In today’s Young Jumper Championship 8 Year Old class, Christine McCrea and Ronaldo de la Pomme were one of seven clear rounds out of 15 entries in the class. They finished in 35.521 seconds in the jump-off to win over Darragh Kenny [...]]]>

Christine Mc Crea and Ronaldo de la Pomme (Stakkato x Darco).

In today’s Young Jumper Championship 8 Year Old class, Christine McCrea and Ronaldo de la Pomme were one of seven clear rounds out of 15 entries in the class. They finished in 35.521 seconds in the jump-off to win over Darragh Kenny on Cequila (Cancoon x Kolibri) and Candice King with Antigone Quality (Eurocommerce Berlin x Heartbreaker). This week’s course designer is Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY.

McCrea found Ronaldo de la Pomme, an eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Stakkato x Darco, in Belgium last fall, but it was not love at first sight. “To look at, he’s not maybe the most attractive animal. He’s kind of short. (When I first saw him), I was like, ‘Is this a joke? He’s a pony!’ Then you get on and he’s electric,” she said. “He’s like a bouncing ball and he can do things that other horses find so difficult. He can twist himself inside out. He’s an absolute blast to ride. I’m obsessed with him.”

She continued, “He’s eight years old, but it’s like he’s 12 years old. He’s so straightforward and he wants to do the right thing every time. He wants to win more than I do, I think. He could do it without me. He’s really fast, he turns on a dime, and he’s not afraid of anything. He has the biggest heart and that goes a long way.”

McCrea said he great personality in the ring translates to the barn too. “I call him ‘Mushball.’ He’s mushy and adorable,” she expressed. “He rests his chin on your shoulder and he has the best personality.”

McCrea said that the grass grand prix field helped her young horse get a good education. “As hard as (the course) was, it was good for the horses. They learn from it. It’s why we came, to be honest,” she revealed. “This show, for the young horses, they learn so much on this field. It’s invaluable to their upbringing. This is our warm-up for Spruce Meadows.”

Mario Deslauriers aboard 2012 YJC Eastern League Res. Champion, Scout de la Cense (Easy Boy x Crazyhorse of Coco).

Mario Deslauriers was in full agreement on how the field helps young horses. He and Scout de la Cense, a seven-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Easy Boy x Crazyhorse of Coco, won this morning’s Young Jumper Championship 7 Year Old class. They beat a field of 20 horses for the win in 37.189 seconds over Filip de Wandel and Gstar in 37.583 seconds and Nicole Bellissimo on VDL Bellefleur, who finished in 37.680 seconds.

Since Deslauriers is aiming toward the Young Jumper Final at the Hampton Classic Horse Show (Scout was second in last year’s final for six-year-olds), he knew the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show would help his horse.

“A place like this, he really loves to gallop on the grass,” he said. “He jumped great today. Anthony designed a really good course. It was complicated and hard for a young horse. It’s how you bring a young horse along, to have rings like this (and) good courses. You really find the character of your horse when you present it with something like this and many different challenges. It’s a great attribute to (come to) a show like this and to give a good experience to a horse.”

Deslauriers has been showing at Old Salem Farm for 15 years and has seen the improvements to the facility. “The atmosphere here is great. The footing right now is really, really great. They’ve worked at it for a long time and I think it’s finally paying off. The people of Old Salem try hard and they’re really making a great place to show. I think the riders really appreciate it,” he concluded.

Lexington, KY – May 11, 2013 – Capturing a ribbon was no easy task during today’s $20,000 Bluegrass Classic at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Forty-two entries gathered at the Rolex Stadium to compete in the 1.45m Open Jumper event, but when [...]]]>

Kent Farrington and Zidane (Sam R 60 x ) win the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic.

Lexington, KY – May 11, 2013 – Capturing a ribbon was no easy task during today’s $20,000 Bluegrass Classic at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Forty-two entries gathered at the Rolex Stadium to compete in the 1.45m Open Jumper event, but when 23 qualified for the tiebreaker the results came down to a foot race. Besting the clock and the course was Kent Farrington aboard Zidane, breaking the beam at 38.879 to take home the winning prize. Ramiro Quintana, riding Largo to second place, followed him, and Emanuel Andrade placed third with Walter 61.

Kent Farrington and Zidane Richard Jefferys set a very inviting course for today’s event at the Kentucky Horse Park. The first round included an open water option, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination. Twenty-three were able to master the track and advance to the jump-off, where speed and accuracy were the keys to winning. “That was probably more than Richard expected, but he’s not building it to be the grand prix,” stated Farrington after his win. “I think he just maybe under built for the class today, but that just meant the jump-off turned into a speed class.”

The short course began with two oxers to a vertical-oxer line before winding back to just the oxer at the open water option. Then riders galloped to the double combination because finishing over a single oxer. Competitors could opt to jump-off directly after their first round or return at the end of the class. Schuyler Riley was one of the riders opting to stay in the ring with Andretti, owned by Southbeach Stables of Wellington, FL. She set the clear pace to beat at 41.468 seconds, but that would only be good enough for eighth place when 17 riders produced double clears.

Ramiro Quintana and YJC graduate Largo (ex Largo du Gravant, Rosire x Hurlevent) finished a close 2nd.

On the return list, young rider Victoria Colvin and Waminka, owned by Rivers Edge of Wellington, FL, were able to best Riley’s time by breaking the beam in a clear 40.877. Their early lead was short lived though, when Kent Farrington entered the arena with Zidane, owned by Windward Farm of Milford, NJ. They spun through the turns and with a huge open gallop managed to leave out strides and zip through the timers in 38.879 seconds, proving to be the best and claim the victory.

Ramiro Quintana was right on Farrington’s heels with Largo, owned by Maverick ventures LLC of Fox Point, WI, as the next in the ring. The pair stayed right on track and just missed the winning target, clocking in at 38.882 seconds, just 1/100th second short of Farrington for second place. Emanuel Andrade is well known for his quick mounts, including Walker 61 owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. He was next to challenge and came very close in 39.019 seconds for third.

Ramiro Quintana and Largo Young rider Wilton Porter had a great showing with Patriot, owned by Sleepy P Ranch of Bartonville, TX, pressing the gas to finish in 40.296 seconds. The only other rider to complete a clear round in less than 40 seconds was Ireland’s Andrew Bourns riding Gatsby. They were very quick and stopped the clock at 39.043 seconds for fourth place. The last rider to show was Andrew Welles, who rounded out the top six with XM, owned by Peter Welles of Boulder, CO. Their clear time of 40.737 seconds sealed Farrington’s victory.

“Zidane is a pretty fast horse,” explained Farrington. “This is only the second time I’ve shown him. Peter Wylde showed him in Florida with a lot of success in speed classes. He’s pretty experienced at that. He’s a big striding horse and covers a lot of ground. He’s brave, and I took a real shot at the second fence, leaving really far away, but he stretched and tried hard. The rest was just him; he’s a quick horse and he’s very careful so you can run him at the jumps.”

