Tag Archives: Shane Sweetnam

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Get the Winning Edge in $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083. Photos © Sportfot.

University of South Carolina’s Katherine Schmidt Tops Collegiate Equitation Championship

Wellington, FL – February 7, 2014 – Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 earned their second FEI world ranking win of the 2014 season in Friday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class during week five of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The pair beat out Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Prof de la Roque and Beezie Madden (USA) aboard Vanilla, who placed second and third respectively.

FTI WEF week five, sponsored by Rolex, runs February 5-9, 2014. The week will continue with 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 speed track for 70 entries in Friday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m with 20 clear rounds. Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla set the pace early on in 67.19 seconds to eventually finish third. Darragh Kenny and Postage Stamp Farm LLC’s Prof de la Roque improved on the time in 65.62 seconds to earn second place honors. They held the lead for 40 rounds before Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 cleared the course a full second faster in 64.62 seconds for the win.

Sweetnam and Cyklon, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Cortus, also won the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m at the beginning of week three during this year’s FTI WEF. The pair was extremely close to a victory earlier this week as well in Wednesday’s $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, but finished a close second to McLain Ward and Wings. This time, Sweetnam noted that he had the advantage of a course that was very suited to Cyklon’s strengths of speed and tight turns.

“He has had a good week,” Sweetnam stated. “He was unlucky not to win the class on Wednesday, but McLain did a great job. There was one place that I thought I lost time, and McLain definitely took advantage of it. Today I watched a couple go. I didn’t get to see Darragh go, but it looked like a fast time, especially since I saw Tiffany (Foster) go and she was really moving. I had a plan, and he did a great job. We stuck to the plan, and we executed it as well as we could.”

“He is a very quick horse rolling back on the jumps,” Sweetnam explained. “Bob Ellis normally likes to have a lot of rollbacks, even in his grand prix courses, so it definitely played to my advantage with him. You can really turn back tight with Cyklon, and he always tries to leave the jumps up.”

Sweetnam spoke more about Cyklon, noting that the beautiful stallion is very well-behaved at home and at the horse show and has a fantastic drive to win when he gets in the show ring.

“For sure when he is in the ring he goes a little bit more,” Sweetnam detailed. “He still always has a little bit of go with the blood, and he is feisty, but he is quite easy. In the ring, when he sees a jump and he knows he is going fast, he really puts in the extra effort. You do have to fight with him a little bit to get what you want done, he is a little bit more aggressive in the ring, but he also gets the job done.”

Cyklon is done showing now for week five and will have some time off. Sweetnam has not yet decided what week Cyklon will show again, but explained that he tries to keep his top horses on a good rotation to keep them feeling fresh.

“He had the week off last week,” Sweetnam noted. “He had done two weeks in a row before that, so he needed a week off and Solerina went last week and she did great. I try to rotate them as much as I possibly can, those two, because they are both winners.”

In addition to the 1.45m class, competition kicked off in the International Arena on Friday morning with a win for Eugenio Garza (MEX) and Providence in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge. A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class was also held later in the day with a win for Katie Prudent (USA) riding Michael Smith’s Onisha.

Katherine Schmidt and Striptease
Katherine Schmidt and Striptease

University of South Carolina’s Katherine Schmidt Tops Collegiate Equitation Championship

Twenty-one-year-old Katherine Schmidt, of Ridgefield, CT, emerged victorious from the Collegiate Equitation Championship on Friday evening at the FTI WEF. Schmidt is a junior at the University of South Carolina (USC), where she is a double major in Marketing and Management.

Schmidt made it through the first round of the evening’s competition after beating out Auburn University’s Christina Lin. Schmidt rode David Raposa’s Chanel to a 76 to advance to round two. Schmidt secured her trip to the final round with a score of 87 aboard Ashleigh Stewart’s Coco, jumping past Baylor University’s Samantha Schaefer.

For the final round, Schmidt was up against Oklahoma State University’s Samantha Elser, who ultimately finished second. Both ladies rode Emma Butchard’s Striptease, owned by Emma Butchard, for the final round of competition. Schmidt edged out the victory with a score of 83 to Elser’s 80.

Schaefer was also awarded with the Professionals for NCAA Equestrian High Score Award for her first round score of 90 with Ilan de Taute, owned by Alan Chesler.

The Collegiate Equitation Championship pits the nation’s best varsity level collegiate riders against each other in a head-to-head competition. Riders are organized into brackets, where each bracket must each complete a course on the same horse, which is unfamiliar to them. The rider with the highest score on that horse advances to the next round.

Schmidt, affectionately known as “Schmidty” to her teammates and coach, put in consistent rounds throughout the night before laying down an incredibly handy final course with Striptease.

“I saw Sam go and [Striptease] got a little quick, so I thought I could manage her here and there and try to slip inside [for a few of the turns]. I think I was able to get her back a little bit early and do the inside turns, which I think set me apart from Sam at the end of the day,” Schmidt commented.

Schmidt had total confidence in her final round mount, a 15-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood mare, despite never getting on the horse before entering the International Arena Friday evening.

“Striptease knows her job. She was happy to be out there. It was nice to kind of relax a little bit and try to show off,” Schmidt explained. “She’s been around the block I think. She was a little bit downhill, so I had to pick her up a little bit, but she was very sweet and would jump from anywhere.”

Schmidt was born into a family of horse lovers; her mother had horses all her life and Schmidt described being born with ponies in her backyard. By the time she was a toddler, she was already in the irons. After showing ponies throughout her childhood, Schmidt went on to the equitation and jumper divisions.

“I started doing jumpers with Darren Graziano. He gave me a lot of rides, and he taught me a lot. He introduced me to Andre Dignelli [of Heritage Farm], and I did my equitation years with him. I have a lot to owe to both Darren and Andre for getting me to where I am,” Schmidt expressed.

Schmidt’s coach, Carol Gwin felt Schmidt also owed a lot of her success to her relentless work ethic and well-grounded demeanor.

“Schmidty’s just a great person. She’s a really hard worker. She’s always the one that’s going to be practicing extra and trying to be better. She’s very modest. I think she rides beautifully, and I can’t say enough nice things about her. She’s definitely someone that deserves this kind of win,” Gwin smiled.

A testament to Schmidt’s humble character is the fact she failed to mention she’s undefeated this season for the USC Gamecocks. Gwin revealed she’s yet to be beat, with her record currently standing at 8-0 before her victory in Wellington.

While Schmidt and her teammates will hit the road to take on the University of Georgia on Saturday, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Children’s Medal will kick off hunter competition for the weekend at the FTI WEF. Jumper action continues tomorrow with the highlight of the week, the $370,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix CSI-W 5* presented by Rolex, at 7 p.m.

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

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

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

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

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

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

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

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

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Win $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Speed at FTI WEF 3

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – January 22, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its third week of competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, on Wednesday, January 22, with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m FEI world ranking class.

Week three continues through Sunday, January 26. The week will feature the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 on Thursday, the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m on Friday, the highlight $125,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday night, and the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. 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.

Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week three’s competition. Jorge set the course for 46 entries in Wednesday afternoon’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class and had 14 clear rounds. Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 went early in the order and completed the course in 57.10 seconds to earn top honors.

Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Annie, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, finished second, exactly one second slower in 58.10 seconds. Third place honors went to Ian Millar (CAN) and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dixson in 59.03 seconds. Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Dark de la Hart earned the fourth place prize in 59.67 seconds.

Cyklon 1083, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Cortus, had a great 2013 season under the guidance of rider Shane Sweetnam and looks to continue that success in 2014. The pair won a ranking class during week 12 of FTI WEF competition in March last year, topped a class in Göteborg, Sweden, in April, won in La Baule, France, in May, and earned another win at Spruce Meadows in July, among many other top finishes.

“Everywhere he goes, he is very competitive,” Sweetnam noted. “He had a great year. He placed at nearly every show. He has always been very competitive and he likes to go fast, so that is important.”

Commenting on Wednesday’s class, Sweetnam stated, “I thought Guilherme did a good job. It was a quick enough class and I was early to go, so I had my plan going in and I stuck to my plan. I thought it was a nice course, and it definitely suited my horse.”

“He is a good boy,” Sweetnam added. “He is not a difficult stallion. He enjoys attention, and he gets a lot of it. He is lovely to flat and then when he starts jumping he really wants to win, so he is a great horse.”

Cyklon will continue to be aimed at the FEI world ranking classes throughout the FTI WEF circuit, showing again this week in Friday’s $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m class.

Wednesday’s competition started in the International Arena in the morning with 123 entries jumping in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class. Only eleven combinations were able to clear the course without fault to jump-off, and seven double clear rounds were completed. With the large number of entries, the class was held as a “California Split” with two sets of prize money awarded.

Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S, owned by Morningside Stud and Torrey Pines Stable, had the fastest jump-off time of 31.977 seconds to earn top prize in Section A. Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s Zealous jumped off in 32.457 seconds to top Section B.

Week three of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Thursday with the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 in the International Arena and the presentation of championship honors to the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green Working Hunters in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

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

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

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

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

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

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel Victorious in $33,000 Welcome Stake at WIHS

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel. Photos © Shawn McMillen Photography.

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina Win Gambler’s Choice; Hymowitz and Jacobs Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers

Washington, D.C. – October 25, 2013 – The 2013 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Thursday with the first day of classes for the Junior Hunters and several International Open Jumper and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper classes at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The International Open Jumpers had two classes with a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parksy’s Blue Angel in the $33,000 International Open Jumper Welcome Stake. Top honors in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice costume class went to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Sweet Oak Farm’s Solerina. The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers competed as well with a win for Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Bon Vivant in the Low division and Charlotte Jacobs aboard Deeridge Farms’ Kachina in the High division.

