Tag Archives: McLain Ward

McLain Ward and HH Azur Clear 3 Rounds to Win $400k ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup

July 5, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

McLain Ward and HH Azur. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Kara Chad and Star la Tuiliere Top $85,000 TD Cup

Calgary, AB, Canada – July 4, 2015 – The stars aligned for McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur to earn a major victory in Saturday’s $400,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows. There are not many major competitions left in the world that Ward has not won, but he will now have his name etched in history in one of the sport’s most prestigious events aboard a rising young star.

For the momentous win, Ward topped a U.S. showdown over Olympic teammate Beezie Madden (USA) and her top mount, Cortes ‘C’. Todd Minikus and Babalou 41 completed a U.S. trifecta in the top three as the nation celebrated its Independence Day. Earlier in the afternoon, Calgary’s own Kara Chad won the $85,000 TD Cup aboard Star la Tuiliere.

Course designer Santiago Varela (ESP) set a difficult track for the competitors in Saturday’s $400,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The competition took place over two rounds with a jump-off if necessary. The first round was a speed round against the clock, which saw 49 entries in total. The top twelve competitors from the first round then returned for round two in reverse order of penalties. In the end, USA’s Beezie Madden and McLain Ward were the only competitors able to jump clear in both rounds, necessitating a competitive jump-off to break their tie.

It was a storybook ending for Ward, who earned his first win in the prestigious competition with three perfect rounds to take home the winner’s share of $132,000. Madden and Cortes ‘C’ had trouble in the jump-off and ended up retiring, but still took home a substantial $80,000 check for their second place finish.

“It means a lot,” Ward said of his victory. “It is a competition that I have always really coveted and always wanted to win. I think I have come here with a lot of very good entries, including Sapphire, over the years and taken a good shot. I am very excited about this horse in my life, so to see her step up in her first major grand prix is great. It is an incredible horse.”

It was a hard fought battle through three rounds of competition for Ward and HH Azur, and the nine-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui) was the only horse to complete all three rounds and clear every obstacle.

“I do not think I have sat on a horse like this,” Ward stated. “I knew she could do it well, but there were so many things that she had not seen – the bicycle jump, the Chinese wall, the double Liverpools. There were so many questions, and that is what makes her so unique; you put it in front of her and she answers the question every time. Every time we have stepped her up or set a benchmark, that is how she has responded.”

HH Azur is a horse that is owned in partnership by Hunter Harrison ‘s Double H Farm and Francois Mathy. As Ward explained, a lot of things had to happen for him to get to where he is with the horse today.

“You wonder in life if certain things are meant to be, because I probably did everything not to get this horse for a while and still ended up with her,” he noted. “I had a great partnership with Hunter years ago and we reunited a couple years ago. He is an incredible man, and sort of a father figure in my life, and Francois Mathy even more so. He was my dad’s partner for 30 years and I have worked with him since I was 17. He was a great rider, an Olympic medalist, a great horse dealer and horseman, and a real inspiration for me. He basically told us about this horse, and said he was 70 years old and he wanted to own a great horse in the sport and would sell us half. They own it together 50/50 and it is a pretty exciting situation.”

Speaking about each round with HH Azur, Ward detailed, “I was actually really nervous for the competition because I think so highly of the horse. I did not want to let the horse down; I wanted it to go well. She felt like she cantered around the first round really easy. I thought it was a great course because in the first round you had a pretty wide level of competitors – you had the best in the world here and you had some people getting their feet wet at this level. Santiago did a beautiful job of weeding that out.”

“The second round was big,” Ward continued. “The double Liverpools are always a difficult test and I thought it was particularly short today with two verticals, but she handled it beautifully. Then I figured in the jump-off with just Beezie and me, I would take a shot. The worst I could be was second.”

Madden has won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on three separate occasions in 2005, 2006, and 2012, but she was still not going to let Ward have it without a fight. She went second in the jump-off, but retired on course after Cortes slipped and stopped out in the combination.

“I think I kind of matched McLain on fences one, two and three, and then I ended up going around the island. I did not get inside, so I got a little worried and then I went fast. I think I made up time from the wall to the oxer and could have slowed down a little bit, but honestly Cortes was a little into the game by then,” Madden explained. “He kind of landed and turned, and then I saw the distance and I went to go for it and he slipped a little. In hindsight, obviously I should have taken a little more time there, but he was a little into the game and I was a little into the game. I thought it best just to go with it, but it did not work out. He still jumped amazing.”

Despite trouble in the jump-off, Cortes ‘C’ jumped two fantastic rounds to make it that far and Madden was happy with her start to the day.

“He felt amazing. I think every jump was just airy and confident. It might possibly be the best he has ever gone, and that is saying a lot,” she remarked. “He has had some super results already, but I would say not one jump felt risky today.”

Just one time fault in the second round kept Todd Minikus and Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41 out of the jump-off, but Minikus was thrilled with his horse’s performance as well.

“I have been riding her since she came to the states as an extremely green five/six-year-old in the schooling jumpers and on, so it is very rewarding for me to get to this stage with her,” Minikus acknowledged. “She is extremely green for this level of competition. The first week here we struggled a bit. The second week she was actually second to McLain in the grand prix. I am very proud of her and very thankful for Two Swans Farm for their support.”

“I would also like to thank Spruce Meadows,” Minikus added. “This is always such a special event, and everybody at Spruce Meadows does such a fantastic job that it is really a pleasure to compete here.”

Kara Chad Tops $85,000 TD Cup

The $85,000 TD Cup 1.50m was held in a winning round format on Saturday with a big win for Canada’s Kara Chad (19). Thirty entries jumped in round one, and course designer Santiago Varela saw nine clear rounds and one entry with a single time fault advance to round two for the top ten.

Kara Chad jumped to victory with the fastest of six clear trips over the second round course. She stopped the clock in a time of 45.55 seconds aboard Stone Ridge Farm’s Star la Tuiliere. Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) finished second with Mario Onate’s Charielle in 46.33 seconds. Pablo Barrios (VEN) placed third aboard ZL Group, Inc.’s Zara Leandra in a time of 47.96 seconds.

The win was Chad’s first in Spruce Meadows’ famous International Ring and a memorable moment in the young rider’s career.

“It is surreal,” she stated after leading the round of honor. “My horse was so good to me. I had a few difficult distances, but she really showed herself and was able to perform for me out there. Coming out of the ring, I was ecstatic. Of course when you come out, you want to hold on to that lead and that is exactly what happened.”

Chad got Star la Tuiliere, a nine-year-old Selle Francais mare (Dollar de la Pierre x Quick Star) in September of 2014.

“She is a little fighter,” the rider praised. “She is rather small, but she has all the jump and all the ability. We just moved up to our first 1.50m yesterday. She was incredible and showed so much talent, so then we decided to jump today because she is quite a quick horse and we thought she was good for the winning round. She is absolutely incredible.”

When Chad says “we,” she includes Eric Lamaze, who she and her sister, Bretton, began training with just before the start of the Summer Series. They previously rode with Susie Schroer and Dick Carvin for almost 12 years.

“I mean, it is Eric Lamaze; he is nothing but the best,” Chad smiled. “He just puts more of a competitive edge on everything. He is such a great trainer and I am having such a great time with him, so big thanks to Eric!”

Chad’s next stop is Europe, and she looks forward to diving into more international competition with a big win under her belt.

“For sure this changes your perspective a little bit. When you see that you are able to do this, you become more competitive, and you come out of the ring wanting more,” she admitted. “Going into Europe, that is exactly what I want to do.”

Growing up in Calgary, Chad had quite the cheering section for Saturday’s competition and received many congratulations after her win.

“It is pretty incredible,” she acknowledged. “The response from the riders is amazing and also the people from Spruce Meadows, for example Jon Garner (Competition Manager) and Ian Allison (Senior Vice-President Media). They were so ecstatic to see me out there and I got a big hug from both of them when I went out for the presentation. It is really nice to have a community to celebrate with.”

The ‘North American’ Tournament concludes on Sunday with the $85,000 Enbridge Cup followed by the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby.

