One CSI5* win wasn’t enough for Kent Farrington (USA), who walked away with another on Sunday in the $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic to close out Week 7 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Aboard Grass de Mars, Farrington proved he has another top contender coming up the ranks.
“I got the horse with the Philippaerts family; I bought them out so I own the horse together with Katie Robinson,” he said of Grass de Mars, a 9-year-old Selle Français mare (Windows CH Costersveld x Dollar dela Pierre). “It’s been a new partnership for me and we’re off to a good start. I’m very impressed with this horse at just nine to go in and jump a class like that. She’s still growing into herself so it will be fun to see what we have.”
Of the 13 clears over Anthony d’Ambrosio’s (USA) Winning Round track, Farrington had a quick enough time to secure a jump-off position and made the most of the opportunity.
“She has a big stride and turns on a dime,” Farrington elaborated on Grass de Mars and her jump-off strengths. “She did an exceptional job to the third fence. Then I let her open up and I was amazed by how big her stride is. She can carve up the lines and still be dropping out strides which makes her exceptionally fast in a big ring.”
Farrington’s time of 40.93 seconds couldn’t quite be caught, though Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk (GER) came very close with Espoir Blanc Cristal, owned by Beerbaum Stables GMBH, taking second with his time of 40.97 seconds. Jordan Coyle (IRL) was third with For Gold, owned by Falkirk Farm, LLC.
After snagging two CSI5* grand prix victories so far this season at WEF, Farrington is seeing the fruits of his efforts in developing the next generation of top show jumpers. After a period of rebuilding in the form of developing talented young horses, the results he hoped for are pouring in.
“I've been doing this a long time; you try to enjoy the wins when things go well, ride the high waves, and ride the low waves,” Farrington remarked of the year he’s had so far. “I love what I do, I love working with the horses, and I love producing the horses. It’s really a pleasure for me to see them get to a higher level like this and show what they can do.”
As for developing horses, Farrington has pretty simple advice: enjoy the process. “Today’s sport is so refined, and there's so much nuance in what we do, so it takes time to build a partnership. The more time you put into that and the more you enjoy the process the better partnership you have with your horse.”
To see full results from the $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic, click HERE.
Grace Debney Dominates $62,500 Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix
Grace Debney (GBR) snagged her biggest win of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season, piloting Jesprit H.S, owned by Temple Equestrian LLC, to the win the $62,500 Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday of WEF 7. Together the duo topped a field of 45 entries and 13 clear efforts to claim the top spot.
“She’s special in a lot of ways,” Debney said of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Carosso VDL), who she’s had since the mare was eight. “She’s obviously an amazing horse but she’s also the favorite in the barn, she has a huge personality, and she’s just got a lot going on. She either hates you or loves you so I’m happy to say she loves me.”
Their admiration for each other was apparent Sunday when they pulled out all the stops come jump-off time. Debney was second to last to return, and knew the task at hand wouldn’t be easy. She made an initial plan for her jump-off, but switched gears because of how fast the other riders were going.
“I watched the first really good ones go and I was like, ‘Uh oh. I have no choice. I had to leave out. I had to get it done.”
She removed strides from several lines and took risks everywhere, even slicing on her way into the double combination. Ultimately, the risk paid off because her time was fast enough to put her on top and keep her there.
She pushed WEF 4 Grand Prix winner Jacob Pope (USA) into second place aboard Highway FBH, owned by Sherri Crawford, and Charlotte Jacobs (USA) ended up third after a consistent week with Korbach van de Renger, owned by North Star.
If it wasn’t evident watching them, Debney feels she has Jesprit H.S on her team. “She fights for you,” she said. “It’s an amazing feeling when you’re going around and you’re fighting hard for a clear and so is the horse.”
To see full results from the $62,500 Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix, click HERE.
Lindsay Swedenburg Bests Bruno Delgrange Palm Beach Adult Medal
Lindsay Swedenburg took a big win Sunday afternoon in the Bruno Delgrange Palm Beach Adult Medal aboard Konfessions, owned by Brookside Pine Farms, LLC. Now riding as an amateur after a successful junior career in the equitation, Swedenburg of Scarsdale, NY, is focusing all her efforts on piloting Konfessions in the adult equitation offerings at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
“His name is Ramone and he’s amazing,” Swedenburg said of the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding by Untouched. “He does everything. He’s the most ‘go with the flow’ horse. He will jump through fire honestly.”
Beginning their partnership last May, Konfessions took Swedenburg to her last equitation finals, and now they’re enjoying stepping into the ranks of the adult equitation.
“He’s really down to do whatever,” she continued about what makes him special. “He’s with you every step of the way. I think doing some of the tighter turns helped me win. At this point I know him so well—especially at this height—so it’s easy to turn and do the tighter options. I think that was a big part of it.”
Despite being apprehensive about beginning her amateur career in the equitation rings, Swedenburg has been pleasantly surprised by the options and is excited to keep competing through the end of the season.
“It’s been great,” she said of becoming an amateur, training with Holly Hill Farm. “I have had a good time so far. There’s a lot of good options for classes, which was something I was worried about. I think I've done better than I expected [this season], so my goal is to continue that and have consistent placings in medals.”
Swedenburg is currently a student at Tulane University, traveling back and forth between Wellington and New Orleans to ride and attend classes. Though it was a hectic transition, she has it down to a science now and is enjoying both aspects of life.
To see full results from WEF 7, click HERE.
