Photo by James Leslie Parker (Georgina Bloomberg and Metropolitan jump to victory in the the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix.)
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows concluded with an exciting win by Georgina Bloomberg in the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix. Crowds of spectators lined Old Salem Farm's pristine grass Grand Prix field to watch Bloomberg, who lives just minutes from Old Salem Farm, capture the victory.
Bloomberg and her mount Metropolitan were one of three horse-and-rider combinations out of 33 competitors to successfully complete Michel Vaillancourt's course of 16 jumping efforts without fault. The pair then came back with the only clean round in the jump-off to take the victory.
"I've had good luck, but I've never won a Grand Prix here. It's the horse show I grew up at, and for me my first memories of ever watching a grand prix are here, all of my heroes used to ride here, and it's really the Grand Prix, out of anything else in America, that I have always wanted to win," said Bloomberg. "So it might not be the biggest one we do all year, but it was always going to be the toughest for me because it was always the one I've tried the hardest for. All my friends and family are here watching and I have more people come to this horse show than I do at any other horse show throughout the year combined. It was really special to be able to do it in front of everybody. I rode at this barn for 13 years, every memory I have as a kid is here, and there couldn't be a grand prix that would mean more to me."
One week earlier, Catherine Pasmore, a junior competitor in her first season competing at the Grand Prix level, rode My Boy to win the $40,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix. Pasmore and My Boy also bested a field of 33 competitors.
"This was very special I can't describe the feeling," said a beaming Pasmore. "Hopefully this will be the first of many. I did my first real Grand Prix at WEF this year and I am just ecstatic; my horse was amazing. He is new for me this year. He came to me through Laura Kraut, my trainer. I also train with Andre Dignelli and since Laura is not here today because she is in Europe, Andre was helping me."
In between, two-time Olympic medalist Leslie Howard and Raimond W won the $25,000 Grand Prix of North Salem. The duo entered the ring for the jump-off in true "Leaping Leslie" form. Raimond W turned so well after the first fence that he left out a stride to fence 2, but had covered enough ground that the distance was perfect. They continued around the course clearing every fence quickly and efficiently to stop the timers in the day's fastest time, 34.253 seconds.
Patricia Griffith and Travino, owned by Heritage Farm, brought home a win in the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by The Premier Collection/Land Rover of Mt. Kisco and Land Rover of Larchmont.
Their first round score of 199 positioned them at the head of the class going into the second "Handy" round of competition. The pair mastered the nine-fence test with ease, and emerged from the ring with a score of 211 to take the top spot with a total of 410 points.
The 2010 Cavalor Leading Hunter Award went to Griffith after two weeks of intense competition in five hunter divisions. Her string of exemplary hunters amassed a total of 164 points. Placing second was Scott Stewart with Ken Berkley finishing third.
Amanda Starbuck rode Rio Bronco, owned by Stepping Stone Farm, to win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby. Starbuck and Rio Bronco competed against eleven other competitors to take the victory.
During the first week of competition, Tori Corts and her mount Tao Te King won the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic. Also during the first week, Katherine Dinan rode Vedette V 'T Blek to win the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Low Classic. She continued her winning streak into the second week of the horse show by winning the Governor's Cup equitation class.
Katrina Woods was very successful during the second week, taking the win on Susdal in the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic. Woods then rode Copain to a victory in the $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic. Both weeks' High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics are member events of the Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.
The $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Amateur Adult Jumper Classic presented by Horse Directory was won by Samantha Wise of Princeton, NJ, on Tanzanite. The pair made it around the course for two fault free rounds and a winning time of 30.095 seconds.
Sydney Shulman, Greenwich, CT, and Justice League, owned by Back Country Farm, blazed through the timers to win the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Childrens Jumper Classic presented by Practical Horseman Magazine. Shulman, a seasoned veteran at 15 years of age, piloted Justice League around the jump-off course fault free in a time of 33.990 seconds.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows partnered with Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, whose mission is to provide the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding and other equine assisted activities to physically, emotionally, and developmentally challenged individuals at facilities and stables in the states of Connecticut and New York.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows also worked with the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Komen Greater NYC) for the second year in a row. Komen for the Cure is the world's leading non-profit organization dedicated to curing breast cancer.
A portion of all admission sales from this year's Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows supported these charities.
The excitement at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows was not only in the ring. One of Cavalor's "Top Equine Chefs" from Europe was onsite to answer questions about specific equine dietary needs. The Cavalor "Top Equine Chef" showed attendees how to use Cavalor's premium feed to blend the right mix for a horse's individual requirements.
Every year the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows put on exhibitor parties. This year's exhibitor parties featured the $1,500 Old Salem Farm Canine Puissance, sponsored by The Pooch Paddock, and the Groom's Class. Small, medium, and large dogs competed in the Old Salem Farm Canine Puissance. The winners were; "Bean" Maloney in the Small division, "Celebrity" Ingham in the Medium division, and "Summer" Murphy in the Large division. Exhibitors also enjoyed the popular Groom's Class during Casino Night along with the casino games for every age.
Breyer Animal Creations® unveiled its newest creation, a portrait model of the Olympic Gold medal show jumper mare Sapphire. Breyer® selected Sapphire to be the focus of its most recent creation based on her hugely successful career with rider McLain Ward. The unveiling took place on Saturday, May 22, during the exhibitor ice cream party, which was sponsored by StaySail Farm. In attendance was Ward, as well as representatives from Breyer.
Old Salem Farm is located one hour north of New York City. In addition to its year-long horse show series that includes more than 20 horse shows in addition to its flagship spring horse shows, it maintains state-of-the-art stabling facilities for year-round boarding. Old Salem Farm's training staff offers training for every level of riding from Short Stirrup to Grand Prix hopefuls! Exceptional horses are also available for sale or lease.
For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long horse show schedule, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, please, visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call (914) 669-5610.