Caroline Dance and Show Time Named Grand Junior Hunter Champions
For Immediate Release
North Salem, NY – May 11, 2014 – Jumpers competed on the beautiful grass field on the final day of the first wee of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Held at Old Salem Farm, the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, Merrill Lynch saw Brianne Goutal of New York, NY, take home the win with Nice de Prissey over McLain Ward on Zander and Quentin Judge riding HH Dark de la Hart. Topping the junior hunters for the Grand Junior Hunter Championship was Caroline Dance of Westchester, PA, on Show Time. Brianne Link and Gabriela Mershad captured major wins in the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics.
Watch an interview with Brianne Goutal! Courtesy of ShowNet.biz.
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.
The $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix had 40 entries, and eight were clear over a course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. They advanced to the jump-off against the clock, with Ward and Zander, owned by Ward and Grant Road Partners, setting a fast time in 38.965 seconds with no faults. They would eventually finish in second place.
McLain Ward and Zander
Goutal said of the course, “Guilherme is a very fair course designer. He builds correctly for the level of the field (of horses and riders). For this show on the grass, it’s very difficult to ride on, with the changing grade, going up and down a lot. He did a very good job playing with those grades, with verticals going downhill, options uphill. Nothing was too unfair or too big. I think it was right on everywhere.”
Next in was Judge and HH Dark de la Hart, owned by Double H Farm. They too were clear and just off the pace in 39.860 seconds, which would put them in third place at the end of the class.
Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart
Goutal and her first of three mounts in the jump-off, Nice de Prissey, galloped around next and were able to just lower the winning time by 6/100ths of a second to 38.902 seconds for victory.
Goutal said afterward that she did not think she would catch Ward’s time. “He was really fast,” she affirmed. “I honestly did not think I could get him. Sometimes luck is on your side; the timers were on mine a little bit. My horse jumped incredibly and covered the ground very, very nicely today.”
Molly Ashe-Cawley and Olivia Jack’s Carissimo had eight faults in 40.998 seconds for sixth place, and Sydney Shulman and Back Country Farm’s Quidam 13 also had eight faults in 42.279 seconds for seventh place.
Goutal went clear in a slower time of 43.953 seconds with her second mount Wirma, which landed in fourth place. Darragh Kenny was the only other rider that could take the win away from Goutal, but a rail down in 40.703 seconds would put them in fifth place. Goutal went last with Zernike K, but after two rails down, she retired on course for eighth place.
Both Wirma and Zernike K have just moved up to the grand prix level this winter and are both “quite green,” Goutal said. She continued, “It’s always a new thing with them, the different changes and events. As of right now, they aren’t seasoned to walk into any situation. I was happy with the way they handled the field because it’s difficult to compete here.”
Goutal and Nice de Prissey, a 13-year-old Selle Francais stallion by Rosire owned by Remarkable Farms LP, were victorious at Old Salem Farm last September at the American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*. Goutal believes that his confidence translates well to the big field at Old Salem Farm.
Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey
She said, “He’s a big horse. He has a huge stride. He’s very, very confident, and he has a lot of power. For him, this kind of terrain is amazing, up and down. He really feels energetic and athletic. He has shown a lot of talent for jumping on big fields, I think. He walked into this field today to compete.”
Goutal first showed at Old Salem Farm when she was eight years old in the pony hunters, and she has a successful history at this event. “I love Old Salem Farm!” she remarked. “It’s a great show for me in particular, close to New York City, where I’m from. My family and friends are in town to see me here. It’s nice to have something so close to home.”
Chris, Stephen, Gretchen, and Nick Kincade from The Kincade Group, Merrill Lynch and Scott Hakim of Old Salem Farm.
For Goutal, having a venue at the level of Old Salem Farm means a lot, both as a New York resident and a world-class show jumper. She commented, “I think that this facility has taken over as the nicest show in America, for sure outdoor and for sure any show on a field. I don’t think any other show in America compares. They’ve done a fantastic job with with the schedule, the stabling, the VIP tent. It’s done as close to perfect as any show can be. All of the exhibitors are grateful to have a really nice show in our backyard.”