Although Zidane is a new mount for Farrington, he knew that he could take a risk in the jump-off to win with the experienced mount. “I felt confident that the horse is perfectly capable of winning the class, but I don’t really know him so I am still figuring him out as I go,” he noted. “Obviously it’s a very nice horse and good horses always make the job easier.”

When Wylde changed his plans for the year, he recommended Farrington take over the ride, and now the new pair is aiming for the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic next week during the Kentucky Spring Classic. “Usually when the horses are going and winning like that you don’t have them too long, so I am just going make the most of it while I have the ride,” he expressed.

Tomorrow, Farrington will return to the Rolex Stadium to try and pick up another win during the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix aboard his top mounts Zafira and Venus. The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are always a stop for the top rider, who is happy to be back at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“It’s a great venue and I think they really make the most of that during these shows,” noted Farrington. “There are a lot of different classes in the Rolex Stadium. I bring a lot of young horses here and students here, it’s a great place for horses and riders to move up. There are some classes that feel like a mini grand prix like this, and there is a good water jump in the ring. It’s impressive, and it’s good for the horses to get that experience. The footing is great, so even if it rains you always know the ground is going to hold well.”

Later tonight, the hunter riders will take over the Rolex Stadium during the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, which gets underway at 5 p.m., immediately followed by the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. The weekend concludes tomorrow with the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix at 4p.m. in the Rolex Stadium, but the riders will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Kentucky Spring Classic, scheduled for May 15-19, 2013.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please visit http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com/.

$20,000 Bluegrass Classic
Horses in bold are graduates of the Young Jumper Championships

1 ZIDANE 2004 KWPN g. Sam R 60 x Calvados
KENT FARRINGTON / WINDWARD FARM 0-0/38.879

2 LARGO (ex Largo du Gravant) 1999 SF g. Rosire x Hurlevent
RAMIRO QUINTANA / MAVERICK VENTURES LLC 0-0/38.882

3 WALTER 61 2002 SACH g. Werenfels x Donator
EMANUEL ANDRADE / HOLLOW CREEK FARM / 0-0/39.019

4 GATSBY 2004 ISH s. Simba x Cruise On
ANDREW BOURNS / ANDREW BOURNS / 0-0/39.043

5 PATRIOT (ex Calvin K) 2003 HOL g. Colman x Sir Shostakovich xx
WILTON PORTER / SLEEPY P RANCH /0-0/40.295

6 XM (ex Sirius du Chene) 2002 SBS g. Heartbreaker x Darco
ANDREW WELLES / PETER WELLES / 0-0/40.737

7 WAMINKA 2003 KWPN m. Fedor x Libero H
VICTORIA COLVIN / RIVERS EDGE / 0-0/40.877

8 ANDRETTI 2005 KWPN g. Orame x Ahorn
SCHUYLER RILEY / SOUTH BEACH STABLES / 0-0/41.468

9 AMBOSELL 2005 KWPN g. Silverstone x Lancelot
PABLO BARRIOS / PABLO BARRIOS / 0-0/41.578

10 ELOUISE DE MUZE 2004 BWP m. Nabab de Reve x Darco
RICHIE MOLONEY / EQUINIMITY LLC / 0-0/41.633

11 SORAYA DE L’OBSTINATION 2002 BWP m. Kashmir van Schuttershof x Skippy II
REED KESSLER / KESSLER SHOW STABLES / 0-0/41.979

12 QUICK BLUE Z 2002 g. Quick Lauro Z x Indorado
SHARN WORDLEY / FILIP AMRAM / 0-0/42.839

This intensive 6-day event will be specifically directed toward the care and training of today’s purpose-bred sport horse. Educational opportunities abound, and we promise to fill your week with a unique chance to network with others who share [...]]]> Young Horse Trainers School
with Linda Allen, Julie Winkel, and Jose Alejos
October 8-13, 2013 – Maplewood Stables – Reno, NV

This intensive 6-day event will be specifically directed toward the care and training of today’s purpose-bred sport horse. Educational opportunities abound, and we promise to fill your week with a unique chance to network with others who share your special outlook on the sport.

• Topics will include:
• Talk about halter breaking
• Feet handling-trimming
• Longing-long lining
• Groundwork
• Trailer training
• Jump chute
• First rides
• Transitioning from field to training barn
• Jumping under saddle introduction
• Schooling shows/Benchmark Development classes, International Jumper Futurity, and Young Jumper Championship classes
• Progression-age and development as individuals
• Growth concerns and cautions including feeds and feeding
• Promoting and Marketing in USA
• Classroom time as well as practical experience
• and much, much more

Limited to 20 participants:

Cost: $1,250. $250 deposit required to hold a spot.
CONTACT: Julie Winkel, Maplewood Stables Inc • 425 W. Laramie Drive, Reno, NV 89511 • 775-742-4615 • mwstables@aol.com

Want to bring a horse? Send a request in writing with your deposit detailing horse’s age, breed, previous handling, etc. Participant horse fee is $750.

The Presenters:

LINDA ALLEN - has spent more than five decades in the horse business. During a long riding and training career she developed 8 horses from un-started or off-the-track up to the International Grand Prix level. In addition to competing internationally, she spent many of her trainer years managing one of the first breeding operations in the U.S. dedicated to the Jumping discipline. The farm maintained up to 20 brood mares and two stallions. A large number of home-bred horses went on to successful careers at the Grand Prix and Amateur levels, while others turned out to be well-placed hunters and dressage horses. She currently travels extensively giving riding and jumping clinics and acts as an advisor to a successful breeding farm in California.

JULIE WINKEL – has been a licensed Hunter, Equitation, Hunter Breeding and Jumper judge since 1984. She has officiated at prestigious events such as Devon, Harrisburg, Washington International, Capital Challenge, The Hampton Classic and Upperville Horse Shows. She has designed the courses and judged the ASPCA Maclay Finals, The USEF Medal Finals and The New England Equitation Finals. Julie has trained and shown hunters and jumpers to the top level, nationally as well as internationally. She was a winner of multiple Grand Prix competitions and many Hunter championships during her career.

JOSE ALEJOS – has been starting horses for many years working throughout the U.S. as well as in Mexico and other parts of the world.  He uses his innate feel and compassion for the horses, along with a keen awareness of both the unique temperament of today’s warmblood and what their further training as jumping, dressage or eventing horses will involve. He has returned multiple times to large operations such as Branscomb Farm and Maplewood Stables to start both their youngsters and those of outside clients.  View his work with a young jumper prospect on EquestrianCoach.com.

Travel & Accomodations:

Reno-Tahoe airport is 18 minutes from the farm.

• Staybridge Suites Reno (ihg.com)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Reno (hamptoninn.hilton.com)
• Hilton Garden Inn Reno (hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com)
• Extended Stay America Hotel Reno South Meadows
• Residence Inn Reno (marriot.com)
• Super 8 Meadow Wood Courtyard (super8.com)
• Peppermill Hotel (peppermillreno.com)

Directions:

To Maplewood Stables: Head south on US-395 BUS/S Virginia St toward Brinkby Ave. Take 2nd left onto E Moana Lane. Turn right to merge onto I-580 S/US 395 S. Continue onto US 395 S. Take exit 57B onto US-395 S/S Virginia St toward Virginia City-Carson City-S. Lake Tahoe. Turn right on W Laramie Drive. Maplewood Stables will be on the right. 425 W Laramie Dr., Reno, NV 89521. Lost? Call 775-849-1849.

