Heavy rains caused flooding at the show grounds.
Steady rain throughout the night and morning prompted officials to cancel Thursday’s horse show. The 1:00 p.m. International class, the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup, was postponed until Friday morning at 8:00 a.m., still managing to attract 67 entries.
Rescheduling was the order of the day; the Grand Prix riders had to school in the Rost arena hunter schooling ring because of wetness issues in their own warm up ring. Hunter classes in the Rost arena were moved and added to the previously scheduled classes in the Grand hunter ring.
Despite Thursday’s shutdown the first part of the week was busy. A USEF judges’ clinic – practical session- was conducted on Tuesday, starting with a mass judging by all the candidates of two groups of horses on the line in the Grand hunter ring. Needless to say they were asked to enter with minimum disruption to the horses. A panel of highly regarded judges conducted the event, sharing comments as hunters and equitation horses and riders performed individual rounds over fences and group work on the flat. A talented Canadian rider, Erynn Ballard, rode in the hunter group and received praise from the panel for her style and technique. Specific comments from the panelists about the riders and horses in the clinic ranged from, “I have a thing about swishing tails” to ” Judge what you see. Be careful not to get carried away watching mainly one person (as in a flat class).”
In a nearby ring in Pony Land, a successful and popular pony trainer, Charlie Moorcroft taught a young group of aspiring Pony Finals riders in one of the weekly Ride and Learn sessions organized by Sean Jones of the Palm Beach Riding Academy. After putting them through their paces with turns on the forehand (getting the ponies to listen to their riders legs) and navigating small jumps, the scene switched to the show ring, where Charlie coached each rider individually at the ingate before she jumped a course for Linda Andrisani, who commented on every trip and advised the youngsters with encouragement. “We’re pulling for you – we’re always in your corner.” She appreciated riders who kept coming forward and never gave up. If a pony is spooking she wants to see the rider fix it. If it’s a hunter class don’t worry about your position – fix it. She loves riders to use the whole ring, (with the exception of Handy classes) using the most opportunity they can to get to the jump best.
Charlie Moorcroft coaching before his student’s trip.
Charlie’ comments were of his own special character. ” Do your homework before the jump, then give to the jump.” “Make sure you follow the canter when you land. If they land heavy in the hand, that means their butts are on vacation!” “That pony looks front wheel drive. Halt, back her- you’re not punishing her, you’re balancing her.”
The weekend promises to be sunny and hot. The week is definitely far from over!
Ian Millar’s Canadians best 34 pro/amateur teams to win the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge Saturday night!
The winning team included Kelly Soleau and Emily Kinch as well as “Captain Canada.” Each team was paired with a Palm Beach charity, randomly chosen from a group of 35. ‘Speak up for Kids’ was the charity for Ian’s group. This year’s 35 charity recipients will be awarded approximately $2 million.
The Hunter Hayes concert that ended the evening necessitated some shuffling of the International Ring schedule on Sunday, as the concert stage was being dismantled during the day. Jumper classes normally held in this ring were moved to the Global Dressage Festival location in their main ring and the Stadium Derby field for the Ariat $50,000 Grand Prix.This was won by Man in Black, a horse owned by Bill Gates’ daughter, Jennifer, and ridden by Hardin Towell. Needless to say, some delays occurred at the ingates at the main show grounds as a few classes were held waiting for riders to arrive from the other show venue. The ring masters exhibited patience and skilful usage of their laptops and cell phones!
Unfortunately, the wonderful week was marked with tragedy, as a rider died on Friday after a fall from her horse in the Masters’ jumper class. The horse show medics responded promptly, arranging for transportation by helicopter to a Trauma Center in Delray, where she died a few hours later.
The show ring looking great under sunny skies.
Many Canadian horse enthusiasts plan a trip to Palm Beach in February or March to mix sunshine and horses. Palm Beach and Wellington offer the best of both- Geoff Teall will be conducting a riding clinic to “Develop a Winning Hunter Style” on Tuesday February 4th. Riders pay $100 and auditing is free.
The Young Horse Show on February 11th will showcase horses up to 5 years of age performing in the jumping chute, on the line,in training level dressage tests and over hunter/jumper jump courses.
March 6th marks the date for the highly anticipated WEF Sport Horse Auction featuring the VDL Stud. The 19 horses for sale can be found on WEF SportHorseAuction.com. Horses can be viewed in advance of the auction which takes place in the evening in the Stadium Derby field area.
Dressage shows are on almost every week, with exciting, popular freestyles every second Friday from 4 to 7 pm at the Global Dressage Festival. We are looking forward to the next one this Friday. Canadians have been doing well!
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