advance.
Those four competitors also cleared the wall in round two at 1.80m and round three at 1.90m in height to continue to a fourth round. Darragh Kenny and Aragon Rouet knocked the blocks off the wall at 2.00m to conclude their evening, while the other three attempted another increase. In the fifth and final round, Vale and Jayne were not able to clear the obstacle, and that left Tim Gredley and Unex Valente to jump 2.10m to win top prize.
Gredley and Unex Valente have jumped in a few Puissance classes together and won them at the Alltech National Horse Show in 2012 and the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in 2013. Valente is an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Sit This One Out that Gredley has owned since the horse was four years old. They have a trusting partnership that helps with jumping the big wall.
“A lot depends on the horse,” Gredley said after his win. “He gives you the confidence to ride it the right way. He just has brilliant technique for it. He is very good in the front and learning to be really good behind. He’s very versatile, and I think in order to jump a very big wall they have to have a bit of quality and be very brave, as well.”
Gredley and Valente have attempted the 2.38m record twice now and had the wall down both times. He made some changes today and will try for two in a row at the Alltech National Horse Show in Kentucky next week. “I changed a few things around today, including the bridle, and he felt like he was jumping really well behind today, so it would be nice to try it with this kind of arrangement,” Gredley noted. “With this horse, it isn’t me being arrogant, he just makes it easy. He loves it, and I trust the horse so much.”
Talking strategy, Gredley explained, “To be honest, the first round is the most difficult. You want to get into a rhythm. Everyone has a different way of doing it. Some people like to wait and pull, I like to just keep coming at the wall and set him up a couple of strides out. The first round is always more worrying for me than any of the others. Once I feel that I have a rhythm on him and everything feels good, it is not a problem after that.”
McLain Ward and Wings
McLain Ward and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Wings (Lexicon x Jersey) were the winners in the $50,000 International Open Jumper Speed Final, a faults converted class sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. Twenty-five entries jumped the course and five cleared the obstacles without fault. Ward and Wings jumped with ease in a blazing fast time of 51.35 seconds for the win.
Wings is an experienced jumper that Ward originally purchased for his wife to ride, but ended up showing himself. “Someone called me in January about him because he was getting a bit older,” he explained. “I bought him for Lauren, and he actually ended up being a little too careful for her, so I confiscated the ride. He was good for me this summer. He won a couple Grand Prix at Saugerties and won one class and was second in another at Harrisburg. He is actually an easy horse to ride, but electric-careful.”
“He needs a solid ride; he’s not one to take a joke,” Ward described. “He is a fifteen-year-old horse and has shown very successfully with a Dutch rider for many years, so he has jumped a lot of indoor shows. This is his first time here with me, but he certainly has a lot of miles.”
Talking about Palacios’ track for the night, Ward remarked, “The course was very difficult. It was quite twisty and turny. There was a lot of misdirection. The horses didn’t really know where they were going. It helped to have a nice old horse. He has a big stride, and he is a quick horse by nature. There was that big question at the end, the inside turn to the pink vertical, and I felt where I went in the order that was very risky. I felt that if I was fast up and to the Hermes vertical, that I would go around and take my chances and it would put enough pressure on them. I think you had to do the inside turn to catch my time and I don’t know how doable it was.”
Twenty-year-old Katie Dinan (USA), to a second place finish in 53.14 seconds riding Grant Road Partners’ Glory Days. Another up-and-coming young rider, Meagan Nusz (USA), finished third in 53.31 seconds with Amalaya Investments’ Vesuvius. Callan Solem (USA) and Horseshoe Trail Farms’ VDL Wizard were fourth with a time of 55.56 seconds.
Sommers, Hymowitz and MacPherson Earn Top Junior Hunter Awards
The Junior Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition at WIHS on Friday morning with the presentation of championship awards. The Grand Junior Hunter Championship, sponsored by Roseknoll Sporthorse and Victoria Holstein-Childress, ended in a three-way tie between Samantha Sommers and Oscany, Inc.’s Small Celebration, Lili Hymowitz riding Danielle Staci’s Tiffani, and Megan MacPherson aboard Meridian Partners’ Good Humor. The three young ladies and their horses shared the winner’s circle and were presented with The Ides of March Perpetual Trophy, donated by Linda Lee and Lee Reynolds.
Samantha Sommers and Small Celebration
Eighteen-year-old Samantha Sommers of Malibu, CA, had a fantastic two days of competition with her top mounts, Small Celebration and Small Affair, in the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division sponsored by Chansonette Farm. Sommers and Small Celebration earned the individual division championship on their way to the grand honors with first, second and fourth place ribbons over fences and a second under saddle. They were awarded The Chance Step Perpetual Trophy, donated by Brooke Carmichael McMurray-Fowler and Pam Carmichael Keenan.
Sommers also earned the division’s reserve championship riding Iwasaki and Reilly’s Small Affair to two first place ribbons and a fifth over fences. The pair’s stake score of 95 was the best Junior Hunter stake round of the day, the highest score of the week so far and Sommer’s best score ever. For that, they were presented with the The Lyrik Challenge Trophy, donated by Ashley and Courtney Kennedy. Sommers was then named the 2013 Best Child Rider on a Horse and earned the special DiVecchia Perpetual Trophy. The award was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Crown; the trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick DiVecchia.
Sommers, a cinema student at the University of Southern California, bought Small Celebration from trainer John French two years ago. The eight-year-old Hanoverian mare by Embassy I has shown mainly with French and rider Olivia Esse. When Esse went off to college, Sommers started showing Small Celebration and the partnership has worked out very well.
“She was awesome and brilliant in the handy and she was great in the under saddle,” Sommers noted. “I knew she’d get a top ribbon there. Overall you can tell she wasn’t too tired or wired. She walks in the ring and she wants to win. I just had a lot of fun on her.”
Sommers also has a great relationship with reserve champion, Small Affair. Small Affair is a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Elf d’Or owned by Chris Iwasaki and Elizabeth Reilly of Calabasas, CA. Small Affair gave Sommers the ride of a lifetime this week with their high score of 95 in the stake round.
“That’s the highest score I’ve ever gotten,” Sommers beamed. “Yesterday when I got the 93 on Small Affair, I thought, ‘That’s my highest score at indoors.’ Then I got the 95 today, and it was my highest score ever! I was really happy with how Small Celebration went in the stake too. I didn’t put pressure on myself to win the highest score in the stake but I was like, ‘That’d be fun!’ I just went in and thought I already did well on her, and thought I had nothing to lose.”
On the honor of being Best Child Rider, she smiled, “I’m very excited. We were just taking the championship picture and we heard it over the intercom. John got all excited. He’s very serious when working with him, but when I got the 95 and got off, he ran and gave me a hug. I think that was the best moment of the day! It means a lot when they’re so proud and happy for you.”
“I’m so happy and I’m happy to share the Grand title,” she continued. “It was like you won it, but you didn’t. It was nice that we could all share it. This is my last year as a junior, so it’s a little emotional. I’ll probably be on the airplane home thinking, ‘I want to do it again!’ At the same time, it’s good to end on a good note.”
On their way to the tie for grand champion, Megan MacPherson of Boulder, CO, and Good Humor won the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship. They placed first, second and second over fences and fourth under saddle. O’Ryan and Meghan Flanagan finished in reserve with a third place under saddle and first, third and sixth place ribbons over fences.
MacPherson has had Good Humor, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding by Vigaro 2, for two years. She bought him in Kentucky after watching the horse compete with professional rider Hunt Tosh.