WIHS continues through Sunday, October 27, with lots of exciting action throughout the weekend. Highlights include the $25,000 Puissance sponsored by The Boeing Company on Friday, October 25, and the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier presented by Events DC, on Saturday, October 26. All evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. EST.

In addition to the competition, Thursday was the always popular “Barn Night,” presented by Dover Saddlery. Barn Night at WIHS is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening.

Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela is the course designer for the jumpers this week at WIHS. In the day’s $33,000 Welcome Stake, Palacios saw 30 entries contest his first round course with ten advancing to the jump-off. Eight of those were also clear over the short course, and Kent Farrington and the 11-year-old Anglo European mare Blue Angel (by Luidam) raced to victory in 31.38 seconds to win The Ben O’Meara Memorial Challenge Trophy.

Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Via Volo finished second with a time of 31.47 seconds. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) and Ludo Philippaerts’ Cortez placed third in 32.49 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Postage Stamp Farm LLC’s Prof de la Roque were fourth in 32.57 seconds.

Blue Angel has been a top mount for Farrington this year and continues to prove herself as a powerful international competitor. “I think she was always a good horse, we just got to know each other a little bit better and she has become more consistent,” he said of the mare’s development. “She kind of started off good and has only gotten better.”

Farrington has been competing at WIHS for many years, winning the WIHS Equitation Finals as a junior in 1999, and continuing on into his professional career. He explained that the atmosphere and environment of showing indoors makes this an exciting competition each year.

“I love showing indoors. I think it is a lot of fun,” Farrington stated. “It is all fast tracks, and usually there is a pretty good crowd. In general, the indoor shows get a good attendance. You come here with your best horses, and you just focus on those and there is always good competition, so I enjoy that.”

Blue Angel seemed to enjoy showing indoors as well and Farrington noted that the environment fits her style. “She is very quick,” he said. “She is great in that she can add a stride very quickly, and she has a very soft mouth. I think that is a big advantage inside, so I think it suits the horse.”

For the jump-off, Farrington chose a plan that played to his horse’s strengths and she stepped up to the plate. “With that horse, I just try really not to get too much in her way and have a quick track,” he detailed. “She is not always the best at rolling back to fences, so from fence one to two I went a little bit wide with more pace probably than some of the other riders did just because that suited the horse. Then once she is in gear, I can kind of just let her go.”

Blue Angel is the only horse Farrington will show this week and he plans to now save her for Saturday night’s $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix. He looks forward to seeing what Palacios has planned on course.

Sweetnam and Solerina Top $20,000 Gambler’s Choice Costume Class

The $20,000 International Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class is always an exciting event at WIHS, especially with Barn Night and thousands of young fans cheering on the riders. In tonight’s class, Irish rider Shane Sweetnam jumped to victory dressed as a keg of beer riding Sweet Oak Farm’s Solerina. The duo earned 960 points over the course and jumped clean over the Joker fence for an additional 200 points. Their 1160 total was the winning score.

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina
Shane Sweetnam and Solerina

For his victory, Sweetnam was presented with the Crown Royal Trophy, donated by Crown Royal, as the winning rider. Solerina, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising, won The Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy, donated by the Washington International Horse Show, as the winning horse.

Beezie Madden (USA) dressed as her signature bumble bee riding Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla and scored 1100 points to place second. Spiderman, a.k.a. Conor Swail (IRL), and Susan Grange’s Ariana finished third with 1090 points. “Dr.” McLain Ward (USA) and Wings had the same 1090 total and a slower time placed them in fourth.

Shane Sweetnam has a good record with Gambler’s Choice classes, finishing third in the class at WIHS two times and winning one in Harrisburg last year as well as placing in several others. He came up with a good plan tonight, and it paid off.

“I’m good at math so I have a good plan I think, even with knocking a fence,” he stated. “Normally I have a decent plan. You have to leave the jumps up for the course.”

Sweetnam’s mount, Solerina, is a successful horse and always puts in a great effort. “She has a lot of character, (and) she’s had great results since I’ve had her,” Sweetnam described. “She likes to stay in a rhythm. She really enjoys her jumping, so once she gets her eye on the jump she’s normally trying for you, so I can just jump-jump-turn. She’s naturally very quick.”

On his costume choice, Sweetnam explained that good friend Charlie Jayne gets him a costume each year and they have a good time with it. “It’s good fun,” he smiled. “We enjoy this class every year. We have a bit of banter about it, so I’m glad I beat him this year again.”

The cheering and great support of the Barn Night crowd also gets the riders into the fun mood. “It’s brilliant,” Sweetnam said of Barn Night. “It’s a very good idea. All evening it’s been buzzing between the pony racing and the High (Jr/AO) Jumper class and this class. There’s a big crowd and great atmosphere and those people understand show jumping as well, which is great. I really enjoy it.”

Hymowitz and Jacobs Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers

The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper jump-off class, sponsored by North Star, was held on Thursday afternoon with 22 entries and five advancing to the jump-off. Three competitors jumped double clear and Cloe Hymowitz of New York, NY, had the fast time of 29.876 seconds aboard Bon Vivant for the win. The pair was presented the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy.

Sima Morgello and Zopala placed second in 32.500 seconds. Third place honors went to Lauren Fischer and Norton de la Sapaie in 37.094 seconds.

Cloe Hymowitz and Bon Vivant
Cloe Hymowitz and Bon Vivant

Hymowitz purchased Bon Vivant, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Sire Major de la Cour, a year and a half ago. The pair has had success showing in North America and abroad this year, including a win in the CSI2* Longines Global Champions Tour competition in Vienna, Austria.

Hymowitz showed in the Children’s Jumpers at WIHS in 2012 and just moved up to the Low Juniors this season. Bon Vivant is an experienced mount that has taught the rider quickly and helped her move up the ranks with the guidance of trainers Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley.

“Showing in the Lows is a new experience and a big step up,” Hymowitz noted. “It’s really exciting. It’s definitely difficult to compete at a higher level here because the rings are really hard to ride in. Everything comes up very quick, but it is good for him because he likes to go fast, so it worked out well for me.”

“He’s indescribable,” Hymowitz said of Bon Vivant. “He is really easy. He does it a lot on his own luckily, but he is really quick. You just have to go forward, and he will jump from any distance and any turn. I turned back really tight to the birch jump, and he just swings in the air and jumps clear. He’s the most amazing horse I have ever had.”

The High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper jump-off class, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, was held during the evening session with a win for Charlotte Jacobs of East Aurora, NY, riding Kachina. The pair was awarded The “Footloose” Perpetual Trophy in remembrance of Ruth Ellen Wilmot, donated by The Curtin Family in honor of 1990 winner “Footloose”, who was ridden by Caroline Curtin.

Twenty-two entries showed over Palacios’ first round course and only three were able to jump clear to advance to the jump-off. Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Patriot were the trailblazers and finished the short course with four faults in 27.598 seconds to place third. Catherine Tyree and Wetter were next to jump off and also incurred four faults and placed second with a faster time of 27.278 seconds. Last to go, Jacobs knew that she could win with a clear round and that is exactly what she did, stopping the clock in 29.080 seconds.

Jacobs went first in round one aboard Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables’ Promised Land and was able to get a good feel for the course. She then jumped a clear round with Kachina, a 15-year-old Selle Francais mare by Voltaire, to make it into the jump-off. “I can always rely on her because she can always jump a clear round, and I know she is always going to try her hardest,” Jacobs said of the mare.

The biggest challenge was Kachina’s large size in the small arena, but she handled it easily.

“The course was nice,” Jacobs noted. “There were a lot of really short turns. The first jump was two strides off the turn and a lot of the jumps were really stuffed in there, and that was hard with the horse I won on because she is so big. She is 18 hands and she has this huge stride, and she is kind of hard to package. It’s hard enough indoors, but she really deals with it well and she is a great horse. Coming off of Harrisburg she definitely was used to it and she felt great. She jumped amazing.”

An added bonus to the evening’s win was getting to show in front of the enthusiastic Barn Night crowd. Although many of the horses in this division are not used to a packed arena, Jacobs’ horses both dealt with it perfectly and she enjoyed the excitement.

“It’s definitely fun because we don’t usually have crowds like this,” Jacobs stated. “It’s nice that they put the Junior Jumpers right before the open class and right before all of the big events. It’s on Barn Night, so there’s a huge crowd and it’s a lot of fun. They make it exciting.”

The Washington International Horse Show continues tomorrow with the championships for the Junior Hunter divisions as well as the hunter phase for the Hermès WIHS Equitation Classic Finals. The Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers will have speed classes in the afternoon session.

The evening session begins with a $50,000 Faults Converted Speed Final followed by an exhibition from the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon military horses and an impressive performance by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. The night closes with the $25,000 Puissance, presenting The Armed Forces Cup, sponsored by The Boeing Company.

Congratulations to all of our barn night winners!

Best Group Video

  • Champion: NFF Stables
    Prize: $500 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Reserve Champion: Loudoun County 4-H Horse Club
    Prize: $250 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Honorable Mentions (3): Rock Creek Park Horse Center, Dream Catcher Farm, Beyond A Bay
    Prize (3): $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificates

Best Group Banner

  • Champion: Autumn Grove Stables
    Prize: $500 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Reserve Champion: Tamarack Stables
    Prize: $250 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Honorable Mentions: Dream Catcher Farm, Cedar Creek Far, Beyond A Bay
    Prize: (3) $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificates

Largest Group

  • Largest Group Overall: Meadowbrook Stables
    Prize: Golf Cart courtesy of United Metro Golf Carts
  • Largest Group – Maryland: Enticement Stables
    Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Largest Group – Virginia: Loudoun County 4-H Horse Club
    Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate
  • Largest Group – DC/Other: Rock Creek Park Horse Center
    Prize: $750 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate

Best Group Spirit

  • Champion: Olney Farm
    Prize: Clinic with three-day eventing Olympian Will Coleman
  • Reserve Champion: NFF Stables
    Prize: Gift Certificate for team-wear courtesy of C&A Sportswear
  • Honorable Mentions (3): Urbana Riding Club, Autumn Grove Farm, Cedar Creek Farm
    Prize (3): $50 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate

For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.

The Washington International Horse Show Silent Auction is now available online with an easy-to-use bidding website. Don’t miss your chance to win special items that range from a private riding lesson with Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden to a Private Decorating Party at Georgetown Cupcake Lab. Other incredible items include two tickets to Saturday Night Live’s live show, a diamond horseshoe pin from Tiny Jewel Box, full show attire from The Saddlery, and much, much more. Bid from your computer or smart phone at home, at the barn, at work, or anywhere you have Internet – just go to http://wihs.maestroweb.com.

The Acela Club on the Sky Box level of Verizon Center is the perfect place to socialize with friends and a wonderful vantage point for watching the action in the ring. WIHS is hosting three special social events and we hope you’ll join us! Have fun, watch great sport and support worthy local organizations. Party tickets include dinner and an open bar. $150/per person. Order by phone at 202-525-3679 or visit http://www.wihs.org/social-events/.

The Armed Forces Cup Reception will be featured from 7-10 p.m. on Friday featuring the launch of “Healthy Stables by Design” by John Blackburn to benefit five local therapeutic riding centers assisting military veterans: Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Therapeutic Riding and Recreation Center, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding and Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Therapy Program.

The President’s Cup Party, presented by Washington Life, will run from 6:30-10 p.m. on Saturday night. Wear your best equestrian chic and honor Washington’s diplomatic community with presenting partner, Washington Life.

Along with six days of world-class competition, WIHS features a unique boutique shopping experience for exhibitors and spectators alike. The main concourse at Verizon Center brings together a diverse group of vendors for everyone’s shopping enjoyment. Shoppers can find everything from equestrian tack and apparel to fine art and jewelry. This year’s show features over 50 vendor stands and boutiques for all of your shopping needs throughout the week.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

About the Washington International Horse Show
An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with leading riders, including Olympic medalists, and fabulous horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, the Puissance high-jump competition; and WIHS Equitation Classic Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities will round out this family-friendly event.

Since its debut, the Washington International has been a Washington, DC, institution attended by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488
jenniferwoodmedia.com

Shane Sweetnam Tops 1.40m Open Jumper aboard Solerina at 2013 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina. Photos by The Book LLC 2013.

North Salem, NY – September 11, 2013 – The 2013 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W returned to the picturesque Old Salem Farm today to kick off the week-long international jumping competition featuring the world’s top athletes. Thanks to phenomenal reviews from 2012, a large number of entries created a section split for the day’s main event on the Grand Prix Field: the $8,000 Danbury Porsche Audi 1.40m Open Jumper class. During the first section, it was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Solerina who bested Todd Minikus and Uraguay by three seconds at the end of the class with a quick and clear jump-off. Allison Robatille made a splash in Section B, competing in her first jump-off class since November with her veteran mount Cover Girl, who was just returning from injury, beating Meagan Nusz and Elias by a full second in the tiebreaker.

Ireland’s Alan Wade designed two tracks for the day’s feature class, each winding throughout the large field and including multiple bending lines as well a vertical-oxer double combination, and an oxer-vertical double combination. With over 40 competitors in each class, it came down to speed and accuracy in the jump-off. Fifteen horses showed over the short course in the first section, which began at the far end of the field and used the oxer-vertical double combination, as well as multiple places to slice fences and finished over an oxer towards the gate.

Todd Minikus was only the fourth athlete to compete aboard Uraguay, owned by Legacy Stables of Princeton, NJ, but he set the target early in the class. After a faultless round, they managed to mimic the clear effort during the jump-off, making inside turns and breaking the beam at 32.773 seconds.

Ten rounds later, Sarah Segal made a bid for the win with Ubris, owned by Chartwell of Flemington, NJ. Although they managed to leave all the fences intact and leave a stride out to the last fence, their time of 34.273 fell just shy of the leader and they took home fourth place. Meagan Nusz of Houston, TX, was right on Segal’s heels, piloting Waomi to a clear time of 34.763 for the fifth place honors.

Roberto Teran missed Minikus’ time by just 2/10ths of a second riding Woklahoma for the Ark Partners of Wellington, FL. They also posted a clear round, but crossed the finish in line in 32.992 seconds for the third place award.

Shane Sweetnam was one of the final competitors to show in the first section, but his experienced mount Solerina was ready to win. They had a strong gallop to the first three fences, only steadying for the double combination before slicing the final vertical and leaving a stride out to the last oxer. The duo blazed across the finish line in 29.770 seconds, jumping straight to the top of the leader board and leading the victory gallop.

“I think I was quick enough from one, two and three and then I took a little time to the double,” explained Sweetnam. “Then I just let go and went across to the second to last and I knew if I got a good shot there, that I’d have a chance to do the one less to the last. She’s got quite a big stride and she doesn’t spend too much time in the air. In the second round I know she can be quick enough to be lucky enough to keep all the jumps up.”

Owned by Spy Coast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm, Solerina is a 14-year-old Irish Sporthorse mare by Cruising that Sweetnam began riding last year. After winning the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, Solerina used a month of working at home to come out fresh and ready for a victory.

“I think since I’ve had her she nearly picks up a win in every class, so her results are phenomenal,” smiled Sweetnam. “She’s got a little bit of character, but her results make up for it. She’ll do two of the four indoors next. Last year she had a good indoors and I know her better this year, so I think she’ll have a good one again this year.”

Sweetnam was happy to return to the 2013 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W, noting, “Michael Morrissey and the staff do a great job here. It gets better every year. It’s great money and the footing looks to be so much better this year. They’re trying to upgrade it and make it a really good four-star show. I appreciate it and all the other riders appreciate it.”

In the second section of the $8,000 Danbury Porsche Audi 1.40m Open Jumper, fourteen horses advanced to the short course. This time the jump-off was held opposite of the in-gate, beginning with a sharp rollback from a single vertical to a single oxer, and finishing with a double combination to a final wide-oxer.

Only five athletes posted double clear efforts, the first coming from Lauren Tisbo of Wellington, FL, and Darconscheefkasteel Z. The pair stopped the timers at 31.227, which would be good enough for fourth place. Judy Garaofalo Torres of Wellington, FL, and Quattro Queen were the slowest of the double clears for fifth place.

Megan Nusz scored another top placing for Amalaya Investments, this time piloting Elias to a clear round in 31.084 seconds, which captured the second place honors. Hillary Simpson was just a fraction away from Nusz’s time with Chinwies BZ, owned by Palmyra Partners LLC of Southern Pines, NC. Their faultless round clocked in at 31.149 seconds for third place.

Allison Robatille and Cover Girl produced the fast clear jump-off. Despite today’s class marking Cover Girl’s first jump-off after sustaining an injury in November, the mare proved that she was in top form. Utilizing her mare’s large stride, Robatille picked up a quick pace to first fence, slicing the rollback, and then quickly making it towards the next two fences.

“Cover Girl is an amazing horse,” expressed Robatille. “She got injured last November after winning the Nations Cup in Buenos Aires. I’ve been slowly bringing her back. I showed her at Spruce Meadows and she did 1.10m and 1.20m, and did her first 1.45m class at the Hampton Classic. This was the first time I felt like she was ready to do two rounds in a row.”

Robatille continued, “Now that she is back jumping, I have needed to make myself put the injury behind us and just ride her like I normally would, so I am not being too cautious and too careful. I love her so much, so it’s hard.”

This is Robatille’s first return to Old Salem Farm since her days in the Junior Hunters, but after hearing rave reviews from last year’s event she was excited to show at the international jumping competition. “It’s beautiful,” she commented. “I heard great things last year and I am really impressed.”

In the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumpers held in the Jumper Ring, winning honors were presented to Roberto Teran and ADC Chef, owned by Richview Farm of Nobleton, Ontario. The duo completed a clear short course in 34.156 seconds, while Charlie Jayne and Speedy Chicolina, owned by Anna Murphy of De Pere, WI, clocked in at 35425 seconds for the second place award. Candice King and VDL Dogan picked up the third place honors, leaving all the fences intact and breaking the bream at 36,499 seconds for owner Bellissimo LLC of Wellington, FL.

Kent Farrington and Monopoly
Kent Farrington and Monopoly

The first class of the day was the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumpers with 69 entries. Kent Farrington came out on top, piloting Monopoly to the winning honors for Salamander Farms of The Plains, VA. The pair’s clear effort broke the beam at 32.439 seconds, while Guillermo Williams’ time of 33.322 seconds with Marbella, owned by El Milagro of Dallas, TX, was good enough for second. Paul Halpern and Royal Flush, owned by Kathleen Kamine of Oldwick, NJ, rounded out the top three, completing a spotless jump-off in 34.523 seconds.

