February 16, 2025, Myakka City, Florida. The final day of competition at the opening week of the TerraNova Winter Series wasted no time bringing the action as athletes at the national level took to the various arenas at TerraNova Equestrian Center. From cross rails to international show jumping, the venue hosts five weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation classes in its idyllic backdrop of Myakka City, Florida. Sunday competition began with the day’s highlight event, the $20,000 SRQ Media TerraNova Prix, before junior and amateur athletes took to the Lakeside Arena for jumper classics of various heights. Capturing her first grand prix win since making her way to the USA, Georgia Bouzaid took the top call in the opening class aboard Boudika Ideal Home.
Following a morning Sunday Service and featuring a Family Breakfast, the class welcomed 22 combinations into the Lakeside Arena and over Olaf Petersen Jr.’s (GER) first round track. Held in an immediate jump off format, the competition saw only two riders put forward double clear performances, with Bouzaid having the faster of the two finishing times by a whopping nine seconds aboard Abrahamson Equestrian LLC’s 18-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare by Castelino van de Helle x Super de Bourriere.
“My jump off plan was to come inside from fences one to two, and get a good shot around to the vertical,” she explained. “It all worked out how I wanted it to; she came inside really well and then I got seven strides to the last fence which was ambitious but she nailed it.”
“I actually only started riding her at the start of the year when I came over to America,” Bouzaid continued. “She’s a lease horse actually but I’m very lucky to ride her because she’s a fantastic mare. I’ve had a couple wins in the amateur classes with her so far but this is certainly the biggest one and it’s really exciting!”
Nicolette Hirt and Chatwood Farms’ 10-year-old KWPN mare by Carrera VDL, Kdora Night, followed suit for second place in the event, stopping the clock in 49.499 seconds in comparison to Bouzaid’s time of 40.114 seconds. It was an all-female podium as Maddison Stephen rounded out the top three on her own 13-year-old Australian Warmblood by Yalambi’s Carpino Z x Yalambi’s Val D’Isere VDL, Yalambi’s Ikon.
Junior/Amateur Jumper Classics Cap Off Week One
The $3,500 NAL/WIHS Marsh & McLennan 1.10m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic got the remainder of the day’s show jumping action underway where McKenna Nilsson and Coille Moire saved the best for last. As the final entry to contest Petersen Jr.’s track, Nilsson became the only competitor to manage a fault-free effort over both tracks to secure the win.
“I’ve had him for about four years now and he is just the most trusting horse and tries his heart out every time,” she said of the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding by Bosch Blue. “I get to some silly spots and he just always takes care of me. He was my first actual real show horse that I’ve been able to go up through the divisions on.”
The venue has proved to be an incredible change of scenery for Nilsson, who hails from Oregon, and an opportunity to ride courses built by some of the best designers in the world.
“The first day I got to this show I was in love,” she gushed. “It’s such a beautiful facility and everyone is so positive. I feel like the courses are just the right amount of challenging but also welcoming to someone wanting to step up and get into bigger classes. I felt very lucky to get to ride in this classic today.”
The $5,000 NAL ReitenRight Equestrian Inc. 1.20m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic followed and saw a victorious performance from Kirsten Ostling and her own 18-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Catwalk van de Helle, Hollywood Be Good. The pair were one of only two combinations to clear the jump off, and took the win with a faster time of 41.900 seconds.
Rounding out a full day of sport, the $5,000 NAL Dever Golf Cars 1.30m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic concluded activity in the Lakeside Arena with a win from Vanessa King. Piloting her own 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by FSS Correlli Bravo, Seaview Demonstration, King managed to remain fault-free over both course efforts and clock in a time of 46.603 seconds for the final victory.