“He’s so easy. He’s like a Children’s Hunter. I’ve never ridden an easier horse,” MacPherson described. “We were sitting in the stands at Harrisburg with my trainer Stacia (Madden) and she said, ‘What do you think about that horse Good Humor?’ and I said ‘I love it. It’s young and Hunt does a really good job with it.’ At that point he had been champion at Harrisburg, Devon, here, all in the First and Second Years. We were all over it.”
This is MacPherson’s second year showing at WIHS. “I like the energy. It’s so unique,” she stated. “There’s no other show like it. I like this show a lot.”
Tiffani and Lili Hymowitz of New York, NY, got their names into the grand championship as well with a win in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division sponsored by Entrust. The pair placed first, second and third over fences and were also third under saddle. Bergen Sanderford and Happenstance repeated their reserve performance from 2012 with a win in the under saddle and first and sixth place ribbons over fences.
Fourteen-year-old Lili Hymowitz has been riding Tiffani, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare by Chello I, since this past winter and this was a big win for the duo. The mare originally competed in the High Junior Jumpers but has shown her top form as a hunter with trainer Scott Stewart. This was Tiffani’s first time showing in the Junior Hunters at WIHS as well as the first Junior Hunter championship at any final for the young rider.
“Even though she’s new to this, I did feel confident going in there,” Hymowitz stated. “Ever since she’s started doing the hunters, I’ve never been scared to go in. She feels comfortable, so I trust her a lot. It’s obviously a lot cooler to win this here than anywhere else.”
“She’s amazing,” Hymowitz noted. “She always brings her best out at big shows. I got her in the middle of WEF (the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival) this year. When I tried her she was really ‘jumpery,’ but Scott does that. He finds the great ones.”
The final championship of the day was for the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division with a double tricolor presentation for Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL. Colvin earned the championship with Dr. Betsee Parker’s Ovation and finished in reserve with Parker’s Canadian Blue. Ovation won under saddle and placed second, third and fourth over fences. Canadian Blue won both classes over fences on Thursday.
The final Junior Hunter award of the day was another three-way tie for the high score Junior Hunter riding his or her own horse. The Georgetown Trophy, sponsored by Sheila and Britton Sanderford, was awarded to Megan MacPherson and Good Humor, Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Joyful, and Hunter Holloway and Hays Investment Corporation’s Cascina for their scores of 90 in their respective divisions.
Junior/Amateur-Owners Go for Speed
The $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, went earlier in the day and saw a win for Katherine Strauss of Southampton, NY, riding her 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Chellando Z (by Chellano Z). The pair earned the Cover Story Perpetual Trophy donated by Rolling Acres Farm for the fastest clear round in 44.25 seconds. Out of 23 entries, eight cleared the course without fault.
Yesterday’s winners, Charlotte Jacobs and Deeridge Farms’ Kachina, finished second in 44.75 seconds. Kalvin Dobbs and Treesdale Farms’ Winde were third in 46.10 seconds, and Haley Schaufeld finished fourth in 46.15 seconds riding Harley 86.
The $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by North Star, saw a victory for Cloe Hymowitz of New York, NY, with Rose Hill Farm’s Bon Vivant, who were also the winners of yesterday’s jump-off class in the division. Twenty-two entries showed in the class with seven clear rounds. Hymowitz and Bon Vivant had the fastest time of 43.97 seconds to earn The Eleanor White O’Leary Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashton Hill and Miss Linden Joan Hill.
Michael Hughes and Drumnacross Farm’s stopped the clock in 45.76 seconds to finish second. Alexandra Crown and Starnato placed third in 48.04 seconds, and Charlotte Jacobs and North Star’s Cyrina Z were fourth in 48.13 seconds.
Equitation Begins with Hunter Phase
In addition to Junior Hunter championships on Friday’s day session, Verizon Center hosted the hunter phase of the Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals with an early lead for Meredith Darst of Lebanon, OH, with a score of 88.75 riding Elizabeth Gabler’s Soldier. Close behind, Kelli Cruciotti scored an 87 with Nicole Lyvere’s Cincinatti. Caitlin Boyle finished the day in third with a score of 86.75 riding Micaela Kennedy’s Loredo. Michael Hughes and Whipstick Farm Ltd.’s Joey stand fourth with a score of 86.25, and Victoria Colvin placed fifth with her score of 86 riding Monsieur du Reverdy.
The Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals will continue tomorrow with all riders returning for the jumper phase. The hunter and jumper scores will then be averaged out to determine the top ten riders who will participate in the final work-off. The riders change horses by determination of a random draw by lot and then compete over the jumper course for final scores.
The competition will also continue on Saturday with the opening classes for the pony hunters followed by the $5,000 Senator’s Cup Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by North Star, and the $10,000 Ambassador’s Cup SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown. The jumper phase for the Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals will close out the afternoon session.
The evening session begins at 7 p.m. with the Hermès WIHS Equitation Finals work-off with the top 10 riders. The $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, will conclude the night.
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
The Washington International Horse Show Silent Auction is now available online with an easy-to-use bidding website. Don’t miss your chance to win special items that range from a private riding lesson with Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden to a Private Decorating Party at Georgetown Cupcake Lab. Other incredible items include two tickets to Saturday Night Live’s live show, a diamond horseshoe pin from Tiny Jewel Box, full show attire from The Saddlery, and much, much more. Bid from your computer or smart phone at home, at the barn, at work, or anywhere you have Internet – just go to http://wihs.maestroweb.com.
The Acela Club on the Sky Box level of Verizon Center is the perfect place to socialize with friends and a wonderful vantage point for watching the action in the ring. WIHS is hosting three special social events and we hope you’ll join us! Have fun, watch great sport and support worthy local organizations. Party tickets include dinner and an open bar. $150/per person. Order by phone at 202-525-3679 or visit http://www.wihs.org/social-events/.
Along with six days of world-class competition, WIHS features a unique boutique shopping experience for exhibitors and spectators alike. The main concourse at Verizon Center brings together a diverse group of vendors for everyone’s shopping enjoyment. Shoppers can find everything from equestrian tack and apparel to fine art and jewelry. This year’s show features over 50 vendor stands and boutiques for all of your shopping needs throughout the week.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish go to the top of the class in the Dressage phase at Les Etoiles de Pau. (Photo: Trevor Holt/FEI).
Lausanne (SUI), 25 October 2013 – The first competition of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season has been billed as a “battle of the giants” between Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and William Fox-Pitt (GBR), ranked first and second in the HSBC Rider Rankings, but Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks has swept ahead of the pair of them after the Dressage phase at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA).
Fredericks, always a graceful and accomplished performer in this phase, was the only rider to break the 40-penalty barrier with a score of 39.2 on Flying Finish. However, the next six horses, three of them ridden by Fox-Pitt, are within five penalties of the leading score.
Flying Finish, a 13-year-old gelding by Candillo, is Fredericks’ top horse; they were second at Luhmühlen (GER) and members of the Australian Olympic team in 2012. This year, after a slow start to the season, due to Fredericks breaking a collarbone in March, they were 10th at Luhmühlen, but both horse and rider will have honed their fitness since then and are sure to be making a determined assault on Pierre Michelet’s Cross Country course tomorrow.
“Pierre is certainly testing us,” commented Fredericks, who is competing at Pau for the first time since 2002. “I’ve never ridden in the four-star here but the advantage of going later is that I’ll be able to watch. The downside is that I’ll have more time to get nervous.
“I think the first and last sections of the course will be a lot slower than the middle part [on the racecourse] and as my horse isn’t a thoroughbred, I can’t switch on the turbo, so I need to make a plan.”
