Wellington, Fla. – Clear rounds were the order of the night on Friday evening as 12 teams went to task over Steve Stephen’s 12-obstacle track in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm, the feature competition of CSIO4* Wellington. The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team headed into the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s International Arena for the two-round competition, held in conjunction with the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, looking to secure a top finish in America’s only Nations Cup. The team of McLain Ward, Brianne Goutal, Laura Kraut, and Beezie Madden jumped to a third-place finish on a score of 12 faults.
While the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team was looking to start their 2013 campaign with a win on home soil, Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland was pleased with his team and their resilience.
“We felt that we were in it until the very end; it was just a rail here and a rub there,” said Ridland. “This is a Nations Cup we can be proud of that was a tough competition between 12 very good teams.”
Jumping in his customary lead-off position, Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild produced an immaculate clear in round one to start the night for the United States. In round two, the two-time Olympic Team Gold medalist and 13-year-old Warmblood gelding returned with an eight-fault trip after lowering the heights of the bicycle at six and the final oxer, fence 12.
Goutal (New York, N.Y.) jumped in the second spot for the U.S. with Remarkable Farms’ 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Nice de Prissey. In the first round, the pair jumped a four-fault trip after rolling a pole jumping out of the double at nine. In their return trip to the International Arena, they appeared to be on track for a clear round but again were plagued by a rail at fence nine, faulting at the A element in round two.
Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and her Team Gold medal-winning partner from the 2008 Olympic Games, Cedric, were the third combination to head into the International Arena for the U.S., completing a faultless round in their first trip. Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc.’s 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding was poised to join the double clear list but barely dipped a foot in the open water at 10, resulting in a four fault effort for the second round.
Anchoring the U.S. effort on Friday night were reigning FEI World Cup Final champions, Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Simon. Abigail Wexner’s 15-year-old gelding looked on track to jump a clear, tidy round until coming a bit strong to 11 and lowering the oxer at the A element, resulting in a four-fault effort. The veteran pair returned to the International Arena for a second time and never looked in doubt of a clear round as they cruised faultlessly over Stephen’s track.
“I was happy with my horse,” said Madden. “I wish I had been clear in the first round because I thought he went fantastic, and then he was clear in the second round and went even better.”
On Friday, the U.S. also earned vital points in qualifications for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Season Series Final. Among countries from the North and Central America and the Caribbean Islands regions, the U.S. earned 90 vital points towards qualifying for the Series Final in October.
Nations Cup competition continues Saturday with the top Young Riders, Juniors, and Child Riders contesting FEI Nations Cups presented by Hollow Creek Farm. The first round of Young Rider competition kick-off the youth showcase at 1pm ET.
The U.S. Young Rider, Junior, and Children’s Teams with Di Ann Langer (USEF Archive)
Wellington, Fla. – Saturday afternoon and evening at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will showcase show jumping’s youth in the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s International Arena as Young Riders, Juniors, and Child Riders contest FEI Nations Cups presented by Hollow Creek Farm. The U.S. heads into competition, which is in its second year, with three strong teams looking to stand atop the podium in each Nations Cup competition.
Di Ann Langer will serve as Chef d’Equipe for all three U.S. teams.
“I’m very excited,” said Langer. “Our Young Rider team is outstanding and they have each won championships before; I think they will be golden. Our juniors are a little younger but seasoned as well; I expect them to do well also. I’m very positive about our children being competitive. Many of them are just starting out at the 1.20m and 1.25m level but I think they are very ready to do well.”
The U.S. will also be represented by individual combinations in the first round of the three Nations Cups looking to secure points for the leading rider status.
FEI Young Riders Nation Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
Four of the most successful U.S. Young Riders in recent history are set to line up and repeat last year’s victory in the FEI Young Riders Nation Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm. Michael Hughes, Lillie Keenan, Frances Land, and Wilton Porter have drawn first in the order of the seven nations and will look to showcase the experience gained jumping at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC).
Competition gets underway with round one at 1:00pm ET, with the second and final round beginning at 9:00pm ET.
Michael Hughes (Allendale, N.J.) will ride Christina Fried’s Luxina.
Luxina is a 2004 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Hughes and Luxina will look to showcase the form that helped them to earn Team Gold at the 2013 NAJYRC and Team Silver and Individual Bronze at the 2013 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championship. Additionally, Hughes closed out his 2013 campaign claiming the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East title and Reserve Champion honors at the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College.
Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) will ride Chansonette Farm, LLC’s Londinium.
Londinium is a 2002 Oldenburg gelding.
Keenan comes off an incredible 2013 campaign that saw her named the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year as well as earning championship titles in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Finals. Alongside Hughes, she earned NAJYRC Team Gold and Junior Jumper Team Silver with Zone 2, in addition to claiming Individual Gold at both Championships.
Frances Land (Alpharetta, Ga.) will ride her own Vieanne.
Vieanne is a 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Land and Vieanne head into the FEI Young Riders Nation Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm on strong form, having won the EMO Grand Prix at Gulf Coast in February, as well as winning the Spy Coast Farm 1.45 Classic during Week Three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Land is no stranger to podium finishes, having been a member of the Gold medal-winning Zone 4 team at the 2011 NAJYRC.
Wilton Porter (Bartonville, Texas) will ride Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Radio City.
Radio City is a 2001 Holsteiner mare.
