North Salem, NY - Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward was back in the saddle and back in the winner’s circle as he rode Emma to win the 7 & 8 Year Old 1.40m Young Jumper class at the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows in North Salem, NY.

Ward, Brewster, NY, returning to the horse show circuit for the first time since fracturing his kneecap in January, showed no ill effects from the long layoff that put him out of action for more than 3 months and caused him to miss the Olympic trials. The Selection Committee chose to give Ward a bye for the Olympic trials and included him on the list of finalists who will ride in two observation events in May-June which will determine the final team. He is riding daily at Old Salem and will compete in all four of the shows’ Grand Prix events including the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix in which he is defending champion.

Emma, owned by Ward, is a relatively new ride. He showed the 7 year old Belgian Warmblood mare successfully at one show in Wellington before he was injured and Thursday they picked up exactly where they left off. Ward and Emma were one of nine in the class to go clean and one of five to post double clear rounds. Their time of 33.400 seconds narrowly beat out Peter Leone, also an Olympic veteran, and My Pleasure who stopped the timers in 33.496 for second place.

The 1.30 Meter Jumper class saw the return of another of the horse world’s injured favorites. Georgina Bloomberg, New York, NY, showed that she has recovered from the back surgery that she underwent last August, as she and her mount Radio City blazed around the ring in 32.121 seconds, only two seconds slower that winner Jeffrey Welles, Brewster, NY, and Magistar, who crossed the timers in 30.012 seconds to win the class.

Numerous Hunter Champions were crowned on Thursday, starting with Wingman ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs, Frenchtown, NJ, in the Green Conformation Hunter Division. Wingman, a beautiful bay, grabbed the tricolor after winning two classes and placing second in the remaining three. Wingman currently stands eighth in the nation in this division and Thursday’s win should boost him even higher.

Lordanos and Patricia Griffith, Katonah, NY, were Champions in the 1st/2nd Year Green High Performance Hunter. Owned by Deeridge Farm, Lordanos took the division title by taking two firsts, a second and a third place.

The High Performance 3’6” Hunter title was won by Monte Cristo and Jennifer Darst of Lebanon, OH. The stunning bay has people enthralled with his style over fences as evidenced by his Division Championship.

Supernova was just that at he took Laine Wimberly, North Salem, NY, around the courses to take the 3’3” Performance Hunter Championship. With three wins, the award belonged to the nine year-old bay gelding.

The big prize of the day, Grand Champion Hunter, was awarded to Sutherland and rider Patricia Griffith. Griffith piloted the big chestnut gelding around the 3’3” Performance Hunter B Division, collecting four first place ribbons for their efforts. This point total not only gave them the Division title, but the Grand title as well.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows’ 30th annual competition runs May 8-20 featuring top-notch hunter-jumper competition at one of the country’s most beautiful equestrian training centers. Each week features over 130 hunter and jumper classes. Highlighting the two weeks of competition are four Grand Prix events, all of which count toward USEF rider rankings – the $25,000 New York Welcome Stake Grand Prix, the $25,000 North Salem Grand Prix Presented by Land Rover, the $40,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix and the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix sponsored by the Kincade Group.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows benefit the Old Salem Farm Foundation. The goal of the Old Salem Farm Foundation is to use the Spring Horse Shows as a vehicle to help support charitable organizations and create an opportunity for corporate sponsors and equestrian athletes to benefit the community during the annual event. The Old Salem Farm Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. This year, the Old Salem Farm Foundation is providing support to four charities – ASPCA, JustWorldInternational, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, and the Voss Foundation.

Old Salem Farm, located an hour north of New York City, has played host to major equestrian competitions including Selection Trials for U.S. teams for World Championships and Olympic Games. Old Salem Farm boasts a state-of-the-art stabling facility, its historic pristine grass Grand Prix field as well as outstanding show and schooling rings, all surrounded by one of the nation’s most quaint and picturesque settings.

Further information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long horse show schedule, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, as well as the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows’ Prize List, is available on line at www.oldsalemfarm.net or by calling 914-669-5610.