Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday & Horses Show Wrap-Up: November 28-December 2, 2012

Wellington, FL – December 3, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions held its annual Holiday and Horses competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on November 28 through December 2, 2012, with lots of exciting competition.

The Holiday and Horses show was rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper 5*, and “AA”. Wednesday’s feature class was the $10,000 Holiday and Horses Open Stakes. On Thursday, riders competed in the $33,000 Holiday and Horses Opener Grand Prix presented by HORSE GYM USA. The $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic was featured on Friday, and the $50,000 Holiday and Horses Grand Prix was held on Saturday. Hunters were featured on Sunday in the International Arena with the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. A full schedule of hunter, jumper, and equitation classes was offered all week.

Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet Victorious in $50,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier

Nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Nougat Du Vallet earned an exciting victory in Saturday night’s $50,000 Holiday and Horses FEI World Cup Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. American riders took top four honors in the eleven horse jump-off. Dinan beat Todd Minikus and Macoemba and Margie Engle and Royce, who finished second and third respectively.

More than 4,000 spectators were at PBIEC to partake in an evening full of activities, including watching the FEI World Cup Qualifier and the drawings of charities for the 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, as well as the Wellington Chamber of Commerce WinterFest sponsored by International Polo Club Palm Beach, The Wellness Experience, Equestrian Sport Productions/PBIEC and LED Source.

Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY, set the course for the 41 entries in Saturday night’s class with eleven returning for the jump-off and four of those entries completing double clear rounds.

Todd Minikus and Macoemba were the first pair to jump double clear and set the pace in the jump-off at 45.55 seconds to eventually finish second. Saer Coulter (USA) and Copernicus Stables’ Springtime were the next duo to jump clear over the short course and stopped the clock in 47.90 seconds to place fourth. Margie Engle and Royce finished in 46.42 seconds for third place. Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet were last to go in the jump-off and raced through the finish in 44.67 seconds for the win.

Following the class, Dinan explained her strategy, which involved a little encouragement from trainer McLain Ward.

“I knew that there were quite a few in the jump-off, so my plan was just to go as fast as I could while staying composed and making sure that I didn’t do anything stupidly trying to go fast and having a unnecessary rail down,” Dinan stated.

Dinan has had a great year with Nougat Du Vallet, winning a grand prix during last year’s FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival and going on to top placings in Spruce Meadows and Europe throughout the summer.

“This show last year was the first time that I had ever done him in an FEI class and he was second in the FEI class on Friday that week,” Dinan noted. “That was our first really good placing. That was really where I had figured out how to ride him and we were really optimistic about the year ahead, so to come back and then win the grand prix this year was really exciting. I am so lucky to have him and I feel blessed that we were able to find him and that he has been everything that we hoped he would be.”

Dinan is currently a freshman at Harvard University and is figuring out how to juggle school and riding this year. Dinan plans to show at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival during her school break in January this year. For tonight, she was excited with the win with Nouget du Vallet, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Scherif D’elle.

“I just want to thank my parents,” she acknowledged. “They were able to come down today to watch the class with my little brother. It was nice that they were able to watch me win. I also want to thank everyone at our barn Staysail, because without them I wouldn’t be anywhere, and McLain and his entire team. They have helped me so much for the last two years and I am really grateful.”

Minikus and his nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Zeoliet won last week’s grand prix at the SFHJA Charity show, but said that this was the biggest test his horse has seen.

“I was just very proud of my young horse,” Minikus said. “My horse is very inexperienced and he jumped outstanding tonight, not only just in the first round, but he jumped really well in the jump-off, which I had some concerns about. Katie is very excited, but maybe I am the happiest owner here. He did some grand prixs this summer, but this was for sure the biggest task that he has taken on.”

Margie Engle won the class last year on her top mount Indigo, and had a third place finish on Royce this year. Engle is getting back into the groove with Royce after four months out of the saddle.

“I was very happy with him. I haven’t shown much since I hurt my ankle,” Engle noted. “This is the first World Cup class I’ve done with him. He’s got all the ability in the world. I just have to still get the rideability a little better in between the jumps, but the jump is amazing. He’s got all the raw talent. He’s probably one of the nicest horses I have ever sat on in terms of raw talent. I was really pleased with how he handled it.”
Jumper Highlights – Wednesday to Saturday

Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday and Horses competition began on Wednesday, November 28, at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a win for McLain Ward aboard Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark’s Zhum CW in the $10,000 Welcome Stake.
A total of 46 entries showed in Wednesday’s $10,000 Holiday & Horses Welcome Stake jumping a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY. Twelve competitors were able to clear the first round course without fault, and after four of those entries opted not to jump off, eight advanced to the short course. Five jumped double clear in a race against the clock.
First to go in the jump-off, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof led the way with a clear round in 35.984 seconds and held onto the lead through six more rounds until McLain Ward and Zhum CW entered the ring, last to go. Ward and Zhum CW captured the win with their time of 35.001 seconds to push Sweetnam into second place.

