Tag Archives: John Pearce

One-Two Finish for John Pearce in $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center/Platinum Performance Grand Prix

John Pearce and Chianto.

Parker, CO – June 14, 2014 – John Pearce left the others in the dust in the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center/Platinum Performance Grand Prix, blazing through not one but two speedy jump-offs to capture the win with Chianto and second place with Johnny B Good. Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride finished third in the feature event of Summer in the Rockies II at the Colorado Horse Park.

Pearce had plenty of competition in the jump-off, with four other horse and rider combinations from the 21-horse field joining his two horses in the race for the top prize. Among those were Paul Rohrbach and Camerino, who won last week’s $25,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix and were looking to build on that success. But Pearce was unstoppable with the two horses owned by Forest View Farm, and Chianto was quickest of them all.

“That horse is such a star,” Pearce said of Chianto. “He’s won more grand prixs than I can count.”

The event kicked off with a horseless jumper class for children, who raced around a course of beautifully designed small jumps. It set the festive mood for the afternoon, and spectators got into the competitive spirit, eagerly applauding clear rounds and cheering on each horse and rider who took center stage in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena.

Representatives from sponsors Littleton Equine Medical Center, a well-respected large animal clinic in Littleton, CO, and Platinum Performance, producers of top-quality supplements, were on hand to watch the grand prix, and Colorado Horse Park founder and president Helen Krieble thanked them for their commitment over the years.

Hector Loyola designed the course with the aim of creating a fair test for the grand prix veterans in the field as well as those less seasoned at the upper levels. There was no single bogey fence, and rails fell throughout the course. Loyola said that he likes to put questions all around the course but also create an element that is a central focus for riders.

“The big question of the whole course was at fences 8, 9ab and 10,” he said. “I didn’t want to get too many people there, which I didn’t, but I did get them to concentrate on that line. That was the main part of the course that I put all their attention on. I thought it was a very fair course for everyone competing.”

That question asked riders to navigate a bending line from the Littleton Equine Medical Center oxer to a vertical-vertical combination, followed by another bending line to an oxer. The combination, set off the rail toward the center of the ring, tripped up a few horses, but many others successfully cleared the challenging element.

“He had rails everywhere, and there wasn’t any real trappy area,” Pearce said of Loyola’s course. “Some people knocked the first jump down, some people knocked the last jump down. Everything was relative, and it was well done.”

John Pearce and Johnny B Good
John Pearce and Johnny B Good

Rohrbach, of Parker, CO, and Camerino, owned by Wells Bridge Farm Inc., were first to go and advanced to the jump-off with a clear round. Pearce was fifth to go with Johnny Be Good and secured their jump-off position as well.

The first round was put on hold after the seventh rider due to a passing thunderstorm, but the weather gradually cleared and competition resumed. The first two to return after the hold, Armando Hassey on Taggert Enterprises LLC’s Eminem and Kelsey Van Ackeren on her own Vernon G, were unfazed by the weather and jumped clear rounds to earn enthusiastic applause from spectators.

Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride, owned by Blair Cudmore, joined them a few rounds later, and then Pearce and Chianto completed the group for the jump-off. Loyola had aimed for five to eight clear rounds, and the results were right on the money with six horses advancing.

The jump-off challenged riders to step on the gas and give their all. There were opportunities to save time with tight turns as well as pick up speed and gallop to a couple of the fences. A double combination – fences 9ab of the first round jumped in the other direction – partway through ensured that riders maintained precise control.

“I like to have both long gallops and turns, so there’s a balance of what the riders have to do and a fair chance for different types of horses,” Loyola explained.

Rohrbach and Camerino led off with a four-fault round, dislodging a rail at the combination and finishing in 42.158 seconds. Pearce and Johnny B Good followed them and laid down the first clear with a speedy time of 39.426 seconds.

Van Ackeren and Vernon G were up next. The pair had a scary moment at fence 12, but Van Ackeren made a good save, recovering and completing the short course with jumping and time penalties.

Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride
Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride

Hassey and Eminem tried to challenge Pearce’s lead with neat, efficient turns, completing a double clear effort in 41.297 seconds. Cudmore and Southern Pride bettered Hassey’s time but couldn’t quite catch Pearce despite a valiant effort. They finished in 40.867 seconds, leaving Pearce and Chianto to jump last and determine which of Pearce’s horses would come out on top.

