Elli Yeager Tops $5,000 Equitation Challenge at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows

May 12, 2018 – North Salem, NY – Fifteen-year-old Elli Yeager of New York, NY, won the $5,000 Equitation Challenge on Saturday, May 12, at the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running May 8-13 and May 15-20 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Also earning victories on Saturday, U.S. Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward won the $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe, riding Dakota, and Chablis, ridden by Kelly Tropin, was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion.

Elli Yeager and longtime partner Copperfield 39 jumped to scores of 92 and 91 to take a commanding lead in both rounds of the $5,000 Equitation Challenge and finish with a total score of 183.

“It was a really fun class and a good way to top off the week,” said Yeager, who trains with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, NJ. “It’s an awesome feeling and I could not have asked for my horse to be any better. He knows when it’s serious and he really performed his best today. We’ve gone through everything together and we have a special relationship.”

Yeager got the ride on Copperfield 39 when she was ten years old and grew up on the mount. For two years she has been riding him under the tutelage of Madden, who received a $2,500 Trainer Bonus, sponsored by Old Salem Farm, for her part in Yeager’s victory.

“Before the second round, Stacia told me to really keep him straight, collect in the four stride, and not lose track of the last line,” said Yeager, who is aiming towards a top performance in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final this year.

Behind Yeager, Caroline Bald took second on scores of 84.5 and 84 for a 168.5 total riding Vondel DH Z for owner Maarten Huygens Horse Sales Inc. Tessa P. Brown and Davide, owned by Equipearl, LLC, finished third with scores of 83 and 85 for a total score of 168. Annabel Revers finished fourth after combining an 85.5 and 81 for a total score of 166.5 riding Quax for owner Beechwood Stables, LLC. Madison Goetzmann rounded out the top five on Resonate, owned by West Hill, with scores of 80 and 84 for a 164 total.

McLain Ward Races to Victory in $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe

Just a few weeks ago, McLain Ward did not have a derby horse in his string. So, he looked to a sales horse named Dakota to point towards the Old Salem Farm Speed Derby.

“I don’t know if he has ever done the derbies before, but I said to some people in the barn that he was going to be the one to win the derby,” recalled Ward, who hails just up the road from Old Salem Farm in Brewster, NY. “I started jumping him through the woods at home. I jumped him in and out of the ring a few times and really just goofed around with him to get him ready. He’s a really game little horse and a real trier.”

Ward and Dakota secured a time of 64.242 seconds over the faults converted course set by Ken Krome of Westminster, MD, which included the use of elements on the Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Field like the table top, ditch, and bank. Ward and his eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vittorio clinched the win by more than a second over Pablo Mejia Villa (COL) riding his own RL Real Love. They crossed the timers in 65.933 seconds for second, while Canada’s Mario Deslauriers took third aboard his own Curo in 67.556 seconds.

Molly Ashe (USA) was fourth on Picobello Choppin PC in 68.08 seconds for Louisburg Farm, and Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) rounded out the top five riding Hope Street to a time of 68.727 seconds for owner Starlight Farm.

“I think it’s a fun class and a bit interesting when there’s less and less classes like this in the world,” continued Ward. “It’s such a beautiful field that it’s quite a fun class to participate in. The footing is great and has been holding up well with the spring weather we had today. This show has really grown into a lovely two weeks.”

Chablis Crowned Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion

Kelly Tropin of New York, NY, rode Chablis, a ten-year-old Wurttemberger gelding by Camparino to the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion title during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Tropin rode to three first-place ribbons over fences, as well as a third and fourth under saddle.

Tropin works as an economist at Graham Capital Management in Norwalk, CT, and rides under the direction of Peter Lutz and Mary Manfredi just five minutes from Old Salem Farm.

