The thrilling action of the 2019 National Horse Show continued Saturday afternoon with juniors and amateurs taking center ring for the Hollow Brook Wealth Management $25,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Grand Prix CSI4*. Thirty horse-and-riders combinations made up the competitive field, all of which qualified for the elite class by accumulating points earlier in the week. Topping the historic class was Taylor St. Jacques and Upsilon De La Liniere, who rode away with the Jean Maccoll Hart Perpetual Memorial Trophy, donated by Deborah C. Hart and Gwynn H. Hubbell, as well as the lion’s share of the prize money.
Taylor St. Jacques and Upsilon De La Liniere. Photo by Phelps Sports
Designed by Ken Krome (USA), the first round track challenged competitors over twelve obstacles, including a triple combination and water feature. Only the second rider to try her hand at the course, Natalie Dean (USA) and Marigold Sporthorses, LLC’s Maestro Vica V/D Ark became the pathfinders to the course, setting the pace at 59.36 seconds. Seven others, including Kirsten Ostling, Teddy Vlock, Tanner Korotkin, Charlise Casas, St. Jacques, Kathryn Hall and Alexandra Pielet, followed suit after Dean’s clear ride.
Eight athletes moved on to go head-to-head for the jump-off, with Dean and Maestro Vica V/D Ark first to enter under the Longines arches to test the shortened footpath. Throughout the eight fence course, riders were engaged with tight rollbacks and a final gallop to the last fence, leaving no room for error as they moved swiftly under the lights of the Alltech Arena. Dean put no faults on the scoreboard, challenging the remaining of her competitors to go clear and beat her time of 37.760 seconds. Her lead was short lived, however, as Ostling delivered a clear trip and time of 36.309 seconds. In a game of leapfrog, Vlock then entered the arena to outpace both, only to have Korotkin place himself ahead of the pack immediately after. In the end, seven of the returning competitors rode to double clear with the final combination, St. Jacques and her own Upsilon De La Liniere, besting the field with a time of 34.026 seconds.
Taylor St. Jacques and Upsilon De La Liniere. Photo by Phelps Sports
“Typically I do not go very fast one this horse, this was the first day,” St. Jacques explained. “Thursday was amazing that I had the fastest time, yesterday I had the fastest time, and then today I was just trying to turn as tight as I possibly could. Molly and I were talking during the course walk and she told me to be like her at Harrisburg; throw style out the window, turn and kick as hard as I could down to the last jump. After watching Tanner and the tail end of his round I thought there was no way that I was going to beat him, but I turned and pony kicked the whole way down. To my surprise and I bet everyone else, I did, in fact, beat him.”
St. Jacques and the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding have had a successful year together. The 20-year-old athlete purchased Upsilon De La Liniere to bring her to FEI level, prioritizing their relationship throughout the summer with the help of Molly Ashe Cawley. With hardwork and time, St. Jacques and Upsilon De La Liniere were able to achieve their greatest accomplishment yet, a clear ride in a 3* grand prix at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
Tanner Korotkin and Armagedon. Photo by Phelps Sports
Taking second in the class was Korotkin and Sandalwood Farms’ Armagedon. The 14-year-old KWPN gelding put in a double-clear performance and time of 34.943 seconds to place themselves behind St. Jacques by not even a second. Rounding out the top three was Charlise Casas and Always Faithful Equine LLC’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Diamond M, who also finished double clear and on a time of 35.360 seconds.
In the overall East Coast series, Paige Matthies was rewarded for her efforts throughout the year. The 18-year-old rider accumulated the most points throughout Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper competition at various shows to top the overall scorecard, earning her the distinction of the East Coast Conference series champion.