The 2013 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W will continue tomorrow with the $33,000 Don Little Memorial Welcome Stake, as well as the $3,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, presented by Gotham North. Highlight throughout the week include Friday’s $100,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier, presented by Double H Farm & Windsor Show Stables, the $50,000 Hermès Classic and Region 2 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Regional Championships on Saturday, and Sunday’s $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W World Cup Qualifier, presented by Suncast.

About the American Gold Cup

The American Gold Cup will feature world-class and Olympic athletes, such as current World Cup Show Jumping Champion Beezie Madden and Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. Also confirmed to compete are show jumping mega-stars Reed Kessler, Kent Farrington, Margie Engle, Pan American Games Gold Medalist Christine McCrea and many more, all vying to secure their position at the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals in Lyon, France.

Highlights of the schedule include the $33,000 Don Little Memorial Welcome Stake on Thursday, the $100,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier presented by Double H Farm and Windsor Show Stables on Friday and the $50,000 Hermes Classic on Saturday. The featured event, the coveted $200,000 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast, will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2013 and broadcast on NBC Sports Network the following Sunday, September 22, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. EST.

The American Gold Cup will also feature a full array of jumper classes, including sections for Children and Adult Jumpers, Low and High Junior/Amateur Jumpers, plus Young Jumpers and Open Jumpers. New this year, the Zone 2 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships will be held on Saturday in the Old Salem Farm indoor arena.

Old Salem Farm, located an hour north of New York City, boasts a state-of-the-art stabling facility, an historic pristine grass Grand Prix field and outstanding competition and schooling arenas, all of which are surrounded by one of the world’s most quaint and picturesque competition venue settings. For the past two years, the Old Salem Farm competitions have been recognized by the North American Riders Group (NARG) on their NARG Top 25 List. For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long competition schedule, prize lists, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, visit www.oldsalemfarm.net.

For further information, visit: www.stadiumjumping.com or www.theamericangoldcup.com.

43rd Annual American Gold Cup Fast Facts

What: The $200,000 American Gold Cup FEI World Cup Qualifying Competition CSI4*-W

When: September 11-15, 2013

Where: Old Salem Farm, 190 June Road, North Salem, NY

Hours:
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday with the ASPCA Regional Championships on Saturday afternoon
Sunday: Gates open at 11 a.m. with family activities with the $200,000 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast, an FEI World Cup Qualifying Competition CSI4*-W at 2 p.m.

Facility: Old Salem Farm is New York State’s Westchester County’s premier equestrian facility, offering 26 annual competitions, boarding, top-level training and sales. It offers state-of-the-art facilities surrounded by 120 gorgeous acres.

Stabling:
Stalls are 10 x 10 and housed under canvas. The FEI stalls are 10 x 12 and stabling area will be secured by fencing with 24/7 security. FEI horses will be scheduled to school separately from non-FEI horses. Schedules will be posted and riders will be given notification of times during the horse inspection.

Parking:
Available on the grounds

Directions:
From Interstate 84 or Interstate 287: Take interstate 684 to exit 8 (Hardscrabble Road), turn right. Old Salem Farm is on the right.

Information:
Before Show – before 9/7/12 941-744-5465 800-237-8924
During Show – 914-669-5610  ext 201
Stable office – 941-744-5465
Prize List Advertising – 941-744-5465
Vendors – Matt Morrissey 941-915-3457

Website – www.theamericangoldcup.com

Televised Broadcast: The 2013 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast will be broadcast on NBC Sports Sunday, September 22 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Tickets:

Weekdays: Admission is free to the public
Saturday and Sunday: Admission is $15 per person, $10 per child 4-12 years and seniors 65+, children 3 and under are free.

Gates open at:
Wednesday – Saturday: 8 a.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.

Tickets are available at the gate and online at www.theamericangoldcup.com.

Jockey Club:

The Jockey Club offers full service gourmet cuisine and beverages for tables of six and eight. Click here to reserve your Jockey Club table. New this year, The American Gold Cup is adding luxury suites for parties of 10 or more on the second floor of the Jockey Club. For more information and to reserve your American Gold Cup luxury suite, contact Matt Morrissey at: matt.morrissey@stadiumjumping.com.

Charity Partners:

JustWorld International
http://www.justworldinternational.org/

ASPCA
http://aspca.org/

Sponsorship Opportunities:

April Wehle
561.459.9259
aprilw@stadiumjumping.com

Connie Sawyer
518.461.6288
sawyer.equestrianevents@gmail.com

Advertising Opportunities:

Mary Silcox 800-237-8924
mary.silcox@stadiumjumping.com

Ring dimensions and footing:
Grand Prix Field 350′x450′, footing bluegrass mix turf. Grand Prix Annex 200′x250′, Schooling 130′x170′. Jumper Annex 146′x307′, Schooling 155′x173′. Indoor 115′x195′, Schooling 74′x135′. Hunter 138′x243′, Schooling 108′x158′. Footing in all arenas is all weather German-designed fiber and sand.

Hotels:

Official Hotel of the American Gold Cup
Danbury Crown Plaza
http://danburyplaza-px.trvlclick.com/
(877) 270 1393

Ridgefield, NY
West Lane Inn (203) 438-7323

Brewster, NY 5-10 min
Heidi’s Motel (845) 279-8011

Mt. Kisco, NY 5-10 min
Holiday Inn (914) 241-2600

Danbury, CT 10-20 min from grounds
Hilton Gardens (203) 205-2000
Comfort Inn (203) 205-0800
Danbury Plaza (203) 795-0600
Ethan Allen (203) 774-1776
Spring Hill Suites (203) 744-7333
Residence Inn (203) 797-1256

Management:
Stadium Jumping, Inc.
1301 Sixth Ave. West, Suite 406
Bradenton, FL 34205
Tel: 941-744-5465
Fax: 941-744-0874

Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Boulevard, Suite 105 Wellington, FL 33414
Tel: 561.753.3389  Fax: 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Shane Sweetnam Storms to Victory with Solerina in $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina.

Lexington, KY – August 3, 2013 – For the second week in a row, the Irish had all the luck, specifically Shane Sweetnam during the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, at the Kentucky Summer Classic. This time he was aboard Solerina for the win, shaving valuable seconds off his jump-off time to beat fellow countryman Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z, who placed second. Sweetnam’s winning mount from last Saturday’s grand prix, Fineman, also cleared the short course, capturing the third place honors.

Forty of the country’s top horse and rider combinations gathered at the Rolex Stadium under perfect skies to show over the first round track designed by Marina Azevedo of Brazil, which included an open water, a skinny jump to a triple bar, a vertical-vertical double combination and an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination. Twelve entries completed the course without fault and 11 returned for the jump-off. The short track began over a single vertical to a new oxer and a sharp roll back over a new vertical before they had to gallop across the ring and angle another vertical. Then the competitors jumped the first two fences in the triple combination before galloping home over the last oxer.

The first double clear was posted by Venezuela’s Juan Ortiz riding Accordance, but in attempt to leave all of the airy verticals in place they had a conservative pace and stopped the clock at 38.077 seconds for fourth place.

Richie Moloney attempted to catch Ortiz’s time with his first mount, Call Me Number One, owned by Equinimity LLC of Stonybrook, NY, and although the duo was faultless, they were a fraction to slow, finishing in 38.373 seconds for fifth place.

Shane Sweetnam and Fineman
Shane Sweetnam and Fineman

The winners of last week’s $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix, Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak Farm’s Fineman, were ready to lay on the gas when they took their turn over the track. As they wound their way through the course, they left each rail in place, breaking the beam at 36.211 seconds, which would hold up for third place.

“Fineman is very careful and very competitive, as he showed last week, but I didn’t go all out because I knew that the winning round wasn’t that fast at the time, and I wanted to be sure that I was clear,” said Sweetnam. “I think if he had been last he could have also been as quick as Solerina.”

Fellow countryman Richie Moloney was willing to fight for one of the top spots with his second mount, Equinimity LLC’s Carrabis Z. They were right on Sweetnam’s heels as they carefully cleared the track, dashing through the timers in 36.149 seconds, which would claim second place.

“Before the jump-off started, I planned not to go too quick and just have a nice round, but you didn’t have to gallop too much to win so it suited him,” said Moloney. “I could have done one less stride down the first line and been a little quicker to the middle vertical. I am very happy with second place though and happy the horse jumped well.  I think there are big things to come for him.”

Sweetnam and Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Spy Coast Farm, were the last to show during the first round, the last to qualify for the jump-off and the last to have a chance at the win. They left nothing to chance, picking up a quick gallop and never slowing down as they sliced over each vertical and made quick turn-backs. The veteran mare never wasted a second in the air as she left each rail in its cups and blazed across the finish line in 34.056 seconds, two seconds ahead of Moloney to lead the victory gallop.

“Solerina is a very quick horse, so when Richie was clear and quicker I went for it,” explained Sweetnam. “I was very fast at the turn backs to the two verticals. I had a really good angle to the second vertical, and you can really trust her with a bit of a gallop to a vertical. She’s naturally very quick.”

Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z
Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z

Moloney and Sweetnam have represented Ireland together on many occasions, and Sweetnam was pleased to see his friend do so well tonight. “Richie is a good friend of mine. I was hoping he would do well, but obviously I wanted to better,” he laughed.

