The final week of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala NSBA Fall Show Series showcased another exhilarating week of equestrian sport. The week included Samantha Schaefer and Frasier besting a field of 51 competitors in the $75,000 Ethel M. Chocolates® Grand Prix. The final week also included multiple wins for Ireland’s Willie Tynan in the $10,000 Futures Prix and $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic.
Early on Sunday morning, 28 entries took to the WEC Grand Arena to contest the $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic. FEI Level IV course designer, Bernardo Costa Cobral of Portugal created the tracks that were similar to those of Saturday night’s $75,000 Ethel M. Chocolates® Grand Prix. Twelve entries managed a clean first round and eight jumped double clear, but it was Willie Tynan and MDM Equestrian Group, LLC’s Ballinteskin Joe (Kec Maximum Joe x Aldi Clover) that captured their second consecutive $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic win.
Tynan and Ballinteskin Joe were the first horse-and-rider pair to enter the class on Sunday morning delivering a perfect first round stopping the clock at 76.889 seconds. Tynan and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding advanced straight to the jump-off rolling through the entirety of the course while taking quick inside turns to stop the clock at 32.207 seconds, a time that no other competitor could catch.
$75,000 Ethel M. Chocolates® Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
An international list of competitors from 10 different countries took to the WEC Grand Arena under the lights on Saturday to contest the $75,000 Ethel M. Chocolates® Grand Prix. FEI Level IV course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal designed the technical tracks that featured a difficult triple and double combination that tested many riders throughout the night. Sixteen horse-and-rider combinations managed a clean first round and six jumped double clear, but it was Samantha Shaefer and Bonne Vie LLC’s Frasier (Carambole x Bloem) that took home the top prize.
Schaefer and Bonne Vie LLC’s Frasier entered the class toward the end of the order, delivering a perfect first round easily jumping to the top of each standard to stop the clock at 81.897 seconds.
Schaefer and Frasier have created an amazing partnership, “I have had Frasier for almost a year now. My first horse show with him was here at World Equestrian Center – Ocala during the Winter Series. He came to me through McLain Ward. I actually went there to try him as a sales prospect and fell in love with him right away. I ended up getting really lucky at the end of season last year when he didn’t sell. I have the most amazing group of owners that stepped up to the plate to buy him for me to ride.”
Schaefer and the incredible 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding returned for the jump-off. “This was a great jump-off for Frasier. I thought the first eight suited him well. I could get there easy and slow him down. I was able to turn back to get the eight done to the next fence. My goal was to land and get there as fast as I could. Then I was able to curl right around to the combination. That was the one place that I thought we might have problems because he has a slight right drift. Then, I did seven strides back to the white vertical. He was right on cue with me for that one. I ended up a bit quiet to the pink, but he picked right back up and marched home.”
Schafer and Frasier landed and flew through the timers stopping the jump-off clock at 38.071 seconds for the win.
Early on Friday morning, 46 competitive horse-and-rider combinations took to the WEC Grand Arena to challenge the $10,000 WEC Ocala Futures Prix, but it was Willie Tynan and Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach’s Fancy Girl that took the top prize. Tynan and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare delivered a beautiful first round, leaving all rails up to stop the clock at 64.361 seconds. Tynan and Fancy Girl (Zirocco Blue x Australia) advanced straight to the jump-off, leaving out strides with ease while taking multiple inside turns to stop the jump-off clock at 33.361 seconds.
Later on Friday, 45 stunning hunters took to Hunter 1 to vie for the win in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby and $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby. Doug Russel designed the natural tracks that featured an abundance of inviting obstacles with three high options.
Thirteen gorgeous horse-and-rider combinations took to Hunter 1 on Friday to compete for the top prize in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. Competition was fierce with scores soaring into the high 80s, but it was Dorothy Douglas and Abigail Davenport’s MTM Lolah LOL that took home the top prize.
Douglas and the eight-year-old Westphalian mare produced a lovely first round taking all three high options with ease to earn a first round score of 87. Douglas and MTM Lolah LOL returned for the handy, cantering right from the gate to fence one to take a nice inside turn back to the high option. The pair rolled seamlessly over the high option vertical in the center of the ring to easily bend to the large oxer. Douglas and MTM Lolah LOL jumped the combination with ease to take a tight inside turn back to the oxer. The pair came down to a trot and jumped the log. Douglas held a counter canter with MTM Lolah LOL to the last oxer where MTM Lolah LOL showed off her incredible scope. The pair earned a handy score of 88 for a two round total of 175 for the win.
Thirty-two competitive entries contested the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby early on Friday morning, but it was Erin-McCabe Clayton that earned both the first and second place finish. Clayton and Cecilia Halsey’s Griffin produced a gorgeous first round, while jumping all three high options to earn a score of 85. Clayton and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding came back for the handy, flowing nicely through the course while jumping all three high options to earn a score of 88 for an overall score of 173.
Forty-three competitive horse-and-rider combinations took to the WEC Grand Arena Thursday morning to contest the $15,000 WEC Ocala Welcome Prix. FEI Level IV course designer, Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal designed the winding tracks that featured multiple new fences including the gorgeous Ethel M. Chocolates vertical and Buckeye Nutrition vertical. The tight time allowed of 77 seconds caught many riders throughout the class, but 17 entries managed a clean first round and 10 jumped double clear. Ultimately, it was Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson and Coxe Horses LLC’s Whoop De Doo (Mr. Whoopy x Double Trouble X) that captured their second consecutive $15,000 WEC Ocala Welcome Prix win.
Simpson and Whoop De Doo entered the class toward the end of the order, delivering a smooth and fast first round stopping the clock at 69.477 seconds, well within the time allowed. Simpson and Whoop De Doo advanced straight to the jump-off, galloping from fence one to two in five strides. The pair quickly turned back to the C. Jarvis Insurance combination to fly to the next oxer. They soared over the Ethel M. Chocolates vertical to take a tight inside turn to the large white vertical. Simpson and Whoop De Doo jumped the tall vertical with ease, then flying to the final fence to stop the jump-off clock at 34.984 seconds for the win.
The week also featured the $7,500 Non Pro 2’6″ Hunter Derby. Laurel Schuler and her own Quinn captured the win on Saturday afternoon, besting 18 other competitive horse-and-rider combinations. Schuler and Quinn also earned Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Adult Hunter 2’6″ division.
Congratulations to all competitors on a successful Ocala Fall Show Series. We hope to see everyone soon for the 12-week 2022 Winter Spectacular Show Series starting on January 5, 2022!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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