Wellington, FL – December 4, 2016 – Samuel Parot of Wellington, FL, piloted his own Couscous Van Orti to a win in the $25,000 Omega Alpha Grand Prix at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) to conclude the 2016 Holiday & Horses competition. Parot and Couscous Van Orti dashed through the short course to finish with a time of 40.043 seconds. Eduardo Menezes of Carlsbad, CA, and Chacgrano rode to second place with a time of 42.237 seconds. Alvaro Tejada who rides internationally for Guatemala and Voltaral Palo Blanco took third place after dropping a rail to add four faults to their time of 41.052 seconds.
Parot has had a phenomenal week at PBIEC taking an FEI victory on Friday, as well as securing top honors in today’s grand prix aboard experienced mount Couscous Van Orti, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Nabab De Reve x Cash).
Samuel Parot and Couscous Van Orti
“It was a very good class with almost 45 riders. I think that with only seven clear out of that it shows how difficult the course was. For the money, I thought that it was a great and competitive class,” said Parot. “It was a very strong class and only two riders went clear in the jump-off round.”
“This horse jumped the first day of FEI and I made a mistake at one jump and the second day I decided to retire. I won with the other horse I had in the class on Friday, but I thought that Couscous went well too,” added Parot. “Normally I don’t jump more than two classes with a horse per week, but I felt that he was ready to do this class today.”
Eduardo Menezes and Chacgrano
Parot noted that the course rode well and was a good test for his mount. The pair who started the week contesting the FEI classes, chose to compete in the $25,000 Omega Alpha Grand Prix to conclude their successful week.
“I was really happy with the way that the class went today for us,” he elaborated. “All of the horses went very well this week and they will all get a vacation until January so that they are ready for the next circuit.”
All three of Parot’s horses are quick by nature and incredibly efficient. Parot dicussed the similarities between each of his three top mounts in Atlantis, Quick Du Pottier, and Couscous Van Orti.
Alvaro Tejada and Voltaral Palo Blanco
“I like to ride horses that have a similar style. I try to ride all of the horses the same. I like the horses a little bit hot who are naturally fast,” he explained.
After their return from a well-deserved break, Parot is looking forward to making his mark on the FEI competition to be hosted at PBIEC during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit.
Samuel Parot and Couscous Van Orti in their presentation ceremony with ring master Steve Rector and April Leonard representing Omega Alpha.
“They won’t show at all but will stay in work everyday in our program. When they come back I hope that we will be able to have top results in the ranking classes and big grand prixs.”
Jumper Highlights
Viggo Bjorklund of Wellington, FL, guided Artiflex R, owned by Gyllebo Farm LLC, to top honors in the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic presented by Equiline with a jump-off time of 36.781 seconds. Abigail Ron of Wellington, FL, and her own Tuja 6 took second place after crossing through the timers in 37.785 seconds, while Joyce Green of Melbourne, FL, and her own Cassidy finished in third.
The $2,500 NAL Low Junior Jumper Classic saw Katherine Benard of Cumberland Foreside, ME, and Alaika, owned by Sagamore Farm Inc., take top honors in the division with a jump-off time of 37.289 seconds. Abbie Sweetnam of Wellington, FL, and Mr. Lopez, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, took second place after completing the short course in 37.314 seconds ahead of Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT, and Cohbanta, owned by Coco Fath & Hillside Farm, who secured third place with a time of 38.168 seconds.
Alex Parrish of Midway, KY, piloted Divace, owned by Alexander Farm, to victory in the $2,500 NAL Low Amateur Owner Jumper Classic with an efficient jump-off time of 31.187 seconds. Danielle Stacy of Ipswich, MA, and Hot Topic, owned by Michelle Stacy, collected second place with a time of 32.532 seconds, while Taylor Burns of Blairstown, NJ, and her own Ice Lord, rounded out the top three finishers with a time of 33.82 seconds.
Taje Warrick of Wellington, FL, and her own Mufasa rose to the top of the leaderboard in the $1,500 Children’s Jumper Classic after stopping the short course timers in 32.485 seconds ahead of Hailey Berger of Parkland, FL, and her own Shannondale Gino who finished in second place with a time of 34.036 seconds. Katie Sansone of Coconut Creek, FL, and Tropobella 3K, owned by Golden Creek Farm LLC, earned a third place finish with a time of 34.667 seconds.
The $1,500 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic was championed by Jorge Gomez of Wellington, FL, and his own Dallas De La Bonnet, as they finished a speedy jump-off round to take the win in 31.872 seconds. Avery-Anna Hogan of Wellington, FL, and her own Eurocommerce Tampa captured second place after stopping the clock in 34.419 seconds. Sara Ballinger of Marion, OH, and Memory Lane, owned by Nicole Loochtan, cleared the track in 35.954 seconds for third.
Taje Warrick of Wellington, FL, also championed the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic aboard her own Dersey, as the pair finished three seconds ahead of second place finishers Olivia Parr of Houston, TX, and Uccella, owned by Oakland Ventures LLC, who secured a time of 36.361 seconds. Sara Ballinger of Marion, OH, and Memory Lane, owned by Nicole Loochtan rounded out the top three after finished the track in 37.226 seconds.
Ty Simpson of Wellington, FL, piloted Mister Cash Van Der Veldmden owned by Thiele Schroeder, took home the blue rosette in the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic presented by Equine Couture & Tuff Rider. Zayna Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, and Forget Me Knot, owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, were presented with second place honors after completing their jump-off track in 36.117 seconds. Ava Hoffman of North Palm Beach, FL, and Kalle, owned by Siboney Ranch, captured third place with a time of 37.819 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and her own Quincy finished atop the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ Division while Tina Allen of New Canaan, CT, and her own Galaxy were presented with reserve champion honors.
Kelley Corrigan of Lexington, KY, and her own Game Day found themselves atop the leaderboard in the Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6″ Division, while Krista Weisman of Sherborn, MA, and Reality, owned by herself and Alexa Wiseman, collected the reserve title.
The Children’s Pony Hunter Division presented by The Wanderers Club saw Elodie Watrous of Wilmette, IL, take both the champion and reserve champion honors aboard Beaverwood’s Foxberry and Crystal Acres Chocolatier respectively.
Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI, and Best Regards, owned by Patricia Fulchino took top honors in the Green & High Performance Hunter Division, while Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, FL, and Face Time, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, rode to reserve.
The High Performance Hunter 4′-4’6″ Division saw Erica Quinn of Cincinnati, OH, and Smoke, owned by Jane Gaston, split top divisional accolades with Jimmy Torano of Wellington, FL, and Pandora, owned by Teton Farms, LLC. Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, and Onyx RCF, owned by Rivercross Farm, secured reserve champion awards in the division.
The Green Pony Hunter Division saw Alexandra Lynn Willner of Boca Raton, FL, and Pursue The Blue, owned by Kim Wolf, presented with champion awards, while Ella Bostwick of Wellington, FL, and Dolce Via, owned by Christine Bostwick, earned reserve champion.
The Performance Hunter 3’6″ Division witnessed Jennifer Hannan rise to the top of the class once again to earn champion awards aboard Flamingo-K, owned by Equinimity, LLC. Marisa Metzger of Modesto, CA, and Continental, owned by Use The Ring, LLC, rode to reserve champion.