For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Spruce Meadows Media Services
caroline.weilinger@sprucemeadows.com
403.974.4232
sprucemeadows.com

Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

McLain Ward and Rothchild Repeat Victory in $210,000 CP Grand Prix

June 15, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

McLain Ward and Rothchild. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Calgary, AB, Canada – June 14, 2015 – For the second year in a row, USA’s McLain Ward and Rothchild emerged victorious in the $210,000 CP Grand Prix during the ‘Continental’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows. It all came down to the wire in the tournament’s final event on Sunday, as Ward and Rothchild went last in an 11-horse jump-off to win by nine one-hundredths of a second. Todd Minikus (USA) and Babalou 41 finished second, and Richard Spooner (USA) and Chivas Z placed third.

Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) set the course for Sunday’s grand prix, with 49 starters in the first round, 11 to advance to the jump-off, and five double clear rounds. Richard Spooner (USA) was first to go aboard his own Chivas Z, and threw down the gauntlet with a speedy round in 42.03 seconds. Todd Minikus and Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41 were faster in 40.98 seconds to take over the lead. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Gotham Enterprizes’ Lilli followed with a steady clear round in 49.72 seconds to eventually place fifth. Conor Swail (IRL) returned with a clear in 45.65 seconds to place fourth aboard Grand Cru vd Vijf Eiken, owned by Vanessa Mannix. Last to go, McLain Ward and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild laid it all on the line in the winning time of 40.89.

To earn the winner’s share of $70,000 and defend his title as returning champion, Ward knew that he would have to take big risks. He had seen Eric Lamaze slip in the tight rollback to the second to last jump and have it down, but he took his chances and turned tighter. Despite his own slip there, Rothchild gave it his all to clear the final obstacles.

“Todd set a hell of a jump-off round,” Ward noted. “I did not need to see it. I knew what the time was and I had seen Spooner. I knew I had to do the best I could. I was a little bit lucky at the second to last, but my horse scrambled over it. Then there was nothing really to lose to the last and it worked out.”

“I did notice Eric slip; it was hard not to notice,” Ward detailed. “I always think in that situation, especially a competition of this caliber, you cannot make the choice to then go wide. It is really not an option to go wide because then you lose, so I knew I was going to try to turn. I also slipped a little bit, but I got away with it and then I was lucky to pick up on a good distance to the last. The horse really came through strong to the last fence because he had helped me out a little bit. It was a hard question to ask him.”

Ward and Rothchild, a 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Artos x Elegant de L’Ile), were recently named to the U.S. team for the Pan American Games in July. With that on the horizon, as well as the chance to earn back-to-back victories in the grand prix, the rider was hoping for a good result.

“It is always hard to defend a win because there is nowhere to go but down,” he admitted. “I was really happy with it. We have been trying to build Rothchild up for the Pan Am Games. He has had a slightly up and down year. I jumped him here on Thursday and ended up actually scratching him on Friday because a storm was blowing in right when I was going to go. He is not a great horse in the rain and at this point in his career I don’t need to force the issue, but it paid off well. I am really thrilled that he is in good form and I hope we can just try to maintain that into the Pan Am Games in Toronto.”

Todd Minikus and Babalou 41 are the alternates for USA’s Pan American team, so Minikus was also happy to have a great result leading up to the Games. Babalou has stepped up to have great success this year at just ten years of age.

“She has had a great year,” Minikus stated. “We started off a little rough here at Spruce Meadows last week to tell you the truth, but today she jumped great. It took a week or so for her to grow up here and understand. She has not had a lot of experience on the grass.”

“I have been back a couple of times for the ‘Masters’, but I have not been here for the summer since 1997,” Minikus detailed. “My mare is the alternate for the Pan Ams and she needs the experience, so we are back and we are glad to be back.”

Commenting on his jump-off, Minikus noted, “I was a little cautious in the rollback to the wall in the jump-off, and McLain was probably inside of me there. I have been a fan of Rothchild since he was a young horse. I always razz McLain that I should have been his rider, so to get beat by him is just okay. I am more than happy to be second and hopefully now I can get my mare organized for the rest of the tour here.”

Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio also set the track for Ward’s win in 2014 and was happy with another great result.

“I thought it was a very good competition,” D’Ambrosio stated. “I think that the horses looked beautiful jumping out there. We had nice results, a good number of clears and I think it was very nice sport for the spectators. I think it was good for everybody involved.”

The riders agreed, pointing out the balance of faults throughout the course.

“At the beginning of the class there were rails everywhere and it looked quite difficult,” Ward noted. “It was not one spot; you had to pay attention, and as the class developed and we got to the stronger horses, obviously the waters receded and we started to see people answer the test. I think when you see people answer the test, everybody takes a deep breath and starts to relax a little bit. You saw some clear rounds follow.”

“It was a very good course today. It was a nice use of the ring and a nice, balanced test,” Ward continued. “I also thought the time allowed was completely appropriate; I thought it was right on the money. It was good sport and a very exciting jump-off and the horses came out of the competition very well.”

Following a week off, Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series continues with three more weeks of competition in June and July. The ‘Canada One’ CSI 4* Tournament is next on the schedule June 24-28. The ‘North American’ CSI 5* Tournament will be held June 30 – July 5, and the ‘Pan American’ CSI 4* Tournament, presented by Rolex, will run July 9-12.

For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Kent Farrington and Gazelle Triumph in $126,000 Scotiabank Cup at Spruce Meadows

June 13, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Kent Farrington and Gazelle fly to victory over the final fence in Friday’s $126,000 Scotiabank Cup. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Ward and Swail Win on Day Two of ‘Continental’ Tournament

Calgary, AB, Canada – June 12, 2015 – Spruce Meadows hosted the second day of competition at its ‘Continental’ Tournament CSI 5* on Friday with world-class show jumping featured in the Meadows on the Green. The highlight $126,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.55m was held in the evening with a win for USA’s Kent Farrington aboard the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Gazelle (Kashmir van Shuttershof x Indoctro). McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur finished second, and Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Zara Leandra placed third.

Also competing on Friday, Ward guided HH Carlos Z to victory in the $40,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m, and Conor Swail (IRL) and Viva Colombia topped the $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m.

The second week in Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series, the ‘Continental’ Tournament continues through Sunday, June 14. Upcoming highlights include Saturday’s $85,000 Repsol Cup and Sunday’s $400,000 CP Grand Prix.

Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) is the course designer for international competition in the Meadows on the Green this week. For the $126,000 Scotiabank Cup, D’Ambrosio saw 70 entries contest his first round 1.55m track, with 18 clear rounds. In the jump-off, only seven were able to clear the course without fault.

McLain Ward and Double H Farm & Francois Mathy’s HH Azur were the first duo to clear the short course in 37.05 seconds and eventually placed second. Pablo Barrios and ZL Group, Inc.’s Zara Leandra were also clear in 37.73 seconds to earn third place honors. Up next, Eric Lamaze (CAN) jumped into fourth with his time of 38.61 seconds aboard Artisan Farms LLC’s Coco Bongo. Kent Farrington immediately followed with the winning round in 36.56 seconds riding his own and Robin Parsky’s Gazelle.

One of Farrington’s up-and-coming horses, Gazelle was recently named as his mount for July’s Pan American Games in Toronto. He got the mare at the end of her seven-year-old year and has been slowly been bringing her along with high hopes for the future.

“This year she has really stepped up to a new level and I am really excited about the horse,” Farrington noted. “She is extremely careful. She is a little bit sensitive, but I think she is a great competitor. What more can you ask for?”

Gazelle proved exactly why she is ready for the big leagues by jumping a great first round clear followed by a fantastic jump-off Friday night.

Commenting on his winning round, Farrington remarked, “These classes here are very competitive. You have extremely fast riders on a big, open field. There were a large number of horses in the jump-off today, so you knew that it was going to be very competitive.”

“I got to watch McLain go, so I knew the track that he did and what it was going to take to win,” he continued. “I took a risky move today to the last jump. I was not sure if it was possible to do eight strides, but after McLain went, I thought that was maybe the only chance to catch him. My horse has a pretty big step, so we went for it.”

The risk paid off and earned Farrington the winning prize of $41,580. Margie Engle (USA) was fifth with a clear jump-off round aboard Elm Rock LLC’s Royce in 39.39 seconds. Hardin Towell (USA) guided Jennifer Gates’ Emilie de Diamant AS to sixth in 39.40 seconds, and Emanuel Andrade (VEN) jumped the only other double clear round in 43.91 seconds aboard his own Hardrock Z to place seventh.

Ward Wins with HH Carlos Z

Earlier in the day, the $40,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m featured 44 competitors and 13 clear rounds to jump-off. The short course saw eight double clear rounds, of which McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z completed the fastest time of the day. Ward and his speedy mount cashed in for their second win of the Summer Series, last to go in the jump-off, with a time of 34.14 seconds.