Chaman placed in the YJC Western League Finals in 2005 as a 6YO with Antonio Maurer. In 2006 he moved to the east coast to compete at WEF with Luciana Diniz before returning to Europe.

April 14, 2013 — The [...]]]>

Ludger Beerbaum and YJC Graduate Chaman (Baloubet du Rouet x I Love You) are victorious in Paris.

Chaman placed in the YJC Western League Finals in 2005 as a 6YO with Antonio Maurer. In 2006 he moved to the east coast to compete at WEF with Luciana Diniz before returning to Europe.

April 14, 2013 — The Kaiser came, saw and conquered! But a princess almost stole the show. Ludger Beerbaum’s goal was very clear at the Grand Palais this year; he wanted to make his mark at the Saut Hermès.

That goal meant winning the Grand Prix, “one of the most prestigious Grand Prix on the circuit, if not the most prestigious,” pointed out the German rider. The most successful rider on the circuit is at a point in his career where he is putting the finishing touches to his amazing record by seeking to add certain illustrious titles that have so far eluded him. At the Grand Palais, he had entered just one horse, Chaman, and he only arrived yesterday to allow his fanciful stallion to get used to the specific environment of the venue’s noble glass-roofed nave.

Today, he moved onto the serious business. The first step was to surmount the thirteen obstacles and sixteen difficulties of the initial course. Along with thirteen other riders, he succeeded in doing this with no problems, since the course was not overly difficult. So the jump-off had some serious contenders, with fourteen riders in total. The danger could come from anywhere! Hence his delight, after winning the class with a textbook round:

“I was really pleased with the way the horse jumped today, and the way I rode. I felt as if the horse and I were one. When we are on the same wavelength, it’s a bit like slalom skiing where the transition from one gate to another is really smooth. When the horse is so receptive and responsive, everything becomes easy. Winning is one thing, but to win like that, with a feeling of total empathy, is something that does not happen every day. I’m really happy.”

While Beerbaum is an old hand on the circuit (the rider with the most wins since his Olympic title in 1998), his challenger, Reed Kessler, is thirty years younger. Thirty years less experience. She took part in her first Olympics last year, at the age of 18. A truly precocious talent! The young American rider and her Olympic mare Cylana were just two tenths of a second from creating an amazing surprise. It all came down to a bad distance coming out of a corner; something that Reed quickly rectified with incredible aplomb and control by adding a stride. It was that extra stride that cost her victory, but Reed Kessler amazed the Parisian public with her performance.

“Second place is still fantastic and, particularly, it gives me confidence for the World Cup final in two weeks. My mare has been jumping all winter in the large arena in Palm Beach, so this was about getting her used to a smaller space, which is what it will be like in Göteborg. This performance at the Grand Palais has allowed me to find my marks.”

A highly pertinent and professional analysis; indeed, the French public discovered a truly great rider on Sunday afternoon at the Grand Palais

Grand Prix Hermès CSI 5*
Horses in bold are graduates of the Young Jumper Championships

1 CHAMAN 1999 KWPN s. Baloubet du Rouet x I Love Youo
LUDGER BEERBAUM / MADELEINE WINTER-SCHULZE  0-0/38.33 €66,000

2 CYLANA 2002 BWP m. Skippy II x Darco
REED KESSLER / REED KESSLER 0-0/38.53 €40,000

3 QUINTERO LA SILLA 1998 HOL s. Quantum x Chamonix
ROLF-GORAN BENGTSSON / HOLSTEINER VERBAND 0-0/39.26 €30,000

4 BELLA DONNA 66 2003 HOL m. Baldini II x Calido I
MEREDITH MICHAELS-BEERBAUM / EOS SPORT & BEERBAUM 0-0/40.95 €20,000

5 CARLO 273 2001 HOL g. Contender x Cascavelle
SERGIO ALVAREZ MOYA / MARTA ORTEGA 0-4 €12,000

6 EMBASSY II 2001 HAN s. Escudo I x Silvio I
HANS-DIETER DREHER / GALMBACHER SPZ 0-4 €9,000

7 NAYANA 2001 SF m. Royal Feu x Narcos II
PENELOPE LEPREVOST / GENEVIEVE MEGRET 0-4 €6,000

8 NUAGE BLEU 2001 SF g. Fildor de Largival x Odjak du Trens
PILAR LUCRECIA CORDON / PILAR CORDON 0-4 €5,000

9 UCEKO 2001 KWPN g. Celano x Koriander
KENT FARRINGTON / RCG FARM 0-4 €4,000

10 PALLOUBET D’HALONG 2003 SF g. Baloubet dur Rouet x Muguet du Manoir
JANIKA SPRUNGER / GEORG KAHNY 0-4 €4,000

11 CASH 63 1996 HOL g. Carthago x Lavall II
MARCO KUTSCHER / MADELEINE WINTER-SCHULZE 0-8 €2,000

12 SEOUL 2001 BWP g. Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Lancer II
GERCO SCHRODER / GEVI INTERNATIONAL B.V. 0-8 €2,000

San Juan Capistrano, CA – April 14, 2013 – On a couple of cool, breezy afternoons, Blenheim EquiSports presented two stellar high performance events, the $50,000 Blenheim Spring III Grand Prix, presented by Equine Insurance, and this season’s first $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, both [...]]]>

John Pearce and YJC Graduate Chianto (Carano x Primus). McCool photo.

San Juan Capistrano, CA – April 14, 2013 – On a couple of cool, breezy afternoons, Blenheim EquiSports presented two stellar high performance events, the $50,000 Blenheim Spring III Grand Prix, presented by Equine Insurance, and this season’s first $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, both on the International Grand Prix Field. Exciting twists and turns captivated competitors and spectators alike.

With grand prix prize money increased by over 20% for week three of the Blenheim Spring Series, internationally renowned course designer Leopoldo Palacios intentionally built a tough track. “From the three weeks this is the week with the most money. I needed it to be a touch harder than the other weeks. The field of riders is good, so I built a more difficult course.

” Thirty-nine pairs attempted to master the tight time allowed, distance and scope challenges, including a flowing first line, a bending line from three to a light skinny plank jump as the fourth obstacle followed by a triple combination set at a tough angle directly off the arena fence. Lines got tighter towards the end of the course, making the time allowed a factor. This technicality caught up with three riders who had no jumps down but finished with time faults.

Palacios explained, “My way of building and what I want doesn’t always happen (he laughs). A course is not one distance; it’s a flow and a lot of distances together. From one to two, already the distance is a little bit forward. But I put this forward so they make decision to add or go forward. At the end I have short distances. I change the mind of the horse several times and this is where they have faults.”

