Sixteen combinations crossed the timers in the first round of the $3,000 Open Jumpers 1.40m, the first jumper class Thursday morning at the 2020 Old Salem Farm Fall Series Horse Show. Of the original entries, six pairs advanced to the jump-off where Nayel Nassar and Evergate Stables LLC’s Igor Van De Wittemoere laid down a second clean and fast round to take the top honors. Both jumper and hunter competitors returned to iconic Old Salem Farm for the second day of the opening week of the series.
With the safety standards set in place, Old Salem Farm is pleased to welcome back its exhibitors for three exciting weeks of elite competition. Pinning at the top of all three over-fences classes, Kali Jerman and her own Quavitz bested the combined Green Hunter 3’ and 3’3” division.
Nassar and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cooper VD Heffinck x Dahlia VD Heffinck) are a new pairing. They began competing during the final few weeks of the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival, just before the nationwide shutdown.
“I’ve had Igor approximately six months, with the majority of our time together having been during the shutdown, so I feel like I am just getting to know him in the show ring,” he said.
Lack of experience together in the show arena did not deter the team as they crossed the jump-off timers in a blazing 40.216 seconds with all rails still standing.
“This isn’t typically a horse that you have to worry about covering ground because he is usually right up there with the fastest competitors,” Nassar said. “I knew that he naturally had a ton of ground speed so I was not pushing him to run flat out, I just used his natural pace to my advantage and let him cruise around.”
Kali Jerman and Quavitz Three-Time Winners in the Green Hunters 3’ and 3’3” Division
Kali Jerman and her 5-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Quantum x Carpfen) proved a force impossible to beat in the jumping phase of the Green Hunters as the duo picked up blue ribbons for all three rounds.
“I just imported this horse in the spring and he was originally just riding at the 2’6” height,” Jerman said.
She added that he has only been able to do a few shows at 3’ due to the pandemic. “We are hoping to reinstate his green card for next year as well,” she said.
Young jumper athletes in the 5 and 6-Year-Old Young Jumpers were also given the chance to explore their surroundings before tomorrow’s $1,000 5 and 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship. Matthew Boddy and Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s 6-year-old American Warmblood mare, Little Lumi (Indoctro x Lumina), were the victors of the class as the only fault-free combination.
The $25,000 Grand Prix of Old Salem, presented by The Kincade Group, will take center stage on the third day of competition Friday, Sept. 11. Hunter, pony and equitation competition will also be featured.
Final Results: $3,000 1.40m Open Jumper Stake
1. IGOR VAN DE WITTEMOERE, NAYEL NASSAR 0/0/40.216
2. VENICE BEACH, RODRIGO PESSOA 0/0/41.142
3. BIBLOU DU PERRON, STEVEN BLUMAN 0/0/41.797
4. CHARLY GLB, CHELSEA MOSS 0/0/42.583
5. MANHATTAN, GEORGINA BLOOMBERG 0/4/40.226
6. JORKA VAN DE EILANDHOEVE, MARTHA REDMAN 0/12/41.528
7. COCO STAR DES GY, ANNA DRYDEN 1/81.500
8. DARRY LOU, JENNIFER GATES 4/71.930
9. CAPITAL COLNARDO, JENNIFER GATES 4/73.036
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