Mill Spring, NC – September 26, 2021 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go added more wins at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) to their list of successes at the venue by landing first place in the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix and the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake during Tryon Fall 1. Land and Get Go, owned by Pinetree Farms Inc, took the grand prix win with a jump-off time of 35.221 while Abigail McArdle (Wellington, FL) and Sweetwater Jumpers LLC’s Golden Quality, the 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Quality Time TN x Quasimodo Z), followed closely behind in second with a score of 35.99. McArdle also placed third with Samuel Parot Jr.’s I&H Boogy Woogy, the 2006 Hungarian gelding (Faldo x I&H Vanilla Fudge), earning a time of 36.872 seconds, as well as fourth on Victorio 5, owned by Victorio Equine Group LLC, with 37.542 seconds.
Land spoke highly of the course design by Nick Granat (Wellington, FL) that challenged 13 pairs, with only four returning for the jump-off.
“I thought the first course was really fun! Everything came up pretty quick out of the turn, which is always challenging. The triple was early in the course, which can be difficult, but I thought my horses handled it very well today. I really enjoy Nick Granat’s courses. He provides a lot of options and his courses aren’t trappy. I did two horses today and I really enjoyed it with both of them.”
With McArdle competing on three horses, Land was able to preview how the jump-off course rode for McArdle before taking her turn in the ring.
“I was very lucky that Abigail was in the jump-off with three horses. I was the only other competitor, and she went before me on two horses, so I got to see her go and how the track rode. I didn’t really change my plan based on her rounds, but I knew where I needed to be fast and that’s always such an advantage. She had a rail with the first horse, but she had a really nice round with the second horse, so I just looked for a few places to shave time. I think I was a little faster in two of the rollbacks, and that was about it. I was just trying to nick away at her time because she had a really good jump-off.”
Mill Spring, NC – April 18, 2021 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go claimed a second consecutive Tryon Resort Grand Prix win at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (TIEC), stopping the short-course timers in 31.551 seconds. In reserve, Amanda Flint (Bourbonnais, IL) rode her own VDL Wittinger, the 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Irusa), to the first double-clear round of the class with a time of 34.081 seconds. Grant Seger (Aiken, SC) claimed both third and fourth place, guiding Cantucchini, the 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Cloney x Caprera) owned by Grey Fox Crossing, to a four-fault, 31.808-second jump-off performance, and dropping two rails in the jump-off with Dr. J, Grey Fox Crossing’s 2008 Warmblood gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Galaxy), and coming home in 32.023 seconds for fourth place.
The Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) course design challenged 18 entries in the American Standard Jumper Classic to close out the Tryon Welcome Series, with the 2021 series breaking all previous attendance records over four weeks of national Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation competition. Land and the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x Wantana) owned by Pinetree Farms, Inc. were second-to-last in the jump-off test, which gave them an opportunity to go “medium-fast” to take the win, Land shared.
“The jumps were a little bigger this week for a little bit more money, so it was nice we got a little warm-up last week,” Taylor relayed of her two-week streak. “I thought the course was good, with smooth, forward lines. It had enough options and questions to make it difficult. I really enjoyed it!”
Eleese Shillingford Bests Senior Crowd for $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Win
Eleese Shillingford (Alpharetta, GA) didn’t let a competitive 33-entry field in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – nor her junior age – prevent her from producing the top score of the day on a two-round total of 179.5 aboard Odyssey, her own 2012 Westphalian gelding (Chin Win x Loreen). Julie Curtin (Woodstock, GA) piloted Salter Hydinger’s Anthem to reserve on a two-round score of 178 with the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Argentinus x Unknown), while third was named to junior competitor Katelyn Coveny (Natick, MA) aboard her own MTM Fashion, the 2010 Oldenburg gelding (Fiderstanz x Lapaz II), collecting a total score of 177.
The Keith Bollotte (Hendersonville, NC) course design lent itself to Odyssey’s talents especially in the Handy round, Shillingford, the 16-year-old high school sophomore, recapped. “He’s a very good boy, but tends to get strong sometimes, so I just enjoyed it as a Derby with no pressure. Handy rounds are my favorite. I love the tight turns,” Shillingford revealed of her second-round strategy.