Porter has gotten his 2014 campaign off to a strong start jumping at FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, earning top placings in Ruby Et Violette WEF Challenge Cup and Artisan Farms Under 25 Young Rider Grand Prix classes. The Vanderbilt University freshman has three Grand Prix victories to his name and looks to add to his resume with a top team finish this weekend in Wellington.
FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
The U.S. has fielded another strong team to contest the $2,500 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm. The United States will be represented by Lucas Porter, Chloe Reid, Sophie Simpson, and Hayley Waters. In Junior competition, the U.S. has drawn fifth of the seven teams.
Round one begins at the 2:15pm and round two is scheduled to being at 7:30pm.
Lucas Porter (Bartonville, Texas) will ride Sleepy Ranch LLC’s Phineas.
Phineas is a 2002 Oldenburg gelding.
At the 2013 FEI Junior Riders Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm, Porter and Phineas looked on track to jump a double clear but a rail late in the course dashed those chances. The pair will look for redemption in 2014. They have prepared for their return to CSIO Wellington competition by contesting Junior Jumper and Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix classes.
Chloe Reid (Washington, DC) will ride Chloe D Reid LLC’s Athena.
Athena is a 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Reid is also making her second appearance in the Junior Nations Cup at CSIO Wellington having helped the U.S. to a fourth-place finish in 2013. With Athena, Reid was a member of the second-placed team in the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event presented by The Dutta Corp., in association with Guido Klatte.
Sophie Simpson (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) will ride Simpson Show Jumping’s Why Not.
Why Not is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Simpson replaces Victoria Colvin on the U.S. Junior Team and will look to display the accurate jumping she demonstrated at the 2013 NAJYRC to help Zone 4 earn Team Bronze. In addition to competing at the NAJYRC with Why Not, Simpson and the mare are also among the combinations that have prepared for Nations Cup competition by contesting the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prixes.
Hayley Waters (Sparr, Fla.) will ride Chuck and Dana Waters’ Qurint.
Qurint is a 2003 Swedish Warmblood mare.
Waters and Qurint head into Saturday’s Nations Cup on a second-place finish in 1.40m Junior/Amateur-Owner competition at the Ocala Winter Classic in February. Additionally, Waters brings team experience to the Junior squad this weekend having stood alongside Simpson on the Bronze medal podium at the 2013 NAJYRC.
FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm
In the FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm, seven teams will go head-to-head. The U.S. enters competition in an enviable position having drawn seventh. Just as with the Young Riders and Juniors, the Children’s Nations Cup will jump their first round Saturday afternoon and return to the International Arena for a second round under the lights. Round one begins at 4:30pm ET with round two at 6:00pm ET.
The U.S. will be represented by Madison Goetzmann, Sophie Howell, McKayla Langmeier, and Addison Piper.
Madison Goetzmann (Skaneateles, N.Y.) will ride her own Wendalineke.
Wendalineke is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Goetzmann enters Saturday’s Nations Cup competition having been extremely successful in the pony hunter ranks. In 2011, she capped off an extremely successful week at the USEF Pony Finals by earning the Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Final title.
Sophie Howell (Wellington, Fla.) will ride Stadium Sport Horses, LLC’s Cardine.
Cardine is a 2006 Swedish Warmblood mare.
Howell is among a strong group of the United States’ elite youth riders looking to rise up the jumping ranks. She and Cardine have been preparing to make their Nations Cup debut by gaining experience jumping at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
McKayla Langmeier (East Granby, Conn.) will ride Missy Clark’s Looping Star.
Looping Star is a 1997 Hanoverian gelding.
Langmeier and Looping Star make their second appearance in the FEI Children’s Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm. Langmeier looks to help the U.S. improve on its fourth-place finish from 2013, by showcasing the skills that helped her ride in many of last year’s most prestigious equitation finals.
Addison Piper (Wellington, Fla.) will ride Louise W. Otten and No Trump Farm, LLC’s Halbi D’ Ariane.
Halbi D’Ariane is a 1995 Selle Francais gelding.
Piper enters this weekend’s competition at CSIO Wellington with a wealth of big class experience after competing on the indoor circuit in the fall of 2013. She and Halbi D’Ariane will showcase the experience gained jumping throughout the winter at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
All competitors representing the U.S. in FEI Nations Cup presented by Hollow Creek Farm will jump in Toklat Originals’ saddlepads, the official saddlepad of the USEF.
The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival is in its eighth week of competition, and live streaming will be available for three events this week.
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm is on Friday, February 28, with the live stream starting at 6:30 p.m. and the first team horse at 7 p.m. This is the only Nations Cup in the United States and features 12 teams vying for top honors. The live stream for viewers in the United States is at The Chronicle of the Horse.
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Nations Cup for Children, Junior, and Young Riders is on Saturday, March 1, with the first horse at 6 p.m. Watch the up-and-coming stars from countries around the world in this unique team event. This live stream is available worldwide at The Chronicle of the Horse.
The final CSIO event of the week is the $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty on Sunday, March 2, with the live stream starting at 1:45 p.m. and the first horse on course at 2 p.m. The best horse rider combinations of the week will compete for individual honors in this always exciting grand prix class. This live stream is available worldwide at The Chronicle of the Horse.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Robert Bielefeld and Regard Triumph in Low Hunter 2’6″ Division
Wellington, FL – February 27, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with round 8 of its Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series and a win for USA’s Beezie Madden aboard Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’. The class was held in a timed first round format with 19 clear rounds out of 78 starters with the win for Madden and Cortes ‘C’, with McLain Ward (USA) and Zander in second, and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in third.