Third went to Richie Moloney and Equinimity LLC’s Bailey with a clear jump-off in 36.525 seconds. Fourth place was awarded to David Blake aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s Shalimar in 36.865 seconds. The final clear round and fifth place honors went to Schuyler Riley and South Beach Stables’ Andretti in 39.243 seconds. Luis Larrazabal and Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Lepanto had the fastest four-fault round in the jump-off in 35.836 seconds to place sixth.
McLain Ward rode to victory on Wednesday in his first time ever showing Zhum CW for owners Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark. Ward flew into Florida from Europe on Tuesday evening, rode the horse briefly, and then showed him to the win one day later. Zhum CW is an eight-year-old KWPN gelding by Querlybet Hero x Cambridge.
The Holiday and Horses CSI 2*-W show continued on Thursday with another big class for show jumpers, the $33,000 Holiday and Horses Opener Grand Prix presented by HORSE GYM USA. The grand prix is a FEI ROLEX ranking class, and the winning amount of points went to Lauren Hough and Ohlala. They were the only double clear round to capture victory.

There were 49 entries in Thursday’s grand prix, and five of them were able to find the clear path over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course to continue on to the jump-off.

Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala, an eight-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Orlando x Cardento, were the pathfinders in the first round and were able to put down a smooth, quick round in the jump-off and post a winning time of 40.97 seconds. More importantly, they kept all of the jumps up. The other four riders in the jump-off would have the first part of the combination down.

Catherine Pasmore (USA) and Vandavid, owned by Pasmore Stables LLC, were next in. They posted a slower time of 43.20 seconds but had the “a” obstacle the double combination down for four faults. They would finish in third place.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Diktator van de Boslandhoeve had trouble at the double combination as well, pulling two rails there and then another at fence 9 for 12 faults in 50.14 seconds. They placed fifth. Riding Michael Meller’s Waterloo, Schuyler Riley (USA) placed fourth. They had eight faults in 47.53 seconds.

The final combination in the jump-off, Paulo Santana (BRA) and Taloubet, were very fast in 39.91 seconds, but a rail in the middle of the course left them with four faults and second place.

Sixth place went to Audrey Coulter (USA) and Victory DA, owned by Copernicus Stables LLC. They had one time fault in the first round with a time of 80.37 seconds.

Hough and Ohlala began their partnership a year ago and started in the 7&8 Year Old Young Jumper classes at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. They won the Youngster Cup Final at the prestigious Aachen CHIO in Germany, and went on to win another five FEI ROLEX ranking classes at shows like Norten-Hardenberg, Valkenswaard, Washington International, Alltech National Horse Show, and the Royal Winter Fair.

Mark Bluman (COL) and Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Blue earned an exciting victory in Friday’s $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Equestrian Sport Production’s Holiday and Horses competition. With their first win in a ROLEX FEI World Ranking Class, the pair beat out Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala with a lightning fast round. G&C Sacramento, owned by Anabel Simon and ridden by Luis Larrazabal (VEN), finished third.
Held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic featured 34 horse and rider combinations jumping a speed course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio, of Red Hook NY. Bluman had the fastest of eight clear rounds with G&C Blue in a time of 63.13 seconds.

Lauren Hough and Ohlala were the leaders for much of the class with their time of 64.23 seconds, but eventually finished in second. Luis Larrazabal and G&C Sacramento finished third with their time of 67.14 seconds.
Bluman’s mount, G&C Blue, is a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Mr. Blue. Bluman began riding the horse this year and the pair won a $10,000 Welcome Stake in Vermont over the summer.
Other top finishers with clear rounds included Samuel Parot (CHI) and Al Calypso, who placed fourth in 67.89 seconds. Alonso Valdez Prado (PER) and Quick Du Pottier were fifth in 69.73 seconds. Heather Caristo-Williams (USA) and M/M Ralph Caristo’s Evening Star placed sixth in 69.93 seconds. Seventh place was awarded to Liza Finsness (USA) and Ormsby Hill in 71.76 seconds, and Cara Raether (USA) and Trelawny Farm LLC’s Valdato placed eighth in 72.86 seconds.

