A Million Reasons and Scott Stewart Capture Fifth Championship in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunter
Wellington, FL – March 19, 2015 – Eric Lamaze (CAN) secured an incredible fifth victory in the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Thursday. Lamaze began the 12-week circuit by winning four Challenge Cup classes in a row. He won in weeks one and two with Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable’s Rosana du Park. He then topped weeks three and four with Artisan Farms LLC’s Fine Lady 5. In the eleventh week of WEF competition, Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 returned to take one more round.
Sponsored by Artisan Farms, WEF 11 runs March 18-22. The highlight event of the week is the $127,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday, March 21, which will be live streamed at 7:30 p.m. at: http://bit.ly/1C0ySF6.
Other features include the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship presented by Alessandro Albanese on Friday, March 20, which can be viewed at 4:30 p.m. at: http://bit.ly/1B5Evgg. The $50,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Final presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, will be held on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday, March 22. Both classes will be live streamed, beginning at 8 a.m. at http://bit.ly/1xjhKKK.
Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany built the course for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11. He saw 61 competitors with 18 clear to advance to the jump-off, where one entry chose not to return. The short course saw another seven clear rounds, with Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 clocking in at 34.47 seconds.
Ramiro Quintana (ARG) and St. Bride’s Farm’s Whitney finished second in 35.21 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) guided Caroline Lloyd’s Sans Souci Z to the third place prize, clear over the short course with a time of 36.09 seconds. Ireland also finished fourth and fifth, with Kevin Babington and Shorapur LLC’s Shorapur crossing the timers 37.80 seconds, and Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Chaqui Z finishing in 39.61 seconds. Russia’s Ljubov Kochetova and Balou du Reventon placed sixth in 40.20 seconds, and Nick Skelton (GBR) jumped the seventh clear round in 46.96 seconds with Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W.
Lamaze plans to compete Fine Lady 5 at the LGCT event in Miami just after WEF and was pleased to see her back in top form this week after a minor injury. The 12-year-old Hanoverian mare (Forsyth x Drosselklang II) was out of competition midway through the winter season, but returned easily.
“It was not a bad injury and it was quickly fixed, so then it was just re-planning a little bit for the end of the circuit,” Lamaze explained. “With her, she really shows up for the event, so it is just to enter her and let her do her thing.”
Prior to Lamaze and Fine Lady’s jump-off round, Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investment’s Willow held the fastest time in 34.87 seconds, but dropped one rail along the way to place eighth. Lamaze saw Farrington’s round and knew his horse had the speed.
“I know the mare is very fast,” he stated. “I saw Kent go, and I thought he was extremely fast. I knew I was on the same second as him, so I felt pretty good about my time after watching him go. She is just such a fast horse across the ground and she is great at turning back, so all of my distances sort of came forward out of the turns and I just let her do her thing. She is deadly careful, so all you have to do is find the right distance and that is it.”
In addition to the winning portion of Thursday’s prize money, Lamaze was awarded the $3,000 SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” bonus for the fifth time this winter. Each week of the WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. This week’s win brought his tally up to $15,000 in bonus money.
After such a remarkable start to the season, some thought that Lamaze had lost momentum halfway through the circuit, but the Olympic Champion did not let any setbacks get him down. In addition to Fine Lady’s injury, his top horse Zigali P S had a few minor problems, but Lamaze took the opportunity to get step out with some of his other horses.
“I think at the start the horses were very fresh. I used Rosana and she jumped very well and then Fine Lady. Then Fine Lady got hurt halfway through, so this was her coming back class,” Lamaze noted. “Originally she was supposed to do the Nations Cup here, but I was not able to do that with her. Then Zigali came out of the barn just not perfect as well. There were a couple of little injuries, so it sort of set me back. I had to step up Coco Bongo into some bigger classes, which he jumped very well. I had some personal good results with some horses, just not like the beginning.”
“On a circuit like this at the beginning of the season, you are not risking the horses if they are anything other than perfect,” Lamaze pointed out. “This is a time of the year to see where you are. I did not win much halfway through, but I was pleased with the results of the horses. I was also really pleased on a day like today to see Bretton Chad and Caitlin Ziegler qualify for the grand prix. Yann Candele also with four faults. We are missing Tiffany Foster, who is out with an injury. It is not just myself. All-in-all, as a stable and with my students, we had a very good day.”
Lamaze plans to show Fine Lady in Saturday night’s grand prix and will then give the mare a week off in preparation for Miami, where he feels that the small arena will suit her style. After great results with Coco Bongo in the CSI W-5*, he hopes to step the stallion up for the final week of WEF.
Also showing on Thursday, Kent Farrington (USA) won the $8,000 1.45m jump-off class with Haity McNerney’s Belle Fleur.
A Million Reasons and Scott Stewart Capture Fifth Championship in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunter
To start off Thursday morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring, Scott Stewart piloted Dr. Betsee Parker’s entry, A Million Reasons, to the winner’s circle in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunter. Winning four of the five classes, A Million Reasons was dominant over the two days of competition.
Olympic Fire, an entry of Roger Smith, earned reserve championship honors with Jennifer Hannan in the irons. The pair earned a first, a second and two thirds over fences, along with a second place finish in the under saddle.
Scott Stewart and A Million Reasons
This was A Million Reasons first time showing since WEF 6, but she came out in top form. “She [A Million Reasons] is really good about everything and very good at her job,” Stewart commented.
Earning the tricolor ribbon every time she showed during WEF, A Million Reasons will take the final week of WEF off. Stewart noted, “We did this week as a last preparation before heading off to Kentucky and then the Devon Horse Show in the spring.”
A Million Reasons is currently ranked second in the country in the High Performance Working Hunters, and Stewart is looking forward to competing with her at Devon and then Indoor finals during the fall. “She [A Million Reasons] is going to stay doing this [High Performance] division for the rest of year because she is so good,” Stewart explained.
While A Million Reasons is finished for the 2015 WEF circuit, Stewart plans on competing in the USHJA International Hunter Derby during WEF 12.
WEF 11 continues on Friday featuring the $34,000 1.45m speed class in the International Arena. Equitation takes over the International Arena Friday night for the George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship presented by Alessandro Albanese. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Celebration and Scott Stewart Take Home the Championship Prize in Perfect Products Pre-Green Hunter Level 2
Wellington, FL – February 26, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) hosted show jumping for all ages and nationalities in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Thursday. Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez and Fifty Fifty 111 won the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 in a speed round over Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel. Laura Kraut (USA) earned an incredible one-two-three finish in the morning’s 1.45m jump-off class, and the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Welcome classes saw victories for Alejandra Godoy (VEN), Santiago Orifici (ARG) and Spencer Smith (USA).
The Winter Equestrian Festival’s eighth week features CSIO 4* competition on February 25 – March 1 at PBIEC. Upcoming highlights include the $10,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Speed Stake and $100,000 Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian on Friday; the $34,000 Nutrena 1.45m Jumper Classic, $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic and Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Nations Cup classes on Saturday; and the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Grand Prix classes followed by the $150,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4* presented by Lugano Diamonds on Sunday.
Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) set the speed track in the day’s feature $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 with 62 starters and 11 clear rounds. Third in the ring, Kent Farrington and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel set the leading time at 66.76 seconds, but were pushed to second place nine rounds later when Andres Rodriguez and Arao Enterprises LLC’s Fifty Fifty 111 crossed the timers fractions faster in 66.50 seconds. The pair’s time held on through the end to win it.
Eugenio Garza (MEX) and El Milagro’s Balloon placed third in 70.24 seconds. Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q were fourth in 71.46 seconds.
For Rodriguez, the win with “Fifty” is the payoff of five years of work and dedication with the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Action-Breaker x Major de La Cour).
“She is a very special horse for me,” the rider acknowledged. “The part that I enjoy the most in the sport is developing young horses. I got her at the end of five years old from Eric Lamaze and now she is ten. I brought her up all of the divisions. Last year in the summer I won my first international grand prix with her, and it was a very exciting moment. When you work a horse and you bring it to that level and then you end up winning, it is very satisfying. To win in a venue like this in such a big competition and have second place be one of the fastest riders of the circuit with the fastest horse is very special. For her to win this class really means more than just the victory itself to me.”
“I did watch Kent go, and I knew it was going to be hard to beat,” Rodriguez detailed. “The only place that I thought I could be better was the last line. He did eight strides to the Rolex vertical, and I did the seven. That small difference I think was just there. I saw his round, and he was fast everywhere. The only place he left a little bit of a chance for someone to beat him was on the seven strides to the last.”
