May 11, 2017 – North Salem, NY – Mahalo, ridden by Katie Robinson of Bronxville, NY, was named Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion on Thursday, May 11, at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running May 9-14 and May 16-21 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. On the Grand Prix Field, four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Beezie Madden claimed a win in the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m riding Con Taggio.
Mahalo, ridden by Katie Robinson, was named Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion on Thursday, May 11, during the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY; photo © The Book
Robinson, who rides with trainers Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith at Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY, won all three jumping classes, the under saddle, and the handy to sweep the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Division. Her five blue ribbons also earned her and her own Mahalo the Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship title.
A relatively new ride for Robinson, Mahalo is an 18-year-old Warmblood gelding she originally purchased for her daughter to compete in the Children’s Hunter Division. It did not take long, however, for her to decide that the horse was also a perfect mount for her.
Mahalo and Katie Robinson jumped to a championship ribbon in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Division, which won them grand champion honors as well during the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY; photo © The Book
“I stole him from her,” joked Robinson. “Even though he is an older horse, he still has a lot of spunk. Every time I get on him we have a lot of fun together, and I had so much fun with him today. He was perfect.”
Of competing at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Robinson noted, “I show here every spring and, for me, it is the best show of the year. I don’t live that far away so it is easy for me to get here and the rings are great to ride [in].”
Reserve champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over Division was presented to Daryl Portela riding Carrington for owner Danielle Torano and trainer Jimmy Torano of JET Show Stables based in Wellington, FL, and Mohrsville, PA. Portela and Carrington were fifth in both classes over fences on Wednesday before placing seventh under saddle and second and third over fences on Thursday.
Beezie Madden and Con Taggio Capture $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m
2016 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, took the blue ribbon in the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m riding Con Taggio, owned by Abigail Wexner, on the Grand Prix Field at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.
Beezie Madden won the $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m riding Con Taggio on Thursday, May 11, during the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY; photo © The Book
Madden and Con Taggio, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Contagio x Goliath Life), were first to go in Thursday’s feature class and bested a field of 29 over courses built by Ken Krome of Westminster, MD. Their double-clear effort gave them the lead with a time of 40.344 seconds which stood for the win.
“[Con Taggio] is one of several exciting new horses I have here for this show,” said Madden, who got the ride on the horse at the end of 2016 before working up to the 1.45m level during the winter season in Florida. “He’s a little hot and quick, so that was good for the jump-off because he is naturally fast.
“So far he has been a pleasure, and he really likes the field,” continued Madden, who competes at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows each year. “It is always nice to jump on grass, and the footing is excellent this year. And the atmosphere is always so beautiful here.”
Fractions of a second behind Madden, Ian McFarlane (USA) was second in 40.895 seconds riding Cora 572, owned by Buribbons, LLC. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) was third riding Calista for Gotham Enterprizes with a time of 41.388 seconds. Andrew Ramsay (USA) took fourth in 41.801 seconds riding California 62, owned by The California Group, and Mario Deslauriers (USA) rounded out the top five in 43.260 seconds riding his own Can Cun 2.
Open Jumper competition continues Friday with the $35,000 New York Welcome Stake CSI2* on the Grand Prix Field.
Final Results: $10,000 Open Jumper 1.45m
1 CON TAGGIO: 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Contagio x Goliath Life
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/40.344
2 CORA 572: 2006 Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Ramirez
IAN MCFARLANE (USA), Buribbons, LLC: 0/0/40.895
3 CALISTA: 2006 Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Pontifex
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/0/41.388
4 CLAIFORNIA 62: 2004 Holsteiner mare by Cassini I x Galant Vert xx
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The California Group: 0/0/41.801
5 CAN CUN 2: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Concerto II
MARIO DESLAURIERS (USA), Mario Deslauriers: 0/0/43.260
6 BARDOLINA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Landos
MARIO DESLAURIERS (USA), Wishing Well Farm, LLC: 0/4/42.491
7 JADALCO: 2009 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), Buribbons, LLC: 0/8/42.651
8 CLIFF Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Canturano x Quasimodo Z
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/8/43.640
9 JINGO DIDIEU D’ARRAS: 2009 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Clinton I x Codex II
FILIP DE WANDEL (BEL), Five Way Farm, LLC: 0/9/54.044
10 SKARA GLEN’S MACHU PICCHU: 2007 KWPN gelding by Silverstone x Matterhorn
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables, Whipstick Farm, P. Hurter, P. Agnew: 0/12/ 61.935
11 IMERALD VAN’T VOORHOF: 2008 Belgian Warmblood by Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Bacardi-Orange de Muze
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Tequestrian Farms, LLC: 0/15/56.154
12 SIMON: 1999 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Mr. Blue x Polydox
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/RET.