Solerina is a 14-year-old Irish Sporthorse mare by Cruising, the father of the legendary Flexible. Sweetnam purchased her from Irish rider Conor O’Regan last year, and during the Winter Equestrian Festival they won the $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix.

“It took a bit of time for me to get her going and get used to her,” admitted Sweetnam. “She is very good at moving up and down in the height, and she is very fast. She is very versatile. She likes to pick up a rhythm and stay with it. If you get too much in her face she gets really annoyed and shows a bit of character. She jumps her best when you let her go in a rhythm.”

Sweetnam is the professional rider for Spy Coast Farm, located next door to the Kentucky Horse Park, and the Kentucky Horse Shows are always on their schedule. “We love the shows here,” he commented. “We’ve had a great two weeks here. The clients have done well, and the young horses get great experience. Hugh and the management do a great job.”

The Kentucky Summer Classic will conclude tomorrow with the NAL/WIHS Child and Adult Jumper Classics in the Rolex Stadium. Next week, Kentucky Horse Park will host the 2013 USEF Pony Finals, followed by the Bluegrass Classic Horse Show and the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Sweetnam Soars to $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix Victory at Kentucky Summer Horse Show

Shane Sweetnam and Fineman – Photo By: Shawn McMillen.

Lexington, KY – July 27, 2013 – The Rolex Stadium was full of excited spectators as they gathered on Hats Off Day to watch the country’s top horse and riders compete during the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix. The international riders gave them exactly what they were looking for: an exciting tiebreaker between five-horse and rider combination dashing to the finish. In the end it was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and his new mount Fineman that led the victory gallop after besting Argentina’s Max Amaya and Cartier by two seconds, while New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley and Derly Chin De Muze claimed third place.

Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England set a technical track for tonight’s competitors which included an open water, a vertical-vertical double combination, and the most challenging test: a triple bar-oxer-vertical triple combination. Only five riders managed to leave all the fences intact and advance to the speed round. For the jump-off, they had to show over a wide oxer and roll-back to a vertical before turning to a new oxer and jumping the last two parts of the triple combination. Then they continued over a single oxer, rolling back to another vertical with a bending line to an oxer and finishing over a single vertical just passed the gate.

Angel Karolyi of Venezuela was the first to return for the short course with Amigo, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. They tried to put the pressure on the riders following them, but Amigo lowered the height of the new oxer and finished in 48.159 seconds for fifth place. Aaron Vale and Spirit of Alena, owned by Campos and Miranda Investments of Ocala, FL, were next, and although they had a faster time of 45.180 seconds, they had the same rail down for four-faults and fourth place.

The luck of the Irish proved to be with Shane Sweetnam and his new mount Fineman, owned by Sweetnam and Sweet Oak Farm of Wellington, FL. The pair picked up a quick pace and never held back, finding each fence easily and leaving each rail in place as they sped across the finish line in 44.442 seconds. Their time could not be beat, and Sweetnam claimed the winning title.

“I think he was quick to the first few fences, as well as the in-and-out to the oxer,” explained Sweetnam. “I was also quick rolling back to the vertical, so I think that won it for me. Fineman is a quick horse in general. He won a good class up in Spruce Meadows, and he’s been very consistent, so I knew that if I could be clear I could be quick enough.”

Sharn Wordley attempted to best Sweetnam’s effort with Derly Chin De Muze, owned by Ashland Stables of Wellington, FL. He was able to leave all of the fences intact, but a clear time of 47.851 seconds was only good enough for the eventual third place.

Max Amaya and Cartier
Max Amaya and Cartier

The final rider to show was Max Amaya with Cartier, owned by Stonehenge Stables of Ocean, NJ. They put on the gas and cleared all the obstacles in their path, but fell two seconds short of Sweetnam with a time of 46.620 seconds to earn the second place honors.

“I think I was very quick at the beginning, but unfortunately I could not see a better distance to the double, and that kind of slowed me down a little bit,” noted Amaya. “For a little horse he has a big stride, and I ended up getting there a little bit slow in the seven so that put me a little bit behind Shane. He gave his best as always, and I did the best that I could. My horse was exceptional.”

Amaya began riding 12-year-old Cartier, previously owned by Alexa Lowe, in the fall of 2012. “Cartier had a very successful amateur and beginning of Grand Prix career,” he said. “He’s a very, very funny horse because he has a lot of personality. He’s very laid back and lazy in the barn, but when he goes in the ring he’s full game face and you have to be paying attention 100 percent.”

Winners Sweetnam and Fineman are a new match, as he just purchased the Swedish Warmblood in June from Maria Gretzer. “She had showed him wonderfully, and since I’ve got him he’s just been great,” smiled Sweetnam. “He’s a 10-year-old, but he doesn’t have all that much mileage. His first 1.50m was here in June, so he still has to get going, but I think he should jump some of the bigger grand prixs toward the end of the year.”

Sweetnam added, “He makes life easy. You just pick up a rhythm, and you stay with him. He wants to please, and I really enjoy him.”

Today’s event was a part of Hats Off Day, a special celebration of the horse and its impact on the state of Kentucky hosted by the Kentucky Horse Park. A large crowd filled the Rolex Stadium to cheer ton Sweetnam during his winning round. “The crowd was brilliant and I really enjoyed it,” said Sweetnam. “It is one of the biggest crowds we get for a jumping class here in Kentucky so it’s neat to see, and I hope they come out to more weeks as well.”

The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows are always on Sweetnam’s calendar during the year. “Hugh Kincannon and the Murphy Family do a great job,” he commented. “We’ve shown here the last eight years, and we always bring all of our clients. We really enjoy it, and the standard is very high. They really look after you here.”

The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will conclude tomorrow with the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics for the High Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions, as well as the Low Junior Jumper Classic and the Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Riders will return next Tuesday for the kick-off of the Kentucky Summer Classic, featuring the fifth $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington.

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Cameron Hanley and Antello Win $35,000 Sun Life Financial ‘Reach for the Sun’ 1.60m

Cameron Hanley and Antello. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Madden, Sweetnam, and Swail Also Win on Opening Day of ‘North American’ Tournament

Calgary, AB – July 3, 2013 – The ‘North American’ Tournament CSI 5* started today with four major competitions in the International Ring. The winner of the $35,000 Sun Life Financial ‘Reach for the Sun’ 1.60m was Cameron Hanley (IRL) on Antello. In the $33,000 AON Cup 1.50m, Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo were fastest in the jump-off. The $33,000 Suncast Cup 1.45m victory went to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Solerina, while Conor Swail (IRL) and Martha Louise were fastest in the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows 1.45m.

The ‘North American’ Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features the $200,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, July 6, and the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby on Sunday, July 7.

The $35,000 Sun Life Financial ‘Reach for the Sun’ 1.60m competition had 21 entries. Four advanced to the jump-off and it was Cameron Hanley who was fastest for victory with Antello, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding by Animo Z x Continue owned by Eleonore Paschoude and Yves Bouvier.

McLain Ward (USA) and Cadence set the time to beat with a clear round in 44.91 seconds, which would hold up for second place. Daniel Bluman (COL) and Sancha LS La Silla placed third with their time of 44.93 seconds. Lauren Tisbo (USA) placed fourth when she and Roundthorn Madios finished in 45.42 seconds.

Hanley and Antello went last and he opened the big horse’s stride up through the long gallops on course. That and a chance at the final oxer gave them victory when they stopped the timers in 42.97 seconds.

“He’s naturally a very quick horse, he covers the ground very quickly, and I just let him roll and everything came up quite nice, like the turn back to the second to last (fence). The great thing about him is he’s so careful that I can just ride him to that last fence and I don’t really have to worry about him knocking it down,” he explained. “He’s always going to try to jump it. As long as I get a reasonably good distance, he should jump it.”

Hanley said that this was probably only the second time that he has pressed for speed in a jump-off with Antello. “The first week here I was clear in the 1.60m and I started to go quick and had a fence down early, so I slowed down. I haven’t really galloped him so much. He’s not a horse I would really do every class very competitive with,” he explained. “But today, last to go, four in the jump-off, I knew they were all really fast riders so I knew I had to go as fast as I could. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip; I was going to take it if I could.”

Today’s win was another step in Hanley’s comeback from a devastating knee injury and resulting 17 surgeries due to infection and complications. It was a special win for him on this horse that he and his brother purchased as a seven-year-old. When Hanley was injured, Michael Whitaker purchased him and brought him along. When Hanley returned to the sport and got new sponsors, he knew the horse they should buy for the grand prix ring. Since they have been back together, they won the grand prix in Wiesbaden, were double clear to help Ireland win the Nations Cup during the ‘Continental’ Tournament, and have now won again.

Hanley expressed, “Once I got him and back in the saddle, it just felt so comfortable sitting on him again. He’s really special, and we fit each other really well. We suit each other’s personalities, I guess. I’m quite easygoing and he’s quite lively, so we cancel each other out.”

This is Hanley’s fourth time competing at Spruce Meadows, and he noted, “It’s an amazing show and I’m really delighted to go in and raise the trophy. All wins are special, but now especially I take nothing for granted. Something like today, it means a lot for me.”

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo
Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo

Beezie Madden Rides to Victory

There were 46 entries in the $33,000 AON Cup 1.50m, and five of those found the path to a clear round and tackled the shortened course. From those, Beezie Madden was fastest to win on Coral Reef Via Volo, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Clinton x Heartbreaker owned by Coral Reef Ranch.

