Ocala, FL – Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competition kicked off early Wednesday morning at World Equestrian Center – Ocala as riders gathered for the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*. The sun was shining over the WEC Grand Arena for the beginning of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series, setting the scene for Tracy Fenney (USA) and MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Willemoes) as they claimed the victory over FEI Level III course designer Andy Christiansens’s (ECU) technical track.
The 12-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, MTM Apple owned by MTM Farm, is a fan favorite at WEC – Ocala and stepped back into the Grand Arena right where she left off from the winter series.
“We haven’t competed since March. I just figured I would do this class, I wouldn’t normally do this class, but I wanted to get her in the ring and have something nice to warm up on. I just went in, and I know she’s naturally fast, so I didn’t have to push her hard. I thought it was a good class to loosen her up to get ready for the week,” said Fenney.
With her large stride and quick, careful form, MTM Apple jumped a blazing fast fault-free round in 63.98 seconds with Fenney in the irons to top the leaderboard in the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*. “I didn’t do any leave outs. From two to three she was really good. The one line walked an eight, and I thought the seven was there, but I landed and rolled away and didn’t quite see the seven. We just stayed tidy.”
“Her routine is a little out of sorts with FEI, because she can’t go home to her favorite tree in her paddock. She loves scratching on the tree. I am little worried about her; I hope it doesn’t throw a wrench in our performance,” Fenney laughed about Apple’s routine.
In second place was Aaron Vale (USA) and the 12-year-old AES gelding Cristo Beech (It’s The Business x Cantero). The experienced duo mirrored Fenney’s track, but fell just behind the leading time landing from the final oxer in 64.76 seconds to kick off his upcoming FEI weeks with a top finish.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) rounded out the podium with Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z (Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet). The nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding was incredibly careful around the track and jumped a confident round with Wordley in the irons. The duo crossed the timers in 65.51 seconds to add a top three placing to their record.
Final Results: $40,000 1.45m FEI CSI3* Speed
1 MTM APPLE: 2011 Danish Warmblood mare by Favorit Ask x Willemoes
Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0/63.98
2 CRISTO BEECH: 2011 AES gelding by It’s The Business x Cantero
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/64.76
3 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/65.51
4 I.ADERMIE R 4: 2013 KWPN mare by Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/65.71
5 DIACCO-BLUE: 2010 Oldenburg gelding by Diarado x Chacco-Blue
Kaitlin D. Campbell (USA), Sws Training & Sales: 0/68.24
6 PALINA DE L’ESCAUT: 2009 Hanoverian mare by Perigueux x Gardeulan
Kaitlin D. Campbell (USA), Sws Training & Sales: 0/68.24
7 QUIRADO RC: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Quinar x Ursula
Richard Spooner (USA), Show Jumping Syndications International: 0/68.36
8 LONDON’S DE MUZE: 2014 Oldenburg stallion by London x Conthargos
Nicky Galligan (IRE), O’Neill Show Jumping LLC: 0/70.18
9 COQUELICOT VH HEUVELLAND Z: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Catoki x Cassini II
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0/70.94
10 STERREHOF’S EDINUS: 2009 KWPN gelding by Padinus x Columbus
Sean Jobin (CAN), Antrim Equestrian: 0/75.05
11 DAY DREAM: 2008 KWPN gelding by Zento x Heartbreaker
Anna Christina Gansauer (ECU), Kandor Farm LLC: 0/77.44
12 CYRAMO Z: 2011 Zangersheide mare by Clarimo x Vigo D Arsoullies STX
Jacqueline Ruyle (USA), Jacqueline Rulye: 4/65.19
Will Simpson & Quentin Va Race to the Win in the $6,000 1.40m Speed FEI CSI3*
Early Wednesday morning, 19 international show jumping athletes navigated their way around Andy Christiansen’s flowing track for the $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3* class. Ultimately, it was Gold Medalist Willam Simpson (USA) that piloted Quentin Va (Quarz x Cash And Carry) to the quickest track for the first FEI win of the week.
As the twelfth athlete to go in the posed order, Simpson moved into the lead by nearly 12 seconds.
Simpson spoke on his expressive mount, “I fought with him at first, but I didn’t realize how long strided he was. So, I would fight with him trying to do the normal strides. Basically, you can’t watch anybody else go, because he can do seven where everyone else does eight or nine. He did eight strides to the double, but it was right in stride for him. Or you can pull and struggle to get the nine, but he wants to go and he stays round. He’s an ideal horse for a speed class like that. I think he can just walk his way up to the 1.50m and maybe the 1.60m, but that’s an unknown until you get there. He was born and ready to do it.”
Simpson utilized the ten-year-old Holsteiner gelding’s large canter stride through the turns and the unrelated lines to stop the clock in 57.27 seconds to earn top honors in the competitive class.
“The Grand Arena and the Stadium are perfect for making up horses. After you have shown here, you can compete anywhere. The jumps and entire presentation, it’s major league. It’s great when we can pick up FEI points right here at an incredible facility like this. Then we have other great classes for the national horses. It’s the best of everything,” Simpson commented on World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
Another frequent winner in the WEC Grand Arena, Aaron Vale (USA), galloped away with the red ribbon. With the Thinkslikeahorse entry, Elusive (Rodrigoo x Capfucino), Vale was just shy of the win. The 14-year-old KWPN gelding made light work of the class and landed through the timers in 59.31 seconds to claim second place.
Canada’s Sean Jobin moved into third place with Foxridge Farms Stables Darius (Warrant x LBJ Calvados). The seasoned 15-year-old KWPN gelding was in top form with Jobin in irons, and posted a time of 67.83 seconds, just quick enough to earn a podium finish to start the week.
Final Results: $6,000 1.40m Speed FEI CSI3*
1 QUENTIN VA: 2013 Holsteiner gelding by Quarz x Cash And Carry
William Simpson (USA), Two Socks Farm LLC: 0/57.27
2 ELUSIVE: 2009 KWPN gelding by Rodrigoo x Capfucino
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/59.31
3 DARIUS: 2008 KWPN gelding by Warrant x LBH Calvados
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0/67.83
For results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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