Wellington, FL (November 29, 2018) – Two-time bronze medal winning US Pan-Am team rider, Todd Minikus, is called The Show Jumping Maverick for a reason. His decorated record of over 150 national and international Grand Prix wins continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and now, going into this season, there are no limits in sight – especially with the support of Burlingham Sports. “It means I’ve been around for a long time, I guess!” Minikus says about the Maverick moniker, “But I couldn’t imagine doing anything different,” he continues, “How fortunate we all are to be involved in horses and show jumping!”
It takes more than just good fortune to get to Minikus’ level in show jumping. Hours of hard work in the training ring certainly plays a big role. Best known for his Saugerties, Million Grand Prix win at HITS in 2013, and also for his Pan Am team success, Minikus has consistently jumped his way into the winners circle year after year. 2018 has been no exception with highlights of the year that includes stellar summer performances in Tryon. During the Tryon Summer 3 CSI2* Minikus won the Green Hunter 3’6 and the Green Hunter 3’6 Handy Hunter Class on Exceptional, owned by Todd Minikus, LTD. The pair then raised the bar to the 4’ Hunter Performance Division winning first and second over fences and first in the under saddle class and a Division Championship.
Also during Summer 3 Minikus enjoyed double wins on Maidenway’s Chaco 34 in the 1.35m Open Jumper and the 1.40m Open Jumper. Then, at the Tryon Summer 4 CSI3*, Exceptional delivered a repeat performance winning the 3’6 Green Hunter and the 3’6 Green Handy Hunter. To follow up, Minikus rode three horses to wins in their respective 1.40m Open Jumper classes. The triple threat included Minikus’ own, Juju VDM, Erin Rorabaugh’s Julesraimus De Barisy, and Melissa Bilodeau’s handsome stallion, Lord Calador.
The wins continued during week six of the summer circuit when Minikus’ standout performance on long time partner, Quality Girl took top honors in the $70,000 Ingles Grand Prix CSI2*. Besting a field of twenty-four other horse and rider combinations Minikus and Quality Girl took the win by a solid two seconds in the jump off.
Minikus acknowledges how important high quality equipment is in his training program. In this regard, his sponsors, such as Burlingham Sports, contribute an invaluable amount to all the work they do. Burlingham Sports manufactures jumps and jump accessories, walls, hurdles, gates and more top of the line show jumping equipment. “I love using Burlingham jumps,” says The Show Jumping Maverick, “We’ve been using them for about 5 years.” Minikus continues, “They’re so safe. Even when young horses get into a little trouble, nothing happens. They don’t break.” He goes on to describe the impact that the Florida climate can have on equipment. “It’s wet all the time here in Florida, but the jumps don’t rot because they are plastic, and the sun doesn’t beat them up!” he explains. Burlingham jumps are made from durable polyethylene that won’t shatter or splinter like wood or PVC, making the jumps safer for both the horses and handlers. Additionally, each jump requires very little assembly because they are molded not fabricated, meaning they are sturdier and lighter than wood. Minikus describes, however, that the Burlingham rails seem to weigh about the same as the wood rails used in the horse shows. “They stay beautiful and they jump good!!” he adds.
Burlingham Jumps are available through Arena Supplies. Visit www.ArenaSupplies.com or call us toll free (800) 869-0147. Email inquiries may be sent to Service@arenasupplies.com.
