Matthew Metell and Cyon Z
Wellington, FL – March 11, 2015 – The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour returned to International Polo Club (IPC) Palm Beach to kick off the tenth week of competition. While the morning saw some unexpected showers, the afternoon brightened up and competitors flocked to the expansive polo fields to try their hand against some of Wellington’s most competitive jumpers. It was a gorgeous setting for the horses and riders to enjoy beautiful courses designed by Eric Hasbrouck in the main ring and Nick Granat in the second ring, with polo games taking place just a few fields away.
Matthew Metell was only the second rider to go double clear on the first card. That didn’t stop him from putting in a very impressive fast time of 41.514 seconds. His time would hold up through the entire afternoon. “I thought [the course] rode great. It had a lot of bending lines, and I liked the flow to it.”
Like many riders who attend The Ridge Turf Tour, he is using it as an opportunity to develop his horses, away from the hustle of the show grounds. “This is Teddy's third time on the grass. We're keeping him here the whole winter to give him some experience, because he's a young 8-year-old. He's been a good boy here! He likes the turf.”
He continued, “I think it's really great for them to be able to gallop across the grass field a little bit. It's nice to be able to change it up a little bit when you're here for 12 weeks. It's been really enjoyable here at IPC. We went to Wanderer's once and Tonkawa last week. It's been fun doing The Turf Tour.”
Nina Fagerstrom went only three horses later and did her best to catch Metell’s time, but stopped the clock in 41.597 seconds aboard Hot Topic. At the end of the day, Laura Kraut turned in a very fast time of 41.613 on Alisma to finish in third.
Nick Granat has been enjoying designing the courses alongside Eric Hasbrouck. “Working with Eric has helped me considerably—feeding off his energy, and his experience, has made me become a better course designer. It’s always nice to have him on hand in case I have any questions.”
The riders are always complimenting the courses, commenting on how well they flow and use the fields. As the series has progressed, extremely successful riders including Anne Kursinski have praised the tracks, expressing how appropriate the questions are and how they are keeping things fresh as the Tour continues.
Granat continued, “I think we’ve learned these horses, and know what to give them so we can make the competition ask the right types of questions without over facing or not challenging the riders enough. It’s been a pleasure to work with Eric throughout the series.”
Ring two was abuzz with activity today as riders took on the Low and Medium Schooling Jumper Courses designed by Nick Granat. Emily Snack rode Jessika to a win for owner Centennial Farm in the Low Schooling Jumpers 1.10-1.15m Table II, Section 2.2.1 and Erinus, owned by Carlie Fairty, took home the blue ribbon in the Low Schooling Jumpers 1.10-1.15m Table II, Section 2b.
"She [Jessika] is a really great Child/Adult Jumper. It was her first time coming over to The Ridge and she was super, not fazed by anything," said Snack. "I thought the courses were great today and really set up to be a positive experience for horses and riders."
In the Medium Schooling Jumpers, Brugal VDL, owned by Candy Tribble and ridden by Jonathon McCrea, rose to the top in the Medium Schooling Jumpers 1.20-1.25m Table II, Section 2.2., in one of his first outings since an injury last September. Stephan Barcha piloted Heticcra to a first place finish in the Medium Schooling Jumpers 1.20-1.25m Table II, Section 2b for owner Nelson Pessoa.
Jonathan McCrea and Brugal Vdl
"The course was really nice and for me, it was good to do some turns and practice that stuff since he's been out of the ring so long," said McCrea. "We jumped the first class here and he made a small mistake in the jump-off, and lucky enough it was the exact same turn in the speed and he learned from it."
Many riders are able to come to The Ridge and gain experience in a low-key, competitive environment that gives them exposure to new surroundings and new types of footing. For trainer Debbie Stephens of Centennial Farm, the opportunity is invaluable.
"I think it's good to jump your horses on different surfaces. It's very easy to go to. The competition is not as many people, in terms of people, but the jumps are the same height and you still have top riders. I think that it gives [the horses] a little diversity," said Stephens.
Results
201 - 1.30M-1.35M Jumper 25 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 1563 Cyon Z Matthew M. Metell Wolver Hollow
2 1306 Hot Topic Nina Fagerstrom Finca Horses Inc.
3 1310 Alisma Laura Kraut Laura Kraut
4 1319 Thea Samuel Parot Samuel Parot
5 1277 Cardella Dorothy Matz Dorothy Matz
6 1305 Cover Girl Nina Fagerstrom Finca Horses Inc.
7 1286 Carneyhaugh Manx Peter Lutz Katherine Gallagher
8 1293 Cancum 2 Joshua Tabor Joshua Tabor
202 - 1.30M-1.35M Jumper 19 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 1302 Quickley 3 Andrew N. Welles Andrew N. Welles
2 1308 Nimbus Denise C. Wilson Blue Gate Farm LLC
3 1246 Chill Haze Paul H. Yanke Paul H. Yanke
4 1312 Payday Michael Murphy Centennial Farm
5 772 Captain Jack Jonathan Mc Crea Candy Tribble
6 1313 Wiranta Z Jonathan Mc Crea Candy Tribble
7 758 Lucille 72 Jean Van Gysel Jean Van Gysel
8 1299 Falco van der Noordhoek Angela Covert Angela Covert
101 - Low Schooling Jumper 1.10-1.15m Table II, sec 2.2.1 8 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 1283 Jessika Emily Snack Centennial Farm
2 1282 Dollydoo Ned Cuniffe Whipstick Farm, LTD
3 1295 Diamond Dance Alessandrea D'amour Alessandrea D'amour
4 1227 Tanzanite Susannah Wise Susannah Wise
5 1296 Carla Claire Schreder Claire Schreder
6 1292 Mimi Aubrey Cecil Aubrey Cecil
7 491 Revelry Alex Granato Alex Granato
102 - Low Schooling Jumper 1.10-1.15m Table II, Sec 2b 13 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 985 Erinus Carlie Fairty Carlie Fairty
2 1284 Remonta Habano Darren Graziano Nina Simons
3 601 Contentus Sarah E. Wayda Rian Miller
4 1300 Peninsula Flight Time Jacquelyn Colborne Marilyn Dawson-Dixon
5 1274 Bonanza Liz Schmid Katie G. Kohlhas
6 1292 Mimi Aubrey Cecil Aubrey Cecil
7 1275 Vernal Molly Hay Katie G. Kohlhas
8 1282 Dollydoo Ned Cuniffe Whipstick Farm, LTD
103 - Medium Schooling Jumper 1.20-1.25m Table II,sec 2.2.1 5 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 1314 Brugal Vdl Jonathan Mc Crea Candy Tribble Windsor Show Stables, Inc
2 1317 Caleta III Joseph Sorce Lindsay Verner
3 958 Peninsula Jupiter Bling Hayley Patmore Hayley Patmore
4 1297 Lyons Creek Hennessy Christoph Schroeder Lyons Creek Sporthorses Ltd.
5 1562 Everton Wolver Hollow Wolver Hollow
104 - Medium Schooling Jumper 1.20-1.25m table II, Sec 2b 14 Entries
Place Entry Horse Rider Owners
1 979 Heticcra Stephan Barcha Nelson Pessoa
2 1288 Chico's Girl Peter Lutz Katherine Gallagher
3 670 Balous Boy Eric Flameng Floriac LLC
4 1245 Carle Paul H. Yanke Paul H. Yanke
5 1314 Brugal Vdl Jonathan Mc Crea Candy Tribble Windsor Show Stables, Inc
6 1297 Lyons Creek Hennessy Christoph Schroeder Lyons Creek Sporthorses Ltd
7 1309 Fifi III Laura Kraut Mary Kent
8 1293 Cancum 2 Joshua Tabor Joshua Tabor