Ocala, FL – The $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix saw a promising field of 29 horse-and-rider combinations compete this afternoon with the hopes of securing the top spot on the leaderboard. Ultimately, it was Abigail McArdle who piloted her own veteran partner I&H Boogy Woogy (Faldo x I&H Vanilla Fudge) to the win.
FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) set the elaborate tracks that allowed an even 12 pairs to advance to the immediate jump-off.
McArdle and I&H Boody Woogy made light work of the first-round track to head straight to the jump-off.
“The first round was technical enough. There were a lot of rails down in different places. I stuck with my original plan that I walked, and it worked for me,” shared McArdle about the first-round track.
“In the jump-off I left out one stride in the first line. I was able to put some curves in the other lines, so I could keep that forward gallop the whole way through.” McArdle didn’t have to punch the breaks once with the seasoned 18-year-old Hungarian Warmblood gelding to stop the clock at a blistering 35.543 seconds.
McArdle has been riding I&H Boogy Woogy for several years and knows him well, “I have been riding him since he was 15. We got him from Samuel Parot. I came into his career later in life, but I know the horse like the back of my hand and trust him more than anything. He lets me know when he wants to win, and I just let him gallop, knowing he’s always the fastest.”
McArdle has enjoyed her time at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “I love it and I am so happy to be here. We came for two weeks in June with some students, and everyone enjoyed their time so much, we came back here again this week. We are based out of Wellington, so it’s not too far away. I am excited to be back soon.”
Jared Petersen and Jordan Petersen’s seven-year-old Belgian Sporthorse stallion Kawir MS (Comme Il Faut x Biarrtiz) snagged second place with a speedy jump-off track in 36.995 seconds.
Megan Wexler secured herself yet another podium finish during the 2023 Ocala Summer Series, this time aboard Mille Fleurs’ Caleo S (Cachas x U-Toskana). Wexler and eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding posted a quick time of 38.884 seconds to round out the top three.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 I&H Boogy Woogy, Abigailo McArdle, Abigail McArdle: 0 | 0 | 35.543
2 Kawir MS, Jared Petersen, Jordan Petersen: 0 | 0 | 36.995
3 Caleo S, Megan Wexler, Mille Fleurs: 0 | 0 | 38.884
4 Cascais HC, Juan Bancalari, Juan Bancalari: 0 | 0 | 40.186
5 Verlano, Gonzalo Busca, Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.: 0 | 0 | 43.930
6 S & L Cesam, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 0 | 4 | 35.084
7 Victor X, Will Simpson, Elsa Goding: 0 | 4 | 36. 556
8 Cooper B, Johan Kachelhoffer, Johan Kachelhoffer: 0 | 4 | 37.914
9 Cupido, Jared Petersen, Charm City Sport Horses, LLC: 0 | 4 | 38.069
10 Truckin’, Camille Maynard Maddrix, Anne Hormel: 0 | 4 | 40.981
Sophia Ahearn & Diva Z Top the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur 1.30m-1.35m
On Friday night, junior and amateur athletes had the chance to compete under the lights in the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30m-1.35m to give the up-and-coming athletes a new challenge. Sophia Ahearn captured the victory aboard her longtime partner Diva Z (Dices Oh x Birthe De L’esperance), owned by Esperanza Imports, LLC.
Ahearn and the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare navigated around the first course with ease finishing well under the time allowed of 82 seconds to earn a spot in the jump-off.
When it came time for Ahearn to tackle the jump-off track, she had a simple plan, “Just go quick. She does better when you try and ride jump-off speed because she wants to win. I just tried to stay tidy, and go with her when she would land and turn.”
The pair raced around the short course in 34.648 seconds to gallop away with the victory.
Ahearn spoke about the special mare, “Diva is the best horse on the planet. She’s a prima-donna, and she’ll remind you every single day, but she will try her heart out for you each and every day too.”
“It was so nice to be able to compete under the lights. Most of the time, you have to be showing in big FEI classes or for me personally, in a U25 class. Most of the time, we don’t have many opportunities to show under the lights, so this was great practice. It helps get the jitters out,” expressed Ahearn.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.