“My plan was to slice the first jump so that I could land right, already inside of the decorations to turn to the nine [stride line]. I rode up the nine early so that I could fade out for the trot jump, and didn’t have to pull much at the last second,” she elaborated. “We rode up nicely to the high option, and I put that on a bit of a left angle so I landed on the left lead and could turn right inside to the other high option. I faded out a little bit before the last oxer so that when I landed, I could slow down a little bit before picking up my hand gallop to the last jump.”
Mill Spring, NC – April 11, 2021 – It seemed like David O’Brien (Lexington, KY) had clinched a podium sweep in the $15,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, a 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic, until Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) rode the Pinetree Farms Inc. entry, Get Go, to a 32.316-second jump-off performance to claim top honors in the highlight Jumper class of the week at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (TIEC). O’Brien piloted One in a Million SCF, the 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Presley Boy x Werly Chin de Muze) owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, to reserve on a time of 34.33, while he guided Newton Ocean, the Sweet Oak Farm-owned 2011 Swedish Warmblood mare (VDL Atlantic x Nicole), to third on a clear jump-off time of 34.51. In fourth, O’Brien cleared the short course in 36.071 seconds aboard El Balou OLD, the 2012 Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Sunshine’s Botox) owned by Chansonette Farm LLC.
Land is revving back up after a quiet winter, which followed a months-long recovery from falling off and breaking her arm last August. Get Go, the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x Wantana) known as “Grumbles,” is just a few shows back into competition mode and “really stepped up to the plate” to navigate a tricky jump-off course set by Keith Bollotte (Hendersonville, NC), Land explained.
“I thought it was a pretty difficult [track]. Everything came up quickly, so you really had to be organized and know where you were going. The horse really had to be focused. There were a lot of turns and options for leave-outs in the jump-off. He listened really well and just went for it right when I asked, so I was able to not get too flat and be smooth.”
Morgan Ward and Colourful RW Claim $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake Win
Morgan Ward (Milford, NJ) and Colourful RW, the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Carrico x Zypria II) owned by Morlynn Farm, raced to a win in Friday’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake in Tryon Stadium, stopping the timers in 33.614. Second place went Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go, dropping one rail in a time of 33.728. Allen Nabors, Jr. (Ocala, FL), piloting Bon Chatsworth Pierre, the 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Revaou de la Bergerie x Little Star Z) owned in partnership with Jessie Grabowski, scored third place on a time of 34.028 with one rail to the floor.
Ward said she appreciated the nice, flowing course set by Keith Bollotte (Hendersonville, NC), preferring to compete in Tryon Stadium when given the choice, she shared. “The courses rode really well. It was nice and flowing. My strategy in the jump-off was to go as fast and tight as I could, to challenge myself. I’m a bit of a slower rider. He’s such a good boy!”
Mill Spring, NC – August 26, 2019 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go were unbeatable yet again, claiming another Grand Prix win this Sunday in the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) after their jump-off time of 39.285 seconds. She also piloted Liroy 30, a ten-year-old German Sporthorse gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., to a second-place finish with a clear jump-off performance of 40.449 seconds, while Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) aboard Doloris, an eleven-year old Dutch Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Colorado D) owned by Aurora Rangel De Alba, sped to a close third after their jump-off time of 40.485 seconds.
“I loved the first round; it was a little different than the courses we’ve been riding. It was, I thought, a little bit more connected, which I really liked,” Land shared of the J. P. Godard (Aiken, SC) designed course. Godard’s course tested 32 entries in the initial round, with 18 horse-and-rider pairs welcomed back to challenge the jump-off track.
Land and Get Go, a 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x World Diamond O) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., started out this year competing in the seven-year-old jumper division, but after his performance at Spruce Meadows, where the jumps were 1.40m, Land felt like he was ready for the next step. “He’s really grown up so much this year. He started the year just jumping the seven-year-olds and now he has moved up to doing the smaller Grand Prix classes and I think we just have to keep on our track and try to keep moving forward one step at a time.” Land continued, “I’m really excited for his future!”
Although the talent is a huge part of her success, Land admitted that none of this would happen if it weren’t for her team: “My team that’s behind me right now is amazing. I’ve had my rider, Liz, now for a year and she has helped me so much with the horses. She’s my support system at home and that makes such a difference. My parents also help me so much whether it’s coaching, training horses, or just as support – it’s just amazing to have them.”
