Sandy Ferrell and Calibur Trail (The Book, LLC)
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows run May 5-10 and May 12-17 at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from all corners of the country to compete for more than $500,000 in prize money.
Calibur Trail, owned by Brian Baldwin and Meralex Farm, carried Ferrell of Bernville, PA, to champion in the Regular Conformation Division having only just moved up from the First Years this fall. A win under saddle and second in the model combined with two firsts and a second over fences before a win over the handy course gave them top call and ultimately Grand Hunter Champion.
Reserve Champion in the Regular Conformation division stayed in the barn with Calibur Trail's trainer Louise Serio of Kennett Square, PA, aboard Inspired, owned by Amy Guth. They won the model, took second under saddle and placed first, second and third over fences with a second-place ribbon in the handy for Reserve.
“We always have a great horse show here,” said Serio. “I love this main hunter ring – the jumps are pretty and challenging enough. You are always looking ahead, and this show does a really nice job at getting the horses prepared for what's next.”
Louise Serio accepts Grand Hunter Champion for Sandy Ferrell with Calibur Trail (The Book, LLC)
For Ferrell, Calibur Trail was a match she couldn't deny, and the proof was in their performance this week. “He's my favorite kind of ride – scopey, brave, always swaps his leads and I never have to touch his mouth,” she said. “He's one of those horses that when the jumps go up one hole, it's not a big deal. I knew he could jump the height, and it was pretty effortless for him to be wonderful yesterday and today.”
Calibur Trail, who has been under the direction of Serio and Ferrell for three years, is coming off a winter showing in Florida and seems to jump better and better with more experience, according to Ferrell. “It's interesting to see how sharp and crisp he is here at Old Salem [Farm] after Florida,” said Ferrell of the coming eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He felt happy, healthy and stayed consistent enough to win against some very high-quality horses over the past two days.”
Mclain Ward Takes HH Best Buy to the Top for New Owner, Goes 1-2 in $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m
Mclain Ward and HH Best Buy (The Book, LLC)
In the irons of a new mount for Double H Farm, but a familiar ride for Ward himself, eight-year-old HH Best Buy topped 46 in the first 1.40m test of The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.
With only fractions of a second separating the top placing, Ward also clinched second aboard Azibantos for Group C, LLC with a jump-off time of 34.740 seconds. Molly Ashe capped the top three with Balous Day Date, owned by Louisburg Farm, in 34.802 seconds over the short track.
Ward, of Brewster, NY, has had the ride on HH Best Buy since her six-year old year for breeder Ansgar Holtgers, and remained in the tack after Double H Farm added the Holsteiner mare to their string at the conclusion of the winter season. “We've been bringing her along for the last couple years and have always thought she was going places in the sport – she's a beautiful ride, wonderful type, and careful jumper, but very brave,” said Ward. “To have a horse with that much quality that is kind of a tiger is a nice combination.”
HH Best Buy put her jump to good use with two clear rounds over courses set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, crossing the jump-off timers in 34.688 seconds. “Michel is a great builder and this was a very welcoming first day, which is nice for the horses,” said Ward of the track. “There's a lot of competition left and today really gave the horses confidence in the ring and on the hills.”
Mclain Ward in his $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m winner's presentation with Chelsea Dwinell of Old Salem Farm (The Book, LLC)
Ward lives only a short drive down the road from Old Salem Farm. The facility continues to impress, he admitted. “It's in phenomenal shape and the grass felt great today even with a little rain this morning,” he said. “What's been done here is remarkable. These events are first class.”
Open Jumper competition continues with tomorrow's $5,000 1.40m on the Grand Prix Field, while Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion will be crowned in the Hunter Ring.
Final Results: $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m
1 HH BEST BUY MCLAIN WARD DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/34.688
2 AZIBANTOS MCLAIN WARD GROUP C, LLC: 0/0/34.740
3 BALOUS DAY DATE MOLLY ASHE LOUISBURG FARM: 0/0/34.802
4 ROBIN DE PONTHUAL PETER LUTZ JOHN GALLAGHER: 0/0/35.822
5 HH CISKE VAN OVERIS MAGGIE MCALARY DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/36.912
6 CAT BALLOU MOLLY ASHE LOUISBURG FARM: 0/0/38.260
7 CORTES 'C' BEEZIE MADDEN ABIGAIL WEXNER: 0/0/38.405
8 EVITA VAN DE VELDBALIE WESLEY NEWLANDS WESLANDS FARM: 0/0/39.412
9 MAGNUS ORFEO MARY MANFREDI GREAT SPAN, LLC: 0/0/40.203
10 STARKKO NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO ALLISON STAWARZ: 0/4/36.529
11 LIRATUS DEVIN RYAN DEVIN RYAN: 0/4/36.577
12 UBRIS SARAH SEGAL CHARTWELL: 0/4/39.240
To enjoy what is still to come at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, tickets can be purchased HERE. Live streaming of all events is also available Friday-Sunday at www.oldsalemfarm.net.
Major events on the live stream include (times are subject to change):
Week 1
$35,000 New York Welcome Stake, presented by Old Salem Farm, on Friday, May 8, 1 pm
$15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by Miller Motorcars, on Saturday, May 9, 12 pm
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Sunday, May 10, 1:30 pm
$50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 10, 2 pm
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Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.
Photos by The Book, LLC
Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011-2014. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.