Vita Flex Victory Team Rider Todd Minikus and Babalou 41. (Photo courtesy of Jack Mancini)
Wellington, Florida (April 16, 2015) – Vita Flex Victory Team rider Todd Minikus had a grin as bright as the Lugano Diamonds that were sponsoring the $150,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4* that he and Babalou 41 won during the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Minikus switched up horses after the Wellington winter show circuit to continue winning – on his well-known partner Quality Girl in the $34,000 Elm Rock Prix 1.45/1.50m CSI5* at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach earlier this month.
Minikus said the ten-year-old Oldenburg (Balou du Rouet x Silvio I) mare Babalou 41, owned by Two Swans Farms, was “starting to step up into the big leagues.” Before winning the $150,000 Grand Prix, the pair put in double clears during the same weekend to lead the U.S. to a win in the $100,000 Nations Cup.
“I am very excited about Babalou 41. There are some bigger things coming, so I could not be happier. She has been fantastic,” Minikus continued. “It was a horse race across that ring. She slowed down and got real patient to the last jump – that was a sign of her maturity. The rest was just nail-biting in the schooling area. For sure my time was fast. You have to go fast to catch her, but some days you’re the bug and some days you’re the windshield, and that’s how it works.”
The pair out-clocked (35.77) U.S. teammates Beezie Madden (37.47) and Meagan Nusz (38.71), who were second and third respectively.
At the Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach, Minikus jumped to victory on another mare. He and the Oldenburg Quality Girl (Quidams Rubin x Dobrock), owned by Quality Group, cleared the course in 54.41 seconds – proving uncatchable for runner-up Marlon Módolo Zanotelli of Brazil with Zerlin M at 55.85 seconds, and Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios with Zara Leandra at 56.76 seconds.
After his impressive win, Minikus humbly pointed to Quality Girl for their success: “I let her just do her thing. Normally, it turns out well.” It certainly seems to keep turning out that way for talented Minikus.
Currently, the show jumper is in Las Vegas, Nevada competing on Babalou 41 in the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage and the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals.
The Vita Flex Victory Team champion Todd Minikus credits a well-planned training program supported by conscientious nutrition and supplements from Vita Flex as a winning formula to a successful season: “The proof’s in the pudding – we’ve got some of the top winning horses in the country,” he comments about why he makes sure to use Vita Flex® products.
Vita Flex will be with Minikus and his horses every stride of the way at the FEI World Cup Jumping Finals and beyond with advanced supplements specifically created for equine athletes. Vita Flex® products include health supplements, antioxidants, electrolytes, joint supplements, performance supplements, topical ointments, vitamins, and minerals. For more information about Vita Flex, its products, and the Victory Team members, visit www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848-2359.
Wellington, Fla. – A week of unprecedented success for the U.S. at CSIO Wellington came to a close on Sunday with Todd Minikus claiming victory in the CSIO4* Grand Prix presented by Lugano Diamonds and the U.S. Teams completing a clean sweep of FEI Nations Cups presented by Hollow Creek Farm.
Minikus (Wellington, Fla.) and his partner from the United States’ winning effort in the FEI Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian, Babalou 41, charged to the head of the field in Sunday’s feature Grand Prix on the strength of impressive jumping. The pair was one of 10 combinations to jump faultlessly over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s 14-obstacle course and qualify to return for the jump-off. In their return trip, Minikus and Two Swans Farm’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare again produced a clear round in a time of 35.77, which no other combination could match.
“That was a nice week,” said Minikus. “Babalou is starting to step up to the big leagues. I think she’s got a big future ahead of her and I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Teammates from the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team, McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Double H Farm’s 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding HH Carlos Z and Margie Engle and Elm Rock Partners, LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion, also qualified for the jump-off, finishing in eighth and ninth places, respectively.
FEI Nations Cups presented by Hollow Creek Farm
Postponed because of rain on Saturday, the conclusion of the FEI Nations Cups presented by Hollow Creek Farm began with the completion of the first round of the Children’s competition followed by the second round for Children’s competitors. The second rounds of the Junior and Young Riders Nations Cup were then completed, with the second round of the Nations Cup doubling as the first round of Grand Prix competition. All Nations Cup second round clears returned to jump-off for the Hollow Creek Grand Prix titles. Drawing inspiration from the United States win in Friday’s FEI Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian, the Child Rider, Junior Rider, and Young Rider Teams all surged to victory, ensuring that the home nation won all four Nations Cup held at CSIO Wellington.
Led by Chef d’Equipe Diann Langer, the three U.S. teams of promising young equestrians held the lead after their respective first rounds over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course and produced strong second rounds efforts to secure victory.
“It was a great day and a great week all the way through,” said Langer. “I thought the teams were the best of the best. I came in feeling very confident, but you never know what can happen and I’m very pleased with them all and so excited.”
FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The U.S. Child Riders set the tone for the day as they stormed to victory, finishing on a two-round total of zero, ahead of Brazil in second place on four faults and Argentina in third place on a score of five faults.
Yasmin Rizvi (Greenwich, Conn.) jumped in the lead-off position for the U.S. and produced a double clear with immaculate efforts in both rounds of the Nations Cup. In the jump-off, she again was clear with Peacock Ridge, LLC’s 15-year-old KWPN gelding Delilah, finishing in a time of 30.59 to earn second-place honors in the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Grand Prix.
“It’s really exciting to win; it was my first time on a team and it was really fun,” said Rizvi. “I felt a little more pressure because I didn’t want to let the team down but it was so much more fun to win as a team.”
Catalina Peralta (Geneva, Fla.) added her name to the list of eight double clears with faultless rounds on Frances Land’s Merlin. In the Grand Prix jump-off, the 15-year-old British Warmblood lowered a single rail in a time of 31.70 to finish in 12th place.
Charles Jacobs (Wellington, Fla.) and CMJ Sporthorse, LLC’s 15-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding Campesino IV jumped in the third spot for the United States, incurring four-fault trips in both Nations Cup rounds and finishing in 17th in the Grand Prix.
Anchoring the U.S. effort in the Children’s Nations Cup were Sheer Levitin (Delray Beach, Fla.) and her own 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nabuco. With clears in both rounds, the combination secured victory for the Americans as well as finishing in 11th place in Grand Prix after having the final rail in the jump-off where they finished in a time of 27.91.
Brazil’s Thales Marino and Balla 12 were the winners of the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Grand Prix, going clear in the jump-off in a time of 30.40.
FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The Junior Rider Team of Kelli Cruciotti, Lauren Fisher, Madison Goetzmann, and Lucas Porter followed the Children’s victory with a win of their own, finishing on an overall score of one fault. The U.S. headed into the second round on Sunday on a score of one and added nothing more on the strength of three clear rounds.
Cruciotti (Elizabeth, Colo.) jumped first for the United States with Serenity Equestrian Ventures’ 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Chamonix H and repeated her clear round from Saturday to be one of only two double clears. In the jump-off the pair had a single rail and finished in a time of 32.05 to finish the Hollow Creek Farm Young Rider Grand Prix in sixth place.
“She’s amazing and has a huge heart, and lots of scope and a big stride that I can really use to my advantage,” said Cruciotti of Chamonix H. “She’s a pleasure to ride.”
After incurring one time fault in the first round, Fischer (Bedford, N.Y.) had an improved effort with her own Offenbach Du Granit producing a faultless effort in round two. In the jump-off the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding had two rails down for eight faults in a time of 30.51 to finish in ninth.