Land concluded: “I think these horses are just at a point where I’ve had them for a long time, and we are to the point now where we’re really teammates. It feels like we are progressing to the next level together for all three of the horses. I’ve had Falco [V] for three years and the other two [Get Go and Liroy 30] for two years, and it’s just enough time to really get to know them. You feel like it should just take six months, but it doesn’t. It takes a long time and they’re just all coming into their own, and it’s fun to have them really reaching an exciting point at the same time.”
For full results from the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix, click here.
Mill Spring, NC – August 19, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) and Con Rouet claimed Sunday’s $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort to conclude Tryon August 2 competition at the venue, laying down a jump-off time of 36.95 seconds. Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Falco V, the Pinetree Farms Inc.-owned 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Bustique x Montreux), were back on the TIEC podium with a second-place jump-off time of 37.881 seconds, while David Blake (hometown) piloted Don’t Touch Du Bois, the 2009 Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro) owned by Pine Hollow Farm, to third on a short-course time of 38.896 seconds.
Dean Rheinheimer’s course tested 27 entries in the initial round, with eight horse-and-rider pairs welcomed back to challenge the jump-off track. Last to go, Lambre and the 2010 Oldenburg gelding (Conthargos x Balou Du Rouet) owned by Salvador Onate Barron made easy work of the course despite being newly paired teammates.
“This is the second show I’ve had with him [Con Rouet],” explained Lambre. “He’s a new horse to me, and looks very competitive. I think he’s going to be a winner! I showed him in Michigan one week, and this is the second show. He’s very easy to ride, and careful. I got him three weeks ago from Mexico.”
Lambre and Con Rouet were fourth in Friday’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, just missing out on the podium, but found their stride in Sunday’s jump-off course, Lambre detailed. “I thought it was a really nice course. Not too big, but difficult lines, so it was not easy for the riders. The jump-off was really nice,” he continued. “You could turn short and get a nice gallop. It was very nice!”
Competition was stiff, as fellow competitor Land has been on a hot streak at TIEC and had posted a tight time to beat, but Lambre utilized his position in the order of go to study where he could make up the time: “I was the last to go, so I saw the other riders. I had to do everything very short and forward, because it was really fast!”
Taylor Land Continues to Dominate the TIEC Podium with $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake Win
Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Falco V sped around the short course in 26.077 seconds to earn the win in Friday’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake at TIEC, also claiming third place aboard Get Go, piloting the Pinetree Farms Inc. entry and 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x World Diamond O) to a 27.496-second jump-off round. Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) and Chapiletto, a 2009 Oldenburg gelding (Chacco Blue x Pretty Woman) owned by Luis Gerardo Plascencia y Familia, produced a 27.004-second short course to claim second.
Course designer Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) had 26 pairs attempt his first-round track, with nine entries earning a chance to compete over the jump-off course. Continuing her recent trend of three-for-three, Land piloted all three of her mounts through to the second round of competition, ultimately bookending the podium. “The course rode really well. There was a lot to do, so it was fun!” Land said of the course.
“He [Falco V] has just been amazing. He’s such a winner, and he always tries his heart out. He was so speedy today!” she said of the 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Bustique x Montreux) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc. “Falco is nine, and I’ve had him almost three years.”
Land has an impressive trio of horses that have truly hit their stride at TIEC recently and continue to collect consecutive podium placings. Land explained: “We rode complicated courses this summer at Spruce Meadows, and I think that really helped me make some strides this summer. All of the horses are just in a really good place with their age and mentality: Falco is nine, Liroy [30] is ten, and Grumbles [Get Go] is seven, and they’re all just in a really good place. They feel like they’re thriving!”
Get Go in particular has stepped up in the last few weeks, Land shared, competing in his first “Saturday Night Lights” Grand Prix in Tryon Stadium and taking first, despite “just starting to jump at this level,” Land revealed. “He’s just been amazing. This [Ring 4] was a new ring for him, and I am so proud of him! This is for sure the biggest he’s jumped in a smaller ring, so it was really nice to feel him jumping so well. I was a little bit more conservative on him in the jump-off because it was his first time jumping bigger in a smaller place, but he was amazing.”
