by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 25, 2024
Just four days after the MARS Maryland 5-star wrapped up, the final 5-star of the year got under way at France’s Pau venue, known for its twisty/turney cross-country course.
World number two Ros Canter of Great Britain leads after dressage on a sparkling 19 penalties with Izilot DHI, who retired on cross-country at both Badminton and Burghley. Second place is a tie between Maryland winner Oliver Townend (who rode Ballaghmor Class to that title) and his 2024 Kentucky 5-star winner Cooley Rosalent and Emily King with Valmy Biats. Both were marked at 24.6.
World number one Tom McEwen continued the British wave in fourth place with Brookfield Quality (25.8).
The best American is Boyd Martin, sixteenth with Federman B, who seems to have conquered his flying change problems from the Olympics. He was marked between 6 and 7.5 for those movements during his test, where the score was 29.5. Boyd’s other horse, Miss Lulu Herself (great name for a chestnut mare) stands twenty-first on 30.1 penalties. The only other U.S. rider in the event is Will Coleman with Off the Record, thirty-ninth on 33.2.
For Pau dressage results, click here.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 20, 2024
At last!
Two thirds and a second at the first three MARS Maryland 5-star events finally added up to a victory Sunday in the fourth renewal for a doggedly determined Oliver Townend of Great Britain. As he sought to reach his goal, the former world number one never lost his focus with Ballaghmor Class over an emotional weekend.
Oliver Townend clears the final fence on his way to victory in the MARS Maryland 5-star. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Oliver, really, really wanted this victory, taking every opportunity to praise MARS Maryland – the world’s newest 5-star, as he explained why it was so important to have that event join the 5-stars at Burghley (twice) and Kentucky on his resume.
Oliver Townend rests his head on the neck of Ballaghmor Class in relief and tribute. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Over the course of the weekend, he finished second in dressage, then moved up to first after cross-country, when overnight leader Tamie Smith retired Mai Baum on course.
Ballaghmor Class, better known as Thomas, is as tough as his rider. Together, they embarked on sealing the deal with show jumping, though Oliver was well-aware he had been in first place before at that point durring Maryland, only to wind up on a lower level of the podium. But the poles on the course designed by Michel Vaillancourt didn’t dare to fall, such was the energy generated by Oliver and his flea-bitten gray (that’s a coat color, not an insult).
In a post-ride interview, Oliver sounded positively angry about those who have sold his mount short in the final phase of eventing.
“A lot of rubbish has been spoken about his show jumping over the years because he’s normally always in a grass arena going last,” Oliver said. But, he pointed out, put Thomas on a well-groomed artificial surface like the one at the Kentucky 5-star or Maryland and it’s a different story.
He had no room for error, however. His countryman, David Doel, who had been second after cross-country with a lightning trip aboard Galileo Nieuwmoed, dropped a rail at the second element of the sixth stadium obstacle, a triple combination. David would be third with 38.5 penalties, but that was still pretty special, considering he was sixteenth after dressage.
New Zealand’s Tim Price, who had won Maryland in 2022, moved up to second on 34.6 penalties after yet another in a series of clean rounds from Falco, the horse with whom he finished sixth in the Paris Olympics. This was only the second 5-star for Falco; he won his first at Pau, France, in 2021.
Runner-up Tim Price and Falco. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
And then it was all up to Oliver, who wound up on 34.6 penalties after a perfect trip in front of a packed stadium, where everyone seemed to be holding their breath until they burst into a cheer as he finished, raising his hand high in triumph.
When the dream finally became reality, Oliver said, “It’s unbelievable. I’m relieved more than anything. A lot of pressure comes with riding Ballaghmor Class, I think, because I expect to do well on him. And when you’re against these guys, it takes some winning, it’s a 5-star for a reason,” he observed, looking at Tim and David.
He and the owners, Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, have been on “a massive journey” with the Irish-bred horse “and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Oliver said.
“He’s a top-class horse, and I think he’s possibly from the British team situation not always been treated with the respect that he deserves because 1) he’s got me on his back and 2) he had a fence down going into the lead at Badminton and Burghley.”
This was Oliver’s ninth 5-star win, matching Lucinda Green, another Brit, and Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand, both retired from top competition. Oliver noted Andrew has been an important person in both his personal life and his career.
“He’s probably going to make a comeback now,” he chuckled.
