Last Updated on March 9, 2024 by adminahb
Featured competition was pint-sized as pony hunters took to the grass derby field at Equestrian Village on Friday of Week 9 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Emi Richard of Middlefield, CT won the $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby, presented by MARS Equestrian™.
Sixty-two small, medium, and large ponies took to the field, competing at their respective heights over a course designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU). The class, held in traditional hunter derby format, consisted of a first round course, giving riders their ‘Classic’ round score, and was followed by the Handy round, where the top 12 riders returned to test and secure their final placings.
Richard and Knight and Day, owned by Lakeview, Inc., competed in the large section and returned last after scoring an 86 to set the standard in the opening round.
“Tommy [as Knight and Day is known in the barn] is only seven years old, so he’s a green pony this year and he’s been absolutely great,” said Richard. “His jump and canter are amazing and always makes my ride with him so fun.”
After returning in reverse order of standing for the hand, Richard earned an 85.5 for a total score of 171.5 to secure the blue.
Ribery Tops Lövsta Future Challenge 7-Year-Old Young Jumpers with Luis Fernando Larrazabal
Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) made a final winning bid on Friday for the $25,000 Lövsta Future Challenge 7-Year-Old Developing Jumper Series Final taking place during WEF 10. He piloted Ribery, owned by Sabrina Lefebvre, to the top of the final qualifier and earned champion tri-color honors for the week.
The Lövsta Future Challenge is a well-established Swedish concept for talent development aimed at young grand prix horses and U25 riders in both dressage and jumping. The vision of the development tour is to provide the best possible conditions to strive for the highest level of international show jumping.
Larrazabal punched his ticket to the final on the Belgian-bred Aganiz du Siegneur daughter that Lefebvre purchased at the Youhorse Auction in 2021. With Diamant de Semilly on the dam’s side, Ribery is showing the success of her breeding even at a young age.
“Sabrina bought her when she was four years old, just broke and had maybe only a couple of jumps under the saddle,” said Larrazabal. “Everybody who buys a young horse dreams to have an amazing horse one day, and she got lucky. This mare is incredible; in the ring at home, she always tries 150%.
“I only saw videos from the auction, but she was a powerhouse over the jumps,” continued Larrazabal who is eager to point Ribery at the WEF 10 final. “[This series] gives us a lot of encouragement and enthusiasm to keep developing young horses in the states. Several years ago, it was not that fun to have young horses here; it was expensive and there wasn’t a lot of reward. We live here [in Wellington] and we do this sport here, so it is very nice to have this type of championship here. She’s going to be one to watch in the final.”
Wellington International
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