“I really wanted to win with Johnny because he’s been second so many times but hasn’t won a grand prix yet,” Pearce said. “But I wanted to go fast with Chianto because I didn’t want him to be fourth. The gap between first and second was really tight to fit him in between, so I had to really try to win with Chianto today.”

And Chianto, as he has done many times before in his long grand prix career, came through with a top-notch effort in the jump-off to seal the victory. He made the short course look easy with fluid turns and rapid adjustments, completing it in the winning time of 37.858 seconds.

“I thought it was a really good class,” Pearce said. “I think it’s one of the best classes I’ve jumped here in a while. I don’t say that because I won – I just thought the course was good. We had the right amount clear. It wasn’t too small and it wasn’t too big, and it was technical enough. The class suited the group really well.”

Next week at Summer in the Rockies III, top show jumping competitors will return to face off in the $30,000 McElvain Energy Grand Prix. Summer in the Rockies II wraps up Sunday, featuring the $5,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena.

Click here for full results from Saturday. Visit the Colorado Horse Park’s website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout Summer in the Rockies.

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

June 4-8 Summer in the Rockies I
June 11-15 Summer in the Rockies II
June 18-22 Summer in the Rockies III*
July 2-6 Summer in the Rockies IV
July 9-13 Summer in the Rockies V*
July 16-20 Summer in the Rockies VI

*WCHR Member Events

Hunter Highlights:

$5,000 National Hunter Derby – Week III
$15,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Winsome Farm – Week III
$10,000 National Hunter Derby – Week V
$40,000 International Hunter Derby sponsored by Serenity Farm – Week V

Jumper Highlights:

$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix – Week I
$25,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical and Platinum Performance – Week II
$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by McElvain Energy – Week III
$30,000 Summer in the Rockies Grand Prix sponsored by Griffis Residential – Week IV
$50,000 Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix – Week V
$50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix – Week VI
$10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family
$20,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family

Plus:
$10,000 July Grand Prix Rider Bonus for the Leading Grand Prix Rider sponsored by The Kathy and Brad Coors Family – Weeks IV-VI

Prize List:
For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:
Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Entries close 30 days before each show.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                         (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                         (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office               (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway. Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx. 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road. Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx. 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway. Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx. 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

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.

Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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John Pearce Battles the Flu to Win $50,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix

©Flying Horse Photography. John Pearce and Son of a Gun on their way to a win in the $50,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix.

THERMAL, CA (February 10, 2014) – With three mounts to jump around, not a single onlooker would know that John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California was battling the flu during the $50,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal on Sunday. He and Son of a Gun, owned by Forest View Farm, were one of only four pairs to jump clear against a very tight first round time allowed of 81 seconds.

Pearce first appeared on trusted partner Chianto, owned by Forest View Farm and Allison Moore, and was clear, but crossed the timers four tenths of a second slow to pick up one time fault. He did not, however, let the clock be a problem for Son of a Gun. “Son of a Gun and I went around seven seconds under the time because I was not going to get another time fault,” said Pearce. “I may have been a little over ambitious, but that’s the competitor in me.”

Pearce was not the only rider to find trouble with the clock – 13 pairs picked up time faults out of a starting field of 33. Five of which, including Pearce, were sitting on clear rounds when they landed off the last jump, but the clock would eventually keep them from the jump-off.

Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico set the course on Sunday and tested both horse and rider with 13 obstacles, including three double combinations.

Ashlee Bond Clarke of Hidden Hills, California was the first to jump clear and bested the clock aboard Little Valley Farms’ Chella LS. She was later joined by Jenni McAllister of Sun Valley, California in the irons of Here I Come for LEGISequine.com; Michelle Parker of San Marcos, California with Cross Creek Farms’ Socrates De Midos and Pearce on Son of a Gun.

Bond Clarke and Chela LS have had a successful three weeks at HITS Thermal with two grand prix wins already in their pocket. She and the 10-year-old mare jumped clean in the jump-off to post a Great American Time to Beat at 44.04 seconds. McAllister and Parker both picked up faults to set the stage for a battle of the sexes between Bond Clarke and Pearce on his 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Pearce returned last and laid down a trip like no one before him. “I did the leave-outs to the triple bar and the double combination,” he said. “But it was in the turns that I got her – her horse is a little bit greener and couldn’t pull off some of those turns, but mine knows his job and got it done.”