It wasn’t until the fourteenth horse on course, 21-year-old Saer Coulter and Springtime (Copernicus Stables LLC, owner), did a duo keep all jumps in the cups within the time allowed. Having ridden her Don VHP Z earlier in the class with just four faults, Coulter knew what she needed to do. Five rounds after Coulter, Enrique Gonzales of Mexico matched that effort going clean aboard his own Criptonite. Twelve rides later, with only six remaining, two more managed to join the jump-off group – Canadian John Pearce on the trusty Chianto (Forest View Farm, owner) and young Lucy Davis riding Old Oak Farm’s Barron.

Two young women and two experienced men in a jump-off with long galloping lines meant speed and agility would prevail.  Admirably, each of the four was double clear with solid times.  First to go Coulter and Springtime set the pace in an impressive 40.44. Next in Gonzales and the powerful Criptonite tried to catch Coulter, but didn’t quite succeed with a time of 41.16.  Edging out Coulter, John Pearce and Chianto clocked in at 38.62.  Last to go was Davis on Barron, also double clean in 40.80, just tenths of a second slower than Coulter.  Veterans Pearce and Chianto claimed victory.

“The horse just seems to be getting better.  He’s 17 years old, but like wine, he’s just getting better with age,” said Pearce with a smile.  Now in his sixth season riding Chianto, the winner went on about his horse, “He really likes himself a lot.  He wants to act like the tough guy but he’s actually kind of mushy inside.”

Three couples turned in great rounds but stopped the clock just over the 85-second time allowed for two time faults apiece – Jonathan Asselin with Attache Stables’ Showgirl, Josephina Nor-Lantzman on her own Chello Z and Saree Solanki aboard Olympiade des Gres (Tomboy Farms, owner).

Seven horse and rider combinations finished with a four fault score in round one, the fastest five of those finished eighth through twelfth, including Coulter’s third entry Carmena Z, two entries from Signe Ostby’s string – Quanto Fino 2 with Eric Navet and Karl Cook aboard ASB Conquistador, Grey Fox Farm’s Bristol and Rusty Stewart as well as Tiffany Sullivan with Tristan (Haley Farms LLC, owner).

$50,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix,
presented by Equine Insurance
Horses in bold are graduates of the Young Jumper Championships

1 CHIANTO 1996 DWB g. Carano x Primus
John Pearce – Forest View Farm – 0/0/38.629

2 SPRINGTIME 1999 KWPN g. Indorado x Elmshorn
Saer Coulter – Copernicus Stables, LLC – 0/0/40.443

3 BARRON 2004 SBS g. For Pleasure x Nabab de Revel
Lucy Davis – Old Oak Farm – 0/0/40.807

4 CRIPTONITE 2001 HOL g. Cento x Capitol I
Enrique Gonzales – Enrique Gonzales – 0/0/41.446

5 CHELLO Z 2000 ZANG g. Chellano Z x Alme
Josephina Nor-Lantzman – Josephina Nor Stables – 2/86.055

6 SHOWGIRL 2000 SF m. Gold de Becourt x Elf III
Jonathan Asselin – Attache Stables – 2/86.077

7 OLYMPIADE DES GRES 2002 SF m. Kannan x Uzelien
Saree Solanki – Tomboy Farms – 2/86.786

8 CARMENA Z 2000 ZANG s. Carthago Z x Irco Mena
Saer Coulter – Copernicus Stables, LLC – 4/80.034

9 QUANTO FINO 2 2003 OLD g. Quick Star x Polydor
Eric Navet – Signe Ostby – 4/82.153

10 BRISTOL 2002 SF g. Dollar de la Pierre x unknown. Bred in USA by Grey Fox Farm.
Rusty Stewart – Grey Fox Farm – 4/82.508

11 ASB CONQUISTADOR 2001 BWP s. Clinton x Heartbreaker
Karl Cook – Signe Ostby – 4/83.164

12 TRISTAN 2000 KWPN g. Lancelot x Ferro
Tiffany Sullivan – Haley Farms, LLC – 4/83.951

No matter the script during the second week of the 68th Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show (Mar 26-30), Christian Heineking found himself in the leading role. During Thursday night’s $25,000 Pin Oak [...]]]>

Christian Heineking and YJC graduate NKH Selena (Stakkato Gold x Quattro B) rule the jumper ring Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography

No matter the script during the second week of the 68th Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show (Mar 26-30), Christian Heineking found himself in the leading role. During Thursday night’s $25,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix presented by Moet Hennessy, USA, twelve advanced to the jump off and it became a horse race. In the end, it was Christian and NKH Selena (NKH, LLC, owner) leading the victory gallop. Francisco Galli of Argentina made the riders work a little harder in the $30,000 Grand Prix presented by Walter Oil & Gas Corporation on Saturday night, but Christian and NKH Selena rose to the challenge again, and the crowd loved it.

Over a demanding track, rails fell and fell. Some crowd favorites disappointed, some youngsters rose to the occasion, the previous week’s winner, Ryan Genn, dropped three rails with Cookie Monster, and there were a few heartbreaks as clear rounds turned into four faulters at the final oxer. However, Christian, who was 19th in the order of the 27 horse field, piloted the feisty NKH Selena to a clear round and the crowd erupted in applause. None of the remaining riders could quite find the key to the tricky track.

Although there was no jump off, no one could complain, least of all Christian. Of his back-to-back wins there wasn’t much the handsome rider could say. “Fantastic. This is fantastic and my horse is competitive and wants to please.”

Heineking’s path to success was far from easy.  “She was a wild girl,” said Christian of the mare when he first got her as a five year old.  “It was rough showing her the first two years, but then when she was seven things got a little better.” The pair won their first grand prix in Kansas City last year.  “We also did well in Las Vegas at the end of the year. She was third in a big class and I rode her in the World Cup Qualifier.”  As an eight year old this year, the mare has come into her own.

Christian loves the Pin Oak Show, especially given that he has won the major grand prix in both 2012 and 2013. “This show is a great thing for the charities. Management tries very hard and it is special. There were so many people in the stands tonight.”

After riding exclusively for one owner, Christian has struck out on his own with Heineking Show Stables. “I am coaching riders and training horses in jumpers,” he stated. However, now that Pin Oak is over for the year, Christian is heading to Omaha for his final show before his nuptials to fellow show jumping rider Erin Davis on May 4. When asked if he was nervous about the wedding, he laughed and emphatically stated, “Absolutely not. I am feeling very confident.” He and Erin are very supportive of one another and are looking forward to a life together that will undoubtedly include many more Pin Oak Charity Horse Show memories.

