Tiffany Foster riding Victor for owner Artisan Farms at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Starting Gate Communications.
Wellington, Florida – For the second year in a row, Carlene and Andy Ziegler’s Artisan Farms was the recipient of the Harrison Cup Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the owners whose horses won the most money in all open jumper classes at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival held January 13 through April 3, in Wellington, FL. Artisan Farms rider Tiffany Foster of North Vancouver, BC was named the Overall Leading Lady Rider of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival. Both award presentations took place during the $500,000 CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix on Saturday evening, April 2.
Artisan Farms enjoyed another incredibly successful season on the winter circuit with five different horses winning Thursday’s feature event, the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup, a total of six times between Foster and fellow Artisan Farms rider Eric Lamaze. Lamaze, the 2008 Olympic Champion, also scored victory in the $216,000 CSI4* Ariat Grand Prix during WEF week four riding Check Picobello Z as well as the $86,000 1.50m Suncast Classic during WEF week nine with Rosana du Park.
In addition to picking up two wins in the WEF Challenge Cup Series, one in WEF week eight riding Brighton and again in the final week of competition riding veteran campaigner Victor, Foster was recognized as the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider a total of three times, in WEF weeks four, seven and eight. Presented to the top female grand prix competitor each week, the award recognizes consistency in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup and Grand Prix classes. At the end of the 12-week circuit, Foster was honored as the Overall WEF Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider Award, presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Douglas Elliman Real Estate in memory of Dale Lawler.
“I think it’s wonderful that Martha Jolicoeur presents this award throughout the circuit,” said Foster, 31, who received a set of custom jumps as her prize. “One of the great things about our sport is that men and women compete against each other as equals, but I think it’s nice to recognize the leading ladies individually. There are so many strong female riders on this circuit that it makes winning this award something to be very proud of.”
Speaking to her success as the top female rider of the Winter Equestrian Festival, Foster said, “The main secret to having such a consistent circuit is the incredible team of horses that Andy and Carlene Ziegler have put underneath both me and Eric. We were able to compete in every important class and never have to overuse our horses because we have so many at the top level.”
Success in any sport is the result of teamwork, and Artisan Farms has an incredible group of people who all play a role in its success.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Andy and Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms,” said Foster of the support she receives. “Their continued support and enthusiasm is unparalleled, and I am eternally grateful to them. I would also like to thank Eric Lamaze for all of his help with all of my horses. He is an incredible trainer and I feel very lucky to have him with me every step of the way. I also want to recognize all of my grooms, the people on the ground, our farriers, our vets and everyone on our staff. Everyone works incredibly hard and it would be impossible to do this without them. I also want to thank all of my sponsors for their generous support and, of course, I want to give an enormous thank you to all of my horses that I love so much!”
“Tiffany is not only a great rider but a terrific trainer and friend,” said Andy Ziegler. “Carlene and I have enjoyed watching her develop into one of the top riders in the world, and look forward to her future success.”
With the winter season now concluded, the Artisan Farms horses move back to their European base in Vrasene, Belgium. Foster and Lamaze will next compete as members of the Canadian Team in Nations’ Cup events at CSIO4* Coapexpan, Mexico from April 28 to May 1 and CSIO5* Rome, Italy from May 26 to 29 before heading home to Canada to compete at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC and Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB in June.
Media Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Tiffany Foster and Victor. Photos copyright Sportfot.
Swail and Grafton Take $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic; Kelley Farmer Clinches Shapley’s Green Conformation Hunter Division Championship
Wellington, FL – March 31, 2016 – Week twelve of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Rolex, continued on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with two featured FEI world ranking classes in the International Ring.
Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Victor won the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 in the afternoon, and Conor Swail (IRL) and Grafton took top honors in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Jumper Classic in the morning.
The 2016 WEF circuit concludes with its twelfth and final week of competition featuring CSI 5* jumper and ‘AA’ rated hunter competition running March 30 – April 3, 2016. Friday features young jumpers in the International Ring with the $10,000 Gut Einhaus Young Jumper Five-Year-Old Final, the $15,000 Adequan® Young Jumper Six-Year-Old Final, and the $20,000 Adequan® Young Jumper Seven-Year-Old Final.
Saturday highlights include the $130,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final Jump-off, presented by SOVARO®, at 6:30 p.m. followed by the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*. The circuit concludes on Sunday featuring the final round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC.
Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) is the course designer in the International Ring for the final week of WEF competition. He set the track for 38 entries in the final edition of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series on Thursday. Ten combinations went clear to advance to the jump-off, where eight continued on, and four completed double clear rounds. The win went to Tiffany Foster of Canada aboard Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Victor in a time of 40.22 seconds.
Chile’s Samuel Parot and Atlantis finished second in 42.22 seconds. Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Sarena clocked the third place time of 45.91 seconds, and USA’s Lauren Hough guided Paris Sellon’s Cornet 39 to fourth place honors in a time of 46.51 seconds.
Foster’s longtime partner, Victor, is 14 years old this year. She began riding the Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) when he was just eight, and knows her mount very well.
“We have been together for a long time, so I knew this jump-off was going to suit him because he has a pretty good right drift, and a lot of the turns were going to the right,” Foster said of their tiebreaker. “When I walked the jump-off I thought, ‘Okay, hopefully I can get into this one, because this would be a good one for him.'”
In the jump-off, Foster left a big stride out to the last jump, and her experience and trust in Victor paid off.
“That was a bit of a Hail Mary,” Foster laughed. “I did walk that number. It walked 12 strides, and I was thinking I could get there in nine. Then I was thinking to myself, ‘That sounds a little extreme,’ in my head. I knew he would go right at the skinny, and then if I kept going, he has a really big stride when you open it up, and I figured if I could stay committed to going to something forward then hopefully the number would show up. When I left the ground I just said a little prayer and hoped.”
Foster also spoke of the first round and how she had a little good luck in getting to the jump-off as well.
“I got a little lucky in the first round. He rubbed one jump pretty hard, but that was probably good for the rest of the course because then he was a little bit extra sharp,” she admitted. “He is a really old campaigner of mine. We know each other very well, and it feels good to go into a class like that when you know your horse so well. He also travels naturally very quickly, so you never have to worry too much about the time.”