Rodriguez will jump Fifty Fifty 111 in the 1.45m speed class on Saturday and has his top horse Caballito ready to jump Friday’s Nations Cup and the grand prix on Sunday. He has big plans for Fifty this summer as she gears up for the challenging jumper derbies in Spruce Meadows.
“Luckily this year we have three horses going in the big circuit, so we can choose the classes better for the horses,” Rodriguez explained. “For her, I would really want to win the derby in Calgary; that would be my main goal and that is what I am going to train her for. Here she is going to do a couple more 1.50m classes and maybe some more WEF (Challenge Cups) and then I will prepare her for Calgary. I really want to train her to become a good derby horse.”
Also showing on Thursday, Laura Kraut (USA) dominated the competition in the morning’s $8,000 1.45m jump-off class. Sixty entries showed and only four were clear to advance to the jump-off. Kraut rode three of them, finishing first, second and third. Kraut’s winning ride was aboard Julius Peter Sinnack’s Deauville S. She placed second with the Evita Group’s Nouvelle, and took third place honors riding Stars and Stripes’ Andretti S.
The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Welcome classes were also held in the afternoon. Spencer Smith (USA) and Wyndmont’s IV Ever won the $1,500 Young Rider Welcome. Santiago Orifici (ARG) and Eduardo Monaco’s Dolce Vita de Longines were the winners in the $1,000 Junior Welcome, and Alejandra Godoy (VEN) and Francis Clement’s Rhea de L’Ici topped the Children’s Welcome.
Celebration and Scott Stewart Take Home the Championship Prize in Perfect Products Pre-Green Hunter Level 2
To kick off hunter action during WEF 8, Scott Stewart rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s horse, Celebration, to the tricolor ribbon in the Perfect Products Pre-Green Hunter Level 2. Celebration was first and second over fences, paired with an under saddle win. “He [Celebration] had been champion in this division earlier in the circuit,” Stewart stated, “and he went great again this week!”
Finishing behind Stewart and Celebration was Davlyn Farms’ horse, Cy Young, ridden by Tara Metzner. Metzner piloted Cy Young to a second, third, and fourth over fences, as well as a second place finish in the under saddle. The consistent performances over the two days of competition earned Cy Young reserve championship honors.
Scott Stewart and Celebration
Celebration is a six-year-old warmblood that started doing the Pre-Green Hunter Level 2 at the beginning of the WEF circuit. Having already been in the winner’s circle, Celebration turned in winning performances again this week. “He [Celebration] went really well the first day in the Rost Arena and was very smooth over the two courses,” Stewart noted.
After having several weeks of top results, Celebration has earned some time off. Stewart commented, “We have been very happy with him [Celebration]. I think he is getting a little bored, so we are going to give him next week off so he is ready for the last few weeks of the circuit.”
Already having earned several accolades, Stewart is excited for Celebration’s future. This year the big goal is for Celebration to compete at the Pre-Green Incentive Championship, held at the Kentucky Horse Park, during the summer. Looking ahead to 2016, Stewart plans to move Celebration up to the First Year Green Working Hunters.
Competition continues in the International Arena on Friday with the $10,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Speed Stake in the morning and the $100,000 Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian in the evening. Equitation competition will kick off with coverage of the Ariat National Adult Medal in the Rost Arena. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Paige Johnson and Dakota Win $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2015 – Hunter competition moved into the spotlight during week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, as braids and shadbellies took their turn in the International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).
As the week continues through February 15, hunter riders will set their sights on clinching a spot in the featured $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular Saturday night. The event will be available worldwide via live stream. Tune in Saturday at 6:30pm ET: http://bit.ly/1Fwrqkr.
Live streaming continues throughout the week and includes Friday night’s $85,000 Salamander Hotels and Resorts Grand Prix CSI 3* at The Stadium. For a complete streaming schedule for events during WEF 6, click here: http://bit.ly/1CmvccN.
Scott Stewart captured the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter championship in the irons of David Gochman’s Remarkable to earn championship prizes, including the Music Row Perpetual Trophy, donated by Susan Stanley. Remarkable was first, third, and sixth over fences, along with a second in the under saddle.
Another one of Gochman’s horses, Catch Me, was named reserve champion in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter. Catch Me was first and sixth over fences, combined with a win in the under saddle.
With the hunters taking center stage during WCHR week, Stewart commented on the change in atmosphere. “There is definitely a lot of pressure,” Stewart explained, “I think everyone brings their best horses and looks forward to peaking this week. Going out in the International Arena creates a whole different show environment, and it is something that requires extra preparation,” he said.
Continuing his winning ways, Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons swept the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunters to kick off Thursday’s competition by taking first in all classes and earning the Peterbilt Special Perpetual Trophy, donated by Leslie Clarke. No stranger to the winner’s circle, Stewart also piloted A Million Reasons to the championship prize in the High Performance Working Hunters during week two of WEF.
Stewart also finished the day as reserve champion with Fashion Farm’s Loyalty. Loyalty ended with two seconds and third over fences and fourth place in the under saddle.
Only half way through the day, Stewart was excited with how this week’s preparation at home had paid off in the show ring. “We set up a hard course at home to get ready. In our ring there are coops and other similar jumps to what is in the International Arena, so we have been able to have a little bit of a dress rehearsal,” Stewart noted.
Stewart’s domination of the hunter rings continued with champion honors in the Shapley’s Regular Conformation Hunter division aboard Dr. Betsee Parker’s seven-year old Oldenburg gelding Lucador. With a successful first half of the circuit already behind them, Stewart and Lucador have been champion each of the four weeks they have jumped together so far. Continuing their streak, the duo swept this week’s division winning the model, under saddle and all three over fences classes for champion. They were also presented with the Montoga Perpetual Trophy for their division victory.
“He’s been great – he was really good in the International Arena yesterday, so I wasn’t sure how impressed he would be today, but he really tried hard,” said Stewart of Lucador’s effort. “He’s naturally laid back, never spooks, and is pretty consistent everywhere. He doesn’t get bothered by a new ring.”
Stewart has piloted the gelding for Parker since the end of his pre-green year and has been blessed with success in all aspects of competition. “I don’t think he’s ever lost an under saddle,” said Stewart. “He couldn’t have been much better today.”
Reserve champion for the Regular Conformation Hunters was presented to Kelley Farmer and As Promised owned by Glefke, Farrington & Kensel, LLC. Farmer picked up fourth in the model, two thirds and a second over fences, and placed second to Stewart in the under saddle.
Brady Mitchell is hoping for his first-ever appearance in the $100,000 Hunter Spectacular this week and is well on his way after riding Cassanto to champion in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green division for owner Emily Perez. “If I get the opportunity, it would be like a dream come true,” said the young professional from Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm. “I’m a hunter lover, and I’ve always wanted to do it. It’s nice just to know that we are qualified.”
Cassanto also competes in the Junior Hunters with Perez. Mitchell was third under saddle and clinched two seconds and a first over fences for the title and the Pin Oak Farm Perpetual Trophy.
“There’s no tricks to this one – he walked right into that [International] Arena yesterday and was all business,” said Mitchell of the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He didn’t make any mistakes yesterday and jumped nice and sharp again today. He’s a very brave horse, but rarely touches a jump. I was a little nervous when I saw the ring after how impressive the International Arena was yesterday, but he stayed focused and had a nice day.”
Stewart claimed reserve champion with Cameo owned by Dr. Betsee Parker with a first, second and fifth over fences, and second under saddle.
Stephanie Danhakl’s First Light is recently destined for the 3’3″ Amateur Hunters after she purchased him last week, but carried Scott Stewart to champion in the Shapley’s Green Conformation division on Thursday. The coming six-year-old Hanoverian stallion only left quarantine a month ago before shining in the hunter ring during WEF weeks four and five.
“I bought him off a video and didn’t know he was a stallion until it was too late,” laughed Stewart. “I thought he would be a pre-green horse, but he’s so brave I moved him into the 3’6″. He doesn’t really know exactly what he’s doing yet, but he does it so well.”
Stewart and First Light were fourth in the model, third under saddle, and earned two wins and a third over fences to claim the Wrenwood Farm Perpetual Trophy.
With wins in the model, under saddle and stake, Holly Orlando and Dominik, owned by Cathy Zicherman, claimed reserve champion for Green Conformation Hunters.