$30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix
Horses in bold are graduates of the Young Jumper Championships

1 NKH SELENA 2005 OLD m. Stakkato Gold x Quattro B
CHRISTIAN HEINEKING / NKH LLC $9,000

2 TWILIGHT 2001 DWB g. Capucino x Kingston
KATIE COX / KIM COX $6,600

3 RIVER OF DREAMS 1997 OLD g. Riverman x Merano. Bred in USA by Carol Lush.
CHRISTIAN HEINEKING / CAROLINE JAHR $3,900

4 QUICK TEMPO 2003 ZANG g. Quick Lauro Z x Fantastique
RICHARD CHESKA / RICHARD CHESKA $2,400

5 MTM TIMON 2000 KWPN g. Voltaire x Uniek
TRACY FENNEY / MTM FARM $1,800

6 HJ EL MAGNIFICO 2001 ZANG g. Concorde x Chiron Z
EDUARDO BRAUN / EDUARDO BRAUN $1,500

7 CAPRICELLO 2 2004 HOL g. Chello I x Romino
FRANKIE OWENS / DS HOLDINGS LLC $1,200

8 CASCO 2002 HOL g. Cassini I x Contender
CARLI KIRSCH / CARLI KIRSCH $900

9 TRIOMPF 2004 KWPN g. Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Le Mexico
HOLLY SHEPHERD / LORETTA PATTERSON $900

10 COLUMBUS 1999 HOL g. Corrado I x Lord
JENNI MCALLISTER / LEGIS EQUNE.COM $600

11 VASCO 2002 KWPN g.
JORDAN SIEGEL / JORDAN SIEGEL $600

12 BON GIORNO 1999 SWB g. Acacio 948 x Mowgli
BRYN SADLER / SHOWCASE 81 LLC $600

Tampa, FL – March 31, 2013 – Michael Hughes sped to victory in the North American League (NAL) Low [...]]]>

Michael Hughes, pictured aboard YJC Graduate Zammetje (Sam R 60 x Karandasj), led the victory gallop in both the NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic and the SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic today in Tampa. Photo by Emily Riden.

Tampa, FL – March 31, 2013 – Michael Hughes sped to victory in the North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic, and he kept right on cruising. Hughes immediately followed up his NAL win today with a blue ribbon in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame High (SJHOF) Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic under the lights of the Covered Arena at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.

The SJHOF Classic course, designed by Michel Vaillancourt, provided a great test of the horses and riders at the Tampa Bay Classic with only four pairs passing to move on to the jump-off round. The course opened over a single oxer, followed by a turn to the right over another single oxer, then on to a liverpool vertical. Coming off of the liverpool riders were sent around to the left to a single oxer before whipping around a tight right turn to jump a vertical skinny. The second round course concluded over an oxer-vertical in-and-out to a final oxer off the right.

As the first of four to return to the short course, Darby Toben took her turn in the race against the clock. Toben and her mount Virgin Media, owned by Doreen Toben, finished the course in a time of 45.736, under the time allowed of 50 seconds, but a rail down left her susceptible. KC Van Aarem came back next to best Toben’s time aboard her own horse, Mastermind, but with two poles hitting the ground, Aarem would finish the day in the third place position.

Michael Hughes and Zammetje, owned by Christina Fried, were the third to return for the final showdown. Their clear round in a time of 44.604 seconds would be the only faultless ride of the jump-off, securing them the guaranteed blue ribbon. Hughes utilized his horse’s carefulness to clasp the coveted win. Jenna Friedman followed Hughes aboard Zidoctro, but she was unable to secure a clear round, landing her in the fourth place position for the day.

“Zammetje’s really very easy. This is a great ring for him because he’s so adjustable and so scopey,” Hughes explained. “In the jump-off, he’s naturally so fast. He’s so quick in the air. I was just really thinking more about going clear and a little bit quick because I knew Jenna [Friedman] still had to go after me.”

Hughes’ winning partnership with Zammetje is one that has continuously progressed since Hughes first started riding him three years ago.

“He’s 9-years-old now, and we brought him up doing the young jumper classes. He’s owned by Christina Fried, and I’m so thankful to her for everything that she’s done over the years,” Hughes commented.

Hughes also has a longstanding partnership with Red Hot, the speedy horse that he piloted to victory in the NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic.

“I’ve been riding him for about five years now, and he’s so much fun. He was a little bit difficult when we first got him, but now since we’ve had him for so long he’s so easy and fun to ride,” Hughes shared. “Red Hot’s a hot horse, but you still need to keep going. He likes to get almost underneath the jumps a little bit because he’s so good in front.”

From the opening field of 27, Hughes was among the eight who returned for the jump-off where riders were tested over the same jump-off course utilized in the SJHOF Classic.

Hughes and Red Hot were the very first to reappear for the jump-off, finishing double clear in a time of 40.338 seconds – the time to beat that would remain untouched for the remainder of the jump-off.

Melissa Rudershausen came close, delivering the only other clear round over the eight fence course, but her time of 44.178 seconds would leave her just short of the top honor. Red Hot is a naturally quick mount, giving him a bit of an edge, and Hughes rode a route that further shaved off the seconds.

“From one to two I was really fast. I knew the line to the liverpool after that was a little bit short, so I angled it in, and I went really tight from one to tight. I think that was where we were probably the fastest,” Hughes contemplated.

Prior to the NAL class, the adults vied for the top honors in the day’s $2,500 Adult Jumper class. Out of a competitive of 15 riders, it was Rebecca Weissbard and Freemantle, owned by Redfield Farm, who rose to the occasion.

One-third of the original 15 riders advanced to the jump-off, and Katherine Willekes was the first to deliver a clear round aboard her horse Miss Kitty. Both Willekes and Weissbard ride and train with Emil Spadone at Redfield Farm, so when Willekes made the jump-off round Weissbard knew what she was up against.

“Miss Kitty is probably one of the best horses in the jump-off at Redfield. She’s amazing,” Weissbard said. “I knew I had a horse with a big stride so I took advantage of it.”

Weissbard took all the tight turns to finish an exhilarating jump-off ride in the time of 40.191 seconds – just tenths of a second off of Willekes’ time of 40.317. Nelson Long would claim the third place award with just four faults in the jump-off aboard Merlerault.

In the nearby Main Hunter Ring, the junior hunters competed for the titles of Large Junior Hunter and Small Junior Hunter champion for this week’s Tampa Bay Classic. Earning the championship in the Small Junior Hunters were Ashton Alexander and O’Ryan, owned by Meghan Flanagan. The reserve award went to Morgan Ward and Felicci, whom Ward rode this weekend for fellow junior and owner Caroline Kellogg.

“This is my first time showing him. I just rode him for the first time yesterday, but he’s a really fun horse. You just loop the reins and go,” Ward said of Felicci.

In the Large Junior Hunters, the championship honor was presented to Hannah Holik and Tache Rouge, owned by Czech Mate, LLC., while the reserve award went to Second City, owned by Megan McGovern and shown by Ashton Alexander.

“I’ve had Tache Rouge for almost four years now. He was one of my first junior hunters. We’ve done Devon, East Coast, and West Coast all over. He loves it here though. The hunters get to go in the big open field, and they have magnificent jumps and great courses,” Holik professed.

Today concluded the Tampa Bay Classic and the first week of ‘AA’ competition at the Tampa Equestrian Series. Top hunter and jumper riders and horses will return to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center on Tuesday, April 2,to kick-off the Tournament of Champions, the second week in the popular Tampa Equestrian Series.