Pearce stopped the clock at 41.15 seconds for the win. Bond Clarke finished in second, Parker in third and McAllister in fourth. Elizabeth Gingras of Edmonton, Alberta capped the top five in the irons of B Gingras Equestrian, Ltd.’s Floreen SFN, while Pearce and Chianto landed sixth.

After a week off from show jumping, HITS Thermal will host the second of its two FEI World Cup qualifying classes. The $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix CSI-W2* will highlight grand prix competition during Week IV as riders continue to jump toward qualifying for both the FEI World Cup, as well as the HITS Triple Crown of Show jumping.

About Go Rentals
Go Rentals is a family-owned business founded by two brothers two decades ago. What started as a small company with a niche in passenger vans quickly grew into the only rental car company catering to the private jet industry and fine hotels. Now with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and service to over 40 airports and various fine hotels, Go Rentals is there when it’s convenient. For more information about Go Rentals, visit gorentals.com.

About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives.

$10,000 HITS Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic, presented by Bayer’s Legend
Karl Cook topped a competitive field of 27 to win the $10,000 HITS Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic, presented by Bayer’s Legend, on the road to qualifying for the Bayer’s Legend (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix. Cook, who hails from Woodside, California, is no stranger to success in the junior/amateur-owner jumper ring and earned the win aboard Farrari for Signe Ostby.

Lily Berlin of St. Helena, California was the first to jump Hernandez’s course and eventually posted a double-clear effort for second aboard her won Quasiboy. Jenny Calandra of Perris, California was third on her won Caruso.

Hannah Von Heidegger of Chatsworth, California rode to fourth on Monarch International’s E-Unanime De La Haie, while Molly Talla of San Juan Capistrano, California capped the top five with her own Java Keltic Courage.

All high junior/amateur-owner jumper classics at HITS Desert Horse Park are qualifiers for the Bayer’s Legend (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, enticing West Coast riders to head east this fall for the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. For more information on the Bayer’s Legend $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, visit HitsShows.com.

About Bayer Animal Health
Bayer Animal Health is amongst worldwide leaders in animal health. Bayer has attained this leadership position by continuously researching and developing products for animal health since 1919. A responsible relationship between humans, companion animals and livestock requires ensuring the health of animals. For more information on Bayer Animal Health, visit bayer.com.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.comHitsShows.com

John Pearce Seeing Double This Week at HITS Saugerties, Wins $50,000 HITS Grand Prix

©ESI Photography. John Pearce and Chianto jump to a win in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix making it two in a row for Pearce at HITS Saugerties this week.

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 2, 2013) – On the heels of a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix with Son of a Gun, John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California jumped his way to another blue on Sunday in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, this time aboard Forest View Farm’s Chianto. Celebration, however, soon turned to focus as all attention soon turned to preparation for next Sunday’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix.

“Sometimes you don’t think that much about winning, you just want to jump well and you end up getting lucky. That’s what happened here today,” said Pearce, who has been partnered with Chianto for six years.

The pair has won countless grand prix together and is proof that a solid bond between horse and rider play an important role in winning blue ribbons. Pearce admits that Chianto won’t jump again until the Zoetis Million – his plan is to keep the gelding as fresh as possible. Chianto was double clear on Friday for fifth place with Pearce in the irons, and was double clear again on Sunday to win, putting the duo on an unofficial “hot streak” heading into next Sunday’s big ticket class.

Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida set a challenging course for the $50,000 Grand Prix, which included 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts. The combinations posed the most difficult questions with a one stride oxer-vertical double at fence six and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination set as two strides to one stride. Combined, the two obstacles shattered 10 fault-free rounds with rails coming down.

During the first round, it appeared that a Canadian vs. Canadian duel in the jump-off was a real possibility as Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ontario guided both IV Ever and George, owned by B Gingras Equestrian, Ltd. to clear efforts to join Pearce. However, Americans Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey on Quointreau Un Prince, owned by herself and McClain Ward, as well as Peter Wylde of Lake Worth, Florida with Lewin 5, owned by Societe Civile de L’Ecurie Meautry, added their names to the list to cap the jump-off.

Henselwood returned first with IV Ever and set the Great American Time to Beat at 49.82 seconds. Pearce and Chianto followed, shaving a full six seconds off Henselwood’s time in 43.80 seconds. “I didn’t really think I pushed him in the jump-off because we are preparing for bigger and better things, but I know him so well that we are able to turn on a dime and leave out strides anywhere without really pushing it,” said Pearce.

