Wellington, FL – February 9, 2020 – Competition during week five of the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a close under perfect conditions for Madison Goetzmann (USA), winner of the $73,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, and Canada’s Tiffany Foster, who claimed victory in the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m CSI5* on Sunday, February 9, in Wellington, FL.
Balancing her freshman year of college at the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA with her time in the show ring has not slowed 19-year-old Goetzmann down one bit. She and her long-time mount Prestigious topped a field of 44 over tracks built by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and Andy Christiansen (ECU) to highlight two-star competition during week five.
“Going into the jump-off, I had my competitive edge on and my horse is very fast and reliable in the jump-off,” said Goetzmann. “It was a really great track for my horse; the stride options were forward, and he’s a smaller horse so having those strides set that way with tight turns right after really gave me an advantage. I knew I had a good shot and I gave it my all. He goes in every time and wants to win. I’m lucky to have him!”
Tiffany Foster Rides to Victory in CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic
It was a busy and successful day in the saddle for Canadian Tiffany Foster who rode one of her two mounts to the winner’s circle and placed sixth with her second horse in the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5*.
“I went pretty early on my first horse Brighton, and it helped that he is naturally super-fast, and I don’t usually worry about the time allowed,” Foster shared. Time did become a factor with many horse and rider combinations having time faults. “He’s a real veteran. I’ve had him since he was seven and he is now 14, and we know each other really well.” Foster added, “I was also thrilled with my second horse, Galino, in his first 1.50m.”
From a field of 53, only seven advanced to the jump-off as they commanded a tricky first round course set by D’Ambrosio and Christiansen. “The trickiest part of the course was the triple and then you rode six strides with a roll back that was off a short turn away from the gate that led to a very long three – you had to ride the three, no pulling – and then you continued along to the triple bar,” Foster said. “The course tested your horse’s rideability and luckily my horses both come back very well.”
Hollin Sutherland and Cambridge Wrap Up Week 5 with a Championship in the Children’s Hunter Older Division
Sunday morning began with Hollin Sutherland and Cambridge capturing the championship of the Children’s Hunter Older division in Ring 7. Out of 23 entries, Sutherland and her horse earned two firsts, two seconds, and an eighth place.
Sutherland, of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, has been developing her partnership with Cambridge over the past year and a half. The rider is very appreciative of her caring and trustworthy partner, saying, “He is really sweet and always takes care of me. He always tries his best!”
Trained by Bill Schaub, the pair stayed consistent throughout the division and won two of the over fences classes. “We really worked together as a team and everything came together,” Sutherland explained.
Sutherland plans to continue to try her best and produce consistent rounds with Cambridge in the Children’s Hunter Older division for the remainder of the WEF season.
Wellington, FL — February 18, 2018 — Victory on the grass derby field on Sunday, February 18, in the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix went to 17-year-old Madison Goetzmann (USA) riding Prestigious at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
On the grass derby field on Sunday, 50 entries competed over a course designed by Ana Catalina Cruz-Harris (MEX), and ten of those were clear to advance to the jump-off. Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi set the early winning pace in 41.97 seconds with no faults, which would hold up for second place.
Next into the ring for the jump-off was Ailish Cunniffe (USA) on Baloucento 2, owned by Whipstick Farm Ltd. They finished in 42.16 seconds and placed third.
Five trips later, the winning time was lowered to 41.53 seconds when Goetzmann and her own Prestigious finished the jump-off. Three additional rounds were unable to catch Goetzmann’s time and stay clear through the course.
It was the second win in a row for Goetzmann, who also captured Saturday’s $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome with Prestigious.
Scheriff-Muser, Karp, Danhakl, Ratigan, and Smith Capture Classic Victories
A field of 74 competitors took to the International Arena on Sunday in the $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic to wrap up the much-anticipated World Championship Rider Hunter week at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival. Due to its size, the class featured a California split and pinned two different sections of winners. Tracy Scheriff-Muser, aboard Shoreline, and Samantha Karp, aboard Zentina B, prevailed.
