September 30, 2017 – North Salem, NY – Katie Tyler of Old Lyme, CT, had the speed to finish first and third in the $10,000 Voltaire Designs Mini Prix on Saturday, September 30, at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Fall Classic, running through Sunday, October 1, at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
Katie Tyler and Shet du Thot won the $10,000 Voltaire Designs Mini Prix during the Old Salem Farm Fall Classic at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by SEL Photography
Nine horses advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off with Tyler on two mounts. She broke the timer beam in a blistering 37.05 seconds after leaving all the rails up over the short course riding her own Shet du Thot. The time bumped the previous leader, Sydney Shulman of Greenwich, CT, aboard Quidam 13, to second with a time of 39.96 seconds. Tyler was also third riding her own Surf de la Cense after jumping double clear again in 44.01 seconds.
Ireland’s Kevin Mealiff jumped into fourth riding Dudley for owner Maarten Huygens with a double-clear time of 47.02 seconds. U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Lucy Davis of Los Angeles, CA, posted the first double-clear effort in 53.83 seconds as the first rider on course and ended in fifth riding Caracho for owner Old Oak Farm.
Tyler has had the ride on Shet du Thot, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding (Quick Star x Rosire) she calls “Biggie” around the barn, since she imported the mount two years ago. Together, they have stepped into the grand prix ranks with success.
Katie Tyler and Shet du Thot are presented as winners of the $10,000 Voltaire Designs Mini Prix by Chelsea Dwinell of Old Salem Farm during the Old Salem Farm Fall Classic at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Photo by SEL Photography
“This is the horse of a lifetime,” said 24-year-old Tyler. “He was a derby horse in Europe and when he gets on grass he takes the reins and just does it for me. He is so brave, careful, and fast; [he is] just an unreal horse.
“I tried to add a stride in the outside line and he said, ‘Absolutely not,’” continued Tyler. “Once he got in gear, there was no stopping him.”
Tyler plans to campaign Shet du Thot in small grand prix events and compete in the Under 25 division during the winter season in Florida.
“What I want most are consistent rounds that are smooth and under control, and I have been working hard on the flat at home,” said Tyler, who has worked with different trainers during the summer season, including Mattias Tromp based in North Salem, NY, and Candice King, based in Saugerties, NY. “It has been awesome to have some different input and advice. I have learned a lot from everybody, and it has been a great summer.”
Of her experience at Old Salem Farm during the Fall Classic, Tyler said, “This is one of my favorite places to show ever. It is run beautifully and is a great place to come and bring horses to both practice and show competitively.”
The Old Salem Farm Fall Classic concludes on Sunday, October 1, with Hunter Derby Day on the Grand Prix Field. Highlighting the schedule will be Pony, Child/Adult 2’6” and $5,000 3’3”-3’6” Hunter Derbies, as well as the conclusion of amateur and junior hunter divisions.
Final Results: $10,000 Voltaire Designs Mini Prix
Horse/Rider/Owner/Faults/Time
1 SHET DU THOT KATIE TYLER KATIE TYLER 0/0/37.056
2 QUIDAM 13 SYDNEY SHULMAN JILL SHULMAN 0/0/39.967
3 SURF DE LA CENSE KATIE TYLER KATIE TYLER 0/0/44.015
4 DUDLEY KEVIN MEALIFF MAARTEN HUYGENS 0/0/47.025
5 CARACHO 14 LUCY DAVIS OLD OAK FARM 0/0/53.834
6 ESCALETTE JORDAN COYLE ELAN FARM 0/4/39.98
7 AUDI’S DIMPLE KEVIN MEALIFF MAARTEN HUYGENS 0/ELIM.
7 BINK-A CAITLYN CONNORS TLYN CONNORS 0/ELIM.
7 VALDATO EMMA MARLOWE TRELAWNY FARM LLC 0/ELIM.
10 MADAME BUTTERFLY SYDNEY SHULMAN COURTYARD FARM 4/83.141