Highlighting additional champion presentations in the International Arena, Scott Stewart and Patricia Griffith were named champions in the CWD Saddlery Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ with David Gochman’s Fredrick and Brooke Banks’ Brodeur, respectively. Christopher Payne and Maria Takacs’ Dominus split champion honors with Havens Schatt aboard Deborah Perkins’ High Time in the Amberway Equine Solutions Performance Hunter 3’3″ division in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.
WCHR competition will continue on Friday with championships for the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter divisions, the ECHO Junior Hunter 3’3″ division, and the start of the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Hunters and 3’6″ junior hunter divisions.
Paige Johnson and Dakota Win $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6
Competing in the sixth week of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by her family’s Salamander Hotels & Resorts, Paige Johnson (USA) jumped to an exciting win in Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 riding Salamander Farm’s Dakota. Johnson and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Calvados Ex Sable Rose x Cash) completed the fastest of 16 clear rounds out of 50 entries in the class over a speed track set by Richard Jeffery (GBR).
Paige Johnson and Dakota
With hunter action taking center stage on the main show grounds during WEF six, the jumpers are competing in the beautiful International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC for their highlight classes this week. The day’s competition came down to the final three rounds with Johnson and Dakota 48th to go out of 50 competitors. The pair raced through the timers in 69.69 seconds for the win. They stole the lead from Harrie Smolders (NED) and Axel Verlooy’s Emerald, whose time of 70.02 seconds finished in second place. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farm LP’s Wirma placed third in 70.15 seconds.
Thursday’s win marked Johnson’s first victory in the competitive WEF Challenge Cup Series and a great moment in her partnership with Dakota.
“I have never won a WEF (Challenge Cup) here, so this is exciting,” Johnson smiled. “It is hard to win the WEF classes. It is hard to win in general down here. It is so competitive, and there are so many good riders. You have to ride well and have a little luck that day.”
“She has been really great lately,” Johnson said of Dakota. “I got her at the end of her nine-year-old year. She is 12 now. The lady I bought her from had her since was five, so they had a real bond and I think it took us a little time to get to know each other. Mares are very particular and she is a great horse, but I think we had to create a partnership. We seem to understand each other now. I know what buttons to push, and what buttons not to push, and she has been great this circuit. We have had several double clear rounds and lots of placings. I am really happy with her consistency and now this win is just icing on the cake.”
Johnson’s trainer of three years, Kent Farrington, was the winner of this class last year and was there watching from the sidelines as his student galloped to victory.
“I didn’t get to see Harrie go. I was already on, but I have a great trainer and he just told me what the plan was and I tried to execute it,” Johnson said of her round. “The plan was just to be really smooth. We didn’t do any leave outs. Everyone did the same numbers basically, so it was just being as neat as possible and keeping an even pace throughout the course.”
“What I have learned from Kent is the focus,” Johnson said of her trainer. “He is super focused and I always have been, but when you have a trainer that is that way too, you seem to pick up on those habits even more. When he sets his mind to a plan, he goes for it. He believes that he can win every class. I think that is a great mentality to have, and I am learning that.”
“Sometimes you might go in and think it is not your horse’s course and you want to go for a double clean and be neat because you don’t know if you can win it,” Johnson continued. “Kent tells me, ‘No, you can win this, and you need to go in there and believe that you can win it.’ I am learning that part of it. Don’t sell yourself short. You are capable of it, and your horses are capable of it, so you need to do it.”
Johnson explained that she has spent some time building up her string of horses and is happy to see the hard work coming to fruition.
“We have a good string of horses. I have had a couple of years where I was trying to build up the string again, so it takes a lot of patience,” she said. “It is a tough sport and there are a lot of ups and downs, so you just have to be persistent and stick with it. You put in the hard work and hope that it pays off, and it is paying off. I have a great team of people around me. I am putting the time in, and they are putting their time into me, and it is working out nicely so far.”
WEF 6 continues on Friday featuring the $85,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix CSI 3* in the International Ring at The Stadium at 7 p.m. In the International Arena on the main show grounds, the Shamrock Ventures Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 18-35, FarmVet Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ Over 35, and ECHO Junior Hunter 3’3″ divisions will award championship honors. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
A Million Reasons and Scott Stewart Jump to the Top in Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunters
Wellington, FL – January 15, 2015 – Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Rosana du Park are now two for two in this year’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). After winning the $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 in the first week of competition, the pair stepped up to win Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 in week two at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.
Sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, the week’s competition continues through Sunday, January 18, featuring the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday, January 17. The Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series will also get underway with its first two competitions of the circuit. The $10,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Welcome will be held on Saturday, January 17. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider, will be held on Sunday, January 18. WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 29, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money.
Luc Musette of Belgium set the track for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 in the International Arena at PBIEC with 73 entries and 13 clear rounds. Twelve of those moved on to the jump-off, where ten jumped double clear.
Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Waomi were first to go and set a blistering pace in 40.92 seconds, but were pushed from the lead moments later when Lamaze and Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park raced through the timers in 39.78 seconds. The time proved unbeatable, but Ian Millar (CAN) gave it his best effort.
Millar cleared the course in 40.75 seconds with Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dixson to take second place, pushing Farrington into third. Laura Chapot (USA) and Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star jumped into fourth place in 41.60 seconds. Last to go, McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Cannavaro grabbed fifth place honors with their time of 41.66 seconds.
Commenting on another winning round with Rosana du Park, Lamaze stated, “Kent was really, really fast as an opening ride, so it just sort of answered all of the questions when you had to go for it. She is naturally so quick in the air, and she was very dependable in the rollback. I was very lucky to not only turn tight after the second to last fence, but I had a very forward distance to the oxer, which I think is where I made up a bit of time.”
“When a horse is good and they are careful, everything suits them,” Lamaze said of the ten-year-old Selle Francais mare (by Kannan). “I think she is very competitive. I can ask her to go fast on a straight line or turn very sharp to anything and she gives 100%, so she is a great mare and she is going to win a lot.”
Lamaze also spoke of the day’s course set by Luc Musette, declaring, “Luc is an incredible course designer. We see a lot of him in Europe. To build these types of classes with that many in it and be restricted to 1.45m I think is very difficult. He had 13 clear, so he really got the right number. It felt bigger than 1.45m. When I walked it I thought it was a nice course, but it ended up riding quite a bit bigger because of the lines, and it was full of options everywhere. A lot of riders took different options. People were trying to solve the puzzle with their own ability with their horse, so it made it interesting.”
In week one, Lamaze and Rosana du Park won the WEF Challenge Cup out of 45 entries. This week the challenge increased to 73 entries in search of bigger prize money and FEI World Ranking points. The class was one out of 48 ranking classes throughout the circuit.
In addition to the winning portion of prize money, Lamaze was awarded the $3,000 SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” bonus for the second week in a row. Each week of the WEF Challenge Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Lamaze now heads on to Saturday night’s $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* with Rosana du Park and hopes to continue his already winning season.
Also showing in the International Arena on Thursday, Venezuela took the top two places in the $8,000 1.45m jump-off class in the morning. Forty-seven showed with 15 clear rounds to jump-off and four double clears. Pablo Barrios and ZL Group, Inc.’s Zara Leandra were the winners in 40.23 seconds. Emanuel Andrade and AD Clouwni finished second in 40.93 seconds.
Andrade also won the High Amateur-Owner Jumper class aboard Sothis d’Ouilly with the fastest of 12 clear rounds out of 53 entries in 61.05 seconds. Catherine Tyree and Don’t Go finished second in 61.65 seconds.
A Million Reasons and Scott Stewart Jump to the Top in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunters
For the second week in a row Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons, ridden by Scott Stewart, has taken home championship honors in the Wrenwood Farms High Performance Working Hunters. This was A Million Reasons’ second show in the High Performance Working Hunters, having done the Second Year Green Hunters last year. “She [A Million Reasons] is a really good jumper – a great mover, beautiful, big stride. She’s like the perfect hunter,” Stewart said.
Scott Stewart and A Million Reasons
The pair turned in only top performances over the two days of competition. A Million Reasons won the handy round and the stake, along with two seconds over fences and a second in the under saddle.
Fifty Shades, owned by Meredith Lipke and shown by Sandra Ferrell, ended the day as reserve champion. Staying consistent over both days, the pair had two thirds and a first over fences and won the under saddle.