At age 17, it’s fair to say that Thomas won’t continue competing indefinitely, but when someone asked if he would retire the horse from 5-star competition now, Oliver snapped back, “Would you?” calling it “the most ridiculous question I’ve been asked all week.”
David Doel and Tim Price go after Oliver Townend, who retaliates in the traditional post-podium champagne battle. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Tim called show jumping with Falco “really good fun on him, because he’s an out-and-out jumper in his own way. The way he gets in the air is a lot of fun. He gives you the most confidence you can imagine. He makes the job very easy for me.”
For his part, David said of Galileo, “I just felt that actually, I let him down today. I didn’t quite do him the justice. The distance going down to the treble (triple combination) was a little bit quiet, just made him work a little bit too hard. He is a pretty phenomenal horse, and normally a very, very good jumping horse. Definitely sort of my mistake today and kicking myself a bit.”
He pointed out he came to Maryland for a top five finish, so a top three was gravy.
Buck Davidson was the best-placed American rider, finishing fourth on Sorocaima, a thoroughbred ex-racehorse who started 60 times at the track. He had two fences down in the combinations, bringing his total to 47.6 penalties. Even without the 8 penalties, he wouldn’t have made the podium, but it’s great to see a thoroughbred doing well against all the warmbloods.
“He’s been amazing,” said Buck.
Here’s the back story: “A friend of mine called me and said they had a horse they wanted me to have,” Buck said.
“I tried everything I could do to not buy him, but really had no excuse not to. He goes to work every day and tries his heart out. He’s only been doing the sport for four years and this is his sixth 5-star.”
Tim Price, Oliver Townend, David Doel and Buck Davidson with the Fair Hill Bronze. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Just eight horses competed in the show jumping. They were the only ones who completed Saturday’s cross-country from a field of 21. (To read about that, click here.)
In the 3-star that ran with the 5-star, popular trainer Sharon White rose from ninth after dressage with Jaguars Duende to take the lead on cross-country after going clear. She had no penalties in the show jumping either with the 8-year-old Westphalian mare, earning the title on 29.6 penalties.
Maryland 3-str winner Sharon White and Jaguars Duende. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
That was just one penalty better than Sarah Shulman and Cooley Chromatic, the first horse Sarah trained herself. Veteran Will Coleman was third with a new horse, Fahrenheit Addict (31.5)
Of her mare, Sharon said, “Her mind is extraordinary; just to sit on a horse that loves the pressure and handles it…she wants to win that’s a really special thing. She showed me that again today. That’s really unique.”
For Will, it’s been a tough season. He had two horses selected for the Paris Olympics, but it turned out neither was fit to compete, so he was off the team. Then he was supposed to bring one of those horses, Diabolo, to Maryland, but he also had a problem, so Will’s only riding opportunity at the venue was in the 3-star.
Even so, he’s looking on the bright side.
“I still feel very grateful for so many things in my life,” he said.
“I’ve got a lot of really wonderful supporters, I’ve got an amazing family, got some incredible coaches. I’ve got some nice horses, I probably need to get few more. But I’m also feeling overwhelmingly blessed. I’m looking forward to next year, because it’s another opportunity for me to improve and keep doing this.
“There’s nothing I can complain about. It’s been an up and down year, yes, in some ways, But I still have to remind myself how lucky I am.”
For 3-star results click here
For 5-star results, click here
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 19, 2024
Could this be the year that Britain’s Oliver Townend finally wins the MARS Maryland 5-star event?
After making the podium in the first three editions of the competition, but falling short of victory, he moved closer to taking the title for the first time with his 17-year-old partner, Ballaghmor Class. Following Saturday’s cross-country segment, he rose to first place with just 4.8 time penalties added to his dressage score of 26.5. Sunday’s show jumping finale will tell the tale for this prize that Oliver wants very, very much.
The Irishbred gray gelding Oliver calls Thomas has led six times in five-star events after cross-country, with three wins (Burghley 2017, 2023) and Kentucky (2021). If he can pull off victory in Maryland, he would become one of just three horses with more than three 5-star wins. The others are legends; Priceless (four) and La Biosthetique Sam (six).
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The prospect has made Oliver emotional, bringing him to tears as he contemplated the career of his amazing partner, whom he called “a special horse.”
