Wellington, FL – April 14, 2015 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) finished its second week of its Spring Series this past weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a victory for the number five ranked rider in the world, Kent Farrington of Wellington, FL. He rode Belle Fleur 38, owned by Haity McNerney, to victory in the $30,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Spring 2 Grand Prix.
Sunday’s grand prix showed a large turnout, with a total of 50 entries, 14 of which qualified for the jump-off. The course was designed by Kenny Krome of Maryland, and featured a speedy jump-off with a majority of single fences. Farrington was one of nine competitors to go clear in the jump-off, which ultimately came down to time.
“[The] jump-off was a steeplechase-type course. [Belle Fleur] is a naturally fast horse,” said Farrington in regards to his win with a time of 43.254 seconds in the jump-off.
“[Belle Fleur] is a fairly new horse for me. She is nine years old and got a late start in the sport,” said Farrington. “I see her being very competitive in the future. I would like to thank all the owners and my whole team behind me. It wouldn’t be possible [to compete at this level] without surrounding myself with great owners and a great team.”
In a close second, Alise Oken, aboard Hi Hopes Farm LLC’s Kaid Du Ry, put up an impressive jump-off time of 43.901, just 0.0647 seconds behind Farrington. Claiming third place was Ramiro Quintana, aboard St. Bride’s Farm’s Bialda, with a jump-off time of 45.840.
Francie Steinwedell-Carvin and Lapsus Du Lavoir
Jumper Highlights
In week two of ESP’s Spring Series, the $10,000 Open Jumper Stakes Class brought fierce competition. The class saw 47 entries with 20 advancing to the jump-off and eight double clear rounds. First place went to Francie Steinwedell-Carvin aboard Prentiss Partners’ Lapsus Du Lavoir with a time of 36.581. In a close second was Paul O’Shea riding Michael Hayden & Paul O’Shea’s Primo Calypso with a time of 36.988. Mark Bluman and Stransky’s Mission Farms Inc.’s Califa LS took third with a time of 37.279.
The $5,000 1.35m Classic had 51 entries with 14 advancing to the jump-off. Claiming first place was Michael Dorman aboard Wyndmont’s Zephyr with a time of 37.886. In second was Ben Maher riding Jane Clark’s Whistler with a time of 39.836. In third was Wilhelm Genn and Karola Giebmanns’ For Fantoms Pleasure with a time of 40.427.
Abbey Bibbings aboard Page Tredennick’s Zenith Dance claimed first place with a time of 40.752 in the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by The Tackeria. Taking second place was Lea Allen and The Allen Farm’s Komedie De Montsec with a time of 45.072. Claiming third place was Kennedy Mccaulley riding her own mount, Upside, with a time of 46.288 and four faults.
In the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Equiline, Hayley Iannotti took first place aboard Riad Landoulsi’s Carlos G with a time of 41.141. In second place was Alma Bjorklund aboard Gyllebo Farm LLC’s Contesina with a time of 42.167. A close third place finish went to Taylor Reid and her mount, Ugando, with a time of 42.813.
The $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by FarmVet, saw 38 trips and only eight clear rounds. Lily Gotwald took first place aboard Verena with a time of 41.932. In second place was Monica Carrera aboard Lincourt Gino with a time of 42.805. Sarah Scarnechia took third riding Moritz W with a time of 45.767.
In the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by Tuffrider & Equine Couture, first place went to Tanner Korotkin and Sandalwood Farm’s Smarty Pants WB with a time of 36.013. A close second place went to Erika Jakobson and Barn Rat LLC’s Chocolatier with a time of 36.734. Third place went to Emanielle Greenberg aboard Pumpkin’s Patch Farm LLC’s With Love with a time of 37.132.
In the $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Tuffrider & Equine Couture, Evita Hermans and her mount, Chingolo Z, took first place with a time of 36.642. Second place went to Lisa Moore aboard Moore Equines LLC’s Saphir Du Pre A Vivier with a time of 37.202. An extremely close third went to Nina Simons riding her mount, Grace Farm’s Sabrina, with a time of 37.359.
Hunter & Equitation Highlights
The hunter divisions continued during Week II of ESP’s Spring Series. In the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, Taylor St. Jacques and Leah Elder’s Carasco took first. Rebecca Clawson aboard her mount, Freeport, took second. In third place was Tracy Sheriff-Muser with Carolyn Gouse’s Shoreline.
In the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal, Presented by Randolph College, Emma Wujek took the blue ribbon aboard Gwen McMahon’s Zidano. Hayley Iannotti and Carriage Hill Farm’s Quasa Granda finsihed in second place, while Ava Stearns and OnlyJumpers.com’s Alvarino 2 were third.
In the $1,000 Sweet Oak Farm Junior Hunter Classic, Emma Kurtz took first place aboard David Gochman’s Frederick. Second place went to Lilli Hymowitz with Rose Hill Farm’s Tiffani and third place was claimed by Vivian Yowan riding Saddle Ridge LLC’s Shockwave.
In the $1,000 Sweet Oak Farm Amateur Owner Hunter Classic, Becky Gochman and David Gochman’s Last Call placed first. Laura Sexton aboard her mount, Bring It On, took second. Third place went to Kelly Bauernschmidt with her mount, Legato.
Sophie Gochman and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Bit of Love claimed first place in the $500 Charles Moorcroft Inc. Small Pony Hunter Classic. In second place was Mimi Gochman aboard Ponies & Palms Show Stables LLC’s Rico Suave’. In third place was Mia Albelo with her mount, Pashmina.
In the $500 Charles Moorcroft Inc. Medium Pony Hunter Classic, Emma Seving and her mount, Sassafras Creek, took first place. Second place went to Christina Rogalny aboard Eric Caleca’s Brighton Supposedly. Third place went to Erika Luter riding GC Ponies’ Elegance.
Emma Kurtz claimed first place aboard Dr. Betsee Parker’s For The Best in the $500 Charles Moorcroft Inc. Large Pony Hunter Classic. Kurtz also took second place aboard Linda Evans’ Dreamland. Third place went to Mimi Gochman with Fair Play Farm’s Storyteller.
ESP’s Spring Series continues this week from April 15-19, 2015, featuring the $30,000 Spring 3 Grand Prix on Sunday April 19. For full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Kent Farrington and Waomi Capture $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic; Sophie Gochman and Elation Finish Week 11 as the Visse Wedell, Douglas Elliman Real Estate Small Pony Hunter Champions
Wellington, FL – March 22, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded its eleventh week of competition, sponsored by Artisan Farms LLC, with jumper competition featured on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Sunday. The $50,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Final, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, saw a win for Adrienne Sternlicht aboard Quidam MB and crowned Lucy Deslauriers the overall winner of the 2015 Series. The $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held later in the day with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Waomi.
Starting off Sunday’s competition on the derby field, 33 entries jumped in the $50,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final, with nine clear over Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s course. In the jump-off, Sternlicht and Starlight Farms LLC’s Quidam MB were the winners with the only double clear round in 48.49 seconds. Catherine Tyree and Don’t Go had the fastest four-fault round in 44.49 seconds to finish in second place, and Kelli Cruciotti and Serenity Equestrian Ventures LLC’s Chamonix H placed third with four faults in 44.71 seconds.
Sternlicht (21), a sophomore at Brown University, trains with U.S. show jumper Laura Kraut. Her mount, Quidam MB, is a ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Quidam’s Rubin x Argentinus).
“He is a horse that is incredibly special to me,” Sternlicht stated. “I bought him as a seven-year-old and started him at the 1.20m level and have moved him up. I think we have really grown together, and I think that is part of what makes our partnership so strong. He is definitely a little bit spunky, but I really know him like the back of my hand. I said to him, ‘Come on, we have to do this,’ and he really pulled through for me today, so I am incredibly happy with him.”
Second place finisher Catherine Tyree (21) is a sophomore at Northwestern University, and trains with North Run’s Missy Clark and John Brennan. Tyree was aboard her 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion Don’t Go (Come On x Raphel).
“I have aimed Don’t Go at these classes all circuit. He loves different venues,” Tyree noted. “He is amazing on the field, and he was great under the lights. He is one I can always count on; he always gives me 110%. I gave it a good shot in the jump-off today. He did everything I asked. I got a little bit unlucky. It was my fault, but I am thrilled with how he has been all circuit and could not have asked for any more.”