Goetzmann (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and John Madden Sales Inc.’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding Wrigley were clear in Saturday’s first round but jumped a four-fault round on Sunday. The pair completed the Grand Prix in 14th place.
Porter and Phineas, who had a single rail in the first round, jumped clear on Sunday to ensure the U.S. would finish on a score of one. In the jump-off, Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding lowered two rails for eight faults in a time of 33.60 to finish the Grand Prix in 10th place.
Ireland collected second-place honors in Nations Cup competition on 13 faults, as Brazil finished third on a score of 16 faults. Mexico’s Juan Pablo Gaspar and Charlotte were victorious in the Grand Prix, finishing their clear jump-off round in 31.62 seconds.
FEI Young Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The U.S. Young Riders completed the American sweep of Nations Cups at CSIO Wellington as the team of Shawn Casady, Spencer Smith, Chloe Reid, and Michael Hughes finished on a two round total of four faults to finish ahead of Brazil on 24 faults and Ireland in third on 28 faults.
Leading off for the U.S. was Casady (Harriman, Tenn.) and Cavallo Farms, LLC’s 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Twister. The combination duplicated their four-fault effort from round one on Sunday to finish the Grand Prix in sixth place.
Spencer Smith and IV Ever (Sportfot)
Smith (Wellington, Fla.) and Wyndmont’s IV Ever produced two immaculate rounds in the Nations Cup to be one of only two double clear combinations. In the jump-off the pair jumped another fault-free effort in an unmatchable time of 32.84 to win the Grand Prix.
“I thought the course was a real test of consistency,” said Smith of D’Ambrosio’s course. The 2014 Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College champion has only been riding IV Ever a short time but has quickly built a rapport with the 14-year-old KWPN gelding. “I started riding him at the beginning of the circuit and he’s been really great for me.”
Reid (Washington, D.C.) also looked to add her name to the double-clear list with Chloe D Reid LLC’s 10-year-old Athena, but it was not meant to be as they collected four faults on Sunday. The 2014 Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper Champions finished the Grand Prix in seventh place.
Anchoring the U.S. effort was Hughes (Allendale, N.J.) and Luxina. Not needed to jump in round one, the pair completed the U.S. effort in round two with a clear round. In the jump off, Christina Fried’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare lowered a single rail in a time of 33.67 to finish in fourth.
The USEF would like to thank the owners and families of the Child Rider, Junior Rider, and Young Rider competitors for their generous support of the future stars of the sport.
USA Sweeps Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Nations Cup Competition; Brazil, Mexico and USA Earn Individual Grand Prix Victories
Wellington, FL – March 1, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival concluded its eighth week of competition on Sunday with a win for Todd Minikus (USA) and Two Swans Farms’ Babalou 41 in the $150,000 Grand Prix CSIO 4*, presented by Lugano Diamonds. The pair led a 10 horse jump-off with a top three finish for the United States in this week’s final CSIO competition. Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon finished second, and Meagan Nusz (USA) and Dynamo placed third.
The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Grand Prix classes as well as the conclusion of their Nations Cup team events were also held on Sunday. Team USA swept all three Nations Cups, while Thales Gabriel de Lima Marino (BRA) won the Children’s Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Gaspar (MEX) topped the Junior Grand Prix, and Spencer Smith (USA) was victorious in the Young Rider Grand Prix.
Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) was the course designer for international competition in week eight. In Sunday’s CSIO 4* grand prix, D’Ambrosio saw 49 starters with ten clear rounds. The top three U.S. entries were the only ones to jump double clear over the short course.
Nusz and Amalaya Investments’ Dynamo was the first pair to go clear in round two and set the pace at 38.71 seconds, eventually placing third. Two rounds later, Minikus upped the leading time to 35.77 seconds with Babalou 41. Last to go, Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Simon stopped the clock in 37.47 seconds to move into second place. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) had the fastest four-fault round in the jump-off with Arao Enterprises’ Caballito to place fourth in 36.86 seconds. McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z had the fastest round in 35.42 seconds, but dropped two rails along the way to finish eighth.
Watch Todd Minikus and Babalou 41 in their jump-off round here: http://bit.ly/1wC7D3k.
After jumping double clear rounds to lead the U.S. team to victory in Friday night’s $100,000 Nations Cup, presented by Kingsland Equestrian, Minikus and Babalou 41 continued their top form into Sunday afternoon. Minikus spoke about how the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Balou du Rouet x Silvio I) was carefully brought along, competing in the schooling jumpers for a long time before stepping up to higher levels. The time and effort have paid off, and Babalou is showing more experience and maturity with every outing.
“That was a nice week. I would like to thank Lugano Diamonds for their support today, and I would like to thank Two Swans Farm and Purina,” Minikus acknowledged after Sunday’s win. “Quality Girl got the week off, and Babalou is starting to step up into the big leagues and she is doing a great job of it. I am very excited about her. I kind of took it easy with her at the beginning of the circuit and hopefully she can continue to be strong here at the end of the circuit. There are some bigger things coming, so I could not be happier. She has been fantastic.”
“She was too exuberant about her jump when she was younger, so we had to tone it down a little bit, which is usually not the story,” Minikus detailed on Babalou’s development. “She always was a little bit of a fractious mare, and she has really calmed down now. She was always nervous about everything – the surroundings, the tractor, the water truck, that kind of thing – so now she barely notices that kind of stuff, which is just maturity.”
Commenting on his jump-off round, Minikus explained, “I saw Meagan go from outside in the schooling area, and Meagan looked like she had a real nice round. I don’t really learn a jump-off until after I go clean. That is a superstition I have, so I was trying to figure out how the eight (strides) was going to work from the oxer to the combination and that kind of stuff. Then I looked around the schooling area and I see Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, the little kid from Chicago – Kent Farrington – Rodrigo Pessoa… I’m like, ‘Oh my god this is going to get fast!’
“One was a difficult jump, the way it sat on an angle. You had to kind of be cautious to one,” Minikus continued. “Then two was a hard turn. After the double then I really kind of floored it, if you will, did seven to the vertical and tight as I thought I could to the red (oxer). Then for sure that was a horse race across the ring. Then she slowed down and got real patient to the last jump, so that was a sign of her maturity again. Then the rest of it was just nail-biting in the schooling area. McLain had the time. He got a little unlucky and had two down. For sure my time was fast. You would have to go fast to catch her, but some days you’re the bug and some days you’re the windshield, and that’s how it works.”
Madden knew she had a very fast time to chase, going last with Minikus in the lead, but she was happy with Simon’s efforts and a good finish.
Beezie Madden and Simon
“He is feeling great. He was actually kind of fresh again today in the schooling area. He was playing after the fence a lot, but he feels in good shape,” Madden noted. “I have to say, I didn’t see all of Todd’s round in the jump-off, but every time I looked up at the screen he was pushing her to go faster. I knew I was probably going for second because when he is that fast it is really difficult to catch him. I kind of have to do what I feel like I can do with Simon because he can get quite strong and nervous, but I felt that he handled going pretty fast today well. Over to the last line I took a good shot and he handled it great, so I am really happy with how he went.”
Nusz had one of her biggest grand prix finishes in Sunday’s class with her mount, Dynamo, and was thrilled to be in the presence of two of the sport’s greats with her top three placing behind Minikus and Madden.