FTI WEF week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 26 – March 2, 2014, featuring CSIO 4* show jumping and a full schedule of ‘AA’ hunter and equitation events. The week will highlight the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, on Friday, February 28. There are Hollow Creek Farm classes for Children’s, Juniors and Young Riders throughout the week as well as three separate FEI Nations’ Cup team events on Saturday, March 1. Many other exciting jumper classes will be featured throughout the week, including Friday’s $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake and Saturday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and $25,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic. The week will conclude on Sunday with a $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic as well as the $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty.
Steve Stephens (USA) set the speed track for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 that saw the winning round for Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ in 65.83 seconds. McLain Ward and Zander completed the second place round in 66.44 seconds. Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z set the pace early on in 66.83 seconds to eventually finish third.
Madden has a great relationship with Cortes ‘C’ that includes many top finishes in Wellington and around the world, and the rider was happy with their very fast round on Thursday.
“He is a blast to ride. He just does it,” Madden described of the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Randel Z x Darco). “You just kind of canter around and steer. He canters to the jump, and he jumps over it. He makes my job very easy.”
“It is difficult with a class this big, but I had plan of what I thought I could do with him,” Madden said of her round. “He can leave out strides where other horses might not be able to. He did it easily, leaving out the strides, like to the last fence and from jump one to two. It doesn’t really get him riled up to do that. He went beautifully, so I was happy.”
Madden has a fantastic string of top horses right now, including Cortes ‘C’, Coral Reef Via Volo, and Simon, who she will ride in Friday night’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm. She is also excited about a talented new mount, Breitling LS, who placed third in this morning’s 1.45m class.
“I am very lucky with what I have right now,” the rider acknowledged. “I have a fabulous young horse that was third today in the 1.45m, so I am really excited about that too. He is coming along really well.”
Madden looks forward to Friday’s Nations Cup and feels good about Team USA’s chances on home turf. “We have a good team. On paper I think we look pretty good, but as we know anything can happen in the Nations Cup,” Madden noted. “I think Robert (Ridland) did great picking the team. He’s got hot riders and hot horses right now, so that’s all he can do. For sure it is important to us to win here. It will be a pressure cooker tomorrow night.”
Madden felt that Simon and Cortes ‘C’ were her top horses to compete this week and chose Simon for the Nations Cup. “He feels good,” she stated. “Last week was the first week we showed him, so he feels fresh and ready to go. I had both he and Cortes ready to go this week because I think we were risking a little starting late with Simon, but he came out and he looked great last week, so I am going to go with him.”
She spoke about the difference between the two incredibly talented horses, stating, “Simon is funny. He is laid back at home. He is not really more high strung than Cortes, but he gets his blood up a little more, and he takes a stronger hold of me. You have to keep him together, and that’s when he makes his best jump. I know his moves a little bit now, and he knows mine, and we work together. He can jump from anything. It’s amazing how slow you can go to a big oxer and he sails over. Cortes, he is just the happiest if you can pretty much just steer and leave him to his own devices.”
“He is so sweet,” Madden added of Cortes. “He loves people. I think he would like to be a lap dog in his next life because when you walk in his stall he just puts his head on your shoulder. That’s all he wants to do is be cuddled.”
Thursday’s competition began with an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45 jump-off class with a win for Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca aboard Mike Collins’ Cornetiero. The Hollow Creek Farm Nations’ Cup Series also hosted jump-off Classics for its Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider divisions in the afternoon.
The $5,000 Hollow Creek Farm Young Rider Classic was held first with a win for USA’s Frances Land and Vieanne. The $2,500 Hollow Creek Farm Junior Classic followed with victory for Mexico’s Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez riding Eric Hochstadter’s Shamrock V. The day concluded with the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Classic and a win for Brazil’s Vittorio Burger aboard Yves Sportiello’s Cheese Z.
Robert Bielefeld and Regard Triumph in Low Hunter 2’6″ Division
Robert Bielefeld and Regard took home the division championship in the Low Hunter 2’6″ division on Thursday morning at the FTI WEF. Regard, a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding out of Hanussa II by La Tot De Semily owned by Leah Patipa, won both over fences classes on the second day of competition for the division to clinch the division title.
Reserve champion for the division was Clementine, ridden by Molly Sewell and owned by Dr. Elizabeth McRae. Sewell and Clementine were first, seventh, and second over fences.
Regard and Robert Bielefeld
Regard is yet another former jumper that has found himself more at home in the hunter ring. While he had the scope to jump around a 1.30m course, he simply didn’t have the speed.
“He’s quite capable, but he’s so quiet. I can’t imagine him being a jumper. There’s no way, so obviously that’s why they didn’t want to keep him as a jumper. He could jump the height, but he would not be a winner in the jumpers for sure,” Bielefeld explained.
Regard’s laid-back attitude made it easy to transition him into the hunter ring. The gelding is not only an easy ride for Bielefeld, but he’s also proved himself to be the perfect amateur mount for owner Patipa.
“Nothing fazes him,” Bielefeld described. “He could go in any one of these rings at the showgrounds. He’s really good for his owner, which is even more important.”
He continued, “A little short, a little long – he’s got enough scope that he can make up the distance. He’s got enough scope that he can still make it look correct. That’s really the nicest thing about him. You don’t have to have absolutely perfect distances every time. He’s very forgiving.”