Fredericks said the Dressage was “the easy bit. I enjoy it and I’m lucky because my horse has a good brain. So often as a horse gets more experienced they can blow up in the atmosphere, but he settles. I was a bit weak in my halts. I don’t know if it’s because I had practised them too much or not enough, but to do three bad halts and still be leading isn’t bad!”
Fox-Pitt, a three-time winner of the HSBC FEI Classics (in 2008, 2010 and 2012) and a winner at Pau in 2011 on Oslo, performed the remarkable feat of achieving three Dressage marks less than two penalties apart to lie second, third and equal fourth.
He is second on Seacookie TSF, runner-up at Kentucky (USA) in April, third on the 2010 World individual silver medalist Cool Mountain, and equal fourth on Neuf des Coeurs, third at Luhmühlen in June but retired early on the Cross Country at Burghley (GBR) last month.
Fox-Pitt was among many riders to welcome the new arena surface at Pau. “The horses seemed to go very nicely on it and now there’s a level playing field,” he said.
Of his three rides, he was particularly pleased with Cool Mountain, back in major competition for the first time since a member of Britain’s bronze medal team at the 2011 HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen.
Last year’s Pau winner Andrew Nicholson, the 2012/13 HSBC FEI Classics series champion, is also three-handed at Pau and is in close contention. He is in equal fourth with Fox-Pitt on his Kentucky winner, the black Spanish-bred Quimbo, and 10th on his Luhmuhlen winner, the big Irish-bred grey Mr Cruise Control. Viscount George, competing in his first CCI4*, is in 29th place on 51 penalties.
Nicholson has competed at Pau every year since the event started in 1990. “I love coming here,” he said. “It’s a very different competition to what we have in the UK; the site is much flatter and more compact, but the organisers do a great job here and it’s good to ride at different types of event.”
Lucy Wiegersma (GBR) is a regular visitor to Pau and returns with her top horse, Simon Porloe, seventh in 2011. They are currently in sixth place on 43.8, fractionally ahead of Phillip Dutton (USA) on his new ride Mr Medicott. The horse’s former rider, Frank Ostholt (GER), who won an Olympic team gold medal on him in 2008, is eighth on his 2011 European individual bronze medalist, Little Paint. Maxime Livio (Cathar de Gamel) is best of the home side in ninth place.
Two more former Pau CCI4* winners are in the field: the 2010 winner, Andreas Dibowski (GER, is 11th on FRH Fantasia and 35th on FRH Butts Leon; his compatriot Bettina Hoy (the winner in 2008) is much further down the order than usual at this stage, in equal 60th on Designer and 68th on Lanfranco TSF, but she will no doubt be relieved that she managed to contain Lanfranco’s notorious rebelliousness in this phase.
Fox-Pitt and Neuf des Coeurs will be first out on the Cross Country course tomorrow at 12.15pm CET. Watch all the Cross Country and Jumping action live on FEI TV www.feitv.org and keep up to date with the scores throughout on www.event-pau.fr.
Prize money
At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.
HSBC Rankings
The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2013 Eventing season will receive a US $50,000 bonus. The winning rider will be announced in December 2013.
Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.
Kathy Cain and Legal Limit. Photos by Cristy Cumberworth.
Parker, CO – October 24, 2013 – The Colorado Horse Park hosted the Area IX Championships in conjunction with its Fall Horse Trials on Oct. 12-13. Entries were high as riders from across the region came to compete for championship titles at Beginner Novice through Intermediate levels.
Kathy Cain of Park City, UT, rode Legal Limit to the Intermediate Championship. Their strong performance in dressage earned them a score of 29.6 penalties and put them in the lead after the first phase. They dropped one rail in show jumping, but had a clean and fast cross-country run to finish on a score of 33.6 and secure their win over second-place finishers Hailey Rich and Kingfisher II.
“The Colorado Horse Park is a fabulous facility,” Cain said. “We weren’t planning on doing the championships, but it just fell into our calendar perfectly, knowing it would be a great course and it’s lovely in the fall.”
She said the cross-country course, designed by James Atkinson, was a good fit for Legal Limit, a 10-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred. “My horse was absolutely wonderful around the course. I thought there were lots of good questions but it was a nice galloping course – that’s why I like the Colorado Horse Park. It’s a good challenge, with different terrain and hills and going in and out of the trees.”
Cain is pointing Legal Limit for the Galway Downs CCI2* in Temecula, CA, Oct. 31 – Nov. 3. “The run in Colorado was a great setup for doing the 2*,” Cain noted. “I think my horse came away confident and ready to tackle the next step. The best part of the weekend was his dressage score, which we had been struggling with all season. That was the biggest thrill, to improve on it and have a competitive score. We’re putting all the pieces together.”
Rochelle Costanza and Lionhart
Rochelle Costanza and Lionhart claimed the Preliminary Championship, finishing on a score of 37.7. They had one rail and two time penalties in show jumping to add six penalties to their dressage score of 31.7. Summer Peterson and Tim took second place with a score of 42.2.
Costanza has owned the 8-year-old Lionhart since he was 3 and has brought him up through the ranks. She is the trainer at Platinum Farms in Franktown, CO, and had 13 of her students competing as well.
“I really like the venue,” she said. “My horse has run there quite a bit so he was pretty comfortable, and the footing was good so it was easy to gallop and make the time. There are three waters, which is fun.”
“You have real dressage arenas for the dressage,” she continued. “We have the ability to use the derby arena for jumping and that’s a really fun arena. It’s a neat venue and people like to sit in the grandstands. The cross-country course is one of the few that’s big enough so you can get galloping – horses really like it. It’s everyone’s favorite venue in this area, and they did a great job organizing everything.”
Costanza’s goal with Lionhart is to complete a 1* event next year and possibly step up to Intermediate.
A large field of 17 horses and riders came out for the Training Championship, and it was a close battle for first place. Angelika Beutel and Varekai earned an impressive dressage score of 23.2 penalties, putting them into a clear lead after the first phase. A rail in stadium jumping over a challenging course designed by Brian Curry opened the door for challengers going into cross country, but Beutel and Varekai held on to first place with a clear cross-country effort.
“He’s one that I just got in August, so he’s new to me, but he’s done really well,” Beutel said of Varekai. “He was really good in the dressage. In the stadium course, we had a rail, but many others had a rail as well.”
“The cross-country course was pretty tough, which I think is nice for championships,” she continued. “I think they did a great job mixing it up from the courses this spring. The cross-country was a lot of fun and he jumped around really well.”
Angelika Beutel and Varekai
Beutel, who lives in Longmont, CO, brought several students to compete and was happy with their results. “It was a great weekend for us,” she said. “My students did really well.”
“I think it’s one of the nicest horse trials we have here,” Beutel added. “Vivien always does a great job putting on the show. The food was great, the organization was great and all of the volunteers are awesome.”
Organizer Vivien Van Buren said the weekend was a success. “It really went well – I was extremely pleased. I had a great team who worked with me to make it happen. The cross country and stadium jumping courses, designed by James Atkinson and Brian Curry respectively, were excellent for championships and regular horse trials alike and rode very well.”
The Novice Championship went to Linda Quist and Belle Gambe with a score of 27.5. Anna Weatherford and Inspired Edition finished second with 31.5. Lauren Jost and Wink at the Judge took the Beginner Novice Championship, scoring 28.1 penalties to finish on top in a competitive division of 26 pairs.
Riders also competed in non-championship divisions at Beginner Novice through Intermediate. Amanda Hund and Pik Pilot won the Open Intermediate while Madeline Backus and P.S. Arianna won the Open Preliminary.
