Eric Martin of Oakbank, MB, and Expecting Friday emerged victorious in the fifth event in the western region of the 2011 Jump Canada Young Horse Series held at the Rocky Mountain Classic II from August 24 to 28 in Calgary, AB.
It was a one-two finish for Canadian-bred horses in the Five-Year-Old-Division, with Martin and Expecting Friday taking the win. The pair was the only one to jump double clear, stopping the clock in 36.20 seconds in the jump-off. Purchased as a weanling by Martin’s wife, Danae, the chestnut Thoroughbred-cross gelding is by Expecting Greatness and was bred by Cancade Farms in Saskatchewan.
“We purchased three weanlings, all with the same sire,” explained Martin. “They were the stallion’s final foal crop, and we bought them sight unseen. They were sentimental buys.”
All three, including Expecting Friday, share the same sire as Danae’s former three day event horse, Dynex. The pair was long listed to the 1999 Canadian Eventing Team, but Dynex was sold in 2000 after an injury to Danae’s hand, caused by a bite from a foaling mare, left her unable to event. Expecting Friday is the first horse she has owned since then.
Martin and Expecting Friday have already enjoyed success in the Young Horse Series, having won the same division at the opening event, the Bow Valley Classic, held in May in Calgary, AB. Expecting Friday is better known around the barn as ‘Skittles’ because, as Martin explains, “When we first started jumping him, he’d barely walk over a rail on the ground, so we started calling him Skittles. That has been his name ever since.”
Now, Martin says Expecting Friday is “just a genuine, nice horse.”
Finishing second was Pam Yerxa of Calgary, AB, and her horse W.H. Callista, who had the fifth fence down in the opening round to finish with four faults. Callista is a Canadian Warmblood mare by Carthago Sun III and out of a Hail Victorious dam. She was bred by Wachter Horses of Innisfail, AB.
Topping the Six-Year-Old Division was Alban, ridden by Alexander Grayton for owner Grayton Farm Ltd. of Priddis, AB. Grayton and the Dutch Warmblood gelding put in a clear performance, crossing the timers in 71.42 seconds. By Cavalier and out of a Voltaire mare, Alban was bred by AJPJ van den Heogen in the Netherlands.
The purpose of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Jump Canada Young Horse Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.
The 2011 Jump Canada Young Horse Series is truly national in scope with competitions being held from coast to coast. The National Young Horse Finals will take place at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament held from September 21-25 in Palgrave, ON.
For more information on the Jump Canada Young Horse Series, please visit http://equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=88&Itemid=3&lang=en
Rocky Mountain Classic II – Calgary, AB
Six-Year-Old Division
Horse Owner Rider
1. Alban Grayton Farms Ltd. Alexander Grayton
Five-Year-Old Division
Horse Owner Rider
1. Expecting Friday* Danae Martin Eric Martin
2. W.H. Callista* Pam Yerxa Pam Yerxa
NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.
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