“Of course I have a soft spot in my heart for mares,” Parker smiled while holding her championship prize.
Parker was “thrilled” with A Million Reasons today. Having only owned the mare since October, Parker has a lot to smile about. Earning the Second Year Green Working Hunter championship at the National Horse Show, A Million Reasons has stayed in championship shape to start out the winter season.
“She [A Million Reasons] always surprises me! I’m always frightened when she goes in the ring,” Parker Laughed. “She has a very quiet, slow pace, but then she jumps way up in the air and way wide across the jump and she thrills you!”
While praising her horse, Parker also commented on the strong combination that Stewart and A Million Reasons make. “She [A Million Reasons] treats Scott [Stewart] like she’s his boyfriend. She loves him!” Parker exclaimed.
A Million Reasons is just as comfortable at home as she is in the show ring. Parker explained, “She is always quiet and relaxed. She is like a big puppy dog.”
After back-to-back championship weeks, A Million Reasons is going to take next week off and return to the show ring during WEF week 4. Focusing on the High Performance Working Hunters this season, Stewart plans for A Million Reasons to have a light winter.
Week two of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge featured in the International Arena at PBIEC. Hunter coverage continues with the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 in the Rost Arena. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lexington, KY – October 29, 2014 – As the National Horse Show awarded its professional hunter championships Wednesday, there was one name repeated with almost every presentation: Dr. Betsee Parker.
Parker, of Middleburg, Virginia, is the owner of Casanova, Cold Harbor, Lucador and the lessee of A Million Reasons. The four horses constituted four of the five championship winning mounts Wednesday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Hunt Tosh kicked off the Parker-owned hot streak aboard Casanova, claiming the division championship in the First Year Green Hunters, sponsored by Goshen Hill. Finishing in reserve behind Tosh were Sloane Coles and Autumn Rhythm, owned by Nilani Trent.
Tosh’s success continued in the Regular Conformation Hunters with 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cold Harbor.
“[Cold Harbor] was great here,” Tosh said. “Harrisburg was a little rusty; he didn’t do Capital Challenge. He hadn’t shown in a while, so he was a little rusty [at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show]. He went beautifully today. It’s a good week for him.”
Tosh and Cold Harbor earned the championship trophy, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, while the reserve championship went to Kelley Farmer and Mindful.
In the Green Conformation Hunters, sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Selma Garber, it was Scott Stewart and Lucador who claimed the championship, with a perfect, clean sweep of the division, winning all five classes.
“[Lucador]’s been great. He’s actually gotten better at every show,” Stewart said. “I was really happy with him. This is actually the most consistent that he’s been. We usually have one class where one of us messes up. He’s only 6 years old, so he’s sort of green.”
While Lucador seemed not to take a step wrong in the show ring, his performance in the schooling area can be a bit of a different story.
“He’s a little bit girthy, and if you don’t give enough time he’ll buck and rear and try to throw me against the wall,” Stewart said. “He’s a little bit cold that way. Once he’s in the ring, he’s easier. ”
Stewart continued, “Julie Connors usually rides him for me and is always on him first and warms him up. Then I get on him, and he’s okay. I think he likes her better than me. He’s fine as long as she’s on him.”
In truth, Lucador seems more than fine with Stewart on him as well, and their winning rounds today helped Stewart clinch his eighth National Horse Show Leading Hunter Rider Challenge Trophy. Stewart previously won the award in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 and now 2014.
Helping add to Stewart’s point tally toward the honor were A Million Reasons and Golden Rule.
A Million Reasons, a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare, claimed the blue ribbon in this morning’s $7,500 Second Year Green Hunter Stake before going on to also clinch the division championship, sponsored by Ernie and Betty Oare and Patricia Adikes-Hill.
“She’s the easiest horse I’ve ridden so far, and probably the nicest,” Stewart said of A Million Reasons, whom he just started riding following the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. “I like mares, but I haven’t had that much luck bringing them along. She’s super. There’s so much quality and scope.”
Stewart and Stephanie Danahkl’s Golden Rule finished out the day with the High Performance Hunter reserve championship, while the championship went to Kensel LLC’s Mindful.
The opportunity to compete Parker’s horses is one that neither Stewart nor Tosh take for granted.
“As a rider I think it’s great,” Tosh said. “Between the Wheelers and Betsee, to have owners that support us and just give us horses to ride that don’t do another division and are basically just for us to do is incredible. There aren’t a lot of owners out there that do that nowadays. She’s wonderful to both of us.”
Tosh continued, “For what she does, and as much as she puts into it, she wants to do it at the top level, so when you have a day like today it all pays off. Her plan and our plan and everything really worked out.”
While Wednesday marked the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions, the hunter competition continues on Thursday with the Amateur-Owner Hunters beginning at 7 a.m.
Watch live streaming of the National Horse Show all week on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com, and find out more about the show at www.nhs.org.
About the National Horse Show
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
With $755,000 in prize money offered, this year’s National Horse Show offers an International Open Jumpers with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and U 25 Jumper sections.
For the fourth consecutive year, The National Horse Show received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in four back-to-back years.
What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 28 – November 2, 2014, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
2245 Stone Garden Lane Lexington, KY 40513
Cindy Bozan
email: cindy@nhs.org
Phone: (859) 608-3709
Fax: (866) 285-9496
Hotels:
HILTON – DOWNTOWN – 859-231-9000 – Approximately 6 miles
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859 – 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT – 859 -977-5870 – Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0232 – Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN – 502-570-0220 – Approximately 6 miles
RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 502-868-8000 – Approximately 6 miles
Lexington, KY – October 28, 2014 – At the end of the year-long horse show circuit, there is one final destination where the nation’s top hunter and jumper riders all flock: the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The prestigious six-day culminating final kicked off today with five full professional hunter divisions.
In the Second Year Green Hunter division, sponsored by Ernie and Betty Oare and Patricia Adikes-Hill, it was Scott Stewart who dominated the day aboard Dr. Betsee Parker’s A Million Reasons.
Stewart and the 9-year-old Holsteiner mare come to Kentucky fresh off a championship win at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) in Washington, D.C., which marked the pair’s first time competing together. Given Tuesday’s performance, Stewart and A Million Reasons are well on track for a repeat performance this week.
The duo clinched the blue ribbon in the first class of the Second Year Green Hunter division and finished second in the handy class, only relinquishing a higher spot in the standings to another of Stewart’s rides, Loyalty, owned by Fashion Farm of New York, New York.
The National Horse Show marks only Stewart and A Million Reasons’ second horse show together, but Stewart has had his eye on the mare for a while.
“The Thatcher’s [of Pony Lane Farm] own her. They showed her in the First Years, and then I think she maybe took a year off and had some babies. I know they did some embryo transfers,” Stewart said. “I’ve always liked her, and when I heard she was available I talked to them and followed up on the opportunity.”
Stewart tried the horse for Dr. Betsee Parker (Middleburg, Virginia) for the first time at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and shortly after, Parker entered into a lease agreement with the Thatchers, which has already proven to be a positive decision.
“She’s amazing. I love her,” Stewart said. “Last week was the first time that I showed her, and she was champion. She won the first class with a 92. She was awesome.”
Stewart continued, “She’s the ideal hunter. She’s a beautiful mover; she’s a great jumper, and her type is just so nice.”
Stewart’s winning ways on Tuesday stretched beyond the Second Year Green Hunter division to the Green Conformation Hunters and the High Performance Hunters.
In the Goshen Hill sponsored Green Conformation Hunters, Stewart and Lucador, another Parker entry, turned in back-to-back blue ribbon performances to lead the way in the division’s opening day.
Stewart’s success in the High Performance Hunters, sponsored by Mr. Richard L. Duchossois, came aboard Stephanie Danhakl’s Golden Rule, with whom he has been successful throughout the year.
“The courses were great today. The horses all jumped well even though it’s the end of the circuit,” Stewart said. “It’s always nice to come to the Kentucky Horse Park. They do a good job.”
Hunter competition resumes Wednesday morning beginning with the continuation of the professional hunters at 8 a.m. in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, followed by the start of the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter divisions.
Watch live streaming of the National Horse Show all week on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com, and find out more about the show at www.nhs.org.
About the National Horse Show
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
With $755,000 in prize money offered, this year’s National Horse Show offers an International Open Jumpers with $460,000 in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and U 25 Jumper sections.
For the fourth consecutive year, The National Horse Show received a top ranking from NARG, the North American Riders Group and was named the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse Show of the Year in four back-to-back years.