Peter Breakwell and YJC Graduate Lucas (Landphoenix I x Lukull). McCool Photography.

San Juan Capistrano, CA – March 30, 2013 - The $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic I Grand Prix, presented by the Orange County Register, welcomed twenty-two horse and rider participants onto the International Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.  The [...]]]>

Peter Breakwell and YJC Graduate Lucas (Landphoenix I x Lukull). McCool Photography.

San Juan Capistrano, CA – March 30, 2013 - The $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic I Grand Prix, presented by the Orange County Register, welcomed twenty-two horse and rider participants onto the International Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.  The Peters were in stride today – Peter Cottontail handled Easter brunch for exhibitors, Canadian Peter Holmes set an inviting course and New Zealander Peter Breakwell took home the top prize.

Seven riders piloted their mounts without fault to secure a spot in the jump-off. And of that group only two were double clean, Breakwell and second place finishers Michelle Spadone aboard Tembla (Morgan Hill Partners, owners).  Both of these top riders now call California home.

“My plan was to go fast, I didn’t know if I would be fast enough. But everything just kind of worked out,” explained Breakwell.

Fast enough indeed; the pair stopped the clock in a speedy 41.300, almost five seconds faster than Spadone.  The victory was even sweeter as Breakwell’s grand prix partner Lucas (No Drama, owner) was making a comeback after an injury. “To be honest, I didn’t really expect this today because this horse hasn’t been jumping a lot, he got hurt before Thermal so I wasn’t able to show him. I did two classes earlier this week and he jumped really well. So I thought I would give it a shot today.  I walked the course and it was a little bigger than I had hoped.  But in the middle of the first round he felt great, and just jumped incredible.”

As the seventeenth pair to negotiate the first round course, Breakwell and Lucas joined the company of Canadian Jennifer Serek on Eleonora (Shin Shin Group, owner), American Karianne Boyce-Lockhart on her own Hopscotch and Austrian Peter Petcshenig on his own Saint Quentin, who went fifth, sixth and seventh in the order.  Each of these three early clean rides had a rail in the jump-off, ultimately finishing fourth, fifth and sixth.  Also qualifying for the jump-off was Spadone on Tembla, Canadian Tamie Phillips riding her Lerche 37 and Californian Michelle Parker on her trusty Socrates De Midos (Cross Creek Farms, Inc., owners).  Phillips dropped two rails in the second round to finish seventh and Parker had a great time of 42.41 but also lowered the height of one jump for third.

With fifteen of twenty-two riders completing the course at four faults or less, course designer Peter Holmes did an excellent job setting for the field. “I thought it was a very challenging course, I thought everybody in it was quite good. I noticed almost every rider was clear or had four faults. So everybody thought they could jump it clear.  Two horses spooked to the combination and I think that might’ve been the shadows.  But that’s horses, it happens. The standard was very high and they just had to be very precise for a clear,” commented Holmes.

Riders placing eighth through twelfth each dislodged one fence in the first round. With eight pairs knocking a rail in round one, the fastest five earned a piece of the prize.

Peter Breakwell and Lucas, pictured with Melissa Brandes and Robert Ridland of Blenheim EquiSports. McCool Photography.

Earlier in the day, competitors and kids hunted for Easter eggs, had their faces painted, took pictures with the Easter Bunny and enjoyed an Easter Brunch, all generously sponsored by the California LAX Classic Lacrosse Tournament.

Blenheim EquiSports begins the second week of the Spring Series on April 3rd in San Juan Capistrano and features the $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance on Sunday, April 7th.  The month of April continues with week three of the Spring Series, including the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday, April 12th and on Saturday, April 13th, the $50,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix, presented by Equine Insurance.

$40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic I Grand Prix
Horses in bold are graduates of the Young Jumper Championships

1 LUCAS 1999 HES g. Landphoenix I x Lukuss
PETER BREAKWELL / NO DRAMA 0-0/41.300

2 TEMBLA 2001 ZANG m. Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Cavalier
MICHELLE SPADONE / MORGAN HILL PARTNERS 0-0/46.037

3 SOCRATES DE MIDOS 1999 POR g. Golo x Sporran
MICHELLE PARKER / CROSS CREEK FARMS INC 0-4

4 ELEONORA 2001 BWP m. Tornado x Galoubet A
JENNIFER SEREK / SHIN SHIN GROUP 0-4

5 SAINT QUENTIN 2002 BAV g. Quidam de Revel x Jasper
PETER PETSCHENIG / IRIS & PETER PETSCHENIG 0-4

6 HOPSCOTCH 2004 SF g. Heartbreaker x Quel Type d’Elle
KARIANNE BOYCE-LOCKHART / KARIANNE BOYCE-LOCKHART 0-4

7 LERCHE 37 2002 HOL m. Quantum x Linaro
TAMI PHILLIPS / TAMIE PHILLIPS 0-8

8 ONYX 2005 HOLx Laramy III x Colonel Rae xx. Bred in USA.
KYLE KING / BRADER HILL FARMS 4

9 BRISTOL 2002 SF g. Dollar de la Pierre x unknown. Bred in USA by Grey Fox Farm.
RUSTY STEWART / GREY FOX FARM 4

10 CROWN PRINCESS 1999 DWB m. Quite Easy x Lucky Light
LISE GREGORY / LISE GREGORY 4

11 UTOPIA 2001 KWPN m. Ircolando x Notaris
JOHN PEREZ / JOHN PEREZ 4

12 CASSEUR DE PRIX 1999 HOL g. Caretino x Lord
LANE CLARKE / GRANVILLE EQUINE 4

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2012 – The twelfth and final week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Friday, March 29, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, [...]]]>

Ronan McGuigan and 6YO winner Chapeau (Indoctro x Ramiro). Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2012 – The twelfth and final week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Friday, March 29, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with the finals for the Adequan 6, 7 and 8-Year-Old Young Jumper divisions. In the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final, Ronan McGuigan and Chapeau were victorious. The $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final saw a win for Laurenz Buhl and Calista, and the $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final completed the day with a win for Daniel Bluman and Apardi.

Ramiro Quintana and St. Bride’s Farm’s Tua Efele finished second with a jump-off time of 35.725 seconds. Laura Kraut and Hi Hopes Farm’s Cavalia were third in 35.858 seconds. Kraut also finished fourth aboard the Freedom Group’s Zeremonie in 35.895 seconds and tied for fifth aboard the Freedom Group’s Cleo in 36.252 seconds, the same time as Darrin Dlin and Susan Grange’s Tennyson. Seventh place honors went to Luis Larrazabal and Anabel Simon’s Close Up in 36.530 seconds.

Class winner Chapeau is a six-year-old KWPN gelding by Indocto x G. Ramiro Z, bred by Stal Hendrix. He was imported in October of last year and showed for the first time in the U.S. this winter.

“We bought him in the Hendrix auction and we bought him off the DVD actually, we never even went to try him,” McGuigan explained. “We just liked what we saw and trusted in it and he has been super all season.”