“He is like a little ATM,” Ward said of the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire). “He reminds me of a mare that I had years ago called Goldika, who was very similar. She was a little, pretty bay just like him, and she could also step up. She also jumped the grand prix here at the ‘Masters’ great one year, but could win any class at the show. She was a bit of an ATM too, so it is always nice to have a horse like that in your string.”

Prior to Ward’s final round, Hardin Towell (USA) was leading the jump-off with Jennifer Gates’ Lucifer V, and eventually finished second with his time of 35.49 seconds. Molly Ashe (USA) finished third and fourth with Louisburg Farm’s Balous Day Date in 36.38 seconds and Nutmeg Group LLC’s Cocq a Doodle in 36.55 seconds respectively.

“I was lucky to go at the end,” Ward remarked on his jump-off. “I did not see Hardin’s round, but I know that he is a very fast rider and he is always really competitive. I believed that we could get four strides down the first line, and I actually maybe even over did the first jump because I got the four easy. I had a little slip; the horse could have refused easily there, but he is a trooper and he jumped it. We got away with that, and then I pushed on to the last and it worked out great.”

Swail Soars to Victory

Ireland’s Conor Swail got a win in the first competition of the day riding Ilan Ferder’s Viva Colombia on Friday. The $40,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m saw 49 entries over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s first round course, with six clear to advance to the jump-off, and four double clear rounds.

Vanessa Mannix (CAN) set the challenge with the first clear over the short course in 40.78 seconds aboard Nirvana de Terlong, eventually settling in fourth place. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) finished in 38.21 seconds riding Ludo Philippaerts’ Aragon van Schuttershof to take the second place prize. Leslie Howard was next to go with a clear round in 38.33 seconds to finish third aboard the Utah Group’s Utah. Swail and Viva Colombia completed the final clear jump-off round in the winning time of 37.52 seconds.

A ten-year-old Oldenburg mare (Couleur Rubin x Landor S), Viva Colombia is a horse that Swail began riding at the end of the winter this year. The pair won a FEI World Ranking competition in Palgrave, Ontario, this spring and also finished third in last week’s $35,000 Encana Cup 1.45m.

“I am just getting to get to know her and I think she is a very nice horse,” Swail described. “The plan is for her to be a grand prix horse. Kirsten Coe rode her in a few big classes in Florida, so the mare has had that experience, but it is a new relationship. For me, I like to teach them to be able to go fast and run and win also, so it is nice to do the 1.45m and 1.50m competitions as well just to get to know the horse. She really is learning fast with me. She does what she is asked every time she comes out, so I am very pleased.”

Detailing his winning jump-off, Swail explained, “There were only six of us, which was nice with the amount of numbers here. It was one of those jump-offs where you did not really have much to lose. I felt I was a little slow at the start to be honest. I could have had a better shot to jump one and I probably did too many steps to fence two. The six-stride was a bit too patient for her because she has such a big step, but I think after that it was very good. Coming home, I was extremely fast, so obviously that is just where I beat the other guys.”

The ‘Continental’ Tournament continues in the Meadows on the Green on Saturday featuring the $85,000 Repsol Cup 1.50m.

For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

McLain Ward and HH Azur Capture $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup at Spruce Meadows

June 6, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

McLain Ward and HH Azur. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Hardin Towell and Emilie de Diamant AS Top $35,000 Encana Cup

Calgary, AB, Canada – June 5, 2015 – USA’s McLain Ward and HH Azur emerged victorious in an exciting battle to the finish for Friday night’s $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup at Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament CSI 5*, presented by Rolex. Also competing on Friday, Hardin Towell (USA) and Emilie de Diamant AS topped the $35,000 Encana Cup 1.45m.

The ‘National’ Tournament is the first in five weeks of competition during this year’s Summer Series at Spruce Meadows. Riders will vie for nearly $1.2 million in prize money throughout the week, with competition concluding on Sunday, June 7. The highlight event will be the $400,000 RBC Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, on Saturday, June 6. Other features include the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse on Saturday and the $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup 1.50m Derby on Sunday.

Italy’s Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set the course for the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup, a 1.50m competition held in a winning round format. Twenty-eight entries started over the first round course, and the top ten then returned for a second round. In round two, only two riders were able to clear the course without fault.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward earned victory with the fastest double clear in 40.12 seconds riding a talented young mount in Double H Farm and Francois Mathy’s HH Azur. Tiffany Foster (CAN) followed with Torrey Pines and Artisan Farms LLC’s Victor in 40.378. Conor Swail (IRL) completed the fastest round in 39.36 seconds, but incurred four faults along the way, to place third aboard Susan and Ariel Grange’s Grafton.

Ward has high hopes for HH Azur, a nine-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui) that he began riding this winter. The partnership came together thanks to a co-ownership between Francois Mathy and Double H Farm’s Hunter Harrison, and as soon as they began competing together the potential became quickly apparent.

“So many things had to happen for me to end up with this horse; it is incredible,” Ward detailed. “I tried her as a five-year-old and did not buy her. Several other top riders for one reason or another had a chance at her, and it did not happen and it came back around. It really makes you wonder that things are meant to be. We ended up buying her in December. Mr. Harrison bought half of her from Francois. Francois is a horse dealer, so by nature he normally would not stay owner of a horse like this, but he is so excited about the horse and we have such a close relationship. I think he really wanted to enjoy the sport, so that is something incredibly special for me. We came to Florida, and with quarantine we started a little bit late and took it slow. She came on very strong at the end and since then has not lost pace.”

“I think she is an absolutely incredible horse,” Ward declared. “It is really exciting for me. The two owners of this horse are people who are in every way role models for me and parent-like figures in my life. They are people who have really done a lot for the sport, and to come across a talent like this and be able to develop her and try to go to some of the greatest places in the sport is really exciting. The horse is like a machine. It does not matter what you do; she solves the problem and comes out ahead.”

On Friday night for example, HH Azur slipped in a tight turn during the second round, but kept it together and carried on to win the competition. A little luck was also on her side as several very fast competitors were still to follow, but ended up with faults.

“She is a phenomenal talent and she has jumped beautifully here all week,” Ward said of their start to the summer. “We had a great double clear last night in the 1.55m and she jumped well again tonight. I tried to be fast in the jump-off, but not do anything crazy. I do not want to do anything extreme at this point in her career, but I wanted to do enough to put a little pressure on. We were lucky that the likes of Conor and Eric (Lamaze) had a fence down.”

In just several months, Ward has been impressed with HH Azur’s development and sees big things for her future.

“When we got her you could see all the parts there, but she is a big blood horse and she is sensitive,” he noted. “In some ways it actually reminds me of Sapphire. She has to learn to control her stride and that, already in four months, has been unbelievable progress. The horse is very intelligent and really does not seem to be phased by too much. Even tonight, she slipped coming back to that third jump and still kept her composure and powered up over the red oxer like nothing had happened. That is really her nature.”

With a good win to start the series, Ward looks forward to using the fantastic competition and world-class venue at Spruce Meadows to continue Azur’s progress this summer.

“The variety here at Spruce Meadows is frankly incredible; there is nowhere like it in the world,” Ward acknowledged. “Kent Farrington and I were talking about how blessed we are to have this in our continent and how great it is for us. Not only for the sport at the highest end, but to develop a horse and to have a horse see ten venues in one. Normally when you are producing a horse, particularly when you come to a level of show like this, there are ups and downs. What is different about Azur is that there do not seem to be many downs, which is unique. I hope that I do not mess it up and get in her way because I think this horse has a chance to be one of the great ones.”

With two wins in the first three days of the ‘National’ tournament, Ward will jump next with HH Carlos Z in Saturday’s $400,000 RBC Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. He also plans to compete in Sunday’s $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup 1.50m Derby.

Towell Tops Encana Cup

The ‘National’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows continued on Friday with the $35,000 Encana Cup 1.45m and a win for Hardin Towell (USA) aboard Jennifer Gates’ Emilie de Diamant AS. With 72 starters, Uliano Vezzani’s (ITA) track saw just seven entries advance to the jump-off. Five of those were able to jump without fault in a race against the clock.