This week’s WEF Challenge Cup was a little different since it was not a qualifier for the final grand prix. That changed the entries a bit and laid the cards in Foster’s favor, as she explained, “It feels good to win any class, but it definitely feels good here week 12. You know that everybody has their best horses out and the money is up. One thing that was different this week than normal was that this WEF was not a qualifier for the grand prix because everybody qualified throughout the circuit, so you saw a variety of horses. You saw a lower number in the entries, so that was a big factor. Then you had kind of two categories of horses. You had young horses that were stepping up and this was their finale, or you had horses that were getting ready for the grand prix. There were not too many in there that were really second horses going in there to win like I had, so I think that made a big difference. The Suncast Final on Saturday is also worth a lot of money, but sometimes you have to play your odds. Sometimes when you know your horse is jumping well, you take the win when you can get it.”
Foster hopes that the momentum of her win with Victor on Thursday will carry over, as she plans to jump him again in the $130,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final on Saturday. She will ride Tripple X III in the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* to conclude the circuit.
In addition to the winning prize money, Foster earned a $3,000 bonus for wearing her SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. It was her second bonus of the circuit, notching up $6,000 in total after also winning the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 aboard Brighton.
Swail and Grafton Take $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Jumper Classic
Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) began Thursday morning with 68 entries over his speed track in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Jumper Classic and 12 clear rounds. The winning time belonged to Conor Swail (IRL) aboard Ariel and Susan Grange’s Grafton in 67.28 seconds.
Victoria Colvin (USA) and Take the High Road LLC’s Austria 2 finished second in 68.12 seconds. Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s Crespo PKZ placed third in 69.29 seconds, and McLain Ward (USA) aboard Double H Farm’s HH Carlos Z finished fourth in a time of 69.93.
Conor Swail and Grafton
Grafton, a ten-year-old Selle Francais stallion (Calvaro Z x Vondeen), is really just getting going for the 2016 season.
“You have not seen much of him this winter,” Swail explained. “He had a bit of thrush and small things that laid him up for a week or two here and there, so I just never really got going on him. He is one of my better horses, so I have had to be patient. I would prefer if it was week six with him now to be honest, because he feels really good and he is jumping nicely, but it is a long year and we eventually got him up and running. I thought he was very good today; he was super.”
Speaking of his winning round, Swail detailed, “I did not see many rounds. I was riding a couple of other horses in [another] ring. I had a little bit of a plan to do the leave out across the middle – the five and the six strides. Everyone was going six and seven, but I have a very big mover, so I thought that was very beneficial for me to keep the high tempo. The course suited him today. There were not too many shorter distances, and I was able to just use the big gallop, and it worked very well for me. He was good on the few inside turns we had as well. I was very happy with him there today. He is also going to do the Suncast Final on Saturday, so that was a good warm-up for him.”
At just ten years old, Grafton is still developing, and Swail has high hopes for the stallion this season.
“He is still a young horse,” Swail stated. “He is a very talented horse, but he has had a few issues. There are always excuses for him, so for me he has not actually reached his potential yet. I think he is a really good horse. Last year he had a nice year, but there have been interruptions for one reason or another, so it is just a matter of being patient. When he tells me he is ready to do the bigger things, I will be ready for him to.”
Swail will jump Grafton and another mount, Cita, in Saturday’s $130,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final.
“They are two very good horses,” he noted. “I have a great string of horses here. It has been a little quiet for me, but I am still hanging around and getting results here and there. I feel I have had a good season. I think my horses have gone well; they have learned a lot, and I have produced them well enough for going forward, so the rest of the year is looking nice.”
Also competing in the International Ring on Thursday, David Beisel and Harlow Investment Enterprises’ For Sunday jumped to victory in the $500 Adequan® Young Jumper Six-Year-Old Power and Speed.
Kelley Farmer Clinches Shapley’s Green Conformation Hunter Division Championship
Kelly Farmer piloted the seven-year-old gelding Clever Conversation to another tricolor win in the Green Conformation Hunters, presented by Shapley’s Grooming Products. Farmer topped both over fences classes on Thursday morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring with the Warmblood gelding. “Clever,” as he is called in the barn, also topped the under saddle class, placed second in the model, and earned a first and a third over fences on Wednesday.
Stephanie Danhakl’s mount First Light, who was ridden by Scott Stewart, took home the reserve title. Stewart and the seven-year-old Hanoverian stallion topped the model and one of the four over fences classes. First Light also placed third in the under saddle and earned third, seventh, and eighth over fences.
Clever has had a tremendous circuit with rider Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL. The pair has won consistently in the Green/Regular Conformation division throughout the season, including championships during weeks one, two, four, and six. “I think he’s going to be circuit champion, which is really nice,” Farmer remarked.
Farmer began sparingly showing Clever last year. “We bought him down here last year in February and did a few shows, but not too much. I showed him a handful of times this summer and then started showing him more this circuit,” she explained.
Farmer fell in love with Clever the first time she laid eyes on him, which was inside a horse trailer on his way to another home. It is an endearing story of happenstance that Farmer tells rather affectionately. “I had another horse coming out of quarantine, and I went to meet the truck at the farm,” Farmer explained. “Clever was standing next to my horse on the truck, so I asked the driver where he was going.” The driver explained that the horse belonged to Jennifer Bieling. At which point Farmer called Jennifer and arranged for a trial the very next day. “I told Jennifer that he’s adorable and that I’ll be there tomorrow to try him,” Farmer laughed.
When Farmer informed her business partner Larry Glefke of the new horse she was going to try he was not as thrilled. “I told Larry I found a new horse at quarantine and he asked me, ‘What about the horse we already bought?’ I told Larry our horse will be nice too, but I want to go try the beautiful horse I saw on the truck.”
Farmer jumped Clever over four jumps the next day and decided to buy him. “He had such a good brain from day one. He’s a good mover, has a beautiful look, and that jump!” she exclaimed. “He walked right onto my field and from day one he was so straightforward and easy.”
“He’s a very quiet horse,” Farmed said. “He literally comes from the stall straight to the ring. He’s brave, straightforward, and simple.”
“I’m excited about Clever’s future” Farmer stated. “He’s a really good horse, and I’m not sure I’ll have him long, but as long as I do it will be great.”
