Wilmington, Ohio – World Equestrian Center – Wilmington played host to a field of 22 elite jumper athletes for the $25,000 Grand Prix of Summer I. A stormy day moved competition indoors to the Standlee Sanctuary arena, though the gloomy weather did not deter Richard Rinehart (USA) as he dominated Saturday’s show jumping competition. The stands were packed, and the crowd roared for Ron Caraway’s Vincent (Van Gogh x Nirande) as he soared over Bobby Murphy’s (USA) tracks to take the win.
Rinehart, of Rinehart Farm in Westfield, Indiana, continued a Summer I family winning streak by topping both the $7,500 Futures Prix and the $25,000 Grand Prix.
Rinehart applauded his team behind the scenes that contributed to the success, “First I want to say a big thank you to Vincent’s owner Ron Caraway and my whole support team back in the stables. There is a whole lot of work and support that made this all happen today and for that I am super thankful.”
As frequent visitors to the winner’s circle, the track was well suited for the duo as they showcased their consistency and hard work with an effortless first clear round, securing their place in the jump-off.
Rinehart followed Michael Burnett (USA) in the short course who established a quick time to beat. Burnett piloted his own 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chagrand (Chacco-Blue x Centogrina) to the most difficult inside turns on the track, setting the pace in 36.805 seconds, ultimately landing them in third place.
Aboard the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Rinehart picked up a gallop and maintained his footspeed throughout the track, blazing through the timers in 34.364 seconds for the victory.
Rinehart spoke about his winning plan, “He jumped nicely the first round. He has gotten more experience and he made some really nice moves to stretch and get us out of a tight spot in to the first one stride. I watched Michael go over the plants through the turn, so I asked Vincent if he wanted to do that, he said no way. So, my plan was to carry a lot of foot speed. I thought there was time to make up going to the last jump, so I was hoping to stay wide in the six and get a good direct line there at the end.”
Kady Abrahamson of Abrahamson Equestrian LLC in Georgetown, Kentucky, returned as the final entry with her magnificent mare, Any (Aljano x Nina XI). Abrahamson was tidy around the course, mimicking Rinehart’s track. The 15-year-old Holsteiner was characteristically quick and careful, and landed off the final fence in perfect form with her ears pricked in 35.302 seconds, to secure the red ribbon.
$25,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Vincent, Richard Rinehart, Ron Caraway | 0 | 34.364
2 Any, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 35.302
3 Chagrand, Michael Burnett, Michael Burnett | 0 | 36.805
4 Callagan, Kalvin Dobbs, Treesdale Farms | 0 | 39.553
5 Faberlina, Harriet McCord, Sweet Oak Farm | 0 | 39.984
6 Corvet Enigma, Patricio Rodriguez, Patricio Rodriguez LLC | 0 | 40.398
7 Casiano, Chandler Meadows, Chandler Meadows | 0 | 42.17
8 Nambino VD Guldennagel Z, Garrett Warner, Shadow Creek NY LLC | 4 | 71.044
9 Pop-Up De Tamise, Adrian Jones, Adrian Jones | 4 | 71.51
10 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 72.342
A Super Effort for Richard Rinehart & Captain America 10 in the $7,500 Futures Prix
Twenty-four horse-and-athlete combinations kicked off featured competition Saturday evening in the Standlee Sanctuary for the $7,500 Futures Prix of Summer I. Veteran show jumper Richard Rinehart (USA) raced to the top of the leaderboard with Captain America 10 (Contendro).
Entering the ring immediately after Izzy Beisel (USA) and her ten-year-old Selle Francias gelding Diaz Barbotiere (Messire Ardent x Quambera Barbotiere) posted a blazing fast double clear, Rinehart looked to find his path to victory.
In order to beat Beisel’s leading time of 33.014 seconds, Rinehart needed to tackle the inside turn to the second to last oxer in the short course.
“The first round was interesting moving inside. Captain is familiar with the indoor arena, so I wasn’t too worried about, though I do feel like it affected some of the horses. He had a nice, uneventful first round, so I was happy with that. I was thinking about jumping the fern for that inside turn, but he spooked a bit at the black vertical before it, so I got there a little bit deeper than I wanted. There was no need to jump the fern because at that point I was going two miles an hour, so I took the sharp inside turn instead,” laughed Rinehart.
Rinehart and Captain America 10 swiftly navigated around the short course and raced to the finish in 32.739 seconds, moving Beisel into second place and taking the win.
The talented ten-year-old Selle Francias gelding has been a part of the Rinehart family since he was a baby, and has had a successful summer of showing, “Captain was in Michigan two weeks ago with my son Luke doing the USHJA Markel/Platinum team competition. They had a really successful go up there. Luke is away, so I am riding Captain this week! Luke will take back over next week, and then he will go down to Kentucky, and then back to Michigan for Young Riders!”
Kady Abrahamson (USA) piloted her brand-new mount FSS Outlaw (VDL Cardento x Cimenta C) to an impressive quick and careful double clear. The nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding landed through the timers in 36.272 to earn a podium finish in their first outing together, heralding a bright future for the pair.
$7,500 Futures Prix Results:
1 Captain America 10, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 32.739
2 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 0 | 33.014
3 FSS Outlaw, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 36.272
4 Karma Balia Blue, Stephen Foran, Freedom Woods | 0 | 38.906
5 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 34.42
6 Fast and Furious, Oliva Bethke, Susan Bethke | 4 | 37.05
7 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 39.622
8 Kamorka S, Darby Pease, Darby Pease | 8 | 36.334
9 Christiaan, Lilly Yinger, Lindsay Yinger | 10 | 55.665
10 Dillandra, Claire Bakewell, Bully Lane LLC | 0 | EL