Kelli Cruciotti (17) has done well in the series all winter with her 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Chamonix H, including a win in the speed class during week two. She was happy with her round to earn third place in Sunday’s Final.
“She (Chamonix H) has been unbelievable this whole circuit. I could not have asked her to jump any better for me,” Cruciotti praised. “Every class I have asked her to do, she has really tried her heart out. This is more her venue. She loves big, open fields and big jumps, so this class and this course really suited her style of jumping. I was a little unlucky to the last jump. I kind of took a chance. Unfortunately it did not work out for me today, but congratulations to Adrienne.”
Sunday’s class was the final event in the 2015 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series, which also awarded top prizes for its overall standings after the competition. New York’s Lucy Deslauriers was the series winner for her performance throughout the winter. Nicole Bellissimo finished second overall and Catherine Tyree was third. Mavis Spencer placed fourth in the standings, and Eugenio Garza and Sophie Simpson completed the top six.
As the overall winning rider, Deslauriers received a Bruno Delgrange saddle valued at $6,000, and are invited to compete at the CSI2* Chantilly Horse Show, to be held from July 16-19, 2015, in France. In addition to their entry, the winner also receives two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge, transportation for one horse generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, and layover at Artisan Farms in Vrasene, Belgium.
Fifteen-year-old Deslauriers has had a fantastic week, including a win in Friday night’s George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, presented by Alessandro Albanese. On Saturday night, she was then presented The Potcreek Meadow Farm Junior Sportsmanship Trophy.
Deslauriers rode Hester on Sunday, a mount that she has had for two years. She was thrilled to win the series and looks forward to her first time competing in Europe as her prize.
“It is really amazing. He has been super consistent, so I am really just excited to win,” Deslauriers smiled. “I have had him since the beginning of his eight-year-old year, so we have really developed a strong partnership. I knew going into today he would give me everything I asked and more, and he really did. He really jumped incredible, so I am really excited.”
Nicole Bellissimo (21), a Sophomore at Harvard University, was leading the series coming into Sunday’s competition with her mare VDL Bellefleur, and finished out the winter in second place overall. She was happy to see her young mare’s progression and consistency throughout the circuit.
“She is nine this year and I have had her since the end of her six-year-old year, so we have definitely developed a nice partnership,” Bellissimo stated. “Last year I showed her as an eight-year-old in these classes. Last year it was not so much to go in and win the classes. She did win the semi-final, but that was because she was the only double clear, we were not really trying to go fast. This year our plan was to try to go in and be competitive and she was absolutely fantastic the entire series. Today I could have helped her a little more, but she could not have done any more. We got a little unlucky, but Lucy rode fantastic the entire series.”
Now in its fifth year, the popular Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series was expanded to feature more classes, increased prize money, and new ‘Under 25’ sanctioning by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in 2015. Open to competitors of all nationalities aged 25 and under, the Series gives up and coming riders the opportunity to compete under FEI rules while also gaining valuable grand prix experience against their peers. With varying conditions offered for each class, riders have the opportunity to compete at a height of 1.45m on grass, all-weather footing, under the lights at night, and in team competition, all of which are important elements that competitors will face as their international careers progress. This year’s series, comprised of seven events, attracted riders from around the world competing for $170,000 in prize money.
Sponsor Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms was pleased to see the development of all the riders in the series this year and congratulated the top competitors on their success.
“It is really great. Every year has been bigger and bigger. We had a lot of prize money this year and a lot of opportunity for different classes, and it has been exciting to see the consistency and see so many good rounds put in by all these riders,” Ziegler stated. “I just want to congratulate all of them. I am so impressed with what they have been able to do, and I wish them all the best of luck as they move up to the senior grand prix ranks. I am excited to have Lucy come to Europe for the summer. We will put her up at Artisan if she wants to. It is really fun to (ride at) Chantilly, and it is a really special opportunity, so congratulations.”
All of the top riders spoke to the experiences that the series has given them, including the chance to compete in different venues with different horses as well as the opportunity to get to know their fellow competitors.
“I could not be more grateful for the opportunity that the Ziegler family and Artisan Farms has given the young riders,” Tyree stated. “It is great to have a series where you can experiment with different types of classes and different venues. It has been a great stepping-stone from the junior and amateur ranks, bridging into the international open jumper level, so I could not be more thankful for being able to participate in these classes.”
“It is also a fantastic opportunity to give the horses experience,” Bellissimo remarked. “You can take one horse to go in the smaller ring, or the main international ring, or jump on the field. If you want to get to know one horse more, it gives you the opportunity to test them out in every single venue during one circuit, or you can show a couple different horses if you know one is better in one situation. It is fantastic for anything that you really want to do. As a young rider also, as you head to different venues for the summer, it is great to see what you need to improve or where you are going to excel.”
For Sternlicht, the opportunity to get to know the other riders has been a great experience, and she has felt camaraderie with the other competitors in the series this year.
“I think what is really amazing that this series has done, is it has started to create a sort of niche community (in America) among the under 25 riders that I don’t think was present until now. Last summer I had the opportunity to compete on the U.S. Young Rider Team at Hagen, and you felt a sort of kinship among all of the different competitors,” Sternlicht noted. “They see each other all the time, and they know each other and it is very competitive. For that I am incredibly grateful.”
Deslauriers agreed, adding, “I think it really creates a separate group that was not really in place before. It is amazing that the Zieglers have stepped up and been so generous to provide such an amazing series for us.”
Farrington and Waomi Win $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Competing on the grass field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday, USA’s Kent Farrington won the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic aboard Amalaya Investment’s Waomi. To conclude the eleventh week of WEF competition, 36 entries showed over Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s course, with five clear rounds to jump-off. Farrington qualified two horses, first and last to go on the short course.
Kent Farrington and Waomi
Farrington began the jump-off with what would prove to be the winning round aboard Waomi, clear in 38.18 seconds. Ben Asselin (CAN) and Attache Stables Doremi retuned with four faults in 42.20 seconds to place fifth. Darragh Kenny (IRL) jumped next with Caroline Lloyd’s Sans Soucis Z, clear in 40.15 seconds, to finish third. Harrie Smolders (NED) followed in 38.99 seconds aboard Axel Verlooy’s Enjoy Louis to move into second place. Last to go, Farrington returned aboard Amalaya Investment’s Willow with a clear round in 40.42 seconds to also earn fourth place honors.
“Today was a nice change of pace coming out to the field,” Farrington stated after his win. “I personally love riding on the grass. It is a more natural footing, and I think the horses like it. It was a great change of scenery, and I thought the footing here was excellent today. You could not have asked for a better setting than this.”
Farrington has had success with both Waomi and Willow in the 1.50m series this winter, among other top finishes throughout the circuit. Waomi won the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week seven, and two weeks later, Willow won the class in week nine. Farrington described the two horses, as well as his plan for each of their jump-off rounds. Waomi is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Lupicor x Boreas), and Willow is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Guidam x Little Rock).
“Willow is really a hot horse. He is on the attack all the time, and I kind of have to throttle him down and try to keep his brain calm so that he does not get ahead of himself,” Farrington noted. “That is sort of where his rail will come, when he does not slow down to jump the fence. He just gets too much in a hurry.”
“Waomi is a very careful mare that sort of has her own style,” he continued. “She is an opinionated lady, and she wants to go the way she wants to go.”
“To start with Waomi, I thought there were fast riders coming after me, and I would have to lay down a pretty good trip to be in contention to win today,” Farrington said of the jump-off. “I thought she went great. She did everything I asked her to do and luckily that was enough for today.”
“Having the fortune of going last on my second horse, I actually thought it was nice training for him to do a jump-off not at full speed,” Farrington explained. “I have run him in a lot of classes here and gone very fast, so today I could kind of glide around the course and set him up for the next class I am going to do with him.”
Farrington plans to rest Willow next week to show in Miami at the conclusion of the WEF circuit. Waomi will return to compete in week 12.
Sophie Gochman and Elation Finish Week 11 as the Visse Wedell, Douglas Elliman Real Estate Small Pony Hunter Champions
On the final day of hunter competition for WEF 11, Sophie Gochman rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s pony, Elation, to the tricolor ribbon in the Visse Wedell, Douglas Elliman Real Estate Small Pony Hunters. Elation and Gochman won two of the over fences classes on their way to the winner’s circle. “I’m thankful that Betsee [Parker] lets me ride her wonderful pony,” Gochman smiled after the championship presentation.