Rather than speed, Peace aimed for efficiency, establishing a big step to the first fence and maintaining it throughout the course. “My main goal was just to stay out of Chianto’s way,” he said.

Henselwood challenged the clock with George and finished the short track in 47.60 seconds, which landed her in second. She was also third with IV Ever. Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince were fourth and Wylde rounded out the top five with Lewin 5.

Pearce was also eighth with Son of a Gun and tenth with Johnny B Good, both owned by Forest View Farm. Johnny B Good, a young jumper stepped up to the challenges offered by the course and Son of a Gun gave it all he had after running to a win in Friday’s grand prix. “The old man is the one who pulled it off,” said Pearce of the 17-year-old Chianto, who has won over $1 million in prize money since Pearce bought the gelding as an eleven year old.

Pearce is looking forward to another shot at $1 million after finishing third in the Pfizer Million in 2010 and second in this winter’s AIG $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Thermal. Grand prix action will return to HITS Saugerties on Friday as the $30,000 SmartPak Wild Card Grand Prix will offer the class winner a wild card berth in the Zoetis Million, which will welcome top international riders and their horses as HITS, once again, offers $1 million in prize money.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.comHitsShows.com

John Pearce Makes the West Coast Proud with a Win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

©ESI Photography. John Pearce and Son of Gun jumping their way to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.

SAUGERTIES, NY (August 31, 2013) – With hopes of million-dollar success, John Pearce of Bermuda Dunes, California made his way east this week and piloted Forest View Farm’s Son of a Gun to the top of the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties on Friday. Pearce is one of several West Coast riders who are in Saugerties preparing for next weekend’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix as part of HITS Championship Weekend.

Course designer Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida set a 13-obstacle course with 16 jumping efforts for a field of 41 competitors. The track included an oxer-oxer two-stride at fence seven and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple separated by one stride apiece at fence 12. From the first round, a star-studded field of 13 advanced to the jump-off.

“Today’s class was a great way to start building up for the million. There was enough width, but it wasn’t too testy,” said Pearce.

Pearce, a Canadian rider, was joined by a number of other international competitors who recently arrived in Saugerties to prepare for the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix next Sunday. New Zealand’s Duncan McFarlane, Venezuela’s Luis Larrazabal and fellow Canadian Jill Henselwood are just a few who make up the laundry list of global talent that will take the stage for the richest class in show jumping.

In the third trip of the jump-off, Pearce set the Great American Time to Beat at 40.66 seconds with a clear round aboard his first ride, Forest View Farm’s Chianto. The 17-year-old gelding is Pearce’s planned mount for the Zoetis Million after the pair finished in second-place at the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Thermal this past March.

“I wasn’t planning to go that fast with Chianto because I am trying to save him a little for the Million,” said Pearce. “He’s the ‘man’ right now and has proven that he is a winner at this level – he deserves a shot next Sunday.”

Lisa Goldman of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois answered Pearce with a clear round in 40.35 seconds in the irons of Mary Goldman’s Centurion B. After winning three grand prix at HITS Ocala this winter, Goldman has high hopes for her debut Zoetis Million appearance.

Pearce returned ninth and piloted Son of a Gun to a blazing time of 38.62 seconds. “He’s been out for a year and a half because of an injury, but is really coming along well,” Pearce said of the 14-year-old gelding that was purchased as a 10-year-old. “Son of a Gun has a lot of jump with the ability to run, be quick in the air and jump carefully. He likes to leave the jumps up and that’s what I like the most about him.”

Henrik Gundersen of Wellington, Florida gave Pearce a run for his money in the final trip, but was one one-hundredth of a second slower, finishing in second place with his own Krake Ask. They posted a final time of 38.65 seconds. Goldman finished third and Peter Wylde of Lake Worth, Florida landed in fourth aboard Winley Farm, LLC’s Wiesielottie. Their jump-off time was 40.43 seconds. Pearce capped the top five with Chianto.

“I hadn’t planned on going that fast today, but I figured I had nothing to lose with Son of a Gun, so I went for it – and it worked out!” said Pearce. “You have to be able to go fast in Saugerties – there are a lot of good riders here. I love being back here.”

Grand prix action will return Sunday with the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, before Week VIII delivers HITS Championship Weekend. After a year of qualifying, a talented cast of riders will converge on the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium to ride for the top prize in the Zoetis Million Grand Prix.

