Tag Archives: Kelly Soleau-Millar

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

David O’Brien and El Balou OLD Finish on Top of $37k Assets Risk Management 1.50m CSI3*

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David O’Brien and El Balou OLD ©Sportfot®.

Wellington, FL – Nov. 19, 2021 – A wet second day of the ESP Pre-Charity CSI3* couldn’t dampen the competition that was seen in the $37,000 Assets Risk Management 1.50m CSI3* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Course designer Héctor Loyola (PUR) set an apt challenge for the class, with six of the 23 entries advancing to the jump-off, which trimmed the number of double-clear pairs down to only three. Jumping to the top of the leaderboard by just six-hundredths of a second, David O’Brien (IRL) and Chansonette Farm LLC’s El Balou OLD wrapped the contest as the class victors, a promising win ahead of Sunday’s $137,000 NoltrexVet® Grand Prix CSI3* and a super result for O’Brien’s newly-founded stables.

Earlier in the day, the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Stake showcased the efforts of 35 horse-and-rider partnerships. Of the initial field of entries, 12 duos advanced to the jump-off to vie for the top prize, whittled down further to just five double-clear pairs by the end of the class. Midway through the jump-off, Ali Wolff (USA) and her own Footloose HX set a quick standard without faults in 41.56 seconds, which no other pairs were able to surpass, to solidify the early frontrunners as the class victors.

Kelly Soleau-Millar and Abel Crawford Dominate the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Hunters were in the spotlight on Friday during the ESP Pre-Charity CSI3* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Held in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw contenders compete over two rounds of riding, with one duo standing out as the clear victors. With two scores that hit the 90-point benchmark, Kelly Soleau-Millar of Wellington, FL and Millar Equine Sales’ Abel Crawford ran away with the win to clinch the lead spot in the lap of honor.

The classic round of the class concluded with Soleau-Millar and Abel Crawford in the lead with a score of 90, giving them a small safety net over the pair that was sitting in the next-best spot, Molly Sewell of Wellington, FL and MTM Farm’s Konig Der Loewen, who had earned 87 points. Back in the ring as the final challengers, Soleau-Millar and Abel Crawford needed a handy score of 84 to clinch the win, and they far surpassed that with their exemplary round, earning a base score of 90 plus four handy points to add 94 points to their initial tally.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Jump Media, Show Jumping

Jonathon Millar and Kelly Soleau-Millar Earn Opening Day Victories at CSI2* Ottawa Int’l Horse Show

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Jonathon Millar and Caprice. Photo by Jump Media.

Ottawa, Ontario – The CSI2* Ottawa International Horse Show opened on Wednesday, July 20, with Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON and his wife, Kelly Soleau-Millar, each enjoying a win on the grass grand prix field at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.

The five-day international show jumping tournament runs through Sunday, July 24, and boasts an impressive list of top competitors, including four members of the Millar family.  Ten-time Olympian Ian Millar, 2016 Canadian Olympic Show Jumping Team member Amy Millar, and husband and wife Jonathon Millar and Kelly Soleau-Millar are all competing at this year’s Ottawa International Horse Show.  The husband and wife duo scored victories in the two featured classes on opening day, with Jonathon winning the 1.35m Open Jumper competition, presented by Deloitte, with Caprice while Soleau-Millar of Wellington, FL, topped the 1.25 Open Jumper, presented by Juniper Farm, riding Hoolie Hoo.

Soleau-Millar and Hoolie Hoo, the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by C. F. Farms, bested a field of 32 entries with a double clear effort in a winning jump-off time of 43.99 seconds.  The 1.35m Open Jumpers were next, and this time it was Jonathon riding Caprice, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Peter Edgar, who produced the winning round to beat out 24 other competitors.

“It’s been a real Team Millar day!” said Soleau-Millar of the back-to-back victories, which were immediately followed by a win for their student, Adam Rittenberg, riding Alazan in the 1.30m Junior/Amateur competition.

Married in December, Jonathon and Soleau-Millar are no strangers to traveling and competing together, most often alongside Ian and Amy.

“We’re on the road a lot, and it’s nice to be able to travel with the whole group,” said Jonathon.  “We’re really fortunate that way.  The horses have all been great, so that always makes showing together even more special.”

Jonathon continued, “We’re also fortunate that we all have a common goal.  We all want to be successful ourselves, but we also want each other to be successful.  Hopefully at the end of the day, at least one of us has had a good day!”

Millar Brooke Farm has brought a total of 30 horses from its home base in Perth, ON to the Ottawa International Horse Show.  Sanctioned as a CSI2* by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), riders competing in the feature events are able to earn valuable World Rider Ranking points.

“Having FEI competition in our backyard is amazing,” said Soleau-Millar.  “We couldn’t ask for a better venue, and the prize money is outstanding.  I ride a lot of the young horses and bring them along, and it’s hard to make your way without wonderful shows like this one that have such strong support and money behind them.”

Having a world-class competition situated only 45 minutes from home is a big draw for the Millar family.

“The field is unbelievable to ride in, and the improvements made every year are just outstanding,” Soleau-Millar said.  “The schedule is wonderful, and everything is competitor and horse friendly.  It’s really nice to have a place that’s close to home and at a venue that’s so beautiful.”

Spectators at the CSI2* Ottawa International Horse Show can expect to see the Millar family in action throughout the week.  Featured events include the $35,000 CSI2* Open Welcome on Friday, the $10,000 Modified Grand Prix on Saturday, and the $100,000 CSI2* Classic on Sunday, all beginning at 2 p.m.

To find out more about the Ottawa National and CSI2* Ottawa International Horse Shows, visit www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com. For complete results from the Ottawa National Horse Show, visit ottawa.showmanagementsystem.com.

Jennifer Ward
cell: 613-292-5439
jward@jumpmediallc.com