Devin Ryan and Calissandro tackle the CWD obstacle on a course designed by Olympic designer Steve Stephens in yesterday's $35,000 CWD Grand Prix in Gulfport (Flashpoint Photography)
Calissandro is a nine year old American-bred Holsteiner by Conejo purchased as a two year old by Ryan. Ryan has trained and shown the horse through the Young Jumper program and has developed Calissandro from the ground up. "I think it is important that the horse trusts his rider and Calissandro, and all of my horses, have a great trust of me. I have done all of their training and showing and that gives them a lot of confidence."
Twenty four horses attempted the grand prix course designed by internationally known designer Steve Stephens, but only five would return for the jump off of which, two rides belonged to Ryan, two rides belonged to Theo Genn of Lebanon, Ohio and one ride belonged to Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
"The course was very technical," said Stephens. "I was hoping for six clean, so I'm happy that I got 5," he added. The 9 a and b combination had a liverpool on the back end and saw many dropping rails. "I jump a lot of liverpools with my horses and use it in their training, so I didn't have a problem with it," commented Ryan.
Theo Genn riding Paradox, owned by Thomas Bruinsma, was the first to go clean with a time of 76.534 seconds. Devin Ryan, aboard Roman Saluut *** confirmed there would be a jump-off and turned in a clean first round effort in 78.340 seconds. Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, New Mexico challenged the men and secured her ticket to jump off after turning in the fastest, clean first-round effort with a time of 72.479 seconds aboard Bon Giorno, owned by Showcase 81 LLC. Theo Genn then returned to the field, this time with Bridlebourne Stables LLC's Winchester to turn in a clean round of 75.347 seconds. Ryan was last to go of the twenty four trips and returned with his fourth mount, Calissandro, riding the first round clean in a time of 78.575 seconds.
Genn, aboard Paradox, was first to go in the jump off and had one rail down at the first fence and the last leaving them with 8 faults in a time of 42.199 seconds. The pair would finish in fifth overall. Next to go was Ryan, in the irons on his own Roman Saluut***, but with a rail down on the final obstacle, would finish with four faults in a time of 42.926 seconds placing them in fourth position overall. Next to go was Sadler and Bon Giorno from New Mexico, who turned in a clear round in a time of 47.371 seconds to the cheers of the crowd. Genn, rising to the challenge, returned to the ring, this time aboard Bridlebourne Stables LLC's Winchester. The pair went fast and clean in a time of 43.728 seconds and looked to take the class until Ryan returned to the ring on his own Calissandro. The pair went clean and beat Genn's time by more than two seconds with his own 40.591 seconds, securing the win and leaving Genn and Winchester in second place and Sadler and Bon Giorno in third.
Obelix, owned and ridden by Alison Lindsay of Southlake, Texas finished the first round in a time of 79.632 seconds and with one time fault, received sixth place honors. Four faults and a time of 72.702 seconds would put Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, Ohio and his own Happy Z in seventh place. Eighth place was awarded to Nepal, owned and ridden by Jay Land of Alpharetta Georgia. The pair received four jump faults and a time of 72.866 seconds. H.J. El Magnifico owned and ridden by Eduardo Braun of Bend, Oregon finished in ninth with a time of 73.700 seconds and four faults. Tenth was awarded to Devin Ryan and Eagle Valley Partners, LLC's Zosja after turning in a four fault first round effort in a time of 73.741 seconds. Eleventh went to Holly Shepherd of Great Bay, Alabama in the irons aboard Loretta Patterson's Triompf after turning in a four fault first round effort in a time of 73.935 seconds. Wilhelm Genn and his own Cookie Monster wrapped the class up with a time of 76.971 seconds and four faults.