He noted Thomas had “a couple of niggling setbacks” in the spring, which had never happened before. So Oliver, a former world number one, knows the clock is ticking relentlessly and he must appreciate every moment that he can be center stage with his athletic partner. At the same time, he is looking ahead to competing Thomas in 2025, if all goes well.
Part of Oliver’s way to the top was paved when overnight leader Mai Baum retired after a refusal at fence 17, the oddly shaped Sawmill Slice of brush and logs. The black gelding felt like a 10-year-old in the dressage phase, rider Tamie Smith reported as she discussed his 25.3 penalty test on Friday.
Tamie Smith on the cross-country course with Mai Baum before she retired at fence 17. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
But he actually is 18, and the MARS Maryland 5-star was planned to be his final competition at the sport’s highest level. His age and the taxing, undulating terrain at Fair Hill proved to be too much for this warmblood, so there was no sense in having him continue to run the last 5-star of his career.
(Interesting that in fourth place is a thoroughbred — the type of horse that was the original eventing mount when the competition format required more endurance. The pairing of Buck Davidson and Sorocaima, an ex-racehorse who was thirteenth after dressage, is now a longshot contender on 39.2 penalties.)
Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Mai Baum’s absence is no insurance, however, that Thomas will take the big prize at the competition, which offers a purse of $325,000. Oliver, who was second in dressage, has to watch out for fellow British subject, David Doel, whose Galileo Nieuwoed had been touted as the fastest horse in the competition, which drew 21 starters.
That wasn’t false advertising. David completed the 28-fence test in 10 minutes, 51 seconds, 24 seconds under the optimum time of 11 minutes, 15 seconds. David was the only one of the eight finishers not to incur time penalties over the final route devised by retiring course designer Ian Stark.
David Doel and the speedy Galileo Nieuwmoed. ( Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
David, calling his horse, “A phenomenal galloper and jumper,” noted, “It was almost a little bit embarrassing going that quick. But he just was within his stride. I never really felt like I was pushing him. I never felt like I was actually going to his limit. He definitely still felt like he had a few more gears in there.”
After rising from sixteenth place in dressage, he is less than a rail behind Oliver on a score of 34.5 penalties going into show jumping, and a mere 0.1 penalties ahead of third-place Tim Price and Falco. The New Zealander, who won Maryland with another horse in 2022, rode Falco to sixth place in the Paris Olympics.
Tim Price and Falco. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Boyd Martin, the 2021 Maryland winner, had a Groundhog Day moment, falling at the third fence, the Locust Log Pond after Commando 3 hit the obstacle. In 2023, he fell at the third fence in a different iteration when he was riding Contessa.
After starting out with a fall Saturday morning in the 3-star that runs with the 5-star, he scratched his other horses in that competition. Following his 5-star tumble, he scratched his second mount, Olympic veteran Tsetserleg. Boyd is scheduled to ride in the 5-star at Pau, France, this coming week with his Olympic mount, Federman B.
Seven entries retired on course, while six were eliminated and two withdrew from the original field of 23 that was listed for cross-country. The small number of finishers raised questions for some, but not Oliver.
“I thought it was a brilliant track and we’re all huge fans of Ian Stark and I thought it was a very fair track,” he commented.
“But it’s a 5-star and it’s meant to be a 5-star and this is the top of the sport and it did feel like you were riding around Badminton, Burghley or Kentucky, and those events are the top of the sport and as a rider, you don’t necessarily want it to be easy.”
As he reflected on his course, Ian mused, “There were quite a few that were going really well and then silly mistakes towards the end and they didn’t complete. So the statistics are not great, and it’s not quite how I wanted to end my career.
“But I thought there was some good riding, and there was maybe some green riders, green horses that were barely ready for it,” he pointed out, adding that the “trouble” was spread around the course.
“And it’s a difficult one when your first horse (Harry Meade’s Away Cruising, who lost a shoe) doesn’t go around. It sort of makes other riders begin to question. And so maybe the greener ones weren’t quite so confident setting off.”
Ian pointed out that the course was very little changed from last year, and that in terms of those who didn’t finish, “It’s unfortunate, but it happens, sadly. The ones that did go around looked amazing. And their riders were quite happy.”