About SmartPak
SmartPak Equine was founded in 1999 with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses. The patented SmartPak supplement feeding system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. It has been embraced by riders from all disciplines and all levels, including seven Olympic medalists. In addition to the SmartPak supplement system, the company offers a broad line of horse health and rider items, dog supplies, and equine and canine pharmacy items sold through the company’s catalog and Web site.

SmartPak continues to find innovative ways to support and expand throughout the equestrian community. From their sponsorship of equine events at all levels of riding, their support of top riders through the Team SmartPak program, to the aid of equine nonprofits and organizations in need, SmartPak is committed to supporting the equine communities that it serves.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.comHitsShows.com

John Pearce and Chianto Make It Look Easy to Clinch the $30,000 Summer in the Rockies III Grand Prix

John Pearce and Johnny B Good. Photos by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge.

Parker, CO – June 22, 2013 – A crowd of spectators gathered to watch spectacular show jumping at the much-anticipated $30,000 Nutrena Summer in the Rockies III Grand Prix in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park on a perfect Colorado Saturday afternoon.

In the first round of the event, 19 horse and rider combinations battled it out over international course designer Alan Wade’s track, attempting to progress to the jump-off round. Ten would make the cut.

“It was a build-up over the week,” said Wade about his strategy in creating the course. “In the Welcome we went up for the second round. We were a little bit bigger again today. Then, they went up again in the jump-off. It was more about show jumping than pure speed.”

“I try to give a balance so that you don’t just suit one horse,” Wade continued. “You try to suit the best overall combination of horse, rider, scope and nimbleness – that they’re able to turn left and right and that they’re able to move up across the ground. You just try to test everything.”

The first to go clear within the 89-second time allowed was John Pearce from Bermuda Dunes, CA, and Johnny B Good, owned by Forest View Farm.

Three more clean rounds in a row followed from Bryn Sadler and Showcase 81 LLC’s 18.2 hand grey Holsteiner, Cincinnati. Then, Mark Mead of Longmont, CO, and Balthazar, a Belgian Warmblood owned by Marianne Marshall, had a speedy clean round and Kristen VanderVeen from St Charles, IL, and Bull Run’s Eternal went fault-free. Caroline Beecherl from Dallas, TX, followed suit riding her own S&L Zeppelin.

A few rounds later Pearce returned on Chianto, who also advanced to the jump-off. The Danish Warmblood superstar with his own Facebook page is owned by Forest View Farm and has a list of wins as long as your arm.

The next clear round came from Matt Cyphert from Lantana, TX, aboard Lochivar, winner of the 1.40m Open Jumpers on the opening day of Summer in the Rockies III.

Sadler returned on her second mount, Bon Giorno, and earned another chance at the short course, as did Armando Hassey and Taggert Enterprise’s Eminem and Bjorn Ikast and the fabulous Colorado, owned by Bovee Limited Liability.

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal

VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal were the first of the second-rounders to leave all the rails in their cups, stopping the timer at 44.665. The performance from VanderVeen, who has been a consistent winner at the Summer in the Rockies series, and the huge-strided Belgian Warmblood seemed improbable to beat.

Then Pearce came back for the jump-off round with his long-time partner, the 16-year-old Chianto. The pair effortlessly flew around the course, laying down a blazingly fast, clean round that timed out at 42.066, over two seconds ahead of VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Eternal.

Pearce and VanderVeen’s jump-off rounds would produce the only double clears of the group. Pearce had the fastest four-fault time with Johnny B Good to earn the third place prize, while Cyphert and Lochivar placed fourth.

“I thought it was big, actually, but it rode nice,” said VanderVeen. “There wasn’t anything that trapped anyone. It was definitely a lot bigger than we’ve been jumping. My horse just did the Grand Prix last week and he didn’t do the Welcome again this week. So this was his first class out – so I thought, ‘I hope he’s on his A-game.’ He was. I’ll take second any day. We were double clean and that was what we’re shooting for.”

“I don’t want to run him too much over little jumps,” said Pearce about Chianto. “He doesn’t need to do that at this stage in his career. He’s pretty much a Sunday horse now. I did him in the Welcomes the first couple of weeks because he hadn’t jumped since Thermal – not a jump. I used those classes as a warm up. I don’t jump the horse at home anymore. I just keep him really fit and happy.”

