Sydney Long pilots Venchy De Bornival to the win in Saturday's $25,000 EMO Grand Prix (Alison Hartwell)

Atlanta, Ga. - Saturday at the Olympic Venue is Grand Prix showing jumping day and the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix saw a field of 13 compete for the win in the Olympic Arena over a course designed by Vaillencourt. Sixteen year old Sydney Long of Atlanta, Georgia in the irons of her own Venchy De Bornival posted the only clear round in a time of 77.163 seconds, beating the 80 seconds time allowed and won the class.

This was not only the second grand prix the duo tackled, it was their first win! "The course was tricky, but we just listened to what Terry [Brown] told us to do," said Long. "Venchy and I felt very confident," Long continued, "He [Venchy] just loves his job," she said.  Long has been riding since age six and started training with Terry Brown at Showcase Ltd last September. Long purchased 'Venchy' last November and showed him for half of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit in Gulfport. She competed in Gulfport in the 1.20m and 1.30m competitions and only started at the grand prix level during Week I of the Atlanta Spring Classic. "I rode last week in the prix and really wanted to come back to try it again this week. I asked my parents and they could tell it meant a lot to me to compete this week, so they let me," she said. "I am so happy they let me come back and really appreciate all they do for me," she added.

Long balances her high school academics and riding along with her travel basketball league, which keeps the family busy shuttling between activities. Future plans for Long and Venchy include shows in Kentucky and then back to the Georgia International Horse Park for the Atlanta Summer Classics.

The fastest of the four-faulters, Afandina, owned and ridden by Lexy Reed of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania took the second place ribbon after their first round effort in a time of 74.337 seconds with four jump faults. Third place finisher Daniel Geitner and The Kenwood Syndicate's Kenwood, took third place honors after posting a first round time of 75.437 seconds with four jump faults. Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York and Honorway Farm, LLC's Leander posted a first round effort in 78.092 seconds with four jump faults for a fourth place finish. For full results on the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix, click here.