First into the jump-off was Nick Dello Joio (USA) on Carlos VHP Z owned by EM Horses. They put down a quick, clear round in 41.82 seconds, which would slot into fourth place. Next in was Antonio Maurer (MEX) on Charro owned by Salvador Onate. They had eight faults in 41.38 seconds for fifth place.

Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Zara Leandra, owned by ZL Group Inc., set the next time to beat at 39.69 seconds, but it would not be quite enough. They would finish in second place.

Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo then took the lead with a time of 39.36 seconds. Madden said of her jump-off ride, “I did the leave out, which was six (strides) up the first line. I think I actually got a little wide and not quite as fast to fence three. I tried to make up some time after that. I was quick to the double verticals and quick down the last line.”

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) tried to make it two wins in a row, but he was just off the time in 39.81 seconds with Sweet Oak Farm’s Fineman. They placed third.

“We’ve been together for a while now, so we have confidence in each other,” Madden said of her partnership with Coral Reef Via Volo. “Sometimes she’s difficult about one end of the ring or the corners of the ring, but she’s getting more and more used to this ring. (And) she’s getting more seasoned now and less things bother her.”

While Madden showed in Europe the past two weeks, Via Volo had two weeks rest from showing. “She felt good and fresh. I had to work her a little bit this morning! She felt great, which was good. I did this so I could qualify for the 1.50m on Saturday. She’ll do that and then the derby on Sunday,” Madden noted.

Sweetnam and Solerina Keep Early Lead

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina
Shane Sweetnam and Solerina

Riding out of the fifth position in the order, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina were able to keep the lead through the entire competition. They set a very quick time of 64.70 seconds with no faults to win the $33,000 Suncast Cup 1.45m out of 48 total entries. The next fastest to finish in second place was another early in the order – Katie Dinan (USA) and Glory Days went second in the order and were clear in 66.36 seconds. Third place went to Francois Mathy (BEL) and Opus PSG, were finished in 70.16 seconds.

Sweetnam and Solerina, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising x Diamond Lad owned by Sweet Oak Farm, did not have to go all out to win, and Sweetnam said he was surprised that his time held up.

He acknowledged, “I thought I’d finish in the top three, especially with Kent and Brianne and plenty of people there that I thought would catch me.” He also said that while it was quick, he left some in the tank for Solerina. “There was more. I’m still trying to keep her relaxed in there. I did think I could have been faster, maybe two seconds faster, but I tried to keep close enough to my plan and keep her within her range. I didn’t want to run her too fast and get her upset about things.”

Keeping Solerina happy is something that Sweetnam works on, and it includes an unusual item in her stall – a television. Sweetnam described her as a typical chestnut mare, “more than anybody,” and that he tries to work with her personality.

“She’s a bit quirky. I was wondering how she would be up here because there is a lot to look at here in the rings. It’s not out of badness, it’s more nerves. If you can keep her in the same routine all the time, she’s fine,” he explained. “She’s afraid of the TV (screens), so we have one in her stall. She’s watching ‘The Top 100 Moments of Spruce Meadows’ right now!”

Conor Swail and Martha Louise
Conor Swail and Martha Louise

Swail and Martha Louise Are Fastest

The $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m was the first competition of the day in the International Ring. There were 47 combinations in the speed format, and it was Conor Swail of Ireland who was fastest with Martha Louise, a 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Maloubet de Pleville 1039 x Wolfgang owned by Susan and Ariel Grange. They sped around the course in 63.50 seconds.

Second place went to John Perez (COL) on Utopia in 64.72 seconds, while Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S were third in 65.44 seconds.

This was Martha Louise’s first win, although she has placed in eight out of nine competitions at the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments. Swail was happy to be back in the International Ring and noted, “She felt very good today. She was in here week one and then she has been a few weeks away (in other rings). When she went back in, I thought she felt more comfortable. She handled it very well. She jumped lovely.”

Despite losing his stirrup going into the double combination, Swail was able to ride through it and regain his stirrup before the next oxer. “It affected me. I think it’s nearly worse losing one because you have no balance. She didn’t jump the in and out particularly well I think because of me, where I was (with) my balance, but she was good to leave that double up,” Swail pointed out. “I was probably lucky that I have nice quality because she tries to do her best.”

While Swail got the win, he did not have to go all out today for victory. “Honestly, I think there was a bit left there today. It certainly wasn’t the fastest round that I’ve ever had with her. In that respect, it is nice to come out on top and not have them going crazy,” he said.

Swail originally purchased Martha Louise two years ago and she has been a consistent winner for him. She moved up to the higher levels this winter in Florida. “Since Sue (Grange) bought her, she has been absolutely amazing,” he commented. “She is just such a consistent horse. She is a really versatile mare; she can do many jobs. She did the grand prix last week, which was very big for her, but she handled it very well.”

Martha Louise is leading the Horse Health Care Championship presented by Pfizer Equine Division and Moore Equine Veterinary Clinic, which is awarded on Friday, July 5, to the horse/rider combination who accumulates the most points throughout the 1.45m Derby Series. Swail hopes that she will able to take that top prize.

Swail said that Martha Louise is not your typical chestnut mare. “She’s not like a mare at all, she is just so nice. She is so laid back. I think her temperament is the best part of her because she is very willing to do anything and try anything. When she goes in, she is laid back, but at the same time very careful and I think that is a great quality,” he said.

What Can You Do at Spruce Meadows?

Spruce Meadows includes affordable fun for the whole family. With admission starting at only $5 per person, and children (12 & under) and seniors (65 & up) free, it is the perfect venue to unwind and enjoy a day of show jumping, activities, delicious food and shopping. Limited Reserved Seating tickets are also available – for full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

From Friday through Sunday, there will be a number of activities for the whole family (all included in your admission to Spruce Meadows) such as Pony Rides, presented by Kozy Shack, the Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, presented by RE/MAX, Wagon Rides, Face Painting, children’s games in the Garden Court Restaurant and more! Delicious food is offered throughout the grounds, featuring a healthy menu at the Garden Court Restaurant, a wide range of options at the Time Faults Public House, and International Fare in the Plaza.

Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 will feature the Royal Occasion Brunch – all are welcome to join us at the royally inspired breakfast from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Meadowgreen Building, adjacent to the Meadows on the Green Ring. Fresh berries and cream, scones, pancakes, sausages and more will be complimentary to the first 3,000 guests. In light of the recent flood in Southern Alberta, Rush Seating for Saturday and Sunday will be complimentary. Reserved Seating and Club International tickets are available on our website in advance.

Looking to test your luck? Spruce Meadows has several contest options for those wanting to win excellent prizes, including the CN/Sun Media Name the Foal contest featuring a chance to name future show jumping star and a trip to the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the Win a Year contest, with a chance to win a year of access to all Spruce Meadows events. If you are looking for some retail therapy, vendors in the Gallery on the Green and Vendor Village offer an excellent variety of gifts and services, both equine and non-equine in nature.

For full details, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com or contact us at 403.974.4200 or information@sprucemeadows.com.

The ‘North American’ continues tomorrow with the $33,000 Horse Health Cup 1.45m, $35,000 Process Energy Cup 1.50m, and the $35,000 PwC Cup 1.60m. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

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

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

Brianne Goutal and Onira Win $50,000 RBC Financial Group Cup 1.60m

Brianne Goutal and Onira. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Sweetnam Is Only Clear to Score Victory in $25,000 Direct Energy Derby 1.45m

Calgary, AB – June 29, 2013 – The $50,000 RBC Financial Group Cup 1.60m was the highlight event of the day and fans saw Brianne Goutal (USA) ride to victory with her veteran partner Onira. In the All Canada Ring, Shane Sweetnam and Fineman were the only clear round to win the $25,000 Direct Energy Derby 1.45m. Today’s competitions were the start of weekend competition for the ‘Canada One’ Tournament in the Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments.

The ‘Canada One’ Tournament wraps up tomorrow with the $100,000 Esso Challenge, the third FEI World Cup qualifier to be held at Spruce Meadows this summer. Admission and parking are complimentary for this week.

There were 20 entries in the $50,000 RBC Financial Group Cup 1.60m, and nine were clear in the first round and moved on to the jump-off. The riders competed over a course designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada.

Goutal noted, “He’s been building great classes all week. He’s one of my favorite course designers. I find him just to always build difficult and complicated and technical classes, but they’re always fair.”

The trailblazer in the competition was Reed Kessler (USA) on Mika, who was first to go in the first round and in the jump-off. They were clear in 40.69 seconds, which would hold up for fifth place.

Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Colorado had the second fence down for four faults in 44.13 seconds. They would finish in eighth place. Jonathan’s wife, Christine McCrea (USA), was next in on Zerly. They took an early lead with a clear round in 38.73 seconds, but they would have to settle for fourth place at the end of the jump-off. Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) and Quilebo D Tillard had two fences down in 38.15 seconds, which would finish in ninth place.

The lead changed hands with the next horse in, Carlos VHP Z ridden by Nick Dello Joio (USA). They set the new time to beat at 38.61 seconds and they finished in third place. McLain Ward (USA) and Zander had a bead on the lead and finished with the fastest time in the jump-off in 37.21 seconds, but it came at a price with four faults at jump 11a.