Ian Stark (nicknamed Scotty) in a horse inspection 17 years ago, wearing a kilt to proclaim his Scottish heritage. (Photo © 2007 by Nancy Jaffer)
He mentioned that nearly 25 percent had clear rounds (except for time penalties), and was pleased that only one rider didn’t collect those, which testified to the appropriateness of the optimum time. (The situation looked worse than it was because of the smaller number of entries.)
What happened to those who had problems?
“For whatever reason, bad luck, younger horses, greener combinations…it wasn’t quite the result I was hoping for,” he replied.
“There’s one thing for sure,” he said with a chuckle, “nobody will talk me out of my retirement now.”
So what will the 71-year-old do in that retirement, aside from spending more time with his three grandchildren?
Turns out, it’s not really retirement. He will still help riders in the U.S., as well as continuing to ride in lower-level eventing competitions and start green horses–though in that regard, he says his family thinks “I’m nuts. I wait until they’ve all gone out, and then I back them a little bit (work with young horses).”
David Doel, Oliver Townend and Tim Price. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 18, 2024
As I was telling you in Thursday’s story about the first half of the MARS Maryland 5-star event’s dressage phase, Mai Baum and Ballaghmor Class would be the ones to watch on the second day of competition at Fair Hill. And so they were.
Overnight leader Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious, competing in the horse’s first 5-star, moved down to sixth on Friday. They were overtaken by a wave of brilliant performances from luminaries of the sport.
This is the final 5-star of an impressive career for 18-year-old Lexus, as Mai Baum is known. His 25.3 penalties for Friday’s test were more than a point ahead of 17-year-old runner-up Ballaghmor Class, or Thomas, which is what rider Oliver Townend calls one of history’s most successful event horses.
Tamie’s least impressive marks were for the mid-test halt (6.5 across the board) but she made up for that with a 10 for her final halt and salute. It doesn’t get better than that, and her post-performance series of hugs for Lexus showed her pride and affection for the stately black gelding.
He did his first 4-star event at Fair Hill, so it’s a closing of the circle to have the German sport horse deliver his final 5-star at the facility.
“I was super-pleased with him. He was feeling like a million bucks,” said Tamie of the 2023 Defender Kentucky 5-star winner.
“He feels like he’s 10 again, so strong. I feel like I had my best test. I was really thrilled with pretty much every aspect of it,” she said. Although she’s had a test that earned less penalties, it would seem this one got elevated in her mind because it’s the last at the 5-star level.
Oliver raised his right arm in triumph more than once at the conclusion of his 26.5-penalty test in one of his favorite venues. It was emotional for him, he started to cry in a post-competition interview.
Oliver Townend was pleased with Ballaghmor Class and his dressage test. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
To him, Fair Hill is special.
“I love it here. I love the place, I love the atmosphere, I love the people’s enthusiasm behind the event. I’m a massive, massive fan of the entire venue,” commented the number five-ranked eventer in the world, who has come close to winning with a variety of horses in the event’s first three years, but hasn’t yet made it to the top of the podium in Maryland.
Bubby Upton, who had to learn to walk, and then to ride again after breaking her back last year in a fall on the flat, turned in a sparkling test with Cola, marked at 26.7 penalties. Brown Advisory, which presents the 5-star, and Howden Insurance teamed to get Bubby to the States for her first visit to the U.S.
Now 25, she was a top Young Rider with Cola and excelled in the junior ranks as well. The two have a true emotional connection, and she has an amazing story of grit and perseverance.
Bubby Upton, who had to learn to walk and then ride again after breaking her back, gives thanks to her Cola after her dressage test. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
World number three Tim Price of New Zealand, a previous Maryland winner, is fourth (27.4 penalties) with Falco, his sixth-place finisher from the Paris Olympics.
New Zealander Tim Price and Falco. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
And Boyd Martin of the U.S., world number six, is fifth with another equine senior citizen, the 17-year-old Tsetserleg who has been there and done that. He is also seventh with Commando 3 (28.5), behind Cosby.
Of course, Saturday’s cross-country, the last course to be designed by the retiring Ian Stark, could do another reshuffle of the standings, so don’t open the champagne just yet.
Asked what he thought of the route across terrain that gets steep at times (they didn’t call it Fair Hill for nothing) Oliver had just one word, “Big.”
“Yeah, it’s big,” agreed Tamie.
The top three after dressage: Oliver Townend, Tamie Smith and Bubby Upton. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
I wondered what Lexus will be doing when this event is history and he heads home to California. Tamie noted that “Lexus could do anything,” and offered several thoughts on the subject.
