Tag Archives: Victoria Colvin

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Moloney and Alsvid Race to Victory in $34,000 Equiline 1.45m Speed Classic

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Richie Moloney and Alsvid. Photos: ©ManciniPhotos.

Victoria Colvin and Pepie Lu Take $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Wellington, FL – November 27, 2015 – Richie Moloney (IRL) and Alsvid made a dash up the leaderboard in the $34,000 Equiline 1.45m Speed Classic at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) today, as FEI competition resumed at the venue for the Holiday & Horses CSI 4*. Moloney and Alsvid rose to the occasion, crossing through the timers in 62.28 seconds to capture the win. Ali Wolff (USA) and Artemis followed in second with a time of 62.90 seconds while Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel, winners of the $34,000 Equiline Holiday & Horses Opener Grand Prix held this past Wednesday, finished in 63.51 seconds for third place.

Competition continues at PBIEC tomorrow with the highly anticipated $212,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix presented by Palm Beach Sports Commission and Discover the Palm Beaches beginning at 6:30pm. The night will also host the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Winterfest and showcase the first round of drawings for the 2016 Great Charity Challenge (GCC), presented by Fidelity Investments®.

Moloney and Alsvid entered the International Ring in the middle of the 40-horse order of go, several rounds after reigning class leader Farrington posted the quickest double clean trip aboard Blue Angel. Maintaining a bold pace throughout the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course, Moloney made the most of his round aboard the 2001 Hanoverian gelding (Escudo I x Adonca) owned by Equinimity LLC.

“It was a full 1.45m class, and the first four jumps really made you open up. That’s where you could make up some of the time, which is where I think we did,” said Moloney. “I took a bit of a chance to the last two fences on course and did probably one less than most people, and I think that is what earned us the win.”

Alsvid is Moloney’s top FEI Speed horse, and the pair has produced several major international victories this season. The win this afternoon marked the duo’s fifth FEI win this year and third FEI Speed class victory. Moloney will return to FEI competition on Sunday for the $34,000 1.45m Consolation Classic before beginning a period of rest for Alsvid with the remainder of Moloney’s string before the beginning of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit in mid-January.

“He’s very good in these types of classes and has proven to be very consistent this season placing in the top three at least five times since the beginning of the summer. It was a strong class today, and I felt very good about his performance,” he noted.

The seasoned gelding has proven throughout his career with Moloney that he excels and enjoys difficult speed classes, which allows Moloney to take major risks that are rewarded when faced against some of the world’s best combinations. He explained, “He really enjoys these speed classes because he naturally wants to go forward so you just let him go and steady him a bit at the jumps, but try not get in the way,” Moloney remarked. “It’s nice to start off the season here with a win. We’ll look for another good result in the 1.45m class on Sunday and then bring him back in February for some of the big FEI classes during circuit.”

Victoria Colvin and Pepie Lu Take $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL and Pepie Lu, a 2007 Warmblood gelding (Sergeant Pepper x Mecklenburger) owned by Nathalie Mathers of Wellington, FL, stole the show in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at PBIEC, receiving a combined score of 180. The total must be correct for the win, but if you don’t know the correct individual scores just stay with the total. Kathryn Haefner of Hamburg, NY, and Bentley finished in second with an overall score of 176, while Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Palm Beach Gardens, FL piloted Shoreline to third place honors with a combined score of 168.5.

Victoria Colvin and Pepie Lu
Victoria Colvin and Pepie Lu

Colvin and Pepie Lu impressed the judging panel in the first round of competition, scoring the highest mark of the class with a score of 87. Haefner and Bentley received the highest score of the second handy round of competition with an 86, which helped them secure the second place finish.

“This is the first class I’ve ever done on him. He used to show in the jumpers, but was a bit too quiet so he switched to the hunters,” said Colvin. “He’s super fun and incredibly easy to ride. I thought today was a great start for the both of us.”

The duo performed a lovely handy round, which Colvin remarked was a highlight of the class for her, as she thought it was the better of their two rounds. She explained, “The handy round was great because he’s really experienced with tight turns from his past life as a jumper so I was able to go for it, which I think was reflected in our score. It was a great way to start off the winter season, and it was a very competitive class.”

Competition at PBIEC continues tomorrow with the $212,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by Palm Beach Sports Commission and Discover the Palm Beaches beginning at 6:30pm. Admission is free to the public. FEI competition will conclude on Sunday, November 29, with the $34,000 1.45m Consolation Classic beginning at 1pm.

For more information on Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and to see a full list of results, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Victoria Colvin and Cafino Capture $35,000 Welcome Stake at WIHS

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Victoria Colvin and Cafino. Photos © Shawn McMillen Photography.

McLain Ward and HH Ashley Top Gambler’s Choice Costume Class; Taegan Long and Madison Goetzmann Win Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Speed Rounds

Washington, D.C. – October 22, 2015 – The 2015 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) hosted its third day of equestrian competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. on Thursday. The youngest rider in this year’s international show jumping competition at 18 years of age, USA’s Victoria Colvin jumped to victory with Cafino in the $35,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake. Top honors in the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice costume class, presented by the Winter Equestrian Festival, went to McLain Ward (USA) and HH Ashley.

The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers also competed Thursday with wins for Taegan Long and Pollux de Shalimar in the Low division, sponsored by The Strauss Family, and Madison Goetzmann and Wrigley in the High division, sponsored by Staysail Farm. The Junior Hunters hosted the first day of classes for their divisions in the morning and will conclude on Friday. Competition continues through Sunday, October 25, with much more exciting action throughout the weekend.

Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, is the course designer for the jumpers at WIHS this year. In the day’s $35,000 Welcome Stake, D’Ambrosio saw 27 entries with 10 advancing to the jump-off and five double clear rounds. Belgium’s Jos Verlooy set the pace in 33.40 seconds aboard Axel Verlooy and Euro Horse Bvba’s Sunshine to eventually finish fourth. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) was next to clear the short course in 33.65 seconds aboard Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Caleno 3 to place fifth. Catherine Tyree (USA) jumped the second place time of 32.86 seconds riding Mary and Joseph Tyree’s Enjoy Louis. Audrey Coulter (USA) took third place honors with a time of 32.92 seconds aboard Copernicus Stables LLC’s Domino, and Victoria Colvin completed the final clear round in the winning time of 30.40 seconds with Take the High Road LLC’s Cafino.

This is Colvin’s first year competing in the international division at WIHS and a memorable step in her young career. For the win, she was presented the Ben O’Meara Memorial Challenge Trophy, which has been hoisted by many of the greatest riders in the sport. Colvin was fearless in the jump-off, finishing over two seconds faster than her runner up. She spoke about her round, explaining that she started with a good pace, stayed tight in the turns and finally, galloped right down to the last fence, a careful vertical heading towards the in-gate. Cafino, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Roderik 856), was as game as his rider as they raced to the finish.

“I like to go very fast, so I was going, I was not whoa-ing,” Colvin declared of her risk to the last jump. “He is actually really good to just gallop down to big verticals, and I knew that he would jump it well.”

Colvin is one of the busiest riders at WIHS this week since she has also been competing in the hunter divisions each day and will contest the WIHS Equitation Finals, presented by SAP, on Friday and Saturday as well. She has her sights set on competing in the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington, presented by Events DC, for the first time ever this weekend.

“This is the first time that I have done the international jumper division at WIHS and I love this,” Colvin smiled. “Hunters have been great; I have done that for years, but I think it has been really good to start moving forward and going on to bigger things. We also hope that Cafino will do big things. He just came back from a couple months off, so I am happy that he jumped around the 1.50m course well and now we are going to try the grand prix.”

McLain Ward and HH Ashley Top Gambler’s Choice

The $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class, sponsored by the Winter Equestrian Festival, 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.

McLain Ward and HH Ashley
McLain Ward and HH Ashley

McLain Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Ashley topped the competition with the high score of 1140. Aaron Vale (USA) and Troy Glaus’s Quidams Good Luck finished second with a score of 1110, Victoria Colvin (USA) and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Lumiere and Laura Kraut (USA) aboard Stars and Stripes’ Andretti S both scored 1090. Ties were broken by times, so Colvin’s faster time of 53 seconds placed third over Kraut’s time of 60 seconds in fourth.

Ward was presented the Crown Royal Trophy, donated by Crown Royal, as the winning rider, and HH Ashley earned the Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy, donated by the Washington International Horse Show, as the winning horse.

“She’s a good old girl,” Ward said of the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare (Acorado x Chasseur). “I normally don’t bring her to the really big shows. I normally take her to a smaller circuit, but she always tries to jump clean rounds and she tries hard. I was actually feeling a little rusty this week and needed to get back into gear.”

Speaking of the competition, Ward noted, “I had no plan and I was struggling to come up with a course. Normally I’m okay with that. There was not just one way to do it. It was a little difficult to come up with a good course, but the horse performed well. We had fun.”

Barn Night was a huge success as some of the region’s top groups came out Thursday night to participate in special contests and enjoy the unique competition. Meadowbrook Farm was the winner of the Largest Group Overall to win a custom drape set thanks to Dover Saddlery. Summerfield Farm topped the Best Group Banner contest to take home a custom barn jump courtesy of Swan Lake Horse Shows, Clover Grove Farm had the Best Group Video to receive a customized restored golf cart courtesy of United Metro Golf Cart, and NFF Stables earned the Best Group Spirit Award to win a group clinic with top international show jumper Brianne Goutal.

Taegan Long and Madison Goetzmann Triumph in Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers

Taegan Long and Pollux de Shalimar
Taegan Long and Pollux de Shalimar

The $2,500 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by The Strauss Family, was held on Thursday afternoon with 24 entries and a wire-to-wire win for 16-year-old Taegan Long of Bedford, NJ, riding Maria Long’s Pollux de Shalimar. Long was the winner of the 2014 WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship and had the daunting task of going first in the order of her first Low Junior/Amateur-Owner competition at WIHS. She clocked an unbeatable clear round in 51.47 seconds to earn top prize and the Beagle Brook Farm Perpetual Trophy.

Sima Morgello and Double S Farm LLC’s Zopala finished second in 53.16 seconds. Sheer Levitin and Nabuco jumped into third in 53.30 seconds.

“This was my first time doing the Low Juniors here, and it was very nerve-wracking going in first,” Long admitted. “I knew I had to stick to the numbers and my horses would take care of me, so I was pretty confident.”

“I had a little more pressure because I was coming back from winning last year, but I knew I could do it if I just practiced hard enough,” Long continued. “This is my favorite show. The ring really works well for my horses; they both like it. Last night, my trainer (Carolyn Desfor) and I had a conversation and talked about how it is just about having fun, but obviously I want to win, so we came to win again.”

Long’s win last year was with Pocohontas, who she also jumped in Thursday’s class, but the win came with Pollux de Shalimar, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

“He is pretty straightforward,” Long described. “He is a little lover in the barn. I could tell from this morning when he took off in the schooling ring that he was ready to go, and he was really good. We were both really prepared for this coming off the PA National. We had a four-fault round there and he was seventh. I knew he was not going to hit a rail, so I knew I just had to hold on and he would be good.”

“With this horse, I don’t have to think about going fast because I know that no matter what, he is going to be the fastest horse out there,” Long added. “Every time I go in the ring, the last thing Carolyn says to me is, ‘Just go clear and he will be fast for you.’ That is really my motto with both of my horses.”

The $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class, sponsored by Staysail Farm, was held during the evening session with a win for 15-year-old Madison Goetzmann of Skaneatles, NY, aboard her own Wrigley. 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.”

Out of 24 entries, only three were able to clear the course without fault. Anna Dryden and Petrushka III set the pace in 59.50 seconds to eventually finish second. Goetzmann was next to contest the track with Wrigley and clocked the winning time of 58.27 seconds. Lucy Deslauriers took third place honors with her time of 60.79 seconds riding Hamlet.

Goetzmann leased Wrigley, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (by Padinus), from trainer John Madden during the past winter in Wellington, FL, and then purchased the mare soon after. They have been together for almost a year now.

“She is such an amazing horse,” the rider praised. “I have the privilege of having Beezie (Madden) to help me too. She always gives me excellent tips to improve things. This whole year we have been improving week by week. Two weeks ago, Zone 2 took home the gold medal at Prix de States in Harrisburg. She jumped double clear there. I am just in love with the mare.”

This was Goetzmann’s first time doing the High Junior Jumpers at WIHS. She competed in the low division two years ago and was excited to get a win at the next level.

“It is amazing to win. I think it is so amazing that we are in Washington, D.C.,” she noted. “You can walk right out and go anywhere. It is a different horse show, which I love. My horse was great. I think she loves it here.”

Goetzmann will also be competing in the WIHS Equitation Finals this weekend. Next year, she hopes to do some young rider and under 25 show jumping events throughout the season.

The Washington International Horse Show continues on Friday with the championships for the Junior Hunter divisions as well as the hunter phase of the WIHS Equitation Finals, presented by SAP. 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, presented by Rushy Marsh Farm and AAA Equestrian, followed by the $25,000 Boeing Company International Jumper Puissance.

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

About Washington International Horse Show, www.wihs.org
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the most prestigious equestrian sporting events in the U.S. More than 26,000 spectators attend the six-day show, which includes Olympic-level competition along with community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders come to D.C. from all over the globe to jump for more than a half a million dollars in prize money. Event highlights include the $125,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Washington, presented by Events DC, for the President’s Cup (Saturday night), The Boeing Company Puissance high jump competition on Military Night (Friday) and Kids’ Day (Saturday), a free, fun and educational community event. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and is recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group. WIHS is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports.

Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF

Colvin and Pilla Capture Grand Champion Titles at US Jr. Hunter Nat’l Championship East Coast

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Victoria Colvin and Way Cool (Cathrin Cammett Photo)

Devon, Pa. – The 2015 US Junior Hunter National Championship East Coast came to a close on Tuesday, following two days of competition in the historic Dover Arena at the Devon Horse Show grounds. More than 150 of the country’s top juniors headed to the championship to complete three phases in front of the judging panel of Hope Glynn, Marylisa Leffler, and Ken Smith over Skip Bailey-designed Classic Round course and Handy Hunter courses, which both counted for 40% of the overall score. The final 20% was earned in Tuesday morning’s Under Saddle phase. Victoria Colvin and Way Cool posted the best overall score of the 3’6″ competition to earn the 2015 Grand Champion title. In the 3’3″ championship, Sophia Pilla and CC Cool earned Grand Champion honors.

3’6″ Championship

Colvin (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Dr. Betsee Parker’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Way Cool, earned the 2015 National Title after scoring 108.80 in the Classic Round, 50.10 Under Saddle, and 108.40 in the Handy Round, to finish on an overall score of 267.30. The talented pair also earned the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 crown.

Colvin and Dr. Betsee Parker’s Ovation scored the Reserve Overall Grand Champion title. The 15-year-old Warmblood gelding finished on an overall total of 265.00 after posting scores of 107.20, 53.40, and 104.40 in the Classic, Under Saddle, and Handy Rounds, respectively. The pair also posted the best score in the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division.

“Both horses were perfect,” said Colvin. “I am so grateful to have these horses to ride; I can’t thank Dr. Betsee Parker enough. Ovation went the best he’s gone. I’m proud of him, but he was outshined by his partner, Way Cool. Way Cool was on today.”

In Large Junior Hunter 15-and-Under competition, Annabel Revers (Weston, Mass.) and Beechwood Stables LLC’s 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, MTM Hands Down, earned top honors on an overall score of 252.10, with Classic, Under Saddle, and Handy Round scores of 103.60, 46.90, and 101.60, respectively. Daisy Farish and Bill Schaub’s Carasco posted the top score in the Small Junior Hunter 15-and-Under division. Farish and the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding earned scores of 102.40, 50.60, and 98.00 in the Classic, Under Saddle, and Handy Rounds, respectively, and an overall score of 251.

3’3″ Championship

Pilla (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Piccolino Farm LLC’s CC Cool topped the 15-and-Under section A on their way to earning Overall Grand Champion honors in the 3’3″ Championship. The six-year-old Holsteiner mare earned scores of 100.40 in the Classic Round, 50.20 in the Under Saddle, and 98.70 in Handy Round to finish on an overall total of 249.30. Additionally, Pilla was crowned top Owner/Rider in the Grand Championship. CC Cool was also honored as the Best Overall Mare and received the War Dress Memorial Trophy.

Sophia Pilla and CC Cool (Cathrin Cammett Photo)
Sophia Pilla and CC Cool (Cathrin Cammett Photo)

“CC Cool is a five-year-old Pre-Green we have been training for the last year,” said Pilla. “It has been an amazing experience working with her as she is really not fazed by big venues. She has a really great mind and tries so hard. She is really tricky but so much fun to ride. Coming into the Junior Hunter finals we had no expectations. We just wanted to have fun and get some experience. I really can’t explain how amazing the experience has been.”

Pilla also earned Reserve Overall Grand Champion with Piccolino Farm LLC’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Pop Rocks. The pair, which had the highest score in the Junior Hunter 15-and-Under section B, scored 100.40, 46.80, and 100.80 in the Classic, Under Saddle, and Handy Rounds, respectively, to finish on an overall total of 247.00.

“Having Pop Rocks finish Reserve Grand Champion was also such a blessing,” Pilla added. “He is just eight and we got him as a baby. We have grown together and have had great success. The show was perfect. Overall the Handy course was really difficult and tricky. Lainie Wimberly (my trainer) and I developed a game plan and we rode two different tracks for each horse to play to their strengths. I am not sure it really has soaked in with what we accomplished today. I certainly will remember this Championship for ever. Thank you to Lainie for all her support and dedication to my riding career.”

2014 Reserve Grand Champion Emma Ecklin (Lancaster, Pa.) and her own nine-year-old Westphalian mare, Forever, topped 16-17 competition after finishing on an overall score of 240.20. They produced scores of 91.80, 49.90, and 98.50 in the Classic, Under Saddle, and Handy Rounds, respectively.

Visit usefnetwork.com for photos and videos from the 2015 US Junior Hunter National Championship East Coast.

From the USEF Communications Department

Competitions, Show Jumping

Colvin Adds Another Tryon Summer Win in $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix aboard BetterTimes

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Victoria Colvin and BetterTimes. Photo: ©BarryKosterPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – July 5, 2015 – Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL continued her hot streak today with a win in the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix aboard BetterTimes, owned by Heritage Farm, at the conclusion of the Tryon Summer 2 show at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Colvin and BetterTimes finished the jump-off with a time of 46.824 seconds, followed by Wilton Porter of Bartonville, TX aboard Delinquent JX stopping the timers in 41.344 seconds with four faults. Haley Gassel of Lenoir City, TN and Quite Dark 2 rounded out the top three, completing the jump-off with eight faults and a time of 42.086 seconds. The Tryon Summer Series will begin again on Wednesday, July 8, with the start of Tryon Summer 3, hosting a week of FEI CSI 4* competition.

Colvin, who was also champion of the $10,000 1.45 Horseware Ireland Open Jumper on Friday aboard Lumiere, found herself in the winner’s circle again today, capping an impressive week for the 17-year-old star.

“The course today had a lot of turns and only two direct lines, but it’s my kind of course because once you find those distances you’re there,” remarked Colvin. “She felt a little backed off in the first round, but really went for it in the jump-off, which I was happy with.”

“All four riders that went before me had some rails so I knew that I needed to go slow and clean, especially since she was a little bit nervous in the first round and I aimed to put in a clear and smooth round, which is exactly what she did,” explained Colvin. “I knew if I had a rail it was going to be tough, but I wanted to give her the best ride possible.”

Colvin and BetterTimes are relatively new to each other and their partnership is beginning to flourish, as Colvin’s experience helps to calm the mare’s nerves in the ring. BetterTimes has natural talent and ability, which will make her a great ride in the future according to Colvin.

“She’s a nine-year-old mare so she’s still pretty young in terms of what she’s doing. We got her from Europe and Andre gave her to me to ride and she’s been great. We haven’t done too much with her yet, but she’s a great mare. She’s not the most careful at this point, but she’s incredibly scopey,” she commented.

“She’s really quiet and is very sweet. She’s always happy with her ears up and very fun to be around, especially to ride,” noted Colvin.

Colvin’s first class under the lights on Saturday night at TIEC was a good test and she will use the experience to help prepare her for future Grand Prix competitions. In only the second time showing her new mount, Echo Von T Spieveld, Colvin performed well and the duo will look to build on their results from last night.

“It was fun and I thought he was really good for our first time together under the lights. He was a little bit nervous, but he went really well. I was pleased with how we did and will look to improve on it next time out,” she commented.

Competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center will begin on Wednesday, July 8, with the start of Tryon Summer 3. For more information on TIEC and for a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

About Tryon International Equestrian Center

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Colvin and Lumiere Finish Strong in $10,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Open Jumpers at TIEC

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Tori Colvin and Lumiere. Photos: ©BarryKosterPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – July 3, 2015 – The third day of Tryon Summer 2 competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) was marked with a big win for top talent Victoria Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, as she bested the $10,000 Horseware Ireland 1.45m Open Jumpers aboard Lumiere. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Charline 28 finished second with Schuyler Riley of Wellington, FL and Carlisco bringing home third place honors. Competition at Tryon Summer 2 will continue through Sunday, July 5. The venue will host the $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix tomorrow night, Saturday, July 4, beginning at 8pm. Gates will open to the public at 6pm. The Tryon Summer Series, hosting four consecutive weeks of FEI competition, will conclude on Sunday, July 19.

Colvin and Lumiere, a 2004 Oldenburg gelding owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, pulled together two fantastic rounds to take a speedy handle on the class of 32 entries, racing to a strong finish in 33.055 seconds to beat out Wordley, who finished the jump-off track in 36.238 seconds. Colvin took over the ride on Lumiere during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and has excelled on the feisty gelding ever since.

“He’s a very quick horse naturally so I was just planning on putting in a neat and tidy round today,” she commented. “I wanted to push for it in the jump-off, but not go too fast because that’s where we sometimes get in trouble. He felt great, and I’m really proud of his effort today.”

Originally purchased for another client at Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm, Lumiere proved to be a perfect fit for Colvin, who competed him in the Medium Junior Jumper division during the WEF circuit. Not sure if the gelding would be able to reach the top levels of the sport, Colvin and Dignelli have been pleasantly surprised by his willingness to step up in the bigger classes.

“He’s definitely feisty. He gets very quick after he hears the buzzer sound, and I think that can be a little frightening if you don’t expect it. We didn’t think he would be consistent at this level, but he’s completely exceeded our expectations,” she commented. “He takes more of a leg focused ride. I have to be really quiet with my hands because he can get offended if he feels you trying to take over with your hands. The forward movement has really helped him to feel comfortable in these bigger classes.”

Heading to the Adequan®/FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY at the end of the month aboard Lumiere, Colvin is hopeful that the duo will continue their winning ways through the rest of their season together. The pair will also contest the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday at TIEC, alongside Colvin’s other mount, Bettertimes, owned by Heritage Farm.

“I’m really excited for NAJYRC and am looking forward to taking him there because I think we have the potential to do really well. He’s been a great ride for me,” she remarked. “He’ll do the Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday, which he did well in last week too. I feel like we’re hitting our stride at the right point in the season.”

Sharn Wordley and Charline 28
Sharn Wordley and Charline 28

One of the country’s most talented young riders, Colvin continues to dominate in the hunter ring and is gaining confidence in the jumper ring as well. Her mount, Echo Von T Spieveld, owned by Take The High Road, LLC, is an exciting new partnership for Colvin, who she hopes will be a great Grand Prix horse for her this year.

“He’s just adorable. He was gelded about a year ago so he can be a little studdish when you first get on, but that’s what I like about him. He’s a fighter in the ring. We have formed a really close relationship already, and I think he’s the real deal,” she explained. “He’ll do the Grand Prix tomorrow night, and my goal is to start doing some of the bigger Grand Prix classes with him come fall and throughout the indoor season.”

Colvin has thoroughly enjoyed her stay at TIEC and is looking forward to coming back after the Heritage Farm team departs for Kentucky next week. She noted, “This is just a beautiful showground. When everything is finished, this is going to be the place to be. There is going to be some incredible stuff here in the future.”

The $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix will begin at 8pm Saturday, July 4, with an array of family fun and entertainment beginning between 5pm-6pm. For a full list of results and weekly schedule, please visit www.tryon.com.

About Tryon International Equestrian Center

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click to watch a video interview with Mclain Ward.

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

Victoria Colvin Wins Grand Junior Hunter Champion

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

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

Victoria Colvin and Ovation
Victoria Colvin and Ovation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

Colvin and Vaillero Win $50k USHJA International Hunter Derby to Conclude 2015 WEF

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Victoria Colvin and Vaillero. Photos © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2015 – The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) completed its final day of competition on Sunday with a win for Victoria Colvin riding Heritage Farm, Inc.’s Vaillero in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Held on the beautiful grass field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), the final feature saw a picture perfect day in Florida. The class was presented by Dietrich Insurance and hosted by Tailored Sportsman, sponsored by Charles Owen & Co., Dover Saddlery, The Clothes Horse and Essex Classics.

The first round of derby competition was held in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday, where 51 riders took on the first round course designed by Ken Krome. Two panels of judges scored each round, and riders were awarded extra points for jumping the high options.

The top 25 entries then moved on to the derby field for Sunday’s handy round, jumping Bobby Murphy’s course with natural obstacles, including the table bank and an option to jump through the Devil’s Dyke. Two panels of judges once again scored the contestants, awarding bonus points for high options as well as handiness on course. Judges Danny Robertshaw and Robert Crandall scored the rounds on panel one and Susan Humes and Chance Arakelian on panel two.

At the end of the first round, Kelley Farmer and Mindful found their names at the top of the leader board, but the pair had an unfortunate refusal on the table bank in round two and placed out of the top twelve.

Darcy Hayes rode Danielle Baran’s Say When into the second position on day one with a total of 178. The pair maintained their standing with a handy round score of 182 for a 360-point total. They earned an 80 plus ten bonus points from panel one and an 81 plus 11 bonus points from panel two in the final round.

Vaillero and Victoria Colvin finished the first round with a score of 175 to take the third spot heading into Sunday’s competition. The pair then earned the top score in round two with a 195.5 to bring their total to the winning score of 370.5. The judges at panel one scored a 90 with nine bonus points in the handy round. Panel two scored an 87.5 with nine additional points.

Coco Fath and her own and Hillside Farm’s Chemie Ancar moved from ninth place in round one to third place overall with a first round score of 168 and a second round total of 191. In the handy round, the pair scored an 87 plus nine and an 86 plus nine to bring their tally up to 359 points overall.

Class winner, Vaillero, is a seven-year-old Zangersheide gelding (by Vaillant) that Colvin has shown in the equitation throughout the winter. This was Vaillero’s first hunter derby, and the young horse and his young rider showed impressive talent and composure on the field.

Vaillero’s owner, Andre Dignelli of Heritage Farm, is also Colvin’s trainer and spoke of Vaillero’s background and experience. He imported the gelding from Germany late last summer with the idea that he was going to be a top equitation horse that could do some hunters as well as the derby.

“It worked out that Tori used him pretty much all of WEF in the Medal (Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal). He has won a bunch of Medal classes down here,” Dignelli detailed. “He keeps developing and going better and better. We decided this week that we would do the derby and we put aluminum shoes on him. We did not really prepare for this class in terms of jumping banks or on the grass, but he just keeps pleasing us. He really wants to walk in the ring. He does not seem to mind if there are people, or what ring we are in. He goes in a very agreeable way. He has real scope, a big stride and he is very expressive over the jumps, but not afraid. He seems to be real careful.”

