FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) teammates McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, took the two featured classes on opening day of the 29th Annual I Love New York Horse Show.

Ward, a Team Gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, topped a huge field of 83 horses, riding Galant to victory in the WPTZ-TV News Channel 5 1.35m Jump-off. Riding fourth in the order at the North Elba Showgrounds, the 30-year-old Ward set the early mark to beat when he rode clean and then finished the jump-off in 29.990 seconds. Ward then watched as the remaining 79 entries failed to beat his score. Coming closest was Linda Sheridan of Ringoes, NJ, who rode her mount, Holography, to two clean rides and a jump-off time of 31.229 seconds for second place. Third place went to Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, who finished the jump-off clean in 32.035 seconds on Noteworthy.

Engle, who will join Ward on the U.S. team for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August, rode Hidden Creek’s Alibi to the win in the Farm & Ranch Magazine 1.45m Jump-off. The 18th of 19 in the class, Engle finished the jump-off clean in 31.001 seconds to take the win from Molly Ashe, also of Wellington, who had held the lead after finishing clean in 31.109 seconds on Cocu. Ward finished third and fourth on Larioso and Sapphire, respectively.

The I Love New York Horse Show continues through Sunday. It is highlighted by the $60,000 Hermès Grandprix CSI 3* Presented by the Heidegger Family on Saturday, July 8. The I Love New York Horse Show also offers North American League, Washington International Horse Show, World Champion Hunter Rider, and Show Jumping Hall of Fame classes.

After the Hermès Grandprix on July 8, the Richard and Diana Feldman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Excellence will be awarded to the rider who has won the most prize money in Lake Placid’s two grand prix combined. The Lake Placid Horse Shows also offer the $25,000 Hidden Creek Challenge with $25,000 to be awarded to any horse-and-rider combination that wins both the Budweiser Grandprix of Lake Placid CSI*** and the Hermès Grandprix CSI***.

The I Love New York Horse Show features another beloved Lake Placid tradition, the 14th annual Doggie Costume Contest, on Saturday, July 8 at noon. All people with leashed dogs in costume are admitted to the horse show free of charge. The doggie costume contest is sponsored by the Lonesome Landing Garden Center of Saranac Lake and the Brown Dog Café and Wine Bar of Lake Placid. There is no entry fee and all contestants receive prizes.

The horse show’s annual Animal Planet Kids’ Day for horse club members returns on Friday, July 7, and includes activities such as a stable tour, jumper course walk, farrier visit, and question-and-answer seminar on safety in and out of the ring. There is also a raffle, giveaways and an autograph session with a top grand prix rider. The day continues the Lake Placid Horse Shows’ long history of giving back to the local community.

Admission to the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows is $2 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the gate. For more information, please call the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at (518) 523-9625 or visit www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.


~~~