As we explained in yesterday’s story (click here for a link) Lafitte de Muze loves the Devon Horse Show.
And it loves him back. After winning the High Performance Hunter Championship (for the second year in a row) on Wednesday, he and his partner of nine years, Amanda Steege, returned Thursday to triumph in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
Lafitte was the first to test the arrangement of artful fences set by designer Meghan Rawlins in the initial Classic round of 31 competitors, where he came up with a score of 194. The only entry close to that, Jennifer Hannan with Celestino, was five points behind.
The top 12 came back for the Handy round, which included a bounce (two low fences with no stride between them) rather than the trot fence that is usual for this test.
Lafitte’s first round score gave the 15-year-old Belgian warmblood the advantage of going last, which meant Amanda had a chance to study the ways riders chose to travel the route for the best possible Handy score, with clever turns gaining points. But going first in the Classic round and last in the Handy meant she had a lot of time on her hands, so she passed it by going to the riders’ lounge and having some iced tea and lemonade. When her clients spotted her, they naturally asked, “What are you drinking?”
Said Amanda, “It looked a little bit like I was calming my nerves.” No, she was just thirsty.
Her Handy score of 198.5, when added to her first round mark, gave her a total of 392. 5 that would put her on top after the final test.
Celestino’s second-round mark was just 0.5 points behind Amanda’s, but the totals added up after the Handy told the tale. That horse had a cumulative score of 387, which wound up 5.5 behind the leader.
Jennifer Hannan and Celestino.
Actually ,the best effort in the Handy belonged to another Jennifer, Jennifer Jones on Levi VDL. Devon is only their fifth show together, but she quickly came to appreciate him.
“My horse is so scopey and so great. He can jump a house,” she said of the 10-year-old Dutchbred stallion, a former jumper who won the Derby at Canada’s Royal Winter Fair. Jennifer explained that taking advantage of Levi’s ability enabled her to gain points by making impressive inside turns before both the second and the last jump. Her Handy score was an impressive 204, though together with 182.5 from the first round, it was only enough to put her third on 386.5.
So the class belonged to Lafitte, and it seemed like destiny.
“He is amazing, but even with amazing as he normally is , I think to have six rounds go the way it did this week was nerve-wracking but also exciting,” said Amanda after enjoying her victory pass, stopping the joyful gallop only long enough to let a delighted spectator pat Lafitte.
Lafitte loves his fans.
The showgrounds have particular meaning for Amanda because family on her mother’s side comes from the area near Devon, and there’s even a photo of her grandfather competing at Devon.
So it’s understandable when she explained, “There are a few bucket list classes left that I want him to win, and this was one of them.
“This derby has never completely gone our way. We came here with a goal and a plan and tried to make the right decisions for him (Lafitte)during the week to get the best result that I could today. It’s always nice when a plan comes together.”
She and Jennifer Hannan discussed the course before they rode, deciding together on a few approaches and checking in with the course designer to learn what she intended.
“It’s nice to have friends out there and feel like you have support,” said Amanda.
Celestino was imported three years ago and sold at the World Sport Horse Sales to a trainer in Ocala.
During the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Jennifer Hannan revealed, “I was sitting in my hotel room with my computer, just watching rounds looking for horses and I saw him (in the First Year Greens) and right away called the Riggios” (her clients).
She told them, “I think I found a horse we have to try.” And they bought the gelding by Cornet Obolensky. He had competed in the seven-year-old jumpers in Europe.
Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Hannan and Amanda Steege.
“Last year really took off. He was second at Derby finals. He’s really a consistent partner,” said Jennifer.
“His jump stood out to me. He just does it so easy. You can count on him to do anything. He is ultra-careful, which is such an incredible attribute.”
It was really nice to hear the riders at the top of the Derby standings speak so fondly of their mounts.
“I can’t imagine ever having as special of a bond with another horse as I have with Lafitte,” said Amanda.
“I’m the only person who’s ever shown him in a hunter class. For me, he’s the most perfect horse and most perfect partner I could have ever imagined. He never lets me down. He’s always out there trying to do his best.”
click here for results