With Applause and Zayna Rizvi ended Sunday as reserve champions in the division. Rizvi piloted With Applause to a first and fifth over fences, paired with a win in the under saddle.
Gochman started riding Elation six months ago and started showing Elation at the beginning of WEF. “We have gotten to know each other over the past six months,” Gochman stated. “She [Elation] acts like a diva at the barn and is always looking for carrots, but around the ring she is always game, which makes her very fun to ride.”
Despite being a little fresh in the first class, Elation came back for the Handy round and turned in the top performance of the day. Gochman explained, “In the handy she was on it and overall she was great both days.”
“I’m lucky to have such great trainers, Scott [Stewart], Ken [Berkley], and Amanda [Derbyshire], to help coach me at the ring,” Gochman said.
Only 12 years old, Gochman enjoys the competitive environment at WEF. “I feel like I have a challenge going into the ring because the competition is so good,” Gochman commented.
Gochman lives in New York City and flies down to Wellington on weekends to compete, along with her mother and sister. While Gochman has competed in the pony hunters past years, she has recently started showing in the 3’3″ Junior Hunters and the Children’s Jumpers.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its twelfth and final week of competition, sponsored by Rolex, on March 25-29. The week features the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, March 28. Other highlights include $34,000 1.45m FEI world ranking classes on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 on Thursday. The $10,000 Holtgers 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic, $15,000 Adequan® 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic, and $20,000 Adequan® 7-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic will be featured on Friday. The $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final will be held on Saturday, and the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will host its first round on Saturday and its second round on the derby field Sunday. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Summer Catch and Dawn Fogel Win Back to Back Blues in the Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section B
Wellington, FL – March 8, 2015 – Week nine of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Willow in the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.
Alan Wade (IRL) finished the week with another strong track for the horses and riders in the 1.50m competition, with 64 entries and nine clear rounds. A tight 73-second time allowed kept nine others out of the jump off, clear over the jumps but late across the finish line.
In the tiebreaker, three cleared the short course without fault. Lauren Hough (USA) and Paris Sellon’s Adare finished second with their time of 35.21 seconds. Darragh Kenny (IRL) placed third in 35.71 seconds with Hyperion Stud LLC’s Chin Quidam VDL, and Farrington topped the pack in 34.87 seconds aboard Amalaya Investments’ Willow.
Farrington qualified two mounts for the jump-off. He jumped first with Amalaya Investments’ Waomi, who he rode to victory in week seven’s 1.50m classic. The pair was fast, but had two rails down in the process and finished eighth. This time it was Willow’s turn in the winner’s circle, and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Guidam x Little Rock) blazed through the track.
“I just used the length of his stride to my advantage,” Farrington said of his winning round. “I probably do fewer strides than the other horses do. Certainly to the combination I left out one stride. That is a pretty risky thing to do, but he has such a big stride that I figured my chances of clearing it were probably the same whether I did seven or eight. Then I probably did one less stride to the next one and one less stride to the last as well. Naturally, he has a very big step, so it is easy to use that in a jump-off.”
“Waomi has been a consistent player for me at that level,” Farrington noted. “Willow I have been using in some bigger classes that are probably a touch over his head this winter, trying to rest Voyeur and my other bigger horses. I put him back at his comfort level and he showed why he is good for that, so I am very happy with him today.”
“He has a fantastic gallop,” the rider detailed. “He is really game; he is brave. He is a lot of fun to ride and he is naturally very fast, so you just have to try to contain him throughout the course and usually he produces good results.”
Speaking of his plans for Willow this year, Farrington explained, “I would like to use him as a top second horse. I think that is really his role. He can compete anywhere in the world, and he has such a great heart. If you ask him to jump a big one, he will do it. He almost won the 5* here, the first one around. He had the last fence down in the jump-off, but I thought he tried his guts out. He will kind of do whatever you want, but I think his most competitive level is as a second horse. I think he can win a ton.”
Concluding another great week of competition, Farrington praised course designer Alan Wade on his tracks for the week.
“I think Alan Wade is one of the best course designers in modern show jumping,” Farrington acknowledged. “I think we all appreciate that he is here to build. It is real level, but it is intelligent building and I think the courses all week have been great.”
The Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, always an exciting and competitive division throughout the 12-week WEF circuit, has a fantastic prize for the leading rider of the series this year. Suncast® will provide a pre-paid two-year lease on a beautiful new 2015 Range Rover Evoque.
During WEF 12, the Range Rover Evoque will be on display at the Spectator Entrance of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and will be on course in the International Arena during the $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Jumper Championship Series Final (Round 2) to be held on Saturday evening, March 28, 2015, which is when the Evoque will be awarded to the series’ leading rider.
Series specifications and rankings can be found in the WEF Horse Show office. The top riders in the series will be recognized on the Suncast® 1.50m Jumper Championship Series leaderboard by the PBIEC Exhibitor Entrance and will also be included in the WEF Weekly Wire, the printed newsletter available on the show grounds and online at www.pbiec.com.
Also showing in the International Arena on Sunday, Emma Heise won the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic aboard Old Willow Farms LLC’s Little Lady. Lucy Matz and D.D. Matz’s Cardella won the $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumper Classic.
Summer Catch and Dawn Fogel Win Back to Back Blues in the Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section B
To start Sunday morning, Dawn Fogel, from Louisville, KY, guided her horse Summer Catch to the championship prize in the Karina Brez Jewelry Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section B. Fogel dominated over the two days winning three of the over fences classes. The only class that Fogel did not win, she placed second in.
Laura Karet rode Patricia Raynes’ horse, Saratoga, to reserve championship honors. Saratoga was first and fourth over fences, combined with a second place in the under saddle.
Dawn Fogel and Summer Catch
Fogel bought Summer Catch a year ago and has enjoyed showing him in the Adult Amateur Hunter and Amateur-Owner hunter divisions. Unbeatable on the second day of the division, Fogel commented, “Today he [Summer Catch] felt great! He went around very smoothly and jumped well.”
Summer Catch is a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood and enjoys competing in the larger hunter ring. “He has a huge stride and is a big horse, so he usually shines in the bigger ring,” Fogel noted.
While Fogel was very complimentary of her horse’s performance, she also remarked about the quality of the rings and course at WEF. “It was a nice course today, and the jumps got the horses attention to help them jump well,” Fogel commented.
Although Fogel is based in Kentucky, she spends her winters in Wellington. Fogel works as an equine insurance broker and is able to take her job wherever she goes.
Correction: Michael Hughes was the rider of Christina Fried’s MacArthur in Saturday night’s $372,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its tenth week of competition, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, on March 11-15. The highlight event of week ten is the $127,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, March 14. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Cleverist and Natalie Jayne Named Champions of the Medium Pony Hunter Division to Conclude WEF 7 Hunter Action
Wellington, FL – February 22, 2015 – Week seven of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Suncast®, concluded on Sunday with the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic featured in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). USA’s Kent Farrington was the winner with Amalaya Investment’s Waomi in a 17-horse jump-off over Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Tripple X III. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla placed third.
Course designer Steve Stephens’ (USA) finished out the week with 75 entries in the 1.50m competition. Out of 17 to advance to the jump-off, the short course only saw six double clear rounds. Farrington, Marie Hecart (FRA), and Charlie Jacobs (USA) all made it through to the tiebreaker with two horses.
Hecart jumped double clear rounds with both her mounts to finish fourth and fifth. She guided Rogelio Pellerano’s Quatuor de B Neville to the first clear in 42.11 seconds to place fifth. She jumped later with Sarl Ecurie Sens O Riel’s Vatson Sitte to place fourth in 41.25 seconds. Madden was third with Vanilla in 38.42 seconds. Foster and Tripple X III were second with their time of 37.67 seconds, and Farrington jumped to victory with Waomi in the fastest time of 36.47 seconds.
Waomi, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Lupicor x Boreas), showed last year with owner Meagan Nusz, and Farrington started competing the mare in the fall in Harrisburg and Lexington with top finishes. She had some time off and then picked up again with Farrington at the beginning of the WEF circuit.