“Everything about the show is top notch and I like everything about being here,” she said. “Chablis was his usual self, which means he was perfect. He is so remarkable and I was really trying to show off his beautiful gallop and be bold. He knows what he’s supposed to do so well that he goes in the ring and behaves perfectly. Whenever I’m showing, I’m always trying to maintain a high batting average and have every round be a really good round. When you’re Grand [Champion] it speaks to that consistency.”

The Amateur-Owner Hunter division was split into two sections with Set To Music, ridden by Laura Sexton, sharing the championship, and Rocklyn, ridden by Katie Robinson, and Chicago, ridden by Callie Seaman, taking reserve.

International jumper competition continues Sunday with the featured $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by The Kincade Group, taking the spotlight on the Grand Prix Field at 2 p.m. ET. In hunter competition, the Grand Pony, Children’s, and Junior Hunter Champions will be crowned.

Spectators are welcome at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with free general admission to Old Salem Farm Wednesday through Friday. On the weekends of May 12-13 and 19-20, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12.

Final Results: $5,000 Equitation Challenge

1 Elli Yeager
COPPERFIELD 39, Elli Yeager
92+91=183

2 Caroline Bald
VONDEL DH Z, Maarten Huygens Horse Sales Inc.
84.5+84=168.5

3 Tessa P. Brown
DAVIDE, Equipearl, LLC
83+85=168

4 Annabel Revers
QUAX, Beechwood Stables, LLC
85.5+81=166.5

5 Madison Goetzmann
RESONATE, West Hill
80+84=164

6 Nina Columbia
CHECKLAND, Nina Columbia
86+75=161

7 Alexandra Pielet
COMMON SENSE, Co-Pielet, LLC
84+76=160

8 Alice Kass
CAPITINO, Nina Columba
76+83=159

9 Daisy Farish
CAPITAL HAMILTON, Daisy Farish
78+80=158

10 Katrina Tiktinsky
AUGSBURG, Katrina Tiktinsky
77+76=153

11 Ellie Ferrigno
RF REMARKABLE, Ellie Ferrigno
85+53=138

12 McKayla Langmeier
SKYFALL, Linda Langmeier
75+0=75.00

Final Results: $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe

1 DAKOTA: 2008 KWPN gelding by Vittorio
MCLAIN WARD (USA), McLain Ward: 0/64.242=64.242

2 RL REAL LOVE: 2008 Warmblood mare
PABLO MEJIA VILLA (COL), Pablo Mekia Villa: 0/65.933=65.933

3 CURO: 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Cornado NRW x Padarco van het Hertsfeld
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Mario Deslauriers: 0/67.556=67.556

4 PICOBELLO CHOPPIN PC: 2008 SBS gelding by Mozart des Hayettes x Diamant de Semilly
MOLLY ASHE (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/68.080=/68.080

5 HOPE STREET: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Quick Nick I
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms, LLC: 0/68.727=68.727

6 ALEXANDRIA: 2005 KWPN mare by Corland
GABRIELLE HERO (USA), Pebble Lane, LLC: 0/71.537=71.537

7 AVON: 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Quidam de Revel x Cortez 679
MATTIAS TROMP (USA), Beyaert Farm, Inc.: 8/65.814=73.814

8 EYECATCHER: 2009 KWPN mare by Harley VDL x Orthos
MATTIAS TROMP (USA), Beyaert Farm, Inc.: 4/69.967=73.967

9 CINCO DE MAYO: 2009 KWPN gelding by Contador
CHRISTIAN COYLE (IRL), Jennifer Kocher: 4/72.652=76.652

10 QUIDAM 13: 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding by Bogegardens Quattro x Carano
SYNDEY SHULMAN (USA), Jill Shulman: 12/64.980=76.980

11 GOLDBREAKER: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Heartbreaker
KEVIN MEALIFF (IRL), Maarten Huygens: 4/73.347=77.347

12 BUTTERFLY TIBRI Z: 2005 Zangersheide mare by Berlin x Silvio II
LINDSAY DOUGLAS (USA), Lindsay Douglas: 8/69.725=77.725