Farmer plans to compete with Clever in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. The first round will take place on Saturday afternoon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. “I’m going to let him show this weekend in his first International Hunter Derby. It’s going to be his first real test. He was great in the International Arena during (WCHR) Hunter week, but this will be new for him,” Farmer said.
The final week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday with the $10,000 Gut Einhaus Young Jumper Five-Year-Old Final, the $15,000 Adequan® Young Jumper Six-Year-Old Final, and the $20,000 Adequan® Young Jumper Seven-Year-Old Final featured in the International Ring. The Triple Crown Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Section A will award championship honors in the Rost Arena. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Tiffany Foster and Brighton. Photos copyright Sportfot.
Juana Trosch, Gabriela Rodriguez, and Victoria Colvin Win Hollow Creek Farm FEI Welcome Classes; Victoria Colvin Wins Again in Hunters
Wellington, FL – March 3, 2016 – Week eight of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Brighton, owned by Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable, in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8. The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider divisions also hosted the first of their classes for the week with wins for Juana Trosch (ARG), Gabriela Rodriguez (ECU), and Victoria Colvin (USA) respectively.
WEF 8 features CSIO 4* jumper and “AA” rated hunter divisions running March 2-6, 2016. The week will highlight the $150,000 Nations’ Cup on the evening of Friday, March 4. The $150,000 Nations’ Cup will have free general admission and free seating this year. Everyone is welcome to attend! Gates open at 6 pm. For a hospitality seating package on Friday through Sunday, please contact patti@equestriansport.com or call 561-784-1125. Availability is limited so book your VIP weekend soon!
The Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider Nations’ Cups will be featured on Saturday, March 5. The $216,000 Lugano Diamonds CSIO 4* Grand Prix will conclude the feature events of the week on Sunday, March 6. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 3 offering more than $9 million in prize money.
USA’s Steve Stephens and Ken Krome are co-course designers in the International Ring for week eight’s jumper competition. For Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup, the pair set a speed track for 58 competitors, with 20 clear rounds. Tiffany Foster and Brighton were the winners in a time of 61.26 seconds. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla followed close behind in a time of 61.36 seconds. Todd Minikus (USA) and Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41 finished third in 61.91 seconds. Juan Jose Zendejas Salgado (MEX) placed fourth in 62.81 seconds riding Alejandro Zendejas’ Tino la Chapelle, and Jessica Springsteen took fifth place honors aboard Stone Hill Farm’s Tiger Lily with a time of 62.94 seconds.
Foster and Brighton, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Contender II x Quick Star), also won Wednesday night’s $5,000 Carolex Stables CSIO Welcome Stake.
“He is a really cool horse because he has no idea what it means to go into the ring to school. He only likes to go at speed,” Foster said of her winning mount. “Last night I was not really even trying to go fast. I just went along at his speed and that was enough to win, which was cool, but this was a little bit more what I was trying to do. I was at speed, and he was just awesome.”
Artisan Farms purchased Brighton as a seven-year-old, and Foster has been slowly producing the gelding over the last three years.
“He has always been a very competitive horse,” she noted. “This is his first big class that he has won, but he is always up there. He is very consistent, and he goes clear very often. This is the first time I have really put the jets on, and he really rose to the occasion, so it is very exciting for the future.”
Foster also detailed her winning round, explaining that the course suited Brighton’s style quite well.
“He actually does not have a huge stride, so for me to do the leave-out numbers is very fast and that, in a class like this, is really beneficial because there were not a lot of turns or short options,” Foster explained. “It was more just the numbers, and who had a lot of ground speed, and who could cover those numbers going fast. Having a stride where you could push for those lines was really helpful, but you need to have a careful horse that will also leave the rails up and luckily, I have one.”
Foster is on the Canadian team for Friday night’s $150,000 Nations’ Cup and feels good with her back-to-back wins to open up this week’s CSIO competition. She also had the added bonus of getting her name on a WEF Challenge Cup win this circuit, as the series has been dominated by teammate Eric Lamaze, who has won four of the eight classes so far.
“Normally the ‘WEF’ is Eric’s class, so at least we are keeping it in the Artisan family,” Foster smiled.
In addition to the winning prize money, Foster earned a $3,000 bonus for wearing her SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves as part of the SSG Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. She was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for week eight.
Also competing in the International Ring on Thursday, the Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class saw a win for Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Susan Grange’s Tennyson.
The Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Junior, and Young Rider divisions then hosted their Welcome classes to kick off their week. The win in the $1,500 Hollow Creek Farm Young Rider Welcome went to USA’s Victoria Colvin aboard Springfield Showjumpers’ Zidane. The $1,000 Hollow Creek Farm Junior Welcome saw a win for Ecuador’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Creamy Z, owned by Xavier Rodriguez, Vicki Briones, and Accell. Argentina’s Juana Trosch rode Emanuel Andrade’s Black Pearl to victory in the Hollow Creek Farm Children’s Welcome.
Victoria Colvin Pilots Style to the Equine Tack and Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter Championship
The First Year Green Hunter division, presented by Equine Tack and Nutritionals, crowned Victoria Colvin and Take The High Road LLC’s Style with the championship title this morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. Seventeen horses competed for the tricolor honors this week, but it was Style, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, that stole the show.
Victoria Colvin and Style
Colvin topped two of the four over fences classes and placed third and seventh over jumps on Thursday morning. Scott Stewart settled for the reserve championship title aboard Frontman. The duo earned two second place ribbons, a fourth, and a sixth over fences. They also took home the blue ribbon in the under saddle class. Frontman is a six-year-old German Sporthorse gelding owned by Rivers Edge Farm.
Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, is making quite a mark in her first winter as a young professional. She and Style already have a few tricolors under their belt. “I’ve shown him four times. He was champion three times and reserve once,” Colvin commented.
Style is a relatively new mount for Colvin. “We got him at Capital Challenge last year from Russell Frey,” she explained. “I showed him in the Pre-Greens twice and I’ve been showing him here at WEF in the First Years. He’s been so lovely, really a dream. Karen Long Dwight bought him for me. I’m really appreciative of that.”
Colvin loved the gelding from the moment she first rode him. “When I got on him for the first time he was so nice. He felt so rangy and really comfortable. He was very easy and jumped really great, so I kind of fell in love with him the first time I rode him,” she recalled.