They run from having his owner, Alex Ahearn, ride him on the trails, to perhaps focusing on pure dressage and maybe doing hunter derbies (Tamie already has discussed that with prominent California hunter/jumper trainer Archie Cox.) I suggested he could do exhibitions; he is so popular that could be a winner for, perhaps, a charity.
Can’t you see Mai Baum as a pure dressage horse? (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“He’s a very all-around horse,” said Tamie.
One thing is certain: “We’ll keep enjoying him.”
Making a decision about what’s next requires some input from the horse.
“It’s hard because they don’t actually speak in words, but they do speak if you listen to them,” said Tamie.
“We listened to him this summer when he wasn’t quite right and ready to go to the Paris Olympics,” noted the rider, who called that experience “dream-crushing.”
But she knows what’s important.
“You just become a horseman…you do what’s right by them, not necessarily what you competitively want. Mai Baum has taught me a tremendous amount about horsemanship and listening to my horse.”
Oliver doesn’t have the luxury of all those possibilities with Thomas post-eventing.
“I don’t quite know what we’re going to do with him once his job as an event horse is finished, because I can’t see him doing too many other jobs,” mused Oliver.
“We’ll keep him going as long as he’s able. He isn’t going to be a happy hacker for somebody. I can’t see him in the hunting field. He’s a naturally top class event horse and we’ve been hugely privileged to have him as part of our team for so long.”
Click here for 5-star dressage phase results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 17, 2024
The world’s newest 5-star three-day event may not have drawn a huge field of entries, but there are some very impressive names among the 23 horses going for a piece of the $325,000 purse this weekend.
Although the MARS Maryland 5-star is only in its fourth year, it has become a go-to for top British riders as well as American stars. The 2024 edition, which got under way Thursday at Fair Hill, will mark the final appearance at this level of Mai Baum, who in 2023 wowed his fans with the first U.S. victory in the Defender Kentucky 5-star since 2008. He missed the Olympics due to injury, but could start his campaign for another 5-star title Friday afternoon with Tamie Smith.
And then there’s Ballaghmor Class, a warrior who has won the Defender Kentucky and Burghley (twice!) 5-stars under the guidance of Britain’s Oliver Townend, the man who came close at Maryland three times, only to miss the top spot. But we won’t see him until Friday either.
Boyd Martin, the USA’s busiest rider, has two entries. He would have had three, but he decided that On Cue, who won the first Maryland 5-star, “was starting to struggle in her final gallops and jump schools.” As he pointed out, “It would not do her justice if I tried to take advantage of her good nature by asking her to do something I was not sure her body was capable of.”
So there are big names aplenty, which is why it was interesting that Cosby Green, 23, had the best score as the first half of the field competed, with Highly Suspicious, a not-so-easy horse doing his first 5-star.
The top three on day one at the MARS Maryland 5-star, presented by Brown Advisory: Boyd Martin (second), Cosby Green (first) and Lindsay Traisnel (third). (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Her score was 28 penalties, the equivalent of 72.04 percent in regular dressage, and just 0.5 penalties ahead of Boyd and Commando 3.
Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cosby, an American based in England with New Zealanders Jonelle and Tim Price, revealed that it has been a difficult road with Highly Suspicious, the horse she has owned for seven years and affectionately calls Puff.
“I totally had no business buying him when I did at 16. I couldn’t ride one side of him, I scored consistently in the 40s and had lots of 20s (refusals),” she explained.
Cosby tried selling the appealing gray, or even giving him away, but “everyone kept telling me to stick with it.” And it turned out they were correct.
But it has been a long journey to success.
“My horse…lacks confidence and is quite anxious as well.”
That often reflected her feelings.
“We’re quite similar people, really,” she smiled.
Cosby Green and Highly Suspicious. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The key was “Just having Jonelle believe in me and changing the program, we just flourished because of it, if I had to pinpoint it to something,” said Cosby.
“It’s just been a matter of getting his body right and his mind right,” she said of Puff.
Discussing his test in the wide-open arena at Fair Hill, “overall, I thought it was some of his best work in the ring so far,” she observed.