“He is very easy, very light and he has lots of scope,” the rider detailed. “You don’t have to try too hard at the oxers and he is very careful at the verticals. I think he is a very good horse, one of the better ones.”

Commenting on the class, McGuigan stated, “The first round was good. He jumped around pretty confident. In the jump-off, everyone was doing the same numbers, so the only thing you could do was be a little tighter in the turns. I took a real chance in the last line and it paid off.”

McGuigan explained that Chapeau has had a lot of clear rounds this winter but has never gone as fast as they did today.

“That is his first time going fast,” he noted. “Yesterday we had him in the jump-off and we stayed tight, but we didn’t go fast. I didn’t know how he would react, so we are happy with it. He did pretty well.”

“We never really ran him against the clock,” McGuigan continued. “He has jumped a lot of double clears, but we never really pushed him. We were sort of just saving him for this week. Now we will go back again and bring him on slowly. We just wanted to let him find his footing. Today we tested it and he proved himself, so we will ease off again. He will have a break and then we will start up slow again until the finals in the Hamptons.”

Ronan McGuigan and Chapeau in their winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines and Kathy Serio for Adequan along with owner Blythe Masters and daughter. Photo © Sportfot.

Final Results: $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final

1. CHAPEAU KWPN g. Indoctro x Ramiro
RONAN MCGUIGAN / BLYTHE MASTERS: 0/0/35.058

2. TUA EFELE SF m. Toulon x Surcouf de Revel
RAMIRO QUINTANA  / ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/0/35.725

3. CAVALIA KWPN g. Calippo x Martel xx
LAURA KRAUT / HI HOPES FARM: 0/0/35.858

4. ZEREMONIE HOL m. Cero II  x
LAURA KRAUT/FREEDOM GROUP: 0/0/35.895

5= TENNYSON CSH g. Oklund x Lupicor. Bred in Canada by Susan Grange.
DARRIN DLIN / SUSAN GRANGE: 0/0/36.252

5= CLEO KWPN g. Harley VDL Lupicor
LAURA KRAUT / FREEDOM GROUP: 0/0/36.252

7. CLOSE UP KWPN g. Eurocommerce Washington x Cobra
LUIS LARRAZABAL / ANABEL SIMON: 0/0/36.530

8. CHABALOUBA SUN KWPN g. Babalouba x Poor Boy
HEATHER CARISTO WILLIAMS / M/M RALPH CARISTO: 0/0/37.796

9. COBERLINA KWPN m. Carolus II x Corland
PETER LUTZ / ORCHARD FARM: 0/0/38.284

10. CANNY WINDSOR Z g. Canezaro x Carolus I. Bred in USA by Windsor Farm.
PATRICIA GRIFFITH / PATRICIA GRIFFITH: 0/0/38.585

11. CALAIS KWPN g. Ultimo x Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve
JEFFERY WELLES / TRITON VENTURES FARMS INC: 0/0/39.330

12. COLLETTE RPSI m. Popeye K x Lord Incipit. Bred in USA by Rachel Spencer
RAMIRO QUINTANA / SPENCER RANCH: 0/4/35.941

Laurenz Buhl and Calista Make Big Strides in Adequan 7-Year-Old Jumpers

The $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final went second in the International Arena on Friday and saw a total of 58 entries with 22 clear rounds followed by nine without fault in the jump-off. Riding for Georgina Bloomberg’s Gotham Enterprizes, 20-year-old German rider Laurenz Buhl guided Calista to victory with a double clear effort in 38.653 seconds. David Beisel and Kady Abrahamson’s Basco H2 finished second in 38.798 seconds. Jonathon Corrigan and Sagamore Farms’ Bella Donna were third in 38.909 seconds, and Jeffery Welles and Triton Ventures’ Bilion placed fourth with a time of 39.067 seconds.

Laurenz Buhl and Calista (Cornet Obolensky x Pontifex). Photo © Sportfot.

Laurenz Buhl works for top German trainer Dietmar Gugler in Europe and came to the U.S. this year for the first time to ride for Gotham Enterprizes. When Bloomberg’s spirited young mare Calista needed a stronger rider, Buhl seemed like a perfect fit. He came to the farm in New York in September and then traveled to Wellington where he began competing. Friday’s win was proof of several months of hard work and dedication for Buhl and Calista, a seven-year-old Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Pontifex.

“She is a very good horse with a lot of quality. She is careful; she has a lot of scope. She is just not very experienced,” Buhl said of Calista.

Commenting on the opportunity to travel to America for the first time, he explained, “We have a good contact to Georgina’s trainer (Jimmy Doyle) and he said that I could come over and ride for them. It has been a great opportunity for me; it couldn’t be better. It is my first time showing in Wellington and even my first time in America. I am really enjoying it. The show here is great. It is kind of like another world here, it is completely different compared to what we have in Europe.”

Detailing his winning round, Buhl noted, “I think it was a quite tough course today. I just got a quite good rhythm in the jump-off. She has a really big stride, so that makes it easier to be fast. I was lucky at the end. I think I was really, really fast to the last jump. I think there I made the most time up.”

Bloomberg explained that she got Calista at the end of last summer and after showing her briefly, decided that the mare needed some experience with a different rider before they continued on.

“She has all of the talent in the world, but also all of the attitude,” she noted. “When Laurenz came to work for us, it was just a good fit. We wanted him to have a nice horse to work with and to be able to be in the show ring a little bit, but it was also good for her to have somebody bigger and stronger on her.”

“She is a very special horse and I think she has a brilliant future. I think she is just a little cocky sometimes and knows that she can act up, so Laurenz has done a great job with her,” Bloomberg acknowledged. “He has spent a lot of time with her and he has brought her a long way. She has made huge strides and I am really happy that it paid off for him and that he got a win. He has put in so much work, so it was really good for him to get the recognition for it.”

Laurenz Buhl and Calista in their winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines and Kathy Serio for Adequan. Photo © Sportfot.

Final Results: $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final

1. CALISTA WES m. Cornet Obolensky x Pontifex
LAURENZ BUHL /  GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 0/0/38.653

2. BASCO H2 KWPN g. Casco x Voltaire
DAVID BEISEL /  KADY ABRAHAMSON: 0/0/38.798

3. BELLA DONNA KWPN m. Gentleman x Latano I
JOHNATHON CORRIGAN / SAGARMORE FARMS: 0/0/38.909

4. BILION KWPN g. Emilion x Amethist
JEFFERY WELLES / TRITON VENTURES FARMS INC: 0/0/39.067

5. CAYA HOL m. Carolus I x Lancer II
ALI WOLFF /  ALI WOLFF: 0/0/39.518

6. BIALDA KWPN m. Salvatore x Grosso Z
RAMIRO QUINTANA   ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/0/39.547

7. GAIN LINE HAN g. Stolzenberg x Raphael
CIAN O’CONNOR / RONNOCO JUMP LTD: 0/0/39.629

8. GENTLEY BWP g. Bentley vd Heffinck x Major de la Cour
FILIP DE WANDEL / FILIP DE WANDEL: 0/0/40.075

9. G-STAR BWP g. Up to Date Miltoo x Calvados
FILIP DE WANDEL / FIVE WAY FARM LLC: 0/0/45.536

10. G&C ATLANTA Z ZANG
RODRIGO PESSOA /  GUSTAVO MIRABAL: 0/4/36.654

11. BALAVAN  KWPN g. Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Odermus R
SHANE SWEETNAM  / SWEET OAK FARM: 0/4/37.876