Kirsten Coe (USA) and Calypso were the next to bring the winning time down. They galloped through the timers in 38.41 seconds and finished in second place. Jos Verlooy (BEL) and Domino were also clear, but with a slower time of 40.74 seconds, they would slot into sixth place.

It all came down to the last rider in the ring. And although she said she “hates going last,” Brianne Goutal was able to show how it’s done with her 17-year-old partner Onira, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nimmerdor x Ramiro Z. They zipped around the turns and stopped the clock in 38.15 seconds for victory.

“The eight before me were very, very fast,” Goutal recalled. “I have a small stride, so it enables me to do the same numbers but faster. I have to go faster to get the same numbers. I think that just up until the last line, I was able to be faster across the ground. In fact, I was slower in the last line because I couldn’t get the leave out. For sure I slowed down there. Kirsten’s horse has a huge stride. What’s unusual about that horse is that even though it’s so big, it has high foot-speed. That’s a hard combination to beat. But you get lucky and my horse jumped amazingly today.”

Onira is owned by Goutal’s Remarkable Farms LP and she has been riding him for 10 years. They have risen through the ranks together from the junior jumpers to the 1.60m level and have competed at the FEI World Cup Finals together.

Goutal is rightfully effusive about her horse. “He’s so special. They broke the mold with him. He’s one of kind,” she expressed. “He’s been a winner since the day I bought him, probably since the day he was born. He has a different attitude than any horse. When you walk in the barn, you can see the way he looks at you. He’s just a different animal. He’s so smart. He knows much better before you know it. (From) an advantage standpoint, he’s the best horse in the class. It’s up to me to help him out or not make mistakes, because I have a major advantage jumping each class with him.”

Goutal said that Onira loves Spruce Meadows and that this was the best consecutive three weeks that he’s jumped here. What also helps the mature gelding is the great footing at Spruce Meadows and the weather. Goutal explained, “Coming here for him is so great because it’s cold at night. You go out there in the morning, the legs are tight, they’re fresh and happy. They’re not sweating all night in the stall. They can recuperate and for a horse like that, and for any horse that gets older, you have such a better horse in the morning.”

To help Onira stay show-ready, Goutal works on his fitness. Three times a week, he is ridden twice a day, and he only shows once a week. “That horse is as fit as any supercharged runner,” she commented. “I struggled a lot with how to manage him. I find that as horses get older, they need to keep jumping and keep the tendons and everything moving. Fitness is imperative. I try to keep him moving as much as possible. Every horse is different, but that horse wants to win, wants to show, wants to jump.”

Goutal has had a good series at Spruce Meadows. She said, “It seems like it’s all coming together now. The horses have all been great. We’re so lucky to have this venue. The footing is amazing every time you go in the ring and even when the weather’s bad, it holds up. We have great prize money and of course, it’s run impeccably. I think all of the riders are very grateful to have this summer series.”

Sweetnam and Fineman Show How It’s Done

There were 26 entries in the $25,000 Direct Energy Derby 1.45m, but only one was able to find the path to a clear round. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) rode Fineman, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Feliciano x Beach Boy, to a quick round with no faults in 112.098 seconds. Fineman is owned by Sweetnam’s Sweet Oak Farm and he only started riding him three weeks ago.

With just one time fault, Katie Dinan and Couletto K James placed second in 124.489 seconds. Third place went to Andres Rodriguez (VEN) with Elatrice, who had four faults in 110.516 seconds. The course was designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio and featured 17 numbered obstacles.

Fineman was previously ridden by Sweden’s Maria Gretzer. After arriving in the United States where Sweetnam is based, he and Sweetnam showed in Kentucky, placing third in the grand prix. Sweetnam arrived at Spruce Meadows on Wednesday.

Shane Sweetnam and Fineman
Shane Sweetnam and Fineman

Sweetnam believes this week is also Fineman’s first experiences in the derby competitions. He said, “Maria had him since he was a young horse and did a great job producing him. He’s been very consistent. He’d only done 1.45m before I got him. He’s already done now two grand prix in Kentucky and he placed in both of them, and they were both 1.50m. He’s got a great brain for the job, so it makes life a lot easier for me.”

Fineman easily handled today’s course with fluidity, and although the grob was the second to last obstacle on a long course, Sweetnam was thinking more about the final oxer. “The last fence I was little bit worried about. I think a lot of people struggled with it. It was a big oxer and the horses were tired at that stage and flat. But he jumped it very, very well,” he said.

Sweetnam is aiming Fineman for the $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby next week. “It’s a different story, but I think he’s a very good horse so hopefully we can have a go at it. He has a lot of ability,” Sweetnam said.

Of his victory, he commented, “It’s great to get a win here early on. Hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the weeks.”

The ‘Canada One’ Tournament concludes tomorrow with the $33,000 West Canadian Cup 1.50m and the highlight competition of the week, the $100,000 Esso Challenge 1.60 CSI-W in Meadows on the Green. For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

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

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

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Capture $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m Speed Class

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2013 – Week twelve of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by FTI Consulting, featured the $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed classon Wednesday with a win for Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083, owned by Spy Coast Farm. Earning points on the Longines FEI world ranking list, the pair beat Laura Kraut (USA) and Woodstock O in second and Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Everest de Muze in third.

The 2013 FTI WEF circuit will conclude with its twelfth week of competition, and the entire circuit, on March 27-31 featuring CSI 5* show jumping. Highlights of the week include the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 on Thursday, the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic and $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, and the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Sunday. The week will also feature the Adequan Young Jumper Championship Classics with the $10,000 5-Year-Old Classic on Thursday and the $15,000 6-Year-old and $20,000 7 and 8-Year-Old Classics on Friday.

Ireland’s Alan Wade is the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for the final week of FTI WEF competition. In Wednesday’s $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m class, 61 entries contested Wade’s speed track with 13 clear rounds. The winning time of 62.01 seconds belonged to Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083.

Laura Kraut and Joan Kalman/The Freedom Group’s Woodstock O finished second in 62.76 seconds. Darragh Kenny and Alexander LLC’s Everest de Muze stopped the clock in 64.01 seconds to place third. Fourth place honors went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Domingo, owned by Stephex Stables, with their time of 64.21 seconds.

Shane Sweetnam continued his success on the 2013 winter circuit with another great win aboard Cyklon 1083, a twelve-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Cortus. The pair has had a lot of top results over the last few months and earned a great win against some talented competitors in Wednesday’s class.

Sweetnam noted, “Cyklon is a very quick horse. We were third last Friday. We have been knocking on the door. We were quick the week before and had one down. He has had a good circuit. He goes to Europe with me, so I didn’t really do so much the first half. He did Spy Coast week and he won a 1.40m and he was second in a 1.40m and third in a 1.40m the first half of circuit. Today was a good win for him. He is always very competitive; he wants to win.”

Darragh Kenny and then Laura Kraut were both very fast before him, but Sweetnam went for the win. “I watched Darragh go and that looked very fast and actually I think Laura was watching at the same time,” he detailed. “Laura was two seconds quicker than Darragh, so I knew she must have been really going, so I basically didn’t try to pull anywhere. I just went for it.”

“The round went pretty much according to plan,” he continued. “I was a little lucky at the second to last jump. I ended up getting a little long in the six-stride, but he tried really hard and we got away with it and then the last fence he jumped really well. He was very quick, so I thought it was going to be hard to beat when we came out.”

“He is an unbelievable trier,” Sweetnam said of Cyklon. “He is so, so careful. He is allergic to the poles. Sometimes we get in trouble because he is so eager to do well, so sometimes he doesn’t listen to wait, but he is a very good horse. He has great results everywhere.”

Also showing on Wednesday, Wilton Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Radio City won the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class for the second week in a row. In the Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumpers, Sweetnam and Balavan, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, jumped to victory. In the Adequan 8-Year-Old Young Jumpers, the winner was Ireland’s Cian O’Connor riding Carlo 343, owned by Andreas Herskovitz.

Week twelve of the FTI WEF will continue on Thursday with the $10,000 Adequan 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic Final, the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class, and the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 all featured in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. 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. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

About FTI Consulting
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 3,800 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 $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

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

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

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina Steal the Show in $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina. Photo © Sportfot.

Colvin Wins $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, Reid Takes Series Victory; Grand All Over and Emma Kurtz Excel in Visse Wedell Medium Pony Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 24, 2013 – Week eleven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms, concluded on Sunday, March 24, with a full day of jumper action on the derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Solerina won the highlight $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix in a five-horse jump-off over Marie Hecart (FRA) and Myself de Breve and Kirsten Coe (USA) and Baronez.

Victoria Colvin and Waminka were victorious in the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, while Chloe Reid took the series win. Olivia Fry Weeks and Woica won the $10,000 Horseware Don Little Masters Classic. RichardJeffery of Bournemouth, England, set the courses on the derby field for all three classes.

In the $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix, 34 entries showed over Jeffery’s feature track with five clear rounds advancing to the jump-off. Two cleared the short course without fault, and Shane Sweetnam guided Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farms’ Solerina to victory with the fastest clear round in 41.17 seconds.

Marie Hecart and Normandie Connections’ Myself de Breve cleared the jump-off course in 42.45 seconds to place second. In third, Kirsten Coe and Ilan Ferder’s Baronez had one time fault in 45.58 seconds. Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parksy’s Blue Angel had one rail down in 42.45 seconds to earn the fourth place honors, and Reed Kessler (USA) and Mika placed fifth with four faults in 43.87 seconds.

