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Lili Hymowitz and Tiffani Named Grand Junior Hunter Champions at Capital Challenge Horse Show

Lili Hymowitz and Tiffani. Photo © Shawn McMillen Photography.

Savanah Stuart and Andover Win Grand Children’s Hunter Championship

Upper Marlboro, MD – October 5, 2014 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by The Gochman Family, concluded with another day of fantastic hunter competition. Junior and Children’s riders were featured in the Show Place Arena and the outdoor ring, and six championships were presented. Lili Hymowitz and Tiffani won the Grand Junior Hunter Championship, while Savanah Stuart and Andover were named Grand Children’s Hunter Champions. The Capital Challenge Horse Show hosts the premier hunter competition in the United States and welcomed more than 1,000 horses to Prince George’s Equestrian Center over the past nine days.

Hymowitz and Tiffani found success in the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter division, where they won all three over fences classes. Tiffani was also named the High Point Junior Hunter 15 & Under, sponsored by Geddaway Farm, and the Grand Junior Hunter Champion, sponsored by The Schaefer Family. They were presented with The Spontaneous Perpetual Trophy donated by the Listrani Family. Hymowitz won Best Junior Rider honors, an award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables. The reserve champion in the division was Prologue, ridden by Emma Kurtz for Rendezvous Farm. They placed second, second, and fourth over fences.

Hymowitz (15) is from New York, NY, and has owned Tiffani for two years. Tiffani came from the jumper ring, so early on she had the learning curve of being calm and collected on course. Hymowitz remembered, “She was a challenge for me because she was young, and she was a jumper before I got her. Last year was her first time doing the hunters. She was always a little rushed in the turns. The handies were harder because she got jumpery, but with Scott (Stewart)’s help and with Jane’s help she’s learned to calm down and go slower. Her jumper parts that were good are so helpful in the hunters [now].”

Tiffani learned quickly; they were champions at the Washington International Horse Show last year. “She’s super easy now. She’s so adjustable because of doing the jumpers. She’ll go from wherever I tell her,” Hymowitz said. “She can collect and extend pretty much in a second and that makes it so much easier because going into the class I feel like I have so many options. I’m not worried about finding each jump, and I really trust her.”

Hymowitz felt like this was the perfect start to her indoor finals season. “I like riding her indoors because she likes going slow around the ring, and I think in indoors it looks more flow-y. In a big ring you need to have a gallop, and I’m still learning to do that part I think.”

This is Hymowitz’s fourth time competing at Capital Challenge, but her first championship. “It’s amazing, and it’s a great way to start indoors and go into Harrisburg and Washington. I was really excited about winning yesterday, and I didn’t expect much more. I just wanted to ride well,” she related.

The EMO Junior Trip of the Show went to Hymowitz and Tiffani, as well as Vivian Yowan on Alliy Moyer’s Libretto, who both scored an 89.

In the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, sponsored by Suave Pony LLC, the championship went to Chromeo, ridden by Samantha Wight (16) of Boca Raton, FL and owned by Melissa Wight. They were first and second over fences and second in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Oscany Inc.’s Clooney, ridden by Emma Kurtz. They were first, second, and fourth over fences.

Wight and Chromeo have been paired for a year and a half, and from the start, she appreciated her hunter’s better qualities. “He’s just a really sweet horse. You can tell he always wants to do his best. He always puts his best foot forward,” she described. “He really put himself out there when we started. He put so much effort out for me because we bonded right from the beginning.”

Wight has learned to ride forward and get an early pace from Chromeo. “He’s allowed me to learn that because he has such a great stride on his own. He taught me how to open up and leave him and let him do his job,” she pointed out.

This is Wight’s third time at Capital Challenge and her first championship at an indoor show. “It feels great. I’m really happy with my horse and my trainers and my whole support team has been great,” she said. “It’s a big help going on to the next indoor [show] and being able to look back on the prior indoor and say I did really well there and was champion, so I can do it.”

New to Capital Challenge this year was the Junior Hunter 3’3” division, and the first champion was Bella K, ridden and owned by Samantha Camp, 13 years old from Glenmoore, PA. They won two over fences and placed fifth in the remaining jumping class for the top tricolor. Askaro, ridden by Sarah Jane Haskins for Emily Hilton, was the reserve champion after placing first and second over fences. They also won the EMO 3’3” Junior Hunter Trip of the Show with an 88.5.

Camp has been riding the eight-year-old Bella K for two years and describes her as smooth, but also “sassy sometimes.” She continued, “She likes to be herself. She loves Twizzlers. It’s her favorite thing. When she hears the package open she starts pacing.”

