“My horse has a big stride but he’s also a horse that collects really quickly, so I think I had an advantage coming into the last combination because it was a very big canter and then some of the other riders needed to take a little bit of time to slow down coming into the combination. My horse settled in really quick and nicely, so I think that’s where I made up some time.”
Similar to some of the other courses set this week, the jump-off path left riders with a combination of places to open up their gallop and a few opportunities to leave out strides, to optimize their time. Last to go in the second round, Katie Dinan (USA) kicked it into high gear aboard the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC, to chase the leading time. The dynamic duo came up just short with a double-clear effort in a time of 41.75 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and the nine-year-old gelding Ideal, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Seabrook, LLC, also put forth a solid attempt, leaving all the jumps up in a time of 42.44 seconds for third place.The winning horse, H5 Elvaro, was purchased by the H5 stables as an eight-year-old and has been in partnership with Menezes for the past year. While he continues to prove himself as a solid mount, the Brazilian rider notes the stallion’s great mind as one of his most likeable qualities and plans to continue to challenge him with feature classes this season.
“My plan is to keep doing these types of classes,” he said. “I’ll use him in the WEF a few weeks to save my older grand prix horses and week 10 where the grand prix is a CSI3* in the International Arena, I might use him for the grand prix. I think the way we are using the grass [Derby Field] at Equestrian Village is amazing for the horses. It’s difficult for the horses to be jumping in the same venue every week so I’ve been really enjoying WEF so far.”Earlier in the day, Zoe Conter (BEL) and Univers Du Vinnebus captured the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner 1.45m Jumper Classic, presented by Lugano Diamonds. Eva Fisherman (USA) aboard Rock Street took home top prize in the Griffiths Residential High Junior Jumper 1.40m and Ella Bikoff and Huckleberry won the Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper class to wrap up an action-packed day of competition in the International Arena.
“My horse has a big stride but he’s also a horse that collects really quickly, so I think I had an advantage coming into the last combination because it was a very big canter and then some of the other riders needed to take a little bit of time to slow down coming into the combination. My horse settled in really quick and nicely, so I think that’s where I made up some time.”
Similar to some of the other courses set this week, the jump-off path left riders with a combination of places to open up their gallop and a few opportunities to leave out strides, to optimize their time. Last to go in the second round, Katie Dinan (USA) kicked it into high gear aboard the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC, to chase the leading time. The dynamic duo came up just short with a double-clear effort in a time of 41.75 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and the nine-year-old gelding Ideal, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Seabrook, LLC, also put forth a solid attempt, leaving all the jumps up in a time of 42.44 seconds for third place.The winning horse, H5 Elvaro, was purchased by the H5 stables as an eight-year-old and has been in partnership with Menezes for the past year. While he continues to prove himself as a solid mount, the Brazilian rider notes the stallion’s great mind as one of his most likeable qualities and plans to continue to challenge him with feature classes this season.
“My plan is to keep doing these types of classes,” he said. “I’ll use him in the WEF a few weeks to save my older grand prix horses and week 10 where the grand prix is a CSI3* in the International Arena, I might use him for the grand prix. I think the way we are using the grass [Derby Field] at Equestrian Village is amazing for the horses. It’s difficult for the horses to be jumping in the same venue every week so I’ve been really enjoying WEF so far.”Earlier in the day, Zoe Conter (BEL) and Univers Du Vinnebus captured the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner 1.45m Jumper Classic, presented by Lugano Diamonds. Eva Fisherman (USA) aboard Rock Street took home top prize in the Griffiths Residential High Junior Jumper 1.40m and Ella Bikoff and Huckleberry won the Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper class to wrap up an action-packed day of competition in the International Arena.