Jessica Phoenix takes first in the Advanced and Melissa Boutin tops the CCI 3*-S at Will O’ Wind Horse Trials
Ann and Geoff Morgan’s Will O’ Wind Farm in Mono, ON, hosted their early summer Horse Trials from July 8 – 10, 2022. The former eventing phase host venue for 2015 Pan American Games was happy to add an Advanced level to the 2*-S, 3*-S, Open Preliminary, Open Training, Open Pre-Training, Pre-Training, Junior Entry, and Open Entry divisions for the three-day event over the weekend.
Jessica Phoenix of Cannington, ON, finished in first and third with Mighty Mouse and her own Tugce, respectively, in the newly added Advanced level course in a field of eight combinations. Riding Saskia Goedhart’s 13-year-old Australian-bred warmblood gelding Mighty Mouse (Contenda x Jubilee Bay), the three-time Olympian finished the dressage phase with a score of 31.7 for third place, moved into first after jumping clear and no time penalty in show jumping. The duo concluded the three-day event finishing with a time of 6:24 in cross country and a final score of 39.3 to earn the win. Kendal Lehari took second place on her own grey Canadian Sport Horse gelding Audacious (Iron Man x Rumlum Star) with a double clear and a final score of 42.7.
Jessica Phoenix clearing a jump with Mighty Mouse
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Melissa Boutin of Ascot Corner, QC, finished atop the CCI 3*-S. Riding her own Obeah Dancer GS (Humble GS x Buddenbrock), a 10-year-old Trakehner, the duo opened the three-day event in first place with a dressage score of 30.8. On second day, they jumped clear and zero-time penalties in the show jumping phase and elapsed 5:59 in Cross-Country on the final day, earning an overall score of 43.6, taking home the first-place ribbon.
Melissa Boutin and Obeah Dancer GS competing at Will O’ Wind
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
In the CCI 2*-S, it was Sarah Croft of King City, ON, and Caddyshack B earning their first Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) victory over five other fellow Canadians. Croft and Sylvia Dixon’s 11-year-old Canadian Sport Horse opened the three-day event in fifth place after posting a 40.2 score in the dressage phase. They would climb the standings after recording just four faults in show jumping and finishing the event with 5:03 in the Cross Country, with a final score of 44.2.
For more information on the Will O’Wind Horse Trials, please visit here
Jim Ifko and Sam Walker earn victories in North American CSI 5* event at Spruce Meadows
With the 10-day Calgary stampede commencing over 20 kilometres away, Spruce Meadows hosted the ‘North American’ CSI 5* / 2* event from July 7 – 10, 2022.
The ‘North American’ is a celebration of the close ties between the horse and the military. The pounding hooves of the competitors are amplified by the marching cadence of military celebrations.
Jim Ifko pleasing the hometown crowd completing a jump
Photo Credit: Mike Sturk
Hometown native Jim Ifko of Calgary, AB, won his second class in as many of weeks, earning the victory in the CSI 5* $10,000 Jayman BUILT Cup – 1.50m. The 53-year-old Ifko and Diamant des Forets (Diamant de Semilly x Papillon Rouge), a 14-year-old Selle Français stallion owned by Eventyre Farms Ltd, jumped clear and finished with a speedy time of 66.37, ahead of Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Hellcat, who stopped the clock at 69.13 for second place.
Sam Walker and Evita during the Sun Life Derby
Photo Credit: Mike Sturk
In a course designed by Canadian Peter Holmes, Sam Walker of Nobleton, ON, and Evita (Canturano x Farmer), a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by MarBill Hill Farms, raced around to earn the victory in the CSI 5* $137,700 Sun Life Derby – 1.50m. The duo finished with four faults and a time of 152.51, ahead of fellow Canadian Vanessa Mannix and Kitting des Hausseurs (4; 156.41).
In the North American Ring, Susan Horn of Bolton, ON, and Kirlo van den Bosrand (Cardento 933 x Utrillo VD Heffinck) took home the ribbon in the CSI 2* $7,500 Friends of the Meadows Cup – 1.45m. Horn and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding jumped double clear ahead of six athlete-horse combinations and finished with a time of 43.36 ahead of USA’s Virginia Bonnie and Efodea, who finished with four faults.
Catch show jumping competition at Spruce Meadows on Rogers Sportsnet for 13 consecutive weeks. Find out more information on how to watch here.
For more information on the CSI 2*/5* ‘North American’ and Spruce Meadows, please click here.
Evi Strasser finishes in top five in Austria
Evi Strasser of Sainte-Adèle, QC, finished in the top five and posted over 70% at the international dressage competition held at CDI 4* Fritzens-Schindlhof, Austria from July 8 – 10, 2022.
Riding Disney Tyme (Diamond Hit x Weltmeyer), her own 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Strasser contested the CDI 4* Grand Prix on July 9, finishing with 63.304% and a day later, reaching the threshold of 70.020%.
On her second horse of the weekend, Strasser was in the saddle of Deja vu Tyme (Dauphin x Werbellin), a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, while contesting the CDI 4* Grand Prix on July 8 finishing with 62.478%. Two days later, the pair finished in fourth place in the GP Cons – Grand Prix Consolation.
For more information on the CDI 4* Fritzens-Schindlhof, please click here.
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