The American anthem rang out as Giavanna Rinaldi celebrated victory in the $31,100 USD CSI2* Kubota Grand Prix on Saturday, August 24, at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON. The Major League Show Jumping Ottawa tournament has attracted some of the top-ranked athletes in the world to Canada’s national capital for a weekend of equestrian sport. With 55 horse-rider combinations contesting the Kubota Grand Prix, the international flavour was apparent when five different nations were represented in the eight-horse jump-off.
In the end, none were faster than 25-year-old Rinaldi and her new partner, Snapchat vd Broekkant Z (Scendix x Concorde). With a jump-off time of 39.72 seconds, the pair claimed victory over Colombia’s Roberto Teran Tafur riding Iron Maiden (Clarimo x Kashmir van Schuttershof), who stopped the timers in 40.57 seconds. Bliss Heers of United States was double clear in a time of 40.97 seconds to take third riding Goodbye (Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Amulet) while Abdel Said and Calvaro (Cascadello I x Quidam de Revel) slotted into fourth place representing Belgium. Two-time Canadian Olympian and hometown favourite Amy Millar of Perth, ON, rounded out the top five with a double-clear performance riding Jagger HX (Ustinov x Bustique).
Ottawa marked only the third competition together for Rinaldi, who rides for Enda Carroll’s Ashford Farm in Belgium, and Snapchat vd Broekkant Z.
“He’s quite young but he definitely doesn’t act his age; he acts like an old soul,” said Rinaldi of the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Hunter’s Scendix x Concorde) owned by Ashford Farm. “This is only the second two-star grand prix he has ever jumped. I wasn’t able to watch any go before me in the jump-off, but I know my horse has a really big stride so thought I would use that to my advantage. I tried not to interfere with him. He knows what he’s doing. To get the win as a young horse just learning the ropes, he’s done a fantastic job. I want to thank Ashford Farm for the opportunity and my groom, Leah, for always taking such good care of the horses.”
To score victory in her first trip to Wesley Clover Parks was an exciting moment for Rinaldi, who is originally from Wayne, IL, and now calls Wellington, FL, home.
“It's my first season doing Major League Show Jumping and I’m really excited to be out here,” said Rinaldi, who is competing as a member of the Archers team. “The field is amazing. It rides great and I love jumping on the grass. There’s a nice crowd here, nice atmosphere, and we got really lucky with the weather. This venue also really takes care of the horses; there are plenty of places to walk and hand-graze them. I love it.”