What:
The Alltech National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals. The event will run October 28 – November 2, 2014, indoors in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Parking:
The Kentucky Horse Park has waived the normal parking fee during the Alltech National Horse Show. Parking is free. While dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash, no dogs are allowed in the Alltech Arena during the ANHS.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located at 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. The KHP is 8 miles northeast of Lexington at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
2245 Stone Garden Lane Lexington, KY 40513
Cindy Bozan
email: cindy@nhs.org
Phone: (859) 608-3709
Fax: (866) 285-9496
Hotels:
HILTON – DOWNTOWN – 859-231-9000 – Approximately 6 miles
CLARION HOTEL (formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859 – 233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARRIOTT – 859 -977-5870 – Approximately 4 miles
FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles
LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles
KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0232 – Approximately 4 miles
EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles
MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles
RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles
COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles
HOLIDAY INN GEORGETOWN – 502-570-0220 – Approximately 6 miles
RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles
RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles
HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles
MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 502-868-8000 – Approximately 6 miles
Lexington, KY – May 15, 2014 – Five championship tricolors were presented in the Stonelea Ring today at the Kentucky Horse Park, and three of them went home with Scott Stewart and his string of talented mounts.
Not only did Stewart ride away with numerous championships from the Kentucky Spring Classic, he and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Lucador delivered a clean sweep of the Green Conformation Hunter division.
The 6-year-old Oldenburg gelding came in to the day with two wins over fences and a win in the Green Conformation Model. Today, he earned two scores of 89 over the Bobby Murphy designed courses to secure victories in both of the over fences classes as well as a win in the under saddle.
This week marked only Lucador’s sixth time competing over 3’6,” but he has already proven quite successful. He was named Green Conformation division champion each of the five times that he showed during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sweeping all of the classes in the division multiple times throughout the winter and ultimately earning him the Green Conformation Hunter circuit championship.
“This is his first show since Florida, and next week he’ll head to Devon,” Stewart said. “He’s been really easy so far. We don’t really jump him at home. He’s generally quiet, but he likes to buck. So the first day you have to make sure he is definitely quiet because he’ll land from the first jump and throw in a buck. Other than that, he’s pretty straightforward; he’s a good mover and brave, the packaged deal.”
Finishing in reserve position in the Green Conformation Hunters were Havens Schatt and High Time, owned by Deborah Perkins.
Stewart’s next championship of the day came aboard Stephanie Danhakl’s Golden Rule in the Second Year Green Hunters.
The Oldenburg gelding has only been competing in the hunters since WEF Week IV, but he has seen success right from the start with both Stewart and Danhakl, earning multiple tricolors throughout WEF. He continued his winning ways today, taking the top call in both of the over fences classes before being named champion.
The reserve championship in the Second Year Green Hunters was presented to Jennifer Hannan aboard Jennifer Smith’s As Always.
Stewart’s final championship, earned in the High Performance Hunters, came down to the wire between him and Kelley Farmer with Everly and Mindful, respectively. Each mount earned two wins over fences, but Everly, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, clinched the top title with the win in the under saddle. Mindful, owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC, would finish just behind Everly for the reserve championship.
Farmer also made her own sweep of the day, winning both the championship and the reserve championship in the Regular Conformation Hunters. The championship went to Point Being, while reserve went to Quotable, both owned by Larry Glefke and Kensel, LLC.
Quotable has seen the winners circle countless times in the division, but at 7 years old and as a First Year Green horse, Point Being is the new comer in the division. Today though, it was his turn to take the top calls in both of the over fences classes and bring home the division’s highest honors.
“One brother has to give the other brother a chance sometimes,” joked Farmer. “It’s only fair that the barnmates take turns at the top.”
Taking their turn at the top in the First Year Green Hunters were Tim Goguen and Ransom, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC.
“He’s a scopey, scopey horse,” Goguen said. “I think he’s going to go on and do the High Performance and do that quite well. He’s a fun horse to ride. He’s got a great personality. He’s like a little kid actually, when you ride him and you’re around him.”
Goguen and Ransom will head to Devon next week and then back to Kentucky for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows.
Hunter competition continues tomorrow through Sunday, May 18 at the Kentucky Spring Class and includes this week’s hunter highlight class: the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel Top $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2014 – Hunter competition took over the International Arena during Week 6 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The country’s best hunter riders and horses will compete throughout Week 6 for a qualifying spot in the week’s feature event, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday evening.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, runs February 12-16, 2014. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at PBIEC for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
As the hunters are featured on the main showgrounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competitions will be held on the adjacent showgrounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. Exciting jumper classes will be held on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium, including the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A special $84,000 Salamander Hotels and Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* will also be held in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC at 7 p.m. on Friday night as part of the “Friday Night Stars” series. Anyone who wants to purchase a VIP table for Friday night’s grand prix should contact vip@equestriansport.com.
Thursday brought the first round of hunter division champion awards, with Scott Stewart and Quest topping the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter division. Quest, a seven-year-old Warmblood owned by Stephanie Danhakl, won two over fences classes with Stewart and was third under saddle. The pair was also fifth in the handy round. Reserve champion for the division was Scripted, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC and ridden by Kelley Farmer. Farmer piloted Scripted to first and third over fences out of 37 entries for the division. Stewart and Quest were also presented with the Music Row Perpetual Trophy, donated by Susan Stanley, for their victory in the division.
The expansive International Arena and its surrounding stadium seating could be a lot for any green horse to handle even without the towering palm tree additions, but Quest took it all in stride on Thursday morning. “He was awesome. I was a little worried because he schooled a little bit fresh today and it was tough out there with everything blowing around, but not in a bad way. He felt perfect the whole time, so I was really happy with him,” Stewart commented.
Stewart actually owned the gelding up until a few months ago, after buying Quest as a three-year-old with Ken Berkley. Since then, Quest hasn’t seen much of the show ring, showing only once last year at Capital Challenge. Despite being a little inexperienced, Stewart aimed the gelding at WCHR competition during the FTI WEF and also hoped his owner could debut with him in the FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunter division the same week. Danhakl and Quest are also off to a good start, wining an over fences class on the first day of competition.
“That was our goal in mind to hope to peak for Hunter Week and for Stephanie to show him this week, so that turned out great,” Stewart smiled.
Peaking in time for WCHR competition is on the mind of every competitor, and Stewart acknowledged that each horse needs a different plan, whether it means showing them early on and giving them time off, or doing a week of prep-work leading up to “Hunter Week.”
“Quest is better the less he does,” Stewart explained. “He’s really brave, always. He’s usually better the first time in the ring.”
That’s lucky for Stewart, since the annual trip south to Wellington from Flemington, NJ, where Stewart’s River’s Edge Farm is based, seems to make Quest uncharacteristically feisty. “He’s always been pretty mature, but for some reason, each year when he comes to Florida he gets a little wild! He’s naturally a very quiet horse. This is only his third show of the season because he was a little bit too fresh to get going well [and keep focused in the ring],” Stewart commented.
Earlier in the day, Stewart swept the Perfect Products High Performance Hunter division with Everly and Golden Rule. Everly, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, was champion of the division after finishing third and first over fences and winning the under saddle to wrap up the division. Stewart rode Golden Rule to reserve champion with third, first, and third place finishes over fences. Stewart was presented with the Peterbilt Special Perpetual Trophy, donated by Leslie Clarke, for his win with Everly.
Up until August, Everly could be seen jumping around 1.50m show jumping courses with Irish show jumper Shane Sweetnam. Stewart and Parker purchased the mare in August and were able to easily transition her into the ideal High Performance Hunter mount for Stewart.
“She started off really well. We’ve had it pretty easy,” Stewart smiled. “We showed her the next week [after we bought her] in Kentucky. I was already there for USEF Pony Finals [Lexington, Ky.], so I got to ride her every day. It was pretty simple. It was just getting her to realize she could be quiet. She’s such a naturally good jumper; there’s nothing really to train her to do!” Stewart remarked.
Keeping Everly relaxed has continued to be Stewart’s focus with the mare, which is why he is unsure of whether she’ll be showing under the lights Saturday evening for the Hunter Spectacular. “I’m worried that she might get a little bit lit up under the lights. I might let her wait [until next year]. I don’t know if that atmosphere might give her flashbacks to her old jumper days! I don’t want to get her upset, so I’m going to wait and see until tomorrow,” Stewart explained.
