For Fantoms Pleasure, ridden by Wilhelm Genn. Owned by Karola Giebmanns (Phelps Media Group)
The quintessential sportsman, Wilhelm Genn ended the day on a high note, clinching the win in the 1.40m class aboard For Fantom's Pleasure, owned by Karola Giebmanns. The pair edged out Caitlyn Shiels and her own Cavalier II and David Beisel and Redfield Farm's Alastar, who were both double clear around Leopoldo Placios' straightforward and open track. Liz Atkins and Undine, owned by Benchmark Stables LLC, also progressed to the jump-off round but had an unfortunate rail to land the pair in fourth.
Genn calls For Fantom's Pleasure a late-starter with tremendous talent. The pair have only competed in a few 1.40m classes and this was the first time they started out the week at that height.
"He jumped fantastic," Genn said. "I loved that I had so much time between the jumps. That's what made me decide to put him in [at 1.40m] because we had time to fix things, just in case he got a little nervous or a little spooky."
Genn said that he was torn as to whether or not to compete him in the $25,000 Welcome Stake on Friday.
"I'm leaning toward it," he said. "The owner is here, and she says, 'Do it.' I think if he [Placios] spreads the jumps out, it doesn't matter how high they are. It's when it gets complicated and really technical - he's a little green for that."
Lisa Goldman announced to Michigan that she is in the house by earning the blue ribbons in the 1.30m and 1.35m classes. After multiple victories at Spring Spectacular at Lamplight in Chicago in June, this competitor is a well-mounted force in the ring. Goldman brought 15 horses, six that she will compete. With Morocco and Centurion, she will aim for the top prizes in the $25,000 Welcome Stake Friday and the $50,000 Flintfields Grand Prix, presented by North Face Farm Sunday.
In the 1.35m class, Goldman and Sovereign outran three other double clear horse and rider contenders, including the second place finisher Amanda Derbyshire and David Blake's Abazhu BHS as well as Jill Knowles' two mounts - third place Condeza Z and fourth place Fanta, both of which she owns.
"Sovereign is my brand new one," Goldman said. "He's a stallion that Barbara Disko bought for me to ride. This is my second horse show with him, I've only had him for about two weeks. He's really cool, and he's the first stallion I've ever owned, but he's a sweetheart. He jumped amazing out there. I think I'll do him in the Welcome Stake Friday, but we'll see."
With Hindsight in the 1.30m class, Goldman eclipsed the second place finisher, Doublethink LLC's Chantal piloted by Javier Berganza Anderhus, by nearly two full seconds. Twelve horse and rider teams out of 23 had fault-free first rounds and 10 were double clear.
"Hindsight is one I got in January, and he's mine," Goldman said. "He's an 8-year-old that hadn't done anything but the 2'6" hunters until I got him. He's been really good. He's just moving up. This is his first day out so we only did the 1.30m. We'll see what we do the rest of the week with him, but he's hopefully going to be one of my new grand prix horses. He's really cool and easygoing."
Goldman shared that she has attended the summer circuit at Flintfields Horse Park for many years. "The weather is so beautiful here," she said. "I've only missed one year in almost 10 years. It's so beautiful. I love the Grand Prix Ring - the footing feels awesome."
Jumper action continues throughout the week at Flintfields Horse Park, with the highlight events taking place later in the week in the Grand Prix Ring. The $25,000 Welcome Stake is on Friday, while the $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix takes place Sunday.
For more information or to view schedules, please visit www.stadiumjumping.com or www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.
Week III of Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Begins with Maria Rasmussen Taking the Lead in the Professional Hunter Divisions
By: Elaine Wessel
Traverse City, MI - July 15, 2015 - Into its third week of competition, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival began on a picturesque day welcoming numerous competitors, family, friends and spectators to Flintfields Horse Park. Under blue skies, the quaint tourist town played host to a series of strong performances from exhibitors in the Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. Perhaps the hunter rider who took best advantage of the day was Maria Rasmussen, who started out her show week with high-scoring rounds in multiple back-to-back divisions. She was followed closely by the likes of Geoffrey Hesslink, Sarah Mechlin, Hillary Johnson, and Peter Pletcher, all hoping to surpass the early leader tomorrow.