Bielefeld, whose RSB Farms, Inc. is based in Wellington, loved Regard from the first time he watched a video of the horse last year. Regard’s well-balance canter caught Bielefeld’s eye and continues to be one of Bielefeld’s favorite traits.
“He has a great rhythmical canter. He’s got really good balance and a nice soft mouth,” Bielefeld remarked.
Eventually, Regard will move up to the Adult Amateur Hunters with his owner, but until then she will continue to campaign him in the Ariat Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ division while Bielefeld will take over the reins in the Low Hunter 2’6″ division.
Competition for week eight of the FTI WEF continues Friday morning with the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search in Ring 6. The $10,000 G&C Farm CSIO Speed Stake will be held in the International Arena during the day. The highlight $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, will be the feature event at 7 p.m. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Wellington, FL – February 26 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off its week of CSIO competition on Wednesday with a $5,000 Welcome Stake, held as two classes, with afternoon and evening sessions. The day session saw a win for Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam aboard Solerina. The night session was won by Chile’s Samuel Parot and Al Calypso.
FTI WEF week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, runs February 26 – March 2, 2014, featuring CSIO 4* show jumping and a full schedule of ‘AA’ hunter and equitation events. The week will highlight the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, on Friday, February 28. There are Hollow Creek Farm classes for Children’s, Juniors and Young Riders throughout the week as well as three separate FEI Nations’ Cup team events on Saturday, March 1. Many other exciting jumper classes will be featured throughout the week.
Thursday hosts the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8, and Friday will feature a $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake. The $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and $25,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic will be held on Saturday. The week will conclude on Sunday with a $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic as well as the $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty.
Steve Stephens (USA) is the course designer in the International Arena for week eight competition. In the $5,000 Welcome Stake day session, Stephens saw 51 entries over his speed track with 11 clear rounds. Shane Sweetnam and his speedy mount Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farms, completed the fastest time of the class in 63.54 seconds for the win.
Mexico’s Eugenio Garza finished second with El Milagro’s Providence 3 in 65.88 seconds. Ireland’s Kevin Babington and Shorapur placed third in 70.13 seconds, and USA’s Christine McCrea and Candy Tribble’s Romantovich Take One finished fourth in 70.92 seconds.
She jumped good,” Sweetnam said of his winning round. “She is naturally quick. I didn’t really go full speed with her; I just did all of the turns. She is good at turns, and I think that was the difference.”
“A lot of people are just schooling for the week,” Sweetnam noted. “It’s not a big money class, but it’s still the opening class of CSIO week, so I knew if I could do my turns then I would be up there. That is what I planned to do, and that is what I did.”
Solerina, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising x Diamond Lad, is a fiery little chestnut, but Sweetnam explained that he has figured out how to work with her personality.
“She is still high maintenance, but I have gotten to know her and she has gotten to know me and I know her quirks now,” he detailed. “She is very funny about the (Jumbotron) TV screen; that is her big thing. She has matured about it, but she is still kind of nervous about it. Today in the practice ring she was nervous; you could tell that she was nervous. She’s a much better horse when there is no TV.”
To help with Solerina’s nerves about the Jumbotron, the mare has a TV screen that she watches in her stall at horse shows.
“It helps a little, but I’m not sure how much,” Sweetnam admitted. “She’s not as dramatic about it as she was before, but as soon as she sees a big TV it is still a factor. At shows she always has a TV in her stall. Spruce Meadows is what she’s watching at the moment. It used to be some cowboy guy before. I better get the WEF video; maybe that will work better.”
Solerina will show in tomorrow’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup class and again on Saturday. Sweetnam’s mount Eregast van’t Kiezelhof will step up to do the bigger classes this week.
Continuing the day, forty-four entries showed in the night session of Wednesday’s $5,000 Welcome Stake. The class saw just three clear rounds around the course with the fastest time of 65.75 seconds for Chile’s Samuel Parot and Al Calypso.
Germany’s David Will finished second aboard Sevil Sabanci’s Con Chilli in 70.02 seconds. Also from Chile, Carlos Milthaler and Santana Stables LLC’s Player de Brocelia finished third in 70.17 seconds.
Samuel Parot and Al Calypso
Samuel Parot has had a great partnership with Al Calypso, his 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Askari x Calypso II. The pair has traveled the world together, competing on the Chilean teams at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Parot briefly sold the horse to teammate Jorge Matte, but got him back two weeks ago and now plans to keep him. After his win, Parot spoke about the horse and his style and personality.
“He likes you to ride very soft and comfortable,” Parot noted. “If you make too much pressure, he gets very strong and he is not happy. If you ride soft, he is happy. He is very sensitive.”
“He is very expressive,” the rider added. “It is unbelievable. He knows you. He is very smart, and we know each other well. You go to the barn and walk down the middle and he will come to you. He is a top horse.”
Parot got to see Carlos Milthaler set the pace with the first clear round of the night and knew where he could be faster.
“I saw my partner from Chile go, and he went very fast. I made one turn that he did not make before the water, and I think that is where I made the time better,” Parot explained, adding that he had the advantage of a very seasoned horse. “He has no problem under the lights. He was perfect; he has the experience.”
Al Calypso will show again in tomorrow’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 and will then compete in Sunday’s $150,000 CSI 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty.
