Kady Abrahamson & Gomorra Z Shine in the $25,000 7-Year-Old Championship at WEC – Wilmington Fall Classic 3
11 OCT 25 Wilmington, OH
Wilmington, Ohio – After two days of competition, horse-and-rider combinations returned to the Standlee Sanctuary at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington on Saturday for the final round of the Young Jumper Championships.
The final was divided into three sections: the $25,000 7-Year-Old Championship, the $15,000 6-Year-Old Championship, and the $5,000 5-Year-Old Championship.
Kady Abrahamson claimed the lion’s share of the prize money after delivering three clear rounds aboard her own Gomorra Z. The seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare was the quickest in a five-horse jump-off, sealing the win with Abrahamson in the irons.
It was a particularly meaningful victory for the team behind Gomorra Z, as she was greeted by her breeder, Loic Cannaert, at the in-gate following her win.
“She is a new horse for me. I just got her in August,” Abrahamson shared. “Loic Cannaert, who rides for Declan Orpen, bred her at his home farm in Belgium. She was born and produced there, and she wasn’t imported until this year. She’s his baby!”
Abrahamson first saw Gomorra Z in July, “I knew she was really special. When I finally got to try her, I fell in love. I couldn’t be without her. I’m so excited about her and her future,” she smiled.
Having competed in the Young Jumper Championship last year, Abrahamson was eager to return for the 2025 season.
“I was so excited to have her for this class. I did it last year with my now eight-year-old, Montevideo VDL. Producing young horses in America is a lot more expensive than in Europe,” she explained. “This program helps owners, riders, and breeders so much. You can bring them up the ranks in a much more affordable way.”
Evie Jaeckle & TJC’s Doja Cat Secure $15,000 6-Year-Old Championship Victory
In the $15,000 6-Year-Old division, just two riders jumped three clear rounds to advance to the tiebreaker. Evie Jaeckle and Sam Pegg were the fault-free athletes, but Jaeckle emerged victorious after a speedy jump-off aboard TJC’s Doja Cat (Apardi x Cleta LVP Z).
“I was in chiropractic school and didn’t have a big budget, but my friend in Ocala said, ‘I’ve got this four-year-old. She’s not going to be a hunter, but she’s got your name written all over her.’ When I first tried her, she was so green, but I saw the potential right away. She was hot and tough, but I knew if I gave her time, she’d be special.”
The quick and talented Holsteiner mare rose to the occasion each day, stopping the clock in 43.184 seconds to secure the win.
“Each day got more technical, but she handled it really well. By day two, I knew they were pulling out the big guns,” Jaeckle laughed. “In the jump-off, I just wanted to make choices to set her up for good efforts, and she answered every question.”
Jaeckle also praised the venue’s impact on young horse development.
“This ring and the jumps are perfect to prepare young horses for what they’ll face in their careers. The upgrades here are incredible. Having a young horse program like this is so important — it’s expensive to develop them, and we need more of it in the United States.”
Loic Cannaert Sweeps $5,000 5-Year-Old Championship
Loic Cannaert, riding for Orpen Horses, took the top two spots in the $5,000 5-Year-Old division aboard his newest mounts.
The blue ribbon went to Aires ODF (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Alabama ODF), while Carlova ODF (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Carlotta) earned second.
Despite it being their first show together, Cannaert was thrilled with their progress.
“They’re two new horses, and this is actually their first show with me,” he explained. “They’re very nice but still a little green. They’ve grown every day since the first round.”
He also shared his appreciation for the format. “This format is great because you get in the ring so much. It’s technical enough for young horses but still a great challenge. It makes them better, and it makes me better, too.”
Piloting numerous young horses, Cannaert praised WEC – Wilmington as an ideal venue for developing talent.
“The best thing about WEC for young horses is that the ring is open in the evenings. I came on Tuesday and was able to just walk them around, and they came out settled on Wednesday. It’s so good for them.”