The First Year Green division saw a smaller field of horses this week, which Colvin took advantage of. “There weren’t as many as usual this week in the First Years, but the course was nice and they brought in the hay bales and some nice jumps, which I liked,” Colvin stated.
Colvin plans to continue showing Style in the First Year Green division this year, with the hopes of qualifying him for the indoor shows in the fall. “I think he is fancy enough to do the divisions, but he’s really, really brave and super scopey, so I think next year he will be one to do in the derby classes,” Colvin said.
The eighth week of competition at the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Friday featuring the $150,000 FEI Nations’ Cup in the International Ring in the evening. The Ariat National Adult Medal will be the highlight class in the Rost Arena in the morning. For more information and full results, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Calgary, AB, Canada – June 11, 2015 – The ‘Continental’ Tournament CSI 5* began at Spruce Meadows on Thursday with a big win for Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Victor in the $85,000 Husky Energy Classic. Out of 82 competitors, only five were able to go clear over the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course in the Meadows on the Green. Margie Engle (USA) and Royce finished second; Brianne Goutal (USA) and Orbetello placed third.
The second week in Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series, the ‘Continental’ Tournament continues through Sunday, June 14. Upcoming highlights include Friday’s $126,000 Scotiabank Cup, Saturday’s $85,000 Repsol Cup, and Sunday’s $400,000 CP Grand Prix.
For Thursday’s feature event, a challenging course and tight time allowed caused problems for many of the competitors. In addition to the five that made it to the jump-off, six other entries cleared the jumps, but finished on one time fault. A couple of the top horses and riders that made it to the jump-off also had challenges over the short course.
Richard Spooner (USA) was first to jump-off with Chivas Z and ended in fifth place after a fall on course resulted in elimination. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon had an unfortunate rail at the first jump and placed fourth in 41.99 seconds.
The final three competitors were all clear in round two. Margie Engle clocked in at 38.48 seconds with Elm Rock LLC’s Royce, eventually finishing second. Brianne Goutal and Hampton Farms LLC’s Orbetello moved up in the order while Victor had a shoe replaced in the warm-up area. Their time of 38.73 seconds took the third place prize. After a slight delay, Tiffany Foster and Victor returned to lay down the winning time of 38.05.
A 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned in partnership by Torrey Pines Stable & Artisan Farms LLC, Victor had a six-month break from competing over the winter and returned fresh and ready to go this spring. He jumped a few competitions in Europe before coming to Spruce Meadows and has been in excellent form.
“He had a six month break after last summer to refresh and recharge,” Foster detailed. “He had been going hard since he was like seven years old, so he got a good break. We were kind of aiming him for this series and he has come out really fresh. Actually, he has been clear in every round he has jumped so far; he has been awesome.”
Speaking of the day’s competition, Foster noted, “That course was hard. It was a very difficult time allowed. It suited Victor because he is a really quick horse anyway, so you could kind of ride your normal track and still be under the time, but normal horses you were not. If you look at the field in the jump-off, that was mostly grand prix horses in a 1.50m jump-off. That gives you a good indication of how difficult that first round was, but Anthony kind of had to make it tough because it was a big, strong field. One second more on the time allowed would have made it a little easier, but it was fine for me!”
Commenting on her jump-off round, Foster continued, “I lost a shoe and Brianne nicely moved up, so I was able to go last. Victor is a really quick horse, so I did not want to risk too much to the second jump, the vertical, or the double verticals. I probably actually went too slow there and then I had to go fast everywhere else, but it worked out.”
Victor will jump again in Friday’s $126,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.55m to finish out his competition for the week. He will then return to compete in the last two weeks of the Summer Series.
“He will show a lot here. This is kind of his renaissance,” Foster laughed. “It is home turf and he loves it here. We know each other really well. I have had him for a long time and to jump these classes with him is actually a lot of fun.”
Also competing in the Meadows on the Green Thursday, Juan Manuel Luzardo (URY) jumped to victory in the $8,000 Wipro Cup 1.45m. A one round speed competition, 51 horse and rider combinations contested the track with 11 clear rounds. Luzardo clocked the fastest clear in 63.08 seconds to earn top prize aboard Mauricio Guerra Colorado’s Stan.
Second place went to Antonio Chedraui (MEX) aboard his own Corcega La Silla in 63.17 seconds. Third place honors were awarded to Gonzalo Azcarraga Rivera Torres (MEX) with a time of 64.34 seconds riding Jaime Azcarraga’s Quite Nice 5. Nicolas Pizarro Suarez (MEX) rode his own Polasko to fourth place in 64.99 seconds.
The first competition of the day was the $8,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m, also held as a speed round, with 52 entries. The winner was Abigail McArdle (USA) aboard David McArdle’s Cosma 20. The pair had the fastest of nine clear rounds in 59.77 seconds.
Georgina Bloomberg (USA) finished second in 62.56 seconds riding Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s Washington Square. Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez (MEX) set the early pace in 63.12 seconds with Felipe Gaspar’s Puertas So What to eventually finish third. Luis Larrazabal (VEN) was also fast and clear in 63.63 seconds to place fourth riding Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Close Up.
The ‘Continental’ Tournament continues in the Meadows on the Green on Friday with the $40,000 AltaGas Cup 1.45m followed by the $126,000 Scotiabank Cup 1.55m.
For a complete tournament schedule and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Wellington, FL – March 26, 2014 – The final week of competition at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off on Wednesday with a dual victory for Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Germany’s Daniel Deusser in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class. Due the large number of entries, the class was held in a ‘California Split’, and awarded two sets of placings with $34,000 for each section. Foster and Artisan Farms LLC’s Melody des Hayettes Z topped Section A and Deusser and Stephex Stables’ Domingo were the winners of Section B.
FTI WEF week twelve, sponsored by FTI Consulting, runs March 26-30, 2014. Thursday’s competition will feature the $10,000 Gut Einhaus 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Classic, the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m, and the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12. Friday will host the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old and $20,000 Adequan 7- and 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Classics. The $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final and $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* will be held on Saturday along with round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which concludes on the derby field on Sunday.
Live streaming is available for two events this week. Watch them at the following links.
Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) is the course designer in the International Arena for week twelve. In Wednesday’s $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, D’Ambrosio saw 97 entries over his speed track with 31 clear rounds. Tiffany Foster completed the fastest clear round in 61.01 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding Melody des Hayettes Z. Daniel Deusser finished in 61.41 seconds with Domingo for the win in Section B.
