Segal and Selleck Are Tops in Open Jumper 1.30m
For Immediate Release
North Salem, NY – May 14, 2014 – The second day of the second week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows had multiple hunter championships awarded, including that of the Grand Hunter Champion, which was awarded to Amanda Steege of Bedminster, NJ, on Susan Darragh’s Zidane. In the Grand Prix Field, a large class of 91 entries led to a “California Split” of entries, with two sets of ribbons and prize money awarded. Sarah Segal of Flemington, NJ, and Hannah Selleck of Westlake Village, CA, were the fastest in the long list of top competitors.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows run May 6-11 and May 13–18 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from across the country to compete for almost $500,000 in prize money.
Steege and Zidane were champions of the High Performance Working Hunter division, presented by Ariat. Their consistent ribbons of first and second over fences on Tuesday, two blue ribbons today, and second place under saddle gave them top billing as Grand Hunter Champions.
Steege has ridden Zidane, a 10-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding by Mermus R, for a year and a half in the High Performance division as well as the USHJA International Hunter Derbies. Zidane also shows with his owner in the Modified Adult Hunters. “He’s the family horse,” Steege confided. “He lives in a stable near Susan’s house, she ships him in their two horse trailer for lessons and for me to school him, and to horse shows. Susan works for me in order to help with the costs of having him show. I’m always really excited when he does well.”
Amanda Steege and Zidane
Steege was thrilled that his consistency led to the Grand Championship. “I don’t think he’s ever done that before, so it was an extra special bonus. Susan didn’t know it was something he was in contention for, so I’m sure she’ll be thrilled that he’s gotten that and a nice prize,” she said.
An exhibitor at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows since 2000, Steege is a fan of the horse shows. She praised the work that has been done in improving the footing not only in the show rings, but the schooling rings and lunging areas. “It’s so impressive how much they’ve improved the facility over the last few years. That’s so important and a lot of our shows don’t always concentrate on that,” she noted.
She said of this week’s courses, designed by Paul Jewel, “The courses were actually a little bit challenging, but nice. I was happy (for that) in the High Performance division, because it’s good preparation for Devon. Today started with a right lead jump on the quarterline that was an oxer, but it was a big oxer! I was definitely thinking that standing at the in-gate! I was very happy with the way Zidane went; he actually scored an 87 in that round. It made me feel very confident for the next event.”
Steege plans to show Zidane in Saturday’s $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, since she has made those classes a priority this year. She said, “Each derby is a little different in atmosphere and course design, and it just is nice to get to a bunch of them and feel like you have these different experiences under your belt.”
Large Class Size Splits the Open Jumper 1.30m Class
With 91 entries, today’s $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m class awarded a full set of ribbons and prize money to two lists of horses and riders. The two winners of the sections were Zelda, ridden by Sarah Segal, and Bauer, ridden by Hannah Selleck. Segal and Zelda were double clear in 31.179 seconds, while Selleck and Bauer were just behind in 31.249 seconds.
Second place in Section A with a time of 33.212 seconds was Palmyra Partners LLC’s Arkansas, ridden by Hillary Simpson. Simpson also placed third on Palmyra Partners LLC’s Chinwies BZ, who had a time of 33.232 seconds. Second place in Section B went to Baccarat, owned by Allison Stawarz and ridden by Nicholas Dello Joio, who had a time of 32.266 seconds. Section B third place was Jeffery Welles on Kenzie Snyder’s Arturo in a time of 33.240 seconds.
Zelda is an American-bred, 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Concorde, who was bred by Alison Robitaille, and she is owned by Lowell and Robi Kabnick. Segal described Zelda, who she has ridden for almost a year, as “incredibly careful and very fast and really game. She has a huge stride, she does the angles, she does turns. She’s really wonderful and awesome!”
Sarah Segal and Zelda
Zelda came to Segal only having shown in the Adult Amateur Jumpers, but every time they raised the jumps, Zelda took it in stride. Segal revealed, “She feels like she can jump anything. She has a lot of personality, but it’s good personality. We haven’t put anything in front of her that she hasn’t jumped easily, so you never know!”
Another positive to Zelda is her ability to go fast, but still stay careful and rideable. Segal praised that trait, “She’s one you know on the first day you can walk right in and go really fast, and still have a lot of horse for the rest of the week.”
Segal just arrived back in the United States after representing her country in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup qualifier in Xalapa, Mexico. She and Ramses were one of only three double clear rounds in the Nations Cup to help the U.S. to a second place finish.
