Spencer Smith and Beau Van Het Keysershof (Sportfot)

Wellington, Fla. - Spencer Smith and Ashland Farm's Beau Van Het Keysershof, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood, topped the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search on Friday morning at the FTI WEF. This was the second week in a row the pair collected the top prize for the class.
 
Second place went to Victoria Colvin with Stallone VDL and the top three was rounded out by Lilly Ulrich and Vocus. The top ten riders over fences were called back to test on the flat, when riders were asked to demonstrate lengthening of stride and the counter canter in both directions, including a simple change in front of the judge's box.
 
Smith, a 17-year-old Wellington, FL, resident, admitted he was a little thrown by the judge's request for a simple change.
 
"I was like 'Oh, no!'" Smith laughed. "But it worked out nicely. My horse did it really well."

Beau Van Het Keysershof is a new ride for Smith. The pair have only been together for the last two months, but Smith described the pair as a perfect match.

"We're a good fit. He's really my ride, which is nice. He takes you to the jumps, but he's also really soft and he can melt really quickly," Smith described.
 
He continued, "He really wants to do well. He doesn't want to make mistakes. He can do this course really smoothly."
 
While there was lingering evidence of the downpour that drenched Wellington on Thursday, Smith didn't think it had any effect on his ride.
 
"It was a nice course. Nothing too tricky and it all worked out nicely for my horse. The footing held pretty nicely in my opinion," Smith detailed.
 
The heavy rainfall put a hold on competition for the FTI WEF, with competition being cancelled Thursday. Smith still decided to spend his rain day getting wet, heading to the beach to surf and taking a day off from riding.
 
Hunter divisions that were to finish on Thursday were pinned based on results from Wednesday's classes. The Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Level 1 division was split due to a high number of entries, with two division champions ultimately crowned.
 
Champion of Section A was Cy Young, ridden by Tim Goguen and owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC. Cy Young, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding, swept the section, winning the under saddle class and both over fences rounds. In Section B, CC Cool and Lainie Wimberly were crowned champion. Wimberly and CC Cool, a four-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Piccolino Farm, LLC, placed eighth under saddle and first and second over fences.