With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Foster and Melody des Hayettes Z, followed by Reed Kessler (USA) and Kessler Show Stables’ Soraya de l’Obstination in 63.23 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) with Eva Castegren’s Alpha VDL in 63.52 seconds.
In Section B, Deusser and Domingo led the way over David Will (GER) and Eveline Kraus’s Black Jack 163 in 63.25 seconds, followed by Eiken Sato (JPN) with Stephex Stables’ Q Royal Palm Z in 63.55 seconds.
Foster has had Melody des Hayettes Z since July of last summer and explained that she has had a great partnership with the mare this winter. “She is really good, and she has been really consistent here,” Foster stated. “She has had a lot of really good placings and top three finishes, but she hasn’t won a class yet, so I was really happy that she won today because she deserves it.”
Before her round, Foster made a good plan with trainer Eric Lamaze and executed everything perfectly. “Eric gave me some really good advice before going in,” she noted. “He said that the most important thing was to go really fast from jumps one to two and to go really fast to the last fence. I kind of started on a really open stride, and I didn’t pull the whole time. Everything showed up really well, so it was really easy to go fast today. Everything showed up coming really forward, so it was fast from the beginning to the end.”
Foster plans to show Melody again in the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Thursday and then the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final. “She is really amazing,” the rider praised. “She is actually pretty straight-forward and she is a really cool horse because she is able to go in these speed classes and go full speed, and then she has been clear in every 1.50m class I have jumped her in so far this circuit. That has been after running in the 1.45m classes, so she is really versatile. She never gets hot, never gets flat, she just keeps jumping up. She is a really high quality horse, and I am very lucky to have her. I am really grateful to have Artisan Farms as owners to have such amazing horses. I have had such a fun circuit with them.”
Daniel Deusser and Domingo
With the win in Section B, Daniel Deusser has added to his experience in the winners’ circle with his mount, Domingo, but until Wednesday, a win had eluded that pair in Wellington.
“He has jumped now three shows here, and this is the first class that he has won here,” Deusser pointed out. “He has won a lot of classes. The 1.45m speed classes are definitely his level, but I have to say, I tried already a few times here and I was not fast enough compared to a lot of these horses and riders. There are a lot of riders here and a lot of people who tried. So far I was a little bit unlucky, but not today. He tried again, and it was just good enough.”
Where Foster explained that she got her speed from fence one to two, Deusser noted that that was probably where he lost it. “In that course, there were a lot of long ways between the jumps, so you had to count a lot from the beginning,” he explained. “I think to really be the fastest at the end, I missed it a little bit from number one to number two. I did one stride more than a few other ones that I saw. For the rest, I thought I had a pretty good round and he had the same ideas as me, so I was quite happy with my course.”
“He is a little special,” Deusser described of Domingo. “He has been going to the shows every few weeks since I have been here for two years now, and still every time he goes in the ring, he is a little bit spooky. Especially in the first few weeks here, around the fences on the wings and the flowers on the ground, he was quite spooky, but to be honest, today was the first time that he didn’t give me that impression. He really concentrated on the jumps and tried to do a good job.”
Domingo shows again in Thursday’s 1.45m and then he is done for the winter in Florida. Deusser then looks forward to Saturday night’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* with Cornet d’Amour, who jumped a clear warm-up round with time faults in Wednesday’s class.
“He has jumped a few big classes good already,” Deusser noted. “Three weeks ago he was second in the WEF (Challenge Cup) and fifth in the grand prix. I just rode him in the 1.45m and he gave me a good impression, so I hope we are ready for Saturday night.”
Also showing in the International Arena on Wednesday, Ben Maher (GBR) guided Amy Carr’s Charmeur to victory in the $1,500 Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumper speed class. Laura Chapot (USA) won the $1,500 8-Year-Old Young Jumper speed round with Out of Ireland, owned by The Edge. Chapot was also second in the 7-Year-Old class with Mary Chapot’s Cast a Dream. 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.
Brooke Banks and Brodeur Triumph in Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunters 15-17
Wellington, FL – February 9, 2014 – Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Victor have been on quite a roll during this year’s FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) and secured another win on Sunday in the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic to conclude week five. The pair beat out world number one, Scott Brash (GBR), aboard his mount Hello Annie for the win.
Sunday’s competition concluded FTI WEF week five, sponsored by Rolex. FTI WEF will continue with its sixth week of competition, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, on February 12-16, 2014. 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.
Great Britain’s Robert Ellis set the tracks in the International Arena at PBIEC for week five competition and challenged the horses and riders right to the end with his course for Sunday’s 1.50m. The class saw 91 entries in total with only ten clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Twelve others cleared the course but finished with a single time fault to keep them out of the second round with a tight time allowed. The short course only saw three clear rounds.
Scott Brash and Hello Annie, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, were first to go in the jump-off and set the pace in 46.75 seconds to eventually finish second. Markus Beerbaum (GER) and Copernicus Stables LLC’s Don VHP Z were also clear and finished in a slower time of 52.37 seconds to place third. Second to last, Tiffany Foster and Victor stopped the clock in 44.25 seconds to earn their victory.
Foster and Victor, a 12-year-old KPWN gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines, kicked off their FTI WEF circuit with a win in Section B of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup during week three, sharing top honors in the split class with Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl. The pair then earned another big prize on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory with Ben Maher (GBR) and Urico in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. Both classes were held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, with two sets of placings distributed, so Foster and Victor technically had the second fastest time in each class to top both B Sections. This time, they did not have to share their victory.
“He was awesome,” Foster stated after the class. “It feels really good (to win). I am so happy with my horses. All of them jumped unbelievably this week and Victor won both classes, so you can’t really ask for better than that.”
Foster has had top finishes in the presence of many show jumping greats, sharing the winner’s circle with Todd Minikus and Ben Maher, and now beating world number one, Scott Brash. Not to mention, she rides with Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze. The 29-year-old rider has gotten a feel for what it’s like to win big.
“Beating Scott is the coolest part of the whole thing,” Foster beamed. “I made him stand there and take a picture with me just to have proof that this actually happened!”
