Tag Archives: Laura Chapot

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut Notches CSI5* Victory in Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix at WEF

Laura Kraut & Baloutinue. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington International was brimming with horse sport fans on the edge of their seats Saturday night as top show jumping talent from across the globe jumped for the $425,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* Grand Prix title. The Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) Week 7, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, saw U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Laura Kraut and her Tokyo Games partner Baloutinue take the top spot.

From a seven-horse jump-off, the stage was set for a U.S. battle as Kraut, Brian Moggre, and McLain Ward were the final three to jump off. Course designer Steve Stephens (USA) tested them in true five-star fashion, which got the best of Moggre and longtime partner MTM Vivre le Reve as the pulled a brick from the wall to eventually finish fifth. Kraut’s winning time of 40.26 seconds stood after Ward gave his best aboard Contagious, but finished just three-tenths shy of the winner’s mark.

Kraut beamed as she clinched a five-star victory in Wellington after knocking on the door several times recently. “I’ve not had many successful jump-offs and I’ve not jumped very many with him,” said Kraut of Baloutinue, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Balou du Rouet x Landor S) owned by St. Bride’s Farm. “I always try to go faster than I probably should, but he’s fast enough on his own, and tonight I just let him go his speed and that seemed to work better.

“He’s a trier, he’s elastic, and he’s very careful,” she continued. “It was a fantastic crowd; the atmosphere here at night is as good as it gets. We feel like the crowd is really behind us; when I was clear it was an explosion.”

Laura Chapot Captures Ethel M. Chocolates CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier

Sixty-eight horse-and-rider duos took to the International Arena on Friday, all vying for a spot in Sunday’s $50,000 Ethel M. Chocolates CSI2* Grand Prix. The $39,000 CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier was the gateway to grand prix glory and saw Laura Chapot (USA) take top call riding Chandon Blue.

Seven riders representing seven unique nations battled it out over the tie-breaking jump-off track, but Chapot and her longtime partner Chandon Blue could not be caught.

“He really likes it down here in Florida; this is probably the one time of year he works the hardest, but he doesn’t need a lot of practice,” explained Chapot of her and Mary Chapot’s 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Landcapitol). “He loves to compete. He gets bored when he is at home, and I wonder sometimes if something is wrong, but then he gets to the show ring and just grows.”

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

It All Comes Together for Chapot and Chandon Blue in “Saturday Night Lights” Victory

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Laura Chapot with Chandon Blue. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 22, 2022 – While the international competition during this week of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has been held at Equestrian Village, all eyes were on the International Arena tonight at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL for the $50,000 Marshall & Sterling/Great American Insurance Group National Grand Prix, part of the exciting “Saturday Night Lights” series. Laura Chapot (USA) delivered a thrilling performance as she and Chandon Blue raced through the timers for the win.

Forty-five entries contested the grand prix track set by Nick Granat (USA) with 11 combinations jumping clear and were through to the jump-off.

First in the ring for the jump-off was Grand Prix Qualifier winner, Cathleen Driscoll (USA) aboard her winning mount Flotylla, owned by Don Stewart. Driscoll duplicated her first-round clear performance, laying down a quick, clean effort in 37.07 seconds over the shortened course, which would hold up for fourth place.

A couple horses later, it was Nick Dello Joio (USA) and The Berry Group’s Cornet’s Cambridge that set the new time to beat at 36.33 seconds. That would ultimately be good enough for a third-place finish.

Dello Joio’s time was quickly slashed as next in was Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam who finished the short course in 35.728 seconds with James Kann Cruz, owned by Gizmo Partners LLC. However, Sweetnam would have to settle for second place.

After watching their new target in Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, Chapot and Chandon Blue went pedal to the metal, finishing in 34.485 seconds for the win.

Adrienne Sternlicht Leaves It All on the Field for 1.50m Victory

The $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic started an action-packed day of competition on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village with 50 horse-and-rider combinations contesting Oscar Soberon’s (USA) educated first track. More than 13 nations were represented in the class and seven of those countries were represented in the returning jump-off field which consisted of 18 fault-free competitors.

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam held the leading time for a majority of the shortened track until FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 U.S. team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht found an even faster pace. The young professional proved ready for an impressive season as she captured the first win of the day aboard Lafayette Van Overis.

Sternlicht laid it all on the line with the 11-year-old BWP gelding (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Houdini Van Overis) with a variety of long gallops and tight turns to shave an entire three seconds off of Sweetnam’s time and blaze through the timers in 42.51 seconds.

