February 25, 2024, Myakka City, Florida. After Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa’s (BRA) exciting win in the $65,000 Howard Leasing FEI 1.45m Grand Prix Saturday morning, it was the juniors and amateurs time to shine today in the Lakeside Arena for three jumper classics, presented by Forget Me Not Farm.
$7,000 1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm
The $7,000 1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm, was run as a II.2b Immediate Jump Off, with the riders remaining in the ring for their short course.
The twisting courses for the three classics designed by Manuel Esparza (MEX) included a one-stride combination to a four-stride line and a triple combination of a two stride to a one stride. Esparza had a single fence on both short sides, which were new additions for the weekend. Riders had to stay balanced and tidy around the rollback turns to stay under the tight time allowed.
Catherine Kubiak (Lake Forest, Illinois) and Huntington (Toulon x All Star), the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Over Fences Farm LLC, had a clear first round in 77.970. They galloped around the short course in 34.025.
“The course was pretty tricky because you didn’t have a lot of time to breathe,” Kubiak said. “(The jumps) came pretty quick. I think it was a fair track, and everything came up nice for me, so I was lucky.”
Kubiak showed at TerraNova in 2023 during the Winter Hunter/Jumper series and in January 2024 during Split Rock Sarasota. “I think it’s a beautiful environment for the horses, nice and relaxing and a good change of pace in the winter season,” she said.
Scarlett Wallis (Royal Oaks, California) and Samurai, her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, jumped clear in the first round in 71.05 to earn them a spot in the jump off. They had one rail to finish on 34.25 and received second place in the Classic.
Maison McIntyre (New York, California) and Venice Beach (Voltaire x Escado), the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC, earned third after one rail and a time of 74.267 in the first round. McIntyre rides with Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), winner of Saturday’s $65,000 Howard Leasing FEI 1.45 Grand Prix.
$3,500 NAL 1.20m/1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm
The $3,500 NAL 1.20m/1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm, had eight entries and also had an immediate jump-off format.
Eva Paliouras (Wellington, Florida) finished top two in the $3,500 NAL 1.20m/1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm. She won the class with Don’t Touch du Bois after a double clear in the first course and a speedy jump off in 32.737.
“She knows how to skim the jumps without dropping them, she’s really fun,” Paliouras said. “I thought it was one of the most technical courses that I’ve ridden at this horse show, but it was good and challenging. They added a triple combination in the classic, which they didn’t last week.”
Paliouras and Dacota (Dutch Capitol x Telkate), the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Molly Struve, crossed the jump-off timers at 33.555. Back for her second consecutive week, Paliouras shared, “It’s such a relaxed, fun atmosphere. The rings and people are great, and my horses really love it here.”
Rounding out the top three was Kirsten Ostling and Hollywood Be Good (Catwalk Van de Helle x Di Petra du Vert Bois), her own 17-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. They had a jump off time of 33.89.
$2,000 NAL/WIHS 1.10m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm
The winner of the $2,000 NAL/WIHS 1.10m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, presented by Forget Me Not Farm was amateur Whitney Brooks Brunner (Chesapeake, Virginia) on Casper 429 (Cormit x Cornau), her own 11-year-old Westphalian gelding. They blazed around the short course and stopped the clocks at 34.737, a full six seconds faster than the second-place pair.
“I really loved the course today, it suited me and my horse,” Brooks Brunner said. “I thought the jumps were really inviting and still hard enough.”
This was Brooks Brunner’s first visit to TerraNova. “I would love to come back. It’s absolutely stunning. There are so many places to ride, from all the rings and the cross country course, and the stalls are amazing.”
Lucy Hart (Leawood, Kansas) and Moonlight B rode a tidy course in 40.758 to earn them second place. Hart has previously shown at TerraNova and recently started riding the 7-year-old gelding.
TerraNova’s Competition Stabling Manager Olga Zarlenga and Magnific de Reve (Emerald Vant Ruytershof x Elodice de Reve), her own 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, earned third after stopping the clock at 43.657.
Events at TerraNova would like to thank all the competitors, judges, stewards, spectators and horses who attended and competed during TerraNova Winter Series II! Join us in March for two more weeks of hunter/jumper competition: Week III March 13-17 and Week IV March 20-24.