“First of all, to jump in this class with these guys and jump clean is a feat in itself, so that was exciting,” Nusz stated. “Then I went early in the jump-off, so I made my plan with Kent (trainer Kent Farrington) and just stuck to my plan. I hoped to put in a tidy, clean round and make them chase me and see if they could leave the jumps off. My horse could not have been better. He really jumped great both rounds and really helped me out. He stepped up where I needed him to. He is a special horse for me. I have had him since he was seven, so we have a really great partnership. I trust him and he trusts me and when we have good days, it’s the best, so I’m really happy with him.”
“Kent just said stick to your plan,” Nusz said of Farrington’s advice. “You know your horse and you know your step. My horse is a bit of a slow moving horse. He’s not as fast off the ground as say Todd’s horse. He is a little bit slower in the air as well, but the way that I can be fast is to leave out strides. Kent and I said, ‘Let’s just do what we can do and hope for the best,’ and it was a great finish. I am really happy with it. This is probably one of my best grand prix finishes, especially with the 10 that were clean. I’ll take it. To be sitting here is super exciting.”
Several special awards were presented to conclude CSIO week at the 2015 WEF. Nusz was named Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week eight, an award presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler
Another special award was presented to Ireland’s Kevin Babington as the top Irish rider during the CSIO Nations Cup week. Babington was presented the Niall Grimes “CHEERS” Perpetual Trophy.
Nicolas Pizarro (MEX) was presented the Kate Nash Boone Style Award as the international equestrian who exemplifies best style of riding along with maintaining a sportsmanlike composure while competing in the CSIO during Nations Cup Week.
USA Sweeps Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Nations Cup Competition
Three separate Nations Cup competitions were held for the Children, Juniors, and Young Riders this weekend thanks to the generous sponsorship of Hollow Creek Farm and the Andrade Family. Competition consisted of two rounds for each division shown over courses set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio. After each round, each team dropped their highest score. The winner was determined by the lowest total of each team’s top three riders from each round.
Due to the severe weather that rolled into PBIEC Saturday afternoon, the classes were reformatted and rescheduled so that they could continue on Sunday after competition was ultimately cancelled Saturday evening. In all three divisions, the second round for riders on Nations Cup teams also acted as each division’s Grand Prix class. If riders had a clean trip in the second round of competition, they moved forward to the jump-off for their respective classes’ Grand Prix.
Equestrian Sport Productions would like to thank the maintenance crew and ring crew for their long hours and hard work to get the facility ready for competition on Sunday after Saturday’s rain.
Concluding the Nations Cup competition this year, the $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Young Rider Nations Cup saw a win for Team USA for the third year in a row led by Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer. The team, made up of Shawn Casady and Cavallo Farms LLC’s Twister, Spencer Smith and Wyndmont’s IV Ever, Chloe Reid and Chloe D Reid LLC’s Athena, and Michael Hughes aboard Christina Fried’s Luxina, had a perfect score in round one and finished on just four faults in round two to win overall.
Casady, Smith and Reid were all clear in round one, leaving anchor rider Michael Hughes no need to jump. In round two, Casady and Twister had one rail down, Smith jumped a second clear round, Reid and Athena accrued four faults, and Hughes jumped a clear with Luxina.
“It was a great day, and it has been a great week all the way through,” Langer said this afternoon. “I want to thank Hollow Creek for the vision and commitment to the developing riders. Without them, this might never have been possible, so thank you to them. The teams I thought were just the best of the best. We go through quite a process to get to the teams. We look at a lot of results before we choose them. I came into this competition feeling very confident, but then again, you never know. They all came through, and I was so excited. I am very pleased.”
In addition to putting in two clear rounds for the team competition, Wellington’s Spencer Smith (18) won the jump-off for the grand prix class with the fastest clear round aboard IV Ever. He was presented a special award as the leading rider in the young rider division for a clean sweep in all of the classes, also topping the welcome class on Thursday with a clear round.
“I started riding him at the beginning of circuit and we have had good results, so I am very pleased,” Smith stated. “I have probably only done four jump-offs with him, but he is a really tidy horse for his size and he was good to me today.”
Commenting on the team competition, Smith added, “I thought the course was a really good test of everybody’s consistency and today it worked best for us.”
Hughes (19), of Allendale, NJ, was aboard Luxina, a mare that he has been riding for five years. “She has been a really good horse,” Hughes acknowledged. “It’s amazing to be on a team, especially a team like this. It is so different from anything else. It is a lot harder to get on a team like this.”
Casady (20), of Midtown, TN, was aboard Twister, a horse that he has had success with throughout the year. “I have been doing him since the beginning of the summer, and we had really good results,” Casady noted. “He has been really consistent, which I think got me on a team like this.”
Reid (18), of Washington, D.C., has ridden her mount Athena in this competition before, jumping in the junior Nations Cup last year. “I have had her for a little over a year. I did the junior competition last year and we were second, so every year she comes out and gives me all she can and I love her so much,” Reid praised. “Unfortunately, I think the course caught up with me at the end today. After the water my horse got a little strung out, but I am really proud of how we did and our amazing team. Winning as a team is unbelievable.”
“I just want to thank DiAnn for the opportunity to be on this team,” Reid added. “It is an opportunity to represent our country, and it is an amazing honor. It is very different than when you are just going by yourself in a regular round. You have all these guys standing behind you. All of these competitions, like the Artisan Farms Under 25 series and the Young Rider championships in the summer and every other team class, are great practice for what I think we all hope to do in the future in Nations Cups.”
Brazil finished the young rider team event in second with a score of 24. Their team included Andre Reichmann and Elle de Laubry, Yasmin Almendros and Piaf de Quintin, Luis Antonio Piva Filho aboard Zaterdag Cooper, and Joao Victor Castro with Wamira. The team finished on four faults in round one and a 20-point total in round 2. Reichmann and Elle de Laubry went on to represent Brazil in the grand prix jump-off and finished third individually.
The team from Ireland was third with 28 faults. Cormac Hanley and Navy Blue Tarroy, Oliver McCarthy and Crossfire 10, Jenny Rankin and Eddi Maserati, and Tom Foley with Petrushka III finished on 20 faults in round one and 8 faults in round 2. Rankin and Eddi Maserati finished second in the grand prix jump-off.
$2500 Junior Grand Prix & Second Round Nation’s Cup
Team USA added another win in the Hollow Creek Farm Nation’s Cup series, this time in the Junior class as Lucas Porter (Wellington, FL), Kelli Cruciotti (Elizabeth, CO), Lauren Fischer (Bedford Hills, NY), and Madison Goetzmann (Skaneateles, NY) rode to victory. This group of riders with significant team competition experience handled the big track with ease. Team Ireland finished just behind Team USA in second, and Team Brazil rounded out the top three. Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez (MEX) won the $2,500 Junior Grand Prix and also took home the Overall Leading Rider Award.
This group of U.S. Junior riders has a wealth of experience in the team competition atmosphere considering their young ages, as each has represented the U.S. or their respective zones at the FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) or in other team competitions. Lauren Fischer and Offenbach Du Granit are one of those pairs; “I’ve had him for about a year now. We bought him last year in Wellington. We’ve had a lot of firsts; we did NAJYRC together, Prix des States, and he took me around my first 1.50m Grand Prix, so he’s really special and I couldn’t ask for a better horse.”
Lucas Porter is no stranger to besting pressure situations, as he is a rising star in the jumper world and experiences like Nation’s Cup continue to improve his riding. “A team ride is definitely different than an individual ride. I’ve been fortunate enough to compete on a few teams now here in Wellington and at NAJYRC. The pressure of the team and the pressure to put in two clear rounds is very different than individual riding because you not only have your team, but there are so many other people counting on you,” he stated. “I really want to thank everyone for helping me get here: John Roche, Chelsea Sundius, my parents, and Sleepy P Ranch for making this all possible.”
