The sixth week of the 32nd Winter Equestrian Festival entitled CN Wellington Open CSI-W was held March 3-7 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida. Dr. Arno Gego of Germany was the course designer in the Internationale Arena. J.D. Godart built the tracks in the Grand Hunter Field.

The Winter Equestrian Festival continues in Wellington through March 21, and then the action moves to Tampa for two weeks at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, and caps off with the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune on April 3 at the Raymond James Stadium. Total prize money for the 2004 WEF is three-million-dollars. Produced by founder Eugene R. Mische and Stadium Jumping, Inc., the Winter Equestrian Festival is the largest and longest consecutively running equestrian sporting event in the world.

Please click on images for enlargements!

All photos: Randi Muster

Lauren Hough And Clasiko Win $75,000 CN Florida Open Grand Prix, Presented by Estates of Wellington Green, CDI-W

The highlight of the week was the $75,000 CN Florida Open Grand Prix Presented by Estates of Wellington Green, CDI-W on Sunday, March 7. Marking the second Grand Prix title of his career, Clasiko, Lauren Hough’s 2000 Olympic mount, claimed the win. “They are few and far between but they’re important,” said Hough, regarding Clasiko’s short victory list. Clasiko earned a berth on the Sydney team before he’d ever won a grand prix, and notched his first victory at the National Horse Show in 2002 when it was held in the Internationale Arena. Hough, 26 of Wellington, is aiming Clasiko for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Hough and Clasiko owned by the Clasiko Group topped a field of 41 horses and were one of only two double clear performances today. Placing second was Beezie Madden, 40, of Cazenovia, New York, aboard Desilvio owned by Abigail Wexner. Chris Kappler, 37, of Pittstown, New Jersey, riding Primeur 58 for owner Kathy Kamine placed third.

Dr. Arno Gego and Christa Heibach, both of Aachen, Germany, designed the course. “Arno Gego did a fantastic job,” said Hough. “There was a lot of technical riding and also some very big jumps. Clasiko actually hit the first jump in the first round and when he does that, then he wakes up and the rest of the round was very easy to ride. He jumped beautifully and I was just thrilled.” Five horses went clean and qualified for the tiebreaker.

Marley Goodman riding Razia for her family’s Turtle Lane Farm led off over the eight-effort shortened course with time allowed at 54 seconds, but incurred a rail in 48.57 to finish fifth. Hough went next and set the pace with her clear in 43.07. Kappler, the 2003 American Invitational winner on his way to Tampa in three weeks to defend his title, challenged Hough but had a knockdown for a penalty of four in 43.50 for third. Eric Hasbrouck aboard Sitah for Trelawny Farm Inc. had the unfortunate last rail down in 47.22 for fourth place. Going last in the order, Madden and Desilvio went for it, and despite a misstep after the fourth fence, they went clean but in 43.61 and had to settle for the red ribbon.

“It was a jump-off suited to my horse because there was a lot of long runs and he has a very big stride and covers the ground really well,” explained Hough. “So I did one less stride in the first line from one to two and just tried to stay on a very forward rhythm the whole way through. He was very good to clear the last jump. He did a little bit of a funny jump to get over it.” Hough has been partnered with Clasiko, a 13-year-old, bay Holsteiner gelding by Colando out of Bola by Lorino since he was seven.

Madden pinpointed where she lost time in the jump-off. “I don’t know if he stumbled or the footing gave way or something, but it took me a couple of strides to get up and get going again, so it cost me some time out.” Madden has been partnered with Desilvio, a nine-year-old Dutch gelding by Silvio out of Grazia, since he was five. She is aiming Desilvio for the Athens Olympic Selection Trials. “He’s big and scopey and as long as we have no set backs, he’ll be ready for the trials.”

The $75,000 CN Florida Open Grand Prix Presented by Estates of Wellington Green, CDI-W was a qualifying competition for the FEI World Cup Final that will be held April 21-24, 2004, in Milan, Italy.

Highlights Thursday Through Sunday

McLain Ward Finishes One-Two In WEF $25,000 CN Challenge Cup Series, Round VI, CSI***

After a streak of 10 wins followed by two weeks out of the winner’s circle in the Internationale Arena, McLain Ward took the blue and the red ribbons on Thursday, March 4, and joked, “I had to make up for not being first!”

