Nineteen-year-old Frances Land (USA) and Vieanne were the winners in Friday's $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Equestrian Sport Productions' Holiday & Horses competition in Wellington, FL, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Anthony D'Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC this week. For Friday's $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, D'Ambrosio set the course for 38 entries with just four clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. First to go, Frances Land and Vieanne set a blazing fast pace of 35.09 seconds over the short course that could not be topped. Ireland's Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane gave it their best effort, but finished second with a time of 35.85 seconds. Karen Polle (USA) and With Wings were third with a clear jump-off round in 40.62 seconds. Last to go, Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms' Darcon Scheefkasteel Z had eight faults in 41.11 seconds to place fourth. Class winners, Frances Land and Vieanne, have had an incredible year together since pairing up for the first time one week ago last year. Land and the 11-year-old KWPN mare (Andiamo x Voltaire) won the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m at Spruce Meadows this summer, topped the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Championship Grand Prix in Kentucky in October, and won the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix in Georgia just last week. Friday's victory adds another great accomplishment to their season. "She has just been on fire this year," Land smiled after her win. "She has been the most amazing horse for me." First to go in the class and therefore first to jump-off, Land explained that her plan was go out with a bang. "I love going first," she explained. "It is so easy because you can go in and you do your plan, and you don't have time to get nervous. I just ride my horse the way she is. I like being first or last in a jump-off, and today, going first worked out really well." Although she put down a very fast time, Land was not sure if it would hold up. "Ronan is really fast. He is a brilliant rider and the horse is fast as anything, so I was a little nervous," she acknowledged. "He almost caught me." Vieanne is a mare that takes a particular kind of ride, but Land has formed a fantastic partnership with the horse and knows exactly how to get her best effort in the show ring. "I've always ridden horses that are quieter and she has a lot of blood," Land said. "She is a mare, and she is incredibly feisty. She has so much power and so much scope and really takes you, but wants a lot of leg off the ground. I always have to worry about the back rail of oxers. She will take care of the front rail. I have to constantly think about staying up with her so I don't get jumped loose, so I can give her enough scope to clear the back rail. That has been so great because she is teaching me how to ride a horse with more scope. She has been amazing for my riding. She is teaching me everything." Land is currently a sophomore at Emory University in Georgia and will now head back to school. She plans to return to Florida for the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival this winter. Final Results: $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic 1. VIEANNE: 2002 KWPN mare by Andiamo x Voltaire FRANCES LAND (USA), Frances Land: 0/0/35.09 2. CAPALL ZIDANE: 2004 KWPN gelding by Concorde x Baloubet du Rouet RONAN MCGUIGAN (IRL), Ronan McGuigan: 0/0/35.85 3. WITH WINGS:2003 KWPN gelding by Larino x L. Ronald KAREN POLLE (USA), Karen Polle: 0/0/40.62 4. DARCON SCHEEFKASTEEL Z: 2005 Zangersheide gelding by Darco x Contender LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 0/8/41.11 5. Z CANTA: 2004 KWPN mare by Casantos x Abantos CATHERINE PASMORE (USA), Pasmore Stables LLC: 1/79.93 6. CARMENA Z: 2000 Zangersheide stallion by Carthago Z x Irco Mena SAER COULTER (USA), Copernicus Stables LLC: 4/72.69 7. SPLENDOR: 1999 KWPN gelding by Lester x Marinier CHARLIE JAYNE (USA), Pony Lane Farm: 4/73.97 8. PLATINUM: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Simply Javlin x Tremblant KYLE TIMM (CAN), Apex Equestrian Center: 4/74.19 9. MAN IN BLACK: 2002 KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Calvados JACK HARDIN TOWELL (USA), Jennifer Gates: 4/74.61 10. RECONNAISSANCE: 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Camaro M x Irco Mena LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Laura & Meredith Mateo: 4/74.65 11. GATSBY: 2004 Irish Sport Horse stallion by Simba x Cruise On ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns: 4/74.75 12. TUXEDO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Hamilcar TODD MINIKUS (USA), Legacy Stables, LLC: 4/75.05 © press release
