The opening event in the central region of the 2011 Jump Canada Young Horse Series was held June 15-19 at the Summer Classic in Palgrave, ON.
In the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division it was Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, who guided Celline 2 to victory. Underhill and Celline 2 were the only competitors in the 11-horse field to negotiate the course fault-free.
“It was a really strong class of seven and eight-year-olds, and she was the only clear,” said Underhill. “It was a good 1.35m track, designed to the full specifications and quite challenging with a difficult triple combination. I was really pleased she handled the course as well as she did. She seemed really comfortable so we were thrilled with her performance.”
Bred in Germany, Celline 2 is by Continue and out of a Juventus dam. Underhill has only been riding the seven-year-old chestnut Oldenburg mare for a few short months.
“We got her just before Florida, in December of 2010,” explained Underhill. “She was purchased in November through Paul and Emile Hendrix in the Netherlands. We took her to Wellington and that was her first show with us. She did the young horse classes there and was very consistent and careful. Palgrave was her first competition in Canada.”
At the end of the season, Underhill will hand Celline 2’s reins over to her owner, Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON. The 2010 Jump Canada Medal Final winner plans to show Celline 2 in the high amateur divisions next year, ultimately hoping to move into the grand prix ring.
Jeff Brandmaier aboard Damiro van ter Notelaere had the fastest four-fault round, stopping the clock in 64.06 seconds after having a rail down at the third fence on course. The eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood is owned by Knightwood Stables of Arkell, ON, and is sired by Lambada van Berkenbroeck.
The Canadian-bred Sera, ridden by Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, for owner and breeder Braeburn Farms in Collingwood, ON, finished third. The pair had the ninth fence down on course before crossing the timers in 64.74 seconds. The seven-year-old black Canadian Warmblood mare by Escudo was the 2010 Central Region Young Horse Champion in the Six-Year-Old Division and finished sixth overall at the National Young Horses Series Finals the same year.
A Canadian-bred horse emerged victorious in the Six-Year-Old Division. EWSZ’s Jerevel under rider Miro Frei was one of three horses to put in double clear rounds. With just over three seconds separating the top three finishers, their jump-off time of 38.52 seconds secured the win. The bay Rheinlander mare by Daimier d’Adriers claimed top spot in the 2010 Central Region Young Horse Series Five-Year-Old Division for owner European Warmblood Stallion Zentrum Inc. of Arva, ON.
Ballard and Morrison captured second place with a time of 40.87 seconds. By Desert Knight and out of a Cavalier Royale mare, the imported bay Irish Sport Horse gelding is owned by Burmonds and Wetmore.
Finishing in third was Underhill and Cavendish, who clocked in at 41.68 seconds.
“I develop a lot of young horses and I really try to bring them along at their own speed,” said Underhill of her training philosophy. “If they’re not as fast as another horse on a particular day, I don’t push them to be. I’ve found that’s really the best way to do it.”
A Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cantos, Cavendish is co-owned by Underhill and Teri Erickson and was the 2010 Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Five-Year-Old Champion.
“I know him really well; we competed all of last year together and he is a much more seasoned horse,” said Underhill, who also plans to campaign Cavendish in the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division next year. “I will be looking to move him up in the divisions this year. I have been very happy that he has moved up and onward and is still very careful and seems happy in his job. We always buy these horses hoping they’ll be a grand prix horse, that’s always the dream. Cavendish has a wonderful amount of scope, is very naturally careful and has quite a character as well. In my opinion, those are all requirements to make it to the grand prix level. Only time will tell whether he holds in there and makes it to the top with all of that pressure.”
The winning streak continued for Canadian-bred horses in the Five-Year-Old Division. Capturing the victory with two clear rounds was Hugh Graham of Schomberg, ON, and Knock Out 3E, a bay Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned and bred by KingRidge Stables in King, ON. Knock Out 3E is by KingRidge’s own prolific stallion, Jamestown, and out of a Class Action mare.