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

Show Jumping

Laura Chapot and Calafornia Capture the Win in $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers

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Laura Chapot (USA) and Calafornia © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 17, 2021 – Laura Chapot (USA) once again scored a victory in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers, this time with Calafornia, owned by Laura and Mary Chapot, to open the tenth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Wednesday, February 17, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Eighty-nine riders challenged the speed format course consisting of 13 fences set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Chapot, of Neshanic Station, NJ, navigated Calafornia, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Ultimo x Lux, to a double clear round and winning time of 30.25 seconds.

“When you have a class that has so many in it, it’s always difficult to make a course that isn’t too hard for everyone, but I think Michel [Vaillancourt] always does a great job making it very fair,” explained Chapot. “I think the course suited my horse because he was able to leave out strides here and there. He’s got a tremendous ability to cover the ground so that always helps for him.”

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

Show Jumping

Laura Chapot Takes Top Four Spots in $6k Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers to Start WEF 4

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Laura Chapot and Shooting Star. © Sportfot.

February 3, 2021 – Wellington, FL – Laura Chapot (USA) had a stellar day to open the Marshall & Sterling/Great American Insurance Group CSI4* week at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), taking the win in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers aboard Shooting Star, an entry owned by Laura and Mary Chapot, and adding to that by capturing the top four spots with her other mounts on Wednesday, February 3, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

A total of 96 combinations contested the opening day, two-phase track set by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER). Chapot and Shooting Star, her 20-year-old gelding by Phin Phin x Filexa, were the first to enter the International Arena. Their speedy effort of 26.825 seconds in the jump-off held from start to finish for the victory.

“I think Olaf always sets a nice track, especially for the first day here,” she said. “The first part of it was pretty straightforward and allowed you a little opportunity to go fast in the jump-off. Shooting Star may be 20 years old this year, but he’s the smallest horse with the biggest stride. The big, open ring really plays into his strengths because he can really gallop across and leave out strides that way. That’s where he can be really fast.”

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

Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Chapot Finishes One-Two in Bainbridge 1.40m Jumper Speed Challenge at WEF

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Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 10, 2020 – Laura Chapot had the speed to claim the top two spots in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Speed Challenge on Friday, January 10, during opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

Coming off another 1.40m victory on Wednesday, Chapot bested a field of 76 horses over Eric Hasbrouck’s speed track aboard 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Thornhill Kate. Her time of 57.849 seconds was good enough to bump her second-place mount and Wednesday’s winner, Out of Ireland, a horse she owns with The Edge, into the runner-up position in 57.855 seconds.

Terri Irrer and Café Noir Clinch Adult Hunter Championship

Terri Irrer of South Lyon, MI opened her WEF season with a tricolor in Section A of the Older Adult Amateur Hunter division riding Café Noir. After a year-long break from the show ring, the pair received first, second, and third-place ribbons to earn them the championship in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.

For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

El Primero Is Number One Again with Victoria Colvin in $50k USHJA International Hunter Derby

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Victoria Colvin and El Primero. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL — March 31, 2019 — On the final day of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Sunday, March 31, the top 25 hunter combinations returned to the Derby Field at Equestrian Village to contest for the winning honors in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Victoria Colvin led the all-female podium followed by Kelley Farmer in second and Liza Boyd in third as the trio once again demonstrated why they are household names in the hunter industry. The second round of the derby is the pinnacle event for hunter riders to close out the winter circuit and only invited the top-scoring competitors from round one of the event.

Ken Krome once again designed a beautiful track on the turf that included three high options and a rollback to a trot fence following fence two. The two panels of judges, consisting of Danny Robertshaw and Robert Crandall for panel one and Scott Williamson and Rob Bielefeld for panel two, had the ability to award extra points for handiness ranging from zero to 10.

Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue Conclude WEF 2019 with Fourth Major Win within Five Weeks

Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue topped the $50,000 Puissance America Grand Prix CSI 2* on Sunday, March 31, to claim the final Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) grand prix victory of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival season, marking the pair’s fourth win within the past five weeks at PBIEC.

Forty-five entries contested the final FEI-sanctioned class of the 12-week circuit, with 11 entries navigating the Guilherme Jorge-designed track without fault to advance to the jump-off.

When Chapot entered the ring as the eighth rider to return, the time to beat had been set at 38.05 seconds by Carly Anthony (USA) and Chacco. However, Chapot and Chandon Blue again showcased the speed and accuracy that have become their signature, tripping the timers in a clear 36.30 seconds to take over the top of the leaderboard.

Lillie Keenan Caps WEF 2019 with $50,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Grand Prix Victory

USA’s Lillie Keenan capitalized on only three months of experience with her mount Fasther, owned by Chansonette Farm, LLC, to top the final class of the 2019 WEF in the $50,000 CaptiveOne Advisors National Grand Prix in the International Arena.