Stewart picked up his third championship of the day in the Shapley’s Green Conformation Hunter division, this time with Lucador. Stewart was presented with the Wrenwood Farm Perpetual Trophy after winning four of the six classes for the division aboard Lucador, including wins in the model and under saddle. Lucador is a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker.
The reserve champion for the division was also a familiar face: Kelley Farmer collected reserve honors with Scripted, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC. The pair won the stake round over fences in addition to placing second and fourth in the model and under saddle, respectively.
Stewart and Farmer continued to trade off division championships, with Farmer topping the Shapley’s Regular Conformation Hunter division with Quotable. The pair won two over fences classes and the model as well as placing second under saddle and eighth in the handy round. Quotable, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, and Farmer were presented with the Montoga Perpetual Trophy for their victory. The reserve champion for the division was Scott Stewart with Showman. The pair was second in the model, first under saddle, and second, eighth, and second over fences.
Quotable was already familiar with the International Arena after contesting the Hunter Spectacular last year with Farmer. The gelding has been wildly successful with Farmer over the past year, and Farmer couldn’t be more grateful for their success. “Every time, he’s been a winner. He’s done nothing but win for us!” Farmer expressed.
While Quotable is quite a handsome dark bay now, Farmer revealed he wasn’t always so polished looking. Nevertheless, Lane Change Farm knew they had something special on their hands.
“It was funny, when we got him, he was not hugely fat and was sort of that liver chestnut [color]… or really [the color] of this dirt!” Farmer laughed, gesturing to the arena footing. “He walked off that truck though, and we thought, ‘God, he’s going to be a pretty horse!'”
Havens Schatt conquered the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green Working Hunter division, winning champion with Balin, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ainsley Sadlo. Balin and Schatt were first, second, and eighth over fences and fourth under saddle. Schatt was also reserve champion with Bacardi, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Caroline Moran. The pair was sixth, first, and sixth over fences and finished fifth under saddle. For her win with Balin, Schatt was presented with the Pin Oak Farm Perpetual Trophy.
Balin is a star in his own right, but sharing a barn with a horse like Bacardi, who Schatt has piloted to multiple division championships over the last year, has kept Balin out of the limelight despite multiple wins in the Green Conformation divisions at last year’s FTI WEF. “Balin is great. It’s hard to be in the same barn as Bacardi. Everybody’s all about Bacardi!” Schatt laughed. “But Balin has always held his own.”
She continued, “Balin has always had to catch up to Bacardi in two ways. He only had one year of Pre-Green, where Bacardi did two. Bacardi’s never really done amateur [divisions] all the time, whereas Balin has always had to do both. Balin is just one you can always count on, no matter where you go.”
Balin will get the chance to step into the spotlight on Saturday night. Schatt has decided to leave Bacardi in the barn and let Balin shine. It’s exciting for every rider to qualify for the Saturday evening Hunter Spectacular, but Schatt was especially pleased with Balin’s performance after she asked owner Sadlo to let her show the gelding during FTI WEF 6.
“I had to beg her to let me show him here. She lives in Atlanta, and she was supposed to fly down yesterday. With the ice and everything, they’d already cancelled her flight on Monday. So she was like ‘I can’t come, so what if we just wait and show him Week 7?’ So I had to be like ‘Please? It’s Hunter Week!'” Schatt recounted.
Schatt continued, “She was ecstatic when I called her and told her. It was nice that it worked out!”
Schatt, like all the professional riders qualified thus far, is also looking forward to increased prize money for this year’s Hunter Spectacular. At an impressive $100,000, it’s on par with USHJA International Derby Finals (Lexington, Ky.).
“I think it’s great for the hunters. Any time we can get more money going is good, especially for this kind of class. It’s only open to champion and reserves, and it’s a special thing and a special night,” Schatt commented.
The Performance Hunter divisions wrapped up competition on Thursday evening. The CWD Performance 3’6″ Hunter division was split due to the number of entries, ultimately pinning two division champions. Come Monday, owned by Davlyn Farms, Inc., and ridden by Tara Metzner, were champions of Section A after winning the under saddle and placing fourth, first, and third over fences. The reserve champion was Fonteyn, ridden by Hayley Barnhill and owned by John & Stephanie Ingram. Barnhll and Fonteyn were third under saddle and first and second over fences.
Section B champion was By The Way, owned by Ruth Kanner and ridden by Jeff Gogul. Gogul rode By The Way to fourth under saddle and two blue ribbon over fences rounds. The Section B reserve champion was Illusion, ridden by Tara Metzner and owned by Dogwood Hill, LLC. Metzner and Illusion were third, second, and fourth over fences.
The Amberway/Kraft KT1 Performance Hunter 3’3″ division was also split, awarding tricolor honors in Section A to Caliber, owned by Laura Karet and ridden by Hayley Barnhill. Barnhill piloted Caliber to a first place finish under saddle and fourth and third place ribbons over fences. The reserve champion for Section A was Smiles, ridden by Havens Schatt and owned by Bruce Duchossois. Schatt and Smiles won the under saddle and were second in two over fences rounds.
The Section B division champion was Rookie, owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC. Tim Goguen was in the irons and rode Rookie to second under saddle and first, second, and third over fences. The reserve champion in Section B was Endeavor, ridden by Christopher Payne and owned by Hunt Tosh. Payne and Endeavor were third under saddle before jumping to first, third, second, and third place finishes.
WCHR competition will continue on Friday in the International Arena with championships for the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter divisions and the start of the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Hunters and junior hunter divisions.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel
Farrington and Blue Angel Fly to Win
It was a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. Held as a speed class, the pair topped the two fastest times both held by Ireland’s Kevin Babington, who finished second and third respectively with Shorapur and Mark Q.
Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery is the course designer at The Stadium at PBIEC for week six competition and set a challenging speed track for 74 competitors in Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 with 14 clear rounds. Kevin Babington and Mark Q were the first pair to clear the course, fifth to go, with a time of 75.34 seconds that held on to the lead for most of the class to eventually finish third. Fifty-seven rounds later, it was Babington again who beat his own time to move into the lead with Shorapur in 72.91 seconds. It looked like the rider might have a one-two finish on his hands, but Kent Farrington got the edge with Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel to win it in 71.51 seconds with just four horses left to go.
Farrington and Blue Angel have developed a great partnership and are no strangers to the winner’s circle. The rider noted that the day’s tight speed track suited his horse quite well in addition to the advantage of going at the very end. Blue Angel is a 2002 Anglo European mare by Luidam x Ascendant.
“I saw Kevin’s first horse go,” Farrington noted. “Kevin is a great rider; I thought he had a really competitive round to start, but I had an advantage there going at the end. I have a very fast horse, so for her it is kind of just doing her round and knowing if there is something incredible that she has to do. I thought today the course really suited her. In the small arena, her natural speed just kind of carried her around all by itself.”
“I think generally the horse is very fast across the ground,” Farrington said of his winning round. “I did the leave-out strides the same as everybody else. I think she had a great turn to the skinny fence and a great rollback to the last line, that’s probably where she made up the time. When there’s a small ring like that and all of the horses have to do more or less the same track, it is an advantage to be on a handy horse like that, that has natural foot speed. You are already going to be a second up on everybody just with the horse’s gallop.”
“It is a very consistent horse,” the rider described. “She has been a great addition to my team of horses and she is a real winner. She is an opinionated mare like most of the good mares are. She has a little bit her own way of going and the way she wants to do things. I think now, I know her well enough that we sort of have an agreement of terms, a little bit my way and a little bit her way, and it works out pretty well.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, Farrington earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Farrington plans to show Blue Angel again in Friday night’s $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* and will then bring her back out for CSIO week.
Although he got beat in the end, Kevin Babington had a great day with his second and third place finishes aboard Shorapur and Mark Q, and spoke about each of his mounts.
“It’s never over until Kent has gone,” Babington admitted. “I was very surprised that Mark Q’s time held up as long as it did. It was a careful course and those table A speeds always end up harder than you think. He tried really hard today, but I knew there were a few places that they could catch me. It just turned out that a lot of the very fast ones had faults, so it just kind of worked out.”
“When I went on my younger horse, it’s her first time really moving up to this level here in Florida, so she really impressed me that she was able to go as fast as she did,” Babington noted. “She is naturally a faster horse than Mark Q. She is fast across the air, she is just learning to turn a little better.”
