The 2024 ESP Holiday & Horses Series, presented by ArthramidVet, kicked off with excitement on Friday as the ESP Holiday II show got underway at Wellington International. The week began with a focus on the hunters, featuring the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), presented by Nutrena. Designed by Robert McGregor, the class showcased 22 horse-and-rider combinations vying for top honors.
Held in combined rings 7 and 8, Marcus Au (USA) dominated the field with an outstanding performance aboard Desiigner, owned by Continental Stables LLC. Au earned double scores of 88 for a winning total of 176. Jennifer Bliss (USA) followed closely in second with Sugarman, owned by Harris Hill Farm LLC, achieving scores of 87 and 86 for a combined 173. Au also secured the third-place finish with Quintessa WSS, owned by Nicole R Lean, scoring a total of 166.
$10,000 1.40m Bainbridge Companies Open Stake
The action shifted to the jumpers as Steven Bluman (ISR) and Cachemire De Braize, owned by Over the Top Stables LLC, claimed victory in the $10,000 1.40m Bainbridge Companies Open Stake. The duo delivered a double-clear round, clocking an impressive jump-off time of 39.931 seconds. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Sade De Rialfo Z, owned by Pine Hollow Farm, narrowly missed the top spot with a clear 40.068-second round to secure second. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Jahzara Sinaa, owned by Oakridge Farm, rounded out the podium with a faultless 40.84 seconds.
$30,000 Zen Elite Equestrian Center Grand Prix
The highlight of the ESP Holiday II show came on Saturday night with the $30,000 Zen Elite Equestrian Center Grand Prix. Among a competitive field of 42, McKayla Langmeier (USA) and her longtime partner Jiselle NS, owned by Linda Langmeier, emerged victorious.
Reflecting on her horse and groom’s invaluable partnership, Langmeier shared, “I think Jiselle [NS] and her groom have the best partnership; they definitely understand each other really well. And she's definitely a 'mare' kind of horse, so she needs someone that, you know, takes their time and really gives her the extra carrot when she needs it and tells her she's a good girl. So I really do have an amazing groom that looks after my horses immaculately.”
Course designer Andy Christiansen (ECU) set a challenging track that saw 12 riders advance to the jump-off. Second in the jump-off order, Langmeier and Jiselle NS delivered a blistering clear round in 39.825 seconds, a time that held through the class. Kevin Gallagher (IRL) and Ballerina-Hoem, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC, came close with a time of 40.879 seconds to finish second. Pieter De Brabandere (USA) and MTM Caden, owned by Maarten Huygens, secured third place with a clear time of 41.397 seconds.
$5,000 1.35m Open Stake, Sponsored by FreeJump
The $5,000 1.35m Open Stake, presented by FreeJump, concluded an exciting weekend of competition on Sunday in the International Arena. A field of 38 horse-and-rider combinations competed fiercely for top honors. Claiming victory was Max Routledge (GBR) aboard his own Janeiro, delivering a lightning-fast double-clear round in 37.851 seconds. Hot on his heels, Marie Hecart (FRA) piloted Normandie Connection’s Vahinee to a close second with a fault-free time of 38.142 seconds. Rounding out the podium, Alejandro Karolyi (VEN) and Kroon, owned by Beverly Gepfer, secured third place with a clear effort in 41.07 seconds.