“I am thrilled,” Dignelli stated. “He has been a really fun mount. Now he is qualified for the derby finals and we will take him to that. Hopefully this is the beginning of many accolades as an equitation horse or derby horse, or whatever he wants to be.”

“I don’t know him very well,” Colvin said of her mount. “I just started riding him at WEF for Andre. He has been winning some of the medals; he has been really good and we just thought, ‘He jumps amazing; let’s put him in the hunter derby and see what happens.’ He went amazing. We knew he jumped really well, and we put lighter shoes on. He had never done a derby. He just turned seven. He is a baby, so that is completely new for him.”

Colvin showed in one class in the main hunter ring on Thursday to prepare and try to get Vaillero to go with his head down like a hunter.

“The more he did, the better he got,” she acknowledged. “In the grand hunter ring he was not as amazing as he was here. I think he liked more of a big, long gallop, but he went really well. I thought he was quite smooth around everywhere. I did not want to go too handy. He is not spooky, but we just wanted to have a nice round. I just thought I would be nice and smooth but forward, not too slow, so we just kind of loped down there.”

“I was just thinking we would see what happens with the high options,” Colvin continued. “He jumped the first one and he was jumping a little high, and then I jumped the second high option and he jumped really high, so I thought we should lower it down. Then we just jumped the other ones at the regular height.”

Colvin has had a fantastic circuit, with wins across the board in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation. She won a 1.50m jumper classic and multiple junior jumper awards, she topped the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, and she won numerous equitation classes.

“It has gone quite well,” Colvin said of her winter. “I am very happy with this year. It is sad that this is my last junior year here. It’s like everything I do it is the last time, but I think it has gone quite well. The jumpers and the hunters and all of the equitation have gone amazing, so it is a great year so far.”

Darcy Hayes and Say When
Darcy Hayes and Say When

Second place finisher, Darcy Hayes, is based in Canada as a trainer at Sorensen Stables in Toronto. Chris Sorensen imported Say When three years ago when the horse was a three-year-old, and Hayes has helped bring him along. Her student, Danielle Baran, purchased Say When and has also had great success with the horse in the Adult Amateur Hunters, including a championship win in WEF 12. The easy-going gelding had no problem moving from the adult division to one of the biggest hunter classes of the circuit.

“He is amazing. His first 3’6″ jump at this horse show was Wednesday and then he did the adults on Thursday and Friday,” Hayes noted. “He has never done a derby here before, but in Canada he won one of the derby finals last year at the Royal Winter Fair. That was his first derby class and it was indoors. In our derbies in Canada, the first round is a handy. It is just like the second round here, and it is only one round. The first jump was six strides away from the in gate, so that was his start in the derbies.”

“Today actually was the most nervous I have ever felt him on course. He is usually pretty laid back,” Hayes detailed. “The first three or four jumps, he was a little nervous and then once he got in his groove, then he was just great.”

“I was not sure how he would do. Coming out here, it can go any way,” Hayes admitted. “I have had such good luck with him. Yesterday he was quite brave when some of the other horses were spooking going to the first jump. He raised his head at it and that was it, so you just do not know what to expect when you get out here. He has done some derbies in Canada on the grass as well, but not to this extent. These were the biggest jumps and the biggest field he has ever been in.”

Fourteen-year-old Coco Fath finished third with her horse, Chemie Ancar, who was competing in his first derby ever. Fath also trains with Andre Dignelli at Heritage Farm and has learned a lot showing alongside barn mate Victoria Colvin.

“It has been a lot of great experience showing against Tori because she is such a great rider,” Fath acknowledged. “I think I have learned a lot from watching her and riding at Heritage and watching Lillie (Keenan) and all of the great people that have ridden there. I did not think that I could do as well as I did today. I love the hunters. It is my favorite between the equitation and jumpers, and I was not even expecting to get in the ribbons after my first round with Shoemaker, so it was really great that Ancar pulled through for me.”

Fath qualified two horses for the second round, but her first mount Shoemaker stopped on course. The rider did not let the uneasy start get to her and put in a great round with ‘Ancar.’

“He is actually my equitation horse, but he has been so great,” Fath smiled. “We were ninth at Medal Finals and that is when I knew he was the one. He is the best equitation horse and we decided it would be a good experience for me to do the derby, not think anything of it, just for good experience. We ended up in the second round, which was really nice and we ended up here in third, which was really great. This was my first time out here on the derby field. It is intense, but I had a lot of fun.”

Sunday’s competition concluded the 2015 Winter Equestrian. Equestrian Sport Productions would like to thank everyone for another fantastic season. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Four in a Row for Victoria Colvin in $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular

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Victoria Colvin and Ovation. Photos © Sportfot.

Bull Run’s Eternal and Kristen Vanderveen Top $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m Speed

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2015 – World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition welcomed hunter riders to center stage Saturday evening under the lights of the International Arena at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The country’s top professional, amateur, and junior hunter riders jumped for top honors in the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular, where Victoria Colvin went one-two and notched her fourth consecutive win in the event. She piloted Ovation for Dr. Betsee Parker to his third straight WCHR win and took second with Parker’s Small Affair.

The hunters highlighted this week’s competition, which concludes on Sunday, February 16. All of Sunday’s jumper competition at The Stadium at PBIEC will be available live online. The $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, will begin at 8 am followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Watch both classes at: http://bit.ly/1z64TGV. Sunday’s $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby will begin at 2 pm at: http://bit.ly/1zu8q0x.

The historic hunter event returned to two rounds this year and welcomed 31 qualified entries with the top 12 returning over a handy test in round two. Scores were tallied from three panels, including judges Scott Fitton and Chance Arakelian on panel one, Mary Lisa Leffler and Scott Williamson on panel two, and Karen Healey and Jim Clapperton on panel three. First round scores were combined with handy scores for a two-round total and final score.

Colvin and Ovation first approached the course from the 26th position and jumped to the top of the leader board, returning in round two on a high score of 89.33. “I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to come back and win for a third time, but he went in and went right around and was perfect,” said Colvin who has been partnered with the 15-year-old Warmblood gelding throughout her near-end junior career. “The course wasn’t spooky, and I was confident that it was going to go well. He [Ovation] is more of an open and flowing horse and there weren’t any exact lines in the course, so it suited him.”

Sitting in the eighth position after round one, Brady Mitchell and Emily Perez’s Cassanto returned to post a 90 early in the handy round and take the lead. “I knew I had a lot to make up for, and I did what I could,” said Mitchell, referencing an all-or-nothing approach to the final hand-gallop fence of the second round. “Andre [Dignelli] gave me some great advice to let his nose out a little, and it changed his jump in the second round. I wanted to get a good prize and he’s a trustworthy horse, so I went for it.”

Representing Heritage Farm, Mitchell made a splash in his first year as a WCHR Hunter Spectacular competitor at WEF and his lead held until Colvin returned with Small Affair. Their 88.83 combined with an 87.33 from the first round gave them the advantage by less than a single point.

When Ovation returned in the final spot, Colvin had the class won, but still had the opportunity to keep not just one, but two streaks alive. “I knew Small Affair was on top, but I went tighter and handier on Ovation – I was a little faster to the hand gallop jump and when I landed I was confident that he was going to be on top,” she said.

Colvin’s confidence proved correct when judges scored their round a 90.08, which coupled with their 89.333 from round one handed them the win and bumped Small Affair to second.

Brady and Cassanto settled for third, but he was elated with the event as a whole. “I have been riding hunters for a long time and this is the class that every hunter rider wants to ride in and do well in. It feels special to be here under the lights where hunters have the opportunity to take over Saturday night,” he said. “I’m ecstatic to be third. Tori rode beautifully, and I’m happy to be third behind her. We kept it in the family tonight – Heritage Farm had a good night tonight being one-two-three.”

Purchased after a pre-green career with Shawn Casady, Cassanto also competes in the Junior Hunters with owner Perez.

Tara Metzner and Come Monday, owned by Davlyn Farms, Inc., capped the top four with scores of 85.66 and 89.16. In her third year participating in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular, Metzner made a significant improvement over last year’s 11th-place finish.

“She’s a brave, awesome horse so I knew there was nothing she was going to look at – she’s great in these conditions where things are more impressive, and I knew if I found the jumps she would give me all she’s got,” said Metzner of Come Monday.

“I keep moving up, so Tori better watch out next year,” she laughed.

Less than a point behind Metzner, Scott Stewart and Stephanie Danhakl’s First Light rounded out the top five.

For Colvin, her third consecutive win with Ovation was bittersweet knowing it would be their last together. Parker announced at the close of the Hunter Spectacular that the cherished gelding will retire at the Washington International Horse Show this fall. “It was a historic night for him [Ovation] – this will be the last time we ever see him in this ring,” she said. “He is the most decorated junior hunter in history, and it’s moving to see this magnificent horse go out winning.”

Colvin admits that saying goodbye to Ovation is difficult, but couldn’t imagine a junior career with a better horse. “I knew this year that it would be our last season together, and it’s very emotional because he’s such an amazing horse,” said Colvin. “To have been with him throughout my entire junior career is special.”

Junior Hunters Crowned in the International Arena, Amateur-Owner Champions Named

To start off Saturday morning competition in the International Arena, Daisy Farish rode Triton Ventures Farm’s Demarco to championship honors in the Charleigh’s Cookies Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under. The pair won the handy round yesterday and finished second in the stake class today.

Hidden Creek Farm’s Graffito was guided to reserve championship honors in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under by Emma Kurtz. Kurtz finished third and fifth over fences paired with a win in the under saddle.

This week was Farish’s first show with Demarco, but despite little practice time, Farish was ready to step into the show ring. “I was very confident walking in the arena because I knew he [Demarco] would be great. As long as I did my part, I knew that he would do his,” Farish commented.

Hunter competition continued with the Equestrian Sotheby’s International Realty Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under. Championship honors were awarded to Lilli Hymowitz ridding Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy. The combination earned two seconds over fences paired with a win in the under saddle. Hymowitz explained, “He [Enjoy] has a really good personality and is always happy. He jumps great and acts the same at home as he does in the ring.”

Kurtz returned to the winner’s circle in the Small Junior Hunters 15 and Under after being named reserve champion with Southpointe Farm’s Entourage. The duo won two of the three over fences classes.

After the two younger Junior Hunter divisions crowned champions, the older Junior Hunters took up the spotlight. Tori Colvin and Small Affair, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, took home championship honors in the Antares Sellier France Large Junior Hunter 16-17. Small Affair topped two of the three over fences classes. The reserve championship was awarded to Stellar, ridden by Sophie Michaels and owned by Further Land Farm. Stellar was second and third over fences and topped the under saddle.

No stranger to the winner’s circle, Colvin was happy with how Small Affair went today. “He [Small Affair] loves this ring!” Colvin stated, “He is very alert. When it is a little spookier, he jumps much better and he felt great today.”

Colvin continued her winning streak in the EnTrust Capital Small Junior Hunter 16-17. Ovation, owned by Parker, topped two of the three over fences classes, along with the under saddle, with Colvin in the irons. All smiles, Colvin remarked on the different feel of having the hunters in the main ring. “I love having the hunters in the International arena. I ride my jumpers in the ring, and I always think that they should put hunters in here. Most hunters love the ring, and Ovation felt great today,” Colvin explained.

Vivian Yowan rode Saddle Ridge LLC’s horse, Ransom, to reserve championship honors in the EnTrust Capital Small Junior Hunter 16-17. Yowan and Ransom earned two seconds and third over fences.

Stephanie Danhakl dominated the Bainbridge Companies Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division claiming both champion and reserve champion. Aboard her own Golden Rule, she was first and second over fences to take champion, while second under saddle and in the handy with her mare Starina B for reserve.

“I have had Golden Rule for just under a year and I’m the most confident on him out of all my horses – he finds the right distance every time,” said Danhakl. “I only got Starina B last week, so this is my second ride on her and she’s the opposite of Golden Rule. She’s much hotter, but I think we started to click this weekend.”

Danhakl admits that her expectations for WCHR week were blown away. “This is my third week back after three months off with a broken collarbone, and it was exciting to come in and have such a great horse show,” she concluded.

In the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over division, John Ingram and his own Airport 48 held the top spot after winning both the handy and stake before placing third under saddle.

Airport came to Ingram’s barn destined to be an equitation mount after leaving a career in the jumper ring behind, but has found a starring role in the hunter ring. “He’s a pleasant surprise,” said Ingram. “He’s done the jumpers, derbies, now the amateurs, and he just gets better and better. We got him a year ago, and this was the perfect weekend for it all to come together.”

The reserve championship was awarded to Becky Gochman and David Gochman’s Last Call with a blue under saddle and second in the stake.

Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Eternal Top $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m Speed

While hunter competition took main stage across the street, jumper action continued in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC on Saturday afternoon with a $34,000 1.45m speed class, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm. Richard Jeffery (GBR) set the track for 33 entries and saw 12 clear rounds. Early in the order, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Eternal set the winning pace at 60.98 seconds and held on for the win. Peter Leone (USA) and My Pleasure finished second in 63.16 seconds. Harrie Smolders (NED) and Exquis Walnut de Muze were third in 63.39 seconds.

Bull Run’s Eternal is a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Toulon x Mellinor) that Vanderveen has ridden for almost two years. Vanderveen has had a lot of great results with Eternal and spoke about how she used her experience with the horse to her advantage in Saturday’s round.

“Everything we have is for sale and most of them get sold right away. They do well in one class and then they’re gone, but we have been able to keep him for a couple of years, so I really know him. I can pull him out and we’re on it,” Vanderveen stated. “He is really a gamer. In the ring, he knows his job and he is super-fast. For being such a big horse, he is shockingly fast. He has a really big step, so I kind of went with that advantage today because there were not a lot of inside turns that you could do. In the ring, I am really able to use his stride to his advantage.”