John Pearce and Chianto
John Pearce and Chianto

“He’s a great horse,” Pearce shared. “Like I’ve said, he’s my Pegasus. I can’t count how many grand prix events he’s won for me. One of the reasons he’s so sound and so fresh is because I don’t go to the well with him. I don’t jump a 1.60m with him every weekend. At that age they can’t do that anymore. I would still take that horse right now and drop him at any competition in the world and feel very comfortable. That’s how much I think of this horse. He feels great and I feel blessed. This was a walk in the park for him. He was smooth as glass and flawless. He was beautiful to ride today.”

“We ran fast in the jump-off and the footing held up,” VanderVeen said. “The course designer this week has been really good about galloping and turning, not just one or the other. It has tested the footing. It’s held up fantastic.”

“I thought it was a good course,” Pearce said. “It was a little bigger. He built a very nice encouraging course the opening day for the Welcome – which I am a strong believer in – and built a lot of confidence in the horses and riders. He didn’t do anything too trappy – he had some subtle difficulties, no doubt. It kept it really fair for everyone.”

“I was very happy how it turned out,” said Wade. “It was fair to the less-experienced ones, those who were just having their first starts in grand prix. The better horse and rider combinations came to the top.”

The Colorado Horse Park Summer in the Rockies Fast Facts

What: Summer in the Rockies AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Show Series

Event Dates:

Summer in the Rockies I June 5-9, 2013
Summer in the Rockies II June 12-16, 2013
Summer in the Rockies III June 19-23, 2013
Summer in the Rockies IV July 3-7, 2013
Summer in the Rockies V July 10-14, 2013
Summer in the Rockies VI July 17-21, 2013

Prize List:

Click here for an online version of the prize list. For a hard copy of the prize list, please e-mail prizelist@cohorsepark.com with your name, address and phone number and specify which prize list you would like (spring/fall or summer).

Entries:

Mail to The Colorado Horse Park, 7522 South Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134 or fax to (303) 841-7879. Opening date for Stall Reservations: April 1, 2013. Closing date May 20, 2013.

Contact Information:

Pat Boyle, Show Manager                          (847) 274-6834
Brian Curry, Show Manager                        (303) 918-2908
Show Office                                                 (303) 841-7461
Show Office Fax                                          (303) 841-1419
Colorado Horse Park Main Office                (303) 841-5550
Colorado Horse Park Main Office Fax         (303) 841-7879

Tentative Schedule:
Wed – Sun: Show starts daily at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approx 3 miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approx 4 miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approx 4 miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

About the Colorado Horse Park

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.

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John Pearce and Chianto Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix Just One Week before the Pfizer Million

©ESI Photography. John Pearce and Chianto jumped perfectly during the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix and walked away with the win.

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 3, 2012) – Canadian Olympian and show jumping star and HITS Thermal regular John Pearce brought his talents to the East Coast once again as he pursues the coveted Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Pearce arrived for HITS-on-the-Hudson VII and easily gained his footing in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium with a win in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday aboard Allison Moore’s Chianto.

Sunday’s course was designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida and 27 horse-and-rider combinations attempted to challenge the track. At the end of the first round, the playing field was trimmed to five, and set up an exciting jump-off with a mix of some of the best athletes coast-to-coast.

“I thought today’s course was good – it had some different lines and the jump-off was quite a challenge. I pretty much had to throw all caution to the wind to leave out the strides and go fast enough to win,” said Pearce. “Chianto jumped great today and he is in perfect condition for the [Pfizer] Million.”

Continue reading John Pearce and Chianto Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix Just One Week before the Pfizer Million

John Pearce Wins Second Grand Prix in a Row

John Pearce & Chianto. Photo: Jon Kassel

Parker, CO — The first half of the Colorado Summer Circuit came to a close this weekend and was highlighted by the $25,000 Summer in the Rockies IIII Grand Prix.   Eighteen horses and riders competed for first place and a large cash prize at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP). This was the third Grand Prix in the series of six events, with the action continuing the week of July 2 with Summer in the Rockies IV. John Pearce has had an exceptional three weeks, winning two out of the three Grand Prix.

The riders raved about Saturday’s course by international designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil. The track took advantage of the large derby field at CHP, and included a triple combination toward the crowd and an oxer along the VIP seating area, making it exciting for the spectators. “Today’s course was the best of the circuit by far. [The designer] was great; she is one of my favorites,” exclaimed winner, John Pearce.   Azevedo had the perfect number of five horses in the jump-off: Pearce and Bjorn Ikast with two rides each, and Christian Heineking of Wylie, Texas.