Ward 28, of Brewster, New York, claimed the two top spots in the WEF $25,000 CN Challenge Cup Series, Round VI, topping a class of 66 horses. Ward won with Goldika 559 owned by Double H Farm, and placed second with Hurricane I owned by Turnabout Farm.

Ward’s two horses were the fastest of seven double-clear performances. Canada’s Ainsley Vince placed third with Catch 22 owned by Trinity Farm.

With 15 horses clear for the tiebreaker, the first seven horses were not able to go clean. Going eighth in the order, Ward posted the first clear trip with Hurricane in at 30.59 seconds. The next five riders chased Ward and all of them went clear, but none could catch the time except for Ward himself. Tackling the track as the 12th rider, Ward aboard Goldika 559 broke the beam at 28.91 seconds. Two more clears followed but to no avail.

“I knew the last double was going to be difficult actually for Hurricane. I wasn’t so worried about it with Goldika,” said Ward. “But the rest of the jump-off was a great jump-off for Hurricane – rollbacks on big oxers. He’s a very scopey horse and he can do that. It was actually not a great jump-off course for Goldika because she’s more of a running horse. She can win classes with ground speed more than turning. But everything just showed up and she was really on form today. It was a great finish.”

In town this week for the CN-sponsored show is the Harrison Family, owners of Double H Farm and Goldika, as well as several other Ward-ridden mounts. Hunter Harrison is CN’s President and CEO. “Yes they’re here and very excited – a win is always nice for your horse but when it happens for the sponsor of the show that week, that’s a bonus,” said Ward.

After two days of competition in the Grand Hunter Field, three Championships were awarded on Thursday, March 4. Ken Smith riding Westcliffe owned by Christy Russo won the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship. Scott Stewart riding For The Music owned by Krista Weisman claimed the Reserve.

Scott Stewart riding Primo for owner Air Farm won the Regular Working Hunter Championship. Rob Bielefeld aboard Lucky owned by Samantha Hallman earned the Reserve. First Savings Mortgage Company sponsors the Regular Working Hunter Division.

Samantha Conroy riding Southern Lights owned by Dr. Sheila Buchbinder won the Second Year Green Hunter Championship.
Tommy Serio riding Jazz for owner Caroli Stables claimed the Reserve.

Daniel Bluman And Gullit Shagal Win $2,500 Junior Jumper High, Power & Speed

Competing in his first season as a junior, Daniel Bluman, 13, of Medellin, Colombia, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, won the $2,500 Junior Jumper High, Power & Speed aboard Gullit Shagal owned by Christine Firmin Didot on Friday, March 5.

Bluman topped a class of 31 entries. Nine riders were clear over the Power phase, but only two went clean in the Speed phase, with Bluman posting a time more than four seconds faster than Cody Auer aboard Regina owned by Esther Kane-Waring who earned second place.

“I think I rode pretty well, “ said Bluman. “I went second in the order and I knew it would be very hard to win because there were really good riders on the course. I expected to go clean and have a nice jump-off and try to place. He went really well and had a nice first round and then he jumped really well in the jump-off. It was a little bit my mistake on the last jump but the horse saved me on that one. Everything came out really well.”

Bluman has been riding for 10 years and currently trains with Francisco Martinez and Debbie Stephens. It was Stephens who gave him the ride six weeks ago on the former Grand Prix horse, Gullit Shagal – a 15.2-hand, white gelding from Argentina. “Debbie thought he could be a winner for the high juniors,” explained Bluman. “The horse was good when she got him but he could be much better – she got him going really well. She’s really organized and she got him good enough to be ridden by a kid.”

The Power & Speed course was not one of the easier tracks, Bluman pointed out. “It was really hard. Last week there were many clear rounds but today there were only two double clear rounds,” he said. “I like it harder because I believe I always have the chance to go clean and if there are not so many clear rounds, then I don’t have to kill myself running in the jump-off to win. That’s why I like them bigger, and I like to challenge myself. I was in the Children’s division until this year, so I’ve added one-and-a-half feet in two months.”