This was only their fourth show, and their best finish, at the 3’3” height. They competed and were reserve champions in the Children’s Hunters at last year’s Capital Challenge, which is at a height of three-foot. “She likes the bigger jumps a lot better. She’s a lot happier,” she said. “She’s taught me pretty much everything I know. It means a lot to be champion here because I really wanted to do well at this show, especially since I did well here last year. This is my favorite show all year.”

The Leading Hunter Trainer Award, sponsored by Meridian Riding Club and Tracye Ferguson, went to Scott Stewart.

Claudia Freeman was awarded the Stewart Warner Cup for junior riders, given in memory of Laurie Gilbert Stewart & Mary Warner Brown by Donald E. Stewart, Jr. and Louise W. Serio. It is awarded to up-and-coming junior riders, who, in the opinion of the panel of judges, exhibit the best hunter style and show potential as a young hunter rider.

A Perfect Ending for the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship

In her last junior year, Savanah Stuart made the trip to the East Coast from her home in Rancho Santa Fe, CA a worthwhile one. She and Andover won the Children’s Hunter 15-17 division, sponsored by The Rizvi Family, with two firsts and a second place. Those top ribbons gave them the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship, sponsored by Mary Jane King, and Stuart was presented with the Laura Pickett Memorial Trophy, donated by Julie Karpan. Stuart won the Best Children’s Hunter Rider Award, sponsored by Wild Sky Farm & The Nelson Family. The reserve champion was Kissme, ridden by Mary Margaret Dodd and owned by Anna Wells-Sharp. They placed first and sixth over fences and fourth under saddle.

Andover is just six years old and competes in the Pre-Green Hunters. Stuart has ridden him for a year, calling him her “project horse.” Andover competed at Capital Challenge last year in the Pre-Green Hunters as well. Although he is still young, Stuart said his good brain and level-headedness is what brings success.

Savanah Stuart and Andover. Photo © The Book LLC
Savanah Stuart and Andover. Photo © The Book LLC

“You never have to worry about him doing anything crazy. He does have a little ADD so when he has his baby moments, he will look outside the ring at something,” she pointed out. “We worked a lot on building his straightness and really keeping him connected. But for the most part, he has the mindset of a 12-year-old. He’ll jump anything.”

The change from last year’s competition was a positive one, Stuart said. “I brought him last year, but I was still figuring him out. Coming back this year I could really see the improvement, so that’s been great.”

Stuart is finishing the last few shows of her junior career, and Capital Challenge is the only indoor show in which she will ride Andover. “I didn’t have the best junior career. I had a lot of horses that would get hurt midway through the season. I was always challenged with that. I never had a steady, consistent ride, so having the year that I had being able to ride my horses has been a blessing. This was a great way to end my junior career. I think going out with a bang was kind of nice. I finally got there,” she expressed.

The championship in the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Section B, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farms, Inc., went to Central Park, ridden by Mimi Gochman for David Gochman. The 10-year-old rider from New York City rode Central Park to first over fences and first under saddle. The reserve champion was Monopoly, ridden by Aubrienne Krysiewicz-Bell for owner Margaret O’Meara. They jumped to first and fifth places and were fourth under saddle.

Gochman started with “Duke” this winter. “He’s slow, and he has a lopey canter. His jump isn’t too big. He’s a good mover, he’s pretty and he’s sweet. He has a good personality,” she said.

Transitioning to the horses from ponies has been easy for Gochman. “(Central Park) has a bigger stride so it’s almost easier. And the jumps seem so much bigger when you’re on a large (pony than) to him because he’s so big. You don’t need to go very fast, so it’s nice to keep a steady pace,” she said.

Central Park has taught Gochman “how to sit still” when riding. “In the first class, I moved up and I leaned, and he said, ‘No way, we’re not jumping that far!’ He’s taught me how to sit still and hold him because he can still jump very well while I’m sitting up. He’s good at fitting it in even though his stride is big,” she recalled.

It was a winning affair for the entire Gochman family at Capital Challenge, with her sister Sophie winning in the pony hunters yesterday. “It’s sweet because we’ve been practicing and trying really hard to do really well here, and we did it. And my mom was WCHR Challenge winner!” she added.

The champion in the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under Section A, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Gary Duffy and Little Brook Farms, Inc., was Chelsea, ridden by Emma Weiss and owned by Baylor Wickes. The 15-year-old rider from New York, NY started riding Chelsea in February. They won an over fences and were second under saddle. Weiss was also awarded the Stewart Warner Cup for children’s riders. The reserve champion was Mimi Gochman on David Gochman’s Romance. They placed second and third over fences and third under saddle.

Weiss described Chelsea as “not easy, but not too hard. We have a bond where I let her do her thing, and she lets me do my thing. We have that relationship where it just works out that way,” she said.

