Culpeper, VA – A few months ago, Jill Henselwood became the first woman in 24 years to strike individual Gold at the Pan American Games. In Sunday’s $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper, the Canadian became the first female since 2001 to take home the top prize when she captured the blue ribbon aboard Special Ed.
Special Ed is a 13-year-old gelding owned by Juniper Farms. “I got him from a dressage rider who told me Special Ed needed a job and it wasn’t dressage. It took me a while but when I finally rode him in the Six-Bar at home, he jumped 6’3″ so I knew he was ready,” said Henselwood. Henselwood headlined the field of 29 riders that included several former Olympians.
In the first round, she stopped the clocks in 81.054 to advance to course designer Olaf Petersen’s jump-off route. “Olaf is a great course builder,” said Henselwood. “He set a challenging course today that offered a lesson for everybody. And there were no casualties. He is a real horseman.”
Five other riders joined Henselwood and Special Ed in the jump-off. Ken Berkley (Flemington, NJ) and Carlos Boy, Danielle Torano and Vancouver D’ Auvrey, Sharn Wordley and Rockville, Anne Kursinski rode Roxana 112 and fifth to go were Federico Sztyrle and his mount Fatalis Fatum.
“I rode just a little faster everywhere and it paid off,” said Henselwood. “That’s the thing about Special Ed, he is world class fast. All I have to do is to stay with him. He is race-car fast!” “This is such a good class every year,” added Henselwood. “Culpeper is in the heart of Virginia horse country and this class just gets better every year.”
2007 is proving to be the best year to date for Henselwood. Earlier this year, she was a competitive force at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California winning the $75,000 Footing Authority Grand Prix during Week III and placing in the money 14 times over the six-week circuit, including four times aboard Special Ed. She also was instrumental in leading Canada to a team Silver Medal in July’s Pan American Games, which qualified Team Canada for the Olympics in 2008. But before the torch is lit, Henselwood plans to compete at the HITS Desert Circuit this winter, in Thermal, California where $925,000 in Grand Prix prize money will be up for grabs in a total of 18 Grand Prix classes.
1. Special Ed, Jill Henselwood – Juniper Farms – $30,000 – 0/0 43.708
2. Carlos Boy, Ken Berkley – Krista/Alexa Weisman – $22,000 – 0/0 44.244
3. Rockville, Sharn Wordley – Sharn Wordley – $13,000 – 0/4 39.650
4. Roxana 112, Anne Kursinski – Scott Hakim – $8,000 – 0/4 42.114
5. Van Couver D’ Auvrey, Danielle Torano – Sir Ruly, Inc. – $6,000 – 0/4 43.208
6. Fatalis Fatum, Federico Sztyrle – Christian Wolffer – $5,000 – 0/8 53.495
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