The jump off was a nail-biter with Heineking laying down a scorching clear trip. Neither Pearce with Johnny B Good or Ikast with Brave Heart could catch Heineking. With his WEG mount Chianto, Olympian Pearce gave an exciting, determined ride that somehow managed to cut .58 seconds off Heineking’s seemingly unbeatable time. Ikast and his second mount, Colorado, were unable to duplicate Pearce’s efforts and finished in fourth place.

Continue reading John Pearce Wins Second Grand Prix in a Row

John Pearce Continues His Winning Ways in the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix

John Pearce and Johnny B Good. Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — John Pearce had a winning week at the Colorado Horse Park during Summer in the Rockies II. First clinching the victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake and then again during the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix when he finished first and second. Twenty-two talented pairs faced the challenging Danny Foster course, but only three turned in phenomenal, clear, first-round performances.

“I love the look of riders working hard,” Danny Foster, FEI I course designer, said of his track. “Just like any other sport, spectators want to see athletes performing.” Foster used CHP’s bank and a long gallop to the last jump among his tools to separate great from good riding.

Though Foster, a Pan-American Games gold medalist during his competitive career, agreed that the track was challenging, he had hoped that more riders would master the questions and advance to the jump-off. “As a designer you want to encourage them, but if you don’t have scores, you don’t have sport,” he explained. “So, I need to create scores without causing a loss of confidence in the horses or riders. I don’t want to take away any heart.”

Continue reading John Pearce Continues His Winning Ways in the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix

John Pearce Wins $10,000 Welcome Stake at Summer in the Rockies II

John Pearce & Chianto. Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Summer in the Rockies II kicked off the second week of the Colorado Summer Circuit with a multitude of impressive horses and competitors from around North America. One of the first big classes of the week was the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake held Thursday afternoon.

Danny Foster’s track proved to be a technical one for the riders and horses, but a few particular pairs were able to conquer all of its obstacles. In first place, was John Pearce, riding his WEG partner Chianto to the victory.

“Today we saw a very challenging course, and it was a long course. It wasn’t real tall, but it was tricky. It was very technical, but obviously it rode well for me today,” said Pearce. This is not the Canadian Olympian’s first appearance at CHP, and he was seemingly thrilled to be back in Parker, stating, “It’s a great spot and I enjoy it thoroughly.”

Continue reading John Pearce Wins $10,000 Welcome Stake at Summer in the Rockies II

John Pearce Finishes First and Second in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix

John Pearce and Son of a Gun bested a jump-off field of seven competitors to win the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Seven horses and riders returned for the second round over the Peter Holmes-designed course in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix Presented by Nutrena. Twenty-five horses and riders started in the featured event on Saturday July 9, 2011 during week four of the Colorado Summer Circuit at The Colorado Horse Park. Canadian WEG riders John Pearce and Karen Cudmore each had multiple rides in the jump-off, with the two of them galloping off with the top four ribbons.

Course designer Peter Holmes, Cowichan Bay, B.C., planned to use the Park’s Derby Field to full advantage. “It’s a beautiful big arena on two levels, which is not that common. I wanted to use the slope as part of the course; it’s a balance test that we don’t often get to see.”

In his pre-ride course walk Olympian John Pearce speculated that four fences could be problematic for riders in the first round of the class: fence #3, a vertical off of an inside turn; the double combination, an oxer to a vertical; the triple combination of vertical, oxer vertical, that was set completely on its own and faced into the crowd, and the line from fence #9 to #10. And he was right. All four jumps presented problem spots for the class. The result — an excellent selection of horses that advanced to the second round. “I thought the course designer did a great job all week,” Pearce said. “He nailed it.”

In the jump-off Pearce was first to go with his eventual winner, Son of a Gun, delivering a clear round with a 36.148. This put the pressure on the rest of the class, who each faulted, until Pearce returned with Chianto. This was his partner in last year’s World Equestrian Games, where they finished in eighth place overall. The duo was clear, but finished with 36.474, leaving Son of a Gun in the lead. Cudmore was last to go with her mare Shea; the perennial favorite in Colorado didn’t disappoint her loyal fans. Cudmore put in a great run, but pulled the last rail to finish in third.

Continue reading John Pearce Finishes First and Second in the $30,000 Colorado Circuit Opener Grand Prix