Toronto, ON, Nov. 4, 2019 – Rosalind Schaefer’s Wishing Well Farm of Sands Point, NY, was awarded the title of 2019 JC Owner of the Year in light of the efforts of their two brilliant bay Hosteiners, Bardolina 2 and Amsterdam 27, as vital members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team.
Under the steady hand of Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, Bardolina 2 (Clarimo x Landos) kicked off the 2019 Nations Cup season on Feb. 17 in the $290,000 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of the United States of America at the CSIO 5* Palm Beach Masters in Wellington, FL. Incurring just four faults over two rounds of the toughest competition international show jumping has to offer, the 10-year-old mare contributed to a fifth-place finish for Team Canada. 
Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina 2
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
On June 2, Bardolina 2 was back on deck for the $400,000 CSIO 5* Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Canada. There, a clean round with Deslauriers helped Canada produce a win for the hometown crowd at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC.
The Canadian Show Jumping Team also benefited from the talents of Amsterdam 27 (Catoki x Acord II), whom Wishing Well Farm co-owns with Luja LLC, in Nations Cup competition. On March 2, Deslauriers chose to ride the nine-year-old gelding for the $150,000 CSIO 4* Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. His decision proved prudent, as the combination limited their first-round faults to four to contribute to a third place finish for Canada.
Deslauriers and Amsterdam 27 also traveled to Calgary, AB, for the CSIO 5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament. On Sept. 7, Amsterdam 27 showcased his speed in the $530,000 BMO Nations Cup to once again help secure a place for Canada on the podium, this time in second.
Wishing Well Farm’s whirlwind tour of the Americas extended beyond the Nations Cup series, with Deslauriers and Amsterdam 27 traveling south to Peru for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. One of the youngest horses representing the maple leaf, Amsterdam 27 rose to the pressure of his major games debut. He helped the Canadian Show Jumping Team punch their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a fourth place finish, and earned a respectable 15th place competing as an individual.
Mario Deslauriers and Amsterdam 27
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“I cannot begin to imagine a better owner than Wishing Well Farm and Rosalind,” said Deslauriers. “They are as supportive and enthusiastic when we are working at home as when we are at a championship. From their willingness and excitement to lend Bardolina 2 to the Canadian team for the World Equestrian Games last year, to the same this year with Amsterdam 27 and the Pan American Games, her support never waivers. We are beyond fortunate and grateful to have Wishing Well Farm and Rosalind behind us and beside us!”
Equestrian Canada is incredibly grateful to Schaeffer and Wishing Well Farm for supporting Deslauriers and the Canadian Show Jumping Team, as access to first-rate horses is what makes it possible for the Canadians to compete against the best of the best with the eyes of the equestrian world watching. Wishing Well Farm’s contributions to the Canadian Show Jumping Team and their horses’ spectacular success in 2019 will be recognized during a special presentation on Nov. 6, 2019, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
“I am absolutely overwhelmed,” said Schaefer of receiving the 2019 JC Owner of the Year Award. “It’s all because of Mario: He’s made it all happen, he’s found and trained these wonderful horses that can do the job. I’m very proud of him and the horses, and so glad that Canada is able to enjoy them.”
First introduced in 1995, the JC Owner of the Year Award was created to recognize the exceptional level of dedication, commitment and support that owners generously provide in order to ensure that Canadian Equestrian Team athletes have access to world-class horses. Wishing Well Farm joins a list of distinguished award recipients, which includes Artisan Farms LLC (2011, 2013, 2015-2018), The Watermark Group (2014) and Brian Gingras (2012). For a full list of recipients, click here.
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PHOTO – Rosalind Schaefer (left) of Wishing Well Farm in Sands Point, NY, was awarded the title of 2019 JC Owner of the Year, presented by Karen Hendry-Ouellette (right) at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
PHOTO CREDIT – Cealy Tetley