Quebec’s Lamontagne Continues to Dominate Young Horse Series

The fourth event the eastern division of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series took place on Saturday, July 31, during the CSI3* L’International Bromont II in Bromont, QC.

Francois Lamontagne of Saint-Eustache, QC, won the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division riding Arise Z, his seven-year-old grey Zangersheide mare by Animo II and out of a Calando I mare. Lamontagne imported Arise Z from The Netherlands as a four-year-old. The pair had the fastest time in the jump-off to secure the win.

“There was big competition; I was up against Yann Candele!” said Lamontagne, 26, who was coached in Bromont by Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill. “Usually, when Yann goes fast and clear, nobody can beat him, so I was so happy to win. If Arize Z does well in the Young Horse Finals this year, I think I will use her as my Talent Squad horse next season.”

Lamontagne’s quick jump-off time left Hudson, ridden by Yann Candele of Caledon, ON, in second place. Owned by Susan Grange, Hudson is a seven-year-old chestnut selle francais gelding by Epsom d’Utah and out of a mare by Yarlands Summer Song.

Landing in third place was Susan Horn aboard Balou T, a seven-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding owned by Kingsfield Farm of Bolton, ON. Balou T, sired by Balou de Roulet and out of a Gervantus I mare, also had a double clear performance.

Lamontagne made another trip to the winner’s circle after winning the Six-Year-Old Division, this time riding Independence Day 3E, a bay Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned by Mudstyle Inc. Independence Day 3E was bred in Canada by KingRidge Stables of King, ON, and is by Polyfax out of an Emilion mare. The pair had the fastest time in the jump-off by almost two seconds to secure victory.

“I felt really confident in this class,” said Lamontagne of the Six-Year-Old Division, which he has already won twice before this season with Independence Day 3E, first at the Beaulieu Summer Classic I from June 26-27 followed by the Jumping Internationale de Blainville I from July 7-11.

“The owner wants me to keep him for a few years, build the horse, and hopefully take him to the grand prix level. He may be my next big mount! He is taller than Anton, but still light and careful, with a bigger stride,” said Lamontagne, comparing Independence Day 3E to his current grand prix mount, Anton.

Lamontagne says he will definitely compete at the Jump Canada Young Horse Series Finals in September at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON, with Independence Day 3E, and will be careful to give him all the rest he needs, saying, “It will be all flatwork and turn-out for him up until the Finals. He deserves it!”

Taking second place was Riva, ridden by Jay Hayes for owner Summerhill Farm. The pair also had a double clear performance. Bred in Canada, Riva is a bay Canadian Warmblood mare by Rio Grande.

Finishing in third place was Mélissandre Lincourt aboard S Class, owned by South Shore Farm of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC. S Class, a chestnut Dutch Warmblood mare by Mermus R and out of an Indoctro mare, also jumped double clear.

The Five-Year-Old Division was won by Empire 181, a grey Hannoverian gelding guided to victory by Paul Halpern of St. Lazare, QC. Owned by Wynbrook Farm and sired by Embassy I out of a Foxhunter dam, Empire 181 had the fastest time in the jump-off by over four seconds to secure the win.

Margaux and Jill Henselwood were also double clear, but were not fast enough to catch Halpern and Empire 181. Owned by Juniper Farms of Oxford Mills, ON, and bred in Canada by Jennifer Rogers, Margaux is a bay Canadian Sport Horse mare by Quidam de Revel and out of a mare by Don Juan.

Also with a clear performance, Beth Underhill finished in third position aboard her own dark brown Dutch Warmblood gelding, Cavendish. Cavendish is by Cantos and out an Ulster mare.

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.

2010 Jump Canada Young Horse Series – L’International Bromont, QC

Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division

Horse – Owner – Rider
1. Arise Z – Francois Lamontagne – Francois Lamontagne
2. Hudson – Susan Grange – Yann Candele
3. Balou T – Kingsfield Farm – Susan Horn
4. Damiro Van Ter Notelaere Pateet – L Van Bossche – Alejandro Karolyi
5. Cormack – Felix-Antoine Moulin – Felix-Antoine Moulin
6. Will I Am – Katie Bowles – Jill Henselwood

Six-Year-Old Division

Horse – Owner – Rider
1. Independence Day 3E* – Mudstyle Inc. – Francois Lamontagne
2. Riva* – Summerhill Farm – Jay Hayes
3. S Class – South Shore Farm – Mélissandre Lincourt
4. Zimo – Torrey Pines Stables – Alejandro Karolyi
5. Fanta – Torrey Pines Stables – Alejandro Karolyi
6. Lazer HB* – Francois Bayzelon – Nicolas Bayzelon

Five-Year-Old Division

Horse – Owner – Rider
1. Empire 181 – Wynbrook Farm – Paul Halpern
2. Margaux* – Juniper Farms – Jill Henselwood
3. Cavendish – Beth Underhill – Beth Underhill
4. Princess JF* – Juniper Farms – Chris Surbey
5. Colour Guard* – Katriina Ruotsalo – John Phillips
6. E.T.I Leonardo* – Christine Boisseau – Christine Boisseau

NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.