Final Results: $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, Merrill Lynch
1 345 NICE DE PRISSEY, BRIANNE GOUTAL, REMARKABLE FARMS LP: 0/0/38.902
2 589 ZANDER, MCLAIN WARD, WARD & GRANT ROAD PARTNERS: 0/0/38.965
3 387 HH DARK DE LA HART, QUENTIN JUDGE, DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/39.860
4 348 WIRMA, BRIANNE GOUTAL, REMARKABLE FARMS LP: 0/0/43.953
5 941 SANS SOUCI Z, DARRAGH KENNY, CAROLINE LLOYD: 0/4/40.703
6 908 CARISSIMO, MOLLY ASHE-CAWLEY, OLIVIA JACK: 0/8/40.998
7 776 QUIDAM 13, SYDNEY SHULMAN, BACK COUNTRY FARM: 0/8/42.279
8 346 ZERNIKE K, BRIANNE GOUTAL, REMARKABLE FARMS LP: 0/RT
9 310 CZARDAS 30, KIRSTEN COE, ILAN FERDER: 1/78.871
10 421 PICOLO, DARRAGH KENNY, OAKLAND VENTURES LLC: 4/73.633
11 159 WINTU, LESLIE HOWARD, JANE CLARK: 4/74.018
12 422 PROF DE LA ROQUE, DARRAGH KENNY, POSTAGE STAMP FARM LLC: 4/75.957
Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers Complete Classics
It was a good week for 15-year-old Brianne Link of East Islip, NY. She won Saturday’s $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic, and returned today to capture the $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic with E Bay. They were the fastest clear round out of 20 in the jump-off, with a time of 28.652 seconds. Sarah Ryan and Orleen finished second in 29.120 seconds, while Lillie Keenan and Quick Shine were third in 29.789 seconds.
Link has had E Bay for a year, and they have had success at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), HITS Saugerties, and the Hampton Classic Horse Show. She described, “He’s very smooth. He has a little bit of a shorter stride; he’s kind of like a pony. We work on turns with him and going fast instead of leaving out strides in the lines.”
She was very happy with her win today. “I couldn’t have asked for a better day. He was absolutely perfect. The time before me was 29 seconds, and she had done four strides in the five. I ended up doing five and ran to make up the time and ended up having 28 seconds. I was very happy about this. I moved up to the Medium (division) during WEF. Coming here and doing so well is really great.”
She added, “I couldn’t have done this without the help of my trainers, Jeffery Welles and Ed Copeland, and my parents supporting me.”
Final Results: $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
1 840 E BAY BRIANNE LINK: 0/0/28.652
2 145 ORLEEN SARAH RYAN: 0/0/29.120
3 45 QUICK SHINE LILLIE KEENAN: 0/0/29.789
4 194 DOLLYDOO AILISH CUNNIFFE: 0/0/30.058
5 931 AZZARO VAN DE HEFFINCK KATE ROSS: 0/0/30.121
6 62 WENDALINEKE MADISON GOETZMANN: 0/0/30.348
7 269 RENO MARIA COSTA: 0/0/30.623
8 940 ONYX DU HAUT BOIS TAYLOR ALEXANDER: 0/0/30.901
9 550 SKYLINE ALISON COONEY: 0/0/31.577
10 523 TURBO R KELLY TROPIN: 0/0/32.276
In the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, only one rider was able to go double clear, and she did it twice. Gabriela Mershad of New Albany, OH, rode SIEC Ledgepoint to victory in the class and finished second on Skara Glen’s Basel. She and Skara Glen’s Basel finished the jump-off in 47.396 seconds, while SIEC Ledgepoint set the winning time at 40.373 seconds. Lucy Deslauriers and Hester were fast in 35.529 seconds, but their four faults put them in third place.
SIEC Ledgepoint is a new horse for Mershad, and one for which she has had to adjust her riding. “He’s a really experienced, older horse. He’s way different than my other horses. He’s more one you need to sit down and drive him and use a lot of leg, which I’m not used to,” Mershad explained. “I was kind of struggling a little at the end of circuit. At the end of circuit I had a few kind of rough rounds. He would keep jumping, but I was a little lost. I was nervous that maybe it wasn’t the right match.”