*Hardin Towell and Emilie de Diamant AS*

Mexico’s Antonio Chedraui set the pace in the jump-off at 35.33 seconds aboard his own Corcega La Silla to eventually place fifth. USA’s veteran team of Richard Spooner and Show Jumping Syndication International’s Cristallo upped the ante in 33.63 seconds, eventually finishing in reserve. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) jumped into fourth with the next round in 34.31 seconds aboard Ludo Philippaerts’ H&M Quenzo de la Roque. Towell followed with Emilie de Diamant AS and blazed through the timers in the winning time of 32.91 seconds. Last to go, Conor Swail jumped into third aboard Ilan Ferder’s Viva Colombia in 34.29 seconds.

While owner Jennifer Gates is away at school attending Stanford University, Towell has the ride on all of her horses this week, including Emilie de Diamant AS. Gates rode the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Diamant de Semilly x Flipper D Elle) throughout the winter and will arrive to compete in Calgary next week. Until then, Towell enjoyed his first ever win in the International Ring aboard the talented mare.

“She has been great all week. She was clean and sixth the first day,” Towell detailed. “I had a time fault yesterday, but she was amazing. I just didn’t ride her great and then today she really came through and she was fantastic.”

“Jennifer competed her on and off in Florida and I did a little bit with her and she has just gotten better and better,” Towell continued. “She is going to be a really good horse for Jennifer in the future.”

Commenting on his first big win at Spruce Meadows, Towell noted, “This year I have had a very good year. I won in Palm Beach and at the Global Champions Tour in Miami and went to World Cup Finals, but I have never really had horses for Spruce Meadows before. Even a 1.45m is pretty intimidating here where even a $200,000 grand prix some places is not the same. It is nice to finally get a win here and hopefully we can keep going forward.”

“This is a great place,” Towell added. “It is just so nice to compete here. I am so lucky to get to come here and ride these horses and compete at a place like this. I think everybody wants to win here. Everybody tries to give it a go every time out there, so it is a lot of fun.”

Competition continues on Saturday featuring the $400,000 RBC Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, as well as the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse.

For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Andres Rodriguez and Darlon van Groenhove Win $85,000 ATB Financial Cup at Spruce Meadows

June 5, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Andres Rodriguez and Darlon van Groenhove. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

McLain Ward and Nick Dello Joio Also Victorious on Day Two

Calgary, AB, Canada – June 4, 2015 – Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, continued with its second day of competition on Thursday featuring world-class show jumping in Calgary, AB, Canada. The day’s big win went to Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez and Darlon van Groenhove in the $85,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.55m. McLain Ward (USA) and HH Carlos Z were victorious in the $34,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.50m, and Nick Dello Joio (USA) and Contiki triumphed in the $34,000 Westmoreland Coal Cup 1.50m.

Course designer Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set the track for Thursday’s $85,000 ATB Financial Cup, which saw 76 starters and 21 clear rounds. Out of 20 that continued on to the evening’s jump-off, ten were able to clear the short course without fault.

For the second night in a row, Andres Rodriguez was the winner, this time aboard his Pan American Games prospect Darlon van Groenhove. The rider and Arao Enterprises LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Clinton x Heartbreaker) flew through the finish line in 43.01 seconds. Also riding for Venezuela, Pablo Barrios guided his mount Antares to a second place finish in 45.35 seconds. USA’s Quentin Judge earned the third place prize aboard Double H Farm’s HH Whisky Royale in 45.70 seconds.

Winning two nights in a row to kick off an important summer of competition was like a dream come true for Rodriguez, who appreciates everything it takes to make it to this level of the sport.

“It is an amazing feeling,” the rider acknowledged. “When I look back to the very first year I came to Spruce Meadows, I was very far from sitting in this chair (at the press conference), and now that I am able to come to a show like this and be competitive every day with a good string of horses it is just very gratifying.”

“I was certain I was going to win another class throughout the summer because my horses have been going great, but I did not expect it to happen the next day,” Rodriguez admitted. “But here we are, so it is amazing.”

‘Darlon’ has jumped clear in his last six competitions with good placings and two wins prior to Thursday night, but Rodriguez counts this win at a different level.

“The competitions he has won before have been good competitions, but this is a great competition,” he declared. “Twenty riders in the jump-off, very fast riders, and a big tough course. It is special, so if he keeps it up our hopes are high for the Pan American Games.”

With a tough roster of competitors, Rodriguez knew he had to take some risk in the jump-off, and he took a big chance leaving out a stride at the final fence.

“I may have taken a little bit too much risk to the last fence, but it paid off,” he smiled. “I think the horse grew wings. I do not know how he got out of there, but he did.”

Darlon was purchased through Steve Guerdat to eventually be sold, but continued to prove himself and turned into more than Rodriguez expected.

“We put him in a few competitions and I knew he was going to be super nice,” the rider detailed. “The horse kept going and he just kept getting better and better. Surprisingly, he is the best horse we have in the string now. His style is very classic. He goes in a very nice way and he has a huge stride. For a jump-off like today where you have big gallops, you can use that big canter that he has. He is very flexible and he is a dream to ride. He is just nice in every way.”

Ward Wins on Day Two

Earlier in the day, McLain Ward jumped to victory in the $34,000 ATCO Pipelines Cup 1.50m aboard Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z. The competition saw 29 entries with five advancing to the jump-off.

Conor Swail (IRL) was first to jump the short course with Susan Grange’s Simba de la Roque, setting the pace with a clear round in 39.89 seconds to eventually accept the second place prize. Ward and HH Carlos Z soon beat their time by a margin in 39.54 seconds to take the win. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Leoville 2 had one rail down in 43.84 seconds to place third.

“Carlos is an unbelievably competitive horse. All he does is win, win, win,” Ward said of his mount. “Conor had a great round, but I felt Carlos was jumping well and it was worth taking a shot. We won by a sliver; it wasn’t very much.”

“I got to see Conor go, which was nice, and then I jumped one jump and went in,” Ward continued. “I knew Conor actually lost his footing a little bit turning to number three in the jump-off, and I thought that if I could catch that jump a little bit better it would be the difference, and it was.”

Ward and the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire) have had incredible success since Hunter Harrison of Double H Farm brought the partnership together. Most recently, the duo won back-to-back grand prix at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows in New York. Those competitions, held on another large grass field, set Carlos up perfectly for immediate command of Spruce Meadows’ International Ring.

“We are lucky we have a great show at Old Salem Farm that is on grass, and myself and Beezie (Madden) and a lot of us use that as a great prep for Spruce Meadows,” Ward noted. “It is a national show, so it is maybe a little softer level, but high quality. That is a nice lead up to this.”

Carlos also placed third in Wednesday’s $34,000 Back on Track 1.50m and Ward now has plans to jump him in Saturday’s grand prix.

“That is the amazing thing about him. He can go in the 1.45m class on Wednesday full speed, then come back and jump the grand prix on Sunday afternoon and have a good chance,” Ward remarked. “He does some things that you would not think he should be able to do, but he is a real trier and a fighter. Like I always say to Mr. Harrison, he is a horse that on any day, he is worth getting dressed for.”

Dello Joio Earns Career First

Also competing on Thursday, USA’s Nick Dello Joio captured his first ever win in Spruce Meadows’ International Ring. The 26-year-old rider jumped Coker Farm’s Contiki to victory in the $34,000 Westmoreland Coal Cup 1.50m. Out of 27 starters, nine advanced to the jump-off, where the pair completed the fastest of six double clear rounds.

Jaime Azcarraga (MEX) guided Matador to second place honors in 39.57 seconds. Eric Lamaze (CAN) stopped the clock in 39.92 seconds to earn the third place prize with Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Rosana du Park, and Conor Swail finished fourth in 39.97 seconds on Susan and Ariel Grange’s Grafton.

“I am thrilled,” Dello Joio smiled following his win. “My horse was great and I could not be happier with him. He was great yesterday. He was a little bit fresh, but still managed a good clear round and was tenth. Today, I had a hard rub at the in of the combination, but luck was on my side.”

“The jump-off really suited him,” Dello Joio continued. “It was not a lot of tight turns. It was a lot more of an open gallop, and he covers the grounds so quickly and he is such a fast horse that it was great.”

Contiki, a nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Contendro x Calido I), has had other top finishes in Toronto and Wellington with Dello Joio and also showed in Old Salem in preparation for this summer’s competition.

