Wilmington, Ohio – Sixteen horse-and-athlete combinations met at sunrise Saturday morning for the $25,000 Grand Prix of Spring II at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. Bobby Murphy (USA) set the technical tracks for the field of athletes that allowed just four pairs to advance to the jump-off. No stranger to the winner’s circle, Kady Abrahamson (USA), dominated the class with her talented mares, earning her second feature class win of the week aboard her own Any (Aljano x Nina XI).
Abrahamson, of Abrahamson Equestrian LLC in Georgetown, Kentucky, has been a force to be reckoned with at WEC Wilmington. The seasoned amateur athlete made light work of the first-round track aboard both of her expressive mares, Any and Jazil Du Houssoit (Peppermill x Gerboise Du Houssoit), qualifying both for the jump-off phase.
“It’s Girl power with those two! They are like a dynamic duo,” laughed Abrahamson. “Jazil has been great. Almost every single welcome and grand prix that she has jumped in this year moving up she has been double clear. It has been fantastic to see since she is only eight and expressive in what she does. The first rider had a couple of time faults, so I knew the time was quite tight. For Jazil it worked out because I went inside to the triple, so she had less time to mess around in the turn and it kept her on her toes. I brought Any after she jumped some FEI classes in Kentucky to give her an easier week before July. I know that Any is wicked fast, and I don’t want to run her off of her feet, but she is so fast in the turns and across the jumps that it makes her that much quicker.”
Returning as the final entry, Abrahamson mastered the track with her own 15-year-old Holsteiner mare, Any, and sliced each turn perfectly to gallop away in 37.058 seconds for yet another victory.
As the first to enter for the short course, Abrahamson confidently rode the eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Jazil Du Houssoit, in an efficient effort that stopped the timers in 40.946 seconds to secure third place, adding another podium finish to the young horse’s growing record.
Richard Rinehart (USA) of Rinehart Farm earned his second podium finish of the week with Ron Caraway’s Vincent (Van Gogh x Nirande). The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding never missed a beat, establishing a tidy track and forward rhythm around the jump-off course for a time of 38.044 seconds and third place.
$25,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Any, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 37.058
2 Vincent, Richard Rinehart, Ron Caraway | 0 | 38.044
3 Jazil Du Houssoit, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 40.946
4 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 41.565
5 Joberlina VG, Natalie Thornell, Loveland Equine Investments | 3 | 81.230
6 FF Lady Grantham, Jill Gaffney, Freestyling Farms | 4
7 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 4
8 Jamiroquai, Natalie Thornell, Loveland Equine Investments | 5 | 79.068
9 Snow White, Natalie Thornell, Loveland Equine Investments | 8 | 74.392
10 Banco Du Moulin, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 8 | 74.557
Luke Rinehart & Captain America 10 Conquer the WEC Ohio Spring II $7,500 Futures Prix
Showjumping action commenced bright and early as thirteen jumper athletes gathered in the newly renovated outdoor jumper ring to kick off the WEC Ohio Spring II $7,500 Futures Prix. It was Luke Rinehart (USA) that mastered Murphy’s tracks aboard Captain America 10 (Contendro) to gallop away with the blue.
The junior rider training out his Carmel, Indiana family establishment, Rinehart Farm, demonstrated experience beyond his years in the class. Rinehart piloted his longtime mount to a consistent first round, qualifying for the immediate jump-off.
The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding was incredibly quick across the ground and through the turns, remaining in careful form for a double clear effort and a jump-off time of 35.449 seconds to secure the lead.
Second place finisher from last week’s class, Mark McKone (USA) of MM Equestrian is Dousman, Wisconsin, scored another red ribbon with his own Fearless (Heartbreaker x Zacha). As the first duo to jump a double clear effort, they set the quick pace for the field. The 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion landed through the timers in 36.894 seconds to put another podium finish under his belt with McKone in the irons.
Campbell Kahn (USA) and her new mount, Delta De Laume (Vagabond De La Pomme x Iena De Laume) owned by Tayo Mclean rounded out the podium. The talented young rider training out of Chesterfield LLC in Medina, Ohio, guided the ten-year-old Selle Francais gelding to two consistent, confident rounds in a time of 37.254 seconds for third place.
$7,500 Futures Prix Results:
1 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 35.449
2 Fearless, Mark McKone, Mark McKone | 0 | 36.894
3 Delta De Laume, Campbell Kahn, Tayo Mclean | 0 | 37.254
4 K T Miel, Claire Austin, Michael Kirby | 4 | 34.339
5 449 Bravo Zulu, Lynsey Whitacre, Lynsey Whitacre | 4 | 37.189
6 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 4 | 73.497
7 Mega Jackpot, Candace Pollaert, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 4 | 74.529
8 Ismael, Ashley Stumm, Ashley Stumm | 4 | 74.669
9 Hendrik Wildricks, Richard Rinehart, Chris Richards | 4 | 77.138
10 Kamorka S, Darby Pease, Darby Pease | 4 | 77.451