“I showed her at the beginning and she was third in the WEF (Challenge Cup) during week two and she also placed in the grand prix that week,” Farrington detailed. “Then I gave her a little rest again and now I am kind of picking it up. My plan was to do this 1.50m, do the WEF (Challenge Cup) next week and then one of the grand prixs at the end.”
“She is a really interesting horse,” Farrington stated. “She is a little particular. She has her way that she wants to go. I have no martingale on the horse because she prefers to be really free and go in her own style, but she is very careful and quite fast, so she is a lot of fun to ride.”
Farrington went first with Robin Parksy’s Gazelle in the jump-off, but had one rail down. He then returned with Waomi immediately after Tiffany Foster had jumped into first with a very fast time aboard Tripple X III. Their lead was short-lived, however, as Farrington and Waomi galloped through the timers over a second faster.
“I rode my other horse first, who is very green for a jump-off like that, and I thought she went very well,” Farrington noted. “Then Tiffany went and was very fast. I didn’t see her round, but I saw her time and that sounded very fast to me. I have seen her on that horse before, and I know that he covers a lot of ground. He is a quick horse, so the jump-off with Waomi was really just to take a shot. She also has a big stride, and I just kind of let her have a run at it.”
The Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, always an exciting and competitive division throughout the 12-week WEF circuit, will now have a fantastic prize for the leading rider of the series. Suncast® will provide a pre-paid two-year lease on a beautiful new 2015 Range Rover Evoque.
During WEF 12, the Range Rover Evoque will be on display at the Spectator Entrance of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and will be on course in the International Arena during the $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Jumper Championship Series Final (Round 2) to be held on Saturday evening, March 28, 2015, which is when the Evoque will be awarded to the series’ leading rider.
Series specifications and rankings can be found in the WEF Horse Show office. The top riders in the series will be recognized on the new Suncast® 1.50m Jumper Championship Series leaderboard by the PBIEC Exhibitor Entrance and will also be included in the WEF Weekly Wire, the printed newsletter available on the show grounds and online at www.pbiec.com.
Cleverist and Natalie Jayne Named Champions of the Medium Pony Hunter Division to Conclude WEF 7 Hunter Action
On the final day of competition for WEF 7, Natalie Jayne, from Elgin, IL, rode Daisy Farish’s pony, Cleverist, to championship honors in the Medium Pony Hunters. The pair won the two over fences classes on Saturday, as well as the first over fences class on Sunday and the under saddle. “Cleverist has been going great, and today the courses rode really nicely,” trainer Patricia Griffith explained.
Emma Kurtz piloted GC Ponies’ entry, Elegance, to the reserve championship prize. Elegance earned two seconds and two thirds over fences over the two days of competition.
Jayne started riding Cleverist in September, but did not make their show ring debut until the beginning of the WEF circuit. “She [Jayne] is still getting to know him [Cleverist], and this week she was able to put all the rounds together,” remarked Griffith after the championship presentation.
Cleverist not only shines in the hunters, but is also used in the equitation. “I showed him in the WIHS Pony Equitation and USEF Pony Medal this week, and he was first and second. He was also first and second the first week of WEF,” Jayne explained.
“He really likes other ponies, and he is very friendly. He also licks people when he is looking for treats,” Jayne smiled as she talked about her pony.
Along with Cleverist, Jayne shows two other ponies in the hunters. Completely dedicated to riding at the age of 11, Jayne lives in Florida during the winter months in order to keep up with the demanding schedule. Already off to a successful 2015 show season, Jayne is looking forward to the remainder of the show season and hopes to qualify for indoor finals in the fall.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its eighth week, featuring CSIO 4* competition, on February 25 – March 1. Week 8 highlights the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 on Thursday, the $100,000 Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian on Friday, the $25,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic and Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Nations Cup classes on Saturday, and the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic and $150,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4* presented by Lugano Diamonds on Sunday. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunters Take the Spotlight in WCHR Week
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2015 – For the second year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel emerged victorious in the $85,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix CSI 3* during week six at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Farrington and Blue Angel topped a nine-horse jump-off to defend their title, with Harrie Smolders (NED) and Don VHP Z second, and Ben Maher (GBR) aboard Valinski S third.
As the week continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), hunter riders will set their sights on clinching a spot in the featured $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular Saturday night. The event will be available worldwide via live stream. Tune in Saturday at 6:30 pm ET: http://bit.ly/1Fwrqkr.
All of Sunday’s jumper competition at The Stadium at PBIEC will also be available live online. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, will begin at 8 am followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Watch both classes at: http://bit.ly/1z64TGV. Sunday’s $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby will begin at 2 pm at: http://bit.ly/1zu8q0x.
Under the lights of the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC Friday night, Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the track for 39 starters in the Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix, with nine moving on to the jump-off and six double clear rounds.
Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Angelstone Partners’ Appy Cara jumped the first double clear in 43.07 seconds to finish fifth. Charlie Jacobs (USA) and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Cassinja S went next with a clear round in 43.63 seconds to place sixth. Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) briefly took the lead in 42.06 seconds with Abunola and ended in fourth. Up next, Harrie Smolders upped the pace with Copernicus Stables LLC’s Don VHP Z in 39.64 seconds, but was immediately pushed into second when Farrington and Blue Angel stole the show with a blazing time of 38.85 seconds. The final clear round came from Ben Maher and Wyndmont’s Valinski S, who jumped into third place in a time of 40.62 seconds.
“I think this style of venue really suits the horse and that’s why I chose to ride her here again this year,” Farrington said of his win with Blue Angel, a 13-year-old Anglo European mare (Luidam x Ascendant). “It’s a small ring, more like an indoor arena. She is naturally fast and can add a stride very quickly.”
“The ride in the jump-off with her really is not to let her get out of her comfort zone,” Farrington noted. “Like going to the last fence, not to go too direct and try to go too fast, more just tone it down and hope that’s enough for the class today. I think I was just on a faster horse. I thought Harrie’s round was incredible. He turned so tight back to the vertical. He went to the whip going to the last fence and did seven strides. I don’t think there was anything else Harrie could do. Luckily, my horse was a little faster today. My horse is also good at a rollback to a vertical like that. Harrie went inside from fence one to two, which was extreme. I didn’t think I could do that and still jump the vertical well and do a short rollback, so I had to hedge my bet a little there at the start.”
“All of us here are super competitive personalities,” Farrington said of the competition. “These are some of the best riders in the world, and we are all out here trying to win all the time. I think that shows the strength of the competition here at WEF, when you see riders of this caliber all competing each weekend.”
While some of Farrington’s top mounts, such as Voyeur and Uceko, will rest this winter in preparation for the season ahead, the rider is bringing out some new horses for the circuit and using his other horses sparingly.
“I’m trying to use the circuit to develop some new horses and get them in the ring and using Blue Angel and horses like that if there’s a certain venue or class that really suits them,” Farrington explained. “The circuit is long, so it’s a great way to build up a new horse. They can get comfortable in the ring and jump a little bigger than they normally could if you were going to a different place every single week, so I am trying to use that to my advantage.”
For the horses that are showing, he acknowledged the nice change to compete in different rings across the show grounds at PBIEC, such as Friday’s class at The Stadium.
“I think it’s a great change of pace. I think using this ring and the field and maximizing the different venue opportunities that we have here in Wellington is great for the horses and a nice change of scenery for the riders,” Farrington said.
For Harrie Smolders, Don VHP Z has had success on both sides of PBIEC this season, including a third place finish in week five’s grand prix on the derby field last Sunday. He settled for second place Friday night, but was happy with another great round from ‘Don’.
“I’m very pleased with him. Like I said last week, he is in very good shape and he jumped two grand prix double clear, so I think he is in a really good period at the moment,” Smolders stated. “Normally, he is not so handy in such a small ring, but I tried to make the best out of it today and it was almost enough.”
Third place finisher, Ben Maher, was aboard a brand new mount this week in Valinski S, and looks forward to working on his new partnership in the weeks ahead.
“We got the horse on Monday, so I literally jumped on and rode him once at home and then headed over here, so I’m pretty happy with this week,” Maher expressed. “I think he is very suited to this ring. I don’t know him a lot to compare to, really, but he feels careful and quick. Maybe he needs to adjust to my riding a bit. There are a few things I want to work on.”