“It was really amazing, and my horse was wonderful all week. It was a great team, and it was really fun to be there with that team of people. The horse show was beautiful,” she described. “I didn’t find out I was going until 10 days before the horses were supposed to leave. You have to take the opportunities when you get them. I was very happy that I was able to get my horse ready and going. He was really fresh and happy to be there jumping, and it really worked out!”
Hannah Selleck and Bauer have been partnered together for eight years, and the 17-year-old Warmblood gelding has helped Selleck become a top young rider through the junior jumpers to World Cup qualifiers. While he has aged, he hasn’t lost his speed or desire to win. A failed retirement attempt means that Bauer is back in the winner’s circle.
Hannah Selleck and Bauer
“I’ve had him a really long time and he’s been so successful,” Selleck recalled. “Now that he’s older, he gets to do the smaller divisions. It’s fun to go in these classes on a horse that has so much experience, to really go in and go for it. We can take all the inside turns and leave outs. It’s just really enjoyable.”
She added, “As long as he wants to go out and feels great, we take him to the shows. We keep him in lower divisions to have a longer career. He’s a very special horse, and it’s still great to go in the ring and compete on him.”
Selleck watched Segal go earlier in the class. “She was super fast,” Selleck acknowledged. “I saw her track and tried to do the same thing. With so many in it, it worked out fine.”
Today was the first time out on the grass Grand Prix Field for Bauer, and this is Selleck’s first time competing at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. The facility gives her the perfect opportunity to prepare for Spruce Meadows and other shows this summer. She and Bauer plan to contest Saturday’s $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem.
In the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class, Darragh Kenny continued his success from week one, taking the win on Picolo, owned by Oakland Ventures, in 30.247 seconds. Nicholas Dello Joio and Fiego van de Zonneweide, owned by Nathalie de Gunzburg, were second in 30.456 seconds. McLain Ward and Double H Farm’s HH Cannavaro were third in 31.913 seconds.
Final Results: Section A: $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m
1 ZELDA, T.K. FARM, SARAH SEGAL: 0/0/31.179
2 ARKANSAS, PALMYRA PARTNERS LLC, HILLARY SIMPSON: 0/0/33.212
3 CHINWIES BZ, PALMYRA PARTNERS LLC, HILLARY SIMPSON: 0/0/33.232
4 ZANZIBAR 19, MCLAIN WARD, MCLAIN WARD: 0/0/33.478
5 SKYLINE, SAM’S ISLAND LLC, ALISON COONEY: 0/0/34.824
6 CELLY NEGRA, FRANCESCA BOLFO, FRANCESCA BOLFO: 0/0/35.698
7 ONIRA, REMARKABLE FARMS LP, BRIANNE GOUTAL: 0/0/36.598
8 COCQ A DOODLE, NUTMEG GROUP LLC, MOLLY ASHE-CAWLEY: 0/0/37.303
9 MERCURY, CHANSONETTE FARM LLC, LILLIE KEENAN: 0/0/37.532
10 VANILLA, ABIGAIL WEXNER, LILLIE KEENAN: 0/0/37.820
Section B
1 BAUER, DESCANSO FARM, HANNAH SELLECK: 0/0/31.249
2 BACCARAT, ALLISON STAWARZ, NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO: 0/0/32.266
3 ARTURO, KENZIE SNYDER, JEFFERY WELLES: 0/0/33.240
4 ZAPPA, EMMANUELLE MILLE, GRANT WILSON: 0/0/34.001
5 CALAIS, SHARON GUNTHEL/TRITON VENURES, JEFFERY WELLES: 0/0/34.950
6 CECOTTO’S AS, JENNIFER ROWLAND, CHRIS KAPPLER: 0/0/35.902
7 BILLY BOY, LILY BARNARD, MARIO DESLAURIERS: 0/0/37.080
8 SEPHYR, CLAUDIA VILLAMIL, RAMIRO QUINTANA: 0/0/37.349
9 TARANTEL’LA, EMILY D’ALLESSANDRO, EMILY D’ALESSANDRO: 0/0/37.596
10 ZACCA ZOELOE, JEFFERY WELLES, BRIANNE LINK: 0/0/38.139
Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com. Competition continues tomorrow with Open Jumper 1.30m and Open Jumper 1.40m classes, as well as the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship.
WATCH LIVE! The $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on May 17, and the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix on May 18 will be broadcast on the USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak. You may watch these events as they happen at USEF Network or www.oldsalemfarm.net. All classes in the Grand Prix Field and Sand Ring are also livestreamed daily at www.shownet.biz.
Visit the Old Salem Farm and Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows Facebook pages for results, photo galleries, and more! Old Salem Farm has joined Twitter and Instagram too – follow us to see exclusive photos and videos, let us know what you like about our events, and share your experiences.
Photos copyright The Book LLC
Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.