“It’s a whole different level when you can’t only worry about yourself, but you have a group of people who need you to perform well,” said Kelli Cruciotti who rode Chamonix H for Team USA. “It is definitely an experience and the more you do it, the more you can get comfortable with it. It’s still always a little nerve-wracking going in though.”
The course tested the riders at each fence, which is exactly what is needed in a Nation’s Cup class at this level according to all of the riders. “The triple combination was tricky because I didn’t want to go in too flat, but I have a small-strided horse so I went for eight (strides),” said Porter about his ride on Phineas. Goetzmann had a strong showing aboard Wrigley and agreed with her teammates about the layout of the course. “The most difficult part for me was after the water and then going to the short six. My horse likes to get little bit ahead of herself with the water and getting her back and ready for the six (strides) was difficult, but the rest of the course was great.”
Albanez has competed in Nation’s Cup classes for Mexico for the past two years and had his best showing yet at the 2015 $2,500 Junior Grand Prix competition. He crossed the timers in the jump-off at 31.627 seconds aboard Charlotte to take home the top prize. “My horse is really great. She’s very fast, and I trust that she can do it. She’s young; she’s only seven, so I’m excited to continue riding her,” he remarked.
He has had top 10 finishes at large competitions in the U.S. including the 2014 and 2013 NAJYRC where he came in 6th and 7th respectively. Even though the Grand Prix was based on individual scores, Albanez enjoys riding in the team atmosphere. “It’s always a good time, and we’re really good friends. We didn’t have the best year this year, but that’s okay because its good experience to ride as a team.”
Sixteen-year-old Albanez plans to return to Mexico to finish his studies before deciding where he will compete for the summer season. “When I get home it will be about finishing school and then who knows; we’ll just have to see!” he smiled.
Hollow Creek Farms Children’s Grand Prix & Second Round Nation’s Cup
The latter half of the first round and the full second round of the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Nation’s Cup continued today after the class was postponed due to Saturday’s storms. Team USA took the win in the Children’s divisions thanks to the riding of Yasmin Rizvi (Greenwich, CT), Catalina Peralta (Geneva, FL), Charles Jacobs Jr. (Boston, MA), and Sheer Levitin (Delray Beach, FL) with Team Brazil finishing in second and Team Argentina following in third.
Thales Gabriel De Lima Marino (BRA) took the win in the Children’s Grand Prix and Alejandra Godoy (VEN) received the Overall Leading Rider Award for her combined performance throughout the week.
This was the first time a majority of the selected group of children’s riders representing the United States Team had ever been named to compete in team competition format. “It’s an honor to win my first Nation’s Cup,” smiled Levitin, who rode Nabuco in the class. “Thank you so much to Hollow Creek Farm for sponsoring this event and the entire team that made it possible.”
Team USA put in a great effort to best the other seven teams from around the world competing at PBIEC this weekend. “It feels great to come out with a win considering there were so many other great rounds from other teams today,” stated Jacobs who rode Campesino IV. “It’s just awesome to be here.” Peralta reiterated the sentiment, saying she was so proud of the way her horse, Merlin, performed considering their partnership is relatively new. “We’ve had newfound success already in our career together, which is really exciting and to do it at a Nation’s Cup was even better,” she remarked.
Each of the riders commented on the experience of competing as a team versus as an individual. Rizvi, who competed with her horse Delilah, elaborated nicely when describing the experience. “I put a lot more pressure on myself because we were competing as a team, and I didn’t want to let anyone down. Once we won, it was really fun because we did it together and feeling like it was a group effort was a nice change.”
Thales Gabriel De Lima Marino made the trip from San Paulo, Brazil, to compete in the WEF 8 Nation’s Cup competition. The winner of the Children’s Grand Prix, Marino rode quickly and accurately in the jump-off round aboard Balla 12 in 30.407 seconds to take the class. “My horse is really fast, and I thought the course was very good,” explained Marino. “The most difficult parts for me were Fences 8, 9, & 10. They were tough lines, but my horse is very good and it was a good ride.”
Marino, who enjoyed his time in Wellington for the past two weeks, will return to San Paulo tonight and will continue riding when he returns home. “My horse has a lot of energy so riding here in Florida was very fun. I will be excited to come back,” he smiled.
Casanova and Sophie Gochman Conclude WEF 8 as the Autism Speaks Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony
On Sunday afternoon Sophie Gochman, form New York City, piloted Romy Lauer’s pony, Casanova, to the Autism Speaks Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony championship. Casanova won the under saddle class and was third in two over fences classes.
Christina Rogalny and 3 Wishes finished the day as reserve champions. Elm Creek Holdings’ entry took home the blue in the final over fences class, paired with a second over fences yesterday.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its ninth week of competition, sponsored by Douglas Elliman, on March 4-8, 2015. The week will feature the $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Douglas Elliman, on Saturday, March 7. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Adele Norton and Pitch Perfect Top Bainbridge Companies Amateur Owner 18-35 Division
Wellington, FL – January 11, 2015 – Week one of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday with the $30,000 WEF 1 Grand Prix held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. In a 22-horse jump-off with some of the fastest riders in the world, USA’s Todd Minikus came out on top aboard Carl Brem’s Cordonos. Ireland’s Conor Swail and Grafton finished second and USA’s Mclain Ward and HH Ashley were third.
Course designer Eric Hasbrouck’s final track for week one competition yielded 22 out of 55 entries in the $30,000 WEF 1 Grand Prix. In the jump-off, nine entries were able to clear the short course without fault in a race against the clock.
Marie Hecart (FRA) and Rogelio Pellerano’s Quatour de B Neville set the pace, first to jump clear over the short course in 35.83 seconds, to eventually finish seventh. Liza Finzness (USA) and Shiver took the eighth place honors in 36.94 seconds. Alise Oken (USA) and Hi Hopes Farm LLC’s Teirra upped the pace next to finish fourth in 33.75 seconds. Daniel Zetterman (SWE) and Gyllebo Farm LLC’s Zhivago were clear in 34.82 seconds to finish sixth.
Conor Swail and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Grafton followed to take the lead in 32.67 seconds, but were soon pushed into second place. Eirin Bruheim (NOR) and Nordic Lights Farm LLC’s NLF Favorite also jumped clear and finished ninth in 43.57 seconds. The winning round followed with Todd Minikus and Cordonos blazing through the timers in 32.22 seconds. McLain Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Ashley jumped into third place in the next clear round with a time of 33.04 seconds. The final clear came from Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Bijzonder, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Paul Tracy, with the fifth place time of 34.30 seconds.
Todd Minikus first rode class winner, Cordonos, for the first time a couple of days before competing in the Trump Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, one week ago. The 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Lordanos x Tin Rocco) had just arrived in Florida and jumped quite well, then went on to a nice four fault round in Thursday’s Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 to begin the WEF circuit. Although they are just getting to know each other, the pair was perfectly in sync for Sunday’s winning jump-off round.
“Today we knew each other a little better, and it all worked out,” Minikus declared following his win. “It ended up being an extremely fast class. Conor is obviously blistering fast. I didn’t see him go, but I knew what to expect. I didn’t really know how to manage the jump-off. I was stuck right in the middle of 22 horses. I kind of tapped him with my stick behind my leg and he jumped into the bridle a little bit. I thought, ‘Okay, seems like he’s ready.’ I hate trying to ride for fourth place anyway.”
