Darien, Conn. – June 12, 2019 – Show jumping action continued Wednesday at the 88th Annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, presented by the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, with contenders taking to the ring for the first prize money class of the week, the $1,500 1.40m Open Speed class, sponsored by The Tech Equestrian. As the best-performing partnership in the contest, Keirstin Johnsen and Capri, owned by Lynne Schwartz, galloped to the win, jumping to a league all their own more than three seconds faster than the next-closest team. In the 1.30m Jumpers, sponsored by Agway, Dagny MacTaggart and Ziezo emerged victorious as the fastest pair in the one-round speed class, claiming the blue ribbon ahead of a skilled pack.
Keirstin Johnsen and Capri
Near the beginning of the pack in the $1,500 1.40m Open Speed class, Kevin Mealiff piloted Nuca Z to the first penalty-free trip around course designer Philip J. DeVita’s 13-fence track, crossing the finish line in 65.998 seconds to serve as the early pathfinders and frontrunners. No stranger to the winner’s circle, FEI World Equestrian Games™ team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht took to the ring immediately next, turning in a clean but conservative effort aboard Shadowfax 111 in 74.129 seconds to incur one time fault against them, keeping the pair out of contention for the top prize. As the class continued, Johnsen and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Capri, soon took their turn over the pattern and appeared to be on pace to eclipse the early leaders, tripping the timers in a quick and clear 62.705 seconds to jump to the top of the scorecard by more than three seconds.
With only one duo left to contest DeVita’s track, Peter Leone returned to the ring on his second mount of the class as the final obstacle standing in the way of Johnsen and Capri earning the top spot on the podium. In the irons aboard Cyrus De Shalimar, Leone maneuvered around the course with textbook form and had the pace to oust the top pair with a final time of 59.691 seconds, but downed a single rail to accrue 4 faults and fall in the rankings, securing Johnsen and Capri as the victors in the $1,500 1.40m Open Speed class. In addition to the champion garb including ribbons, Johnsen and Capri were further awarded with a saddle pad presented by Juliana Chapman, Founder of The Tech Equestrian. Mealiff and Nuca Z ultimately finished the competition in second position overall, while Sternlicht and Shadowfax 111 rounded out the top three placings.
Dagny MacTaggart and Ziezo
Earlier in the afternoon, MacTaggart and Islay Jumpers LLC’s 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ziezo, bested the 12-effort speed track set forth in the 1.30m Jumper class, sponsored by Agway, with a clear round and leading time of 57.837 seconds. Mattias Tromp entered first in the order of go aboard Ibaltic BH as the early pathfinder with a clear round and conservative time of 68.60 seconds. MacTaggart and her 2017 Adequan/FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships partner, with whom she earned team bronze, followed several rounds later, riding to an impressive and ultimately unbeatable time. Giraldo Abreu entered to produce an additional clear round aboard Ideal S later in the order, but their time of 63.435 seconds would slate them behind MacTaggart. Last in the ring, Juan Lavieri and Happy Hour came the closest to challenging MacTaggart’s time, but fell just short in 58.048 seconds to earn second place, while Abreu settled for third overall.
Jumper competition will continue Thursday at the Ox Ridge Riding and Racquet Club, with the $5,000 1.40m Welcome Stake serving as the highlight class of the day. Saturday afternoon will feature the most popular event of the horse show, the $50,000 Ox Ridge Grand Prix, presented by the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.