Hunter and Equitation Highlights – Wednesday to Sunday

Kristen Abbatiello-Neff’s Kennzo and Molly Ashe jumped their way to victory in two rounds of competition in the $20,000 Holiday and Horses USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, on Sunday, December 2, 2012. Concluding the week-long competition, the class was held in the spacious International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a beautifully designed course set by Skip Bailey, of Wellington, FL.

The class was judged by two panels, including Danny Robertshaw and Scott Williamson on panel one and Robert Bielefeld and Julie Winkel on panel two. For their victory, Kennzo and Molly Ashe earned the high scores in both the classic round and the handy round for the winning overall total. The pair scored a 175 in round one and a 201 in round two for a two round total of 376.

Darragh Kenny and Star Lane Farm’s Martel finished in second with scores of 171 and 194.5 for a 365.5 total. Kelley Farmer and Jessica Stitt’s Taken placed third with a 152 and 203 for a two round total of 355. David Oliynyk rode Lori Gaudet’s Generous to scores of 162.5 and 185.5 for a 348 total and fourth place honors.

Class winner Kennzo is a ten-year-old Finnish Warmblood gelding by Coriano. Molly Ashe owns Kennzo in partnership with Dr. and Mrs. Abbatiello. Ashe purchased the gelding when he was seven years old. He started out as a jumper prospect, but has now proven himself as an excellent hunter.
In other hunter divisions throughout the week, Carly Nicewonder’s Starbound and Tracey Mack-Gorin earned the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-50 championship with Bernadette Versaggi’s Witzbold and Jessica Versaggi in reserve. In the Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over, Debbie Kelly and David Glefke’s Clearly earned the championship with Gina Day and Rosso Di Sera in reserve.
The Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions also showed during the week with a championship win for Danielle Torano riding Jimmy Torano’s Vezna in the Citibank 3’6″ division. Nancy Hooker and Richard Prant’s Castlewalk finished in reserve. In the Citibank sponsored 3’3″ Amateur-Owner divisions, Calero and Susannah Rose were the champions with Lindsey Tomeu and Siboney Ranch’s Take Note in reserve.

In the professional divisions, Kelley Farmer and Jessica Stitt’s Taken were the champions in the High Performance Hunters. Farmer also took the reserve honors aboard Le Reve Farm, Inc.’s Casino. In the Performance Hunter 3’6″, David Oliynyk and Lori Gaudet’s Generous were the champions with Holly Orlando and Woodland Way, Inc.’s Coin Toss in reserve.
In the juniors divisions, all sponsored by #1 Education Place, Victoria Colvin swept the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under classes with a championship win aboard Scott Stewart’s Tristan and the reserve championship riding Richard Prant’s Castlekeep. In the Large Junior Hunter 16-17, Meg O’Mara and Don Stewart’s Walk the Line were the champions with Hasbrouck Donovan and Wagner in reserve. Victoria Colvin and Rose Hill Farm’s Genuine earned the championship with Cloe Hymowitz and Rose Hill Farm’s Enjoy finishing in reserve in the Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under. The Small Junior Hunter 16-17 championship went to Sydney Shulman and Isabelle Mann’s Einstein with Kristen Lutz and Ally Worthington’s Castelli earning reserve honors.
The Pony Hunter divisions also showed over the weekend. In the Large Pony Hunter division, Kelsey Landrum’s Spellbound, ridden by Bernadette Louise Chungunco and Kristen Lutz earned the championship. Emma Kurtz and Linda Evans’ Dreamland finished in reserve. In the Medium Pony Hunters, Yasmin Rizvi and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Roxbury earned the championship with Emma Kurtz and All Seasons Farm’s Rock the Boat in reserve. The Small Pony Hunter championship went to Emma Kurtz and Double G Stables’ Sparkle Plenty. Mimi Gochman and David Gochman’s Rafael finished in reserve.
In the equitation classes, Sophie Simpson rode Missy Clark’s Chance to the win in the Pessoa USEF Hunt Seat Medal. Hannah Patten rode Agostino to victory in the ASCPA Maclay class. Victoria Colvin and Alexandra Crown’s Amore Mio were the winners in the WIHS Equitation overall, and Sydney Shulman rode Back Country Farm’s Eli to victory in the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search class.

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