Like Farrington, Maher is using this circuit to develop some of his up-and-coming horses and kept that in mind with his jump-off round and a brand new mount.
“It’s a circuit where I am having to build horses this time instead of go for the win trying to go as quick as I can,” Maher said. “I took my time a bit to the second fence and maybe to the last, and that’s the difference in winning and coming in third. I’m on a tour doing what I can do, not what I can’t, and hopefully putting the hours in will pay off. I am very happy with the first week (with Valinski). I have a couple horses that we’re not intending to use in the bigger grand prix, so this helps my string for the next couple of months.”
Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunters Take the Spotlight in WCHR Week
Amateur-Owner and Junior riders took their turn in the International Arena on Friday at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center as World Champion Hunter Rider Week continued at The Winter Equestrian Festival.
Stephanie Danhakl and Enough Said
Capping Amateur-Owner competition, Stephanie Danhakl jumped Enough Said to the championship in the Shamrock Ventures Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 18-35 division. Danhakl purchased the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding during WEF 2014 and celebrated their one-year anniversary by sweeping Thursday’s under saddle, handy and over fences before returning Friday with the division all but clinched and took second in the final class.
“Week six is always an exciting one because we get to go into the big ring, and everyone focuses on hunters,” said Danhakl of WCHR Week. “It was great to do so well yesterday and after winning all three classes, it was nice to come out on the big field and just have fun. I clicked right away with this horse, and he was perfect out there.”
Kelsie Brittan was reserve champion with Argentum, owned by Silver Oak Farms, LLC, after a second in both of Thursday’s over fences classes, as well as a blue in Friday’s final test.
In the FarmVet Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 36 and Over, Daryl Portela and Isalou, Inc.’s Winner were true to their name and were champions with consistent performances in each class. The pair was second under saddle and over fences on Thursday before winning the handy and jumping to third on Friday. The tricolor delivered Portela and Winner a streak after clinching the same division last year.
“He has been champion at Devon, Washington [International Horse Show], Kentucky, Harrisburg and he always shines at the bigger shows – he knows how to rise to the occasion,” said Portela of the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding she has piloted for three and a half years. “I know him really well, and we are really comfortable together. He’s a straight-forward horse with a great jump and is always a blast.”
With a blue over fences and second in the handy, Caroline Moran took reserve champion aboard her own Bacardi.
Champion presentations continued in the International Ring with Sophia Pilla and Piccolino Farm’s CC Cool claiming the Echo Junior Hunter 3’3″ division. CC Cool won the handy hunter round on Thursday and finished second in the over fences class on Friday. “This is my first year showing her [CC Cool] in the Junior Hunter 3’3″, so it is an honor to be champion during WCHR week,” Pilla smiled.
Kor LLC’s horse, Peter Pan, earned reserve championship honors with Raegan Rast in the irons. The pair remained consistent over the two days of competition, earning a first and third over fences.
Pilla has been competing at WEF since she was seven years old and has moved from the Pony Hunter divisions up to the Junior Hunters. Commenting on what it was like to ride in the International Ring, Pilla noted, “It was really fun. She [CC Cool] is such a fun horse to ride. Being in the International ring is a big thrill!”
After a strong start today, Pilla looks forward to competing in the $5,000 WCHR Junior/Amateur Owner 3’3″ Classic in the International Arena on Sunday.
WEF 6 continues on Saturday with the $34,000 1.45m featured in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC. All four junior hunter divisions, along with the 3’6″ Amateur-Owner Hunters, will name champions in the International Arena on the main show grounds. The $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular will follow in the International Arena on Saturday night. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lexington, KY – October 29, 2014 – Kent Farrington, one of the most successful riders on tour throughout the 2014 show season, continued his winning ways on Thursday afternoon as the Open and International Jumpers got underway at the 131st National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.
Riding the Amalaya Investments’ Waomi, Farrington topped a large starting field of 51 in a one round speed class, racing home in 53 seconds flat to nail down the victory over a pair of Belgian riders, Nicola Philippaerts and Francois Mathy. Philippaerts, riding J’Espere Dream, clocked in just a whisper behind Farrington at 53.06 seconds. Meanwhile, Mathy piloted Ornellaia to a time of 54.56 seconds for today’s third place finish.
Veteran Course Designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, making his National Horse Show debut, created a 14 jump track with 12 numbered fences that saw 22 of the 51 starters go clean. Jorge was thrilled to be in Lexington and working at such an important and historic event. “One of the things I love most about our sport is the tradition, and I don’t think you get more traditional than at the National Horse Show,” he said. “I feel very honored to be part of it.”
Jorge, who builds his grand prix course first and then works backwards towards opening day, talked about that process. “It is nice that for the main division we have a speed class, then we have a big jump-off class and then we have the grand prix. I am sure we are going to have a very strong group of riders. I think the first class will be a nice speed competition, but the technical part will be important. The speed class is of course not as hard as the jump-off class, but I am anticipating a good group, so it will not be all about speed. It’s a table A speed class, so there is some riding and jumping involved as well,” he explained.
Kent Farrington, who arrived in Lexington fresh off a major international win in the Grand Prix of Barcelona at the FEI Nations Cup Finals and the $40,000 Big Jump at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, talked about today’s victory. “Waomi is naturally a fast horse, she anticipates the turns and it’s easy to leave strides out going around the turns,” he said. “I started off really aggressive leaving out a stride in the first line and that is probably where we scored the win.”
He then spoke of his excellent summer of success. “It’s really been a team effort. I have some great owners behind me, some really nice horses and a really great staff around me. It really comes down to putting yourself with the right people and getting the right horses underneath you,” he smiled.
“The National Horse Show has always been a staple of the famous shows in the United States, so it’s really exciting that they are making a big effort to make it special again,” he continued. “I think having it at the Horse Park makes it one of the best indoors we have. The organizers have gone to great lengths to make it feel special.”
Farrington continued the string of wins on horses borrowed from his student Meagan Nusz. In addition to the win on Naomi today, Farrington rode Nusz’ Dynamo to victory in the Trump Grand Prix in Florida two years ago. “That’s easy,” he laughed. “You get your students nice horses and then it’s easy to borrow them every now and again for a win.”
Following the two riders from Belgium, who finished second and third, Beezie Madden of the United States took home fourth place honors with her always reliable partner Cortes C, a horse who always seems ready for whatever the task at hand might be. Today, forced to go early in the ninth spot in the order, their blazing trip of 55.16 seconds looked unbeatable at the time. As it turned out, some 43 horses later, they wound up just over two seconds too slow.
Lexington based Reed Kessler finished fifth with her own Ligist. They finished 6/10ths behind Madden in 55.77 seconds. Olivier Philippaerts, the other half of the Belgian brotherhood, took home sixth place honors with Carlito C in 55.93 seconds.
Rounding out the top eight were Shane Sweetnam and Kama Godek. Sweetnam piloted the Spy Coast Farm entry of Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof to seventh and Godek was eighth on Air Force One.
The Open Jumpers continue tomorrow with the $75,000 International Open Jumpers – Time First Jump-off, the featured event at 9 p.m.
Amalaya Investments $5,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers, presented by the Nusz Family
Thirty-one horse and rider combinations tackled the tricky Amalaya Investments $5,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers course tonight, but it was Giavanna Rinaldi who came out on top of the speed class. The 14-year-old made a speedy National Horse Show debut with her own G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise, tripping the timers in 49.351 seconds. It was a nostalgic win for the young rider, who traversed pony jumper courses in the same Alltech Arena only a couple of years prior.
It seemed as though Wesley Newlands had the win in her grasp when she laid down a smooth course in 51.848 seconds with Wieminka B, owned by Weslands Farm. As only the ninth rider on course, she set a pace that her competitors would have a difficult time trying to catch. It wasn’t until Meredith Darst tackled the track 13 rounds later that Newlands would lose her grasp on the lead.
Local Kentucky rider Darst broke the beam in 50.311 seconds with Zenith Dance, owned by Page Tredennick. Rinaldi entered the ring only four horses later, making Darst’s lead a short one as she sliced the seconds. Rinaldi was the only rider to break the barrier of 50 seconds, stopping the clock in 49.351 seconds and proving uncatchable. She made up time to the skinny during the latter part of the course, and her inside turn made all the difference.
“I made a few mistakes around a couple of the turns,” Rinaldi said of her round. “I knew I was a little bit slower, but I had to make up the rest of the time everywhere else. It was a really fun course, and it works well for him because he goes right really well and there were some good turns I was excited about. I think my plan worked out well, even if it was a little spontaneous.”
Rinaldi continued, “The Alltech Arena is a fun ring to show in. I showed in the pony jumpers here when I was younger, and I have to admit that at the time I was a little star struck. It is a big ring, but returning now for my first time at the National Horse Show, it has been really fun to ride in.”
Darst finished in the second place position, while Newlands rounded out the top three. The Amalaya Investments $5,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers, presented by the Nusz Family, is only one of three classes offered for the Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers during the 131st National Horse Show. The division will continue tomorrow night with the Amalaya Investments $10,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumpers and will culminate on Friday with the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHF) Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Championship.
Sleepy P Ranch and Deeridge Farms $10,000 Under 25 Championship – First Round
Young riders shined tonight at the National Horse Show as 29 horse and rider combinations put their best foot forward over the first of three $10,000 Under 25 Championship classes. Sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch and Deeridge Farm, the class allows the rare opportunity for riders ages 16 to 25 to compete in the high pressure World Cup format. Riders from across the nation have worked to qualify for the championship, which culminates at the prestigious National Horse Show.
Wilton Porter and Patriot
The opening course called for speed as riders attempted to shave seconds from their time. The penalties earned during the course will convert into points, and as of this evening, Wilton Porter leads the ranks with 30 points to his name after finishing at the top of the leader board in 59.240 seconds.
“It’s great that they have this new U-25 division,” Porter noted. “My brother [Lucas] and I have the main target of jumpers, and right now we are kind of in that age range for young riders. My mom thought it would be great if there would be an opportunity for young riders to compete against each other at this horse show, and that’s why she made this possible as a sponsor. I enjoy it, and it is especially special that I won this class and my mom is sponsoring it.”
Porter raced through the course and finished as the only rider to break the beam in under 60 seconds. The course suited his mount Patriot’s large stride, and they used the lines to their advantage as they consistently opted to leave out a stride down the lines. The two have had a long partnership, but in this past year, his brother took the ride on the grey gelding.
“I’ve had Patriot for a really long time. We got him as an 8-year-old,” Porter explained. “This past year, my brother has been riding him a lot and doing really well. I was just a little bit short on horses for this competition so he loaned him back to me. After this one, I don’t know that he will be getting him back.”
Porter concluded, “I really like the format of the championship – I think it is great and it gives us good experience for possible future World Cup competitions. We planned to try and win. Sometimes we go fast and not necessarily to win, but today we were planning on winning.”
Michael Hughes and Macarthur, owned by Christina Fried, rode to the second place in 60.170 seconds, while Kaitlin Campbell and her own Rocky W finished third in 60.450 seconds.
The race to the championship will continue tomorrow evening with the second of the $15,000 Under 25 Championship, and the series will culminate Saturday night prior to the Canadian Pacific $250,000 Grand Prix.
For more information on the National Horse Show, 131st edition, please visit www.nhs.org.
About the National Horse Show
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
With $755,000 in prize money offered, this year’s National Horse Show offers an International Open Jumpers with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and U 25 Jumper sections.
For the fourth consecutive year, The National Horse Show received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in four back-to-back years.
What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 28 – November 2, 2014, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
2245 Stone Garden Lane Lexington, KY 40513
Cindy Bozan
email: cindy@nhs.org
Phone: (859) 608-3709
Fax: (866) 285-9496
Hotels:
HILTON – DOWNTOWN – 859-231-9000 – Approximately 6 miles
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859 – 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT – 859 -977-5870 – Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0232 – Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN – 502-570-0220 – Approximately 6 miles
RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 502-868-8000 – Approximately 6 miles
Conor Swail and Lansdowne Best in Individual Rounds; Hilary McNerney and Oscar Top $5,000 Junior/Amateur Speed Challenge
New York, NY – September 19, 2014 – Central Park’s Trump Rink was alight with excitement Friday night as the inaugural Central Park Horse Show (CPHS), presented by Rolex and produced by The Chronicle of the Horse, continued with its second day of show jumping competition under the beautiful New York City skyline. The evening featured a $50,000 “NYC vs. The World” Team Speed Challenge, presented by Donald J. Trump, with a win for Suncast® Corporation’s World Team. Representing his home nation of Ireland, Conor Swail won the competition overall with the leading round aboard Lansdowne.
A $5,000 Junior/Amateur Speed Challenge was held later in the evening with a win for 22-year-old New York based rider Hilary McNerney and Oscar. Kent Farrington, the number 3 ranked rider in the world, guided the winning efforts in both competitions serving as captain of the victorious Suncast World Team as well as training McNerney to her win. The Central Park Horse Show presented by Rolex continues through Sunday, September 21.
Friday’s Speed Challenge featured teams for Land Rover of America NYC with riders representing the home city of New York matched up against international riders representing the Suncast Corporation World Team. Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL set the track for the competition, which was run in a faults converted speed format. The world team was the winner overall, topping 10 of the 15 match-ups while the team for NYC, captained by Georgina Bloomberg, settled for second.
In addition to team prizes, the top eight individual riders shared in a $50,000 purse with a win for Ireland’s Conor Swail riding Susan and Ariel Grange’s Lansdowne. The pair laid down a blazing fast clear round in 45.83 seconds to win their match-up and the winner’s share of prize money.
Jessica Springsteen (USA) was second individually riding Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S to a clear round in 47.23 seconds. Shane Sweetnam rode to third place for his home nation of Ireland with a clear round in 47.40 seconds on Cyklon 1083.
Farrington commented on the event following another great evening of competition representing his winning team. “I think this is one of the best venues we can have to showcase our sport,” he stated. “It is really exciting to be here and be a part of this event, getting it off the ground. A special thank you to everybody that has put big efforts into making this happen – Mark Bellissimo, Donald Trump, Rolex being our sponsor here, all the staff of the park, and everybody that has helped. I think for the first year, it’s a success, and I know there will be big efforts into making it better. I think that this could turn into a major stop on our tour and turn into a world-class event.”
With a very talented group of experienced international competitors on his team, Farrington’s job as captain was easy. “If you look at my list of riders they don’t need any advice,” Farrington declared. “They know what their plan is. They all know what they are doing, so I don’t really need to do anything.”
Conor Swail knew his plan with top mount Lansdowne, with whom he has had many international wins together. “I was fortunate that I have Lansdowne, and he is my top grand prix horse,” Swail acknowledged. “It was a lot of fun tonight. The horse has done a lot of big classes, so it was nice for him to run around and be able to enjoy himself and go as fast as he could. You have a good plan before you go in and you try and execute it the best you can, and thankfully it came off very well for me tonight. The horse was fabulous.”
“It’s fantastic to be invited to this show, to be a part of such a fantastic event here,” Swail added. “I think in the future it can grow to be one of the biggest shows in the world.”
Georgina Bloomberg and Washington Square
Mark Bellissimo of International Equestrian Group (IEG) was happy with another great night of competition and congratulated the riders. He looks forward to planning an even better event next year and is already brainstorming great ideas with everyone involved.
“I think we cut our teeth on this and hopefully we’ll have a good blueprint and learn a lot of the different elements or areas of feedback,” Bellissimo stated. “Some riders have some very good ideas. We are very excited about the future of this event, and I think we will spend the next weeks and months figuring out how to work on a strategy for Central Park version number two.”
Chrystine Tauber, President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), was on hand for the competition as well and thanked Bellissimo for putting the event together. “To be able to bring sport horses right into the heart of New York City and have this backdrop is an absolutely amazing opportunity for our sport,” Tauber stated. “We are going to continue working together in the future to build this event. It has gone very smoothly. I want to thank everybody, and we look forward to coming up with some really interesting events that we can develop. I think this is a world-class stage, and we will make it into a world-class event going forward on all levels.”
Friday night also hosted a $5,000 speed competition for the junior and amateur riders. The class saw a win for Hilary McNerney riding Amy Carr’s Oscar with a clear round and the winning time of 51.87 seconds. For her victory, McNerney was presented with a VertuoLine Chrome Nespresso machine.
Brianne Link and E-Bay had a rail, but were still very fast to finish second in 53.05 seconds with their faults converted into time. Yamin Rizvi and Peacock Ridge Farm LLC’s Delilah jumped clear in 55.57 seconds to finish third.