“It looked to me like Scott was actually pretty conservative,” she said of the jump-off. “I think that is a horse that is pretty new to him, because we all know he can go super fast. He looked like he wanted to just give the horse a really nice round. I kind of did the same track as him, just a little faster I think, just a little more ground speed everywhere because my horse has a little bit more experience, and that seemed to work out in the end.”
Foster explained that Victor has stepped down a little bit to jumping in the 1.45m and 1.50m classes this year and has excelled at that level.
“This is a horse that has jumped some big tracks and has a lot of experience,” she noted. “I got Verdi, and he has been able to do the really big classes, so I have been able to use Victor in a few of these classes now and he is extremely comfortable and extremely confident. It is actually pretty easy on him.”
The horse is actually quite versatile, as Foster explained that he started his career as a four-in-hand driving horse before learning to jump. “Until he was five years old he pulled a cart!” she emphasized. “He is very multi-talented!”
“Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Markus Beerbaum found him and they tipped Eric off about him when he was a seven-year-old,” the rider detailed. “It’s always fun when they are here. They always pay a little extra attention to him because they loved him from the beginning also.”
“He is maybe the cutest horse ever,” Foster gushed. “He is so sweet. He has a ton of character and a ton of personality. I know him really well now, so we have a really good relationship I think. Eric helps me a lot. He rides him at home. He does all of the jumping work at home and I just flat him, and it is working out really well.”
In addition to her wins for the week, Foster was acknowledged on Saturday night as the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week five. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler. Foster was happy to get the special award and thanked her owners, Andy and Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms, as well as her groom, Caroline Holmberg, for their help and support.
“I was so happy,” Foster stated. “I have never gotten that award. Last year I didn’t go clear any time, except for Nations Cup, so it was absolutely great to get special recognition for that. It is a great idea and it is always fun. A lot of the European shows do that and it is always an honor, so it is really cool to have the recognition here as well.”
Brooke Banks and Brodeur Triumph in Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunters 15-17
Seventeen-year-old Brooke Banks of Southampton, NY and her new mount Brodeur topped the Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunter 15-17 division on Sunday morning. The pair were crowned division champion in their first competition together after winning the under saddle and winning two over fences rounds.
The reserve champion for the division was Bella Luna, ridden by Jennifer Wright and owned by Christie Turano. The pair also won two over fences classes before being awarded reserve honors.
Brodeur, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding, was campaigned briefly last fall by junior superstar Lillie Keenan for the horse’s previous owner before coming to Banks earlier this year. Banks and Brodeur have only been partners for a few weeks, but the two have already began to work well together.
“He’s similar to my other horse that I show in the hunters [Theory], so he was pretty easy to adjust to. He is pretty simple and straight-forward,” Banks explained.
Banks liked the gelding from the first time she sat on him, particularly because Brodeur is her ideal ride. “He was very happy to do his job. He was well prepared and liked to go to the jump and work. He jumps really nicely, and I could tell even from being on top of him that his knees were up. I thought that was perfect for a hunter,” Banks described.
She continued, “I think we’re a good match because we’re both laid-back. I don’t get very nervous when I go in to show, and he doesn’t care about much when he’s in the ring. We have similar personalities and I’ve always been taught to do a lot flatwork in the corners and that’s exactly the kind of ride that he needs.”
Brodeur’s laid-back personality is especially evident in his easy adjustment to the bustling showgrounds of the FTI WEF, which Banks, who trains with Ron Esposito, said hasn’t fazed the gelding at all. She did admit to getting a few butterflies, however, going into the second day of competition for the division when she took a look at the course.
“Today was my first time jumping a two-stride on him ever, so that made me a little bit nervous, but he was perfectly fine over it,” she commented.
Of the rest of the course, Banks added, “The turns that were close to the in-gate were more difficult to keep him going and focused, because there was a lot going on over there. Other than that, the courses were pretty straight-forward.”
Banks will continue to compete with Brodeur in the Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunter 15-17 division but is aiming to move up to the Small Junior Hunters by the end of the FTI WEF. She hopes to qualify for USEF National Junior Hunter Championships during the Brandywine Summer Series (Pa.) in July.
Banks’ victory wrapped up hunter competition for the fifth week of the FTI WEF. Competition for WCHR Hunter Week kicks off on Wednesday, February 12. 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.
Tiffany Foster and Artisan Farms’ Victor won the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. Photo by Sportfot.
Wellington, Florida – Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster of Vancouver, BC, rode a hot streak to the top of the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic on Sunday, February 9, at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
On Thursday, Foster guided Victor to the win in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round V – Section B while on Saturday night, it was Verdi III that Foster piloted to a double clear round and a sixth place finish in the $370,000 World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.
On Sunday, Foster was back in the spotlight, topping a 95-horse starting field to win the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. A total of 10 horse-rider combinations advanced to the jump-off over the track set by 2012 London Olympic course designer Bob Ellis of Great Britain, and it was Foster and her 2012 London Olympic mount, Victor, who held the key to victory. The pair sliced more than two full seconds off the leading time posted by world number one and reigning Olympic team gold medalist, Scott Brash of Great Britain. Foster’s time was 44.25 compared to Brash’s 46.75 seconds with Hello Annie.
“He was awesome!” said Foster in appreciation of Victor, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned by Artisan Farms. “It feels really good to have a week like this. I am so happy with my horses. All of them jumped unbelievably this week. You really can’t ask for better than that.”
Of Victor, her partner of four seasons, Foster noted, “This is a horse that has jumped some big tracks and has a lot of experience. I got Verdi III last spring and he has been able to do the really big classes, so I have been able to use Victor in a few of these classes now and he is extremely comfortable and extremely confident. It is actually pretty easy on him.”
Foster made it look easy as well. Of her jump-off strategy, she explained, “It looked to me like Scott was actually pretty conservative. I think that is a horse that is pretty new to him, because we all know he can go super-fast. He looked like he wanted to just give the horse a really nice round. I kind of did the same track as him, just a little faster, just a little more ground speed everywhere, because my horse has a little bit more experience. It seemed to work out in the end!”
How does it feel to beat the number one ranked rider in the world?
“That is the coolest part of the whole thing; I made him stand there and take a picture with me just to have proof that this actually happened!” laughed Foster, referring to the awards presentation.