Land hopes to keep her winning streak alive and will compete at the venue for the duration of the Tryon August Series, giving credit to “Team Land” for her consistent results: “I credit my recent success to having an amazing team, both at home and on the road, including my parents, Jay and Kim, my grooms and rider. They are all incredible and make my job so much easier!”
For full results from the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, click here.
For full results from the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, click here.
For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – August 10, 2019 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) landed an iconic win in the $30,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as the venue’s first rider to ever claim first, second, and third place in Grand Prix competition. Land topped the podium with Get Go, stopping the jump-off timers at 34.885 seconds. She also placed second and third aboard the Pinetree Farms Inc. entries, Liroy 30, a ten-year-old German Sporthorse (Levistano x King Kolibri), and Falco V, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Bustique x Montreux), clearing the short course in 35.081 seconds and 35.3 seconds, respectively. Marking the landmark event, riders Ricardo Villa and Genevieve Edwards joined Land on the podium to celebrate with her.
“It’s crazy! I never thought that was going to happen, but it’s amazing,” Land confided of her iconic win. “I’m so glad he [Get Go] won it; he’s my baby.”
The course, designed by J. P. Godard (Aiken, SC), tested 15 horse-and-rider combinations with nine pairs returning for the jump-off. Land shared that having more than one horse proved to be an advantage: “The last line in the jump-off, I expected to be able to get seven strides done on all of mine, [since] they’re all big-strided. With the first two, I decided to do the inside turn, and it just slowed me down and set me off to the right so much that I didn’t get the seven on either horse. With Grumbles [Get Go], I decided to go around and I lined it up in seven and it actually ended up being faster. [Having more than one horse] was a huge advantage.
“He’s amazing; he’s so special,” Land shared of Get Go, a Hanoverian, who she has owned for two years now. “We did the six-year-olds last year and we’ve been doing the seven-year-olds this year. He stepped up to do a few 1.40m classes in the spring, because we were preparing to do the seven-year-olds at Spruce [Meadows] where they were 1.40m. He was great there, so after that I felt like he was ready for the next step.” Land continued, “He was really good in the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake [Thursday], so afterwards, my dad and I were talking and thought that maybe we should just enter him and walk it and see. It was a great track, and he just really stepped up to the plate.”
For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – August 8, 2019 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) landed in the money with all three of her mounts after Thursday’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort, piloting Liroy 30 to victory in a time of 30.598 seconds to kick off Tryon August 1 competition at the venue. Just behind in second, Land and Falco V, the Pinetree Farms Inc. entry, cleared the short-course in 30.872 seconds, while Allen Nabors Jr. (Odessa, FL) achieved third place with Bon Chatsworth Pierre, owned by Allen Nabors and Jessie Grabowski, stopping the jump-off timers in 31.827 seconds.
Fifteen horse-and-rider pairs challenged the track set by J. P. Godard (Aiken, SC), with five returning for the jump-off. Land, who has had consistent success as a competitor at TIEC and also collected eighth aboard Get Go, attributed long strides and talented horses to her winning result. “I had my three best horses in this class today,” she explained. “Get Go is seven, Falco [V] is nine, and Liroy [30] is ten. They’re all such fantastic horses – all in a little bit different stages of life – but they’re all so special.
“I think with all three of them I have a little bit of an advantage in the sense that they’re all really careful and quick in front, and they all have huge strides,” Land assessed. “It’s easy to leave strides out that way – I can do leave-outs without taking big risks. Today I really wanted to be just smooth and forward in the jump-off. There was a potential inside turn after the first jump, but it was pretty aggressive [of a turn] for the first day, and I wanted them to feel ready for Saturday, so I actually went around and just went really forward,” Land revealed. “I did a few [stride] leave-outs, and then one tighter turn back to the last line. I just wanted to try to stay smooth with an even rhythm to prepare for the Grand Prix.”
Despite taking the longer track on course, Land admitted that she ultimately had to steady her long-strided mounts and still made quick time over the course, especially with Falco V: “Falco was on such a massive stride today that the leave-outs were really steady for him, actually! So, that walked a little differently than it rode, but overall I thought the course rode about how I walked it. It was a great track, and a great start for the week.”