Scheriff-Muser and her veteran mount, Shoreline, topped the field in section A with two top scores of 88 and a total of 176. Scheriff-Muser is no stranger to this particular classic and expressed her enthusiasm to finally walk out of the International Arena with the blue.
Zentina B, guided by Samantha Karp, received the highest score in the division of a 90 in the first round and came back to get an 84 in the second with a total of 174 to secure the section B win.
Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, CA topped the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Classic aboard her own Enough Said and also took second riding her own Quest.
After earning the Adequan Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3” division title earlier in the week, Danhakl collected scores of 90 and 84 in the classic to finish on a 174 total with Enough Said. She bested herself by four points after also piloting Quest to scores of 86 and 84 to sit on a total of 170 for second place. Brad Wolf and Libretto rounded out the top three by combining scores of 82 and 85 for an overall score of 167.
Caroline Ratigan and Trust remained unfazed after a scheduling change that moved the junior hunter competitors out of the International Arena and into the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter ring. The pair took two high scores of 87 in both rounds of the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Junior Hunter Classic 16-17 and emerged victorious.
With a total of 174, the duo was tough to beat. Ratigan and the 10-year-old gelding have been partnered together for three years, and the two continue to best competitors in the hunter ring. Today marked their third consecutive first-place win this week in addition to winning the division championship on Saturday in the International Arena.
Sunday’s final class of the World Champion Hunter Rider week went to one of the last entries to return for their second round in the WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Classic, Stephanie Smith and Clintano, owned by Sand Dollar Farm, LLC. The pair had a first round score of 84 and came back to earn an 85. A combined score of 169 was enough for Smith to capture the blue.
Smith, of Saddle River, NJ, and Clintano also won Friday’s section A over fences class in the International Arena with a pair of 83 scores, and the young rider expressed how she entered the competition with continued confidence, despite being moved out of the larger ring due to a scheduling change.
Victoria Colvin Cruises to $25,000 CP National Grand Prix Victory
The $25,000 CP National Grand Prix was held on the grass derby field, and it was 20-year-old Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL who sped to victory on Clochard, owned by Neil Jones Equestrian Inc.
There were 26 entries in the class, and seven in the jump-off. Colvin was the last to go, and she and Clochard, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion, raced across the field to clock a time of 40.902 seconds for the win.
Andrew Ramsay (USA) led the victory gallop in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by The Kincade Group, riding Cocq a Doodle to conclude the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows on Sunday, May 21, at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
“It has been awhile, probably two or three years, since I’ve won a grand prix. It is a great feeling to do it again. It has been fantastic to have Doodle here on the field and be good enough today to get it done. It’s been a very good weekend.” ~Andrew Ramsay
After a second-place finish in the feature grand prix during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Ramsay and Cocq a Doodle, owned by The Doodle Group, moved up for a victory in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, in a three-horse jump-off. The only double-clear effort of the day belonged to Ramsay, who stopped the clock at 45.50 seconds over a jump-off track built by 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Final course designer Alan Wade (IRL).
Madison Goetzmann Wins $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
Earlier in the day on the Grand Prix Field, Madison Goetzmann, 17, of Skeanatles, NY, won the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Beval Saddlery, riding her own Prestigious. They bested the eight horses that advanced to the jump-off with a clear round over the short course in 31.172 seconds.
“He’s an incredible horse. He has amazing scope, but we have been taking our time. Each week, things just keep getting better and better, and we’ve developed a better partnership.” ~ Madison Goetzmann
Charlise Casas and Rembrandt Blue, owned by Always Faithful Equine, LLC, were second with a time of 31.537 seconds, and Katie Tyler took third riding her won Shet du Thot in 32.842 seconds.
For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long competition schedule, prize lists, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.
Devon, PA – May 27, 2016 – Junior Weekend at Devon Horse Show continued Friday as eight winners from sections of the four equitation divisions were invited back to the Dixon Oval to contend for the 2016 R. W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Championship. For the first time, the coveted award was presented to the winner of a stand-alone class, rather than on an overall high-point basis.
