The Split Rock Jumping Tour’s Sonoma International CSI2* focused on the future of the sport Saturday with young horses dominating the competition. The 8-year-old stallion Menelik, ridden by Karl Cook, had the stand out performance of the day to win the $5,000 Animo 1.40m Youngster Bowl, a class designed for 7- and 8-year-old horses.
Signe Ostby’s Hanoverian, who is by Monte Bellini and out of Statella P, produced two picture-perfect rounds with a jump off time of 46.668 to secure a podium finish.
Karl Cook and Menelik © Grandpix
“The horses are all young, so you want to go as fast as is reasonable for them,” Cook said of his strategy for the class. “It’s kind of a hard line to walk-you want to push them, but not too far. My goal was to push as hard as he felt he could handle.”
“He’s a really good guy to have around. He’s very professional. He doesn’t get psyched up before he goes in. He knows the job,” Cook added.
From left: SRTJ Founder Derek Braun, Mandy Porter, Karl Cool and Shawn Casady © Grandpix
Mandy Porter and Wild Turkey Farm LLC’s WT Leapfrog, a 7-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Lio Calyon and out of Grandessa, took second after two clear rounds and a jump off time of 47.995. Stopping the clock at 49.293 seconds for third place was Shawn Casady and HKC Collection LLC’s Ariana, a 7-year-old KWPN mare by Cantos and out of Chup A Chup.
Descanso Farm’s Rumpleteazer DF continued his dominance of the 5-year-old classes, winning the $1,000 Animo 5-Year-Old Final Saturday with Will Simpson in the tack. Two foot perfect rounds and a jump off time of 29.611 secured the top spot for the Warmblood mare by Flexible.
STRJ Founder Derek Braun and Alex Hindi of his own Solea Equestrian, who is representing Animo as the official retailer of Animo at SRJT Sonoma, congratulate Will Simpson © Grandpix
Riding for Altaire Ventures, Hallie Buttenwieser piloted Ezmeralda EH Z, a Zangersheide mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof, to a top finish in the $1,000 Animo 6-Year-Old Final after producing two clear rounds and a jump off time of 35.671 seconds.
Halie Buttenwieser and Ezmeralda EH Z © Grandpix
Sabine Cooper earned a win in the $7,500 1.30m Medium Junior/Amateur Final with her Juweel van Maarle. She was the only rider to take the risky inside turn to fence three of the jump off, and it made the difference in her winning 38.123 second time.
Sabine Cooper and Juweel can Maarle © Grandpix
In a nail-biting jump off finale, Sydnie Young and Madison Breen’s Lambert Louis clinched a win in the $7,500 1.20m Low Junior/Amateur Final with a time of 31.943 seconds.
Lauren Little and her Ultra d’Eclipse took their second win of the weekend in the Free x Rein 1.0m Low Child/Adult Speed class. The pair stopped the clock at 57.66 seconds after a beautiful clear round.
Emma Catherine Reichow and Cubiki © Grandpix
Emma Catherine Reichow her Cubiki were untouchable in the $1,000 1.40m Junior/Amateur Speed class. They were quickest across the ground in 68.829 seconds with a clear round.
Olivia Williams and her Cansas were congratulated with an eruption of applause after their win of the $500 1.10m Child/Adult Speed class. Their efficient clear round gave them a time of 56.011 seconds, which was the best of the group.