For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – October 25, 2018 – Scott Keach (AUS) and Fedor dashed to first place in the $35,000 1.50m Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as 2018 Tryon Fall 5 presented by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport CSI 3* competition continued this week. Keach completed the jump-off set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio in 39.242 seconds aboard the 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Orkaan) owned by Scott Keach & Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC. Close behind, Todd Minikus (USA) swooped into second with a time of 40.123 seconds riding Quality Girl, a 2003 Oldenburg mare (Quidam’s Rubin x Dobrock) owned by Todd Minikus, LTD. Flying into third, Margie Engle (USA) finished the course in 41.24 seconds with Dicas, a 2009 Rhein gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) owned by Storm Ridge Capital LLC, Gladewinds Farm LLC, and Garber & Show Horses, Inc.
With 38 entries and nine jump-off pairs, Scott Keach emerged on top. “My horse was great today. It was one of those days where everything goes smoothly and everything comes out well. In the jump-off, I was trying to cut the turns, keep him moving, and hopefully be quicker than the others.”
Concerning his mount, who made easy work of the technical course, Keach remarked, “He feels super. He likes the cold weather; it suits him. He’s had a couple of pretty easy weeks, so he’s fresh. Hopefully he’ll be really fresh Saturday night!”
Keach plans to ride in the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* with Fedor, and elaborated on his future plans. “He goes out for a holiday next and then comes back in to do some CSI 5* shows.”
Taylor Land Secures Double-Podium Win in the $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*
In the $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* on Wednesday, Taylor Land (USA) claimed both first and second place aboard two different mounts. Land took home blue riding Liroy 30, a 2009 German Warmblood gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Pinetree Farms LLC, and cleared the short course in 33.25 seconds. She also secured second place with Falco V, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Bustique x Montreux) owned by Pinetree Farms LLC, with a time of 38.157 seconds. Another athlete for the USA, Margie Engle, earned third place finishing the jump-off in 38.558 seconds aboard First Lady G, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Gladewinds Partners LLC.
Concerning her winning rides, Land commented, “I really liked the course a lot. It was really nice and smooth. There were some options in the jump-off and a lot of places you could take cuts, but there were also risks. It was really nice to have options and have the ability to go fast.
“I went first on Liroy 30, which was nice because he’s a little more experienced, so I got to see the track,” Land explained. “I was trying a new bridle today and he was very happy with it. He was really fast and listened great. I just did my plan and both of the horses were so good today. Liroy 30 is really, really sweet, but he is a little bit nervous and Falco V is like the brave bear going into battle. Even though he is younger, he’s braver and more outgoing. Liroy 30 is the sweet, shy one.”
Land continued, “With these two horses, I’m just continuing to try to move up. I don’t have an older horse right now, so these are my top two guys and we’re just trying to move up. The CSI 3* level is about where we are at and we’ll just continue to move forward and jump CSI 4* and CSI 5* competitions next year.”
Of the venue, where Land frequents during the year, she said, “I love the venue. It’s beautiful. I love all the different rings. I really like the atmosphere here and it’s wonderful that there are big crowds. It always feels like an exciting show.”
For full results from the $35,000 1.50m Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*, click here.
Taylor Land and Nepal (Photos courtesy of Equinium Sports Marketing)
German Camargo and Centurio Take 1.30m Open Stake
West Palm Beach, FL (March 3, 2017) – During the final week of February spring and sport were in the air at The Ridge, where the eighth consecutive week of the 2017 Palm Beach Series showcased a bustling 1.40m Turf Tour Grand Prix, challenging 1.30m Open Stake, and full jumper divisions at Polo West and Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Luring a diverse spectrum of riders from leadline to Laura Kraut, Nona Garson and George D’Ambrosio’s vision of a laid-back, utopian show atmosphere was highlighted by the Polo West Turf Tour, which featured two rings of show jumping on the spectacular green fields lined by palms, ponds, and tropical Florida estates. With the goal of acting as a catalyst for developing young horses and advancing riders, The Ridge Palm Beach Series offers a unique atmosphere and world-class competition at welcoming and beautiful venues around Wellington.
$15,000 1.40m Turf Tour Grand Prix Topped by Taylor Land and Nepal
In a day that exemplified the ideal south Florida horse show, Friday, February 24th’s Turf Tour at Polo West delivered exciting competition, breathtaking scenery, and the old world flair of the traditional jumper circuit. Staged on the springy, natural turf surface, nearly 100 entries tested their skill over two arenas, one featuring Low, Medium, and High Schooling jumpers, while the other hosted a morning 1.30m division followed by the day’s headline class, a $15,000 1.40m Grand Prix.