Nineteen-year-old Frances Land (USA) and Vieanne were the winners in Friday's $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic at Equestrian Sport Productions' Holiday & Horses competition in Wellington, FL, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Anthony D'Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC this week. For Friday's $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, D'Ambrosio set the course for 38 entries with just four clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. First to go, Frances Land and Vieanne set a blazing fast pace of 35.09 seconds over the short course that could not be topped. Ireland's Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane gave it their best effort, but finished second with a time of 35.85 seconds. Karen Polle (USA) and With Wings were third with a clear jump-off round in 40.62 seconds. Last to go, Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms' Darcon Scheefkasteel Z had eight faults in 41.11 seconds to place fourth. Class winners, Frances Land and Vieanne, have had an incredible year together since pairing up for the first time one week ago last year. Land and the 11-year-old KWPN mare (Andiamo x Voltaire) won the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m at Spruce Meadows this summer, topped the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series Championship Grand Prix in Kentucky in October, and won the $45,000 EMO Grand Prix in Georgia just last week. Friday's victory adds another great accomplishment to their season. "She has just been on fire this year," Land smiled after her win. "She has been the most amazing horse for me." First to go in the class and therefore first to jump-off, Land explained that her plan was go out with a bang. "I love going first," she explained. "It is so easy because you can go in and you do your plan, and you don't have time to get nervous. I just ride my horse the way she is. I like being first or last in a jump-off, and today, going first worked out really well." Although she put down a very fast time, Land was not sure if it would hold up. "Ronan is really fast. He is a brilliant rider and the horse is fast as anything, so I was a little nervous," she acknowledged. "He almost caught me." Vieanne is a mare that takes a particular kind of ride, but Land has formed a fantastic partnership with the horse and knows exactly how to get her best effort in the show ring. "I've always ridden horses that are quieter and she has a lot of blood," Land said. "She is a mare, and she is incredibly feisty. She has so much power and so much scope and really takes you, but wants a lot of leg off the ground. I always have to worry about the back rail of oxers. She will take care of the front rail. I have to constantly think about staying up with her so I don't get jumped loose, so I can give her enough scope to clear the back rail. That has been so great because she is teaching me how to ride a horse with more scope. She has been amazing for my riding. She is teaching me everything." Land is currently a sophomore at Emory University in Georgia and will now head back to school. She plans to return to Florida for the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival this winter. Final Results: $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic 1. VIEANNE: 2002 KWPN mare by Andiamo x Voltaire FRANCES LAND (USA), Frances Land: 0/0/35.09 2. CAPALL ZIDANE: 2004 KWPN gelding by Concorde x Baloubet du Rouet RONAN MCGUIGAN (IRL), Ronan McGuigan: 0/0/35.85 3. WITH WINGS:2003 KWPN gelding by Larino x L. Ronald KAREN POLLE (USA), Karen Polle: 0/0/40.62 4. DARCON SCHEEFKASTEEL Z: 2005 Zangersheide gelding by Darco x Contender LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 0/8/41.11 5. Z CANTA: 2004 KWPN mare by Casantos x Abantos CATHERINE PASMORE (USA), Pasmore Stables LLC: 1/79.93 6. CARMENA Z: 2000 Zangersheide stallion by Carthago Z x Irco Mena SAER COULTER (USA), Copernicus Stables LLC: 4/72.69 7. SPLENDOR: 1999 KWPN gelding by Lester x Marinier CHARLIE JAYNE (USA), Pony Lane Farm: 4/73.97 8. PLATINUM: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Simply Javlin x Tremblant KYLE TIMM (CAN), Apex Equestrian Center: 4/74.19 9. MAN IN BLACK: 2002 KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Calvados JACK HARDIN TOWELL (USA), Jennifer Gates: 4/74.61 10. RECONNAISSANCE: 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Camaro M x Irco Mena LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Laura & Meredith Mateo: 4/74.65 11. GATSBY: 2004 Irish Sport Horse stallion by Simba x Cruise On ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns: 4/74.75 12. TUXEDO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Hamilcar TODD MINIKUS (USA), Legacy Stables, LLC: 4/75.05 © press release