Shorapur, a 2005 Hanoverian mare by Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II, did the eight-year-old young jumper classes last year and moved up to some national grand prix classes this summer, but Babington is taking his time with her. “I have really high hopes for that horse,” the rider stated. “My plan down here is just to keep her in the 1.50m and not do Saturday night classes, but we are just playing it by ear right now.”
“She is quite sensitive,” Babington detailed. “She is very much a mare, but she is leveling out in the ring. She was very hot when I first got her. She likes you to sit a little bit quiet, and I ride her without a spur. She has so much scope and she is extremely careful, so I am just trying not to move too fast with her and not move her up the ranks too fast. She is the kind of horse you could easily do that because she is so brave, but she is also extremely careful, so I have to be careful”
Babington has a list of great achievements with his more experienced partner, Mark Q, a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Obos Quality 004 x Positively. He explained that although it is a comfortable relationship, the horse always keeps things interesting.
“He is a different kettle of fish,” Babington laughed. “He comes out and you never know what hat he is going to have on. The first week I jumped him down here he was too strong and then I thought he jumped extremely well last week, but I over bridled him. On Sunday I did him in the 1.50m and put him back in a softer bridle and he was fantastic, and he was really good today, so I think I have the bridle sorted out now.”
“He has never felt better in his body,” Babington added. “He feels very strong and straight. I am hoping he has turned the corner. He was always weaker on one side, and it just took a long time to get him balanced. He is quite opinionated, so he doesn’t allow you to train him much, but he is getting better all the time. He is eleven this year, so he has matured a lot. I love that horse; he keeps me thinking.”
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Jimmy Torano and Scott Stewart Ride to the Top of Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunters Level 1
Wellington, FL – February 6, 2014 – Week five of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Ben Maher (GBR) aboard Urico and Tiffany Foster (CAN) riding Victor in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. Held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.
FTI WEF week five, sponsored by Rolex, runs February 5-9, 2014. The week will feature the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $370,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix CSI-W 5* presented by Rolex on Saturday night, and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Great Britain’s Robert Ellis set the course for the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 on Thursday in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a record total of 116 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to narrow the field down for an impressive tie breaking jump-off. Twelve entries jumped clear over the short course, and Ben Maher had the fastest time of 43.44 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding Jane Clark’s Urico. Tiffany Foster and Victor, owned by Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines, finished in 44.04 seconds for the win in Section B.
The top three finishers in Section A included Maher and Urico, Reed Kessler (USA) and Kessler Show Stables’ Ligist in second with a time of 44.11 seconds, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) with Artisan Farms’ Zigali P S in third in 44.93 seconds.
Section B saw a top finish for Foster and Victor, with Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ in second with a time of 44.79 seconds, and Wilton Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet in third in 44.96 seconds.
Jane Clark’s horses had a fantastic day on Thursday with Urico and Cella both qualifying for the jump-off and having great rounds. Urico got the win and Cella had one rail over the short course and finished seventh in Section B. To add to the success, Clark’s dressage horse, Wellnetta, earned an FEI Grand Prix 3* victory across the street at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with U.S. rider Katherine Bateson Chandler earlier in the day.
Although Clark could not be in Wellington for the day’s top finishes, Ben Maher was happy to be a part of the winning team. He explained that he has made some adjustments to how he rides and prepares Urico since last year, and the changes seem to be working for the best.
“Urico was fantastic today,” Maher stated. “We spent a long time building him up since this time last year. I had a couple of accidents on him and now we really pinpoint him for certain classes. We don’t use him as much, but if we do it the right way, he is a great horse. It is looking like it pays off. He jumped a good first round, and I was lucky enough to have two in the jump-off. Cella jumped phenomenally in the jump-off and I just sliced the liverpool way too much. I thought she was a machine, not a horse I guess, so it reminded me I have to pay attention a bit more. On Urico, I had to ride a little bit wider there knowing that sometimes he gets a little afraid. He is naturally such a fast horse, so as soon as that was out of the way, I ran him to the end and luckily he was just a lot quicker.”
“Whatever I was doing this time last year, I am doing the opposite now pretty much,” Maher said. “He wanted to run quite close to the jumps and sometimes that caused him to panic a little bit, so I have worked him much differently. He gets a lot more work now in the mornings for preparation for the afternoon so that he is a bit quieter. I also tend to ride him with a little more space to the jumps so he does not have that moment of freezing up at the end. He is a very sensitive horse, so when he is confident, I am confident, and then hopefully the results come. That is the plan.”
Maher commented on the course for Thursday’s class, noting that it was one of the most challenging that he has seen yet at this year’s competition.
“I thought Bob Ellis did an amazing job,” he stated. “Where do you begin to start to build a course for 116 riders? It wasn’t perhaps the biggest we’ve ever seen, but Bob is clever. He places jumps on angles and rollbacks. He catches people out everywhere. That is probably what we haven’t seen yet here this season. There has been a lot of galloping, but not actually many real turnbacks and opportunities to cut across the fences. It was definitely the most testing course we have had here this year.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, Maher earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Tiffany Foster and Victor
Tiffany Foster and Victor continued their successful FTI WEF circuit with their second big win after also topping Section B of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup during week three. Foster was very happy with her rounds on Thursday and explained that she has gained confidence with their accomplishments.
“He was awesome,” Foster noted. “The course obviously was difficult enough with so many entries in it, and I thought he jumped really well. He is really confident and comfortable here. He is really fast and now it is getting really fun because I can go really fast with him. I have to give all of the credit to Eric (Lamaze) though because since Barcelona last year, I don’t jump Victor at home anymore, only Eric rides him. He does all the work and I get all the credit, but it’s working so I’m going to make him keep doing it!”
In addition to Victor, Foster has many great horses to show this year thanks to the support of Artisan Farms, and she is having a lot of fun with them as well.
“I am always having fun, but I am especially having fun jumping like this when you can go fast,” she stated. “Once you get on a roll it seems like you get some confidence, and then you are really prepared to take some risks. Then when the horses rise to you, it is really awesome. I have a super group of horses, and I have to thank the Zieglers and Artisan Farms because they are unbelievable owners. I am really happy that I am able to now have it all start to pay off.”
Also on Thursday, an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class was held in the morning with a win for Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez aboard Darlon van Groenhove. Abigail McArdle (USA) and David McArdle’s Cosma 20 won the Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.
Jimmy Torano and Scott Stewart Ride to the Top of Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunters Level 1
The Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level 1 division was split into two sections on Thursday afternoon at the FTI WEF to accommodate the division’s large amount of entries. Jimmy Torano piloted Kyle Owen’s Messick to top honors in Section A and also finished as reserve champion with Pearl Street, owned by Jamie Jarvis. In Section B, Scott Stewart was awarded the division champion title with Wish, owned by Stewart’s Rivers Edge Farm and Annette and Leslie Pierce. The reserve champion for Section B was Palani K, ridden by Jeff Gogul and owned by Fred White.
Messick and Jimmy Torano
Torano and Messick won three over fences classes in addition to jumping to a fourth place finish. Stewart and Wish were second, sixth, and first over fences and won the under saddle class.
Torano and his two mounts were matched up at the last minute after their usual rider, Peter Pletcher, had to take the week off following a minor injury. Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, asked Torano to step in and Torano and was pleased with how the seven-year old Westphalian gelding performed in the ring Thursday.
“It’s a horse [owner Kyle Owens] bought off the internet that doesn’t have a lot of experience, but the horse went fantastically this week and won three classes. It really looks like a nice horse for the future,” Torano, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, noted.
Coincidentally, Torano helped Pletcher with Messick a few weeks before temporarily taking the reins over on Messick, so he didn’t have to go into Thursday’s division completely blind.
“I watched [Messick] go a little bit. He’s a typical hunter. He goes without a martingale; he goes in his own frame with nice balance. He’s got a great way of going. Luckily I got to watch him go with Peter and Kyle two weeks ago,” Torano explained.
Torano’s first impression of the horse proved to be true. He described Messick as an even-tempered and simple ride, relatively unaffected by the busy show atmosphere.
“He’s very, very easy-going. He’s not spooky. He’s very careful and has a perfect lead change,” Torano remarked. “A golf cart was coming by the side [of the ring day on day one of competition for the division] and he maybe shied away a little bit, but he was third in that class and he won the other one. Today, he went in there and was solid and won them both.”