Finishing second with the only other double clear performance was Beam P, ridden by Natasha Smith-Avery for owner Susan Perreault-Park. Bred in Canada by Prima Warmblood of Mount Albert, ON, Beam P is a bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indoctro and out of an Emilion mare.
La Fleur and Robert Krcmar placed third after a rail down at the very first fence on course during the opening round of competition. Owned by Jacqueline Wickens, the Holsteiner gelding is by Nektor and out of a Lorentin I mare.
In the Four-Year-Old Division, Chikita, ridden by Carly Campbell-Cooper of Elora, ON, jumped to victory. The pair had a rail down at the fourth fence on course as well as a time fault for a performance score of 44 points out of a possible 50. The style judge awarded a style score of 30, also out of a possible 50, for a total of 74 points. The Dutch Warmblood mare is owned by Double C Stables in Harriston, ON, and is by Veron out of a Nimmerdor mare.
With a total score of 70.5 points, John Teijgeman aboard Canadian-bred Prestige Empire finished second. Teijgeman had one rail down and a total of three time faults for a performance score of 42 and was awarded 28.5 by the style judge. Bred by Madia McDonnell, the Dutch Warmblood stallion is by Prestige VDL.
Finishing a close third was EWSZ’s Cabamba and rider Stephanie Dubois-Emond with a total of 70 points. They were awarded 26 style points and 44 performance points after a rail down and a single time fault. The Canadian Sport Horse mare by Corrido de Chattillon was bred by European Warmblood Stallion Zentrum Inc.
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
Summer Classic – Palgrave, ON
Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
1. Celline 2/Nicole Walker/Beth Underhill
2. Damiro van ter Notelaere/Knightwood Stables/Jeff Brandmaier
3. Sera*/Braeburn Farms/Erynn Ballard
4. Wennous/Looking Good Group/Erynn Ballard
5. In the Cards 3E*/KingRidge Stables/Erynn Ballard
6. Casius Clay*/Lyda Bostock/Yann Candele
7. Sly/Bonaventure Farms/Lauren Patava
8. Argento*/Chorbe Farm/Gregory Kuti
9. Riva*/Summerhill Farm/ Jay Hayes
10. Troy*/Heidi Harris/Johan Letimonler
11. Chabadue/Asta Torokvei/Asta Torokvei
Six-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
1. EWSZ’s Jerevel*/European Warmblood Stallion Zentrum/Stephanie Dubois-Emond
2. Morrison/Burmonds and Wetmore/Erynn Ballard
3. Cavendish/Teri Erickson and Beth Underhill/Beth Underhill
4. Just for Fun 3E*/KingRidge Stables/Erynn Ballard
5. Los Pehuenes Tornado/Bob Suriwka/Roberto Teran
6. Judgment Day 3E*/KingRidge Stables/Erynn Ballard
7. ADC Chef Z/Bob Suriwka/Miguel Elicagaray
8. Anton/Betty Robertson/Scott McKay
9. Bastogne/Beth Underhill/Beth Underhill
Five-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
1. Knock Out 3E*/KingRidge Stables/Hugh Graham
2. Beam P*/Susan Perreault-Park/Natasha Smith-Avery
3. La Fleur/Jacqueline Wickens/Robert Krcmar
4. Wilma/Ilan Ferder/Erynn Ballard
5. Briljant/North Point/Johan Letimonier
6. King’s Ransom 3E*/KingRidge Stables/Hugh Graham
7. Selma de La Batia/DK Masterson Holdings/Johan Letimonier
8. Galilao B/Sylvia Dixon/Sarah Croft
Four-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
1. Chikita/Double C Stables/Carly Campbell-Cooper
2. Prestige Empire*/Empire Stables/John Teijgeman
3. EWSZ’s Cabamba*/European Warmblood Stallion Zentrum/Stephanie Dubois-Emond
4. Coryphee/Double C Stables/Carly Campbell-Cooper
5. Donegal/Holter Leasing Inc./Peter Gisborn
NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.
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