The opening day of Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) CSI3* competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala opened with a heartfelt victory for Aaron Vale (USA) and I Adermie R 4 (Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R) owned by Lori Osterstock in the $40,000 1.45m CSI3* Speed. The same morning, Lori Osterstock, the owner of the mare, lost her long battle with cancer.
“It’s been an emotional day for everyone at the barn. While I was on course with I Adermie R 4 I got jumped loose through the last combination and I think Lori pushed me back on. She was my guardian angel and flew with us through that course today,” shared Vale.
When Vale entered the arena aboard I Adermie R 4, he was currently sitting first aboard his other mount Cristo Beech owned by Alise Carrico and Thinks Like A Horse. Vale and the 12-year-old AES gelding by It’s the Business x Cantero navigated a seamless round early in the order to set the pace at 63.67 seconds. “I was a hair wide from two to three on ‘Cristo’ which maybe left a little crack of the door open, but I felt like he had a super round.”
“On ‘Adermie’ I was a bit more aggressive and caught the first fence coming forward. I think that was the difference. She is a little bit of a smaller strided horse, so when everyone does seven, the horse with the smaller stride is faster. Then I caught the wall on a really nice angle,” said Vale.
Vale and the ten-year-old KPWN mare flew through the timers in 62.64 seconds to claim the first place spot.
“As always, there was fresh material out in the arena. The jumps today were so beautiful – the prettiest I have ever seen in America and anywhere I have been in the world. It’s fabulous the way they are able to keep new jumps coming to keep the ring a bit fresh for the horses that continuously show here,” said Vale. “All of my horses were incredible today and rose to the occasion. I know Lori was cheering me on the entire time.”
Vale held the first and second place position until Canada’s Jacqueline Steffens Daly and Cat Ninja owned by Eye Candy Jumpers entered down the ramp into the WEC Grand Arena. Daly and the 15-year-old KWPN mare (VDL Zirocco Blue x Corland) gave a stellar effort in 63.47 seconds to slide into second and bump Cristo Beech to third.
Final Results: $40,000 1.45m CSI3* Speed
1 I Adermie R 4: 2013 KWPN mare by Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R
Aaron Vale (USA), Lori Osterstock: 0/62.64
2 Cart Ninja: 2008 KWPN mare by VDL Zirocco Blue x Corland
Jacqueline Steffens Daly (CAN), Eye Candy Jumpers: 0/63.47
3 Cristo Beech: 2011 Warmblood gelding by Its The Business x Cantero
Aaron Vale (USA), Alise Carrico & Thinks Like A Horse: 0/63.67
Source: Press Release / World Equestrian Center
Photo©: Andrew Ryback Photography