Tag Archives: McLain Ward

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Second Leg of $200,000 THIS Triple Crown Challenge Spotlighted at Hampton Classic Horse Show

Leave a comment
McLain Ward and Antares F winning the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, the first leg of the THIS Triple Crown - photo by Parker Russell/The Book LLC

Middleburg, VA – August 24, 2012 – Olympic gold Medalist McLain Ward and his London partner Antares F will be in the spotlight as the second leg of the all-new Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Triple Crown Challenge takes place at the famed Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY on Sunday, September 2nd during the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup Qualifier.

Ward and Antares F captured the first leg of the Triple Crown Challenge when they scored the victory in the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair in May. They are the defending champions in the Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic where Ward has won the featured Grand Prix six times, twice as many times as any other rider.

“The Triple Crown Challenge adds an exciting element to great events such as Devon, the Hampton Classic and the Alltech National Horse Show,” said Ward. “As I mentioned after Devon, it’s a great bonus for the riders, a difficult one, but one with a great reward if you can get it done. Antares has jumped well in the past at Bridgehampton, so we will try our best to win that second leg at the Hampton Classic.”

Continue reading Second Leg of $200,000 THIS Triple Crown Challenge Spotlighted at Hampton Classic Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Top Ten Individual Finish for Fellers at 2012 Olympic Games

Leave a comment
Rich Fellers and Flexible (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Rich Fellers and Flexible put in a valiant effort in the Individual Show Jumping Final at the Olympic Games and came up with a top 10 finish on just five faults. Swiss rider Steve Guerdat put forward an immaculate effort to take Gold on Nino des Buissonnets while Gerco Schröder’s clear jump-off round meant he takes Individual Silver home to Holland with the appropriately named London. Irishman Cian O’Connor would have stopped the clock quicker in that jump-off on Blue Lloyd 12 but had the very last fence down to settle for Bronze.

The United States was represented by both Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) in the Individual Final. Ward rode Antares F to a 12-fault effort in Round A, putting a foot in the water in addition to lowering the heights of two of the fences on Bob Ellis’ track. Five faults was the cut off for the top 20 who qualified for Round B, so only Fellers returned to the ring.

“It was a great course,” said Ward after Round A. “It was hard but fair. At this point you’re starting to run on fumes. But my horse should have been better. I felt like I rode the course better today than I rode a Nations Cup so I was pleased with my riding. As always, I will look to see what I could have done better down the last line.”

Continue reading Top Ten Individual Finish for Fellers at 2012 Olympic Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team Finishes Sixth; Fellers and Ward Advance to Individual Final

Leave a comment
Beezie Madden and Via Volo (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Hard luck continued for the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team as they rallied for a sixth place finish in the Team Championship at Greenwich Park. American anchor rider Rich Fellers said “Clear rounds win medals” and today that proved true as Great Britain won Team Gold for the first time since 1952. They did it in classic style in front of a home crowd of 20,000 fans, jumping off with Holland for the Gold medal. It was a masterful effort by the home team. Saudi Arabia won Bronze.

Bob Ellis’ track proved incredibly tough and scopey and only eight of the 51 starters managed clear rounds. The water line, from fences three to five proved very influential. The best American effort was turned in by Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) who rebounded back from a rough start to the Olympic Games on Via Volo to fault at the third to last fence, a massive oxer.

“For sure it’s harder without saying,” said Madden. “And more technical. The water is more difficult and the double to the vertical is quite difficult… and the last three jumps are just plain old big.”

Continue reading U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team Finishes Sixth; Fellers and Ward Advance to Individual Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Fellers Leads U.S. to Second Round of Olympic Games Nations Cup

Leave a comment
Rich Fellers and Flexible (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Rich Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Flexible continued adding to their clear round tally today at the Olympic Games by securing the U.S. team’s position in the second round of the Nations Cup with an immaculate effort. Team USA’s score of eight faults means that they are tied with Brazil for equal seventh place. The top eight teams from today’s jumping go forward to tomorrow, led by the team from Saudi Arabia who are carrying one time fault forward to tomorrow.

Fellers and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion entered the ring in the anchor position for team USA and were the only American combination to jump a clear round. Flexible was extraordinary, and Fellers rode him with so much confidence that that the veteran World Cup Champion thrived in Greenwich’s main arena.

“As a team I wish we were in little better position but we are all fighters; we can come from behind,” said Fellers.

Continue reading Fellers Leads U.S. to Second Round of Olympic Games Nations Cup →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Strong Start for U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team in First Individual Qualifier

Leave a comment
McLain Ward and Antares F (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Clear rounds were the order of the day in the First Individual Qualifier for Jumping in the main arena at Greenwich Park. Of the 75 starters in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition, 32 jumped clear rounds. Of those, two belonged to American riders Rich Fellers and McLain Ward. Reed Kessler added just one time fault at her first Olympic Games meaning the USA heads to the Team Competition with a strong start. Team Competition begins Sunday, August 5.

Chef d’Equipe George Morris commandeered another solid effort out of his squad; he retires from this role at the end of the year.

Ward (Brewster, NY) proved he is back on form after shattering his kneecap in January. He rode Antares F to a textbook clear over Bob Ellis’ track to start the U.S.’s effort off right. The 12-year-old Baden Wurtenburger gelding, owned by Grant Road Partners, made light work of the track. Always stylish, the nearly white gelding remained beautifully rideable between the fences for Ward. Ward won Team Gold twice with the mighty Sapphire (at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games) jumping in the first spot on the team. He has no problem leading off the American effort.

Continue reading Strong Start for U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team in First Individual Qualifier →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward Wins First Leg of $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge

Leave a comment
Photo: ©Parker/Russell - The Book LLC. McLain Ward is joined in the winner's circle by THIS' Michael Taylor and William Weeks after he won the first leg of the $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge by taking the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon

Middleburg, VA – June 1, 2012 – In a three horse jump off last night, McLain Ward and Antares F proved to be perfect winning the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon and at the same time, the first leg of the brand new $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge, America’s richest rider bonus.

McLain is now the rider in the spotlight this year, for the first ever Triple Crown Challenge offered by Taylor Harris Insurance Services.

Following this win, McLain and Antares F must also win the Hampton Classic’s $250,000 FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup Qualifier on Sunday, September 2, 2012 and the third jewel of the Triple Crown Challenge, the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the Alltech National Horse Show on Saturday, November 3, 2012 to receive the $200,000 bonus.

“We are thrilled with McLain’s win last night,” said Michael Taylor of Taylor Harris Insurance Services. “He and Antares F were exceptional, and I believe they are more than capable of winning the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge and we are look forward to the second leg of competition at The Hampton Classic.”

Continue reading McLain Ward Wins First Leg of $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Emotional Night as McLain Ward Wins Seventh Grand Prix of Devon in a Remarkable Comeback

Leave a comment
McLain Ward and Antares F (AK Dragoo Photography)

Devon, PA – A small but mighty field of show jumping horses lined up to tackle the penultimate USEF Observation Event for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. Thirteen combinations from the USEF Show Jumping Long List headlined the field of 16 in the 2012 $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon.

The Dixon Oval always proves a tremendous venue at the Devon Horse Show and with improvements made over the last few years, the storied competition, though steeped with history, continues to evolve into the modern age. Another chapter in its history was written this evening as McLain Ward scored his seventh Grand Prix of Devon title. The win was full of emotion as Ward (Brewster, NY) battled back from a shattered kneecap in January to fight for his spot on his third Olympic Team.

“Obviously it feels great,” said Ward after his win. “I haven’t jumped jumps that big in a while. It’s nice to be back – it was a really hard four months.”

Continue reading Emotional Night as McLain Ward Wins Seventh Grand Prix of Devon in a Remarkable Comeback →

*Featured/Spotlights, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

McLain Ward Named to the USEF Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games

Leave a comment
McLain Ward and Sapphire (Shannon Brinkman/USEF)

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming McLain Ward with both Antares F and Sapphire to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Due to the fact that Ward will not be able to compete in the Selection Trials because of an injury he sustained in January 2012, the USEF Selectors in consultation with Chef d’Equipe George Morris and Team Veterinarian Dr. Tim Ober, voted unanimously to name Ward on both Grant Road Partners, LLC’s Antares F and Blue Chip Bloodstock’s Sapphire to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games at this time.

Continue reading McLain Ward Named to the USEF Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games →

Benefits, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, EQUUS Foundation, Eventing/H.T., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Polo, Show Jumping

McLain Ward to Judge Fete Cheval Riders – Last Chance for Reservations!

Leave a comment
McLain Ward at the 2005 Fete Cheval

WESTPORT, CT – March 2, 2012 – Who better to judge the professional riders participating in the Fete Cheval than McLain Ward? Ward set the standard in the Ride-Off at the first Fete Cheval in 2005.

The Fete Cheval, presented by Spy Coast Farm to benefit The EQUUS Foundation, will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Cocktails, dinner and exclusive ringside seating will be held in the International Club starting at 7 p.m. before the revelry begins at 8 p.m. The deadline for dinner reservations is Sunday, March 4, 2012!

The riders vying for the top honor are Max Amaya, Derek Braun, Saer Coulter, Nick Dello Joio, Hillary Dobbs, Jimmy Fairclough, Brianne Goutal, Weston Gracida, Patricia Griffith, Ashley Holzer, Charlie Jayne, Paige Johnson, Kris Kampsen, Laura Kraut, Marcia Kulak, Anne Kursinski, Alexa Pessoa, Rodrigo Pessoa, Brandon Phillips, Kim Prince, Havens Schatt, Louise Serio, Jessica Springsteen, Scott Stewart, Shane Sweetnam, and Jimmy Torano, representing Dressage, Eventing, Hunter, Jumper, and Polo.

Continue reading McLain Ward to Judge Fete Cheval Riders – Last Chance for Reservations! →

Community/Charity, Show Jumping, USEF

McLain Ward Breaks Leg in Fall

Leave a comment
McLain Ward and Oh d'Eole winning the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1. Photo by Sportfot

It’ll be mid-May before grand prix fans might see two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward back in the ring. Ward, 36, suffered a compound fracture of his left patella, or kneecap, on the evening of Jan. 14.

Ward was riding Oh d’Eole in the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix during the first week of competition at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. Oh d’Eole, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare, had won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 two days before. “She was getting a little green under the lights [during the night class],” said Ward.

They ran into trouble at a one-stride combination. “She jumped so high jumping into the combination over A that I went to pull her out from the B, but she left the ground anyway. Then, I hit my kneecap on the standard.”

Continue reading McLain Ward Breaks Leg in Fall →