Sixty-two entries representing 13 countries challenged Thursday’s $38,700 FEI 1.45m Two-Phase at the 2023 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, where course designer Alan Wade (IRL) put forward a technical track totaling 15 jumping efforts. Powering through the initial phase’s tight time allowed, American Audrey Schulze secured the win aboard Darquito, earning a double-clear score in a blazing 27.080 seconds.
Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations rode double-clear over the $38,700 FEI 1.45m Two-Phase, with Sarah Segal (USA) claiming an early lead in 27.220 seconds aboard Flintstone, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Horatio Street Ventures LLC. That time held until Schulze and Riverbrook Sport Horses LLC’s 12-year-old Hannoverian gelding entered the ring near the middle of the order, shaving just 0.140 seconds off it with their foot-perfect ride.
“This was my first 3* ranking class win, which was really exciting for me and my horse,” said Schulze, who was the youngest professional rider in the field. “I know him really well; I’m really comfortable with him, and we’ve gone fast in a lot of classes together. The hardest part of the course was probably the first line of the speed phase, riding eight strides into the double (combination) on the outside. But heading on toward the red oxer near the ingate, I was able to do one stride less than Sarah. Darquito has a really big stride, and I was able to use that to my advantage. I’m looking forward to the rest of the week here.”
Segal and Flintstone ultimately placed second, with fellow American Molly Ashe Cawley stopping the clock in 28.530 seconds to take third aboard Louisburg Farm’s 12-year-old Zangersheide mare Berdien. International competition continues Friday afternoon with Evergate Stables’ $40,000 Welcome Stake presented by Jumpr App.