Commenting on where the win ranks in his career, the rider stated, “It’s up there. Spruce Meadows is my favorite venue in the world. It is by far the best venue in the world and to be able to win in the main ring is great. I have knocked on the door a few times, but never pulled it off, so it was great to do it in such a fast jump-off with so many good riders right behind me. Second, third and fourth place were three of the best in the world, so it felt good. It is also nice to get a win early. It puts you at ease a little bit and now we can kind of relax and carry on with the rest of our summer series here.”

Thursday’s competition also featured FEI competition in the All Canada Ring in the morning with a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). Eduardo Menezes (BRA) was the winner of the $8,000 Omega Alpha Cup 1.45m aboard his own Catalina. The pair topped a two-horse jump-off over Mario Deslauriers (USA) with Lisa Deslauriers’ Scout de la Cense. Reed Kessler (USA) finished third on one time fault aboard Kessler Show Stables’ KS Stakki.

The Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament, presented by Rolex, continues on Friday with two features in the International Ring. Competition will begin in the afternoon with the $35,000 Encana Cup 1.45m followed by the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m.

For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the creation of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward Kicks Off Devon with Open Jumper Domination

May 27, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

McLain Ward and HH Ashley.

The country’s top show jumpers have arrived at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and in a fitting fashion eight-time Grand Prix of Devon winner McLain Ward claimed the first two Open Jumper victories. In the first Open Jumper class, he piloted the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare HH Ashley to the fastest double clear effort during the five-horse jump-off for owners Double H Farm of Wellington, Florida. He followed it up with a victory in the $10,000 Open Jumper Speed class aboard HH Best Buy, also owned by Double H Farm.

“It’s a great way to start off Devon,” smiled Ward. “Ashley is a wonderful horse and she’s actually been jumping really well lately – a little bit of four-faultitis, so it was nice for her to have a little more luck tonight and have a win.”

Twenty-three entries showed over the opening track, and Ward was the pathfinder with HH Ashley and the first to return for the jump-off. With a faultless round in 38.181 seconds, they set the pace to beat.

Switzerland’s Beat Mandli came close with the Grant Road Partners’ Celina, clearing the course in 38.308 seconds, which would be good enough for second place. Sarah Wayda was next with Faroukh, but the pair lowered the height of a vertical for four faults in 41.213 seconds for fifth place.

Adrienne Sternlicht also had four faults with Raia D’Helby, but was a bit faster in 38.638 for fourth place. The third place ribbon went to the last pair on course, Peter Leone with Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer. They were clear over the track, but a time of 38.739 seconds would put them behind Ward and Mandli in the event sponsored by Herr’s.

“HH Ashley is a fast horse, so that makes it a little bit easier,” explained Ward. “I thought I had a nice cut on the yellow vertical, but she’s also just quick naturally.”

The $100,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon is scheduled for Thursday evening, and while Ward plans to compete with HH Ashley and his World Equestrian Games partner Rothchild, he also aimed for the win tonight.

“Her job, more than anything, is to win classes,” noted Ward. “My plan tonight was to try to be competitive with her and set Rothchild up for the grand prix with a little more of a training round. Going along with her doesn’t really hurt her for the grand prix. It kind of gets her in gear and gets her jumping across the fences a little bit.”

HH Ashley was injured in early 2013, but Ward had confidence that she would make it back to the winner’s circle. “It’s my second season with her,” he said. “She had been injured and been out for several years, and I asked the Harrisons if I could have an extra shot to bring her back with my team, and they did an incredible job. She’s had two great seasons. We felt she had a few good years left in her, and it’s really great to see her back in the sport and doing it happily.”

In 2012, the two-time Grand Prix of Devon winner and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sapphire was retired by Ward at the Devon Horse Show, and this year the event will be named after the incredible mare, making the event that much more special for Ward as he competes with HH Ashley and Rothchild.

“It’s a really special thing – such a large event with so much history, such an important event on the schedule, so it’s a great honor,” he commented. “The pressure is the same all the time though.”

In the final event of the night, Ward once again led the victory gallop, this time aboard HH Best Buy. Brandie Holloway with Hays Investment Corp’s Lucky Strike posted the first clear round in a time of 61.399, which would hold up for second place. Mandli was also faultless later in the order, but was more conservative with Grant Road Partners’ Antares F for fourth place in 70.806 seconds. Taking home third was his student Katie Dinan riding Bijou de Balou to a clear round in 68.108.

With the door cracked open for Ward, he raced through with HH Best Buy, an 8-year-old Holsteiner mare. They broke the beam at 58.985 seconds to take home the blue ribbon.

Ward concluded, “Devon is a great show. Phenomenal footing, the best atmosphere in the country and it’s a great event – I always really enjoy being here and trying to be successful here.”

The Open Jumpers will continue on Wednesday with two events, including the Hit & Hurry feature event in the evening. The Young Jumpers will also get underway with the 5-Year-Old and 6-Year-Old classes in the morning, followed by the 7 & 8-Year-Old Jumpers later in the afternoon.

For more information about the Devon Horse Show and complete results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Mclain Ward and HH Azur Clean Up in $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix

May 11, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Mclain Ward and HH Azur. Photos by The Book, LLC.

Victoria Colvin and Ovation Add Old Salem Farm Grand Junior Hunter Champion to Their Trophy Case

North Salem, NY – May 10, 2015 – The first week of competition at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows wrapped on Sunday with Mclain Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Azur besting 39 contenders in the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group. Also highlighting the final day of competition, Victoria Colvin and Ovation scored the Grand Junior Hunter Championship for the first time in Colvin’s career at Old Salem Farm.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows run May 5-10 and May 12-17 at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from all corners of the country to compete for more than $500,000 in prize money.

The jump-off was not yet in Mclain Ward’s future as he entered the ring to bat cleanup in the afternoon’s featured class, but HH Azur had plans to change that. Clean, smooth and within the time allowed, the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare carried Ward to the jump-off where they again returned last and scored the double-clear win in 34.096 seconds.

Georgina Bloomberg was second aboard Caleno 3 for Gotham Enterprizes, LLC in 34.365 seconds after giving the impressive crowd that lined The Grand Prix Field their third clear of the day in the original order. Third fell to Peter Leone and My Pleasure, LLC’s My Pleasure who jumped first in both rounds and crossed the jump-off timers clear in 34.730 seconds.

Leslie Howard and Martin Guerra’s Balboa 6 were fourth after securing a jump-off in the first round and finished with the fastest four-fault trip of the day in 37.051 seconds. Howard also piloted Genrille Van Spiedveld for GJ Stables & Peter Howard, marking her return to the grand prix on multiple mounts after undergoing hip surgery this winter.

Capping the top five, Devin Ryan piloted his own Cooper to an eight-fault jump-off performance in 34.151 seconds as the youngest horse in the field at eight years old.

Still a new mount for Ward, HH Azur is a promising one. “My reaction to how Azur jumps every day is amazement,” he said. “I probably don’t often say it, but I am very lucky to have the horses I have and this one is something very special.”

Ward actually sat on Azur as a five-year-old and decided not to buy the mare, but the opportunity came again at the end of last year. Ward jumped at the prospect and just several months later, he is confident the horse is destined for greatness. “I think this horse could win the Olympic Games,” he said.

Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC set his final course of the week in the grand prix and saw five clear. “We had a fantastic week of weather and that makes my life so much easier,” said Vaillancourt. “The field was in absolute perfect shape and I know there’s another week coming up so, I wanted to leave it the same – I always keep that in mind when designing my tracks and jump-offs. Earlier in the week we had a fantastic welcome, great numbers, and the climax of it all was a super ride from Mclain.”

While a true test, Ward was pleased with the course presented by Vaillancourt and admits his only goal was to stay out of Azur’s way. “It was a really good course, and Michel is one of my favorites,” said Ward. “He is always challenging while being fair. It’s a National Grand Prix, so you have some developing horses. The hills, terrain and natural environment already takes a toll. For these young horses, it’s a phenomenal stepping stone.”

Next week, HH Azur will return to The Grand Prix Field with Ward in the irons and again challenge the big money in the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group. Ward’s win tightened his grasp on the $20,000 Leading Jumper Rider Challenge, which he has led all week.

Click to watch a video interview with Mclain Ward.

Before the grand prix took the stage, junior and amateur riders closed out their jumper classics for the week with Victoria Colvin and Take The High Road, LLC’s Don Juan winning the $7,500 Medium Classic, presented by Town Vibe Media. Lucy Deslauriers and Lisa Deslauriers’ Hester jumped to top spot in the $15,000 High Classic, presented by Miller Motorcars.