“The times were almost the same,” Minikus said of where he beat Swail. “I don’t have any idea. Conor’s horse probably jumped a little higher or something. It seems like the times were very close.”
Commenting on the course, Minikus noted, “It is the first grand prix of the circuit and some of the top horses are coming here in a few weeks. These are young horses or horses you’re trying to get familiar with. There were enough clean, but it’s hard to build this first week. It’s only supposed to be 1.45m. Eric did a good job. The reality is that everybody is confident enough to move on to next week. I don’t think there were any horses that got into trouble.”
Minikus has big plans for the season as the current leader in the North American East Coast League for the FEI World Cup Finals. He also has his sights set on the Pan American Games later in the year. He has some top horses to show this winter, including superstar mount Quality Girl, and looks forward to what may come with Cordonos as well.
“I don’t know a lot about the horse to be honest,” Minikus noted. “I don’t know what he’s done, but he has been a good sport in every class so far. He comes back over here and we run his legs off, and he jumps great. I guess we’ll keep feeding him Purina and see what happens!”
For second place finisher, Conor Swail, Sunday’s class was a great start to the circuit for his mount Grafton, a nine-year-old Selle Francais stallion (Calvaro x Vondeen). Swail previously owned the horse himself in partnership with Barry O’Connor, and then Ariel and Susan Grange purchased the horse so that he could continue to show it.
“He did a little bit here last year. I was injured for six months, but Darren Dlin rode him here and did a nice job with him,” Swail detailed. “I started riding him a little bit in Spruce Meadows in the 1.45m, 1.50m classes. He was green, but impressive. He did a bit in Europe and jumped some speed classes in Dublin. He jumped three days clear.”
“I’m sort of building him up as one of my better horses in the near future,” Swail continued. “Today he jumped a nice round. He’s hard to get underneath the time allowed in the first round. He jumps quite high and hangs in the air a bit. In the jump-off, I started off in a good rhythm and I got a great shot back to the vertical. I went inside to the double and Todd was saying it was the same for him that for whatever reason, they didn’t turn great away from there. When I came out, I knew it was going to be very close. For me, I knew I had nothing left apart from one less step across the gallop. It was one of those jump-offs where you couldn’t touch the reins. Every time you saw anything, you just took it. It was great; I’m delighted with the horse.”
Swail is happy to be back in the ring at WEF after an Achilles tendon injury sidelined him last winter. He got back to riding in May and had a successful summer of competition and is feeling great with the start of another season.
“When I first started riding again I felt very loose in the saddle and I wasn’t strong. My eyes were working well and I knew everything to do, but the body wasn’t working well,” he explained. “It wasn’t doing exactly what I wanted it to do, but in the last few months I have gotten very close to where I was before, so I’m excited for WEF this year. I’m looking forward to it. I have some nice horses and great owners in Sue and Ariel Grange and her family. I’m hoping for a good 12 weeks here.”
Along with top prizes for the grand prix, a special award was presented to the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider of week one competition, an award presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler. Marie Hecart of France had a fantastic start to the circuit including her seventh place finish in the day’s grand prix with Quatour de B Neville to earn the honor.
Adele Norton and Pitch Perfect Top Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner 18-35 Division
On the final day of week one hunter competition Adele Norton of Falls Church, VA and her horse Pitch Perfect took home championship honors in the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner 18-35. Norton and Pitch Perfect won the handy hunter round yesterday and finished first and second over fences today.
Chablis, owned by Libertas Farm and ridden by Kelly Tropin, finished the day as reserve champion. Tropin guided Chablis to a first and third over fences, paired with a win in the under saddle.
Adele Norton and Pitch Perfect
Norton had always wanted a hunter and in June, trainer Kimberly Prince found her the perfect one. “He [Pitch Perfect] was my 21st birthday present, best present yet!” Norton said smiling.
Taking most of the indoor season off, the pair got back in the show ring last week. Norton explained, “I was a little star struck. It had been a while since I showed, but he [Pitch Perfect] took care of me.”
After starting out this week in the First Year Hunters, Norton and Pitch Perfect were confident going into the weekend. The pair had a score of 83 in the first round, topping the field of 18. In the second round, Pitch Perfect and Norton remained consistent, earning a score of 85.
Not only is Pitch Perfect a superstar in the ring, he is an “honors student” at home. Pitch Perfect earned the nickname because of his brave attitude and smart personality. “I’ve had a lot of horses I’ve been in love with, but I’ve never had a horse I’ve loved as much as this one!” Norton beamed.
One of Pitch Perfect’s favorite things is water. In Lake Placid this past summer, Pitch Perfect was the only one who would go in the river. “He [Pitch Perfect] loves it. He splashes it all around and the other horses look at him like he’s a dolphin,” Norton laughed.
Norton is currently a student-athlete at the University of South Carolina. At school Norton is pursuing her love of reading and writing as an English major and is a member of the Equestrian Team. Being a part of the team allows Norton to ride when she is away from her own horse.
Despite a busy schedule, Norton hopes to come back to Florida as much as possible to show Pitch Perfect. She is hoping to earn enough points during the winter season to qualify for indoor finals this coming fall.
The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its second week of competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, on January 14-18, 2015. The week features the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday, January 17. The Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series will also get underway with its first two competitions of the circuit. The $10,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Welcome will be held on Saturday, January 17. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider, will be held on Sunday, January 18. WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 29, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Lauren Fisher and Maddy Stover for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Purcellville, VA (November 6, 2014) — Todd Minikus has once again helped the Vita Flex Victory Team live up to its name. Minikus and his star mount Quality Girl claimed the win in the $34,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake at the 2014 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) on Thursday, October 23, 2014. Vita Flex congratulates Minikus on his victory, and is honored to call him a member of the equine supplement company’s team of equestrian professionals.
The 2014 Washington International Horse Show, held at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, took place on October 21-26, 2014. Minikus took first place in one of the two International Open Jumper classes held on October 23.
Twelve of the thirty competitors in the $34,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake jumped clear through the course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio. “I really didn’t know that there would be that many clean to tell you the truth, but the horses were sure jumping well. You really have to have your game on here; it gets very competitive,” Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida, comments about the event.
Ten horse-and-rider teams moved into the jump off, where Minikus and eleven-year-old Quality Girl (Quidams Rubin x Dobrock) were third to jump. When the Grand Prix champion and Oldenburg took an early lead, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “I was third in the jump-off out of ten and there were a few familiar names coming at the end, so it was questionable whether the lead would hold up. But it seems like a couple of those super-fast riders had jumps down. It was a nice class for the first jump-off class, and it probably made for a good jump-off to watch,” Minikus says.
Minikus’s competitors were unable to beat his 32.90-second double clear round, earning the six-time Nation Cup Team member first prize and the Ben O’Meara Memorial Challenge Trophy. Minikus was proud of the accomplishment as a first step towards the prestigious $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, held at the WIHS on Saturday October 25. “I just wanted to go nice and try not to go totally crazy and get her frantic for the rest of the week, but she was pretty tidy everywhere,” he says about his equine partner Quality Girl. “She is really a good horse. She has an awesome record and she is now a true professional show horse, so she just takes everything in stride. She has a lot of class.” The pair’s recent history of wins — including the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York in September — looks to be setting them up well for the President’s Cup competition.