Other weekend winners included Reed Ayers and De Rien (Open Training), Ashlee Ashlock and Indy 500 (Training Rider), Julianne Calder and Lismore (Open Novice), Laura Baxter and Clearwater Bandit (Novice Rider), Lauren Patton and Ricky (Open Beginner Novice), Melinda Hofmeister and Ashes West (Beginner Novice Rider), and Kayla Gunsauls and Jellybean (Jr. Beginner Novice Rider).
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Colorado Horse Park was founded by visionary Helen Krieble who acknowledged the need for a high-volume horse show and horse boarding facility to serve Colorado. The Colorado Horse Park welcomes more than 75,000 visitors per year and hosts over 40 competitions annually. CHP features a derby arena designed by Olympic-designer Linda Allen and a cross-country course designed by Olympic Gold Medalist David O’Connor and eventing super-star James Atkinson. There are 300 permanent stalls with capacity for more than 1,000 stalls.
The picturesque property, located only minutes from the town of Parker, hosts international equestrian events in multiple disciplines. Visitors enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain surroundings and access to miles of trails and open space. The Colorado Horse Park is committed to supporting equestrian education and amateur athletics, preserving open space, fundraising for local charities and supporting the community.
Shane Sweetnam and Solerina Win Gambler’s Choice; Hymowitz and Jacobs Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers
Washington, D.C. – October 25, 2013 – The 2013 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Thursday with the first day of classes for the Junior Hunters and several International Open Jumper and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper classes at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
The International Open Jumpers had two classes with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parksy’s Blue Angel in the $33,000 International Open Jumper Welcome Stake. Top honors in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice costume class went to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Sweet Oak Farm’s Solerina. The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers competed as well with a win for Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Bon Vivant in the Low division and Charlotte Jacobs aboard Deeridge Farms’ Kachina in the High division.
WIHS continues through Sunday, October 27, with lots of exciting action throughout the weekend. Highlights include the $25,000 Puissance sponsored by The Boeing Company on Friday, October 25, and the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, on Saturday, October 26. All evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. EST.
In addition to the competition, Thursday was the always popular “Barn Night,” presented by Dover Saddlery. Barn Night at WIHS is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening.
Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela is the course designer for the jumpers this week at WIHS. In the day’s $33,000 Welcome Stake, Palacios saw 30 entries contest his first round course with ten advancing to the jump-off. Eight of those were also clear over the short course, and Kent Farrington and the 11-year-old Anglo European mare Blue Angel (by Luidam) raced to victory in 31.38 seconds to win The Ben O’Meara Memorial Challenge Trophy.
Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Via Volo finished second with a time of 31.47 seconds. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Ludo Philippaerts’ Cortez placed third in 32.49 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Postage Stamp Farm LLC’s Prof de la Roque were fourth in 32.57 seconds.
Blue Angel has been a top mount for Farrington this year and continues to prove herself as a powerful international competitor. “I think she was always a good horse, we just got to know each other a little bit better and she has become more consistent,” he said of the mare’s development. “She kind of started off good and has only gotten better.”
Farrington has been competing at WIHS for many years, winning the WIHS Equitation Finals as a junior in 1999, and continuing on into his professional career. He explained that the atmosphere and environment of showing indoors makes this an exciting competition each year.
“I love showing indoors. I think it is a lot of fun,” Farrington stated. “It is all fast tracks, and usually there is a pretty good crowd. In general, the indoor shows get a good attendance. You come here with your best horses, and you just focus on those and there is always good competition, so I enjoy that.”
Blue Angel seemed to enjoy showing indoors as well and Farrington noted that the environment fits her style. “She is very quick,” he said. “She is great in that she can add a stride very quickly, and she has a very soft mouth. I think that is a big advantage inside, so I think it suits the horse.”
For the jump-off, Farrington chose a plan that played to his horse’s strengths and she stepped up to the plate. “With that horse, I just try really not to get too much in her way and have a quick track,” he detailed. “She is not always the best at rolling back to fences, so from fence one to two I went a little bit wide with more pace probably than some of the other riders did just because that suited the horse. Then once she is in gear, I can kind of just let her go.”
Blue Angel is the only horse Farrington will show this week and he plans to now save her for Saturday night’s $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix. He looks forward to seeing what Palacios has planned on course.
Sweetnam and Solerina Top $20,000 Gambler’s Choice Costume Class
The $20,000 International Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class is always an exciting event at WIHS, especially with Barn Night and thousands of young fans cheering on the riders. In tonight’s class, Irish rider Shane Sweetnam jumped to victory dressed as a keg of beer riding Sweet Oak Farm’s Solerina. The duo earned 960 points over the course and jumped clean over the Joker fence for an additional 200 points. Their 1160 total was the winning score.
Shane Sweetnam and Solerina
For his victory, Sweetnam was presented with the Crown Royal Trophy, donated by Crown Royal, as the winning rider. Solerina, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising, won The Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy, donated by the Washington International Horse Show, as the winning horse.
Beezie Madden (USA) dressed as her signature bumble bee riding Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla and scored 1100 points to place second. Spiderman, a.k.a. Conor Swail (IRL), and Susan Grange’s Ariana finished third with 1090 points. “Dr.” McLain Ward (USA) and Wings had the same 1090 total and a slower time placed them in fourth.
Shane Sweetnam has a good record with Gambler’s Choice classes, finishing third in the class at WIHS two times and winning one in Harrisburg last year as well as placing in several others. He came up with a good plan tonight, and it paid off.
“I’m good at math so I have a good plan I think, even with knocking a fence,” he stated. “Normally I have a decent plan. You have to leave the jumps up for the course.”
Sweetnam’s mount, Solerina, is a successful horse and always puts in a great effort. “She has a lot of character, (and) she’s had great results since I’ve had her,” Sweetnam described. “She likes to stay in a rhythm. She really enjoys her jumping, so once she gets her eye on the jump she’s normally trying for you, so I can just jump-jump-turn. She’s naturally very quick.”
On his costume choice, Sweetnam explained that good friend Charlie Jayne gets him a costume each year and they have a good time with it. “It’s good fun,” he smiled. “We enjoy this class every year. We have a bit of banter about it, so I’m glad I beat him this year again.”
The cheering and great support of the Barn Night crowd also gets the riders into the fun mood. “It’s brilliant,” Sweetnam said of Barn Night. “It’s a very good idea. All evening it’s been buzzing between the pony racing and the High (Jr/AO) Jumper class and this class. There’s a big crowd and great atmosphere and those people understand show jumping as well, which is great. I really enjoy it.”
Hymowitz and Jacobs Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers
The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper jump-off class, sponsored by North Star, was held on Thursday afternoon with 22 entries and five advancing to the jump-off. Three competitors jumped double clear and Cloe Hymowitz of New York, NY, had the fast time of 29.876 seconds aboard Bon Vivant for the win. The pair was presented the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy.
Sima Morgello and Zopala placed second in 32.500 seconds. Third place honors went to Lauren Fischer and Norton de la Sapaie in 37.094 seconds.
Cloe Hymowitz and Bon Vivant
Hymowitz purchased Bon Vivant, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Sire Major de la Cour, a year and a half ago. The pair has had success showing in North America and abroad this year, including a win in the CSI2* Longines Global Champions Tour competition in Vienna, Austria.
Hymowitz showed in the Children’s Jumpers at WIHS in 2012 and just moved up to the Low Juniors this season. Bon Vivant is an experienced mount that has taught the rider quickly and helped her move up the ranks with the guidance of trainers Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley.