Parot, who has been competing in Wellington for 14 years and has been at the FTI WEF every year since 2008, is excited to be a part of Chile’s team for Friday night’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm. This is the first time that the country has had a team for this class in Wellington. Parot will ride alongside teammates Carlos Milthaler and Jorge Matte showing his horse William Wallace.
“This is the first time (and) we will have only three riders, but it is a nice experience here,” Parot stated. “It is very difficult competition. The competition at this show is one of the most important in the world, and it is good for Chile to come here. Chile is very far south, and it is not easy to come here with the horses.”
Competition began on Wednesday with an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with a win for Laura Chapot (USA) aboard Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star. The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior and Young Rider Welcome speed classes followed. The $1,500 Hollow Creek Farm Young Rider Welcome class was first to go with a win for Manuel Fernandez Hache (DOM) riding Maribel H, owned by Aristides Fernandez Zucco. The $1,000 Hollow Creek Farm Junior Welcome class was held next with a win for Emanuel Andrade (VEN) riding AD Vangleys, owned by Flavio Bernandes. Constanza Romer (VEN) then jumped to victory in the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Welcome class aboard Frederick Romer’s SF Hechicero.
Week eight will continue on Thursday with the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 in the International Arena. The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior, and Young Riders will also compete in their jump-off Classics for the week. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Eirin Bruheim and NLF Billy On Show. Photo by SportFot.
Wellington, FL – February 26, 2014 – Amateur rider Eirin Bruheim is continuing her successful show season at the 2014 Winter Equestrian Festival where she has been competing for her home country of Norway and her family’s Nordic Lights Farm. Showing under the tutelage of Olympian Norman Dello Joio, Bruheim has earned numerous placings aboard her talented string of young mounts in the Open and Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions.
Bruheim and her top mount NLF Billy On Show showcased their talent during Week IV with a fifth place finish in the competitive 1.35m Open Jumpers. Riding among 49 entries, the pair produced a double clear effort, stopping the clock at 48.366 seconds for the pink rosette. Last week, NLF Billy On Show advanced to the 1.40m Open Jumper Speed class, where he placed eighth out of 90 entries.
“NLF Billy on Show just started showing again a few weeks ago,” explained Bruheim. “I am so glad to have him back and have a horse I can rely on. I got him last year during WEF so that I could have a horse to show in the bigger classes. He is 110 percent energy all the time, but it’s important to just get him to relax. He’s been great this year. He goes in and knows his job.”
Bruheim continued, “Sometimes it’s nice to have a large class because when there are only a few you end up changing your plan a lot when you are watching others. When there are big numbers in the class though you see every option possible so you stick to your plan, and that takes some of the pressure away. I do what I need to do and see where I end up.”
Last week, Bruheim was also successful with NLF Newsflash, who was the fastest four-faulter in the first round of the $15,000 SJHOF High AO Classic to place eighth. During Week V, it was NLF Favorite who showcased her skills, placing 12th in the 1.30m Open Jumpers out of over 100 entries. She then went on to also place 12th in the 1.35m Open Jumpers.
“NLF Favorite just stepped up to 1.35m, and she has been doing really well and jumping around so nicely,” said Bruheim. “Working with Norman has been really great. When we’re at home he tells me to relax and that you don’t need to be perfect at home. That has helped stop me from working the wrong things to make them better at home, and it has paid off in the ring.”
Bruheim will continue to compete in Wellington at the Winter Equestrian Festival and during the The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour through the end of March.
Nordic Lights Farm is a 70-acre establishment located in Tomball, TX, that was founded in 2007 by the Bruheim family to help further the equestrian goals of 20-year-old Eirin Bruheim and 18-year-old Lene Bruheim. Both girls have worked their way up through the ranks and are currently competing at the top levels in the hunter and jumper divisions aboard their incredible string of horses.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Emanuel Andrade, pictured competing with Crossfire 10, will once again represent Venezuela in the second annual Hollow Creek Junior FEI Nations’ Cup. Photo by Mancini Photos.
Wellington, Florida – For the second year, Hollow Creek Farm will generously sponsor FEI Nations’ Cup events for Children, Juniors and Young Riders at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, Florida.
The marquee events for up and coming riders are held during CSIO week at FTI WEF, running February 26 to March 2, 2014, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Having held senior FEI Nations’ Cup competition since 2002, adding the three separate team competitions for Children, Juniors and Young Riders to the FTI WEF line-up was a natural fit. And the timing on the schedule couldn’t be better. After being inspired by watching the senior Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup competition on Friday night, the next generation of show jumping athletes will strive to proudly represent their respective countries in Saturday’s two-round team competition.
Like last year, the first round of the FEI Nations’ Cup for all three divisions will be held on Saturday afternoon in the International Arena. The second round of competition will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday night, giving the young riders a rare opportunity to compete under the lights in a night event, cheered on by an enthusiastic and patriotic crowd. In the evening event, the Children’s FEI Nations’ Cup for riders aged 12 to 14 will be held first, followed by the Junior FEI Nations’ Cup for riders aged 14 to 18. The Young Rider FEI Nations’ Cup will be Saturday night’s third and final team competition, featuring competitors aged 16 to 21.
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela have all confirmed their participation. Thanks to Hollow Creek Farm, who has generously sponsored the high cost of flying the horses internationally, many riders will be traveling from their home countries to compete in the event on their own horses.
While show jumping is primarily an individual sport, the importance of learning to compete as a team member is an essential part of every rider’s development.
“I think it’s important for the kids to have an opportunity to experience riding on a team early on, before they get to the top level,” said Angel Karolyi of Hollow Creek Farm, who has ridden on numerous Nations’ Cup teams for his native Venezuela including at the 2011 Pan American Games. “It’s a completely different competition than all of the other individual classes. The whole purpose is quite different. Yes, you want to go clear and produce a good round, but it’s also about doing what’s best for the team. You can’t think only about yourself; you have to think about the other people representing your country and together plan a strategy to be the best team on the day.”
While the Hollow Creek FEI Nations’ Cup events will give experience to developing riders, Karolyi believes there are additional benefits for the sport as well.
“Having had this interesting experience, it might motivate up and coming riders to get deeper into the sport, to become more involved and committed to competing,” said Karolyi of the potential for future development. “As a concept, having Nations’ Cup divisions for Children, Junior and Young Rider competitors will help our sport grow as a whole.”
This may only be the second year of the Hollow Creek FEI Nations’ Cup program, but Karolyi sees no limit as to how far it can go.
“We have more countries competing this year, and I think it will become an even bigger deal as the years go by,” said Karolyi, noting that last year there were eight nations participating, and this year there are 10. “There will be more interest from other countries to come and compete, and it will continue to grow. Mark Bellissimo and his team are doing a great job with WEF; it’s become the main place for people to come for the sport. I think the Hollow Creek FEI Nations’ Cup events will become very prestigious in the years ahead.”
Hollow Creek Farm’s interest in encouraging young athletes to experience riding in a team format stems from its star pupil, Emanuel Andrade. At only 16 years of age, Andrade was named the Leading Jumper Rider of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, an incredible achievement for any competitor. His long list of accomplishments during last year’s FTI WEF included claiming 14 Championship titles and 10 Reserve Championship titles won primarily in the Low, Medium and High Junior Jumper divisions. Last year, Andrade was a member of the Venezuelan team that claimed bronze in the Junior FEI Nations’ Cup. He will once again be riding as a member of the Venezuelan Junior Nations’ Cup team in 2014.
In addition to the FEI Nations’ Cup events, Hollow Creek Farm will sponsor special Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Welcome classes on Wednesday, February 26, and Classics for each division on Thursday, February 28, all to be held in the International Arena. Hollow Creek Farm is also the weekly title sponsor of the Medium Junior Jumper division for the duration of the 12-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
“It is really exciting for us to be a part of this Nations’ Cup program, which is so innovative and unique,” concluded Karolyi. “We are proud to be able to support both the sport itself and the young up and coming riders who are the future of show jumping. There is no better showcase for this type of event than at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and we wish all of the competitors the best of luck!”
Flirt and Yasmin Rizvi Top Equestrian Sotheby’s International Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Wellington, FL – February 23, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its seventh week of competition on Sunday with a fantastic line-up of international show jumping and back-to-back wins for 21-year-old Audrey Coulter (USA) of San Francisco, CA.
The day kicked off with the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* with a win for Coulter and Acorte. The pair beat out the world’s number one and two ranked riders, Scott Brash and Ben Maher of Great Britain, who finished second and third respectively with their mounts Ursula XII and Cella. Coulter then went on to another big win in the afternoon’s $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with her mount Victory DA. It was a day the young rider will surely never forget.
Fredric Cottier (FRA) was the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for week seven. The $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* was postponed due to bad weather on Saturday night, but saw an exciting class on Sunday morning with 44 starters and a five-horse jump-off.
Danielle Goldstein (ISR) and Israeli Equestrian Partners’ Carisma were first to go in the jump-off and had four faults in 45.14 seconds to finish fifth. Audrey Coulter and Copernicus Stables LLC’s Acorte went next and posted the first clear round in what would prove to be the winning time of 40.51 seconds.
Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Cella did their best, but finished third with their clear round in 41.31 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey incurred four faults in 41.93 seconds to place fourth. Scott Brash and Ursula XII, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, also tried to catch Coulter’s time but settled for second in 41.10 seconds.
Coulter’s winning mount, Acorte, is an eleven-year-old Hanoverian mare by Acorado x Stakkato. The mare previously showed successfully with German rider Rolf Moormann and began competing with Coulter this fall. Sunday’s win was Coulter’s best finish with Acorte as well as the biggest win of the young rider’s career.
“I’m so excited!” she beamed. “Just to be next to Ben and Scott is amazing. My horse was incredible today. It has been a good day; it’s very exciting.”
Coulter is a student at Dartmouth College and is currently taking a quarter off of school to ride and compete. She has been showing at the 1.50m level for a few years, but moved up to the 1.60m height more recently and has had great results. With Acorte, Coulter finished fifth two weeks ago in the $370,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 5* Presented by Rolex, which saw an exciting one-two finish for Maher and Brash. This time, the rider from California stepped up for the win with the help of her trainers, Markus Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany.
“It was exciting for sure. I wasn’t really expecting it,” Coulter said of winning the jump-off. “I was just happy to be in the ring with Scott and Ben and competing, and I’m so fortunate to have the horse I have and such incredible trainers in Meredith and Markus, so I’m just happy to be here.”
Coming out of the ring, Coulter was not sure if she had done enough to win, but all she could do was wait. “I hoped the time was good enough, but knowing they were coming after me, I would have been happy with second or third. I went for it and I went as fast as I could and my horse is fast, so I was hoping to win, and it worked out today.”
“She’s incredible,” Coulter said of Acorte. “She’s a little feisty, but she has the biggest heart and she tries so hard every time she goes in the ring. I feel so lucky to have her. She’s really scopey and really careful. When we first got here I think she was a little shy, but we spoiled her. She really likes cookies, and we give her a lot of attention.”
In addition to winning top prize in Sunday’s grand prix, Coulter was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week seven. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.
Coulter thanked her trainers for their support. “It is incredible training with them,” she acknowledged. “They are so supportive. Markus just jumped up and down when I won! They are always there for you, but they also trust that you know what you’re doing, so it’s like a nice discussion back and forth, which I really enjoy. Training with Meredith is awesome. She is obviously an incredible rider, so it’s really fun just being around them every day at the barn.”
Scott Brash and Ursula XII
World number one, Scott Brash, was close behind with his second place finish aboard Ursula XII on Sunday, and gave credit to Coulter’s great ride.
“Audrey did an absolutely fantastic job today, and she thoroughly deserves it,” Brash acknowledged. “She was very, very fast and I watched her on the screen outside of the ring and it was a perfect round and that horse is a very fast horse. Then I watched Ben go, and it was a tough class. It was fast and it was all set distances. I actually tried to go one less stride after the white oxer, but I had a bit of a stumble so I had to do it in eight (strides). I was very pleased with my horse. She has been so consistent throughout the tour, and this is actually her last class (in Wellington). She goes home soon, so I’m happy it finished off on a good note.”
Maher also admitted that his round was just not fast enough to beat Coulter’s time and congratulated the rider on her victory.
“Cella again was incredible today, and it’s a nice change to jump during the day,” Maher noted. “I just didn’t have the jump-off I really wanted. It wasn’t smooth. It was kind of one of those rounds where I wanted to, but couldn’t get going. It was as fast as I could go, and Audrey was way too fast, and I knew it would not be possible to catch her.”
“She is just coming up to these ranks and I wish I had been doing this well when I was 21,” Maher said of Coulter’s success. “I think that’s a new horse for her and I know the horse a little bit from Europe, and it seems to like the American system. I think she prefers Audrey.”
Allyn Mann, Director of the Animal Health Division at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was on hand to watch the class and was thrilled with the great result.
“I’m living the dream,” Mann acknowledged. “Audrey, Scott, Ben, thank you for all you do to make this sport so exciting. The horses are awesome, and of course if it wasn’t for the owners, none of us would be sitting here. We thank owners like Jane Clark and the others who so passionately care about wanting to do the best for this entire industry. We have this facility across the street, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, that has just turned into a wonderful venue, and for us to support the dressage world and then to come across the street and get involved in the hunter/jumper world, it just has been a dream come true for us. We are looking forward to being around for an awfully long time, to continue to support all of the people that really make it possible for us to exist as a business.”
Coulter Earns Second Win of the Day in $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
An $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic concluded the competition on Sunday at the FTI WEF with another exciting victory for Audrey Coulter. Seventy-eight entries showed in the class with ten advancing to the jump-off. Fredric Cottier finished out the week with a challenging course for the 1.50m competitors that included a rarely seen quadruple combination. The oxer-vertical-vertical-oxer combination was a difficult test for many of the horses and riders, but Coulter’s horse cleared it easily to move on to the second round.
Audrey Coulter and Victory DA
Coming off the momentum of her big win in the morning, Coulter finished a phenomenal day by piloting Copernicus Stables LLC’s Victory DA to the 1.50m win with the fastest of four double clear rounds in the jump-off. The pair raced through the timers in 38.51 seconds, putting the rider in the winner’s circle once more. Victory DA also got to stand in for Acorte’s winning presentation earlier in the day and took her second victory gallop of the day as well.
“She is much calmer than the other one, so she did the first presentation, and then I think she wanted her own,” Coulter laughed after her win.
Australia’s Benjamin Meredith guided Bernadien van Westuur, owned by River Farm Sporthorses, to second place with a clear round in 39.43 seconds. Carly Anthony (USA) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park placed third in 39.69 seconds, and Ramiro Quintana (ARG) placed fourth with St. Bride’s Farm’s Caramello Z in 40.78 seconds.
Coulter was not sure how she got so lucky with two huge wins in one day, but she said that she would certainly like to repeat it. “I don’t know what I did, but I need to think about it because I need to do it again,” the rider smiled. “Victory DA is not a super fast horse. She can go fast, but sometimes if you go really fast on her she gets a little flat and strung out and has some rails, so I wasn’t really expecting it. I decided to just go after the grand prix and just show her because I haven’t shown her, and it went really well.”
The rider had a long day at the horse show, but noted that it was all worth it. “It was a good day; I have never had a day like this,” Coulter remarked. “This was amazing, and I am never going to forget it.”
Coulter has had Victory DA or “Vicky” for about three years now and knows the mare really well. She is a 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by by Clinton x Attach Z.
“She was sort of my first horse to move up to the 1.60m level,” the rider recalled. “She is super scopey. She is one of those that has all of the ability, but is sometimes not as careful, but today she jumped great and was really, really careful.”
Coulter spoke about the course and the challenge quadruple combination, noting that her horse had plenty of scope to clear it.
“I have never done a quadruple before,” she admitted. “I thought it was a really tricky course actually. Walking it, it was big, it was technical, it was long. It was definitely challenging. The time was tight and I have a kind of slow moving horse, so I was a little worried about the time, but it was a good course for such a big class.”