Although the walk continues to be Puff’s weakness (he got marks of 4, 3 and 2 for the medium walk when he didn’t settle), “I thought he did a great demonstration of all the work we’ve been putting in, and that doesn’t always happen in such a big atmosphere, so I really am thrilled with him,” she said.
“It’s not been a smooth road, but a day like today makes it worth it.”
Boyd credited his wife, Silva, for helping make Connor, as his “high-energy horse” is known, deal with the stress of competition She rode him at Fourth Level at Dressage at Devon last month, which gave the Holsteiner some mileage to ease the sharpness he has exhibited when there is lots of atmosphere.
Boyd Martin executes a smooth flying change. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“It was very beneficial I just felt he was more rideable in the ring than usual, so thank Silva,” said Boyd, noting Connor felt like he was “on the job”.
Silva Martin competing Commado 3 at Dressage at Devon. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Silva produced the test ride for the 5-star with another of Boyd’s horses, Luke 140, enabling the judges to compare notes and get on the same page before the competition began.
The judges confer after Silva’s test ride. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Third-place Canadian Lindsay Traisnel and her Bacyrouge have been partners for nine years. That relationship “reinforces what I can do and trust him and he always does his best to perform well,” she said. Their score was a respectable 30.7 penalties.
Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge. (Photo © 2024 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
The Selle Francais was bought as a four-year-old prospect, but Lindsay and her husband, Xavier, found they didn’t want to sell him. It was a good decision. Last year, she rode him on the Canadian eventing gold medal team at the Pan American Games, where she won the individual bronze.
Click here for the first half of the 5-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 13, 2024
JJ Torano became the youngest rider ever to win the Dover Saddlery/U.S. Equestrian Federation Hunter Seat Medal Finals, topping a field of 169 on Sunday at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
A 14-year-old who eligible to ride as age 13 (giving him four more years to win the other equitation championships if he needs extra time), JJ nailed the demanding final test, riding without stirrups over a course that tested control. It started with a hand-gallop and included taking two fences at the counter-canter. The requirement to halt after the final obstacle was handled spot-on to make a statement by JJ and his mount, Special Edition Z, who won the best horse title.
JJ was confident that his horse “could do anything I ask him for. From holding counter leads to nailing the final halt after the last jump – I think that was the best part of the final test.”
Favorite Edition Z started out as a jumper last year, but by the time of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival, he had transitioned to equitation with JJ.
“We prepared for this season with a lot of repetition. We don’t know what to expect coming to Medal Finals, but we practice to be prepared for anything we’re asked for,” said JJ, with a wisdom beyond his years.
The winner is the son of Jimmy and Danielle Torano, both of whom have been big winners in the hunter and jumper ranks. JJ is trained for equitation by Missy Clark, John Brennan and the team at North Run.
JJ Torano with his parents, Danielle and Jimmy Torano. (US Equestrian photo)
JJ was leading last weekend in the Show Jumping Talent Search Medal Finals East in New Jersey before he accumulated several time faults and chipped in at the next-to-last fence in his last round on one of his rival’s horses during the Final Four test. (To read the Talent Search story, go down to the second feature on this site.)
The Floridian wasn’t going to let anything like that happen this time, executing every round with flair and thinking through every stride during the final test of the top six riders, culled from 25 semi-finalists during a second round over a new course designed by Steve Stephens. The class was judged by Rachel Kennedy and Tammy Provost.
Second was Sydney Raidy of New York, who moved up from third place before the work-off.
“I wanted to play it safe,” said Sydney, who is trained by Frank Madden.
“We’ve had so many lessons at home, learning about the smartest choices to make once you’re there. It’s easy to get nervous and do something that’s too hard. So, I just wanted to walk in, get my counter lead, and get good distances.”
Maddie Tosh of Georgia finished third. Trained by her father, top hunter rider Hunt Tosh, she was the winner of the 2023 Washington International Horse Show’s equitation championship. Washington is where the riders are heading for the next championship, before capping the season in November at the National Horse Show with the ASPCA Maclay.
Fourth went to Ariana Marnell, another North Run trainee, who lives in Florida. Fifth was Olivia Sweetnam, who had been third in the Talent Search last weekend and won the Turnham Green/USEF National Junior Jumper Championship earlier in the Pennsylvania show. The Florida resident is coached by Ken and Emily Smith.
Judge Kennedy observed, “The top six riders were fractions apart going into round two. But the top four finishers were super strong.”
click here for results
