Ocala, FL – Another stunning day set the scene for top Jumping competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. The $200,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI4* was the highlight event on Sunday, drawing spectators and exhibitors to watch a competitive international field battle for the top prize. In a nail-biting, four-horse jump-off, Olympian Andre Thieme (GER) and his very own Paule S (Perigueux x Sir Shutterfly) claimed victory.
Ken Krome (USA) set a challenging closing track for the week. It wasn’t until halfway through the order that the first clear round appeared, as even some of the world’s best struggled with key technical elements. But Olympic gold medalist Will Simpson (USA), rising star Raleigh Hiler (USA), seasoned talent Alex Granato (USA), and Olympian Andre Thieme ultimately cracked the code.
“When I walked the course, I thought it was perfect for the field of riders,” shared Thieme. “I was expecting eight to 10 clears, but also, it’s a warmer day outside, and I think the horses lost a little bit of power and concentration. That blue oxer coming to the ingate in a forward five got a lot of people. Ken Krome did a smart job of making things a little bit backward, a little bit forward, and then a bit backward again. There were no ugly pictures, and everyone got home safe, so it was a great course.”
When the time came for the jump-off, the crowd was on the edge of their seats. Will Simpson (USA) set a blistering time of 34.87 seconds aboard Imar but had a heartbreaking rail at the final fence.
Raleigh Hiler, followed aboard Kurt Hiler’s Obora’s Chloe (Chacco-Blue x Lacapo). She and the 14-year-old Austrian Warmblood mare raced around the track, keeping all the rails up to set the clear pace at 37.21 seconds.
Her time was soon surpassed by Alex Granato (USA) and Kisma Equestrian, LLC’s Helios Vd Nosahoeve. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding soared around the track, shaving off solid seconds to clock in at 34.92.
Last to go, Andre Thieme had a clear objective: “Not be second. That was the plan.”
“I counted the strides of all three of my competitors, and I knew when I was walking the jump-off earlier that I could do six from one to two, when everyone else did seven. Then I knew I could do the inside seven to the combination, where everybody else was doing eight. Both things worked, and I already knew I was two strides less than everybody else, so I just tried to stay conservative and keep the numbers, and it worked out.”
Thieme and Paule S soared through the timers in 34.11 seconds to take the top spot on the podium.
Thieme described what it’s like to ride the powerful 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding: “It’s not always easy. He drives me crazy, to be honest. He is on fire every day, and it takes a lot of calmness as a rider to deal with that power. He has the blood and power of three horses. Today, he was on it, and it was controllable. Obviously, I am very, very happy.”
$200,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI4* Results
1 PAULE S: 2014 Oldenburg gelding by Perigueux x Sir Shutterfly
Andre Thieme (GER), Andre Thieme: 0/0/34.11
2 HELIOS VD NOSAHOEVE: 2012 KWPN stallion by Numero Uno x London
Alex Granato (USA), Kisma Equestrian, LLC: 0/0/34.92
3 OBORA’S CHLOE: 2011 Austrian Warmblood [AWO] mare by Chacco-blue x Lacapo
Raleigh Hiler (USA), Kurt Hiler: 0/0/37.21
4 IMAR: 2013 KWPN gelding by Carrera Vdl x Indoctro
Will Simpson (USA), Elizabeth Phillips: 0/4/34.87
5 CORBIE V.V.: 2015 Zangersheide mare by Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue
Daniel Bluman (ISR), Abigail Wexner: 1/78.12
6 NAVAAR: 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Tonixe x Deauville Van T&l
Caitlin Boyle (USA), Beyaert Farm Inc: 4/71.66
7 ITCHCOCK DES DAMES: 2014 Belgian Sport Horse by Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.c.
Jad Dana (LBN), The Itchy Group: 4/72.06
8 NARCOTIQUE V/H DINGENSHOF: 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare by Harley x Chacco-blue
Simon Mccarthy (IRL), Ilan Ferder: 4/72.31
9 CHAMPION LEAGUE: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Cador 5 x Contendro I
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 4/74.31
10 CANTO BRUNO: 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Cantoblanco x Quality 9
Eve Jobs (USA), Eve Jobs: 4/76.01
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results for the Winter Spectacular Show Series on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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