Monthly Archives: October 2018

Awards, Breeds, Competitions, Dressage

Brend Daughter Tessa KCF Wins the ISF IBOP Dressage Cup

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Tessa KCF, Star. Photo credit: Rae Wilkins.

Coatesville, PA — Each year the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) awards the prestigious Iron Spring Farm IBOP Dressage Cup. The national championship is presented to the high scoring horse competing in the IBOP riding test during the FHANA keurings held each fall throughout North America.

This year the Cup went to Tessa KCF, Star. Tessa is by Brend 413, Sport out of Yve, Star (by Sibald 360).  The 4-year-old mare scored an impressive 82 points to receive the championship. “We were elated!” Jack Vanderkooy, Tessa’s breeder, said of the award. “We were confident halfway through the test that she would do well, but when the judge announced her total score of 82 points, we were thrilled beyond measure.”

The IBOP test is a dressage test of all three gaits and includes serpentines and medium gaits. “I always recognized that Tessa was the mare in the field to do the most frolicking, like she enjoyed being athletic. During the test, she really showed off her suspended and elastic [gaits],” Vanderkooy explained. Kevin Brutsche, of Clinton, WA, purchased Tessa shortly before the FHANA keuring.  The mare was ridden by and has been in training with Cecile Von Martels, of Ridgetown Ontario.

Vanderkooy, owner of KCF Farms, has had other mares compete in the IBOP Cup over the years. “We wish to thank Iron Spring Farm for their generosity in offering this rewarding prize each year to the FHANA membership,” he said. Iron Spring Farm began sponsoring the IBOP Dressage Cup in 2010. The Cup recognizes Friesians with serious dressage talent. Prizes include coolers for the Top Five national finishers, as well as $500 to the champion and $250 to the reserve champion.

Tessa’s sire, Brend 413, Sport, also had a successful dressage career. He won through Third Level with scores near 70%, including the GAIG/USDF Region I Third Level Adult Amateur Championship. Brend is by Brandus 345, Sport/Preferent, out Meta Van De Strubbenhof, from stam line 34. Brend’s sons and daughters have won numerous championships and dressage classes.

For the latest updates, photos and videos, please visit the Iron Spring Farm Facebook page and www.ironspringfarm.com.

Pony, Racing, Revolution Sports

Shetland Pony Grand National Returns to Olympia, The London International Horse Show

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From 17-23 December 2018, Olympia, The London International Horse Show, will welcome the return of the much-loved Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National, a fast and furious race showcasing some of the UK’s young, talented, and up-and-coming jockeys.

This year’s line-up features some of the brightest young names in horse racing, including Olive Nicholls, daughter of 10-time British National Hunt Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, who no doubt will be giving Olive a tip or two in her preparations for Olympia. Nicholls will compete against Alice Crowley, daughter of 2016 British Flat Racing Champion Jockey, Jim Crowley. The pair has the equestrian genes to contend, but how will they fare in Olympia’s Grand Hall?

Entrants are required to be aged 8-14 and must be under five feet tall. Riders race around a track, jumping obstacles mimicking those at the Aintree Grand National, only in miniature form. The event is the pinnacle of the Shetland Pony Grand National calendar and is set to attract hordes of spectators from the 90,000 attendees, who are due to visit Olympia over its seven days of competition.

Although undoubtedly a fun-filled event, there is also a real spirit of competitiveness among the riders. Many of them are aiming to emulate past competitors, who have graduated from the Shetland Pony Grand National to become professional equestrians, including Sam Twiston-Davies and Tom Garner, who are now established names on the racing circuit.

Following in the footsteps of the Twiston-Davies brothers, Gloucestershire has another Shetland Pony Grand National competitor tipped for the top: nine-year-old Lucas Murphy, whose father, Timmy Murphy, has ridden over 1,000 winners in the professional jump racing world. Joining Murphy and his pony Shelcroft Buttercup will be Lucy Aspell, daughter of back-to-back Grand National winner, Leighton Aspell. Aspell will be returning for her second successive year at Olympia and is likely to pull out all the stops to go the distance.

All proceeds from the Shetland Pony Grand National will go to the nominated charity, The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. Founded in 1983, the charity has raised an incredible £16 million for cancer research and will be the direct beneficiary of the money raised by the young jockeys, who last year managed to raise a terrific £42,500.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0844 995 0995.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Telford gtelford@revolutionworld.com +44(0)7717 776928

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show

Professional Hunters Get Underway at 2018 National Horse Show

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Photo: Victoria Colvin and Private Practice.

Lexington, Ky. – Oct. 30, 2018 – The country’s top hunter horses and riders arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park for the highly anticipated 2018 National Horse Show and kicked off the professional hunter divisions in the Alltech Arena on Tuesday. Green Hunter competition saw Victoria Colvin and Holly Orlando take home blue ribbons in the 3’9” and 3’6” divisions, respectively.

Liza Boyd and Tradition, owned by Maggie Hill, earned the win in the first over fences round of the Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter division, with Colvin finishing close behind in second place with Private Practice, owned by Brad Wolf.

Returning for the handy round, Colvin claimed the win with the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding, who she won the 2018 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship with in August at the Kentucky Horse Park. Boyd and Colvin are currently tied heading into the final phases of the division after Boyd also took home second place in the handy round.

Prior to the Oare & Adikes-Hill Green 3’9” Hunter division, Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, owned by Cheryl Olsten, rode to the top of the leaderboard in the initial over fences round of the Goshen Hill Green 3’6” Hunter division, presented by Ms. Caroline Moran, while the handy round went to Holly Orlando and the 7-year-old Hanoverian mare Whisper, owned by Privet Farm, LLC. Back-to-back second place finishes went to Chris Payne and Still Water Farm LLC’s Fibonacci.

The Suzanne Thoben Marquard Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunter division also got underway with Dudley MacFarlane and Roland Park, owned by Mount Fair Equine, LLC, claiming the win and the “Automation-Model Cadet” Memorial Perpetual Trophy for her performance in the first over fences round.

Becky Gochman and Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Catch Me, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, impressed the judges and scored the win in the handy round as well as the under saddle class, while Clementina Brown and her own Eagle took home second place in both over fences classes.

For a detailed event schedule, click here.

Hunter/Equitation, Jump Media, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Tessa Downey and Anisette Are Grand on Final Day of 60th Anniversary WIHS

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Tessa Downey and Anisette. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.

October 28, 2018 – Washington, D.C. – The 60th anniversary Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) concluded on Sunday, October 28, at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. with the naming of the 2018 Grand Pony Hunter Champion, as well as WIHS Pony Equitation Finals and WIHS Regional Hunter Finals winners.

Taking the weeklong show’s top pony hunter honor was Tessa Downey of Houston, TX riding her own Anisette.

Downey, 13, and the 12-year-old black Welsh Pony Cross mare topped two of the Medium Pony Hunter over fences classes and finished second in the handy to earn the Medium Pony Hunter Championship, for which they were presented the Shenandoah Sundowner Perpetual Trophy, donated by Evan Coluccio and Ashmont Farms, Lt.

The pair’s consistent rounds proved to be enough to then clinch the Miles River Moonglow Perpetual Trophy, donated by Scott Novick & Rustic Woods, as the Grand Pony Hunter Champions. Downey and Anisette also received the Potomac Trophy for the High Score Junior Hunter Rider on a Pony, and Downey was named the Best Child Rider on a Pony, sponsored by Gotham North. For the Best Child Rider award, Downey received the Captain V.S. Littauer Perpetual Trophy.

“I grew up watching Maddie Schaefer and everyone who is now in the big eq win this trophy, and I’m just super excited. We came here just with our goal being to jog in every class. That was our goal at Harrisburg too; we just wanted to be consistent. Then we go and this happens, and we’re over the moon!” – Tessa Downey

Downey started riding Anisette this past year, after purchasing the mare from the Hoch family, and she has seen great success with her since, including winning the Medium Pony Hunter Championship at the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Finals in August.

Samantha Takacs Rides to Redemption in WIHS Pony Equitation Finals

Samantha Takacs of Oldwick, NJ scored an 88 in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals to take home top honors riding Storyteller. The win was a redeeming effort for Takacs after going off course from the first in the order in the very same class during the 2017 WIHS.

“Last year was my first time at WIHS and this year I was really hoping I did the course correctly. I was a little bit nervous because I hadn’t shown in the hunters at this show this year because I didn’t have a horse to ride so today was my first trip.” – Samantha Takacs

Thirteen-year-old Takacs borrowed the ride on Storyteller, owned by Temple Equestrian, LLC and leaded by Caroline Signorino. Despite qualifying for the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, Takacs didn’t have a mount available to compete and jumped her first fence with Storyteller the morning of the final.

“I am so thankful that my friend Caroline and Temple Equestrian were both kind enough to let me borrow him,” said Takacs of the 15-year-old German Sport Pony gelding. “I rode him this morning and I felt like he was such a good boy and we were a good match. Then in the schooling area, I got a little self-conscious and wasn’t sure how it was going to. But, once I got in the ring I knew he would do it for me.”

After the jumping phase of the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, the top ten riders were tested on the flat. Takacs pocketed the top score to best second-place finisher Kat Fuqua, who finished one point off the lead with an 87.

For more information on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org.

Contact: Jennifer Wood
jwood@jumpmediallc.com

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Deusser Pips Bruynseels in Electrifying Verona Jump-Off

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Daniel Deusser and Calisto Blue. (FEI/Massimo Argenziano)

Daniel Deusser (37), winner of the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League, admitted that it was a last-minute change of plan that gave him victory.

“The first question we all had when we saw the jump-off course was: is it possible to do six strides from fence one to fence two? I was thinking for me it was definitely seven because my horse would be hard to turn… and actually I only did the six because I saw Niels going in six, and I know that he has not the biggest horse and he was in the lead so I had to do the same!” the German rider said after bringing the crowd to their feet with a breathtaking last-to-go run with Calisto Blue.

There’s something about Jumping Verona that always guarantees a thriller, and this was vintage stuff.

“I’ve been here a couple of times with my best horses in good shape, and every year we have big sport with close results and a lot of people in a very exciting jump-off. So to be one time the winner here makes me very proud!” — Daniel Deusser (GER)

The Italian fixture attracted a spectacular line-up including all three medallists from the individual podium at last month’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, USA and their horses too. However, new world champion, Germany’s Simone Blum, had a tumble with DSP Alice on Friday and although both are fine, she decided to ride her young horse Cool Hill who had eight first-round faults. So when bronze medallists Steve Guerdat and Bianca also faulted in the opening round, silver medallist Martin Fuchs and his brilliant gelding Clooney were the only ones to make it through to the 14-horse jump-off.

Fifth to go against the clock, Italy’s Luca Marziani set the crowd alight when storming home with Tokyo du Soleil in 39.69 seconds, but then Bertram Allen (23) raised the bar with a brilliant round from his 2014 Verona winner Molly Malone in 38.60 seconds to take the lead. However, the young Irishman was immediately demoted by his Swiss friend Martin Fuchs who shaved 0.2 off that, and then Niels Bruynseels and his incredibly quick mare Gancia de Muze re-set the target once more when blazing through the timers in 37.03 seconds.

With just three to go, it seemed that just couldn’t be bettered and that the Belgian had it in the bag. Even Deusser doubted he could do it, “but I was last to go, and with the public and the atmosphere like that, I just stopped thinking about it and went in and I really wanted to try!”

The roar of the crowd was enough to tell him he had succeeded, by an incredibly narrow margin of just 0.2 seconds. His expression of sheer delight said it all.

He has only been riding the 11-year-old gelding Calisto Blue since July and it hasn’t all been plain sailing. “In the beginning it was very difficult; he’s scopey, very careful and fast but he’s very nervous. Especially with me with my long body – it was difficult to find the co-ordination because he was very sensitive. I’ve had good results in Grand Prix at Berlin and Brussels, but I was always fourth or fifth and he was never really able to win a class for me,” explained the tall German.

Fuchs was very happy with his third-place finish and some valuable early points in the battle for one of the top 18 places in the Western European League that will take riders to the Longines Final in Gothenburg (SWE) next April.

“This is my first big show since Tryon, so many riders I haven’t seen since my (silver) medal have been coming to me to say congratulations, and so it has been a very nice show!” — Martin Fuchs (SUI)

Deusser was reminded that he has finished first, second, and third on the World Cup podium. “Yes, my history in the World Cup sounds quite good if you look at it like that, but every year we start on zero again! It’s nice to start the season with 20 points, but it’s still a long way to the Final and I’m definitely hoping to qualify,” said the man who will line out again in Lyon (FRA), the place where he posted his memorable series victory in 2014.

Watch highlights of Daniel Deusser’s win here.

By Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show

Dominic Gibbs and Hannah Brown Reign Supreme in Equitation Championships at NHS

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Dominic Gibbs on Limitless with the Hamel Family, Jennifer Burger, and Mason Phelps.

Lexington, Ky. – Oct. 28, 2018 – The second day of the 2018 National Horse Show returned to the Kentucky Horse Park on Sunday, with exhibitors in the Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3″ Equitation Championship and Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship taking center stage. Adding his name as only the second champion of the prestigious class in as many years, Dominic Gibbs piloted Limitless to the top honors in the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Equitation Championship, while Hannah Brown outshone the pack aboard Dimacho in the Taylor Harris NHS Adult Equitation Championships.

A familiar face in Kentucky, course designer Bobby Murphy challenged the original crop of 104 horse-and-rider combinations over his winding track that served to distinguish the frontrunners from the rest of the field. Whittled down to the highest-scoring 25 pairs, eligible competitors returned for a flat phase and a second trip over fences in front of the watchful eyes of the judges to determine the elite four that would test for the title.

Separated from their peers as the top performers, Blythe Goguen, Sophie Bluhm, Dominic Gibbs, and Layla Kurbanov were each given one final opportunity to exhibit their skills. The abridged testing course challenged the four contenders to walk, canter fences one and two, then counter-canter fence three before transitioning to a trot for fence four, after which they were asked to halt and exit at a walk.

Proving his consistency and performing masterfully for the fourth time Sunday, Gibbs directed 8-year-old Limitless to a textbook trip that earned him the high marks of the day to secure the championship rosette. Gibbs, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joins inaugural winner Jaden Porter as the newest name to be inscribed on the commemorative trophy, which is proudly displayed throughout the year at the Kentucky Horse Park Museum.

Bluhm and her own Quadro D’ Ag claimed the reserve honors, followed by Kurbanov and Olga Kurbanov’s Calberon B in third place. Goguen and Z Jappoo Sow, owned by Colette Cacciatore, rounded out the top four in the standings.

In its inaugural year as a National Horse Show class, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship attracted a talented field of contenders each vying for the top prize. Like their junior counterparts, the adult entries in the equitation class aimed to showcase their talents over Murphy’s course during the preliminary round of competition in order to earn the advantage headed into the subsequent under saddle phase and final jumping round.

Maneuvering their way to the lead thanks to a series of strong performances, Brown and A. Brooke Farr’s Dimacho ultimately clinched the coveted rosette and the lead spot in the victory gallop. Brown hails from Manchester, Connecticut and is already on a hot streak at the National Horse Show, having won the blue ribbon Saturday in the Adult Equitation over fences class in addition to the second place finish under saddle, also with Dimacho.

Jeanine Cash of Winthrop, Massachusetts earned the reserve honors with MTM Magnum, owned by Olivia Rubin, followed by Darby Mazzarisi of Chesterfield, New Jersey in third position aboard West Hill’s Resonate. Coincidentally, the three podium finishers in Sunday’s championship were also the top three in Saturday’s Adult Equitation over fences class, with Cash and Mazzarisi swapping spots.

For a detailed event schedule, click here.

Show Jumping, Tryon

Paul O’Shea Flies to 1st and 2nd in $132k Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*

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Photo: Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Presence.

Mill Spring, NC – October 27, 2018 – Paul O’Shea (IRL) flew straight to the top in the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* in a time of 36.532 seconds on the short course aboard Skara Glen’s Presence, a 2008 Holsteiner gelding (Contendro x Nekton) owned by Skara Glen Stables. O’Shea also landed in second place aboard Imerald Van’t Voorhof, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Bacardi-Orange De Muze) owned by Tequestrian Farms, LLC, with a time of 37.094 seconds. Todd Minikus (USA) piloted Amex Z, a 2009 Zangersheide mare (Andiamo Z x Landaris) owned by Bit by Bit Group, to third after a 37.312 second performance in Tryon Stadium at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

Mexico’s Manuel Esparza set the stage for a competitive jump-off on a track that tested both long gallops and tight turns, which O’Shea complimented. “The course rode well. Obviously, I’m happy with how it went. It was a very nice track and a very nice result with eight clear in the first round. I think it was a really good course,” he continued. “They’re both very good horses and they’ve been going really well. They’re used to this level now, too – even though they’re both ten, they’re both still a little inexperienced.”

After achieving a string of second place finishes in FEI classes for the past few weeks at Tryon, O’Shea was thrilled to step to the top of the podium and finish his season strong, especially against stiff competition.

“Going into the jump-off, Todd was in the lead, and he’s one of the fastest riders in the world without a doubt. Kent was last, who is one of the fastest in the world without a doubt, too, and so there was no point not to go as fast as we could,” he explained.

O’Shea praised both his mounts for being brave, scopey and willing partners. “Presence has a very big stride and he’s very uphill, which is helpful of course, and he’s very brave. He never hesitates and you can turn him back. He’ll always try. Imerald has a massive stride as well, and is quite similar. He’s very uphill and light to ride and very scopey.”

“Maybe to the second fence I saved some time and I think I did eight strides to number three. I think Todd did nine, so I think that’s where I got him. Otherwise we were quite even,” elaborated O’Shea.

After a successful fall season at Tryon, O’Shea plans to give both his mounts some well-earned time off before heading to Florida for the winter. “They’ll start back in WEF again and do some smaller classes and build back up. When I start them back I’ll see how they feel, rather than say they’ll jump week two at the Grand Prix; if they need smaller classes to build back up we’ll take it week by week.”

For full results from the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*, click here.

For more information, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show

Emily Kowalchik Claims Boggs Hill KHJA Equitation Championship at National Horse Show

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Emily Kowalchik on Fernleigh. Shawn McMillen Photography.

Lexington, KY – October 27, 2018 – The highly-anticipated National Horse Show returned Saturday to its home in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for its 2018 installment, the culmination of the east coast summer equestrian season. This year, the National Horse Show offers new equitation championships throughout its opening weekend, with the Boggs Hill NHS KHJA Equitation Championship, presented by the Goguen Family, serving as the first to crown a winner and the feature event of day one’s competition. The inaugural champion, Emily Kowalchik, masterfully directed Kelsey Taylor’s Fernleigh to top marks across two phases to earn the top slot on the leaderboard, while nine different junior and adult combinations each rode to victory in their respective age-group classes.

In its debut year, the Boggs Hill NHS KHJA Equitation Championship saw its first crop of qualified contenders take their turns around course designer Bobby Murphy’s track for a shot at the blue ribbon. Entries into the inaugural class were determined by the year-end standings of the KHJA based upon showings throughout the year, so only the top performers were eligible to compete in the grand finale, consisting of a preliminary over fences round and a flat phase. Over the course of the class, Kowalchik and her mount consistently displayed their equitation talent to pull away from the group and distinguish themselves as the class leaders, ultimately claiming the championship title.

The 27-year-old Kowalchik reigns from Loveland, Ohio and has been training with David Beisel for 13 years. Though she has a long relationship with her trainer, the tenure with her horse is newer, having only just picked up the ride this past July. Fernleigh has experience in the equitation and showed up at Beisel’s stables as a sale horse at the time that Kowalchik learned she had qualified for year-end classes, and the fit seemed perfect. Kowalchik will return to the show ring Sunday hoping for another championship title, this time in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Horse Show Adult Equitation Championship.

Larissa Hufnagel of Lexington, Kentucky earned the reserve championship just behind Kowalchik, a positive start to her first appearance at the National Horse Show. Hufnagel piloted her own Devout, the horse she has been paired with for the last three years, and used her knowledge of the horse’s normal way of going to ensure they set themselves up for success. Owner-rider Adeline Pavlin of Cincinnati, Ohio rounded out the top three podium spots with her horse, Ragazzo Carino.

Earlier in the day, age group equitation classes for juniors and adults offered exhibitors opportunities to display their precision and correct form in the show ring, both over fences and under saddle. In the Under 14 Equitation, Emma Borders aboard her own Chapot Z claimed the top honors under saddle, while the duo of Madison Nadolenco and her own Quieri finished in first place over fences. Owner-rider Hensley Humphries and Ixion Van Het Netehof similarly proved their prowess in the ring to earn the highest distinction in the 14-15 Equitation Section A on the flat, and Sheridan Johnson maneuvered Palmyra Partners’ Brad Pitt to the blue ribbon over fences. In Section B, Maggie Hill and Charmeur, owned by North Run, earned first prize under saddle, while Dominic Gibbs and Limitless, owned by Erin R Gibbs, scored the highest in the over fences class.

In the slightly older age bracket, Marcus Cmola Au and Barn Rat LLC’s Nobel Laureate were double winners, laying down the best showing of the division to earn the top position in the 16-17 Equitation under saddle and over fences. Elizabeth Chenelle, in the irons aboard Armand Chenelle’s Li Bond, claimed first place in the Adult Equitation on the flat, and Hannah Brown and Dimacho, owned by A. Brooke Farr, rounded out the series of winners in the Adult Equitation over fences.

For a detailed event schedule, click here.

For tickets, click here.

Hunter/Equitation, Jump Media, Show Jumping, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Beezie Madden and Breitling LS Are Best at Washington International Horse Show

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Beezie Madden. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.

Washington, D.C. – October 27, 2018 – The 60th Anniversary Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) came to a peak on Saturday, October 27, with a victory for reigning FEI Jumping World Cup™ champions Beezie Madden (USA) and Breitling LS in the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington, presented by Events DC. Earlier in the evening, 16-year-old Elli Yeager claimed the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals riding Copperfield 39.

A four-time U.S. Olympian, Madden topped a 24-horse field by more than two seconds in 30.74 seconds for owner Abigail Wexner over courses built by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. From a four-horse jump-off, she edged out Katherine Dinan (USA) riding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC, who sat on a leading time of 32.93 seconds.

Madden’s silver medal teammate from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Lucy Davis (USA), rounded out an all-female podium in 33.44 seconds riding Caracho 14, owned by Old Oak Farm.

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam rounded out the jump-off with a four-fault performance for fourth place riding Don’t Touch Du Bois, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast Farm, and Paul Tracy. A 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games team gold medalist, Laura Kraut (USA) finished fifth with the fastest four-fault ride from the opening round aboard Confu, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.

“This was his first indoor event of the year, so it’s nice to see that he’s in form. It shows why he was good at the World Cup [Final]; he walked right in here and was clever, rideable, adjustable, careful, and he can handle tight spaces like this.” – Beezie Madden

A quick horse by nature, Madden relied on Breitling’s foot speed to shave significant time off the clock, saying, “I thought one to two was a little bit of a tough turn to a big jump, so I didn’t think that was really the place to win it. I feel like I was a touch slow there, but then I knew my horse has some speed, and he’s quite good at turning, so I think I made it up at the turns on both ends, particularly the last turn.”

Madden has set her sights on the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Göteborg (SWE) with a solid string of horses to choose from.

Elli Yeager Earns 2018 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals Victory

Elli Yeager, 16, of Wellington, FL, bested a field of 40 of the nation’s top junior riders to win the 2018 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals on Saturday.

In order to win the competitive, year-end equitation final, Yeager had to earn the highest cumulative score over three phases of competition: a hunter phase held on Friday, a jumper phase held on Saturday afternoon, and a final work-off held during Saturday night’s featured session. Riders’ average scores from the first two rounds were combined, with the 10 top-ranked competitors then swapping horses in the work-off.

Yeager and her longtime partner, Copperfield 39, topped the hunter phase with a score of 92.50 and finished fourth in the jumper phase with a score of 91.25 for a 183.75 total going into the final round.

The win in the jumper phase went to Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT on a score of 94.50. With a fourth-place finish and a score of 89.25 in the hunter phase, Fath’s cumulative total also sat on 183.75, putting she and her Beacon Hill Show Stables barn mate, Yeager, in a tie going into the final round.

For the work-off, the two front-runners swapped mounts, with Fath taking over the ride aboard Copperfield 39, and Yeager taking the reins on Fath’s mount, equitation championship veteran Class Action, who won the Finals in 2008 with Katherine Newman.

While both delivered seamless rounds, a well-executed inside turn by Yeager, which Fath elected to forego, would give Yeager the slight, tie-breaking advantage and ultimately the 2018 WIHS Equitation Finals victory.

For the win, Yeager was presented with the WIHS Equitation Classic Trophy, donated by Mr. & Mrs. G. Ralph Ours III, and as the winning horse, Copperfield 39 was awarded the Lugano Memorial Trophy, donated by Stoney Hill.

“This is my favorite horse show, and it went better than I ever could have imagined! I didn’t think this was ever going to happen to be honest – especially just being 16. But it happened, and I’m just elated that it happened here at my favorite horse show with my favorite horse who is the best partner that I could ask for.” – Elli Yeager

Yeager has been riding her winning mount, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, for nearly six years.

“Over the years, I’ve grown about 10 inches, but he’s always been the same,” said Yeager. “He always has his game face on. He’s never let me down. He’s been the best horse I could have ever asked for.”

For more information on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org.

Contact: Jennifer Wood
jwood@jumpmediallc.com

Competitions, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation

Royal Horse Show Doubles Down on Derby Fun

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Jacqueline Brooks and D Niro. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Adrienne Lyle headlines new Dressage Derby; Hunters Showcased in Knightwood Hunter Derby

Toronto, Ontario – U.S. Olympian Adrienne Lyle will headline the new Dressage Derby on Tuesday evening, November 6, at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 96th Annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. This year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs from November 2 through 11 at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, ON.

Doubling down on Derby fun, Tuesday evening’s Royal Horse Show performance opens with the impressive Knightwood Hunter Derby followed by the Dressage Derby, a new concept that will see four riders go head-to-head riding borrowed horses in a ‘knock-out’ format. Riders will have only minutes to get to know their mounts before entering the Coca-Cola Coliseum to perform their test. The winner of each ‘knock-out round’ will move forward to a second round in the hopes of being crowned the Royal Dressage Derby Champion.

Lyle, a member of the U.S. silver medal team at the recent FEI World Equestrian Games, will be making her first trip to Toronto in addition to her Royal Horse Show debut.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Royal and I thought it was a fun chance to get to compete there,” said Lyle, who is based in Wellington, FL. “I have competed in some derbies in Florida before and I think they are really fun. The crowd loves them and they are a great test of rider skill.”

Joining Lyle in the Dressage Derby are Canadians Tom Dvorak and Jaimey Irwin along with Esther Mortimer of Guatemala.

“It’s the ultimate test of rider skill to have to ride a horse you don’t know and have never had a chance to watch or ride before,” said Lyle, who is looking forward to the challenge of riding an unfamiliar mount. “It’s an easy format for the crowd to understand because it makes sense and it is usually obvious which rider gets along best with their horse. Sometimes there’s also a lot of comedy involved! I grew up in pony club riding many different horses and I really enjoy the challenge of getting on and sorting it out in a few minutes. A lot of it is being able to read the horse and come up with a strategy.”

Prior to the Dressage Derby, Canadian Dressage Team veteran, Jacqueline Brooks, will retire her long-time partner, D Niro, in a fitting celebration at the Royal Horse Show. Brooks and the 19-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood gelding affectionately known as ‘Goose’ have represented Canada in international competition around the globe, including at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2013 World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Following the Dressage Derby, Brittany Fraser will perform a musical freestyle riding All In to close out the evening. The highest-placed member of Canada’s dressage team at the recent 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in September, Fraser will demonstrate both the artistry and difficulty in choreographing required movements to the music of her choice.

Opening Tuesday evening’s Royal Horse Show performance, the elegance of high performance hunters will be on display in the $25,000 Knightwood Hunter Derby. Competitors from across the country have been earning points all year in the hopes of vying for the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy, presented to the overall Canadian Hunter Derby Series Champion.

From the $125,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship on Friday and Saturday evenings, November 2 and 3, through to the $205,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, presented by GroupBy, on Saturday night, November 10, the Royal Horse Show offers something each day for all fans of horse sport.

In featured entertainment, Australia’s Guy McLean will demonstrate his unique form of natural horsemanship throughout the ten-day Royal Horse Show while Pogo Puissance by Xpogo will take jumping to new heights as young athletes attempt to set records by jumping obstacles on pogo sticks.

More than 1,000 horses from around the globe will compete for $980,000 in prize money during the 10-day CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show. VIP Platinum and Gold seating, as well as group and individual tickets, are on sale now and moving quickly. All Royal Horse Show tickets include general admission to the Fair.

For more information on the Royal Horse Show, the marquee event of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org/horseshow.