The ESP Holiday II CSI4* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) came to a close on Sunday after a week of international show jumping competition. The $214,000 Spy Coast Farm Holiday II Grand Prix CSI4* took place in the International Arena with 45 riders fighting for the top spot, which was ultimately claimed by Laura Kraut (USA) and St. Bride’s Farm’s Confu as the most efficient jump-off challengers. Sunday’s competition concluded the ESP Holiday II CSI4*, but showing will continue from Tuesday, December 15 to Thursday, December, 17, with the ESP Holiday III Show, followed by the ESP New Year’s Show from Friday, December 18, to Sunday, December 20.

“I have to say, I don’t know what year I’m on with him, maybe my fifth or sixth, but he has just been such a great partner for me,” commented Kraut of Confu, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Contact Me x Cambridge. “He’s like my security blanket. Whenever I need one to come out and do something well, it’s him. I appreciate him every time I get to jump him and when he performs like this it just makes everything wonderful. Now I can rest easy for a few weeks and be happy with that! It was great. Anytime you win a class like this, it’s why we do it.”

The international field of 45 entries in the $214,000 Spy Coast Farm Holiday II Grand Prix CSI4* represented 10 nations, including the United States, Israel, Ireland, Great Britain, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, and Colombia. For the first round of riding, course designer Héctor Loyola (PUR) crafted a track of 17 efforts, which tested challengers throughout the contest. It took until the 16th in the order of go to see a clear round, which came from Bliss Heers (USA) and Bridgeside Farms LLC’s Antidote De Mars, and Schuyler Riley (USA) and Katherine Gallagher’s Robin De Ponthual eventually forced a jump-off with their fault-free round as the 21st in the start list.

Advertisement