Week five at the Winter Equestrian Festival came to a close on Sunday with a fantastic championship win by Erin Floyd, from Austin, TX, and Cymplify, owned by Don Stewart, in the UHealth Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17 division. The duo, having only been paired together for a few short weeks, gathered enough points to best the division with a first, first, second, and third in the over-fences classes.
Erin Floyd and Cymplify. Photo by SportFot Photography
“He basically feels like a rocking horse going around the ring,” said Floyd of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “I have only been showing him in the [Junior Hunter] 3’3”s for the past couple weeks, so I’m still getting used to him. He has been great throughout it all, even without getting in a perfect work routine.”
Floyd plans on leasing Cymplify from Don Stewart for the rest of the circuit and hopes to continue to strengthen her relationship with the talented gelding. Cymplify, previously owned by Hasbrouck Donovan, is no stranger to the winner’s circle and has prevailed in some prestigious classes, such as his win in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala in 2015.
“He’s got a great stride going to the jump, and he walks down all of the lines,” said Floyd. “Even if you don’t jump in great, he just makes it beautiful going out no matter what.”
The pair’s 90 today over fences further strengthens the young Texan’s statement. Floyd expressed that her long-term plan with the gelding is to make it to indoor finals this year and to continue to give it their all in the show ring.
“[Our goal] is really just to do the best that we can do!” said Floyd.
Reserve honors went to Caroline Ratigan and her mount, Trust, with a second in the under saddle and a first, second, third, and third over fences.
The 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival continues in week 6 with WCHR hunter competition in the WEF International Arena and FEI jumper classes on the grass derby field and in the Global International Arena at Equestrian Village (13500 South Shore Blvd.) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.