WATCH: Kristen Vanderveen and “Frosty” Do It Again With Win in $216K Grand Prix at ESP Holiday Series in Welly

Kristen Vanderveen and Frosty. PC: Anne Gittens Photography

Kristen Vanderveen and her stunning Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili (known in the barn as Frosty) went dashing through the proverbial snow to win the $216K grand prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center as part of the ESP Holiday Series. Kristen and the 12-year-old stallion topped the tough class with a jump-off time of 45.53 seconds for the win.

There were 43 competitors in the class designed by Rio course magician Guilherme Jorge, and an impressive 11 horse and rider combinations came back around for the jump-off. Margie Engle and her longtime partner Royce gave Kristen and Frosty the best run for their money with a final time of 46.47 seconds, and WIHS champ Beat Mandli of Switzerland his lovely mare Dsarie rounded out the podium with a 49.63 second finish.

Margie Engle and Royce. PC: Anne Gittens Photography

Beat Mandli and Dsarie. PC: Anne Gittens Photography

“He felt really happy this whole week,” said Kristen after the class. “I’ve had a great feeling with him and he did jump the qualifying class very well. This is really the first proper night class that I’ve done in Wellington with him, as he’s jumped under the lights in Tryon and in other locations, so it was time to bring him out here.”

“This was kind of a test as to where we are going this season and to see if I want to use him as my main horse here at WEF. I think that he proved that we are ready to go, so I was really pleased with him. Walking the course I thought that it was fair and a nice first way to ease into a night class. It obviously wasn’t too easy, but not quite as big as it possibly could have been.”Kristen Vanderveen, Margie Engle, and Beat Mändli in their presentation ceremony with ring master Steve Rector; Scott Glinski, Marketing & Communications Manager of Palm Beach County Sports Commission; Beth & Keith Vanderveen; and Mark & Katherine Bellissimo of Wellington Equestrian Partners.

Kristen couldn’t help but glow about the big gray partner who together have put each other on the map. “He’s just a laid-back guy. He’s lovely to have in the barn. He’s the most responsive horse to all human contact. He really surprises people because of how big and fast he is. Last season he was champion in the 1.45m speed classes the whole season and you look at him and think that there’s no way, but he listens so well and he’s so reactive. Whenever I ask for something he’s on it right away.”

$216,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by Palm Beach County Sports Commission Final Results
1. BULL RUN’S FAUSTINO DE TILI, 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run’s Jumpers Five LLC: 0/0/45.53

2. ROYCE, 2004 Oldenburg stallion by Cafe Au Lait x Grandilot
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Partners LLC: 0/0/46.47

3. DSARIE, 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare by Veron x Ahorn
BEAT MÄNDLI (SUI), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 0/0/49.63

4. CASPER, 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Contender x Baloubet Du Rouet
SHARN WORDLEY (NZL), Sky Group: 0/0/49.86

5. EXELERO 2, 2008 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet
LIUBOV KOCHETOVA (RUS), Liubov Kochetova: 0/0/56.21

6. RMF SWINNY DU PARC, 2006 Selle Francais mare by Berlin x Laudanum
JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Rushy Marsh Farm: 0/4/46.02

7. FOR EDITION, 2000 Hanoverian stallion by Forsyth Frh x Leggiero
TAYLOR LAND (USA), Jay Land: 0/4/47.73

8. CASALL, 2005 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Capitol I
ALI WOLFF (USA), Blacklick Bend Farm: 0/4/48.64

9. HUNTERS CONLYPSO II, 2008 Hanoverian gelding by Contendro I x Calypso II
LORCAN GALLAGHER (IRL), Dacantos Group: 0/4/50.82

10. SHIVER, 2005 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato x Grannus
LIZA FINSNESS (USA), Liza Finsness: 0/4/52.5

11. DONNA SPECIALE, 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare by Cavalier x Concorde
LESLIE HOWARD (USA), Laure Sudreau: 0/8/46.38

12. ROBIN DU PONTHUAL, 2005 Selle Francais gelding by Elf D’Or x Calypso D’Herbiers
PETER LUTZ (USA), Katherine Gallagher & Michael Meller: 0/80.98