As a result of her success, Foster, 29, was also presented as the Martha W. Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider for week five of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
“Carlene and Andy Ziegler have been incredibly generous in supporting my career, and I can’t thank them enough for all they have done,” said Foster, who rides for the Ziegler family’s Artisan Farms, based in Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium.
Foster will continue to compete throughout the 12-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival before returning to Belgium in the spring.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Tiffany Foster guided Victor to victory in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round V – Section B. Photo by Sportfot.
Wellington, Florida – Vancouver’s Tiffany Foster and Victor claimed victory in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round V – Section B held Thursday, February 6, at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Two weeks earlier, the pair enjoyed the exact same placing, winning the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B on January 23.
In what was the largest starting field in the history of the WEF Challenge Cup, 116 horses attempted the first round track set by 2012 London Olympic course designer Bob Ellis. A total of 30 were successful, including the three Canadian entries of Foster riding Victor, Eric Lamaze aboard Zigali P S and Yann Candele with Showgirl.
All three would repeat their faultless form in the jump-off, but Foster showed the men how it was done, putting the pedal to the metal and slicing all the turns to stop the clock in 44.04 seconds. Twelve more horses would follow, with only 2012 Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain posting a faster time of 43.44 to win Section A with Urico, and putting Foster in the top spot in Section B.
“He is really confident and comfortable here,” said Foster of Victor, her partner of the past four seasons and her 2012 Olympic mount. “He’s really fast, and now it’s getting fun because I know him so well and I can go really fast with him! Once you get on a roll, it seems like you gain confidence and you’re prepared to take some risks and the horses rise to the occasion.”
Victor is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned by the Ziegler family’s Artisan Farms. Artisan Farms also owns Lamaze’s mount, Zigali P S, who placed third in Section A, and are part of the Watermark Group that owns Candele’s mount, Showgirl, who was fourth in Section B.
“I have to give all the credit to Eric,” explained Foster, 29, following her victory. “Since last September, I don’t jump Victor at home anymore; only Eric rides him. He does all the work and I get all the glory!”
Foster has also been enjoying incredible success with her entire string of competition mounts, including the up-and-coming horses Melody des Hayettes Z and Brighton, all owned by Artisan Farms.
“I have a super group of horses and I have to thank Andy and Carlene Ziegler and Artisan Farms,” said Foster, who is based with Artisan Farms in Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium. “They are unbelievable owners, and I am really happy that their support is paying off!”
Based on their success in the $125,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round V, Foster, Lamaze and Candele are all qualified for Saturday night’s $370,000 CSI5*-W World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Jimmy Torano and Scott Stewart Ride to the Top of Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunters Level 1
Wellington, FL – February 6, 2014 – Week five of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Ben Maher (GBR) aboard Urico and Tiffany Foster (CAN) riding Victor in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5. Held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.
FTI WEF week five, sponsored by Rolex, runs February 5-9, 2014. The week will feature the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $370,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix CSI-W 5* presented by Rolex on Saturday night, and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon. 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.
Great Britain’s Robert Ellis set the course for the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 on Thursday in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a record total of 116 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to narrow the field down for an impressive tie breaking jump-off. Twelve entries jumped clear over the short course, and Ben Maher had the fastest time of 43.44 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding Jane Clark’s Urico. Tiffany Foster and Victor, owned by Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines, finished in 44.04 seconds for the win in Section B.
The top three finishers in Section A included Maher and Urico, Reed Kessler (USA) and Kessler Show Stables’ Ligist in second with a time of 44.11 seconds, and Eric Lamaze (CAN) with Artisan Farms’ Zigali P S in third in 44.93 seconds.
Section B saw a top finish for Foster and Victor, with Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ in second with a time of 44.79 seconds, and Wilton Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet in third in 44.96 seconds.
Jane Clark’s horses had a fantastic day on Thursday with Urico and Cella both qualifying for the jump-off and having great rounds. Urico got the win and Cella had one rail over the short course and finished seventh in Section B. To add to the success, Clark’s dressage horse, Wellnetta, earned an FEI Grand Prix 3* victory across the street at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with U.S. rider Katherine Bateson Chandler earlier in the day.
Although Clark could not be in Wellington for the day’s top finishes, Ben Maher was happy to be a part of the winning team. He explained that he has made some adjustments to how he rides and prepares Urico since last year, and the changes seem to be working for the best.
“Urico was fantastic today,” Maher stated. “We spent a long time building him up since this time last year. I had a couple of accidents on him and now we really pinpoint him for certain classes. We don’t use him as much, but if we do it the right way, he is a great horse. It is looking like it pays off. He jumped a good first round, and I was lucky enough to have two in the jump-off. Cella jumped phenomenally in the jump-off and I just sliced the liverpool way too much. I thought she was a machine, not a horse I guess, so it reminded me I have to pay attention a bit more. On Urico, I had to ride a little bit wider there knowing that sometimes he gets a little afraid. He is naturally such a fast horse, so as soon as that was out of the way, I ran him to the end and luckily he was just a lot quicker.”
“Whatever I was doing this time last year, I am doing the opposite now pretty much,” Maher said. “He wanted to run quite close to the jumps and sometimes that caused him to panic a little bit, so I have worked him much differently. He gets a lot more work now in the mornings for preparation for the afternoon so that he is a bit quieter. I also tend to ride him with a little more space to the jumps so he does not have that moment of freezing up at the end. He is a very sensitive horse, so when he is confident, I am confident, and then hopefully the results come. That is the plan.”
Maher commented on the course for Thursday’s class, noting that it was one of the most challenging that he has seen yet at this year’s competition.
“I thought Bob Ellis did an amazing job,” he stated. “Where do you begin to start to build a course for 116 riders? It wasn’t perhaps the biggest we’ve ever seen, but Bob is clever. He places jumps on angles and rollbacks. He catches people out everywhere. That is probably what we haven’t seen yet here this season. There has been a lot of galloping, but not actually many real turnbacks and opportunities to cut across the fences. It was definitely the most testing course we have had here this year.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, Maher earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Tiffany Foster and Victor
Tiffany Foster and Victor continued their successful FTI WEF circuit with their second big win after also topping Section B of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup during week three. Foster was very happy with her rounds on Thursday and explained that she has gained confidence with their accomplishments.