Wish and Scott Stewart
While Torano and Messick were freshly matched, Stewart and his champion mount have a much closer history. Stewart and partner Ken Berkley own Wish with Annette Leslie Pierce and bred the four-year-old Warmblood gelding themselves.
“He’s is the first one that’s old enough that we bred. He’s out of a mare we had called Hush and he’s by a stallion I used to show, Be Cool,” Stewart detailed.
When asked what it’s been like to bring along a homebred mount, Stewart replied with a smile, “It’s been fun. He’s a lot like his mother and his father combined. He’s sort of like a 50/50 mix. He’s really brave and easy. He has a really good lead change, and he’s just simple.”
The first time Stewart got on Wish, he fell in love with his natural way of going and admitted he didn’t have to do much on the flat training-wise.
“He’s a beautiful mover and a beautiful horse. The way he canters in between the jumps, he just carries himself like a natural hunter and he wants to carry himself in that frame,” Stewart described.
Wish has also remained cool and collected despite the fifth week of the FTI WEF only being his third show. For that, Stewart credited his incredibly easy-going personality. That doesn’t mean the gelding is immune to any “green” moments, which Stewart simply laughed off.
“Putting the ribbon on his bridle scared him a little bit!” Stewart commented of the pair’s division championship presentation.
While Wish will take the next few weeks off before returning for the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program classes to be held Week 7 of the FTI WEF, hunter competition continues on Friday with the WEF Collegiate Equitation Championships. The $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m will be featured in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Wellington, FL – January 16, 2014 – Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a busy schedule of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The afternoon featured Round 2 of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, which was held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries. The competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $34,000 distributed. Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje and USA’s Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star shared in the day’s victory.
FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday, January 15, through Sunday, January 19. The week will feature the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday night, and the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Speed Class, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, during the day on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Luc Musette of Belgium set the course for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with 98 entries competing in total. Out of 98, only eleven were able to clear the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and nine of those jumped double clear. Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, owned by de Miranda and Victory Equestrian Sport BV, had the fastest time of 39.71 seconds overall for the win in Section A. Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star finished in 39.85 seconds for the win in Section B.
The top three finishers in Section A included Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, Lauren Hough (USA) and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Reconnaissance in second place with a time of 40.15 seconds, and Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane in third with a time of 41.52 seconds.
Section B saw Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star on top, with Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Glory Days in second in 41.45 seconds, and Keean White (CAN) and Angelstone Partners’ Pironella in third with a time of 41.81 seconds.
The competition in Wellington has become more competitive each year, and it takes an extremely fast combination of horse and rider to top the talented line-up of international competitors in these classes. Alvaro de Miranda knew what he had to do going into the jump-off, and he went full speed.
“It is very competitive here,” he noted. “Every class you need to go full gas to try to do something. I am very happy because with this horse it was very difficult for me to go fast always in Europe. Today I had a very good feeling in the jump-off. It was very good for me because the left turn is better for him, so I could do a good turn to the double, and he has a very, very big stride, so I did one less stride to the last fence.”
De Miranda was extremely fast galloping down to the final vertical heading towards the in-gate, and he did not hold back.
“You need to just go and the last two strides, almost don’t breathe, just wait and let the horse jump good,” he stated. “It is so fast that if you think about the finish line, you will have a big fault. Making this mistake one thousand times, sometimes you learn, and today was good. When you are not the last (in the jump-off), you know anything can happen and you just wait for the result, but I am very happy with my horse and a start like that is very good. The horse jumped amazing.”
AD Uutje, a 2001 KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is a fairly new horse for de Miranda, and the rider explained that Nelson Pessoa has been helping him for the last three months.
“I have ridden him for only six months, and Nelson Pessoa really trained the horse,” de Miranda explained. “It was very hard for me to ride this horse, but Nelson also rode the horse for me and he found the right bit. He is coaching me two times a week in Holland and also here every day. I am very happy to have Nelson again. I rode with him for 15 years and then I went to Holland, and now we are back again and I am very motivated to have him as my coach.”
The new partnership with AD Uutje is progressing, as de Miranda explained that this was the fastest they have gone without making any mistakes.
“Today I had a very good feeling,” he said. “I was going fast, but he was not losing the jump and getting flat. Maybe to the last a little bit, but it was very fast to the last. I am very happy, and I hope I can keep riding him like today because when I ride him good, he always jumps very good. Most of the mistakes are my fault, and I try to keep improving.”
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Co-winner, Flaming Star, is a 1999 AES gelding by Fairman that Charlie Jacobs has had great success with. Jacobs was last to go in the jump-off, but did not get to see de Miranda’s ride because he was warming up. The difference between their times was one extra stride down the last line, where de Miranda did ten strides to Jacobs’ eleven.
“I just didn’t have it in me to do ten,” Jacobs stated after the class. “I thought ‘Maybe I do ten, but it’s a gamble. I leave it up, I win. If I knock it down, I’m sixth.’ So I got maybe too cautious, but it’s kind of remarkable that we had 98 starters today. I am so proud of Flaming Star and the way he jumped. He has been great. This is his second of back to back weeks, so he will jump Saturday and then he gets a two-week rest before week five.
Commenting on Flaming Star’s consistency, Jacobs noted, “I am so proud to have him. He is a quirky horse, but once you get to know him, it is like a comfortable suit that you put on. You get in the saddle and he is right there like an old buddy, ready for you. I am so happy. We have a great rapport, and it wasn’t always that way with him and me. We just gelled in the past year or so.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, de Miranda earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was also held in the International Arena in the morning with a win for Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Powerplay. The $2,500 Amateur-Owner Jumpers, sponsored by Engel & Völkers, Sollak Carr, saw a win for Erin Haas and North Face Farm’s As Di Chupito.
Scott Stewart and Lucador
Lucador and Scott Stewart Claim Green Conformation Hunter Championship for Second Week in a Row at FTI WEF
Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley’s Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division.
Reserve champion for the division was High Regard, owned by Glefke & Kensel, LLC, and ridden by Adam Ottomanelli. High Regard was third in the model and second under saddle with Ottomanelli before placing fifth in the handy round, and finishing second, third, and second over fences.
Lucador, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, first caught Parker’s eye at the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship in Lexington, KY, last summer. Peter Pletcher campaigned the gelding throughout 2013 for then-owner Brian Walker, finishing the year fifth in the Pre-Green Incentive Program Standings for Money Won by a Horse.
Despite Lucador’s substantial winnings, the horse hadn’t actually been in the show ring very often. After taking him out a few times in the fall, Stewart toyed with the idea of giving him another year to get comfortable in the horse show environment.
“I wasn’t sure whether he was going to do another Pre-Green year or not. He’s pretty young. He’s just turning six, and Peter and Brian only showed him three or four times [last year at the FTI WEF] and a few times over the summer. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he’s really brave. The jump is easy for him, and he has a good mind for a young horse,” Stewart detailed.
Stewart decided to make the move up a division with Lucador, but resolved to wait and see how the gelding handled the higher fences. With two division championships in his first two weeks out, it’s clear Lucador has risen to the challenge.
“The original plan was to show him once or twice at 3’6″ and see how he dealt with it, and if he didn’t do so well we could always drop him down. But so far so good!” Stewart laughed.
Lucador also hasn’t been deterred by less than ideal weather, getting wet during week one of the FTI WEF during substantial rainstorms followed by an unseasonably chilly and windy in the second week. Stewart acknowledged that although Lucador is still young, he’s mentally quite mature. At only six years of age, Lucador is already described by Stewart as a horse he doesn’t have to worry much about in the ring.
“He’s got a big stride and he’s not spooky, so you never have to worry about that. He’s also got a perfect lead change, so there are a lot of things you don’t have to worry about. You just have to stay out of the way, and he’ll have a pretty jump. He doesn’t actually need to jump a lot at home, either. He’s pretty easy. He acts like a 10-year-old!”
Shapley’s Grooming Products sponsored the Green Conformation Hunter division, awarding Stewart with a well-stocked bucket of grooming supplies for his victory with Lucador. Stewart’s River’s Edge Farm, based in Flemington, NJ, is already a devoted Shapley’s user thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback from the grooms.
“We use it all the time. It’s great to have Shapley’s sponsoring this class because you can use all of their stuff for the model. The guys love it, and it makes the horses look good!” Stewart remarked.
Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Friday with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers in the International Arena as well as the presentation of championship honors to the Triple Crown Adult Am Hunter 36-50 Sec. A in the Rost Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