“I’m super grateful because my horse is so fast, and I wasn’t worried about going into this ring with him,” McNerney said of her ride. “He can do anything. He’s a little bit older; he’s 18, so we try not to do too much with him.”
Hilary McNerney and Oscar
McNerney just graduated from Duke University and got Oscar this summer when she decided to get back into riding. “Kent got me this horse who is amazing. I went to school and decided to just take those four years and focus on school,” she explained. “I’d ride occasionally when I could. After school I wanted to take a year and see how it goes and get back into it. I missed it for the four years.”
McNerney recently moved into the city and was very excited to compete in Central Park at this inaugural event. “Walking into the ring, it was like, ‘Wow, we’re in Central Park!’ It’s really cool to ride in this ring and show,” she expressed. “It was surreal. I’m very lucky to be able to compete here. Oscar has done everything. Ben Maher had him, and he has done Aachen and five-star grand prix. He loves it, and he loves to win. I just try to hold on and get him in the right place, and he’s good.”
The Central Park Horse Show continues on Saturday with two matinee performances at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. followed by a special evening of dressage. The Central Park Dressage Challenge, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, will host some of the world’s top dressage horses and riders, featuring Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth and American superstars Steffen Peters and Ravel.
The U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge will conclude the weekend on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Entertaining matinee performances will also be held on Sunday at 9 am and 12 pm.
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Aachen, Germany – Five members of the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games qualified for the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen on Sunday and the U.S. horses and riders held their own with some of the best in the world. Kent Farrington led the way with a double clear aboard Voyeur. In the jump-off, he and Amalaya Investments’ 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding were excruciatingly close. Though they had the fastest time in the jump-off, a rail down on the very last fence made them settle for second place, but, nonetheless, a spectacular finish. Not far behind Farrington, Lauren Hough finished fifth with Ohlala. She and The Ohlala Group’s 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare were also double clear, moving on to the jump-off, but had two rails and a time of 44.71.
Afterward, Voyeur was awarded the Halla Award, given to the “Best Horse of the Show.”
The other three Short List members performed well over a top track. Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Barron Old Oak Farm’s 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding had four faults in round one but were the fastest clear in round two, ending up with a sixth-place finish. The 11th-place finisher was Margie Engle (Wellington, Fla.) and Royce. She and Elm Rock Partners LLC’ 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion had a clear first round but had four faults in the second. Reed Kessler (Lexington, Ky.) and Cylana had eight faults in round one but had great showings throughout the CHIO Aachen.
“What great ending to a great week and there is no better place to do it than at Aachen,” Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland enthusiastically stated. “This is where the U.S. last won the World Championships in 1996, and with any luck it’s an indicator of what we can do this year in Normandy!”
Top honors in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen went to Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Codex One after jumping three clear rounds with a time of 46.59.
Calgary, AB, Canada – July 13, 2014 – The ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with a fantastic win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Uceko in the $400,000 Pan American Cup presented by Rolex. The pair set an uncatchable pace in the jump-off that left McLain Ward (USA) and Rothchild to finish second. Egypt’s Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro concluded a great summer series with a third place finish.
International course designer Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set the track for the summer’s final grand prix with 33 entries and six to advance to the jump-off where four riders jumped double clear rounds over the short course. Farrington and RCG Farm’s Uceko were first to clear the jump-off course, and set the unbeatable pace of 35.33 seconds to win.
Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro, owned by el Dahan and Joanne Sloan-Allen, were next to jump clear in 37.29 seconds to earn third place honors. Next to go, Ward and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild jumped into second in 36.66 seconds. Jumping last, Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Copin van de Broy were clear in 37.40 seconds to finish fourth.
With the winners share of $132,000, Farrington joined Spruce Meadows’ million dollar club for career earnings. In the jump-off, the rider hoped to be fastest, but knew the win was not certain with the riders that were still to follow.
“McLain has been beating me all week. I think he has won every class,” Farrington noted. “I hate sitting there and having to wait for him and the other riders to come after me. That’s not really my favorite thing. I would prefer to go last and know that it was over.”
Farrington’s finish was over one second faster than Ward this time, and Uceko got his second big win of the summer after nearly six months off from competition. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Celano x Koriander) never skipped a beat.
“I am thrilled with him. He took a long break,” Farrington stated. “He has always gone great here at Spruce Meadows and my plan all along was to build him up and jump him in the last grand prix. Last week he had a good win in the big class. He actually was ready to go a little bit sooner than what I thought. He feels great. He feels better than he even did last year, and I look forward to him for the rest of the summer as well.”
“I think like any partnership with a rider over time, I know the horse better, and he knows me better,” Farrington said of his relationship with Uceko. “I know his strengths and his weaknesses, which helps me strategize my jump-offs or even my first round plan. I think that over time you have better success, or more consistent success, with a horse as you know them better.”
Speaking about his strategy on Sunday, Farrington detailed, “I thought the courses this week have been excellent – very difficult. I thought the 1.50m yesterday was a real test as well. It was careful, but at the same time scopey. Today for the grand prix he wanted a few clear rounds so there would be a jump-off. I think if you asked him before the class, he would have told you he wanted six or seven clear, and that is exactly what he got.”
McLain Ward and Rothchild
With back to back wins this week, including a jump-off against Uceko on Friday, Ward went as fast as he could with Rothchild, but had to settle for second place today.
“Catching Kent is always difficult,” Ward admitted. “We have an ongoing battle that I think we both love and hate. I knew his horse had a bigger stride than mine did today. He got me with his stride last week in a big class, so I was a little bit concerned. My horse bucks a little bit, particularly when you try to go fast. He bucked after the China oxer and I didn’t get the vertical I wanted and ended up adding a stride to the last fence. For sure in the plan you would like those things to go a bit smoother and maybe it would have been a little bit closer. The horse performed great. I am certainly a little disappointed not to win, but this is a worthy victor and if I am going to lose to anybody, I would want to lose to him.”
“The last couple of years have been remarkable,” Ward said of Rothchild’s step to the next level. “He has always been a very good horse for me. We know each other very well. Kent spoke about how important the relationship is. I asked more of this horse in the last two years and not only has he handled it, but he is really starting to shine. I really enjoy this horse. I think he has a lot of heart and he gives me a lot, so I am going to try to continue it the same way.”
Sameh el Dahan was very happy to be in the company of two of the world’s top riders with his third place finish aboard Suma’s Zorro. The rider from Egypt moved to Europe three and a half years ago to further his career and has had a great season.
“This year especially, I have had so many wins and I could not be happier with a good finish to the tour,” el Dahan stated. “I had a good summer season here. My horses jumped fantastic the whole time.”
“This mare I have ridden since she was seven and we have kind of grown up together,” the rider said of Suma’s Zorro. “We at Sycamore Stables normally don’t push our young ones so much, so she didn’t do a lot as a seven and eight-year-old, and then last year we pushed her a little more as a nine-year-old.”
“Since last week she has been jumping the bigger tracks and she has always been in the prize givings,” el Dahan said. “She has a heart of gold and she is all that you can ask for in a horse – lots of heart, very careful, and always fights for you. She fights at every fence. I am very happy to have her.”
Course designer Uliano Vezzani had a great week building courses at Spruce Meadows for the first time, and concluded his time, declaring, “Fantastic results, fantastic riders. This is my first experience at Spruce Meadows and the arena and the fences are all tops. I am very happy.”
Wrapping up a wonderful summer series, Farrington summed things up nicely.
“I just want to say on behalf of all the riders, a special thank you to the Southern Family and Spruce Meadows, and to Rolex,” he acknowledged. “It really brings the sport here in North America to a new level and it helps us stay on par with the best riders in the world. I think that this really is one of the best tournaments in the world.”
Kevin Babington and Goodwins Loyalty
Kevin Babington and Goodwins Loyalty Land a Derby Win
The $33,500 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m Derby was held in the All Canada Ring in the morning with a win for Ireland’s Kevin Babington aboard Goodwins Loyalty. Twenty-eight entries jumped the track set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio with ten clear trips in the one round competition. Babington and the ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality 004 x Candle King) jumped the fastest clear round in 105.94 seconds.
Nick Dello Joio (USA) and Nathalie de Gunzburg’s Fiego van de Zonnenweide stopped the clock in 109.28 seconds for a second place finish. Will Simpson (USA) and Monarch International’s Axl-Rose finished a close third in 109.90 seconds.
Sunday’s win marked Babington’s first victory at Spruce Meadows. This year was his first time competing at the summer series, and he had a fantastic time riding in the last three weeks of competition, concluding with a great finish on Goodwins Loyalty. The mare was sent from England last year for Babington to sell, but had a setback with an injury. She is now getting back into top form and showing a lot of quality.
“I had her jumping really well up until the summer last year and then she had a sprain behind,” Babington explained. “I ended up giving her the whole winter off. I just didn’t think I would have her quite up and running for Florida, so she ended up having a good break. Maybe even longer than planned, but it worked out. The first two weeks here I was really working on her fitness. I would have loved to have done the big derby last week, but I didn’t feel like she was quite up to it, so this was a nice way to finish the circuit up here. I feel like she’s up and ready to go for the rest of the summer.”
Goodwins Loyalty has had some derby experience previously jumping at the famous Hickstead Derby with Irish rider David Simpson. She was also ridden by Shane Breen of Ireland. For Babington, the challenging obstacles of the derby take him back to his earlier days as a rider.
“I was an event rider before I got into show jumping,” Babington explained. “I really only got into show jumping sort of halfway serious at 18. I did a little bit of steeple chasing too, so I’m well used to galloping.”
That experience played to his advantage on course along with his horse’s scope and speed on Sunday.
“She has a nice big stride,” Babington stated. “When I walked the course, I just thought I could take advantage of staying in a nice rhythm and not chasing her. I was able to do one less stride from jumps one to two. I thought if I could stay on that rhythm it might work out, and it did.”
Sunday’s competition concluded Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series. The world’s top international riders return September 10-14 for the ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO 5*. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z Capture $85,000 TD Cup
Calgary, AB, Canada – July 5, 2014 – The ‘North American’ Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows featured the $210,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday with an exciting win for USA’s Kent Farrington and Voyeur. With an incredible resume of wins, this was Farrington’s first time winning the prestigious competition. He finished ahead of Paulo Santana (BRA) and Taloubet, and Quentin Judge (USA) and HH Copin van de Broy, who finished second and third respectively. The $85,000 TD Cup 1.50m winning round competition was also held on Saturday with a win for McLain Ward (USA) and HH Carlos Z.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) set a big challenge for the horses and riders in Saturday’s $210,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The competition was held in a two-round format with a final jump-off if needed. Thirty-one entries jumped in round one with 14 clears to advance over the second round course, but a jump-off was not necessary as none of the competitors were able to finish round two without fault. Kent Farrington took the win with one time fault in 77.40 seconds aboard Amalaya Investments’ Voyeur, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Tolano van’t Riethof x Goodwill.
“It felt great to win this class today. I have never won the Queen’s Cup before,” Farrington said after his victory. “I have had a lot of good seasons before, and I have come close, but I have just never won this class. I have come third and fourth and probably every other ribbon. That was really exciting for me today. I think I have a very special horse in Voyeur, and I look forward to big things from him in the future.”
“I was excited to show,” Farrington said of his mindset coming into the competition. “I really think a lot of this horse. I was really angry with myself the first week. I thought I gave away the grand prix, making a mistake in the jump-off. I wanted to be very focused today and give him the best shot to win it.”
Finishing behind Farrington, three competitors had four faults each in round two and were placed based on their round one time. Paulo Santana (BRA) and Taloubet took the reserve honors with four faults in round two and a first round time of 87.86 seconds. Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Copin van de Broy also had four faults in round two and placed third with their first round time of 88.18 seconds. Sameh el Dahan (EGY) took the fourth place prize with four faults and a round one time of 90.27 seconds with Joanne Sloan Allen’s WKD Pepperpot.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios set tough tracks for both rounds of competition and explained his strategy and reaction to the results, stating, “I wanted the first round as the qualifier for the second round. I don’t like to have a jump-off with two rounds. It’s not fair to horses jumping big, big fences to go two rounds and jump-off. I want to congratulate Kent and Paulo and Quentin for what they did. This second round was a very, very serious course.”
The riders agreed on the difficulty of the course, and Farrington noted that his horse was definitely up to the challenge. “He’s a very versatile horse,” the rider stated. “The second round today was as big as almost any course in the world, and I think that he showed that he is on par with those horses.”
Paulo Santana and Taloubet
Second place finisher Paulo Santana praised Palacios on stepping up the level of competition with his courses outside of Europe, stating, “I think America and Latin America have to thank Leopoldo for pushing the level of competition over here for the last ten years. I think it’s very good for our sport to stay on a level close with Europe. We can see riders like Kent Farrington and Beezie Madden who are always in the top ten in the world jumping here and then staying competitive worldwide. In this course, your horse needed to be clever, be brave, and have power.”
Santana jumped second in the first phase of round one of competition at 9 a.m. this morning and had to wait most of the day to return last in round two. Although it was a long day for the rider, he was happy with the end result.
“Coming in the last round, I thought, ‘Oh this is a good position, but there is so much pressure,’” Santana noted. “I didn’t know if I could make a clear round. My horse had an old injury and he was not supposed to jump this horse show, and I had broken my ankle five weeks before we came here, but I rode and he was improving all of the weeks. He got all the support from the veterinarian team at Spruce Meadows, and it came together at the right moment.”
Quentin Judge finished third with a fairly new mount in HH Copin van de Broy and was quite happy with his result as well.
“It’s really special to do well in the grand prix here, especially as prestigious a class as this, with this much history,” Judge acknowledged. “I can’t say enough good things about the horse. He has miles and miles more experience than I do, so to have a horse like that going into a second round with tricky jumps, it gives me confidence as a rider. I have been really fortunate to have Hunter and Jeannie Harrison invest in this horse and believe in me. McLain Ward and his team gave me really good advice this summer. It has been great. He has been consistent, but it has been a slow progression to get to this. This really proves that we have done the right thing and done our homework, so I am really happy for him.”
Commenting on the competition, Judge added, “I think the courses were difficult. The first round was difficult, but not impossible. It was a qualifier and the right horses got into the second round – veterans like Kent and McLain, and then people like myself who are just getting into it. It was a good mix of riders. The second round was a hard test. Coming to Spruce Meadows, it’s going to be hard, and I thought it was a great course.”
Ward Wins TD Cup
The $85,000 TD Cup 1.50m competition was held earlier on Saturday in a winning round format with the top 10 out of 24 combinations returning for round two. McLain Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z were the only pair to jump clear in both rounds of competition. They completed the fastest of three clears in round one, making the pair last to go in the winning round, where they had the fastest clear in 44.58 seconds to take top honors.
Mexico’s Jaime Azcarraga was the first rider to jump clear in round two with Matador in 46.26 seconds and had the rest of the field chasing his time, eventually finishing second. Elizabeth Gingras (CAN) and B Gingras Equestrian Ltd.’s Zilversprings were clear in 46.56 seconds to place third. Antonio Chedraui of Mexico also cleared the second course in 46.64 seconds to finish fourth with Fortin. Ian Millar (CAN) and Team Works’ Star Power were fifth with a clear round in 49.61 seconds.
McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z
“The first round was difficult. The time allowed was tight again, but he has been performing really well,” Ward said of HH Carlos Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire). “We just tried to jump a nice, clear round and get under the time. Certainly being the fastest one helped, being able to watch Eric (Lamaze) and Quentin (Judge) go before me. It was certainly nice to be in that position. It was a little bit of a better position than we have been all week. This horse has been trying to win big classes the whole time here; it just came together today.”
Ward stated, “He can kind of do everything. I almost put him in the grand prix today, but my stallion needs the experience. Carlos can do anything you want, basically. He’s a bit of a younger version of my old mare Goldika. When you need her, she goes, kind of an ATM machine. I really like him.”
HH Carlos Z will jump two classes in next week’s ‘Pan American’ Tournament to conclude the summer series at Spruce Meadows and will then have a nice break while Ward hopes to be headed to France for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. He then plans to come back to Calgary for the ‘Masters’ Tournament in September.
The ‘North American’ Tournament concludes on Sunday with the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic 1.50m Derby and the $85,000 Enbridge Cup 1.50m. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