Sandy Ferrell And Barcelona Win First Year Green Hunter Championship, Section A

After two days of competition in the Grand Hunter Field, Sandy Ferrell, 36, of Churchville, Maryland, riding Barcelona for Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare earned the First Year Green Hunter Championship, Section A on Friday, March 5. Jimmy Torano riding Rising Sun for owner Kendall Bate earned the Reserve.

Ferrell and Barcelona placed second and third in over fences classes on Thursday, then on Friday placed third in one jumping class, were out of the ribbons in one class, and won the Under Saddle, which clinched the championship. The duo bested a field of 28 horses in the section. “He’s a trier, he’s extremely athletic and he’s a Thoroughbred, which adds a tremendous amount of elegance to his way of going,” said Ferrell of her mount. She pinpointed what the judges liked about him, “It is his ability to jump the jumps high and slow and still be able to do the distances with a nice flowing soft canter.”

Barcelona is an 11-year-old, 16-hand dark brown gelding that the Oares purchased 18 months ago. Ferrell has had the ride on Barcelona from the start. “This is his first week of showing, so his first week out he was champion! That’s a good start. It feels great.”

In the First Year Green Section B, rider/owner Scott Stewart won the Championship aboard Dynamic. Sandy Ferrell riding Indian Summer for Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo was the Reserve.

Sheila Burke And Caya Win $20,000 1.50m Classic

Sheila Burke riding Caya for owner Athlone Partners topped a class of 47 horses to win the $20,000 1.50 Meter Classic on Saturday, March 6. Burke was the fastest of four double clear performances. Laura Kraut riding Joyous for Summit Partners placed second. Eric Navet of France was third aboard Lassergut Contour owned by Lassergut Farms. Henri Prudent, also of France, rode Olympus owned by Trelawny Farm, Inc. to the fourth place ribbon.

Dr. Gego set a 15-effort track with a triple at fence six and a double at 12, the final fence. “The last test was an oxer to a plank combination and that was jumped very carefully,” said Burke, and noted other challenges of the first round, “The water jump off of a bending line was a little difficult and the triple combination was a little scopey – it was a vertical to double oxers.”

Eleven horses managed clear rounds and moved on to the tiebreaker. Burke said she watched the lead-off rider, Markus Beerbaum on Le Mans 8, the first of his two horses, and decided on her strategy (Beerbaum posted four faults in 47.528 for sixth). “Just be as prompt as I could. Markus did six strides down the first line, which is what I wanted to watch, because it was one less than the first round,” Burke explained.

Going second in the order, Prudent aboard Olympus set the pace with a clear trip in 53.452. Navet tackled the jump-off five horses later and snatched the lead with his time of 49.913 aboard Lassergut Contour. Burke went as the eighth rider on course and took over the lead, crossing the timers in 45.905.

“It ended up not being too many clear before I went,” said Burke, “so I got to not put the gas pedal totally to the floor.” Burke admitted that she did not expect her time to hold up for the win. “No. I knew Laura Kraut was behind me and she’s very fast. I was just hoping to go clean and as promptly as possible,” Burke said. Kraut went as the 10th horse in the order and posted a clear trip, but crossed the timers in 46.725 and had to settle for second place.

Burke acquired Caya 11 months ago from Federico Sztyrle. Caya is a 12-year-old, chestnut, 16.3-hand Holsteiner mare by Carthago out of a mare by Ronald.

Burke, 31, lives in Belgium where she trains with Peter Wylde. When in the US from January through March for the Florida circuit, she trains with Missy Clark.

Burke has been a standout at the Winter Equestrian Festival with her unusual burnt orange show jacket. “I ride on the Ambiente Riders Tour Team,” explained Burke. “It’s a German fashion designer and they’re my sponsor.” Burke’s horse has a matching pad and other horse clothes from Ambiente in the same shade.

In earlier competition on Saturday, March 6, in the Grand Hunter Field, Louise Otten of Wayzata, Minnesota, rode Just Looking to the Amateur-Owner Working Hunter Championship, 36-50. Otten’s Alpine Farms owns Just Looking, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. After two days competition, Otten placed third and first in over fences classes on Friday, and then on Saturday earned fourth place in the Under Saddle, plus a first and a fourth over fences to clinch the championship, topping 42 horses that competed in the division. Mary Jane King aboard her Acappella took the Reserve slot.

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday.

The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867.