Olivia Sweetnam Scores First Four-Star Win Aboard Epic in the $117,000 Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4*

Ocala, FL – Thursday morning opened with the $117,000 Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4*, welcoming 41 top horse-and-rider combinations representing 13 nations. In the end, it was the youngest athlete in the class, Olivia Sweetnam (USA), who captured her first four-star victory aboard Sweet Oak Farm’s Epic (Billy Mexico x Flying Electro).

Canada’s Peter Grant, an FEI Level III course designer, set the track for Thursday’s qualifier. Twelve combinations successfully navigated the technical questions to advance to the jump-off.

Amy Millar (CAN) was the first to return for the jump-off, setting the early pace with a clear round in 44.78 seconds aboard Jagger HX. Spain’s Francisco Goyoaga Mollet followed, piloting Sigma Stables LLC’s PST de Muze. The 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare stopped the clock in a quick 40.32 seconds to take over the top spot. 

Sweetnam entered the ring shortly after with the goal of producing another solid round aboard Epic. “My plan for the jump-off was to have a nice, efficient round,” she explained. “My dad [Shane Sweetnam] and I knew obviously that the jump-off was very competitive and there was a lot in it, and we just made a plan from the walk before the first round and stuck to that plan no matter what the other ones were doing because we knew that was the best plan for my horse. If it worked out, it worked out, and if it didn’t, there’s always going to be somebody who can beat you. Then we’d try again on Sunday. Luckily, it worked out in my favor.”

The pair flew around the short course, stopping the clock in 38.08 seconds, more than two seconds faster, to take over the lead. 

Reflecting on the milestone victory and her partnership with the 11-year-old AES gelding, Sweetnam shared, “This is my first four-star win. It makes it even more special that it was with Epic because this is a horse that really changed a lot for me in just the first month that I got him. I’m so comfortable with him, and he is just such a talented horse, so I’m really happy that I’m there to show up for him sometimes, and I know that he is so capable and deserving of doing this.” 

Beyond CSI4* competition, Sweetnam will also contest the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship presented by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, sponsored by JPMorgan, and powered by Gary Yeomans Ford on Saturday in the WEC Grand Arena. “I’m really excited to compete on Saturday. I’ve been riding Class Act for two or three years now. We’ve had a lot of success. I was second in this class last year, so I hope that I can give ‘Jagger’ the win that he also deserves.”

Rounding out the podium, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) piloted the 12-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding Quimi del Maset (Quasimodo Z x Indret del Masset) to third place with a quick and clear effort in 43.59 seconds.

$117,000 Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4* Results

1 EPIC: 2015 Austrian Warmblood gelding by Billy Mexico x Flyinge Electro
Olivia Sweetnam (USA), Sweet Oak Farm: 0/0/38.08

2 PST DE MUZE: 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare by Vigo D’arsouilles x Clinton 
Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP), Sigma Stables LLC: 0/0/40.32

3 QUIMI DEL MASET: 2014 Spanish Warmblood gelding by Quasimodo Z x Indret del Masset 
Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/0/43.59

4 GARNANT: 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Warrant x Verdi Tn
Callie Schott (USA), Southern Arches LLC: 0/0/44.16

5 JAGGER HX: 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ustinov x Bustique 
Amy Miller (CAN), Millar Brooke Farm: 0/0/44.78

6 QUENALA T: 2016 Hannovarian mare by Qualito x Coronado
Tanimara Macari (MEX), Eickendorf Horses GMBH & Co. KG: 0/4/ 41.34

7 FANTASIA: 2015 Selle Francais mare by Armitages Boy x Landsturm
Christian Kukuk (GER), Christian Kukuk: 0/4/42.06

8 INCREDIBLE: 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Clinton x Heartbreaker
Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/4/44.75

9 LORONA: 2016 Dutch Warmblood mare by Grand SLam x Amadeus
Ashe Cawley (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/4/45.37

10 PEPITA CON SPITA: 2011 Westphalian mare by Dsp Con Spirit x Come On
Hunter Holloway (USA), Hays Investment Corp: 0/8/43.28

Tony Stormanns Scores Second Consecutive Win with RMF Cinnamo in $32,000 Grand Prix CSIU25 Sponsored by Forestier Sellier

Thursday afternoon’s featured event, the $32,000 Grand Prix CSIU25 sponsored by Forestier Sellier, welcomed 24 horse-and-rider combinations all vying for valuable points toward the WEC CSIU25 Leaderboard, also sponsored by Forestier Sellier. Ultimately, Germany’s Tony Stormanns emerged on top once again, securing his second consecutive U25 victory aboard Rushy Marsh Farm LLC’s RMF Cinnamo (Magic Park x Avon).

Peter Grant (CAN) designed another impressive track for the talented field of rising stars, with only five combinations successfully navigating the first round to advance to the jump-off. 

Tony Stormanns was the first to return over the short course with the 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding and, with guidance from his father, Tim Stormanns, crafted a strategy aimed at repeating their Week IV success.

“I asked Dad if I should start off the left so I can take care of him drifting left but he said no, come off the right,” he laughed. “I had a good shot to two, but I’m not sure if I did eight or nine. The plan was eight, but I was happy with what I did anyway. Then I really got the first shot there to the double and a good distance on the oxer. Normally, those rollbacks can be a bit difficult because he goes left, but luckily, he helped me today. And I didn’t know, walking the course, the coursebuilder was going to put away jump number nine, so that made it easier for me to get to the last jump,” Stormanns reflected.

Stormanns and RMF Cinnamo stopped the clock in an unbeatable 41.25 seconds to gallop away with another victory. 

Reflecting on his partnership with RMF Cinnamo, Stormanns shared, “He’s a very careful horse, which is why the shot I gave him to the double was possible for him. He always backs off, and I can always ride at the jump. That’s why he’s actually a very good horse for the jump off. He has a big heart, and he’ll always fight for me, and I’m very thankful for this horse.”

Sophia Ayers (USA) claimed second place aboard her own 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Conthinder (Conthargos x Nintender), delivering a clear round in 44.05 seconds. 

Rounding out the podium, Elli Yeager (USA) was last to go and produced a fast, fault-free effort with Rocking Basilisk Farms LLC’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Santana (Cascadello x Carthago), finishing in 45.26 seconds.

$32,000 Grand Prix CSIU25 Sponsored by Forestier Sellier Results  

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes! 

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.