“At home, he is like a pony,” Vanderveen laughed. “He is quiet. He can go on the long rein, and he is really easy. You would never guess he is any high athlete at home; he is just like one of the school horses.”

Going early in the order, Vanderveen was a bit unsure of her plan with the big gelding, but relied on her horse’s big stride to get a fast round.

“I was actually a little bit nervous,” she admitted. “I normally don’t ask the other riders their plans, but the lines were a little questionable, whether you could leave out an extra step or not. I had asked a couple of people who said it was absolutely not a smart move. I ended up just going with my gut because I do know him pretty well. I’m glad I didn’t watch the ones before me because nobody else really did the numbers I was thinking. I think at the end that really is what was able to keep our forward rhythm the whole way around.”

Also competing on Saturday, Richard Neal (22) of Pasadena, CA rode Quadam to the win in the $10,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series Welcome, presented by EnTrust Capital. The class was a speed format, and Neal and Quadam were the fastest of 18 clear rounds in a time of 64.205 seconds for victory. Sarah Bagworth and Goldfinger VD Hengstenpoel were second in 64.53 seconds, while Jessica Springsteen rode Zero to third in 64.627 seconds. There were 60 entries in the Welcome, the fourth class of the popular Series.

While Neal has shown at WEF for four years, this is his first time competing in the Series. “I love it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just perfect for what I’d like to do for myself and for my horse. It’s a fantastic series,” he stated.

Neal has ridden the nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Quite Easy I x Stakkato for a year. “We bought him in Europe off a video tape that Leslie (Howard) sent me,” he smiled. “He’s an up-and-coming 1.50m horse. We jumped our first 1.45m last year. Getting him out in this division early in the season, he’s showing us quite some promise. I think I’m going to have a long and successful relationship with him.”

Week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, concludes on Sunday at The Stadium at PBIEC with the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix speed class, presented by EnTrust Capital, at 8 am, followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, and then the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby, which starts at 2 pm.

WCHR week concludes tomorrow with the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Classic and WCHR Amateur Owner Junior 3’3″ Hunter Classic in the International Arena.

For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood

Victoria Colvin Repeats Equitation Victory at 2014 Capital Challenge Horse Show

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Victoria Colvin and Clearway. Photos © Shawn McMillen Photography.

Hayley Iannotti Captures THIS National Children’s Medal Finals; Eleanor Hellman Wins NA Adult Equitation Championships

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2014 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show held three major equitation finals on Sunday of Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, riding Clearway, repeated victory in the Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships. In the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals, Hayley Iannotti riding Quasa Granda was victorious. Eleanor Hellman and Nigel took the win in the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships. Hunter competition begins on Monday, September 29, at the Capital Challenge Horse Show and continues through Sunday, October 5.

There were 79 entries in the Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships, and riders contested a course set by Kenneth Krome. There were five judges for the class: Jeff Ayers, Linda Andrisani, Scott Fitton, Mark Jungherr, and Scott Williamson. In the first round, Colvin and Clearway, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cheenook owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, went straight to the top with a score of 90.20.

Watch Victoria Colvin’s winning ride!

Colvin said of the courses, “He has a really big stride, and all of the lines were pretty much (riding) easy today. I think the first course was a little more challenging than the second one, but he handled it great.”

The top 20 returned for a second round, and as the last to go, Colvin put down yet another solid trip and improved her score to 90.80 for a total of 181 and victory. With a greater than two point difference between Colvin and second place, no additional testing was done. “It was much easier doing two rounds, then being done!” Colvin said.

Second place went to Megan MacPherson of Boulder, CO, who rode Great Expectations to a first round score of 86.60. They improved in the second round for an 87.70 and a total of 174.30. With a high score yesterday of 92, MacPherson won the EMO Equitation Trip of the Show sponsored by EMO Insurance Services.

Meredith Darst of Lebanon, OH and Soldier scored a 90.05 in the first round. They returned in the second round and scored an 84 to finish on 174.05 for third place.

Colvin and Clearway haven’t been paired together long, but both come from a career full of victories. Trainer Andre Dignelli found Clearway three years ago through Brian Walker, who imported him as a jumper. It was love at first sight for Dignelli, but he did think to himself, “’What am I going to do with a 17.2 hand horse that’s a stallion? He’s broken-winded; he makes a loud noise.’ But I have to say, I was in love with the horse from the first day and I could not get him out of my head.”

He described, “I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and he’s the only horse that I know that can leave out two strides and add three strides as easily. He’s very, very special. He has a great temperament and is a quiet horse. He’s a special animal, and we treat him like he’s special.”

Dignelli believes that Colvin’s strength in situations like these is “that she can produce a top round over and over and over again in the most difficult of circumstances.” He continued, “I think the equitation division has been one she has to work at, in terms of making sure the position is top-notch and not losing classes for the wrong reason. I think we’ve been getting to know each other a bit and develop a team, not only her and I, but also with that horse. It’s difficult to catch ride these events, so we’ll see what our strategy is moving forward. I think today was a good sign that we’re on the right track.”

For Colvin, winning the equitation finals at Capital Challenge twice is a unique experience. “Clearway went amazing, and it was great to come back and win. He’s just a phenomenal horse. I wouldn’t dream of winning once, so coming back and winning again is special. I love Capital Challenge. It was great to end this year that way, because I’m not going to do any of my hunters or jumpers.”

Colvin will compete for the first time in the USEF Talent Search Finals East Coast next weekend.

For her big win, Colvin was awarded the George H. Morris Equitation Championship Trophy, donated by Frank and Stacia Madden and Beacon Hill Show Stables. Clearway’s groom, Benji Hernandez, won the North American Equitation Champion Groom’s Award sponsored by Holly Hill Farm. Colvin won the Best Equitation Rider Award sponsored by Karen Healey and Karen Healey Stables. Colvin’s trainers, Andre Dignelli and Laena Romond, won the Leading Equitation Trainer Award, sponsored by Leslie Steele and Acres West.

Iannotti Rises to the Top of THIS National Children’s Medal Finals

Sixteen-year-old Hayley Iannotti of Wellington, FL got her first big equitation win in the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals aboard Quasa Granda, a seven-year-old KWPN gelding owned by her trainer, Jane Fennessy. Iannotti was cool under pressure, moving up from third place to second place, to the win over 39 other competitors.

Hayley Iannotti and Quasa Granda
Hayley Iannotti and Quasa Granda

Iannotti scored an 87.40 in the first round and went for it in the second round, where the top 10 were called back, scoring 88.70. Iannotti was called back for a test with 12-year-old Maria Moore of Powell, OH, on Prosecco 24, who had an 88 in the first round and an 88.30 in the second round. The two riders were only .20 of a point apart, so they had to test.

Watch Hayley Iannotti’s winning test ride!

Watch an interview with Hayley Iannotti!

The test called for a trot jump and a counter canter around a rollback, both of which were well executed by Iannotti and Moore. But it was Iannotti who led the victory gallop after the judges gave her an average score of 91.40 in the test for a total of 267.50. Moore received an 87.60 for a total of 263.90.