“Showing in the Lows is a new experience and a big step up,” Hymowitz noted. “It’s really exciting. It’s definitely difficult to compete at a higher level here because the rings are really hard to ride in. Everything comes up very quick, but it is good for him because he likes to go fast, so it worked out well for me.”
“He’s indescribable,” Hymowitz said of Bon Vivant. “He is really easy. He does it a lot on his own luckily, but he is really quick. You just have to go forward, and he will jump from any distance and any turn. I turned back really tight to the birch jump, and he just swings in the air and jumps clear. He’s the most amazing horse I have ever had.”
The High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper jump-off class, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, was held during the evening session with a win for Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, riding Kachina. The pair was awarded The “Footloose” Perpetual Trophy in remembrance of Ruth Ellen Wilmot, donated by The Curtin Family in honor of 1990 winner “Footloose”, who was ridden by Caroline Curtin.
Twenty-two entries showed over Palacios’ first round course and only three were able to jump clear to advance to the jump-off. Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Patriot were the trailblazers and finished the short course with four faults in 27.598 seconds to place third. Catherine Tyree and Wetter were next to jump off and also incurred four faults and placed second with a faster time of 27.278 seconds. Last to go, Jacobs knew that she could win with a clear round and that is exactly what she did, stopping the clock in 29.080 seconds.
Jacobs went first in round one aboard Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Promised Land and was able to get a good feel for the course. She then jumped a clear round with Kachina, a 15-year-old Selle Francais mare by Voltaire, to make it into the jump-off. “I can always rely on her because she can always jump a clear round, and I know she is always going to try her hardest,” Jacobs said of the mare.
The biggest challenge was Kachina’s large size in the small arena, but she handled it easily.
“The course was nice,” Jacobs noted. “There were a lot of really short turns. The first jump was two strides off the turn and a lot of the jumps were really stuffed in there, and that was hard with the horse I won on because she is so big. She is 18 hands and she has this huge stride, and she is kind of hard to package. It’s hard enough indoors, but she really deals with it well and she is a great horse. Coming off of Harrisburg she definitely was used to it and she felt great. She jumped amazing.”
An added bonus to the evening’s win was getting to show in front of the enthusiastic Barn Night crowd. Although many of the horses in this division are not used to a packed arena, Jacobs’ horses both dealt with it perfectly and she enjoyed the excitement.
“It’s definitely fun because we don’t usually have crowds like this,” Jacobs stated. “It’s nice that they put the Junior Jumpers right before the open class and right before all of the big events. It’s on Barn Night, so there’s a huge crowd and it’s a lot of fun. They make it exciting.”
The Washington International Horse Show continues tomorrow with the championships for the Junior Hunter divisions as well as the hunter phase for the Hermès WIHS Equitation Classic Finals. The Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers will have speed classes in the afternoon session.
The evening session begins with a $50,000 Faults Converted Speed Final followed by an exhibition from the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon military horses and an impressive performance by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. The night closes with the $25,000 Puissance, presenting The Armed Forces Cup, sponsored by The Boeing Company.
Congratulations to all of our barn night winners!
Best Group Video
Champion: NFF Stables
Prize: $500 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Reserve Champion: Loudoun County 4-H Horse Club
Prize: $250 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Honorable Mentions (3): Rock Creek Park Horse Center, Dream Catcher Farm, Beyond A Bay
Prize (3): $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificates
Best Group Banner
Champion: Autumn Grove Stables
Prize: $500 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Reserve Champion: Tamarack Stables
Prize: $250 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Honorable Mentions: Dream Catcher Farm, Cedar Creek Far, Beyond A Bay
Prize: (3) $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificates
Largest Group
Largest Group Overall: Meadowbrook Stables
Prize: Golf Cart courtesy of United Metro Golf Carts
Largest Group – Maryland: Enticement Stables
Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Largest Group – Virginia: Loudoun County 4-H Horse Club
Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Largest Group – DC/Other: Rock Creek Park Horse Center
Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
Best Group Spirit
Champion: Olney Farm
Prize: Clinic with three-day eventing Olympian Will Coleman
Reserve Champion: NFF Stables
Prize: Gift Certificate for team-wear courtesy of C&A Sportswear
Honorable Mentions (3): Urbana Riding Club, Autumn Grove Farm, Cedar Creek Farm
Prize (3): $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
The Washington International Horse Show Silent Auction is now available online with an easy-to-use bidding website. Don’t miss your chance to win special items that range from a private riding lesson with Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden to a Private Decorating Party at Georgetown Cupcake Lab. Other incredible items include two tickets to Saturday Night Live’s live show, a diamond horseshoe pin from Tiny Jewel Box, full show attire from The Saddlery, and much, much more. Bid from your computer or smart phone at home, at the barn, at work, or anywhere you have Internet – just go to http://wihs.maestroweb.com.
The Acela Club on the Sky Box level of Verizon Center is the perfect place to socialize with friends and a wonderful vantage point for watching the action in the ring. WIHS is hosting three special social events and we hope you’ll join us! Have fun, watch great sport and support worthy local organizations. Party tickets include dinner and an open bar. $150/per person. Order by phone at 202-525-3679 or visit http://www.wihs.org/social-events/.
The Armed Forces Cup Reception will be featured from 7-10 p.m. on Friday featuring the launch of “Healthy Stables by Design” by John Blackburn to benefit five local therapeutic riding centers assisting military veterans: Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Therapeutic Riding and Recreation Center, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding and Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Therapy Program.
The President’s Cup Party, presented by Washington Life, will run from 6:30-10 p.m. on Saturday night. Wear your best equestrian chic and honor Washington’s diplomatic community with presenting partner, Washington Life.
Along with six days of world-class competition, WIHS features a unique boutique shopping experience for exhibitors and spectators alike. The main concourse at Verizon Center brings together a diverse group of vendors for everyone’s shopping enjoyment. Shoppers can find everything from equestrian tack and apparel to fine art and jewelry. This year’s show features over 50 vendor stands and boutiques for all of your shopping needs throughout the week.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Libby Law Photography)
Pau, France – The first day of dressage began at Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* with the first two combinations of the U.S. contingency performing their tests. With 40 competitors performing their dressage tests on Thursday in front of the judging panel of Angela Tucker (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE), and Alain James (FRA), Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot are currently tied in fifth place while Clark Montgomery and Universe are in 13th place.
USEF Land Rover Competition grant-recipient Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot had a lovely, relaxed test earning an impressive score of 45.7. Their test displayed quality trot and walk work with an excellent canter tour, only marred by a final halt that was a bit early on the centerline. The pair is contesting their first CCI4* as a partnership and they are only 4.2 points behind current leaders William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain and Sea Cookie TSF, who scored a 41.5. Burnett and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding are in a three-way tie for fifth place with Ludwig Svennerstal of Sweden and Shamwari 4 and Andreas Dibowski of Germany and FRH Fantasia.
“I’m real happy with my ride today,” said Burnett. “He was really rideable. In hindsight I could have pushed for a little more but I’m really happy with him and looking forward to Saturday. I also want to say thanks to William’s owner, Jacqueline Mars, who is cheering at home from Virginia, and my sponsors.”
Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Universe were the first U.S. pair to come down the centerline Thursday afternoon. The 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith showed a bit of tension throughout the test, but Montgomery rode him well to earn a score of 52.0 to lie in 13th place. They also received a USEF Land Rover Competition grant and are contesting their second CCI4* of the year after finishing 27th at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
Competition continues Friday with the second day of dressage for the remaining 35 competitors at Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4*, which serves as the first leg of the 2013/2014 FEI Classics. Lynn Symansky and Donner will kick things off for the U.S. at 9:46am local time. Michael Pollard and Mensa G will go at 10:26am, followed by Krisit Nunnink and R-Star at 11:14am. Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott will be the last to go in the morning session at 12:38pm, with Marilyn Little and RF Demeter being the sole U.S. pair in the afternoon session at 2:16pm.
Gochman and Portela Are Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champions; Knox and Duarte Victorious in Children’s and Adult Jumper Championships
Washington, D.C. – October 23, 2013 – Day two of the 2013 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) featured the presentation of championship honors in the professional and amateur-owner hunter divisions at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Kelley Farmer was named Leading Hunter Rider after earning the overall Grand Hunter Championship with Quotable. Romance won the Grand Green Hunter Championship with Peter Pletcher in the irons, and Becky Gochman and Sambalino and Daryl Portela and Winner each earned Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championships. The $10,000 Children’s and Adult Jumper Championships and the first $10,000 Open Jumper speed class were featured during the evening session. The show will continue through Sunday, October 27.
Wednesday’s competition saw tricolor wins for four of the nation’s very best hunter riders from coast to coast with professionals Kelley Farmer (Keswick, VA), Scott Stewart (Wellington, FL), Peter Pletcher (Magnolia, TX), and John French (Woodside, CA) all taking trips to the winner’s circle.
In the Green Conformation Hunter championship, Kelley Farmer and Quotable shined with a clean sweep of the model, under saddle, and all three classes over fences. They were awarded The Valiant Hark Memorial Challenge Trophy, donated by Mrs. Stephen J. Clark. Farmer also rode her mount Skorekeeper, owned by D. Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partnerships, to the division’s reserve honors. Skorekeeper was second in all three classes over fences and placed third under saddle and fourth in the model.
Following an exceptional two days of competition, Quotable was awarded The Rave Review Challenge Trophy, donated by Stoney Hill, as the overall Grand Hunter Champion, and Farmer earned the Leading Hunter Rider Award, sponsored by Dr. Betsee Parker. For the win, Farmer was presented with The Robert Coluccio Leading Hunter Rider Perpetual Trophy as well as a beautiful Rolex Luxury Timepiece, courtesy of Tiny Jewel Box. In addition to the grand championship, Quotable’s owners, D. Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber, were presented with the Leading Hunter Owner Award sponsored by The Reid Family. Farmer was WIHS Leading Hunter Rider in 2010 as well and was happy to receive the honor once again with the ride on a fantastic young horse.
“It’s very special,” she stated. “My horses are the most important thing. It’s an honor, and I have to say it was an absolutely beautiful trophy that Betsee got. It’s special that it is in Robbie’s name. He is a good friend, and I’m honored to have won that.”
Quotable, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, has been no stranger to the spotlight this year. In fact, this was his third grand hunter championship in a row this month after also taking top honors at the Capital Challenge Horse Show and the PA National Horse Show.
“Every indoors he has just gotten better and better,” Farmer stated. “For these kinds of horse shows, especially this one, they have to be quiet horses, not hard to prepare. That played a lot into my decision of which ones we wanted to bring. They have to ride well, they have to be perfect lead changers, they have to brave, and they have to be easy to get to the ring for this horse show. Good horses know when it matters and step up. Good horses know how to win, I believe.”
Describing Quotable’s style and the special quality that keeps placing him in the winner’s circle, Farmer described, “He’s so smooth. He’s such a beautiful picture and he has such a beautiful canter. It all matches. He walks in the ring and it looks right. You never have to pick up the reins. There’s mistakes, he has a rail or something, but in general he tries to win. He knows when you take him in the ring for the conformation; he kind of has this air about him. He knows he’s the real deal and he’s not wrong!”
In addition to her success with Quotable, Farmer also topped the first championship of the day with her mount Mythical, owned by D. Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber, in the High Performance Working Hunters sponsored by The Wasserman Foundation. Farmer and Mythical placed first, second and third over fences and second under saddle to earn The “NOT ALWAYS” Challenge Trophy, donated by Miss Peggy Steinman. The High Performance reserve championship was presented to Dr. Betsee Parker’s Everly, ridden by Scott Stewart, with a win under saddle and second, second and third place ribbons over fences.
Mythical and Farmer were also presented with the very special Protocol Trophy, sponsored by Platinum Performance, as the overall High Point High Performance Working Hunter from the Devon Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and Washington International Horse Show.
Farmer has a special connection with Mythical, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, and was very happy to receive the significant award. “That, to me, is really special,” she smiled. “Rosalynn won that with me a couple years ago, and I think that’s really special, especially because it goes over the three horse shows. I love a conformation horse, but in my heart and soul, my favorite is still a real four-foot horse, and especially when my First Year horse won it. I love Quotable, and I love all my horses, but Mythical, he’s my horse. He is appropriately named. I think it defines him.”
In the Regular Conformation Hunters, Scott Stewart guided Krista & Alexa Weisman’s Showman to championship honors and was presented with The Mary Farren Perpetual Trophy. Stewart and Showman placed sixth in both jumping classes on Tuesday and won the stake and under saddle classes on Wednesday to top the division. They also won in the model. Farmer and Quotable finished in reserve, placing second in the model, first and third over fences, and fourth under saddle.
Also competing on Wednesday, the First Year Green Working Hunter division concluded with a championship win for Scott Stewart, this time aboard Fashion Farm’s Loyalty. Stewart and Loyalty placed third, second and third over fences and finished second under saddle. Farmer and Skorekeeper earned another reserve tricolor after placing first and second over fences and sixth under saddle.
The Second Year Green Working Hunter championship was presented as well with an exciting win for Peter Pletcher aboard David Gochman’s Romance. Pletcher and Romance placed third, third and first over fences and second under saddle. John French and Oscany, Inc.’s Small Celebration finished in reserve with a win under saddle and second, second and fourth place ribbons in the three classes over fences.
The Windy Acres Challenge Trophy was presented earlier in the morning. The trophy, donated by Mr. James O. Pease, is awarded to the overall winner of classes 24 and 34 for the best Green Working Hunter stake round. Pletcher’s high score of 87 in the Second Year Green Working Hunter Stake with Romance was best.
After a very successful morning, Pletcher and the nine-year-old gelding, Romance, were honored with The Claire Lang Miller Challenge Trophy as the show’s Grand Green Working Hunter Champions. This was Romance’s first time competing at WIHS and an exciting victory for owners and rider.
Gochman and Portela Named Leading Riders and Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Champions
The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions concluded their second day of competition on Wednesday and awarded championship honors as well. The Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” championship was awarded to Becky Gochman of New York, NY, riding David Gochman’s Sambalino. The pair earned the Frank Counselman Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Friends of Frank Counselman. Gochman was also presented with the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider Award for the 3’6” level for her success in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” Over 35 division.
Becky Gochman and Sambalino
Winning the division championship, Gochman and Sambalino placed sixth over fences and second under saddle on Tuesday and then dominated the competition on Wednesday with back to back wins and scores of 90 and 92 in the handy and stake classes. Ace of Spades and Emily Morin finished in reserve after placing second, second, and fourth over fences and first under saddle.
Gochman was also presented with The Shari Hollis Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Late Col. J. B. Hollis and Ms. Jeannie Hollis, which is presented to the overall winner of classes 54 and 64 in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” stake rounds for Sambalino’s high score of 92. This was the third year in a row that the pair earned the award.
After her winning presentation, Gochman explained that Sambalino, an 11-year-old Brandenburg gelding by Samba Hit, tends to excel on the second day of competition at WIHS each year.
“The first day has always been kind of so-so, but he seems to pick it up in the handy class,” she noted. “He’s a horse who likes to pay attention, so I think he especially enjoys the handy classes because he just waits for your direction, and he can really show off then. His stride is so adjustable that he really can make anything work. All I have to do is look where I’m going and make sure he knows where he’s going, and he will do his job for sure.”
“I love this show so much, being the last city show left,” Gochman detailed. “I have such a good time here with my husband. This is the show we go to without the girls in the beginning of the week and we have a fun time. We enjoy the town a lot.”
After four years together, Gochman and ‘Samba’ have formed a great partnership, and they stay in top form thanks to help from trainers Peter Pletcher and Steve Weiss. Gochman is very careful to keep Samba in good shape and hopes that someday her daughters will be able to show him as well.
“We know he is a very special, one of a kind guy,” Gochman stated. “We take the best care of him, and he gives us everything back. God willing, my kids will be able to ride him in a few years if we take good care of him, and I would love to see that.”
“He is just so pretty and sweet and easy on the eyes,” Gochman described. “He’s like a stuffed animal, and he just goes out there and poses. He is kind of crabby in the warm-up areas, but once he gets out under saddle, he couldn’t put his ears more forward than he does. He’s a ham. When he wants to win, he does it by himself. All I have to do is look and let him know where he is, and he is into it. He is a real show horse.”
In the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” 18-35 division, the championship was awarded to Darwin and Kelly Tropin for their three second place finishes over fences. Winnetoe and owner/rider Montana Coady finished in reserve with first and fourth place ribbons over fences and a second under saddle.
In the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter 3’3” 18-35 championship, Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, CA, guided Lifetime to victory with a win under saddle and second, third, and third place ribbons over fences. Melissa Jacobs and Deeridge Farms’ So You Say finished in reserve after placing first, second and fourth over fences.
As the day continued, it was a clean sweep for Daryl Portela and Isalou, Inc.’s Winner in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35 division for the second year in a row at WIHS. In the championship, sponsored by The Linden Group at Morgan Stanley, the pair won all three jumping classes and the under saddle. They were then awarded the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Championship, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Earnest M. Oare, and Portela was named the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider for the 3’3” division overall.
On the way to their championship win, the pair also earned the Best Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Stake Round, an award presented to the overall winner of class 74 and 84 with their high score of 88. The Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35 reserve champion was Fashion Farms’ Declaration, ridden by Glen Senk, with second and third place ribbons over fences and a fifth in the under saddle.
Portela, of Southwest Ranches, FL, won all four classes in the division with Winner last year as well. That was just the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding’s second time competing at the venue, and she noted that he seems to like it. “I told (my trainer) Jimmy (Torano), ‘He loves Washington,’” Portela smiled.
“I think I put more pressure on myself than Jimmy or anybody does,” Portela said of the desire to win. “Yesterday, I went and got the 92. He was incredible yesterday and then I wanted to go in and win the first class today, the handy, so I knew it could be done. Then Jimmy said for the stake round, ‘Go in there, canter down to the first jump, (and) I don’t care if you miss. I can’t stand when people go in there and pick, pick, pick and they’re slow. It’s a stake round and that’s what it’s supposed to be about.’ He said, ‘Get a lick,’ and that’s what I did and it was great.”
After riding as a junior, Portela showed on and off as an adult between work and kids and then took almost ten years off before she got back into the show ring with Winner. Her husband saw the horse with Torano and after sitting on Winner one time, Portela knew she had to have him. She is now having the ride of a lifetime with wins at some of the nation’s top competitions.
Jumpers Complete Their First Day at WIHS
The jumpers took to the arena for the first time on Wednesday with children’s, adult and open jumper classes. Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela is the course designer this week. The $10,000 WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship was the first class to be held with an exciting win for 14-year-old Grace Knox of North Barrington, IL, riding Rapidash. For the win, the pair was presented with The H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Friends of Fen.
Twenty-nine entries showed over the first round course with 13 competitors jumping clear to advance to the jump-off. Only four were able to clear the second round course in a race against the clock, and Knox and Rapidash had the fastest time in 28.93 seconds, last to go for the win. Wimberly Debono and Tusker finished second in 30.97 seconds. Adeline Rohrbach was third with Snow White in 31.38 seconds, and Lili Hymowitz placed fourth aboard Siboney Ranch’s Belle Bleu S in 31.64 seconds.
Class winner, Rapidash, is an 11-year-old Appendix gelding that Knox has had for two years. This was Knox’s first time showing at WIHS and a great night for the rider, who is trained by Mary and Lisa Goldman in Illinois.
“I didn’t really know what it was going to be like, but I really like showing in the stadium,” Knox stated after her win. “He was great. I’m not sure if he has ever been here before, but before this he was at Harrisburg. He takes big rings really well and never really looks at the jumps. I always expect him to spook at jumps, but he just puts his ears forward and goes to the jump even more.”
The pair blazed through the jump-off course over two seconds faster than the second place finishers. Commenting on her strategy, Knox explained, “What I think before I go in there is, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ I didn’t want to go as fast as I could because with him, I can go really fast, but that is when I get rails. I just wanted to make sure to hold on to him and not drop him to any of the jumps and turn him in the air. I have to make sure he doesn’t fall in during any of the turns.”
The $10,000 WIHS Adult Jumper Championship was held next in the evening session and the win went to Kristyn Duarte of South Russell, OH, riding Victoria Jolie V, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Manhattan. Thirty-one entries jumped in the class and ten qualified for the jump-off. Again, only four went double clear over the short course and it was Duarte’s time of 31.443 seconds that took top honors. For the win, Duarte was presented with The Dorothy Foote “Goodie” Taylor Memorial Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ashton Hill and Miss Linden Joan Hill.
Second place went to Hope Batchelor and Orlando with a time of 31.823 seconds. Tammy Kelly and Belvedere finished third in 32.008 seconds, and Jessica Matelis and Chador were fourth in 33.311 seconds.
Duarte purchased Victoria Jolie V about a year ago from Colombian rider Daniel Bluman and the pair clicked quickly. “She’s opposite of anything you would hear about a chestnut mare,” the rider noted. “She’s extremely heavy on the flat and she may look hot, but she is only 15.2 hands, so she has to go for the striding. She is not hot at all. She is really a push ride.”
“I think once I got a partnership with her, she trusted me and she never says no to me, which is really special,” Duarte stated. “The course tonight rode very smoothly. I was worried about some of the jumps coming up a little bit quick because it’s a more narrow ring, but she handled it really well. I always have a problem with over thinking and I don’t go fast enough, so I just kind of turned my brain off and kicked.”
It was a goal for Duarte all season to qualify for these championships and she was excited to see the progress that she has made this year. Although she has ridden for nine years, she just started doing the jumpers two years ago.
“My goal was to qualify. I’ve never been here or to Pennsylvania (Harrisburg),” she stated. “To win, I didn’t even imagine. I just wanted to get here, and I was very proud just to make that goal. Harrisburg was good, we finished fourth. This time, I went in knowing I had already made the jump-off. My goal was not to win it, but I’ll take it!
The day’s competition concluded with a $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m speed class, sponsored by Oasis Petroleum, with 39 competitors and eight clear rounds. The win went to Ireland’s Conor Swail aboard Susan Grange’s Ariana with the fastest clear round in 46.21 seconds. Fellow Irishman Darragh Kenny cleared the course in 46.54 seconds with Oakland Ventures’ Top Gun IV to finish second. Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts and Carlito C, owned by Franz Lens, placed third with their time of 47.55 seconds. USA’s Lillie Keenan and Chansonette Farm LLC’s Pumped Up Kicks finished fourth in 48.57 seconds.