The strategy in the jump-off: “Sometimes you just sort of kick and go,” Coulter stated. “I wanted to go for it and today she was really on it and jumping well, so I felt like I could really try. Every time after every single jump you sort of have to land and go with her. She is really good at tight turns, so the turn back to the last line is something that was good for us.”
Coulter will compete during FTI WEF weeks nine and twelve and then returns to school for the spring. She then has a job lined up for the summer and will not be able to ride. Her horses will travel to Europe with the Beerbaums after a little time off and will continue to stay in shape and jumping until their rider returns. Coulter hopes to start riding again in August to gear up for next season and then has goals of competing at the 2015 FEI World Cup Finals.
Flirt and Yasmin Rizvi Top Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Hunter competition for week seven of the FTI WEF concluded on Sunday with a championship win for 13-year-old Yasmin Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, riding Peacock Ridge LLC’s Flirt in the Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. Rizvi and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding placed fourth over fences on Saturday, then jumped two winning rounds on Sunday and finished fourth under saddle to earn the championship tricolor. Oscany Inc.’s Clooney was reserve champion with Sophie Simpson in the irons. The pair placed third in both over fences on Saturday and second in both over fences on Sunday.
Rizvi and Flirt were also presented with the championship owner/rider award with Melissa Wight’s Chromeo and Samantha Wight in reserve. The special award is given to junior riders that compete on their own horses. Rizvi has owned Flirt since May of 2013. The pair had a successful year including top ribbons at Indoors and a fifth place finish at the USEF National Junior Hunter Championships. Rizvi trains at Heritage Farm in New York.
“This is my second weekend showing him here this year,” the rider noted. “He was pretty good last week, but it was his first weekend back for a while. He came out, and he felt really good this week.”
“He is slow, but he is so fun to ride,” Rizvi described. “He has never done anything wrong. He is perfect.”
Rizvi and Flirt had two great rounds over fences on Sunday to clinch the championship title. She detailed, “The first round he jumped really well. In the second round I rubbed a few jumps, but he was really good. He jumps very well and he is so much fun.”
“He is really sweet,” she said of Flirt’s personality. “Some horses bite, but he is nice. He will let me hug him, and he is very affectionate.”
Sunday’s competition concluded week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, begins on Wednesday, February 26, and runs through March 2. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
Rapunzel and Katherine Strauss Earn Championship in Greenspoon Marder Law Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Wellington, FL – February 22, 2014 – Due to inclement weather, Saturday night’s $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) has been postponed and rescheduled for Sunday morning with a 10:30 a.m. start. The $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will begin at 1 p.m. The revised Sunday schedule can be found at http://showgroundslive.com/esp/showschedule/List/showid/15711/date/2014-02-23.
Sponsored by Adequan, week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concludes on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
The day’s competition on Saturday ran as planned with a full schedule of hunter, jumper and equitation classes. The Greenspoon Marder Law Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division crowned its champion for week seven in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring, presenting the winning tricolor to Katherine Strauss and her 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Rapunzel (by Rotspon). It was a very close race for top honors between Strauss and Rapunzel and Jake Wasson aboard his horse, Imagine, as the two pairs earned the same number of points over fences. The under saddle class was the deciding factor.
Strauss and Rapunzel placed second in both classes over fences on Friday and went on to win both jumping classes and the under saddle on Saturday to earn the division championship. Wasson and Imagine won both jumping classes on Friday, then finished second in the two classes over fences on Saturday and placed third under saddle to earn the reserve championship.
Strauss and Rapunzel were also presented with the championship owner/rider award with Wasson and Imagine in reserve. The special award is given to junior riders that compete on their own horses. Strauss has owned Rapunzel for two years. The mare had previously shown successfully with professional rider Jennifer Alfano.
“She is so fun,” Strauss smiled. “She is such an easy horse to get to the ring. We really don’t do anything; we don’t even jump oxers in the schooling ring. She’s so relaxed and she has been going really well this circuit, so I am really happy.”
“She felt great both days,” the rider praised. “I think she was a little more settled in today, but she was jumping well both days, so I could not have been happier with her. I just try to stay really relaxed and calm on her and keep her straight, and I can trust that she is going to give me a really good jump.”
Strauss spoke about Rapunzel’s personality, noting that the big chestnut mare definitely has her own character. “She’s definitely a chestnut mare,” the rider admitted. “She knows she’s amazing at what she does, so she lets everyone know. She doesn’t like people too close to her. She really just likes to do her job.”
“I don’t know if she likes me that much,” Strauss laughed, “but she is a really funny horse. She is kind of quirky. If I go to give her a treat she will take it out of my hand and then go to the other side of her stall. She doesn’t like being around people that much, but I think she kind of just knows she’s good at what she does and expects people to treat her like she’s amazing.”
Strauss has been competing in the jumpers much more this year, but still loves her hunter and hopes to qualify the mare for the Devon Horse Show this spring. Rapunzel will then have some time off over the summer while Strauss shows at Spruce Meadows.
Hunter competition for week seven will conclude on Sunday with the Equestrian Sotheby’s International Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under championships in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
The $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4*, which was rescheduled for Sunday, February 23, due to inclement weather on Saturday night, will still be live streamed.
The grand prix will start at 10:30 am EST today, Sunday, February 23.
Watch some of the best show jumpers in the world vie for top honors in this four-star grand prix in the International Arena on the Main Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