“He was awesome,” Foster noted. “The course obviously was difficult enough with so many entries in it, and I thought he jumped really well. He is really confident and comfortable here. He is really fast and now it is getting really fun because I can go really fast with him. I have to give all of the credit to Eric (Lamaze) though because since Barcelona last year, I don’t jump Victor at home anymore, only Eric rides him. He does all the work and I get all the credit, but it’s working so I’m going to make him keep doing it!”
In addition to Victor, Foster has many great horses to show this year thanks to the support of Artisan Farms, and she is having a lot of fun with them as well.
“I am always having fun, but I am especially having fun jumping like this when you can go fast,” she stated. “Once you get on a roll it seems like you get some confidence, and then you are really prepared to take some risks. Then when the horses rise to you, it is really awesome. I have a super group of horses, and I have to thank the Zieglers and Artisan Farms because they are unbelievable owners. I am really happy that I am able to now have it all start to pay off.”
Also on Thursday, an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class was held in the morning with a win for Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez aboard Darlon van Groenhove. Abigail McArdle (USA) and David McArdle’s Cosma 20 won the Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.
Jimmy Torano and Scott Stewart Ride to the Top of Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunters Level 1
The Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level 1 division was split into two sections on Thursday afternoon at the FTI WEF to accommodate the division’s large amount of entries. Jimmy Torano piloted Kyle Owen’s Messick to top honors in Section A and also finished as reserve champion with Pearl Street, owned by Jamie Jarvis. In Section B, Scott Stewart was awarded the division champion title with Wish, owned by Stewart’s Rivers Edge Farm and Annette and Leslie Pierce. The reserve champion for Section B was Palani K, ridden by Jeff Gogul and owned by Fred White.
Messick and Jimmy Torano
Torano and Messick won three over fences classes in addition to jumping to a fourth place finish. Stewart and Wish were second, sixth, and first over fences and won the under saddle class.
Torano and his two mounts were matched up at the last minute after their usual rider, Peter Pletcher, had to take the week off following a minor injury. Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, asked Torano to step in and Torano and was pleased with how the seven-year old Westphalian gelding performed in the ring Thursday.
“It’s a horse [owner Kyle Owens] bought off the internet that doesn’t have a lot of experience, but the horse went fantastically this week and won three classes. It really looks like a nice horse for the future,” Torano, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, noted.
Coincidentally, Torano helped Pletcher with Messick a few weeks before temporarily taking the reins over on Messick, so he didn’t have to go into Thursday’s division completely blind.
“I watched [Messick] go a little bit. He’s a typical hunter. He goes without a martingale; he goes in his own frame with nice balance. He’s got a great way of going. Luckily I got to watch him go with Peter and Kyle two weeks ago,” Torano explained.
Torano’s first impression of the horse proved to be true. He described Messick as an even-tempered and simple ride, relatively unaffected by the busy show atmosphere.
“He’s very, very easy-going. He’s not spooky. He’s very careful and has a perfect lead change,” Torano remarked. “A golf cart was coming by the side [of the ring day on day one of competition for the division] and he maybe shied away a little bit, but he was third in that class and he won the other one. Today, he went in there and was solid and won them both.”
Wish and Scott Stewart
While Torano and Messick were freshly matched, Stewart and his champion mount have a much closer history. Stewart and partner Ken Berkley own Wish with Annette Leslie Pierce and bred the four-year-old Warmblood gelding themselves.
“He’s is the first one that’s old enough that we bred. He’s out of a mare we had called Hush and he’s by a stallion I used to show, Be Cool,” Stewart detailed.
When asked what it’s been like to bring along a homebred mount, Stewart replied with a smile, “It’s been fun. He’s a lot like his mother and his father combined. He’s sort of like a 50/50 mix. He’s really brave and easy. He has a really good lead change, and he’s just simple.”
The first time Stewart got on Wish, he fell in love with his natural way of going and admitted he didn’t have to do much on the flat training-wise.
“He’s a beautiful mover and a beautiful horse. The way he canters in between the jumps, he just carries himself like a natural hunter and he wants to carry himself in that frame,” Stewart described.
Wish has also remained cool and collected despite the fifth week of the FTI WEF only being his third show. For that, Stewart credited his incredibly easy-going personality. That doesn’t mean the gelding is immune to any “green” moments, which Stewart simply laughed off.
“Putting the ribbon on his bridle scared him a little bit!” Stewart commented of the pair’s division championship presentation.
While Wish will take the next few weeks off before returning for the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program classes to be held Week 7 of the FTI WEF, hunter competition continues on Friday with the WEF Collegiate Equitation Championships. The $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m will be featured in the International Arena. 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.
Canada’s Tiffany Foster guided Victor to victory in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B. Photo by Sportfot.
Wellington, Florida – Canada’s Tiffany Foster emerged victorious in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B held Thursday, January 23, at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
A total of 92 horses attempted the first round track set by course designer Guilherme Jorge with 25 posting clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Returning for the jump-off mid-way through the order, Foster guided Victor to a blazing fast round in a time of 40.50 seconds to take over the lead from her 2012 London Olympic teammate, Ian Millar, who had stopped the clock in 40.84 seconds riding Dixson. Only one rider, Todd Minikus, was able to better her time, crossing the timers in 40.34 seconds riding Quality Girl to take the win in Section A while Foster was crowned the victor of Section B.
“He felt awesome; he was perfect!” said Foster, 29, of her 2012 Olympic mount. “The jump-off course was really wide open; there was a lot of open galloping, so you had to carry a lot of ground speed which can get a little hairy sometimes, but not for Victor! He loves it!”
Now in their fourth season together, Foster and Victor, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned by Torrey Pines Stable and Artisan Farms LLC, are no strangers to the International Arena at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. They were members of Canada’s Nations’ Cup team in Wellington in both 2012 and 2013, posting clear rounds on both occasions.
“He knows this ring really well, so I know I can take a lot of risks with him here and he’s really confident and comfortable,” explained Foster of Vancouver, BC. “When he’s jumping like he was today, I knew I could go really fast!”
Foster even out-raced her coach, 2008 Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, who placed third riding Zigali P S in only their third competitive appearance together.
Foster competes at the grand prix level with Victor as well as Verdi III, a new mount acquired in June of 2013 by her owners, Andy and Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms LLC. In addition, she has several young prospects she is developing for Artisan Farms of Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