The Performance Working Hunters at the 3'6" fence height began with Mechlin and Hesslink tied for the lead after the first two classes, both earning a first and fourth place. It is no wonder that Mechlin and her mount, Barney Jacob's Southside, were at the top considering that the rider has been competing with the horse for nearly four years. Although the gelding trains with Heather Irvine and Tammy Nimbach of Michigan-based Hillside Farm, the Missourian claims that he has been one of her more consistent rides over the years.
"Heather [Irvine] and Tammy [Nimbach] have been long-time supporters of mine, and I really love riding this horse for them, Mechlin said. "Unlike some of the horses I ride, I meet them for the first time on the show day, Southside is a return horse for me and I really enjoy him; he is definitely one of my favorite."
The horse also competes with his owner in the Large Junior Hunters, and will be on the showgrounds two more weeks to finish out the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival series.
It was a different story for Hesslink and Jos Van Kouterhoeve, owned by Salim Radi., as Hesslink just picked up the ride after the 7-year- old gelding's recent importation from across the pond.
"He just came in from Europe and is just starting to do the hunters, but he is picking it up pretty quickly," Hesslink said of the horse.
Of the courses, Hesslink sung praises for designer Keith Bollette's tracks. "I like the courses a lot today, especially the option jumps in the first fences classes. The handy really allowed you to be handy. The first and second jump had a double inside turn, which we did and he was really good at it."
Unfortunately for the initial leaders, Rasmussen and Over Fences Farm LLC's Quite Chocolate overtook them in the point standings with a blue ribbon in the hack. Mechlin took third followed closely by Hesslink in fourth. The horse and rider pair of Rasmussen and Quite Chocolate consistently improved their placings throughout the first half of the division, having been awarded a third spot finish in the over fences phase and a runner-up placing in the handy round.
The First Year Green Working Hunters will kick off on Thursday with Rasmussen in the lead after earning the top two spots in both of the day's classes with two different mounts. Memorable, another Over Fences Farm LLC horse, and Ashley Netzky's Corporate swapped places between the two over fences classes, each awarded first and second places from the judges to top the leaderboard early on in competition.
Michigan-native Hillary Johnson, also with two rides in the division, earned both third positions, first with Copper Fox LLC's grey Moonwalk and then with Rolling Acres' Rogelio. Just behind her with two fourth place ribbons was Caroline Weeden in the irons aboard Margaret Shank Benjamin's Oak Grove. Both competitors will have to fend off Rasmussen with solid performances tomorrow over fences and in the hack if they hope to claim the rosettes.
As if leading two divisions on only the first day of competition wasn't enough, Rasmussen will head into tomorrow tied for the top spot with Peter Pletcher and the stallion Thanks For The Gold in the Green Conformation Hunters. This time aboard Netzky's chestnut Subject To Change, the pair clinched a blue and red ribbon to match those of Pletcher and Rancho de los Arboles LLC's 'Hank.' It was the latter horse-and-rider pair who navigated their way to the champion honors last week. The two partnerships will vie for needed points in the conclusion of the division tomorrow, with two over fences trips and a hack still to go.
"I have no reason for complaint," Rasmussen reflected. "All the horses have been great and have been jumping really well, helping us to earn great ribbons. I'm looking forward to closing out the divisions tomorrow and sticking around for the next two weeks."
The second day of competition continues tomorrow in Traverse City at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival with champions named in the professional hunter divisions. Later in the week, a number of $2,500 Hunter Classics will give riders the opportunity to compete for a share of the prize money. In the jumper ring, the $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix will take place Sunday in the Grand Prix Ring.