With nearly 60 entries in the Prix, which began around noon, it was a constant stream of horses and riders as the sun sank behind the Polo West Club House. Designed by Chris Jones, the Grand Prix and 1.30m courses allowed riders the option of challenging their horses or riding a clean and straightforward course to build stamina, confidence, and scope. In the end, a very ambitious ride and jump-off for Taylor Land of Atlanta, Georgia and Nepal, a 2002 Argentine gelding by G.S. Raimundo, secured them the top spot with a jump-off time of 42.195 seconds. Land, who is the daughter of US Grand Prix rider Jay Land and has referred to Nepal as a ‘family heirloom,’ proved the gelding’s clout in the Grand Prix ring against a field of successful U25, international Grand Prix Riders, and Olympians. The UK’s Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH put in an tactical round and jump-off to slide into second with 42.473, with US Olympian Laura Kraut and Deanuville less than a second behind her in third on 42.974.
Amanda Derbyshire and Cornwall BH
Earlier in the morning, Peter Jordan with Eurhythmic and Erynn Ballard with Extra B put in winning rounds in the 1.25m-1.30m divisions over a scaled down version of the Grand Prix course. In the adjacent field, the Lows, Mediums, and Highs saw Emma Pell and her mounts Ari 55 and Amelie victorious in the 1.00m Jumpers, while the 1.10m’s were topped by Diana Walters with The Hustler and Kevin Apicella and Darius. Rounding out Ring 2, Samantha Johnson and Gallant swept both classes in the 1.20m Jumper division.
German Camargo and Centurio Take Week 8’s $5,000 1.30 Open Stake
In a late in the day effort against a number of eager competitors, Colombian native German Camargo and Centurio jumped to victory in the Palm Beach Series’ $5,000 1.30m Open Stake, a newly implemented addition to The Ridge’s offerings. Presented in the all-weather sand arenas at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, the Open Stake and majority of the Palm Beach Series classes take place at this spacious, equine friendly show grounds just ten minutes from Wellington’s equestrian mecca.
Camargo was experimenting with new bits for Centurio, which prompted him to choose a few smaller classes in a more relaxed atmosphere. “I purchased Centurio when he was 5, and he is a very talented horse with a lot of scope,” said Camargo of the 12-year-old Oldenburg. “We have won a lot together and showed in a number of Grand Prix classes. Over the years I’ve discovered he can become slightly strong in the ring, and I wanted to try him in a few different bits. This was a great venue to test out our new equipment.”
The new bit seems to be to Centurio’s liking, as the pair jumped double clear and in a final jump-off time of 44.605 to win the class. With regard to the course, series, and his horse’s performance, Camargo commented, “It was a technical course, but I was able to have a smooth round. Even though the jumps were not that big the track was challenging. The jump-off had a few interesting options to go faster. Centurio jumped very well, and seemed to be happy in the new bit. I am happy with the way he performed. I think the Palm Beach Series is a great option, with a much more relaxed atmosphere where you can focus on the horses.” Tim Hooker and Cassini’s Valentine finished second in the Stake on 47.400 seconds and Adrienne Sternlicht with Oreade Des Dames rounded out the top three with a four faults in the jump-off and a time of 36.134.
Speaking to the vision behind the inception of the Palm Beach Series, George D’Ambrosio, who founded and co-operates The Ridge with US Olympian Nona Garson, stated, “Our goal was to offer riders opportunities to develop their horses further in the competitive arena, and particularly our $5,000 1.30m Open Stake gives the option of stepping up or changing a strategy without the stress of a higher class and the chance to win great prize money at lower heights. The Turf Tour runs in the same vein, giving horses and riders a break from the mental and physical rigors of the standard horse show and providing a beautiful venue with all natural footing and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a great chance to for riders to prepare for the upcoming grass season in the summer and early fall.”
Palm Beach Series IX continues the first week of March, with Saturday’s Turf Tour at The Ridge at Wellington (14415 Palm Beach Point Blvd) and full jumper divisions running through April 1st at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center (7500 Forest Hill Blvd).