Each of the eight riders qualified for the Championship class by placing first in one of the equitation divisions – the ASPCA Maclay, the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, the WIHS Jumper Phase or the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
This year, it was Lucy Deslauriers who rose up to earn the title, besting the field of talented young riders to claim the honor.
“It’s an honor to qualify, let alone come out with a win,” Deslauriers expressed. “This show and the championship have a lot of prestige and tradition. Qualifying was something I was definitely proud to do. I was excited to have another opportunity. It was definitely a little bit trickier having another class and finding a few more distances, but I was overall very excited to do the class.”
Deslauriers, who trains with Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill Show Stables, chose to ride Class Action. The 17-year-old superstar carried her to wins in the WIHS and Talent Search on Thursday.
“I felt really confident in my rides yesterday on this horse,” Deslauriers said. “He had been in this ring twice already, so I knew it would be a good decision to choose him. As long I didn’t mess up, he was going to do his job. He feels really great, especially for being 17. We try not to do too much with him and respect his age. He knows his job. We try to do as much as we can, but trust that he’ll respond.”
Madden was very proud of Deslauriers’ performance and praised the rising talent’s attention to detail in her rounds.
“Lucy loves the sport,” Madden said. “She’s an unbelievable stylist, and I think the judges really appreciate her natural style and ability to ride with the motion with the horses. I think all of her jumper experience that she has gained through the years has given her an extreme amount of confidence when she goes into the equitation ring.”
With blue ribbons already under their belts, Daisy Farish, T. J. O’Mara, Madison Goetzmann, McKayla Langmeier, Maya Nayyar, Katherine Bundy and Ellie Ferrigno also tried their hand at the Alan Lohman-designed course.
Farish delivered a well-executed round atop Cassio and impressed the judges to secure the reserve champion honors.
“I think [the class] was awesome and added another element of challenge,” Farish said. “It brought a whole other feeling to it. First we have all our classes, and now the added championship class. It gives it an important feeling. I think Lucy was leading whether it was the other format or not, so she deserved it.”
Following in third place was Goetzmann, who earned her ticket by winning a section of the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal on Thursday. Fourth place was awarded to Ellie Ferrigno, who won a section of the Maclay earlier on Friday morning. Langmeier ended up taking home fifth, while Bundy, Nayyar and O’Mara all experienced some unfortunate difficulties on course to finish sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
Madden, who holds a seat on the USHJA equitation committee, explained the committee’s thought process surrounding the decision to update the format of the Ronnie Mutch Championship.
“The format of the class was really to have the kids be able to go head-to-head,” Madden explained. “Before, there would be two or three winners, and they were trying to break away from the idea of having multiple winners in a class that is supposed to deem the ‘championship rider.’
“I think it’s important for everyone to understand that we weren’t trying to add another class or see more jumping,” Madden continued. “We really wanted to give these kids an opportunity at a national horse show like this to compete head-to-head in the middle of the show year instead of making them wait until the end. I like the format, and I thought it ran well. It was a very different vibe behind the scenes, for me anyway. You had more focus on the class and less focus on all the point calculations.”
The action will continue with the Junior Hunter divisions on Saturday. Highlight events during the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair will include the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*.
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is the longest running and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. With the grandeur of Philadelphia’s prestigious Main Line setting the stage, the event features a world-class field that annually ranks among the most prominent internationally. The event also includes the Country Fair that offers world-class shopping, rides and games for kids, multiple dining options and special entertainment events.
Madison Goetzmann and Wrigley Go for Devon Blue in Junior Jumpers
The Junior Jumper riders continued to showcase their skill Friday as the highlight event for the evening lineup at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. Longtime Devon competitor and former Pony Hunter Champion, Madison Goetzmann, and her veteran mount Wrigley bested a 10-horse jump-off to take home the Devon blue with a speedy clear effort at the end of the night.