Vita Flex, which supports competitors like Minikus by offering advanced supplements specifically created for equine athletes, is thrilled to see a Vita Flex Victory Team member attaining peak performance and bringing home the win. Vita Flex’s products include health supplements, antioxidants, electrolytes, joint supplements, performance supplements, topical ointments, vitamins, and minerals. For more information about Vita Flex, its products, and the Victory Team members, visit www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848-2359.
Vita Flex is a registered trademark of Farnam Companies, Inc.
Jessica Springsteen Tops Costumed Gambler’s Choice; Lucas Porter and Hunter Holloway Victorious in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers
Washington, D.C. – October 23, 2014 – The 2014 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued on Thursday with the first day of classes for the Junior Hunters and several International Jumper and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper classes at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The show continues through Sunday, October 26, with much more exciting action throughout the weekend, including Friday night’s $25,000 Puissance, presented by The Boeing Company, and Saturday night’s $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, presented by Events DC.
The International Open Jumpers had two classes on Thursday beginning with a win for Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl in the $34,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake. Top honors in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice costume class went to Jessica Springsteen (USA) aboard Lisona. The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers competed as well with wins for Lucas Porter and Psychee d’Amour in the Low division and Hunter Holloway and I Love Lucy in the High division.
Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, is the course designer for the jumpers at WIHS this year. In the day’s $34,000 Welcome Stake, sponsored by Louisburg Farm, D’Ambrosio saw 30 entries contest his track with 12 clear in round one and ten entries continuing on to the short course. Todd Minikus and Quality Girl completed the fastest double clear round in 32.90 seconds to earn the top prize and the Ben O’Meara Memorial Challenge Trophy.
Laura Kraut (USA) and Andretti S, owned by Stars and Stripes, finished second in 34.48 seconds. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and Armstrong van de Kapel placed third in 34.54 seconds, and Callan Solem (USA) and Horseshoe Trail Farm LLC’s VDL Wizard were fourth in 34.80 seconds.
Minikus and Quality Girl have shared many triumphs in the last two years and earned their biggest prize to date in September’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Quidams Rubin x Dobrock) continued her top form into the indoor season, also finishing second in the $85,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix de Penn National in Harrisburg last week. Minikus currently leads the Longines FEIWorld Cup™ North American East Coast League standings and hopes to earn more valuable points toward April’s final during his trip to WIHS. Saturday’s $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, presented by Events DC, is a qualifier and will be the major goal of the week for international competitors.
“It would be nice to get some World Cup points here,” Minikus stated. “The President’s Cup is for sure one of the more prestigious grand prixs that we have in America and I have been lucky enough to win it a couple of times, so hopefully we can be competitive again this year.”
In Thursday’s jump-off, he kept the grand prix in mind as he planned to give Quality Girl a positive round to keep her confidence up as the week continues. He had a great winning round and was pleased with her performance.
“I just wanted to go nice and try not to go totally crazy and get her frantic for the rest of the week, but she was pretty tidy everywhere,” he explained. “I was third in the jump-off out of ten and there were a few familiar names coming at the end, so it was questionable whether the lead would hold up. But it seems like a couple of those super-fast riders had jumps down.”
“She is really a good horse,” Minikus said. “She has an awesome record and she is now a true professional show horse, so she just takes everything in stride. She has a lot of class.”
“I really didn’t know that there would be that many clean to tell you the truth, but the horses were sure jumping well,” he said of the competition. “It was a nice class for the first jump-off class, and it probably made for a good jump-off to watch. You really have to have your game on here; it gets very competitive.”
Springsteen Scores Second Win of the Week
The $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class, sponsored by Equestrian Sport Productions, was held on Thursday evening during the show’s always popular Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery. Local young riders and horse enthusiasts attended in groups and had the chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening that included the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship races presented by Charles Owen.
Jessica Springsteen and Lisona
Dressed as an airplane pilot, Jessica Springsteen added another international win to her tally for the week after also topping Wednesday night’s Welcome Stake. Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Lisona jumped to a score of 850 points and cleared the joker for an additional 200-point bonus for the winning 1050 total. Springsteen was presented with the Crown Royal Trophy, donated by Crown Royal, as the winning rider, and Lisona won The Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy, donated by the Washington International Horse Show, as the winning horse.
McLain Ward (USA) and Zander, owned by Ward and Grant Road Partners, finished second on a score of 1020 dressed in steeplechase attire. Beezie Madden (USA) rode Coral Reed Via Volo dressed as a Green Bay Packers fan to a 1010-point total to secure third place honors.
Springsteen credits her trainer, Laura Kraut, for coming up with the right course to accrue the winning total and was very happy with Lisona, her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality x Porsch), for a great night.
“Laura came up with a course that worked really well,” Springsteen acknowledged. “It is nice when the fences stay up, and you can stay to your plan. She jumped really well tonight, and I was lucky that everything went according to plan.”
“My horses have all been going amazing,” the rider added. “I jumped her this morning and she is kind of better as she goes on, and today she really felt great. Usually I don’t do her in speed classes, so she handled this really well. I was really happy with her.”
Springsteen plans on jumping Lisona in Friday night’s Puissance presented by The Boeing Company, noting, “She has so much scope, so I really do feel like she would jump anything.”
An added bonus to Springsteen’s Gambler’s Choice win was the thousands of excited young fans from Barn Night cheering riders on.
“It was so much fun. I was really impressed when I came here and I saw the big crowd,” Springsteen smiled. “The pony racing is so much fun to watch and I think that is a really great thing about this horse show, that they have so many fun events. It really does attract a great crowd. It is exciting. It is a great atmosphere, and it makes it fun for the riders and the horses I think.”
Porter and Holloway Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers
The $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by The Strauss Family, was held on Thursday afternoon for 21 entries and five clear rounds with a win for Lucas Porter of Bartonville, TX, riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Psychee d’Amour. Porter and the 11-year-old Selle Francais mare (Juvaro du Rouet SF x Papillon Rouge) were presented the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy for their winning round in 51.84 seconds.
Sima Morgello and Double S Farm LLC’s Zopala finished second in 52.41 seconds. Lauren Fischer and Norton de la Sapaie placed third in 53.99 seconds, and Yasmin Rizvi and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Delilah ended in fourth place with a time of 54.60 seconds.
Lucas Porter and Psychee d’Amour
Following his win, Porter explained that his family has owned Psychee d’Amour for over three years, but the mare got injured and was out of competition for almost two years. This is her first full year back, and she quickly came back to win classes with Porter while showing abroad inMünchen-Riem and St. Tropez.
“She has just been fantastic the entire year,” Porter stated. “She is super-fast, super careful. She is just a little speedster.”
Porter has had huge success this year including an individual gold medal at the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships and a big win at Spruce Meadows along with a fantastic European tour. He continued the streak on Thursday by earning his first win at the Washington International Horse Show.
“It is fun to win here and credit to the show organizers,” Porter acknowledged. “This is a fantastic show. It is well run. Even though there is one ring and you have to ride at different hours, everything is super punctual and everything runs on time. The in-gate guys here get all the horses in quickly, so the classes move nicely. Everything is just run really well.”
Thanks to his parents and trainer, John Roche, along with the help of Chelsea Sundius, Porter has a great support system getting him to the ring. For Thursday’s win, he and Psychee d’Amour had the combination of talent, speed, and a good strategy to jump to victory.