Victoria Colvin Wins Grand Junior Hunter Champion

Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL added to her list of incredible junior career accolades as she swept the Small and Large Junior Hunter 16-17 divisions, won the Grand Junior Hunter Championship, and was named Best Junior Rider on a Horse.

Colvin has only shown occasionally at Old Salem Farm, having competed with ponies four years ago and at the ASPCA Maclay Regionals in the fall. She was very pleased to have done so well at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show. “I don’t have much of a history here,” she confirmed. “It’s a nice set up and beautiful. They give great ribbons and prizes, and it makes it feel like a big event.”

She had success at every discipline this week, having won the Equitation Challenge, presented by EquiFit, and the Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. “Every horse I did this week has been really great,” she said.

In the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, she and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Ovation won two and placed second in two over fences classes. They also took the blue ribbon in the under saddle class, which gave them the division championship and the Grand Junior Hunter Championship. She was reserve champion in the division on Parker’s Canadian Blue, winning first, first, and second over fences and third under saddle.

In her last year as a junior rider, Colvin is preserving bittersweet memories of riding her junior hunters. It is planned for Ovation to retire at the end of the year as one of the winningest junior hunters in history.

Colvin related, “Every round that I do, he’s so beautiful, so when we’re going around, I’m thinking, ‘This is so pretty. This is the last trip (on him) I’m going to have here.’ He’s just so elegant as he goes across the ground. I have to smile when I’m on him because he’s so beautiful. He can still be naughty sometimes, but he’s gotten older and a little wiser. He’s just an amazing horse to ride.”

In the Small Junior 16-17 Hunter division, she was champion on two more Parker-owned rides, Small Affair and Way Cool. Small Affair placed first and second over fences and second in the under saddle for the championship, while Way Cool was reserve champion after placing first and second over fences.

This was Way Cool’s first show back since the Hampton Classic in August. “He felt amazing. His jump is unbelievable. I was very happy to have him back, and hopefully he’ll be back and ready for Devon (Horse Show),” she said. “I hope he goes like that at Devon.”

Colvin’s hunters will take next week off before contesting the Devon Horse Show, “so they’ll be fresh and happy”.

In the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters, Akinda and Coco Fath, riding for Hillside Farm, Inc., were champions. They were first, first, second, fourth, and fifth. Lilli Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy were reserve champions with first, first, second, and fourth place ribbons.

Boneparte Z and Ellie Ferrigno, riding for Kristi C. Siam, took the championship in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Hunters. They won three classes and placed third in the remaining over fences class. The reserve championship went to Cassanto and Emily Perez, who were first, second, third, and sixth over fences and won the under saddle.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continue on May 12-17 with another week of exciting competition, including Saturday’s $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem and $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby as well as the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group on Sunday.

Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.

Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011-2014. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.

Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Darby Mazzarisi and Gemology Come Full Circle to Win Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion

May 8, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Darby Mazzarisi and Gemology. Photos by The Book, LLC.

McLain Ward Keeps Double H Streak Alive in $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m with HH Carlos Z

North Salem, NY – May 7, 2015 – Adult Amateur hunter competition at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows was highlighted today as Darby Mazzarisi of Chesterfield, NJ collected Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion honors aboard her own Gemology. On the Grand Prix Field, Mclain Ward kept Double H Farm on the leaderboard today, winning his second $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m in a row, this time in the irons of the seasoned HH Carlos Z.

Six years ago, Mazzarisi thought she was in the market for a “made” hunter ready for the show ring. Instead, what she got was Gemology as a gift from her husband in the form of a 6-month-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred project. The now seven-year-old mare by Popeye K made a patient Mazzarisi proud today, carrying her to champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-45 Division and staking her claim on Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion.

“It’s actually a little bittersweet to see her arrive,” said Mazzarisi. “It has been so fun to watch her mature. This is only her fifth time over three-foot and fourth away show.”

Despite inexperience on paper, Gemology was flawless in the ring during the past two days. After winning both over fences classes yesterday, she was second under saddle and jumped to first and third today.

Reserve Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-45 Division was presented to Lily Maddock of New York, NY and her own Mosaik. She was sixth, third and jumped to second twice over fences, and was fourth under saddle.

Bred by Susan Cordell in Medford, NJ, Gemology fulfilled an ever-present attraction to the Thoroughbred type for Mazzarisi. “I’ve always loved the Thoroughbreds and she’s very much one with that Thoroughbred gallop and great rhythm,” she said. “She has a Thoroughbred heart – they either want it or they don’t, and from the start she has wanted it. That makes it all the more fun.”

While Mazzarisi is beginning to tire from a balancing act of midweek showing and racing home to meet the school bus for her three children, Gemology seems to get stronger and stronger each day. “She had so much energy today even after doing the Pre-Greens with Holly [Orlando]. I’m used to riding her and feeling like I have to hold her hand, but this horse show she walked in with her big girl pants on,” joked Mazzarisi who trains with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables. “All the mistakes were mine, and I can own that. For me, that’s a good feeling when you can fix your own mistakes and the horse was perfect.”

Nilani Trent of New York, NY and her own Autumn Rhythm won both over fences classes yesterday before jumping to first and second today for Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division. Trent and Amelia McArdle’s MVP took Reserve after second and fourth-place finishes yesterday, sixth under saddle and taking first over fences today.

Ann Misenheimer dominated the Adult Amateur Hunter 46 & Over Division, earning Champion aboard Westerly Farm’s Cornerstone and Reserve Champion with Westerly Farm’s Conmetro. Misenheimer won both over fences classes aboard Conmetro yesterday and picked up a second-place ribbon with Cornerstone. Today, she was third under saddle on Cornerstone before winning both over fences classes, and sixth under saddle with Conmetro together with fourth and seventh over fences.

With the completion of this week’s classes counting towards the $5,000 Leading Hunter Rider Award, presented by Old Salem Farm, Holly Orlando has a commanding lead with Sandy Ferrell second and Louise Serio third. The Award will be presented at next week’s $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family, on Saturday.

Double H Farm Sweeps Top Two in $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m

Riders for Double H Farm captured first and second-place ribbons in today’s $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m with Ward of Brewster, NY taking blue on HH Carlos Z. He stopped the clock at 57.784 seconds in the speed-format class.

“We have a great team! It’s nice to see the young horses developing well and the seasoned horses having good results,” said Ward of the recent success for Double H Farm.

Quentin Judge of Ridgefield, CT followed Ward in second with HH Eli Cash just one second shy of the lead in 58.782 seconds. Kirsten Coe of Wellington, FL rode to third aboard Hunter St. Anna Z for Lövsta Stuteri in 61.746 seconds.

Coming off a win in the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* to close out the season in Wellington this winter, HH Carlos Z remains in top form going into the summer season. And, according to Ward, the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding always shines at Old Salem Farm. Today he was true to form taking the course, set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, in stride with a specific goal coming up this weekend as the fences climb higher and the prize money increases.

“He is great on grass and is naturally very fast and experienced,” said Ward. “These classes suit him. This was his prep for Sunday’s [$50,000 Old Salem Farm] Grand Prix, [presented by The Kincade Group].”

Two wins over two days has Ward firmly leading the $20,000 Leading Jumper Rider Challenge, which will be awarded at the conclusion of the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group next Sunday. Peter Lutz currently sits second with Judge and Molly Ashe tied for third in the standings.

Competition continues tomorrow at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with the $6,500 Open Jumper 1.35m before the $35,000 New York Welcome Stake, presented by Old Salem Farm, takes center stage at 1 p.m. For hunters, Amateur-Owners kick off their divisions, and the spectator favorite $1,500 Canine Puissance shines the spotlight on a different four-legged competitor at 3 p.m.

Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.

Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z Victorious in $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*

March 29, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Farrington and Waomi Take $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final; Kenny Leads Suncast® Series Overall; Danhakl and Starina B Earn First Championship

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2015 – McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z won the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* in front of a packed house at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) Saturday night to conclude International show jumping at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Forty of the circuit’s best horses and riders representing 13 different countries jumped for the winter’s top prize. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Conconcreto Sancha LS finished second; Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Lilli placed third.

The $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final was also held on Saturday with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investment’s Waomi. Darragh Kenny (IRL) won the 12-week series overall.

Steve Stephens (USA) designed the courses for Saturday’s competition. He set a challenging track for the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, the biggest class of the circuit, which yielded three entries to advance to the jump-off.