12. BACKSTORY KWPN g. Ustinov x Amulet
JENNIFER ROSSIRE    DAVID HOPPER: 0/4/38.380

Daniel Bluman and Apardi Beat the Field in $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Final

The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final was the last class of the day with a win for Colombia’s Daniel Bluman and Apardi, a KWPN stallion by Corland x Kannan, owned by Ricardo & Alberto Simhon. Sixty-seven entries showed in the class with 12 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off where only three were able to jump double clear. Bluman and Apardi completed the short course in the winning 39.640 seconds. Laura Kraut and Stars and Stripes’ Bonito R finished second in 39.881 seconds. Cian O’Connor and Andreas Herskovits’ Carlo 343 were third in 40.393 seconds.

Daniel Bluman and Apardi. Photo © Sportfot.

Apardi is a new ride for Bluman that he recently got from Colombia four months ago. The horse had been with the same rider in Colombia since he was six months old and is now adjusting well to his new rider. Bluman noted, “He is a full brother to Jos Lansink’s horse Bacardi, which is also a really good horse over in Europe at the moment. We just started working and he has been developing. We started in the lower classes jumping first the high schooling, then the 1.30m, 1.35m, now he has been jumping some bigger classes in the 1.40m and 1.45m and today he won an important class for him, so we are very happy.”

The class was held with an option to jump-off immediately following the round or wait until the end of the class, and Bluman opted to jump-off right after his round. He explained, “I walked the first course and I thought it was good. There were some very careful jumps, but I think the horse felt really comfortable with the course. I felt he jumped it really easy the first round, so I decided to stay in for the jump-off instead of coming out and I just sort of let him go as fast as he could possibly go for the stage that he is at in his progress. We got a little bit lucky. Some of the people that jumped off had a rail down or something happened that they ended up being a little slow and it was meant to be for us, so that’s good.”

Apardi is a stallion, so Bluman admits that he can be playful, but says that he is very easy to deal with.

“He is a horse with great potential,” the rider stated. “He had been ridden by only one rider his whole life, so at the beginning of the transition to get to know each other and to make him adapt to my system took us a little bit of work. It took a couple of months without doing any jumping. It was only flat work and dressage, but he always wants to learn and it is a good thing. Even though he is playful, he is willing to learn what you are trying to teach him, so it is a perfect horse to have in the barn.”

Daniel Bluman in his winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines. Photo © Sportfot.

Final Results: $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final

1. APARDI  KWPN s. Corland x Kannan
DANIEL BLUMAN / RICARDO & ALBERTO SIMHON: 0/0/39.640

2. BONITO R HAN g. El Bonito x
LAURA KRAUT / STARS AND STRIPES: 0/0/39.881

3. CARLO 343 HOL g. Cosimo x Coriano
CIAN O’CONNOR / ANDREAS HERSKOVITS: 0/0/40.393

4. SHORAPUR HAN m. Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II
KEVIN BABINGTON / KEVIN BABINGTON: 0/4/38.906

5. CARAMELLO Z  ZANG m. Crown Z x Concorde
RAMIRO QUINTANA / ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/4/38.963

6. ARISTA KWPN m. Sheraton x Wagenaar
CONOR SWAIL / CHRISTINE SWAIL: 0/4/40.903

7. CEQUILA KWPN m. Cancoon x
DARRAGH KENNY / OAKLAND VENTURES LLC: 0/4/42.230

8. FIONA VAN’T PARADIJS  BWP m. Nonstop x Lys de Darmen
RICHIE MOLONEY / EQUINIMITY LLC: 0/8/41.695

9. REVE DU PARADIS SF g. Crown Z x Adelfos
EMANUEL ANDRADE / HOLLOW CREEK FARM: 0/8/41.936

10. JOLLY JOKER
DANIEL ZETTERMAN / SPRINGFIELD SHOWJUMPERS: 0/8/42.857

11. CENTURIO  OLD g. Calvaro x Caretano Z
GERMAN CAMARGO / GERMAN CAMARGO: 0/8/45.365

12. BABALOU 41 OLD m. Balou du Rouet x
TODD MINIKUS / KATHRYN HAEFNER LLC: 0/10/49.145

No Worries was voted the horse with the Most Grand Prix Potential at the 2005 International Jumper Futurity Eastern Regional. He placed 3rd [...]]]>

Devin Ryan pilots IJF/YJC Graduate No Worries (d'Accord II x Galoubet A), bred and owned by Barbara Rowland, over an oxer on their way to the win in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix

No Worries was voted the horse with the Most Grand Prix Potential at the 2005 International Jumper Futurity Eastern Regional. He placed 3rd at the YJC Eastern League Finals as a 5YO, and 7th as a 6YO.

March 30, 2013 — It was a sold out scene in yesterday’s VIP as spectators watched Devin Ryan, from Long Valley, New Jersey make his way to the winner’s circle in the irons of Barbara Rowand’s No Worries, to win the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix!  This was Ryan’s first time to the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classic and the first grand prix win for No Worries!

Classic Company President Bob Bell and EMO Representative Jonathan Rabon, present the championship cooler and ribbon to No Worries and Devin Ryan for their win in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix

2 VIEANNE
FRANCES LAND / FRANCES LAND $5,500

3 EL GRECCO 1999 HAN g. Espri x Watzmann
ROBERT LEE / BROOK RUN FARM LLC $3,250

4 QUASTOR VAN DE HELLE Z 2002 ZANG g. Quinar x Acobat II
MARY LISA LEFFLER / PAULEXI LLC $2,000

5 LARIAT 2001 USA g. Limerick x Creighton. Bred in USA by Hidden Creek Farm.
JOE FARGIS / SANDRON $1,500

6 SUPERBAD 2004 g. Ludwig von Bayern x Kolibri
AMANDA FLINT / FLINT & THE COVERBOY GROUP $1,250

7 MERLIN 2000 AES g. Margic Darco x
FRANCES LAND / FRANCES LAND $1,000

8 ZOSJA 2004 KWPN m. Solitair x Samber
DEVIN RYAN / EAGLE VALLEY PARTNERS LLC $750

9 VDL THERESA LADY 2000 KWPN m. Corland x Nimmerdor
AMANDA FLINT / THE COVERBOY GROUP $750

10 LUKE 54 1999 HAN g. Landclassic x Zeus
ADAM CRAMER / EQUISPORT LLC $500

11 COLLIN 1996 m. Carbid x
AMANDA WISE / POSITIVE-ISM INC $500

12 DAVENPORT 2004 HAN g. Drosselklang II x Imperator
BEN ROSICHAN / HARTMUT GUTZMANN $500