For more information on the 2017 Palm Beach Series, including full schedules, prizelists, and entry blanks, visit www.TheRidgeFarm.com.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Mill Spring, NC – June 3, 2016 – Taylor Land of Atlanta, GA and Nepal collected a first place finish in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), completing the jump-off in 40.795 seconds for the win. Luis Larrazabal of Wellington, FL finished in second place aboard Quintus Fabius, crossing through the timers in 41.623 seconds, while Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM and Cezarro earned third with a time of 42.012 seconds. Competition at Tryon Spring 7 continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to start at 8:00 p.m.
Land and Nepal, a 2002 Argentine gelding (G.S. Raimundo x Rye Grass Finest RP H-31) owned by Jay Land, went early in the order, entering the ring as the third pair to test the track set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Land and Nepal led with a clean effort on the first round track, moving them forward to the jump-off round. Brittni Raflowitz, of Palm City, FL and Baloumina Du Ry, followed after Land, also securing a place in the jump-off and ultimately finishing in fourth.
“He’s fourteen and we’ve had him for nine years now. He’s like a family heirloom,” laughed Land. “He’s been passed around between me, my sister, and my dad, and he’s just been a great horse for us all around.”
The duo rode a crisp first round, which demanded technical attention and skill, as it included several tight turns and two forward combinations. According to Land, Nepal has made great strides since her family bought him as a young horse, and he has steadily made his way through the ranks with several members of the Land family.
“We started him when he was five and he hadn’t jumped any bigger than 1.20m at the time. I’ve done so much with him and he’s been such a great horse for me,” explained Land. “We’ve done NAJYRC and Spruce Meadows together and really anything we ask of him he’ll always do.”
This is the duo’s top finish to date at TIEC this season and Land was pleased with their rides in both rounds, noting that the gelding felt fresh and mentally prepared for the class even before they entered the ring.
“This is our first class this week, but we’ve been here for three weeks so he felt like he was ready to go,” she noted. “My plan was to try and be smooth and clear in the first round and I think we accomplished that.”
Land went first in the jump-off round and attacked the course with a forward and bold round in an effort to seal the win, knowing that only three riders followed her in the order. She explained, “Since I had to go first in the jump-off I knew there weren’t so many people behind me and I decided to go fast and really go for it. It was either going to be first or fourth for us, but it worked in our favor today.”
The duo will stay and compete next week at TIEC, before taking a small break ahead of the summer season. Land explained, “We’ll be here next week for the CSI 5* and then I think head home for a bit of a rest. I love showing here though because the atmosphere is just incredible. The bigger classes on Saturday always have a great crowd and I love the feel of the ring. It just feels really intense all of the time.”
Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS continued her momentum from Tryon Spring 6 into this week’s competition, capturing top honors in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby hosted at TIEC aboard Entourage, owned by Hays Investment Corp., with a total score of 173. Blythe Marano of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, finished in second with a total score of 172.5, while Daniel Bedoya of Magnolia, TX and Playbook, owned by Monica Hanks, collected third place, receiving a 170.5.
Hunter Holloway and Entourage
Holloway and Entourage received a score of 82 in the first round from the judges, before returning in the handy round to receive an impressive 91. Marano and Fondant sat atop the leaderboard after the first round, earning an 88 from the judges, but a score of 84.5 in the handy would ultimately drop them to second place.
“He’s seven and we got him a year ago. He moved up to the Junior Hunters towards the end of the season in Ocala and has been really awesome ever since. He just keeps stepping up,” commented Holloway. “He scored a 90 last week and a 91 today so I’m feeling pretty good about how he’s going right now.”
Holloway rode the handy round beautifully, piloting Entourage to a smooth and accurate round, showcasing his athleticism and attentiveness. She entered the round with a plan to take advantage of the numerous inside turns on course, which helped her to secure the win.
“There were a lot of inside turns that were options and I felt like I had ground to make up from the first round so I decided to go for them,” she said. “I wanted to take the chance and really go for it. He handled it very well. He was up for the task all the way around and I was really impressed.”
Entourage began his derby career this past spring with Holloway guiding from the irons and he’s displayed a sense of consistency and bravery that has impressed everyone at Equi-Venture Farm.
“He’s very easy and is a really straight forward horse. We’re hoping for a good summer season and success at indoors in the fall,” she smiled.
Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m. and competition begins at 8:00 p.m. Parking and general admission are free! For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.
