North Salem, NY – May 17, 2013 – For the second week in a row, Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT, won the Friday grand prix event at the Old Salem Spring Horse Show. She and Zerly were fastest to win the $25,000 Grand Prix of North Salem presented by The Hakim Family over World Cup champion Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo and last week's Sunday grand prix winners, Todd Minikus and Uraguay.
Today's grand prix had 60 entries, and nine of those advanced to the jump-off over a course designed by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Coming back first in the jump-off was Karen Polle on With Wings. They set a good pace in 42.076 seconds with a clear round, which would place her fourth at the end of the class.
Two horses later, Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Ranch's Coral Reef Via Volo had an efficient clear trip in 40.776 seconds for second place. Another two horses later, it was McCrea and Zerly, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, who would set the winning pace in 39.337 seconds. Todd Minikus and Uraguay were also clear, but with a slightly slower time of 41.511 seconds for third place.
McCrea said of her jump-off, “Beezie was perfection. She rode her jump-off amazing. Her horse is a little bit slower through the air and Zerly is lightning fast. She's fast across and the ground and fast in the air. To be honest, I think she's just a faster horse. I don't think I really did anything superhuman or anything like that.”
Zerly has started this year strong, including a victory in the WEF Challenge Cup series this winter. Last week, she was “very, very wild,” McCrea mentioned. They were fast with four faults in the Sunday grand prix for 11th place. Coming into today, McCrea wanted to work on rideability and getting Zerly quiet enough for the show ring.
“She's very brave and she doesn't mind anything. I knew if she was quiet enough, I could ride her. She tries really hard every time. I thought she'd be good. I didn't know I was going to win!” she said with a smile. “She's best when she's very quiet in the schooling area. When you go in the ring with her, she goes up about 10 gears. When she's wild in the schooling area, I know I'm in trouble because I go in the ring and have no control. She was very quiet in the schooling area today and was all about her business today.”
McCrea won yesterday in the 8 Year Old Young Jumpers with a horse she is very excited about, but said that Zerly leads the list of her up-and-coming mounts. “I know I said I was obsessed with my eight-year-old, but I'm even more obsessed with this horse. I think she's the best horse I've ever ridden,” she revealed. “She has all the scope and all the carefulness. The only thing is that she's nine, which is to my advantage. I think a lot of her. Hopefully in the next coming year she'll gain some experience and be ready for some big stuff and we will aim for championships. She's capable of it. I know it's in there.”
This is McCrea's second Friday grand prix win at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. She related, “It's awesome. It's been an amazing two weeks for me here.”
© Jennifer Wood Media Inc.
North Salem, NY – May 17, 2013 – For the second week in a row, Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT, won the Friday grand prix event at the Old Salem Spring Horse Show. She and Zerly were fastest to win the $25,000 Grand Prix of North Salem presented by The Hakim Family over World Cup champion Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo and last week's Sunday grand prix winners, Todd Minikus and Uraguay.
Today's grand prix had 60 entries, and nine of those advanced to the jump-off over a course designed by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Coming back first in the jump-off was Karen Polle on With Wings. They set a good pace in 42.076 seconds with a clear round, which would place her fourth at the end of the class.
Two horses later, Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Ranch's Coral Reef Via Volo had an efficient clear trip in 40.776 seconds for second place. Another two horses later, it was McCrea and Zerly, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, who would set the winning pace in 39.337 seconds. Todd Minikus and Uraguay were also clear, but with a slightly slower time of 41.511 seconds for third place.
McCrea said of her jump-off, “Beezie was perfection. She rode her jump-off amazing. Her horse is a little bit slower through the air and Zerly is lightning fast. She's fast across and the ground and fast in the air. To be honest, I think she's just a faster horse. I don't think I really did anything superhuman or anything like that.”
Zerly has started this year strong, including a victory in the WEF Challenge Cup series this winter. Last week, she was “very, very wild,” McCrea mentioned. They were fast with four faults in the Sunday grand prix for 11th place. Coming into today, McCrea wanted to work on rideability and getting Zerly quiet enough for the show ring.
“She's very brave and she doesn't mind anything. I knew if she was quiet enough, I could ride her. She tries really hard every time. I thought she'd be good. I didn't know I was going to win!” she said with a smile. “She's best when she's very quiet in the schooling area. When you go in the ring with her, she goes up about 10 gears. When she's wild in the schooling area, I know I'm in trouble because I go in the ring and have no control. She was very quiet in the schooling area today and was all about her business today.”
McCrea won yesterday in the 8 Year Old Young Jumpers with a horse she is very excited about, but said that Zerly leads the list of her up-and-coming mounts. “I know I said I was obsessed with my eight-year-old, but I'm even more obsessed with this horse. I think she's the best horse I've ever ridden,” she revealed. “She has all the scope and all the carefulness. The only thing is that she's nine, which is to my advantage. I think a lot of her. Hopefully in the next coming year she'll gain some experience and be ready for some big stuff and we will aim for championships. She's capable of it. I know it's in there.”
This is McCrea's second Friday grand prix win at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. She related, “It's awesome. It's been an amazing two weeks for me here.”
© Jennifer Wood Media Inc.