The Grand Prix Ring at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, was treated to a special surprise during the $24,950 Open Grand Prix on Saturday, January 4, 2025, as legendary athletes John and Robert Whitaker of Great Britain joined spectators and exhibitors for the afternoon’s main event. Launching what is sure to be an exciting and busy winter show season, the addition of WEST Horse Shows’s Post Time Premier weeks gave riders two more action-packed showing opportunities, with which they could get their mounts familiar and comfortable at the iconic Ocala venue. While John Whitaker watched on, Robert Whitaker successfully laid down two brilliant performances with catch ride Yalambi’s Ikon, and ultimately took home the lion’s share of the prize money at the class’s completion.
Up against a technical track designed by Puerto Rico’s Mauricio Garcia, a starting field of 25 horse-and-rider pairings prepared to test their agility and ride-ability in hopes of advancing to the event’s jump-off. Despite it being early into the season, the athletes brought their A-game, and 11 combinations out of the original field managed to make their efforts count to return over the short course. However, with many options where riders could shave precious seconds off their final time, the ultimate tiebreaker came down to speed. All but two of the short course competitors managed to deliver a fault-free second round, but as the final few entries made their way through the threshold, the time to beat became quicker and quicker. Just a few rides away from the final on course, Robert Whitaker set an unbeatable standard of 39.605 seconds with Maddison Stephen’s 13-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding (Yalambi’s Carpino Z x Yalambi’s Val D’Isere VDL), in what was truly a masterclass performance.
“I’m actually supposed to be on holiday,” laughed Robert Whitaker. “I was nearby, and my friend Rowan [Willis (AUS)] convinced me to come and jump.
“Today was the first time I rode this horse, so I don’t actually know much about him,” he continued. “He seems very nice, and he jumped very good, so I’ve got no complaints about him. The course was very nice, and it wasn’t overly technical for this point in the season.”
Having never been to HITS Post Time Farm, Robert Whitaker expressed: “It looks very nice the showgrounds. The rings are great, the ground was good, and the fences were nice. I’ve enjoyed it.”
Having secured the top title until Robert Whitaker’s round, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her exciting rising star Bull Run’s Celestial clocked in the closest to the winning time to earn the red ribbon. In an exciting jump-off performance, Vanderveen and the Bull Run Jumpers, Inc’s 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Numero Uno) set the bar high with a finishing time of 39.845 seconds. David Jennings (USA) and Presley Degli Assi, The Presley Partners’ 12-year-old Italian Sporthorse gelding by Presley Boy, rounded out the victory gallop just a hair off the pace in 40.559 seconds to take home third.
The Post Time Premier I was all about the junior and amateur competitors on its final day, as both the Grand Prix Ring and the newly-built Post Time Ring offered a variety of jumper classics at different heights. Caelinn Leahy and her top partner Zarkava, Steve Schaefer’s 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Guidam, kicked off the competition with a down-to-the-wire win in the $5,000 1.30m Open Jumper Classic, while young rider Madison Kondracki once again made her mark at the venue, capturing the win in the $5,000 NAL Junior/Amateur 1.20m Jumper Classic with Pure For Romance, her own 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by For Romance. The final victory of the week in the Grand Prix Ring, however, went to none other than Anika Spaeth, who managed to put forward the best performance out of 25 entries in the $3,500 The League/NAL/WIHS Junior/Amateur 1.10m Jumper Classic with partner Tic Tac de la Pomme Z.
“I’ve had him for about a year, and he’s definitely the trickiest horse I’ve had,” she said of the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Telstar de la Pomme Z. “This is our first classic win together, and it’s been so rewarding. I can’t wait to continue this partnership and see where it takes us.”
Additional jumper classics held in the Post Time Ring included the $1,000 The League Junior/Amateur 1.0m Jumper Classic, where Ariella Gesthalter and Medallion, Three-Eight Properties LLC’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Inshallah de Muze, shined brightest. Chandler Salita captured the winning title in the ring’s final classic, the $500 The League Outreach Junior/Amateur .90m Jumper Classic with Bono Lerchenberg, Amy Kliewer’s 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Untouchable M.
Jumper competition will resume Wednesday, January 8, 2025, as the Post Time Premier II gets underway.
Results here.
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