Guilherme Jorge built a track for 48 starters and welcomed six through to the jump-off. Keenan qualified two mounts and returned first and last over the short course. She set an early pace with a clear trip in 39.649 seconds riding Chaccolette for owner Chansonette Farm, LLC. She was sitting second when she re-entered the ring aboard Fasther and the gelding lived up to his namesake by stopping the clock at 36.688 seconds for the win.

Keenan settled for third on Chaccolette behind Brazil’s Fabio Leivas ds Costa riding Tosca de l’Esque, who posted a time of 38.580 seconds. Spanish rider Diego Perez Bilboa took fourth riding Orso del Terriccio in 39.649 seconds for owner Victoria Vargas d’Agostino. Kent Farrington (USA) rounded out the top five aboard Kaprice, a horse he owns together with Tanma Corp., on a time of 46.954 seconds.

For full results, please visit pbiec.coth.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Liza Boyd Carries on Tradition with Victory in $15k USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go

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Liza Boyd and Tradition. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2019 – Liza Boyd of Camden, SC and Tradition were victorious in the final week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) as the pair captured the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go on Friday, March 29, at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The “Hunt & Go” derby is one of three major events for hunter riders during Week 12.

Thirty-five horse-and-rider combinations contested Ken Krome’s course, which was designed in the newer Hunt & Go format, on the grass. The Hunt & Go format was only introduced several years ago as a way to shorten the original derby format while still offering a classic and a handy round. Instead of all riders competing through the classic and then returning at a later time for a handy, the course is designed as half classic and half handy. Riders are therefore able to highlight their horses’ strengths in both formats.

Krome’s course consisted of four high option fences, a trot fence, and a ‘bounce’ line in the ‘handy’ portion of the course. Judges panels included Otis Brown and Ann Braswell in panel one, and Robert Crandall and Rob Bielefeld in panel two.

Francisco José Mesquita Musa and Catch Me Imperio Ecipcio Capture 5* Win

Out of the 50 entries that contested Guilherme Jorge’s speed course in the $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 5*, 15 were able to go clear and put the pedal to the medal to find the quickest round. Of those 15, the fastest was Francisco José Mesquita Musa (BRA), who rode Catch Me Imperio Egipcio for owner Daniel Aguiar Morelli to the win. They posted a time of 62.20 seconds, more than two seconds faster than the next competitor.

Second place went to Catherine Tyree (USA) riding Mary Tyree’s BEC Lorenzo in a time of 64.24 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas, owned by Stome Ridge Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds, placed third in 64.33 seconds. Wednesday’s five-star winners, Lucas Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch’s Diamonte Darco, were fourth in 65.43 seconds, while Emil Hallundbaek (DEN) and his own Dazermie were fifth.

Chapot and Chandon Blue Do It Again in $36,000 Puissance America 1.45m Classic CSI 2*

The start list of 72 entries was full of top horses and riders, which showed when 19 advanced to the jump-off of the $36,000 Puissance America 1.45m Classic CSI 2*. Eighteen chose to return to contest the jump-off.

The early leader was Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA) on Bonne Chance Farm’s Randon Pleasure. They set the first time to beat as the pathfinders in the ring in 39.12 seconds.

Costa’s time held until Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi entered the ring. They lowered the time to 38.65 seconds, which would hold up for second place.

One of the fastest pairs on the circuit, Laura Chapot (USA) and Chandon Blue, were the ones who were able to post the winning time of 37.03 seconds. They were able to take advantage of Chandon Blue’s large stride to leave out strides in two lines and take their fourth win of the circuit.

For full results, please visit pbiec.coth.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue Win $36k WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 CSI 3*

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Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 14, 2019 – Laura Chapot (USA) rode Chandon Blue to the win in the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 CSI 3* on Thursday, March 14, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

Thursday’s featured Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup competition saw 85 entries contest the first-round track set by Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt before the field was narrowed to 19 horse and riders qualified to return for the jump-off. Of the 19 jump-off qualifiers, six elected to save their horses for another day, having already secured their places in Saturday’s $134,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* based on their clear first round results.

Greg Crolick and Corallo Z Swoop Antares High Performance Working Hunter

Three top High Performance Working Hunter combinations kicked off competition in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field on Thursday during Week 10 of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. Greg Crolick, Tiffany Hammack, and Chaz Harpman all returned with their mounts to contest for champion in the Antares High Performance Working Hunter division. Finishing on a win in four out of the five division classes, Greg Crolick of Clarkston, MI took home the tricolor ribbon aboard Renaud Farm’s Corallo Z.

Crolick and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding put in impressive performances to win both the handy round with a score of 81 points and the stake class on 83 points.

