Beezie Madden guides former World Champion Garant to first Grand Prix victory

Four-time U.S. Olympian and New York State native Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, was unbeatable in the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by The Kincade Group, riding young mount Garant on Sunday, May 12, at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows running May 7-12 and May 14-19 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.

Before Sunday, Garant, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Warrant x C’est La Vie), had never competed in a grand prix before. Despite it being her mount’s first grand prix, Madden handily took the win over Swiss team Olympic silver medalist Beat Mändli.

Nine horses advanced to the jump-off over Eric Hasbrouck’s (USA) course and Madden put her horse’s speed to the test to post the fastest tie-breaking time by nearly two full seconds in 33.84. Mändli settled for second riding Simba for Grand Road Partners in 35.46 seconds.

“He is just an eight-year-old, but I got him during the fall of his six-year-old year, so we have gotten to know each other a little,” said Madden, 55. “He has done some ranking classes, but never a grand prix and I was so pleased with him.”