Madison Goetzmann and Wrigley
“I love this show,” expressed Goetzmann. “Sometimes when I’m cantering in this ring, I look over to the Gold Ring and I reminisce about going around on the ponies. It’s weird to move up so quickly, but it’s such an amazing feeling being in this atmosphere with all the fans. It’s really great.”
Francesca Dildabanian set the time to beat as the second to return for the tiebreaker with Catika Van De Helle. The pair produced the first double clear round, breaking the beam at 42.636 seconds. One round later, Eve Jobs rode with her eye on the prize aboard Sandor De La Pomme. They easily moved into the lead with a time of 37.932 seconds, but would only hold the top spot for a few moments.
Goetzmann’s speedy mare Wrigley was in top form and easily sliced the sharp turns, clearing each obstacle. They galloped over the final oxer with the time in hand, crossing the finish line in 36.801 seconds.
“The plan was to have a fast and efficient jump off,” explained Goetzmann. “However, I did not want to overdo anything or do any risky turns that can result in a fault or anything like that. Going in there I wanted to get the Devon blue, but I didn’t want to get her too wound up. My mare is super great about the tight turns and the gallop. We caught every jump at a nice gallop and she jumped her heart out for me. She was awesome.”
Jobs had one more chance to take the top spot with her second qualified mount Quickley 3, but in their effort to catch the time they lowered the height of the final oxer. They stopped the clock at 35.648 seconds, over a full second ahead of Goetzmann, but four faults would mean settling for fourth place. Goetzmann picked up the win, while Jobs and Sandor De La Pomme placed second. Dildabanian rounded out the top three aboard Catika Van De Helle.
“It’s such an amazing feeling to walk into the ring, knowing you have an awesome horse under you,” smiled Goetzmann. “I’m so grateful to have her as my horse. She always gives me the confidence to go in there and to win.”
Goetzmann added, “Practice makes perfect with horses. I’ve been riding Wrigley for over a year now. Each day we grow together. Each day we’re working on something new. There is always something to work on with your horse. I find that super helpful to keep in mind, when I’m working with her. We trust each other. She has my trust and I have her trust. We’ve really developed a great partnership.”
Goetzmann is now focused on winning Saturday’s main event, the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic. On Sunday, the Pony Jumper division will take over the Dixon Oval. Later this week, the best in the country will compete in Thursday’s $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*.
Madison Goetzmann and Denmark. Photo by Shawn McMillen
Lexington, KY – The last day of the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships began bright and early with exciting competition in the Covered Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The EquiSport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Finals brought the 2011 Pony Finals to an end. Leading the class from beginning to end with a solid two rounds over fences was Madison Goetzmann and Denmark to garner the championship prize.
The top 20 riders returned for the second round including nine medium ponies, four small ponies, and seven large ponies. Today’s courses were designed by Bobby Murphy and consisted of short lines, rollbacks, a halt, and a trot jump. Goetzmann was at the top of the order for today’s second round and executed another flawless trip making the lines look easy. Goetzmann of Skaneateles, NY, and Denmark proved to be unbeatable, eventually earning them the Easter Sunday Memorial Trophy donated by Catherine A. Kaiser and Jennifer T. Pesko. Katherine Strauss of Southampton, NY, and Sumerland were originally ranked tenth during their first course; however, with an exceptional second round they earned the reserve championship honors. Lucy Deslauriers of New York, NY, and Macy Grey were ranked eighth coming into the second round and earned the third place honors after an impressive round.
Eleven-year-old Goetzmann has been riding Denmark for four years and this is her fourth Pony Finals competition. “He’s amazing, I was very excited,” she smiled. “I was definitely prepared and we have been practicing a lot. Patricia [Griffith] never lets me go to shows unprepared.”
Goetzmann’s trainer, Patricia Griffith of Heritage Farm, added, “The course looked easier than it rode. I knew she could do it, because she has ridden much harder courses. Whenever you need this pony, he is usually there. At Heritage Farm we really try to have no stone left unturned as far as preparation. What I do well, or I hope I do well, is try to teach them how to think for themselves and figure out how to get it done without me helping them all the time.”