Bloomberg and Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Lilli jumped first with eight faults in 44.39 seconds. Bluman returned next with one rail in 41.64 seconds. Last to go, Ward and HH Carlos Z knocked the top plank off the second fence, and everyone held their breath. The pair cleared the rest of the course, coming home in 41.25 seconds for the win.

Hunter Harrison of Double H Farm purchased HH Carlos Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire), for Ward to ride last winter and the horse has continued to impress.

“He is very careful and very competitive, but we did not buy him to jump this level of grand prix,” Ward detailed. “Last year in the summer we had to call on him a few times when Rothchild was resting for the WEG (World Equestrian Games) and he stepped up beautifully, including the Spruce Meadows Masters in September. We knew we had a little more in the tank than we had planned. I would say coming into WEF, it would not have been the horse I thought I would have ridden tonight, but as I always say to Mr. Harrison, he is one of those horses that is always worth getting dressed for because he is going to fight and try and dig. You really appreciate those kinds of athletes.”

Commenting on his jump-off round, Ward explained, “With three in the jump-off, the plan was not going to be too complicated. Kent Farrington is a great friend and competitor and we were talking about it as we were warming up. Georgina had the unenviable position of going first. When Daniel had the fence down, I said to Kent, ‘Okay, we can win this two ways.’ That plank was a bogey; it was very dark up there with the crowd behind. It was hard to jump in the first round and even harder to jump in the second, so our plan was to try to go fast and clear obviously, but fast so that if you did have a fence down, you could make up the time. Luck was a little on my side. I had two weeks in the $1 million grand prixs where I lost by a hair and that is what sport is about. It is great. Probably at the end of the year that evens out; sometimes you are on the upper hand and sometimes you are on the lower.”

Along with the winner’s share of $165,000, Ward was presented the Dennis D. Dammerman Perpetual Trophy. The trophy was created to honor the contributions to equestrian sport of Dennis D. Dammerman, a longtime owner of horses and founding member of the Wellington Equestrian Partners. Ward was also awarded a beautiful timepiece courtesy of Rolex Watch USA.

Saturday marked Ward’s third win in the finale grand prix of WEF over the years. His last was in 2011. Commenting on the evening’s course, Ward noted, “It was very difficult, but it was forty of the best from the circuit. There was a very unique, eye opening triple combination. I cannot say I have ever seen three oxers in a row. It was a good test. There was the difficult bicycle jump, which is always tough. There were some careful jumps. You really had three planks on the course. That is what the test should be for this grand prix. It is the premier event of the season and obviously I liked the result.”

Watch McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z in their first round!

Second place finisher, Daniel Bluman, previously won the finale grand prix in 2012 and was out for a repeat, but the cards did not play in his favor this year. Bluman was still very happy with his mount, Sancha LS, and acknowledged the experience that he has gained since their first win.

“For me, this grand prix means a lot because I won it already once before,” Bluman stated. “I was a little bit young to win it back then and lots of things have happened since. I have learned a lot of things. This year, I was able to understand what I was doing right back then. I knew I was coming back to a jump-off with three riders and I was already very excited. Georgina has had an amazing circuit and would be a hard one to beat and I knew I had McLain coming after me. McLain is McLain. I opened the door for him to do it. It was great sport, and I am very pleased with Sancha and my whole team. I have nothing but good feelings in my heart right now.”

For Bloomberg, Lilli was a second horse that has stepped up to fulfill the grand prix role this winter and exceeded expectations.

“I have to echo what McLain said, that if you had asked me at the beginning of the circuit who I would be riding in the class, I probably would have picked Juvina,” Bloomberg admitted. “We have had a little bit of bad luck with Juvina for a couple weeks and she is back and healthy now, but we decided to give her one more week before Miami. It is such a nice surprise that Lilli has stepped up to be a horse that I never knew she could be. I am pleased to be ending the circuit with another top ranking horse. She really did save our year.”

Joining the riders in the press conference were Peter Nicholson, Senior Advisor Rolex Watch USA, and Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.

Commenting on the evening, Nicholson stated, “It is an honor to be involved. This is our second year and another successful year. We look forward to a very bright future with lots of improvements year after year. The level of competition is amazing, and we could not be happier to be down here.”

Bellissimo added, “The relationship we have had with Rolex has been inspiring for our organization. It is great to have a partner with such a great commitment to the sport, our venue and the organization. We are very proud of that relationship. With their help we have been able to have four 5* competitions here and I think that is very important for the sport, the venue, our organization and the riders. When we took over it was $2.6 million in prize money and I think it was close to $9 million this year. In general it has been great to see. The crowd here tonight was the best we have ever had. It is great to see it build every week. I think that is something that has never happened for the sport in this country.”

In addition to the grand prix, several other awards were presented Saturday evening for the final week of competition in Wellington. Ben Maher accepted the Simba Run Perpetual Trophy on behalf of Tatiana Korsakova as the owner of Diva II, the open jumper who has earned the most prize money in classes held at 1.45m or more during the 2015 WEF. Diva II’s groom, Daley Fischer, was presented with the Oliver O’Toole Perpetual Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the groom of the horse who has earned the most money in the grand prix jumper classes. Artisan Farms was presented with The Harrison Cup Perpetual Trophy, which is awarded to the owner whose horses won the most jumper money in all of the open jumper classes held throughout the circuit.

Other awards included the Overall Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for the 2015 circuit, which was presented to Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) on behalf of Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties. Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Artisan Farm LLC’s Fine Lady 5 were presented with the Overall Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award, which is awarded to the jumper whose style best exemplifies a show jumper based on scope, rideability, technique and competitive spirit. Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade earned the Hermès Talented Young Rider Award as the young jumper rider between the ages of 16-25 that has earned the most points in all WEF FEI rated jumper competition. Michael Hughes (USA) was the recipient of the USET Foundation’s 2015 Maxine Beard Award, an honor based on a rider’s competitive record and potential to represent the United States in international competition.

Farrington and Waomi Take $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final; Darragh Kenny Leads 1.50m Series Overall

The $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final concluded on Saturday with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments Waomi. The competition saw 63 entries in the first round during the day, and the top 25% returned to compete in round two on Saturday evening. Fourteen clear entries and the two fastest four fault scores from round one returned to jump off. Their cumulative scores from both rounds were combined to determine the winner.

In the second round, two out of the 16 competitors were able to clear the course without fault. McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm and Francois Mathy, were first to complete the jump-off clear in 44.05 seconds. They finished second overall. Farrington and Waomi took the win with two clear rounds and the leading jump-off time of 42.07 seconds.

Watch Kent Farrington and Waomi in their winning jump-off round!

“I thought it was a difficult track right from the first round,” Farrington said following his win. “I was actually surprised there were that many clear. I think the lighting made it a bit more difficult for the jump-off, which also was still technical. When you have 16 horses coming back and a lot of fast riders, you know that it is going to be competitive, so I think everybody was putting it out on the line to try to win tonight. No one was conservative, and I think that is why you saw so many faults tonight in the jump-off.”

On where he was faster than Ward, Farrington noted, “First, I think my horse is naturally faster across the ground, and I think my turns were probably a bit shorter. McLain was on a green horse, and I don’t think he was really able to turn quite as short as I was to the fences.”

The victory marked Farrington’s fourth in the 1.50m series for 2015. Three wins came with Waomi, a twelve-year-old KWPN mare by Lupicor x Boreas. He also topped one class with Amalaya Investments’ Willow.

“I started riding Waomi in the fall during the indoor season, and she pretty much started winning right from the beginning,” Farrington said of their partnership. “At the National, she won back-to-back 1.50m. Then she came to Florida here and kept right on track. I started her early in the WEF (Challenge Cup) classes, and she jumped one grand prix and also placed. As my other horses were stepping up, I put her more in the position to jump the 1.50m classes, and she has been super consistent and a real winner for me.”

As the conclusion to the twelve-week Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, Saturday’s class served as the final allocation of points for the overall standings for the Leading Rider Award. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny took the series overall with consistent results throughout the winter. For his win, Kenny was awarded a pre-paid two-year lease on a beautiful new 2015 Range Rover Evoque.

Kenny had the opportunity to compete multiple horses throughout the series, and had his most consistent placings aboard Spruce Meadows’ Quiz, including a win during week five.

