The 60th Anniversary Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) came to a peak on Saturday, October 27, with a victory for reigning FEI Jumping World Cup™ champions Beezie Madden (USA) and Breitling LS in the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington, presented by Events DC.
A four-time U.S. Olympian, Madden topped a 24-horse field by more than two seconds in 30.74 seconds for owner Abigail Wexner over courses built by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. From a four-horse jump-off, she edged out Katherine Dinan (USA) riding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC, who sat on a leading time of 32.93 seconds. Madden’s silver medal teammate from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Lucy Davis (USA), rounded out an all-female podium in 33.44 seconds riding Caracho 14, owned by Old Oak Farm.
Beezie Madden and Breitling LS. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam rounded out the jump-off with a four-fault performance for fourth place riding Don’t Touch Du Bois, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast Farm, and Paul Tracy. A 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games team gold medalist, Laura Kraut (USA) finished fifth with the fastest four-fault ride from the opening round aboard Confu, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.
“This was his first indoor event of the year, so it’s nice to see that he’s in form,” said Madden of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Quitero x Acord II). “It shows why he was good at the World Cup [Final]; he walked right in here and was clever, rideable, adjustable, careful, and he can handle tight spaces like this.”
A quick horse by nature, Madden relied on Breitling’s foot speed to shave significant time off the clock, saying, “I thought one to two was a little bit of a tough turn to a big jump, so I didn’t think that was really the place to win it. I feel like I was a touch slow there, but then I knew my horse has some speed, and he’s quite good at turning, so I think I made it up at the turns on both ends, particularly the last turn.”
Madden has set her sights on the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Göteborg (SWE) with a solid string of horses to choose from.
“Last year I didn’t really know which horse I was taking until probably the middle of the Wellington season when [Breitling] showed that he was on great form, so I’ll probably plan on the same thing. I’m trying to make them all eligible. I already have done a class with Darry Lou and with Breitling, and I’m going to take my new horse Chic Hin d’Hyrencourt to Lexington so that hopefully he completes in that grand prix, and then I just have Coach left. We will see which one’s on the best form!”
Beezie Madden claimed her third Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Washington win on Saturday, October 27. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Taking a proud runner-up position to Madden, Dinan watched her trainer Beat Mändli win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Washington in 2017 and was on the hunt for her own top finish this year.
“I would have loved to have a repeat victory for our team, but beside Beat I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world I’d rather be second to besides Beezie,” she said. “She’s been a longtime idol of mine and Lucy is one of my oldest and best friends in the sport, so to have the three of us here is a great night.
“I had no choice but to go for it,” continued Dinan. “Last year, I had the fastest time and one down in this grand prix. This year, I said, ‘You know what, there’s only four.’ I was thrilled with him.”
Since helping the U.S. team win a silver medal in Brazil, Davis took some time to develop some young mounts including Caracho 14.
“I’ve been patiently waiting since he was seven, so we know each other well,” said Davis, who is based out of Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. “Lucky for me, he has an amazing brain, so I can keep kind of challenging him at each show. He’s been delivering each time, so I’m super excited. I am working on going faster each time and getting our turning. It was a nice opportunity to give it a go without really risking anything. I knew that three good riders were behind me so I had nothing to lose.”
In reaction to the week, course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. was impressed during his first appearance at WIHS and his first trip to the nation’s capital, saying, “It’s unique what has been done here and amazing. This atmosphere is really, really good. I think the class was fair. It was delicate, but we saw good sport.
“For me, it’s important that I put a course [together] that they can come into the ring with a rhythm,” continued Petersen. “So I tried to make it a little easier to come into the rhythm, and then the tests started.”
As WIHS celebrates its 60th anniversary with top sport, unmatched community engagement, and a setting like no other in the heart of Washington, D.C., the show’s president, Vicki Lowell, commented on a terrific week.
“The riders were amazing, Olaf did an incredible job, and the crowd was fantastic,” she said. “It was a great 60th celebration. I love Breitling and I adore all three of these American riders. I think it’s fantastic that they were able to come to our nation’s capital and put it down tonight. To be able to celebrate here with all these fans – people that don’t get to see this kind of experience, it’s just great. It’s top sport and top fun. Here’s to 60 more!”
$135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington Results
1. BREITLING LS: 2006 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Quintero x Accord II
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/30.74
2. DOUGIE DOUGLAS: 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding by VDL Douglas x High Roller
KATHERINE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/32.93
3. CARACHO 14: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Dobel’s Cento x Acodetto
LUCY DAVIS (USA), Old Oak Farm: 0/0/33.44
4. DON’T TOUCH DU BOIS: 2009 Belgian Warmblood by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm, Sweet Oak Farm, and Paul Tracy: 0/4/30.90
5. CONFU: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Contact Me x Cambridge
LAURA KRAUT (USA), St. Bride’s Farm: 4/64.74
6. CATOKI’S SON Z: 2009 Zangersheide gelding by Catoki x Aldo du Reverdy
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Ilan Ferder & Tal Milstein: 4/65.04
7. HH GIGI’S GIRL: 2008 KWPN mare by Vingino x Celano
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Double H Farm: 4/65.71
8. EDDIE BLUE: 2009 KWPN gelding by VDL Zirocco Blue x Marlon
DEVIN RYAN (USA), LL Show Jumpers LLC: 4/65.87
9. CHAMONIX H: 2001 SWB mare by Equest Carnute x Caletto II
KELLI CRUCIOTTI (USA), Serenity Farm: 4/66.62
10. ALMA Z: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Chacco-Blue x Pablo
CORMAC HANLEY (IRL), Heathman Farm, LLC: 4/66.65
11. BOKAI: 2006 KWPN gelding by Up To Date x Ferro
CATHERINE TYREE (USA), Mary & Joe Tyree: 4/67.06
12. QUINTA 106: 2007 Holsteiner mare by Quidam de Revel x Cento
MATTIAS TROMP (USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 4/67.31