“The course was just about right for the first day here for the Lows. I thought it was a well-built course, so credit to the course designer,” Porter stated. “All of the lines had some difficulty to them, the first line especially. I was quite quick over to the double (combination). I think I did one or two fewer strides than the second place person there. She is just a naturally quick horse everywhere. That is mainly where she wins, is just her natural pace. I kind of just stay in a half seat and let her do her thing.”
The $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by Ellen and Daniel Crown, was held during the evening session with a win for Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, aboard Hays Investment Corp.’s I Love Lucy. 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.”
The class saw 23 entries with four clear rounds and the fastest time of 49.05 seconds set by Holloway and I Love Lucy. Meredith Darst and Page Tredennick’s Zenith Dance finished second in 50 seconds. Lauren Fischer and Offenbach du Granit were third in 51.57 seconds, and Victoria Colvin and Brigid Colvin’s Don Juan placed fourth in 54.38 seconds.
“It is super exciting to win here. The atmosphere is amazing,” Holloway stated after the class. “As a kid, you dream about showing at the Washington International Horse Show. It is such a big deal and to be able to come here is like a dream come true. It is one of your goals that you set throughout the year to come here and compete successfully and then to do it is just really special.”
“She is a pretty quick horse on her own and travels over the ground pretty quickly, so I just wanted a smooth, forward round and the course was set great. It was very consistent, and I liked it. My horse liked it too,” Holloway said of the nine-year-old Warmblood mare (Corrado II x Papillion).
“She is a great horse. We have had her for about a year now,” the rider detailed. “When I got her we did the 1.30m, and we have brought her up from there. We went to Europe this summer and she competed there on a CSIOY young riders team and she was awesome.”
Holloway is trained by her mother, Brandie Holloway, and also gets help from Don Stewart and Anne Kursinski. Describing I Love Lucy further, she smiled, “I love her. She is an awesome horse. She is pretty simple, kind of a point and shoot. She is a chestnut mare for sure, but she is always fighting for you, which is nice. You can’t beat that. When they are fighting for you, there is nothing better.”
The Washington International Horse Show continues on Friday with the championships for the Junior Hunter divisions as well as the hunter phase for the WIHS Equitation Finals. The Low and High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers will have jump-off classes in the afternoon session. The evening session begins with a $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final followed by the $25,000 Puissance, sponsored by The Boeing Company.
For those who cannot make it to the show, it will be live streamed in its entirety, sponsored in part by The Nutro Company, at www.wihs.org, and is also available on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com.
About the Washington International Horse Show An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s premier metropolitan indoor horse show. Each October, more than 500 world-class horses and riders, including Olympic medalists, arrive in Washington for six days of exciting show jumping and hunter competition. Highlights include the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and the WIHS Equitation Finals, an important goal for top American junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group.
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.
SAUGERTIES, NY (September 7, 2014) – They’ve been second and third in the money before, but today Todd Minikus [Loxahatchee, Florida] and Quality Girl galloped triumphantly to a Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix win. With the weather on the side of spectator and exhibitor – clear, breezy and comfortable – Minikus was both ecstatic and thankful.
“As athletes we appreciate the opportunity and support from sponsors like Zoetis and management like HITS,” he said. “As a kid I only dreamt I would be jumping for $1 million dollars, but I get to do it three times a year thanks to Tom Struzzieri [HITS President and CEO].”
A childhood dream turned reality, Minikus was the second-to-last trip as million-dollar glory goaded 33 contenders. The first clear came early with Quentin Judge [Wellington, Florida] and HH Donnatella jumping for Double H Farm (fourth in the order).
“This is the biggest track I have ever jumped and my first time doing one of the HITS’ million-dollar classes,” said Judge. “Of course the goal is to win, but I am so happy with second – today was the experience of a lifetime.”
Judge and his 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare proved Danny Foster’s [Milton, Ontario] track could be mastered. Yet, the twenty-seven who followed turned in faults — making a jump off nearly unreachable. Then Minikus and Quality Girl entered the ring. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare with her characteristic head toss and spooky side-step was ready for a two-woman duel and guaranteed a jump-off with a poised and focused Minikus in the tack.
“In anybody’s book, those jumps were big, but there shouldn’t be that many clear for $1 million. I think we gave the crowd what they wanted today,” said Minikus, who had the opportunity to watch Judge return first in the jump-off.
A light rub at the b-element of the short course’s double combination landed Judge with four faults and left the door open for Minikus. Never one to back down from a speed duel, Minikus hoped it would have come to that. “It would have been easier if he had gone clear – we could have battled it out on the clock,” he said.
Minikus returned and had every spectator gasping with each stride. He crossed the timers in 46.98 seconds – two seconds slower than Judge, but clear and $350,000 richer. “I came through the combination and felt her [Quality Girl] trying hard, so I changed my plan and went extra wide to the plank. Then she acted like we were home clear and I trusted her,” admitted Minikus. “They say if you get a good mare that fights hard for you, they are difficult to beat and both Quentin and I proved it true,” he added.
While second-place paid Judge $200,000, progress seemed more important for the young rider. “We got this mare a year and half ago and I had a really hard time with her for about the first year and three months,” he said with a laugh. “But we started hitting our stride over the last few weeks. She’s a great horse and proved what she’s capable of today.”
HITS Thermal regular Elizabeth Gingras [Edmonton, Alberta] jumped fault-free in the first round, but collected three time faults to finish third.
“It’s a thrill to even jump in a class like this let alone go clear,” she said. “I competed in the AIG Million in Thermal this winter and after each class walked away learning so much that I can apply to my rides and next million-dollar class. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Gingras, who rides under the direction of Jill Henselwood piloted Zilversprings, owned by Brian Gingras, a mount that came to her in May.
Following Gingras, Charlie Jayne [Wellington, Florida] made a hurried journey from France as the U.S. alternate at the World Equestrian Games and jumped Chill R Z, owned by Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher, to fourth. A heartbreak rail at the final fence of the first round landed the pair with four faults. Candice King [Wellington, Florida] jumped last in the first round aboard Kismet 50 for Bellissimo, LLC where a single rail settled her fifth.
A team effort by Foster and HITS’ creative staff and jump builders presented a brag-worthy track with wide oxers, an applause-generating look and first-ever use of 3-D printing in show jumping competition. “Everything was beautifully made and exquisitely presented,” said Foster. “Most horses at this level jump what they look at, but some quick approaches and late combinations increased the pressure that visuals can present.”
Characterized as “The greatest sponsor in the world” by Struzzieri, Stuart Meikle of Zoetis was pleased with the jump design, result, crowds and day in general. “The riders put on an amazing show and the event as a whole was as exciting as ever. I look forward to the same class next year,” he said.
Struzzieri admitted the HITS Championship was a banner weekend, but also gave credit to this summer’s HITS Saugerties Series as one of the most successful in its 11-year history in the Hudson Valley. “With big class after big class, this weekend was a great way to finish a fantastic season,” he said. “Saugerties is home to HITS and we look forward to 2015. The entire HITS staff delivered this weekend.”
Todd Minikus & Quality Girl. Credit Tom Von Kap-Herr.
Bromont, Quebec – July 27, 2014 – The 2014 International Bromont’s final event, the World Cup Qualifier, ended with American riders dominating, as they took seven of the top ten places, including the Top Five.
Victory for Todd Minikus
Designed for testing both the technical and athletic abilities of participating riders, the course created by Venezuela’s Leopoldo Palacios, featured 13 obstacles for 16 efforts in a time allowed of 93 seconds.