“Last year he was also very consistent in the 1.50m classes. I think he finished third in the league,” Kenny recalled. “This year he was really, really good. He is just a great horse to have in my string of horses. He has been very good all winter. He has done a lot and he has really produced some great results, so I am very happy with him.”

“The series is brilliant for us to produce our younger horses,” Kenny continued. “I am not in the position that Kent is in right now; I don’t have that many grand prix horses. I have a lot more horses that are building up and doing the 1.50m classes, so I focused more on this league. We are so lucky to have the Tisbo Family and Suncast® as sponsors. I think it has been a great series all winter, and I was very happy to end up on top.”

On his prize, Kenny added, “I have never won a car before. This is my first one, so I am actually quite happy with that. It is really nice.”

Also showing on Saturday, the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was held in the International Arena with a one-two finish for Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade. Andrade won the class with Natif des Roches. He was second aboard Rufus de Violaines.

Stephanie Danhakl and Starina B Earn First Championship in The Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35

During the final week of WEF, Stephanie Danhakl from Philadelphia, PA won her first championship ribbon with her own horse, Starina B, in The Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35. The pair was unbeatable the first day, winning all three classes, and finished third and fifth over fences the second day. With the top performance this week, Danhakl and Starina B also finished WEF 2015 as circuit champions of the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division.

Reserve Champion honors went to Savannah and Tracy Scheriff-Muser. Scheriff-Muser rode her own horse to a first, a second, and a third over fences in the division.

Danhakl purchased Starina B during week 5 and has enjoyed getting to know her new horse during the second half of the circuit. “We clicked right off the bat! I was reserve champion with her [Starina B] our first week showing during WEF 6, so I got to do her in the Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular, which was great,” Danhakl explained.

“She [Starina B] has been such a great horse,” Danhakl smiled. “Every week and every round she goes in and wants to win. She always tries, and I’m very lucky to have her.”

After breaking her collarbone in the fall, Danhakl started showing week 4 and worked on getting back in riding shape throughout the circuit. “I started showing with my horses that I have had longer and know better. I was a little rusty, but this is the first week I feel that my riding is back to where it was before my injury,” Danhakl commented.

With Danhakl’s WEF season complete, she is looking forward to taking a break before gearing back up for the Devon Horse Show in the spring.

Kelley Farmer and Mindful Earn the High Score in the First Round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

On Saturday afternoon, 51 riders took on the course designed by Ken Krome in the first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Two panels of judges scored each round, and riders were awarded extra points for jumping the high options. At the end of the first round, Kelley Farmer and Mindful found their names at the top of the leader board. Farmer earned scores of 90 from both sets of judges, plus 8 bonus points for jumping all 4 high options to finish with a grand total of 188.

Darcy Hayes rode Danielle Baran’s horse, Say When, into the second position with scores of 84 and 86, along with 8 bonus points for a total of 178. Vaillero, an entry of Heritage Farm, and Victoria Colvin finished the first round with a score of 175 to take over the third spot. Peter Wylde and Candor 15 ended the day in the fourth position and Hannah Isop and Red Ryder rounded out the top 5 after the first round of competition.

The top 25 riders will move to the derby field tomorrow at The Stadium at PBIEC for the second round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby to conclude hunter action for the 2015 WEF season starting at 1 p.m. The class will be live streamed at http://bit.ly/1H5mkfF. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

McLain Ward & HH Carlos Z Top $85k Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at WEF

February 2, 2015 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Jim Anderson and Dominus Finish as the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Section B Champions

Wellington, FL – February 1, 2015 – Week four of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, 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). The class saw a win for McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z in a very fast 20-horse jump-off over Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl. They were followed by Irish speedsters Darragh Kenny and Conor Swail in third and fourth places, respectively.

Course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) saw 62 starters on his final course for week four with 20 clear rounds to jump-off. Twelve were double clear over the short course, and the times were blazing. Ward and HH Carlos Z completed their course in 37.26 seconds, just ahead of second place finishers Todd Minikus and the Quality Group’s Quality Girl, who clocked in at 37.41 seconds. Darragh Kenny and Toffolon Partners LLC’s Gatsby finished third in 38.26 seconds. Kenny also tied for fourth place with Conor Swail in the same time of 38.47 seconds. Kenny’s second ride was aboard Oakland Ventures LLC’s Picolo. Swail rode Ariel and Susan Grange’s Martha Louise.

Ward and HH Carlos Z had a great start to their partnership beginning last season in Wellington and went on to an excellent year with top finishes throughout North America. The pair earned two wins and several top placings at Spruce Meadows over the summer. They won the prestigious $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI 4*-W at the Washington International Horse Show in October, and they went on to a great win at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto to cap off their 2014 season. The 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Chellano Z x Voltaire) is a jack-of-all-trades and has already inked a great start to this year’s winter circuit.

“He is a very fast little horse, and he is very careful,” Ward stated. “He was actually unlucky not to win the WEF (Challenge Cup) on Thursday. He jumped a hell of a round and had a bit of a cheap rail, which I could take responsibility for. In that jump-off, with that many fast riders, you knew it was all or nothing.”

“He had a pretty nice first season with me,” Ward said. “He is kind of what I would call a workman-like horse. There is not a job at the show he can’t do. He jumped the biggest grand prix in the world very well last year at the Masters, and he will win a Table C speed class on Wednesday at a horse show. He kind of does it all. He plugs into every role, and he has been a great asset to the Double H team and my string.”

“I really enjoy him. He is a trier and gives a lot,” Ward declared. “I thought he was a little unlucky on Thursday not to win the class, so it is nice that he came back just as strong, if not stronger, today.”

In the jump-off, Ward followed two very fast rounds already set by Darragh Kenny. He also had some very fast riders still to come, such as Todd Minikus and Conor Swail, but the time held on to win.

“I knew Darragh’s round was pretty phenomenal,” Ward detailed. “I felt like I had a good round, but for sure those guys on their best day could have caught me. That is always the way, but it was our luck and we needed it. We needed a little break. We had a bit of a slow January, so we needed something to turn.”

With a great win in hand, Ward and HH Carlos Z will jump a few more classes in the next few weeks as they prepare to represent the United States in the $100,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by Kingsland Equestrian, during week eight’s CSIO competition. Ward also looks to jump Carlos in the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* to conclude the WEF circuit in week 12.

Jim Anderson and Dominus Finish WEF 4 as the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Section B Champions

Over two days of competition Jim Anderson, from New York City, dominated the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over section B with Maria Takacs’ horse, Dominus. Anderson guided Dominus to a first, second and two thirds over fences to finish as division champions.

Laurie Stevens rode her own Santiago to reserve champion honors. Stevens and Santiago had a first and second over fences, paired with a third place in the under saddle.

Dominus and Anderson beat out 16 other competitors in just their third show together. “I showed him [Dominus] for the first time at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in August and was lucky enough to be able to lease him for the WEF circuit,” Anderson commented.

Although Anderson and Dominus are a new pair, Dominus is veteran in the hunter ring. In past seasons Dominus has competed with Takacs in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3, but Takacs is now busy with her daughter’s riding career and does not have time to compete on her own.

Along with Dominus, Anderson also has previous experience in the hunter ring. Anderson explained, “I came back to riding about five years ago after having an Amateur-Owner Hunter career in the 90s, and it’s been great!”

While Anderson is excited to continue to show Dominus in the Adult Hunters, he also has a younger horse coming to Florida later in the season. Anderson hopes that his trainer, Christopher Payne, will be able to get his other horse started in the Pre-Green Hunters.

With only one month of the WEF circuit complete, Anderson is looking forward to upcoming weeks. One of the weeks Anderson is most looking forward to is WEF 6, which is a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) sponsored week. Anderson is a co-founder of the WCHR program and still is active in it today.

When Anderson is not competing he lives in New York City where he owns his own marketing company.

The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues next week with Ariat® International, Inc. as the title sponsor of week five’s CSI 3* competition on February 4-8, 2015. The week will feature the $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3* on the grass jumping field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday, February 8. The weekend also highlights the 6th Annual Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments®, which will be the main event on Saturday, February 7, under the lights of the International Arena at PBIEC. The pro-am team competition has distributed more than $6.2 million to Palm Beach County nonprofits over the past five years. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher

Tag Archives: McLain Ward

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Darby Mazzarisi and Gemology Come Full Circle to Win Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z Victorious in $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*

McLain Ward & HH Carlos Z Top $85k Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at WEF

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