Chelsea is only 15.1 hands high, “but she makes up for it with her stride,” Weiss said. Weiss also said that Chelsea loves treats. “She knows she’s the princess!” she said.

This is Weiss’ first time at Capital Challenge. “I came in on Friday because I had the presentations for WCHR,” she said. “I spent all yesterday just hanging out, watching the ring to see how it runs so that when I showed it would go easier. It’s incredible (to win). I was really happy because my lease ends with her soon, so it’s nice to end it on a high note.”

Capital Challenge gives thanks to their exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and spectators for another fantastic event. They look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2015.

For full results, more information, or to watch the archived individual rounds of video, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org. Like the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook and on Twitter @capchallenge and Instagram @capitalchallengehorseshow.

In its 21st year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 27 – October 5.

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
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Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV Triumph in $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix

Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV. Photos © Sportfot.

Lili Hymowitz Makes a Statement in Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2014 – Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV in the $30,000 Mar-a-Lago Club Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club, concluded today. FTI WEF 2, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, run January 15-19. The FTI WEF, held at the PBIEC in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

For Sunday’s highlight competition, course designer Eric Hasbrouck saw 47 combinations jump the first round, with ten entries advancing to the jump-off. Only two were able to clear the short course without fault, and Ben Maher and Kavanagh IV had the winning time of 35.017.

Paris Sellon (USA) and Heracross finished second with their clear round in 40.053 seconds. Karen Polle (USA) had the fastest time in the jump-off in 33.898 seconds, but incurred four faults to finish third. Ireland’s Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane placed fourth with four faults in 34.344 seconds. McGuigan and Polle were both victim to a tall plank jump on course that was a problem for many of the riders in both rounds.

Class winner, Kavanagh IV, is a 12-year-old Anglo European gelding by Kannan x Carousel. Maher started riding the gelding this fall and has already had great success with him. He explained, “I took over the ride a few months ago when I was resting the other horses in England back in October, and he went quite well the first week, so John and Laura (Renick) kindly left him with me.”

“I begged them to let me take him to Florida because I know he’s great in the big arenas,” Maher continued. “He jumped very well in the Trump Grand Prix the other week. I couldn’t see where I was going (because of the rain), and I ran a little deep and had a mistake, so we saved him for this grand prix this week because he felt good, and the plan paid off.”

“He is the most laid back going horse there is,” Maher described of the horse. “He is very relaxed and doesn’t mind who looks after him or who is riding him. I actually didn’t ride him all week. My girlfriend rode him the whole week, so maybe I’ll stick to that plan. He takes strides out in a big ring like this; he’s pretty fast. A lot of horses had the planks down, so I took a little bit of time there and left a small margin for the others to catch me, but luckily it was the right decision today.”

Maher looks forward to another great FTI WEF circuit in 2014, returning with Jane Clark’s Cella and Urico, who he had great success with in 2013.

“I am looking forward to riding Cella and Urico,” he noted. “They have been great for me the whole year. We rested Urico for the indoor season because he gained some great results. I had a whole new plan with him for the summer, and I think he’s in great shape, so he’ll start out here next week. Cella, we’ll save for the bigger grands prix. They’re kind of split up this time, so she’s going to come out week three I think, but I’ve got some great horses. I’m very lucky, and always excited to be here.”

In addition to earning top prize in Sunday’s grand prix, Maher was presented with a special Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award, presented by Laura Fetterman.

Second place finisher, Paris Sellon, also earned a special award as the Leading Lady Jumper Rider for week one thanks to Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

Sellon, 21, is from Los Angeles, CA, and this is her first time competing at the FTI WEF riding with Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. She purchased Heracross from Skelton one year ago.

“I just started riding with Nick and Laura last May,” Sellon explained. “I went to Europe with them, started traveling with them. I have just been getting to know him, getting to know how to jump clear, and it’s all finally paying off now. It has taken a full year, but he’s great. He is super straight forward and a super show horse.”

Commenting on the day’s course, Sellon noted, “It was difficult enough. With the time allowed and everything, you have to keep moving as well as trying to jump clear, but my horse actually benefits from that. The more you keep him going, the more you fire him up. That’s when he jumps his best, so it was actually a pretty good course for him.”

Karen Polle, also 21, is from New York City and started training with Todd Minikus in October. She has had her horse What Ever for three years, but the mare is coming back from a year and a half off with an injury, and Sunday’s class was one of their first grands prix back together. Polle described What Ever, stating, “She is so lazy at home. She’s like a pony, but once she gets in the ring she fires up. She leaves out strides and turns really fast, and she’s just so fast and fun.”

Polle explained that training with Todd Minikus has really helped her. “He has helped me focus on using my leg to really ride the course and guide the horse,” Polle noted. “I tend to get a little bit too much hands, and I stop them a little too much and I get them behind me sometimes, so he’s really been helping me ride from my leg.”

The Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers also got the chance to show in the International Arena on Sunday morning. In the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic, Victoria Colvin and Don Juan, owned by Brigid Colvin and Karen Long Dwight, completed the only clear round out of 17 entries to earn top prize. Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm’s Carboni had the fastest four-fault round to finish second.

The $10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw 51 entries with 18 clear rounds and ten to go clear in the jump-off. Dana Scott and Nod Hill Farm’s KM What Ever RV were the winners with the fastest jump-off time, and Sarah Hubbard and Athina Z finished second.

Lili Hymowitz Makes a Statement in Large Junior 15 & Under Hunters

Lili Hymowitz could not be beat Sunday morning in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law, at the FTI WEF. Hymowitz walked away with division champion and reserve champion honors with her mounts Statement and Tiffani, respectively.

Lili Hymowitz and Statement
Lili Hymowitz and Statement

Hymowitz and Statement, a seven-year-old Westphalian gelding, won three out of the five classes for the division. The pair picked up wins in two over fences classes and the under saddle in addition to collecting sixth and third place ribbons over fences.

Tiffani, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, won the handy round on the first day of competition over fences before finishing second in two other over fences rounds and fifth in the under saddle class.

Fourteen-year-old Hymowitz, of New York, NY, picked up division champion and reserve champion titles with both mounts over the fall and was happy to see both horses return to the show ring happy after a well-deserved vacation following the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY.

“Towards the end of indoors, they were starting to get tired. Now they’re back and refreshed,” Hymowitz recounted. “It’s so nice to be back in Florida. I’ve gotten used to riding in little indoor [arenas]-I haven’t shown outside since the Hampton Classic [in August].”

Of her champion mount, Statement, Hymowitz described “He’s pretty straight-forward. You just have to make sure you keep going forward! One thing he likes to do is start slowing down and get a little backwards, but he’s so fun and amazing. He wants to win as badly as I do!”

Hymowitz described Statement as a “get on and go” ride, but highly values Tiffani’s adjustability on course.

“With Tiffani, I don’t have to worry because she’s so adjustable since she used to be a jumper. If I see the slow [distance], I’ll do the slow one, but with Statement, you just have to stay the same pace. I try not to touch him!” Hymowitz admitted.

Hymowitz was thrilled with her one-two finish in the division and looks forward to competing Statement and Tiffani again at the FTI WEF, although they’ll be getting plenty of well-deserved time off.

Sunday’s competition concluded week one of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by The Mar-a-Lago Club. Week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday, January 15 through Sunday, January 19. The week will feature the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon, the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday night, and the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Speed Class, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during the day on Sunday. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Brianne Goutal and Onira Triumph in $50,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix at The Stadium at PBIEC

Lili Hymowitz Clinches Champion and Reserve Titles in Voltaire Design Large Pony Hunter Division

Brianne Goutal and Onira. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 27, 2013 – Week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded with an exciting $50,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon held on the grass derby field at The Stadium at The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The class saw a win for U.S. rider Brianne Goutal and Remarkable Farms LP’s Onira in a four-horse jump-off. Todd Minikus (USA) and Macoemba finished second, Laura Kraut (USA) and A. Lebon’s Jubilee d’Ouilly were third, and Luis Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Anabel Simon’s G&C Sacramento placed fourth.

Uliano Vezzani of Italy was the course designer for week three’s international show jumping competition in Wellington. In Sunday’s $50,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix, Vezzani set the track on the beautiful grass field for 46 competitors and only four were able to clear the course without fault. The bogey fence, a tall wavy-plank vertical off of a tight left-hand turn came down for the majority of competitors, but there were many other rails around the course as well.

Continue reading Brianne Goutal and Onira Triumph in $50,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix at The Stadium at PBIEC

Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet Capture $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI2* Grand Prix

Lili Hymowitz Sweeps the Gotham Small Pony Hunter Division with a Little “Bit of Love”

Katie Dinan and Nougat du Vallet. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2012 – Eighteen-year-old Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partner’s Nougat Du Vallet led the victory gallop in the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix this afternoon at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Running through April 1, 2012, the FTI WEF will award more than $6 million in prize money throughout its 12-week circuit. Today’s class concluded the third week of competition, sponsored by Horseware Ireland.

Thirty-seven entries showed in this afternoon’s grand prix over a course set by Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Germany. Fifteen were able to clear the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and seven finished the class double clear. The lead changed hands several times throughout the jump-off as riders chased the clock, but it was Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet, second to last in the order, who captured the win. The pair blazed through the course in 37.36 seconds for their first major grand prix victory.

Continue reading Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet Capture $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI2* Grand Prix