While they didn’t gel right away, Mershad felt that the time off between the winter season and this week’s show helped her reset her relationship with SIEC Ledgepoint. “I had to kind of start over (with him),” she acknowledged. “Rather than going based on instinct, I was following directions more. That’s why I think I’ve been figuring him out, just listening to (my trainer) Darragh (Kenny) and just really using my leg. I think honestly this week is when it clicked. I was second in the High class on Friday, and that’s when I really thought it was. This week proved that he’s an amazing horse and as long as I’m riding him well, he’ll jump around clear.”
Final Results: $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
1 419 S I E C LEDGEPOIGABRIELA MERSHAD: 0/0/40.373
2 424 SKARA GLEN’S BASGABRIELA MERSHAD: 0/0/47.396
3 263 HESTER LUCY DESLAURIERS: 0/4/35.529
4 383 COOL Z MICHAEL HUGHES: 0/4/38.071
5 655 QUADAM RICHARD NEAL: 0/4/39.337
6 425 UDONNA GABRIELA MERSHAD: 0/4/40.314
7 198 NLF FAVORITE EIRIN BRUHEIM: 0/4/41.374
8 49 COCO MAYA NAYYAR: 0/4/41.691
9 1013KANTUNARO MICHAEL HUGHES: 1/83.365
10 440 VDL BELLEFLEUR NICOLE BELLISSIMO: 4/76.562
Junior Hunter Grand Championship Awarded
Fourteen-year-old Caroline Dance of Westchester, PA, and her horse Show Time, a 12-year-old German Warmblood gelding, took home the Grand Junior Hunter Championship for the first week of Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. They rode to the top of the Large Junior Hunter division championship for the overall win. They received two firsts and two seconds over fences and they won the under saddle class as well.
Caroline Dance and Show Time
The reserve champion was Capstone, ridden by Ailish Cunniffe for Mary Tyree. Another championship was awarded in the Large Junior Hunters; the top ribbon went to Further Lane Farm’s Mahalo and Sophie Michaels, while the reserve champion was Eloquence, ridden by Isabella Russekoff for Taylor Willever. In the Small Junior Hunters, Kate Ross and KAR LLC’s Friday Night were champions, and Coco Fath rode Hillside Farm LLC’s Crystal Clear to the reserve championship. Ross was also named the Best Junior Rider on a Horse.
Dance returned to the show ring with Show Time near the end of WEF after eight months off due to Show Time’s injury. While she has owned Show Time for a year, they haven’t had many chances to compete. “It was a great comeback. It was so unbelievable that he could come back better than ever,” she said.
Dance described Show Time as very smooth and fun to ride. “We’re planning on trying the equitation with him next year. He’s so confident with himself, and it makes me have a lot of confidence. If I’m going to a jump, he’ll see it too, but he always moves up. I’m still trying to figure out that deep distance and how I can handle that. Overall he’s a great ride. It’s so nice when you get there perfectly, and he gives you that nice, smooth jump. It’s just awesome.”
Caroline Dance and Show Time in their winning presentation with trainer Louise Serio.
But what Dance likes even more is Show Time’s great personality. “He’s just a big puppy dog. He’s always going through your pockets and looking for treats. He’s just a sweetheart. When he sees me coming through the barn doors, he pricks up his ears and nickers,” she said with a smile. “It’s so cute. It makes you feel so special, having a horse like that, that loves you!”
Other special awards presented today include:
Grand Pony Hunter Champion – Benetton, ridden and owned by Alexa Aureliano
Best Junior Rider on a Pony – Isabel Ryan
Grand Children’s Hunter Champion – Einstein, ridden and owned by Isabelle Mann
Best Children’s Rider on a Horse, presented with the Hunter Horse Challenge Trophy – Emma Weiss
Children’s Hunter Pony High Point Overall, awarded a plate from Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Center – Mathilda von Guttenberg
Best Children’s Rider on a Pony – Eliza Altman
Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows continue on May 13-18 with another week of exciting comptition, including Saturday’s $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem and $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby as well as the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group, Merrill Lynch, on Sunday.
WATCH LIVE! Next week: 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.