Victory was sweet for Count Me In and Ireland’s Conor Swail in the CHF216,000 MARS Equestrian™ CSI4* Grand Prix, the featured event on the expansive grass derby field at Equestrian Village during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Week 4 on Saturday in Wellington, FL.
The pressure was on for Swail riding Count Me In, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes) owned by Sandy Lupton & Mannon Farm. The first to crack the code on the opening round track designed by Anderson Lima (BRA), Swail was the trailblazer again in a five-horse jump-off.
“I’m lucky to have Crosby,” said Swail, currently ranked fifth in the world on the FEI rankings. “He’s a very fast horse. I was trying to give it a good go and put the other riders under enough pressure and hope that they would make mistakes. It was a tough track but fair I thought. I have an amazing horse and I hope his good form continues. This was our first time out this year and I must say I thought he felt fabulous.”
Ruyle, Langmeier Score Wins in Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2*
WEF 4 has welcomed the return of Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* competition on the derby field at Equestrian Village. The CHF37,000 Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix Qualifier highlighted the action on Friday with a win for Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) riding Cyramo. She piloted the 2011 Zangersheide mare (Clarimo x Vigo D Arsouilles Stx) to victory from a competitive 15-horse jump-off.
Ruyle was thrilled with her mare’s massive efforts, saying, “Everything was very spread out: a gallop to two, the combination off a tight turn which we are pretty good at, and a long gallop to three and four. It rode great and she tried so hard. I’ve had her a while – since she was seven and she’s thirteen now – so we’ve had a long time to build a strong partnership.” They bumped Ireland’s Francis Derwin, riding Intuitive for owner Eve Jobs, to second.
After a third-place finish on Friday with Chadina for Rafferty Farm, Mckayla Langmeier (USA) came back on top in Saturday’s CHF10,000 Helgstrand Jewellery CIS2* 1.40m Speed. In another jump-off that mandated impressive speed from seventeen qualifiers, Langmeier and Jiselle NS, a 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare (Balou du Rouet x Voltaire) flew to the win for owner Linda Langmeier.
Wellington, FL – January 18, 2019 – The second week of 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is well underway at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL with a win for 18-year-old Mckayla Langmeier of East Granby, CT riding Bon Vivant in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m speed class on Friday, January 18.
Langmeier and her eight-year-old gelding Bon Vivant (Bustique x Doris Day V Overis Z) competed in the high junior jumpers last year and decided to test the waters in their first FEI class. Her goal was to have a fast and competitive ride and she did just that. The pair went towards the end of the line-up, putting in a fast and clear round of 58.77 seconds to top the class. They will compete later in the week in the $36,000 CaptiveOne 1.45m Classic on Sunday and hope to continue at this level throughout circuit.
Jennifer Magee Pilots Clementine to Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Sec. A) Victory
Hunter competition in the Rost Arena at PBIEC started off Friday morning with the remaining classes in the Triple Crown Blankets Adult Amateur Hunter Middle (Sec. A) division. Wellington resident Jennifer Magee scored her first hunter championship win with Clementine.
Magee and the 10-year-old Warmblood mare are a new pair as Clementine was leased from Andrea Guzinski only after Magee’s original hunter horse was laid up on injury. The duo swept competition over the course of two days securing two firsts, a second, and two fourths to capture the tricolor ribbon.
Samuel Parot and Couscous van Orti Top $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m CSI 5*
Wellington, FL – March 24, 2017 – After two rounds and a test, McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, CT emerged victorious riding Calberon B in the tenth annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation class, the highlight competition on March 24 at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Thirty-nine horse and rider combinations tackled the first round course designed by Andy Christiansen Jr. and Frank Madden in the Van Kampen Covered Arena at Equestrian Village at PBIEC. Following the initial round, the top 15 riders returned for a second round, and ultimately the top four riders came back for a final test. Without the help of their trainers, the junior riders were responsible for walking the course, warming up their horses, and time management as no outside contact was allowed during the event and riders were required to turn in their cell phones at the start of the class. One groom was permitted to tend to the horse and set jumps during the warm-up.
The competitors received scores from two panels of judges and a schooling judge, who graded riders in the warm-up area and gave a score that ranged from minus two to two. Panel one consisted of Anne Kursinski and Ralph Caristo, panel two was made up of Frank Madden and Bobby Braswell, and Eric Straus acted as schooling judge.
Langmeier, who finished second in the class last year, was sitting in second place going into the final test, but after flawlessly asking all of the test’s questions, she moved up to win the blue ribbon. Ava Stearns of Chilmark, MA captured the reserve honors, while Taylor St. Jacques of Glen Allen, VA earned the third place ribbon, and Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT settled for a fourth place finish.
Madden of Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY is a well-established figure in the equitation world and was greatly impressed with the talent demonstrated in the class.
“It was a real privilege to judge the class and be involved in building the courses,” said Madden. “I thought the test was great. I loved McKayla’s [Langmeier’s] horse landing on the right lead and making the flying change. Overall it was a great class, and I hoped the riders enjoyed the courses and the test.”
Langmeier piloted Calberon B, a nine-year-old gelding owned by Linda Langmeier, to a first round score of 179 and a second round score of 182 for an overall winning score of 361. The pair have not been partnered together long as Langmeier started showing the gelding, who previously competed in the jumpers, in equitation classes at the start of this winter circuit.
Speaking of her test, Langmeier explained, “Part of the test was to hold the counter lead, and I have had issues in tests not being able to hold it. I was going to try to go inside the hay bales, but I ended up going around. I saw in the previous tests that people held the counter lead after the second fence, but I decided do the flying change.”
Although Stearns entered the test in fourth place, her impeccable performance aboard Eclipse, an entry owned by Missy Clark & North Run, earned her the reserve honors. Stearns received first and second round scores of 174.5 and 179, respectively, for a combined score of 353.
“I had a lot of fun tonight!” Stearns exclaimed. “I have an incredible mount, Eclipse. I was really excited to get to compete in the class on him because he is so special, and he handles everything so well. He is so handy, and everything you ask of him he does perfectly, so that made it really fun.”
St. Jacques was sitting on top when the final four entered the test; however, Madden explained that her hand gallop in the test dropped her down to finish in third place. The talented junior guided Charisma, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc., to a first round score of 182, and the highest second round score, 187.5, for an overall total of 369.5. Charisma, a ten-year-old Warmblood gelding by Stakkato, won the honor of Best Equitation Horse after the first two rounds.
“Charisma was incredible today,” St. Jacques praised. “Everything I asked him to do he did perfectly, and he could not have gone any better. It was a really good class overall! The class is a different atmosphere than we are used to, and I think it is a lot of fun under the lights.”
Fath rode veteran equitation mount, Class Action, owned by Hillside Farm, LLC, to a fourth place finish. The pair earned first and second round scores of 177 and 178, respectively, for a combined total of 355.
Speaking of her first time showing in the class, Fath said, “It was such a fun experience! Not having trainers was something new and different that I have not experienced before. I rode Class Action, who has done this many times. I could not imagine doing this on any other horse. He is so special and perfect; he could basically do it by himself.”
Samuel Parot and Couscous van Orti Top $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m CSI 5*
It was an emotional win for Chile’s Samuel Parot in Friday’s $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m CSI 5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival, as the rider was competing his mount Couscous van Orti for the final time.
Samuel Parot and Couscous van Orti
Parot found Couscous van Orti from Belgium’s Pieter Devos in 2015 and rode the gelding at the Pan American Games in Toronto that year. The pair has since earned numerous victories and had a very successful partnership. The horse will now compete under the flag of El Salvador with rider Juan Manuel Bolanos.
Course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the speed track for 35 starters in Friday’s five-star 1.45m competition, yielding ten clear rounds. Last to go, Parot and the 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Nabab de Reve x Cash) raced to victory in 60.48 seconds.
Darragh Kenny (IRL) finished second in 62.24 seconds riding Kerry Anne LLC’s Chanel. Eric Lamaze (CAN) guided Torrey Pines Stable’s Thalis de la Roque to third place in 63.25 seconds, and Richie Moloney (IRL) placed fourth aboard Equinimity LLC’s Slieveanorra in 64.19 seconds.
“Today is the last show and the last class we will jump together because he is sold, so it is a nice goodbye,” Parot said of his mount. “I am very happy to win with him one final time.
“I was lucky to go last, so I watched a lot of riders,” Parot continued. “The course was fast and very careful. In the beginning, I went a little bit slower, but on the last part of the course I went very fast. I think where I won it was the last line. I galloped down and left out a stride to the last jump, and he did it easily.”
Also competing in the International Arena on Friday, Amy Millar (CAN) and AMMO Investments’ Heros won the $35,000 1.45m CSI 2* jump-off.
Week eleven of the Winter Equestrian Festival continues in the International Arena on Saturday featuring the $130,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final at 6:30 p.m. and the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. The Engel & Völkers Large Junior Hunters 15 & Under will determine championship and reserve honors in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Lucy Deslauriers and Hester. Photos by Spruce Meadows Media Services.
Calgary, AB, Canada – The ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI5*, presented by Rolex, concluded on Sunday at Spruce Meadows with wins for two 16-year-old riders from the United States. Lucy Deslauriers took victory in the Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.50m aboard Hester, and Mckayla Langmeier emerged victorious in the West Canadian Cup 1.45m riding Classic Care.
Ireland’s Alan Wade was the international course designer in the Meadows on the Green for this week’s Pan American competition. Wade concluded the week’s events on Sunday with the Friends of the Meadows 1.50m, which saw Lucy Deslauriers carry on a family legacy with her first international victory at Spruce Meadows. Her father, Mario, and her mother, Lisa, have both been international winners at the world-class venue.
For her win, the young Deslauriers guided Hester to victory in a ten-horse jump-off out of 39 original starters. In the tiebreaker, only three were able to clear the short course without fault. Kara Chad (CAN) and Gin Tonic, owned by Torrey Pines and Artisan Farms, set the pace in 48.50 seconds to eventually finish third. Nayel Nassar (EGY) and his own Lordan upped the ante in 45.01 seconds, but later settled for second place. Last to go double clear, Deslauriers and Hester shaved the time down to 43.12 seconds for the win.
Commenting on the momentous victory in her developing career, Deslauriers smiled, “It is incredible. It is an honor and a privilege not only to come out with a win, but even just to compete with all of these incredible riders. I have been coming to Spruce Meadows for a very long time watching these big competitions, so to be in it to win it thanks to my horse is obviously amazing.”
Hester, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Wandor Van De Mispelaere x Palestro vd Begijnakker) owned by Lisa Deslauriers, has moved up the levels right with his rider.
“I started riding him towards the beginning of his eight-year-old year, so we have kind of grown together,” she said of their connection. “My biggest classes are his biggest classes, so we are really in it together. I have 100% trust in him, and I think he responds equally, so it is really a great partnership. It makes stepping up a whole lot easier.”
That great relationship helped in Sunday’s jump-off, as Deslauriers pulled out all of the stops on the short course.
“I watched one round and I just heard that they kept getting faster and faster, so I knew that I just really had to go for it, and not slow down anywhere,” Deslauriers explained. “To the third jump, I took a little bit of a flier for sure. I think there were a few gasps in the audience, but I trust my horse and he was willing, so it is all thanks to him.”
Mckayla Langmeier Wins West Canadian Cup 1.45m
Prior to Deslauriers’ win in the 1.50m, 16-year-old Mckayla Langmeier (USA) also took home an exciting international victory in the West Canadian Cup 1.45m.The competition began with 68 competitors over Alan Wade’s (IRL) first round course, with 20 advancing to the jump-off, and another 11 clear rounds over the short course.
Mckayla Langmeier and Classic Care
Langmeier rode Classic Care to victory in the tiebreaker with a time of 39.76 seconds. Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Wishing Well Farm’s Cherrypop finished second in 39.89 seconds. Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Candy Tribble’s Special Lux placed third in 39.90 seconds, and Leslie Howard (USA) guided Peter Howard’s Donna Speciale to fourth place honors in 40.14 seconds. Richie Moloney (IRL) took fifth place aboard Equinimity LLC’s Ypaja Yando in 40.35 seconds, and Howard also took sixth place riding the Utah Group’s Utah through the timers in 40.45 seconds.
Winning horse, Classic Care, is a 13-year-old Holsteiner mare (Caretino x Accord II) owned by Langmeier’s mother, Linda. Along with help from her mom, Langmeier also jumped to victory on Sunday with the help of trainer Darrin Dlin.
Commenting on the accomplishment, the young rider stated, “It is my first FEI win, so there are no words that can describe how amazing it is. To have my first win at Spruce Meadows in the 1.45m is amazing.”
Classic Care is a mare that Langmeier has had for four years. The pair jumped on a team at the Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships in 2014 and has since moved up to the higher levels.
“She is a very special horse to me. I have grown up with her doing the bigger classes,” Langmeier noted.
Speaking of Sunday’s competition, the rider detailed, “I briefly walked the course in the morning because I had to go over to do the 1.35m, so we watched a few. It looked like a really nice, inviting course. It was not too scary anywhere, but it was also challenging enough. In the jump-off, my plan was just to go double clear and fast.”
Langmeier jumped about midway through a 20-horse jump-off, so the rest was just a waiting game to see if anyone could catch her.
“I have a thing where if I am doing well, I do not watch the rest of the competition, but obviously I can hear the announcer sometimes,” she remarked. “I was mostly back with my horse just waiting.”
With an international win under her belt, Langmeier looks forward to returning to compete at Spruce Meadows again next summer.
The Spruce Meadows Summer Series continues with one more week of competition featuring the ‘North American’ Tournament CSI5*, presented by Rolex, on July 6-10.
For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z. Photos by The Book LLC.
McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z Crowned Grand Junior Hunter Champion
North Salem, New York – McLain Ward (USA) of Brewster, NY and HH Carlos Z saved the best for last to win the $50,000 Old Salem Farm CSI 2* Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, from the final spot in the jump-off order at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Highlighting Sunday’s hunter competition, McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, CT claimed the Grand Junior Hunter Championship with long-time partner, Czar-Z. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continue on May 17-22.
Ward and HH Carlos Z, a proven winning combination for Double H Farm, topped a field of 36 over tracks built by Richard Jeffery of Great Britain. Ward and his 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding batted cleanup in a five-horse jump-off to secure his second consecutive Week 1 Grand Prix victory at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows after leading the victory gallop in 2015 on HH Azur.
Fellow Double H Farm rider Quentin Judge (USA) was first to return for Sunday’s jump-off in the irons of HH Whisky Royale. Two rails gave them eight faults in 43.04 seconds for fifth place. Peter Lutz (USA) returned next with Robin de Ponthual for owners Katherine Gallagher & Michael Meller, but they pulled one rail to land them with four faults in 40.08 seconds for fourth place.
Katie Dinan (USA) and Dougie Douglas were first to give the crowd a cheer-worthy clear round in 41.31 seconds. Their lead was short-lived, however, as Brianne Goutal (USA) returned next on Zernike K and broke the tape in 39.40 seconds. Ward and HH Carlos Z were the final pair on course and broke the timer beam in 38.70 seconds for the win. Goutal took second for Remarkable Farms, LLC and Dinan slid to third for Grant Road Partners, LLC.
Ward was happy to have HH Carlos Z’s experience on his side over the “tricky” course.
“It is nice to have a horse like Carlos who is very predictable,” he said. “I think the younger horses found it harder to pass a few of the tests, but you know when you have a horse like I do, you don’t have to worry about the natural fences or his balance. It really makes things a lot easier.”
HH Carlos Z has pocketed wins all over the world for Ward, but especially strives on the grass Grand Prix Field at Old Salem Farm.
“It’s always a little surprising to me because he is a super careful, small horse, and you would lean toward thinking that a horse like that would like a small sand arena better, but he really grows in these big fields,” said Ward.
Goutal made a strong bid for the win, but was pleased with second place. “I don’t like to be beaten, but I am glad that it was McLain who beat me,” she said.
Goutal was most pleased to see Old Salem Farm offer two weeks of FEI-sanctioned competition during the 2016 season. Announced earlier this year, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows will host a 3* grand prix next Sunday, May 22, after this weekend’s 2* event.
“I have been commenting for a while now about how there should be more FEI shows [in the U.S.],” said Goutal. “I was really happy to see that there are a lot this summer, and I am going to take advantage of that. I also have a lot of students who want to show locally, so we are going to caravan around America a little bit. I haven’t done that in six years, so I am super excited to jump in all those classes.”
Ward, who considers the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows to be his hometown show and is a familiar face at the two-week event, echoed Goutal’s thoughts on bringing more international-level competition to North America.
“It’s great to see them thinking big, and I try to support shows in America that are making that effort,” he said. “We are very proud of how [Old Salem] has grown and the efforts of Allen Bietsch and everybody involved who have made this facility world-class and a home of FEI-level events.”
For Dinan, Sunday’s finish was her best of the week in FEI competition, and she was quick to give credit to her mount, Dougie Douglas.
“I was very happy with my horse – he thrives in these big grass fields,” said Dinan. “He grew up in Ireland and England and has a lot of experience, and that makes the job for the rider a lot easier. I am very lucky to have him, and I just try to do the best I can every ride.”
Hailing from New York, NY and a regular competitor at Old Salem Farm, Dinan will miss the second week of the Spring Horse Shows to graduate from Harvard University with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. Her college career will conclude on May 26 and full-time riding will commence.
“I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life,” she said. “I will be in Europe all summer and then pick up from there.”
McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z Named Grand Junior Hunter Champion
McKayla Langmeier, 15, and Linda Langmeier’s Czar-Z collected first and second place ribbons in the Small Junior Hunter Division before winning the handy on Sunday to clinch Grand Junior Hunter Championship. Langmeier and Czar-Z have been together since he was five. Now 13, she and the Warmblood gelding have an instant connection in the show ring.
McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z
“I know him really well – we basically grew up together,” she said. “He’s that one special horse you always have that you can count on to win a blue ribbon.”
An uncomplicated ride, according to Langmeier, Czar-Z is just getting back into competition after have the winter off from showing. He did not travel to Florida with the rest of Langmeier’s string and enjoyed a few months rest before starting back fresh a few weeks ago.
“This is his second show back, and he was really great,” said Langmeier. “He is so simple. I don’t even ride him with reins or leg; he just goes around.”
Langmeier’s performance on Czar-Z, the horse she calls “The Prince” because of his presence both in and out of the ring, also secured her place as winner of the Best Junior Rider on a Horse Award.
“I was getting ready for my jump-off in on the [Grand Prix] Field, and I went to go accept the award,” she said. “I was so shocked. I had no idea that was going to happen today.”
With horses in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings, Langmeier has perfected the art of switching gears.
“It took me a long time to be able to change modes from the hunter ring to the jumpers, but I am getting better at switching my mindset in the different rings,” said Langmeier.
Coco Fath and Akinda, owned by Hillside Farm, LLC, were pinned Reserve Champion in the Small Junior Hunter Division. They jumped to first, second, and third over fences before placing third in the handy and winning under saddle.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continue next week, May 17-22, highlighted by the $130,000 Empire State CSI 3* Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family, the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by T & R Development, and the $35,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by TownVibe.
About the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group. Host of the FEI 2* and 3* Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.
Lexington, KY – July 31, 2015 – Anna Dryden arrived in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday morning, just in time to sweep the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers on Friday afternoon at the Kentucky Summer Classic before she heads back home to Manhattan on Saturday.
Anna Cardelfe and Firenze Van De Cadzondhoeve set an early pace to beat of 59.308 seconds, and with only seven entries jumping clear around the Florencio Hernandez-designed course, few others came close to the top spot. Dryden, however, last in the order of go, entered the ring confident that she would take over Cardelfe’s lead.
“I didn’t see Anna [Cardelfe] go,” Dryden said. “But Allison [Robataille] said, ‘you’re going to win this class,’ so I have to listen to the trainer! I went in there and never looked back.”
Clocking the fastest four-fault time of 60.405 seconds on her previous mount, Classified, Dryden was able to get a feel for the course before piloting Petrushka III to the winning time of 57.482 seconds.
Cardelfe and Firenze Van De Cadzondhoeve ended up settling for second, while challengers Sabischy Hassler and New Life HM took third with a time of 61.377 seconds. Trailing closely behind in fourth were Bethany Bolen and Domino Van De Hermitage, who stopped the clock at 61.605 seconds – just .228 seconds away from the third place spot.
Dryden, a new mom, recently hopped back into the saddle during the Winter Equestrian Festival, where she acquired Petrushka III from Shane Sweetnam at the advice of trainer Allison Robataille.
“I’m just having a good time getting back in there,” Dryden said. “[Petrushka III] is perfect. I love her; she’s totally my type. She’s a little quirky, but she’s got a huge heart. Shane finds great horses, and Allison is so good at matching the right horse to the right rider, so I’m really spoiled in that way.”
Before the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers got underway, the Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers took the stage in the Rolex Stadium.
With more than half of the 20 entries turning in clear rounds, it was a race against Maria Brugal and Diabolo Van Cadzanhoeve’s early time to beat of 58.471 seconds.
In the middle of the pack, 14-year-old Sheer Levitin entered the ring on Zin Chin, blazing around the course to trip the timers in just 53.627 seconds and capturing the new lead almost five seconds ahead of Brugal’s time to beat.
“Today was my first Medium Junior class,” Levitin said. “Zin Chin was really good. He’s very brave, but he needs a very quiet ride. I was a little nervous; I didn’t want to mess up, but I thought it couldn’t have gone better today.”
A final challenger, Alexandra Pielet, came close to the top spot with Cavalier Knight, stopping the clock at a time of 56.287 seconds to take the second place ribbon home to Norfield Stables LLC. Levitin’s lead would hold up for the blue ribbon, with early leader Brugal taking home third.
The jumper action will continue at the Kentucky Summer Classic with Saturday’s $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by GGT Footing, beginning at 7 p.m.
McKayla Langmeier Leads WIHS Equitation at Kentucky Summer Classic
McKayla Langmeier is no stranger to great success in the equitation ring. For her mount Ilyana, however, the equitation division is a new ball game, but following the mare’s equitation debut on Friday at the Kentucky Summer Classic it looks like she will be hitting the ball out of the park.
Langmeier has been competing Ilyana, a 6-year-old Warmblood mare, successfully in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunters, and on Friday she gave the young horse a go at her first equitation class, riding to second in the WIHS Hunter Phase and first in the WIHS Jumper Phase before also taking the overall WIHS Equitation victory.
McKayla Langmeier and Ilyana
“I’ve been showing her in the junior hunters for a little bit,” Langmeier said. “It’s always been a goal to be doing the junior hunters and the equitation on her. My other mount that I normally do, Skyfall, I did earlier in the week so we decided to try her out in the Washington.”
Ilyana and Langmeier earned a score of 88 in the WIHS Hunter Phase, held in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, before heading to the nearby Walnut Ring to lay down a second solid 88 trip, securing them both the WIHS Jumper Phase and overall WIHS Equitation victories.
“She’s really scopey, and she has a huge stride. It was her first time doing it, and she was amazing, so I was very happy with her,” Langmeier concluded.
Taking the top call in the WIHS Hunter Phase with a score of 89 were Victoria Press and Allison Fithian’s Lucky D’Etenclin. Press has accumulated numerous top finishes in the ASPCA Maclay and the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals aboard her second equitation mount, Clover, but with Lucky D’Etenclin, the hunter phase is their forte.
“I really especially like doing him in the hunter phase, because he has a really nice, slow rhythm,” Press said. “I ride hunters too, and I think that’s just where I’m really the most comfortable.”
Both young riders have their sights firmly set on earning ribbons at the equitation finals this fall, but for now, they are greatly enjoying their time at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“I love Kentucky. I like that you can come and show everything in Kentucky,” Press explained. “I was in Spruce Meadows and then Lake Placid, so I did just the jumpers and then just the equitation. Then I did junior hunter finals with just the hunters. This is nice because you get to show everything while you’re here.”
Preceding the start of the WIHS Equitation, the 3’3″ Junior Hunters vied for their championships, were it was newcomer to the division, Elise Buhl, who earned both the championship and reserve championship honors.
The 14-year-old Michigan native just made the move up to the 3’3″ Junior Hunters here in Kentucky with her two mounts, Can Fly and Chabliano Z, and she is already proving to be a rising talent under the tutelage of trainers Tim and Kelly Goguen at Boggs Hill Farm. She and Can Fly, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, rode away with the championship, while the reserve went to Chabliano Z, Buhl’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding.
“I’m proud of both my horses. I was shocked, but I’m very, very excited,” Buhl said following her successful week. “Chabliano Z I just got at the end of [the Winter Equestrian Festival], and I just got Can Fly in June. They’re really both nice; they’re really just almost perfect, but they are different. [Chabliano Z] is kind of slower; you have to get around him. [Can Fly] you just flow and go with him.”
Buhl hopes to continue to be successful in the 3’3″ Junior Hunters before moving both Chabliano Z and Can Fly up to the 3’6″ Juniors, but she, too, is presently enjoying her time in Kentucky.
“I love just being here,” Buhl said. “The show grounds are so big, and I love all of the rings.”
Hunter competition continues on Saturday with the start of the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions beginning at 8 a.m., and Saturday afternoon’s schedule will also feature the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Pre Green Incentive Championship.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 14-19, 2015
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22-26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28 – August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Series: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, GGT Footing, Rood and Riddle, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 281-7979, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Pat Duncan (503) 510-8797
Stable office – Before Show: (503) 510-8797, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (http://www.clarionhotellex.com) (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Ryan McGaughey at Ryan.mcgaughey@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
