Five-time Olympic medalist Mclain Ward (USA) opened five-star competition during the penultimate week of the Tournament of Champions at Traverse City Horse Shows, setting the stage for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City. On the back of First Lady (Don Diarado), Ward packed a punch to win the $32,000 Storm Ridge Capital CSI5* Speed from a 65-horse field.
Fresh off a successful tour at the Olympic Games in Paris where he was part of the silver-medal winning U.S. team, Ward took to Alan Wade’s (IRL) one-round track and once again proved that First Lady is always one to beat.
“First Lady is still a developing horse so I’m not entirely sure what her specialty is going to be yet,” detailed Ward. “She has been a spectacular 1.50m and 1.55m winner this season, but I still think she’s going to win a lot of bigger grand prix as well. I think she is one of those horses that has come into her potential a bit later in her career because she has so much quality, she really needed that time to grow and be at her best.”
Always one to be feared on any start list, Ward took to the ring aboard three different horses; First Lady, Callas and Quimi del Maset. Owned by Robin Parsky, First Lady was the one who rose to the top. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos) put forward the well-fastest time to stop the clock in 56.32 seconds and dethrone previous class leader Conor Swail (IRL), who led for 26 rounds before Ward entered the ring.
“She’s jumped some really big competitions very successfully and can still be your day-to-day winner,” continued Ward. “She’s an incredible part of our team. Her owner Robin Parsky has also been a great supporter of the U.S. Show Jumping team for many years so it’s always a pleasure to ride a horse for her.”
While Ward has been making his way across the globe throughout the spring and summer seasons, he plans to use the following two five-star weeks in Traverse City to establish new goals.
“This is one of our first shows back in the U.S. after this summer’s Olympics,” explained Ward. “I’m interested in the World Cup Final but we will have to see how the season is and the horses are feeling. I’m on a Major League [Show Jumping] team for the Desert International Horse Park Roadrunners, which I’ve represented now for several years so I’m excited to be able to be here for them. I wanted to do the team event here for them [next week] and also take another shot at the American Gold Cup because it has eluded me so far.”
Swail, also with multiple entries in the afternoon’s feature class, ultimately took home the runner-up ribbon with his earliest mount, Vital Chance de la Roque. Prior to Ward’s performance, Swail and the Mannon Farm-owned 15-year-old Selle Français gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Rivage du Poncel) stopped the clock on a time of 58.07 seconds.
Bookending the top three with another ribbon for the U.S., Hunter Holloway piloted the Hays Investment Corp’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Kalina N (H5 Elvaro x Querly-Elvis), into third. The young professional proved to be just off of the pace of the Irishman as she and her rising star produced another fault-free effort with a time of 58.93 seconds.
For complete results, click here.
Fresh off a successful tour at the Olympic Games in Paris where he was part of the silver-medal winning U.S. team, Ward took to Alan Wade’s (IRL) one-round track and once again proved that First Lady is always one to beat.
“First Lady is still a developing horse so I’m not entirely sure what her specialty is going to be yet,” detailed Ward. “She has been a spectacular 1.50m and 1.55m winner this season, but I still think she’s going to win a lot of bigger grand prix as well. I think she is one of those horses that has come into her potential a bit later in her career because she has so much quality, she really needed that time to grow and be at her best.”
Always one to be feared on any start list, Ward took to the ring aboard three different horses; First Lady, Callas and Quimi del Maset. Owned by Robin Parsky, First Lady was the one who rose to the top. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos) put forward the well-fastest time to stop the clock in 56.32 seconds and dethrone previous class leader Conor Swail (IRL), who led for 26 rounds before Ward entered the ring.
“She’s jumped some really big competitions very successfully and can still be your day-to-day winner,” continued Ward. “She’s an incredible part of our team. Her owner Robin Parsky has also been a great supporter of the U.S. Show Jumping team for many years so it’s always a pleasure to ride a horse for her.”
While Ward has been making his way across the globe throughout the spring and summer seasons, he plans to use the following two five-star weeks in Traverse City to establish new goals.
“This is one of our first shows back in the U.S. after this summer’s Olympics,” explained Ward. “I’m interested in the World Cup Final but we will have to see how the season is and the horses are feeling. I’m on a Major League [Show Jumping] team for the Desert International Horse Park Roadrunners, which I’ve represented now for several years so I’m excited to be able to be here for them. I wanted to do the team event here for them [next week] and also take another shot at the American Gold Cup because it has eluded me so far.”
Swail, also with multiple entries in the afternoon’s feature class, ultimately took home the runner-up ribbon with his earliest mount, Vital Chance de la Roque. Prior to Ward’s performance, Swail and the Mannon Farm-owned 15-year-old Selle Français gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Rivage du Poncel) stopped the clock on a time of 58.07 seconds.
Bookending the top three with another ribbon for the U.S., Hunter Holloway piloted the Hays Investment Corp’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Kalina N (H5 Elvaro x Querly-Elvis), into third. The young professional proved to be just off of the pace of the Irishman as she and her rising star produced another fault-free effort with a time of 58.93 seconds.
For complete results, click here.