Only five pairs entered successfully made it to the jump-off, including the winners of the July 20th Grand Prix, Denise Wilson and Winter.
Of the five duos that made it to the second round, only four would effectively participate: Olympic rider Leslie Howard was unable to compete in the jump-off because of a fall incurred in the warm-up ring, automatically placing fifth with Utah. Bromont native rider Mario Deslauriers gambled on speed to take first place with Scout de la Cense, but a fallen bar denied him the win. Denise Wilson/Winter and Candice King/Combina took the lead with two clear rounds. The last duo on the course, Todd Minikus and Quality Girl, earned the win with a course executed at full speed; they beat their closest opponents, Candice King and Combina, by more than three seconds.
The End of the 39th Edition
The July 26 & 27 weekend thus concluded the 39th edition of the International Bromont. However, the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park will host the Quebec Provincial Dressage Championships as well as the Autumn Classic from September 12 to 14, 2014. FEI judges Elizabeth McMullen (FEI5*) and Lorraine Stubbs (FEI4*) will be part of the jury. More information will be available on the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park site at www.parcequestrebromont.org.
About International Bromont
The International Bromont promises an unforgettable 2014 edition with six new FEI events, the return of the Royal Canin Challenge on Sundays July 20 and 27 (in collaboration with the Club d’agilité de la Montérégie), its two Speed Derbies and its Hunter Derby. For more details on the programme, visit our Internet site at www.internationalbromont.org.
Held in Quebec, in the picturesque setting of the Eastern Townships region, near Vermont’s border, the International Bromont, a hunter and show jumping competition, presents its thirty-ninth edition at the Bromont Equestrian Olympic Park from July 10 to 13, 16 to 20 and 23 to 27, 2014. International Bromont would like to thank the Ministère de l’Éducation du Loisir et du Sport as well as the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec for their support. General admission seats: $10 per person and free for children under 12 years old. Privilege seating: $25 a ticket.
SAUGERTIES, NY (July 21, 2014) – Todd Minikus knows when the likes of McLain Ward, Ronan McGuigan and Laura Chapot follow him in a jump-off, winning will be no easy feat. He proved twice over, however, that while a fight against some of the greats is a challenge, he is up to the task. Minikus bested a star-studded order on Sunday to collect first with Arino Du Rouet, as well as second and sixth in the $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties.
With 13 jumping efforts, Florencio Hernandez (Mexico City, Mexico) built a course that served dual purposes – welcoming a field of both green and experienced horses. “For that mix, it was the perfect course,” said Minikus.
The first round of 18 starters yielded seven clears to return for the jump-off. Riding first in the class, Minikus and Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41 made clear that while the course was technical, it was not too much for the inexperienced horses. Two trips later, Ward and HH Ashley, Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix winners owned by Double H Farm, secured a jump-off. Minikus would eventually qualify two more for the jump-off, joined again by Ward of Brewster, New York, McGuigan of Far Hills, New Jersey, and Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey.
Returning first to the second round over nine obstacles were Minikus from Loxahatchee, Florida and Babalou 41. Despite having a young partnership of two months, they were aggressive and in sync, posting a blistering time of 40.14 seconds. “I knew they would have to work hard to catch us after that round,” said Minikus of his challengers. “You can’t find stiffer jump-off competition than that group.”
Even with notable contenders, the real jump-off battle was between Minikus and Ward. Their intense game of cat and mouse monopolized the jump-up action with Ward returning second on HH Ashley and breaking the tape just off the lead. The mare was precise and flawless, posting a clear time of 41.23 seconds.
Minikus’ Great American Time to Beat on Babalou went untouched until he returned fourth in the order with Arino Du Rouet for Two Swans Farm. They stopped the clock in 39.60 seconds – the time that eventually earned the blue ribbon. “I got lucky at the second jump and caught a forward, long distance, which worked well for us in the end,” he said.
With one ride to remain, Ward and HH Fleur made a huge bid for the win with tights knees and efficient turns, but couldn’t catch Minikus on the clock. When he pulled up, it read 41.11 seconds for third, bumping his other ride HH Ashley to fourth.
McGuigan claimed fifth aboard Capall Zidane with the fastest of the four-fault jump-off rounds in 39.91 seconds – a time that would have earned him a spot in the top three. Minikus and his own Macoemba took sixth with four faults and Chapot settled for seventh aboard Quointreau Un Prince after two rails came out of the cups.
Minikus and Arino Du Rouet, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, quickly climbed the ranks at HITS-on-the-Hudson, winning the $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix presented by Zoetis during the spring series. “Arino turned a corner when we arrived in Saugerties,” said Minikus. “This circuit is perfect for horses making a name for themselves jumping for impressive prize money. Plus, the footing is excellent at HITS — as good as anywhere I’ve competed in the world”
Lofty plans are in the works for both Arino Du Rouet and Babalou 41, including bids to World Cup Finals, Pan American Games and eventually the Olympics, but on Sunday a one-two finish was enough. While not lacking confidence in his younger mounts, Minikus hinted that Quality Girl is still his number-one choice for the September’s Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. “She’s a proven winner – we are going to carefully bring the new ones [Arino Du Rouet and Babalou 41] along, keep feeding them Purina and they will get there. Both horses have big futures ahead of them,” he concluded.
SAUGERTIES, NY (June 6, 2014) – Quality Girl is no stranger to clean rounds with Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and at the top of her game as of late. Highlighted by their Open Jumper success at Devon last weekend and today, winning the HITS $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare continues to shine.
“She’s turning into a machine,” said Minikus after they topped a field of 38 to bring home the blue. “We were under some pressure in the jump-off, but I rode exactly like I always do, and she got it done for me.”
With 16 pairs advancing to the jump-off, that “pressure” begged Minikus to take a chance over the shorter course. An inside turn to the fifth fence, that no one else dared attempt, made all the difference.
Designer Martin Otto, of Muenster, Germany, set a first-round course of 12 obstacles with 15 jumping efforts and was pleased with the final result. “Some might look at the scoreboard and think the course was too lucky for these riders; only one retired and the most faults was 18. That is success to me,” said Otto. “My purpose was to give these horses and riders confidence for Sunday and allow the younger, less experienced pairs to have a good day.”
Minikus was pleasantly surprised by Otto’s reasoning. “Many horses jumped nice rounds today and that’s good for everybody,” he said. “The course served its purpose and competitors well.”
Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania was first to jump clear from the number-one spot in the original order aboard his own Mark Q. They returned to set an immediate Great American Time to Beat at 51.99 seconds.
One ride later Minikus and Quality Girl left out strides and wowed the crowd with their breakneck turning skills, stopping the clock at 46.42 seconds. Thirteen contenders tried, but they couldn’t be caught.
Jeffery Welles came close, however. The Wellington, Florida native piloted Prem Dollar Boy to cross the timers at 50.60 seconds for second. Catherine Tyree of Chicago, Illinois and Sandor de la Prince were clear with a time of 51.50 seconds to finish third for owners Joseph & Mary Tyree. Babington ended fourth while Adrienne Iverson of Califon, New Jersey capped the top five in the irons Redfield Farms’ Ultimo.
Decked in sponsor swag from Éce Equestrian to Charles Owen, Minikus has big plans for this weekend. The $100,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix presented by Zoetis takes center stage as the HITS Saugerties spring series ends on a high note.
“Quality Girl and all my horses are fed Purina,” said Minikus. “Hopeful that gives us a little extra luck come Sunday.”