The Washington International Horse Show continues on Thursday with the beginning of Junior Hunter competition in the morning and Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner and Open Jumper competition in the afternoon. A new $33,000 Welcome Stake will complete the day session. The evening session will welcome local horse lovers, riders, trainers, and their families for Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery, beginning at 6 p.m. The $20,000 Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice costume class will be the highlight event of the evening.
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
The Washington International Horse Show Silent Auction is now available online with an easy-to-use bidding website. Don’t miss your chance to win special items that range from a private riding lesson with Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden to a Private Decorating Party at Georgetown Cupcake Lab. Other incredible items include two tickets to Saturday Night Live’s live show, a diamond horseshoe pin from Tiny Jewel Box, full show attire from The Saddlery, and much, much more. Bid from your computer or smart phone at home, at the barn, at work, or anywhere you have Internet – just go to http://wihs.maestroweb.com.
The Acela Club on the Sky Box level of Verizon Center is the perfect place to socialize with friends and a wonderful vantage point for watching the action in the ring. WIHS is hosting three special social events and we hope you’ll join us! Have fun, watch great sport and support worthy local organizations. Party tickets include dinner and an open bar. $150/per person. Order by phone at 202-525-3679 or visit http://www.wihs.org/social-events/.
The Buck Breast Cancer event will be held from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday evening. Show your pink to benefit the Capital Breast Care Center and honor Laura Pickett, a well-loved local equestrian and trainer, who touched the lives of many in the horse world, and who lost her battle with breast cancer last year.
The Armed Forces Cup Reception will be featured from 7-10 p.m. on Friday featuring the launch of “Healthy Stables by Design” by John Blackburn to benefit five local therapeutic riding centers assisting military veterans: Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Therapeutic Riding and Recreation Center, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding and Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Therapy Program.
The President’s Cup Party, presented by Washington Life, will run from 6:30-10 p.m. on Saturday night. Wear your best equestrian chic and honor Washington’s diplomatic community with presenting partner, Washington Life.
Along with six days of world-class competition, WIHS features a unique boutique shopping experience for exhibitors and spectators alike. The main concourse at Verizon Center brings together a diverse group of vendors for everyone’s shopping enjoyment. Shoppers can find everything from equestrian tack and apparel to fine art and jewelry. This year’s show features over 50 vendor stands and boutiques for all of your shopping needs throughout the week.
To view an online version of this press release with more photos, click here.
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Michael Pollard and Mensa G (Libby Law Photography)
Pau, France – Seven talented U.S. horse-and-rider combinations are ready to compete in Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4*. Taking place October 23-27 in Pau, France, an elite field of 75 is ready to take on the challenging CCI4*. With all horses passing the first horse inspection, 11 nations will be represented on the first leg of the 2013/2014 FEI Classics.
Competition grants have made it possible for the sizable U.S. contingency to attend the prestigious CCI4*. USEF Land Rover Competition grants have enabled Hannah Sue Burnett, Phillip Dutton, Marilyn Little, Clark Montgomery, Kristi Nunnink, and Michael Pollard to experience the highest level of competition abroad. Lynn Symansky was aided by the Jacqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant to compete in Europe for the first time.
Montgomery (Wiltshire, UK) and Universe will contest their second CCI4* of the year after finishing 27th at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the horse’s first attempt at the CCI4* level. With the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jessica Montgomery, Carole Montgomery, Janet Higgins, and Elizabeth Smith, Montgomery finished seventh at the Belton CIC3* and gained valuable experience representing the U.S. at the Aachen CICO3*.
Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot will compete in their first CCI4* as a partnership at Pau. The pair already have experienced international competition representing the U.S. at the Saumur CCI3* earlier this year, as well as at the 2011 Pan American Games where they earned Team Gold and Individual Silver medals. Burnett and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished third at the Jersey Fresh CIC3* in the spring and are coming off a third-place finish in an Advanced division at the Plantation Field Horse Trials.
Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) brings her own Donner to the pair’s first CCI4* abroad. She and the 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding have been on the rise this year, winning The Fork CIC3* and placing fifth in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, thus garnering Reserve Champion honors in the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship. The pair finished 10th at the Richland Park CIC3* and had a solid prep run at the Plantation Field CIC3*.
Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) and Mensa G have had solid performances leading up to Pau and hope to continue their success in their first CCI4* as a partnership. Pollard and Carl Bouckaert’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding earned second-place honors at the Richland Park CIC3* in August and recently finished fifth in the USEF National Open Horse Trial Championship held in conjunction with the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by VTO Saddlery (AEC).
Nunnink (Auburn, Calif.) and her own R-Star will tackle Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* for the first time, hoping to end their already successful season on a high note. She and the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare finished eighth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover in April, then won the CIC3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm. The pair comes to Pau with Reserve Champion honors to its name, after finishing second in the USEF National Open Horse Trial Championship held in conjunction with the AEC.
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) brings the Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s Mr. Medicott to contest their first CCI4* as a partnership. Both are Olympic Games and FEI World Equestrian Games veterans and have been getting to know one another since June. Dutton and the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding had solid performances in an Advanced division at Millbrook Horse Trials and at the Richland Park CIC3* this summer. They are coming off a fifth-place finish at the Plantation Field CIC3* and plan to maintain their strong form.
Little (Frederick, Md.) and RF Demeter have been claiming top results across Europe since June. At the Luhmühlen CCI4*, Little and the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Raylyn Farms and Team Demeter finished seventh. The pair then finished fifth at the Blair Castle CIC3* and earned second-place honors at both the Breda CIC3* and the Schenefeld CIC3*. Little and RF Demeter seem to be at their peak performance and hope to make a showing at Pau.
Competition gets underway Thursday with the first day of dressage as Montgomery and Universe come down centerline at 3:20pm local time, followed by Burnett and Harbour Pilot at 4:08pm. The rest of the U.S. contingency will perform their dressage tests on Friday, beginning with Symansky and Donner at 9:46am local time. Pollard and Mensa G will go at 10:26am followed by Nunnink and R-Star at 11:14am. Dutton and Mr. Medicott will be the last to go in the morning session at 12:38pm, with Little and RF Demeter being the sole U.S. pair in the afternoon session at 2:16pm.
Casablanca’s Wes Finlayson (4) goes for the big hit windup despite pressure from ELG’s Nic Roldan (3). Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 23, 2013 — Audi and Beluga will open play on Thursday in the first game of the USPA Fall Plates Tournament at 1 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Five teams will compete in the three-day tournament. Audi, Beluga, Casablanca, ELG, and Palm House are entered in the fifth tournament of the fall season.
A round-robin tournament with three games featuring 13-goal teams Casablanca, ELG and Palm House is Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m., also at Grand Champions.
The championship final is Sunday at 3 p.m. sandwiched between the subsidiary game at 1 p.m. and consolation at 5 p.m.
The team lineups are:
Audi (11 goals): Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Luis Escobar, Kaisser Maakar.
Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi (1) goes for the ball with plenty of help from teammates Wes Finlayson (4) and Juancito Bollini (2) defending ELG’s Carlitos Gracida (2)
This is the fifth medium-goal tournaments of the fall season which has been the most competitive in Grand Champion’s seven-year history. Casablanca has won two tournaments; Paladin and Audi have each captured one tournament title.
Two 20-goal tournaments are scheduled for November.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov.13-24 USPA National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch high and medium goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