Sweetnam’s winning mount, Solerina, is a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising x Diamond Lad that he owns in collaboration with his sponsor, Spy Coast Farm. Believe it or not, Sunday’s win was Sweetnam’s first win in an international FEI grand prix as well as his horse’s first time ever showing in a grand prix at any level. The stars aligned for the pair on the field this weekend as they earned an exciting victory.

Watch an interview with winning rider Shane Sweetnam
Watch an interview with winning rider Shane Sweetnam

“It is a great result, especially for myself,” Sweetnam admitted after the class. “It is my first WEF Sunday win and it is great for Spy Coast as well who own half of her with me. I am very, very happy. It was unexpected. She is a really competitive horse and her results have been great all circuit, but this is the first grand prix that I have done her in. She really surpassed herself; she gave everything she had. She is very fast, so I knew that if I could get in the jump-off that I would have a chance.”

Sweetnam has had Solerina since last summer and the pair has done very well together at the 1.45m and 1.50m level. “She has won a few classes; she has been second a lot. She has a very good strike rate,” Sweetnam noted. “She has been placed nearly 70%. She has been very, very good.”

“She has a bit of character, chestnut mare stuff,” Sweetnam said of Solerina. “If she is not fighting you, she is fighting with you, so I prefer if she’s fighting with me. Actually she was very relaxed here, so I was happy.”

The “chestnut mare stuff” may not be all that bad, as Sweetnam pointed out that three chestnut mares were first, second, and third in Sunday’s class. Second place finisher Myself de Breve is a feisty red headed mare as well, but has also proven herself many times in the arena with French rider Marie Hecart. Hecart got the 13-year-old mare as a two-year-old and has had some great results with her.

“She is very small, but she has all the scope,” Hecart declared. “When she was younger she was crazy, she was totally wild, but she really started to be good two or three years ago. She has really settled down and started working with me really well.”

“She always jumps really well on a big field like that,” Hecart said following the class. “She gets a lot of scope and she was great. I didn’t start the season really early; I started about five weeks ago. I didn’t want to do too much with her, so I wasn’t really ready for the first grand prix and this week she really started jumping like she does. She is 13, so she has all the experience and she doesn’t need to jump that much. I just try to do the big classes and the most important ones and she was really good.”

Third place finisher, Baronez, has had some great results showing on the grass field with rider Kirsten Coe, including a win in week seven’s $30,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup. She seems to like the different atmosphere.

“She really likes it out here,” Coe stated. “She is brave as a lion, so she really excels in this environment. I didn’t start showing that early in the season either; I didn’t start showing until week six, so it really feels like things are starting to come together now. She was double clear both times this week, so she has had a nice result.”

For Shane Sweetnam, there is no doubt that this year’s FTI WEF and Sunday’s class, especially, will be one to remember for a long time. Sweetnam praised the show after a fantastic day.

“WEF has done a great job this year,” he acknowledged. “Even last night they had such a great crowd and the standard of jumping has been fantastic every week. Personally, I have had a great circuit as well; I have been in the top three or four in the grand prix four times now, which I am very happy with. Every year I think WEF gets bigger and better and the standard is very high.”

Victoria Colvin and Waminka Win $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix; Chloe Reid Takes Series Victory

Victoria Colvin and Waminka. Photo © Sportfot
Victoria Colvin and Waminka. Photo © Sportfot

Starting off Sunday’s competition on the derby field, 15-year-old Victoria Colvin jumped to victory in the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix presented by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Thirty-one entries showed in the class with four clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. None of the competitors were able to clear the second round course without fault, and Colvin’s four-fault round was the best with a time of 43.21 seconds aboard Waminka, owned by Rivers Edge.

Dana Scott and Nod Hill Farm’s KM What Ever RV finished second with four faults in 43.65 seconds. Niclas Hofmann and Trelawny Farm LLC’s Babbe Van’t Roosakker placed third with four faults in 50.87 seconds. Fourth place honors went to Alexandra Thornton and Dunwalke Ltd.’s Blue Curacao with eight faults in 45.17 seconds.

Sunday’s class was only Colvin’s second time competing in the young rider events in Wellington and she was happy that it went so well. She has had previous experience showing on the grass field in the equitation, hunter and junior jumper divisions, but was excited to compete against some of her top peers in the series.

“It went pretty well,” Colvin smiled after the class. “It is so nice to be out on the field and she just went amazing.”

Waminka is one of Colvin’s top mounts and the pair has had a lot of success recently, including winning yesterday’s $10,000 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumper Classic. Riding on the grass field was a little different, but the pair handled it perfectly.

“With her, I feel like she doesn’t have to get as quiet, so that she just has a nice gallop,” Colvin explained of the different preparation. “We pretty much just walked her this morning and then she was just ready to go.”

“She is pretty straightforward,” the rider added. “You have to hold her mouth a little bit, but she goes to the jumps and you don’t really need much leg. She is one of my favorites except for my own, of course, but she is a lot of fun.”

Commenting on the jump-off, Colvin continued, “I was trying to just have a nice, clear round, but I think I just felt the wind and ran to that oxer. I was gonna go slow and clean, but it didn’t really work that way. I think the wind makes it more fun. It feels like you are on a beach galloping.”

Sunday’s class was the final event in the 2013 Artisan Farms Young Rider Series, presented by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte, which also awarded the top prizes on Sunday for its overall standings. Sixteen-year-old Chloe Reid was named the top rider under 21 and will get a spot on the USEF European Young Rider Tour this summer as her prize, with transportation provided by the Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Along with that, as the overall winner she takes home a Bruno delGrange saddle. Wilton Porter and Niclas Hofmann were second and third in the overall standings.

“I am really excited. This was definitely one of my goals for the year,” Reid said of the honor. “Every year we sit down with my trainer (Kim Prince) and my parents and they say ‘Chloe, what would you like to have as your accomplishment for this year?’ Last year it was to make the European Tour and this year I said that I would love to finish in the top for this class and I was able to make that achievement.”

Reid went on the European tour last year and enjoyed her time competing abroad. “That was an amazing experience last year,” she stated. “I have never really ridden on a team before and it is a completely different atmosphere over there. It is a great learning experience and I learned so much more than if I just stayed here. I was really happy with everything over there.”

Reid is developing a great partnership with her horse, Damascus, and felt that this year’s young rider series was very helpful to their development.

“This series is great with all of the different kinds of rounds they give us,” Reid acknowledged. “We had a night class, we had a Nations Cup theme, we had on the grass today and just all of the different experiences for helping you succeed. I have had Damascus since last spring and she has really learned to become my horse and I have learned our strengths and weaknesses together. Every round I am just getting to know her more and try to exceed even more.”

A full schedule of competition was also held at the main show grounds at PBIEC on Sunday in the International Arena. In the $10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Daisy Johnson and Atlanta 447 jumped to victory. In the $10,000 Maria Mendelsohn Low Junior Jumpers, Eugenio Garza and Marbella were victorious.

Grand All Over and Emma Kurtz Excel in Visse Wedell Medium Pony Hunters

Grand All Over lived up to his name during week eleven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The fifteen-year-old Welsh Pony gelding owned by David Gochman was champion of the Visse Wedell Medium Pony Hunter division with Emma Kurtz. Kurtz, of Cleveland, OH, piloted Grand All Over to second place under saddle and finished first, third, and third over fences.

Reserve champion was Sassafras Creek, ridden by Daisy Farish and owned by Redfield Farm. Farish and Sassafras Creek were eighth under saddle and were first, second, sixth, and first over fences.

Owner-rider champion for the division was Roxbury and Yasmin Rizvi. Reserve owner-rider honors went to Francesca Dildabanian and her pony Laugh Out Loud.

Grand All Over and Emma Kurtz. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography
Grand All Over and Emma Kurtz. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography

Grand All Over, known as “Toby” in the barn, is one of twelve-year-old Kurtz’s many successful pony mounts, but she will admit to him being her favorite by far. While Kurtz says his irresistible cuteness is what puts him at the top of her list, trainer Amanda Lyerly knows their bond is more than just skin-deep. “They really trust each other,” Lyerly commented. “He’s really brave and she’s confident on him. They’re such a good match.”

Lyerly does admit Toby’s looks certainly don’t hurt him in the ring. “He has an amazing look through the bridle and he has a great neck. He always goes with his ears pricked and he pretty much always jumps well no matter how you get to the jump. He just has a lot of presence,” Lyerly described.

Toby has been so successful with Kurtz that the pair is currently in second place in the FTI WEF circuit standings despite a relatively light show schedule. “Emma won the pony classic World Champion Hunter Rider week. She was champion another week and reserve one week. He really hasn’t done a lot since he already has so many points. He gets to have an easy circuit,” Lyerly explained.

Kurtz and her winning partner will continue to show together through the FTI WEF’s final week, after which the duo look forward to showing at the Devon Horse Show in May. Following Devon, their show career together is a little more uncertain. Kurtz has had Toby on lease from the Gochman family until their girls grow into him.

“He belongs to the Gochmans, and their kids were actually a little bit too small for him when they got him, so they’ve let Emma ride him for a little bit until they’re ready for him. It’s very, very generous of them to give her that opportunity,” Lyerly acknowledged.

Kurtz and Toby’s championship finish concluded hunter competition for week eleven of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Artisan Farms. The final week of the FTI WEF, presented by title sponsor FTI Consulting, will run March 27-21, 2013, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

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

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. 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. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

About FTI Consulting
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 3,800 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 $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

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

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