Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S. PC: Sportfot
Jessica Springsteen (USA) was the winner of the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class with Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S during WEF 7. Beginning on Wednesday, the class was stopped halfway through due to inclement weather and resumed with its remaining entries on Thursday morning.
Fifty entries showed over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course, which yielded 16 clear rounds. Springsteen showed in the first half of the class on Wednesday afternoon, piloting Davendy S to the winning time of 56.41 seconds. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili finished second in 57.61 seconds. Samuel Parot (CHI) and Couscous van Orti placed third in 58.99 seconds. Cian O’Connor (IRL) finished fourth riding Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s Callisto through the timers in 59.21 seconds.
“She was amazing,” Springsteen said of her 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II). “I saw Kristen go, and I saw that she was really fast. I knew that I definitely needed to take a couple of risks, but that is where she is just such a fast horse across the ground and over the fences. She is so much fun in those classes.
“I really wanted to win,” Springsteen continued. “I just tried to do the tightest turns that I could, but she is just one of the fastest horses I have ever ridden on her own, so if I stick to my plan normally I am able to have a good place. I knew there was still half the class to go, but after we went, I was pretty sure that we had it. There was no place I could have gone faster.”
Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S in their winning presentation with Brooke Snader of Douglas Elliman Real Estate and ringmaster Steve Rector.
Davendy S lights up in the show ring, but generally has a very calm demeanor.
“I know she looks like a really hot horse when she is in the ring, but actually to ride, she takes a lot of leg,” Springsteen explained. “If you see her just walking around, she does not look like a speed horse. She is so big and sleepy, but when she gets in the ring she gets so excited. She just loves it.”
Also competing in the International Arena on Thursday, Emma Heise (USA) and Old Willow Farms’ Viper Vrombautshoeve Z won the $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI 2* speed class.
The $2,500 Engel & Völkers High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class concluded the day with a win for Jorge Matte Capdevila and C’Est Beau.
$35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class top 15:
