It was a blue ribbon for Israel’s Daniel Bluman and mount Entano in the $70,000 1.50m Sunday Classic CSI 5* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo raced to the first place finish in 41.599 seconds, besting the class of 34. Riding into second place was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and his own Casper, a 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet), completing the short-course in 43.607 seconds. Third place honors were bestowed upon Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC’s 2006 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam de Revel), Bull Run’s Almighty, who ended their jump-off in 44.598 seconds.
Daniel Bluman and Entano. Photo by Sportfot
Bluman and the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Namelus R x Numero Uno) owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, were one of five combinations to test the jump-off track, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), and Bluman laid down a speedy round that nudged Wordley out of first. “I thought it was a very good course,” commented Bluman, “it was wonderful to have some beautiful new jumps out there to jump now. The course designer did a good job. It was a fair, nice track. There were faults all over the place and it was technical and hard enough. It suited Entano well. He’s been jumping great lately and it was a positive result so I can’t complain.”
He continued, “He is a fast horse naturally, so I was trying to focus on him and make sure he was relaxed. I had a chance to see Sharn go in the jump-off and I thought I could beat him. This horse is a little hard to turn here and there, but he has a big step and is fast and careful, so it ended well.”
Daniel Bluman and Entano in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Sportfot
This is the gelding’s first year jumping at a higher level and Bluman explained that he is hopeful for the future with his mount. “This is the first year he has done the more serious classes and he has already won two high ranking classes. I may bring him to Kentucky as a second horse to give him some indoor experience, then he will head to Florida to compete in Holiday & Horses at PBIEC to gear up for the winter season.”
Bluman concluded, “I have high hopes for this horse. I have owned him since he was a seven-year-old and he has responded well to the work, so we are very excited about him.”
Spy Coast Farm Developing Jumper Series Shines Light on Future Equestrian Talent
The Spy Coast Farm Developing Jumper Series took place over the course of four days and four rounds, with the fate of the young winners determined on Saturday morning. After a hard fought battle against several talented mounts, the $5,000 Spy Coast Farm 5-Year-Old Jumper Championship title was awarded to Jennifer Waxman of Lexington, KY, and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s very own Nightshade SCF.
Jennifer Waxman and Nightshade SCF in their awards presentation ceremony with
Michael Kerr representing Spy Coast Farm, LLC. Photo by Sportfot
The duo crossed through the jump-off timers in 38.052 seconds to seal the top spot. Second place was awarded to Katie Sparks of Sarasota, FL, and Centennial Farm Inc.’s April Fool, who ended the weekend with a final jump-off time of 34.152 seconds and with four added faults. Third place was rounded out by David O’Brien of Lexington, KY, aboard another Spy Coast Farm LLC mount, Nanette SCF, who did not contest the jump-off, landing on a time of 75.5 seconds and 16 total faults.
The $10,000 Spy Coast Farm 6-Year-Old Jumper Championship welcomed 11 horse-and-rider combinations to test their skills, but it was young horse extraordinaire David O’Brien who took another Spy Coast Farm LLC horse straight to the top, piloting Merly Chin SCF to the blue rosette with a fault free jump-off time of 30.799 seconds.
“I use the Developing Jumper Series as an aid for my horses,” noted O’Brien, who has ridden several successful horses through the Developing Jumper Series over the past few years. “By the end of the year, I feel like I’m up on par with the rest of the young horses. Throughout the year, it’s a great stepping stone for your horse to get in the ring. It’s inexpensive and generally good courses. The shows in Tryon in April, the B-rated shows, they always put you in a good ring. You can really get the horses up and going. Throughout the year the course designers add extra things into the ring like water jumps and that kind of stuff.”
David O’Brien and Merly Chin SCF in their awards presentation ceremony with Michael Kerr representing Spy Coast Farm, LLC. Photo by Sportfot
O’Brien rides for Developing Jumper Series sponsor Spy Coast Farm LLC, and has continuously proven that the emphasis put on the proper training of young horses pays off. “It means everything to me to ride for Spy Coast,” O’Brien continued. “You know, it’s great for me, Lisa Lourie, gives us every chance. She doesn’t mind if we win or lose, but if we go in, and the horses have a good experience. If you look at, throughout the year, I might win as many young horses classes as anyone, but by the finals, I do win because I use every class as a training. We are using the classes to train the horse. We’re very lucky.”
Second place was scooped up by Brittni Raflowitz (Palm City, FL) and the ESI Show Jumpers Inc. entry Mevis de Muze, riding to a jump-off time of 31.671 seconds. Third place was rounded out by Wellington, FL, native Carlos Myrrha, who rode El Milagro’s Lovergon across the fast track in 33.356 seconds.
Allen Nabors Jr. and Bon Chatsworth Pierre in their awards presentation ceremony
with Michael Kerr representing Spy Coast Farm, LLC. Photo by Sportfot
Allen Nabors Jr. represented Landrum, SC, as he grabbed the first place spot in the $10,000 Spy Coast Farm 7-Year-Old Jumper Championship with Jessie Mazzoni’s Bon Chatsworth Pierre, besting 16 other competitors with a jump-off time of 32.737 seconds in the fourth and final round of competition. Schuyler Riley of Wellington, FL, claimed second with G-Force, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc., with a time of 33.46 seconds. Third place went to Paul O’Shea of Wellington, FL, and Skara Glen’s Para Bellum, marking down a time of 33.583 seconds in the final jump-off.