Halton Place, Ontario – Ainsley Vince and Frieda topped the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division when the fourth event in the 2008 Canadian Young Horse Development Series was held during the Cornerstone Horse Show from June 18-22 in Halton Place, ON.

Vince of Milton, ON, has developed Frieda through the Canadian Young Horse Series, winning both the National Five-Year-Old Championship as well as the National Six-Year-Old Championship. In 2008, Frieda is continuing her winning ways, topping the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division in her first appearance of the season. Owned by the KMA Group, Frieda is a seven-year-old chestnut Sachsen-Anhaltiner mare by For Future, a son of the famous show jumping sire, For Pleasure.

Vince and Frieda were one of six combinations to advance to the jump-off, posting a clear round in a time of 35.75 seconds compared to second-place finisher Hugh Graham and Executive Privilege 3E who crossed the timers in 39.11 seconds. Graham and Executive Privilege 3E had won the last event in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series, the Summer Classic held June 11-15 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON. Bred and owned by KingRige Stables of King City, ON, Executive Privilege 3E is a Canadian Sport Horse by the KingRidge stallion, Class Action, out of Galaxy 3E by Aerobic Z.

Also posting a double clear round in a time of 40.36 seconds to take third place was Michelle Vandal and VDL Upsala H. Bred by Hogendoorn and owned by Liam Dumont-Walker, VDL Upsala H is a Canadian Warmblood sired by Ahorn and out of Liberty R by Libero.

In the Six-Year-Old Division, Yann Candele placed first riding Vancouver. Of the 17 entries, nine advanced to the jump-off where, not surprisingly, Candele, who has earned the nickname ‘The Flying Frenchman’ due to his love of speed, posted a time of 36.47 seconds as the first jump-off challenger. Bred in Holland and purchased by Susan Grange of Lothlorien Farm as a four-year-old, Vancouver is a Dutch Warmblood by Indoctro out of Happylina by Uniek.

Second place went to the winner last time out, Grand Finale 3E, ridden by Roberto Teran to a jump-off time of 37.56 seconds. Bred and owned by KingRidge Stables, Grand Finale 3E is a Canadian Sport Horse mare by Jamestown, out of Black Diamond by the famous international show jumping stallion, Chin Chin.

Lilius, ridden by Michelle Vandal, was also clear in the jump-off with a time of 38.25 seconds to place third in the standings. Owned by Liam Dumont-Walker, Lilius is a German Warmblood sired by Le Primeur and out of a Silvio I dam.

In the Five-Year-Old Division, the Canadian-bred Holy Smoke 3E topped a field of 27 entries. Bred and owned by KingRidge Stables, Holy Smoke 3E jumped clear and was awarded the day’s highest style score, 45.5, to earn victory. Shown by Hugh Graham, Holy Smoke 3E is a Canadian Sport Horse by Jamestown out of Galaxy 3E by Aerobic.

Melissa Brown and Willis by Oklund out of Lilia by Boreas, placed second. Brown and her recently imported Dutch Warmblood gelding were clear and received a style score of 44.5 points.

“On the day, Hugh’s horse jumped in beautiful form and could not have ridden any better,” said style judge Nancy Wetmore. “I was also very impressed with Melissa Brown’s horse that exhibited a tonne of scope but rode a bit greener to the jumps.”

KingRidge also took home third place after Heads Up 3E earned a style score of 43.5 to add to its clear round. A Canadian Sport Horse ridden by Roberto Teran, Heads Up 3E is by KingRidge’s own stallion, Jamestown, out of Shooting Star 3E by Class Action.

It was an all-Canadian finish in the Four-Year-Old Division as the top five horses were all bred in Canada. Taking top honours was the Canadian Sport Horse, Rocky, owned and bred by Big V Farm of Wainfleet, ON. Ridden to a clear round by Katherine Vrbicek, Rocky jumped a clear round and received a style score of 41 points to take victory. Rocky is by Rio’s Shadow by Rio Grande, out of Avena Sativa by the Trakehner stallion, Polifax.

Finishing second was Cassius Clay, bred by Grande Farms of Orangeville, ON, and owned by Lyda Bostock. Ridden by Peter Gisborn, Cassius Clay is by Catrick II out of First Class by For Pleasure. Espresso B took third for owner and breeder Michael Boyd. Ridden by Vivian Millard, Espresso B is a Hannoverian gelding by Earl out of Remington B by Ramiro’s Bube.

The purpose of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development 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 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development 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 2008 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is truly national in scope with competitions being held from coast to coast. A total of 12 events will be held in Quebec, eight in Ontario, two in Alberta and five in British Columbia, including the Western Canadian Finals which will take place at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, from August 20-24.

The Ontario Championships, Eastern Canadian Finals and National Young Horse Finals will feature $75,000 in prize money and will be held at CSI-W Tournament of Champions from September 17-21 in Palgrave, Ontario.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series include Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, Cavalor Canada, Gary Cooper, Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., 4-Star Trailers, Horse Sport, Martha Jolicoeur, KingRidge Stables, Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Peter Miller, Preston Sand and Gravel, Scotia McLeod, Sher-Al Farms, and W. Charlot Farms.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series website at www.jumperdevelopment.com.

Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series – Cornerstone Horse Show, Halton Place, ON

Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division

Horse Owner Rider

1. Frieda KMA Group Ainsley Vince

2. Executive Privilege 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham

3. VDL Upsala H* Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal

4. Feature Attraction 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham

5. Early Morning Mill Creek Stables Carly Campbell Cooper

Six-Year-Old Division

Horse Owner Rider

1. Vancouver Susan Grange Yann Candele

2. Grand Finale 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran

3. Lilius Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal

4. Capriato Windy Hill Farm Hugh Graham

5. Another Ruckus* James Mikulin Michelle Vandal

Five-Year-Old Division

Horse Owner Rider

1. Holy Smoke 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham

2. Willis Melissa Brown Melissa Brown

3. Heads Up 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran

4. Troy* North Ridge Johan Letimonier

5. Bale Par Mill Creek Stables Carly Campbell Cooper

Four-Year-Old Division

Horse Owner Rider

1. Rocky* Big V Farm Katherine Vrbicek

2. Cassius Clay* Lyda Bostock Peter Gisborn

3. Espresso B* Michael Boyd Vivian Millard

4. Viva’s Romeo W* Augustin Walch Adrienne Iverson

5. Infinity* Nadia and Allan McConnell Peter Gisborn

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

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