For full results, please visit pbiec.coth.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Cecelia Perry and Pokerface Lead in the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby

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Cecelia Perry and Pokerface. Photo © Sportfot.

Fifty-three young riders on perfectly-braided ponies ventured to the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday, March 8, for the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, presented by NickerDoodles. The class was part of several highlight national hunter events during Week 9 of the 2019 WEF. Of the 53 combinations, 18 entries consisted of large ponies, 22 were mediums, and another 13 were in the small pony category. When all rounds were completed, Cecelia Perry and Pokerface led the round of honor with the top score of 167.00 total points.

After a first-round cut-off score of 76.00 points, the top 14 ponies were combined from all three sections and invited to jog to determine who would return for round two.

Of the 14 to jog, 12 pairs were asked to learn Danny Moore’s handy course which consisted of a trot fence and several rollbacks where riders could display their ponies’ handiness.

Lambre and Chapilot Come Back for Five-Star Win

For the second day in a row, the Brazilian national anthem played and the flag was raised at WEF. While Eduardo Menezes captured Thursday’s five-star win, it was his countryman Rodrigo Lambre who sped to victory on Friday. Lambre and Chapilot, owned by Mario Onate, topped a field of 55 competitors in the speed format of the $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 5*.

There were 15 clear rounds in the class, all competing over a course designed by Alan Wade of Ireland. The early leader, going third in the order, was Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) riding H5 Stables’s H5 Market Irminka. They were quick in 60.90 seconds, which would hold up for 12 rounds until Lambre entered the ring and brought the winning time down to 60.34 seconds. Third place went to another early ride (sixth in the order), Daniel Bluman (ISR) riding Over the Top Stables LLC’s Entano, who stopped the timers in 62.42 seconds.

Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue Top $36,000 Griffis Residential 1.45m Classic CSI 2*

While Laura Chapot always has a shot at winning when it comes to speed, she had an even bigger advantage when she and Mary Chapot’s Chandon Blue returned as the final pair for the jump-off in the $36,000 Griffis Residential 1.45m Classic CSI 2*. They sped around the shortened course to take the win in a time of 35.37 seconds, two seconds faster than second place finishers Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Hillside Farm Inc.’s Farrero, who went first in the jump-off and almost had the wire-to-wire win.

“It’s always nice to be last in the jump-off,” said Chapot. “The main question in my mind was whether there were eight strides to the last jump and after a few went, it seemed like that was a possibility if you got the right fence in. I know my horse is naturally very fast, so I don’t want to get too caught up in the numbers around the turn and just try to ride it as smoothly as possible. I caught a really good one coming to that last line so the eight was even just nice and easy for him.”

For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

McLain Ward and Clinta Capture $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 Win

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McLain Ward and Clinta. Photo © Sportfot.

The 2018 WEG team gold medal-winning duo of McLain Ward (USA) and Clinta outpaced a field of 68 entries to take victory in the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 CSIO4*.

With the featured Thursday event held as a one round speed class, the time to beat when Ward entered the ring had been set at 74.63 seconds by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and his mount, Silver Shine, owned by Willow Grace Farm.

Laura Chapot and Out of Ireland Out Perform 92-Horse Field to Win $25,000 ProElite® 1.45m Jumper Classic

Laura Chapot (USA) and Out of Ireland topped a field of 92 entries to win the $25,000 ProElite® 1.45m Jumper Classic on Thursday in the International Arena.

The large starting field was narrowed down to 11 entries qualified to return to jump off over the Steve Stephens-designed course, and once onto the jump-off, the early time to beat – and the first double clear effort – was turned in by the sixth to return, Kelli Cruciotti (USA), who tripped the timers in 30.76 seconds to move into the lead aboard Grandy de Laubry, owned by 3 Seas, LLC. Cruciotti’s lead would prove to be short-lived however, as Chapot returned next, stopping the clock in 28.81 seconds to ultimately take the win aboard Out of Ireland, owned by The Edge.

Christopher Payne and Holden Out Take FarmVet Performance Hunter 3’3” Championship

More than 40 horse-and-rider combinations competed against each other for the champion and reserve champion ribbons in the FarmVet Performance Hunter 3’3” division during Week 8 of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. Held in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Field at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Thursday, Christopher Payne of Cincinnati, OH was awarded the division’s champion ribbon.

Payne was aboard Susan Moriconi’s six-year-old Holsteiner gelding Holden On, (Casall x No Lady) a horse that is fairly new to the Performance Hunter division. Despite a lack of experience, the gelding racked up two firsts, two seconds, and one fifth to catapult to the top of the leaderboard in the competitive division.

For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.