Iannotti recalled, “My first round, I went in and tried to do as little as possible and make it as smooth as possible. I was really happy with my first round. Going back into the second round, I was only behind by .2 points for second place and .5 points for first place, so I wanted to go in there and give it everything I had to try and move up to the top. I was really happy with my round, but when Maria went and I were only .2 points apart and they asked us to test, it was really stressful. But he listened to everything I asked him to do, and he was amazing. I can’t thank him enough.”

Third place went to Olivia Woodson of Wellington, FL on Victor VD Sent. They scored an 86.70 and an 85.70 for a total of 172.40.

Iannotti is a working student at Carriage Hill Farm for Fennessy and Vinissa Blann. She has been riding “Q” for two years and has helped bring him along as an equitation horse. They competed in last year’s THIS finals, but did not make the second round.

“I didn’t get to come back for the second round so we thought we’d come back and give it another shot. And it worked!” she said with a smile. “He’s improved a lot since last year. He’s my best friend.”

Of her victory, she remarked, “I can’t even believe this happened. All I’ve dreamed of is winning an equitation final and to get (judges’) scores of 92, 93, and 95, is really surreal.”

Quasa Granda’s groom, Mario Alvarez, also won a special groom’s award.

Hellman Victorious in Adult Equitation Championships

Eleanor Hellman and Nigel
Eleanor Hellman and Nigel

In the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships, it was Eleanor Hellman of Kentfield, CA, who was victorious riding Nigel in a class of 25 riders. Hellman won in two rounds with scores of 83.40 and 87.35 for a total of 170.75. She led through both rounds, returning last to go in round two, where the top 10 were called back.

Hellman thought the courses on both days of competition at Equitation Weekend were excellent, and noted that while yesterday’s rounds “gave you a little more room to take a breath,” today’s championships courses “pushed a lot of riders to be on point.”

Close behind, but not within the two point margin for a test, was second place finisher Rachel Boggus of Indianapolis, IN, on Papillon 136. They scored 83.60 and 84.10 for a total of 167.70. Rebecca Clawson of Plympton, MA, rode Kennebec to third place on scores of 76.70 and 85.50 for a total of 162.20.

This is Hellman’s first time competing at Capital Challenge; the 23-year-old has focused on school until recently and attended the Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA. She has ridden Nigel, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Coriano, for two years. Originally purchased to be a hunter derby horse, Hellman and trainers Hope and Ned Glynn have found he also excels at equitation. Hellman shares the horse with her mother, who also competes him in the 2’6” divisions.

Hellman was excited to get her first finals win at Capital Challenge. “It isn’t about winning; it is about having fun (for me),” she noted.

The Adult Amateur Equitation Groom’s Award sponsored by Holly Hill Farm went to Nigel’s groom, Moises Hernandez.

Tomorrow’s schedule will see the start of professional hunter competition at Capital Challenge with the rated divisions along with five sections of the Future Hunters.

Highlights of the Capital Challenge Horse Show will include the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Developing Pro Challenge (Oct. 1), Future Hunter North American Championship (Oct. 1), the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup (two rounds held on Oct. 3-4), the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals (Oct. 3), and the WCHR Professional Finals (Oct. 3).

For full results, more information, or to watch the live webcast, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org. Like the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook and on Twitter @capchallenge and Instagram @capitalchallengehorseshow.

In its 21st year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on September 27 – October 5.

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.

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

Jennifer Ward, Show Jumping

Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Winner Victoria Colvin Captures Chantilly

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Victoria Colvin guides Cesanna to victory in the CSI2* Global Champions Tour 1.35m speed competition in Chantilly, France. Photo by Sportfot.

Chantilly, France – Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL proudly represented the United States in the Global Champions Tour event in Chantilly, France, claiming two victories. The opportunity to compete in Chantilly, France, from July 24 to 27 was one of the prizes on offer to the winner of this year’s Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series (AFYRGPS), presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, held during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Comprised of four competitions held throughout the 12-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Colvin emerged victorious in the AFYRGPS over the more than 50 participants competing for increased prize money under FEI sanctioning. The AFYRGPS is open to riders of any nationality between the ages of 16 and 25, making 16-year-old Colvin one of the youngest competitors.

As part of her prize, Colvin was awarded entry to the CSI2* division of the Global Champions Tour at Chantilly and two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge, courtesy of event director Gérard Manzinali. Transportation for her winning mount, Don Juan, was generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte. In addition, Artisan Farms’ lead rider, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, lent Colvin a second horse, Cesanna, to compete.

Colvin proved on international soil why she was a deserving recipient of the prize, winning back-to-back 1.35m classes on Friday and Saturday in the CSI2* division with Cesanna, an 11-year-old grey Oldenburg mare (Cento x Centauer Z). Riding Don Juan, Colvin took a strong third place finish among a 96-horse starting field in Friday’s 1.40m competition.

“It was amazing; I never would have thought I would be able to go and show in Chantilly!” exclaimed Colvin.

Of her catch ride, Colvin noted, “They were very nice to let me use Cesanna. I went on Tuesday to ride her, and then I went to the show and showed her. She was really fun, straight-forward and easy. She is definitely a good speed horse, considering that both of the classes I won were speed classes. I just turned and went and she left!”

For an American rider who has never before competed in Europe, there were some adjustments to be made.

“I had to get used to it, first of all because I did not speak French,” related Colvin. “They don’t post the orders of go until the morning, and they don’t tell you the jump-off course until the end of the first round. And everyone was so calm! It is completely different than showing in the U.S. Next year, it will be easier if I get to go again.”

Competing in the AFYRGPS, which featured four events held in three different venues, helped prepare Colvin for the new experience.

“The Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series got you acclimated to come to a new venue,” said Colvin who was accompanied by her parents, her trainer, Ken Berkley, and Don Juan’s owner, Karen Long Dwight. “There were a few Americans here, like Kalvin Dobbs and Adrienne Sternlicht, but also a lot of French people that I have never shown against. The show itself was amazing, and it was on grass. I really gained from the experience, because everything is so different. It was so much fun!”

Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms created and developed the AFYRGPS to provide a bridge between the junior and amateur divisions to the grand prix level, allowing up and coming riders to gain experience at the upper levels of show jumping sport while still competing against their peers.

“Tori’s success in Chantilly was so gratifying to us,” said Carlene Ziegler, who was in Chantilly to witness Colvin’s two victories. “It is a validation of what our Young Riders Series is all about. She works so hard, and to see Tori make so much of the opportunity that was presented to her was fantastic. We are sure this won’t be her last international competition!”

In four short years, the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series has produced an elite list of champions including Reed Kessler of the United States (2011), Nayel Nassar of Egypt (2012), Chloe D. Reid of the United States (2013), and Colvin. All four riders are currently enjoying incredible success as their international careers advance.

The fifth annual Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series will be held during the 2015 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival from January 7 through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

Leading by example, Artisan Farms is committed to the continued improvement and promotion of competitive show jumping. Based in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium, Artisan Farms is home to rising amateur Andy Ziegler, young professional Caitlin Ziegler, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, and Olympian Tiffany Foster.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca