September 14, 2020 – Diego Vivero of Wellington, FL clinched victory aboard Silvana Cabral’s Casquero in the $20,000 ProElite Grand Prix on Sunday morning to finish up the ESP September Show at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The winning duo stopped the jump-off timers in 43.656 seconds to best the field of 27 total competitors. Coming in second place with a time 47.166 seconds was Gonzalo Guevara of Ocala, FL riding Valentine Car, owned by Fernando Cardenas Sr. Sophia Studd of Wellington, FL claimed the yellow ribbon with Marie Botved Studd’s Holsteins Matina after completing the jump-off in 48.099 seconds.

Hector Loyola designed Sunday’s Grand Prix course, which took place in the Van Kampen Covered Arena due to inclement weather. Of the 27 combinations, only the top three finishers went double-clear and eight moved on to the jump-off after their first round. Vivero explained that his plan going into the first round was just to make it to the jump-off. “I had two horses in the class today, so of course my goal was to have both make it to the jump-off. I wasn’t quite as fast with my first horse [Casquero], but it was a clean round, which I was very happy about because my second horse had one rail. So I’m very happy with the win!” The duo is a newer pair, having just begun their work together approximately three months ago. Vivero continued, “Casquero is my student’s horse. This is only the third show I’ve competed him at and the second Grand Prix. So we’re all very happy with today’s results.”

Jumper Highlights

Following the Grand Prix, the $2,500 Equiline Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic took place with Allyson Blais of Boynton Beach, FL taking home the top honors. Riding her entry Escudo, the pair crossed through the jump-off timers in 35.747 seconds. Luiza Leivas Da Costa of Boca Raton, FL claimed second place after a 32.977-second, four-fault round aboard Analtyse STE Hermelle, owned by Bonne Chance Farm LLC. Rounding out the top three was Alexia Thermiotis of Wellington, FL and her Orlando 267, after a first-round time of 78.886 seconds.

Elizabeth Suddath of Land O Lakes, FL captured first place in the $2,500 Equiline Low Junior/Amatuer Owner Jumper Classic after her 36.858-second jump-off aboard her mount Super Star. Teri Kessler of Lexington, KY piloted Elana 22 to second place in 37.554 seconds, while Olivia Minicucci of Golden Beach, FL and her Crystal Clear claimed third after a 40.929-second jump-off.

Over in the International Ring, the $250 CCTV Agent .85m Classic took place with Nicole Bicchiarelli of Key Biscayne, FL clinching the blue ribbon with her mount Carrara 11 in 44.217 seconds. Katie Giddings of Boca Raton, FL took home the red ribbon after a 45.175-second jump-off aboard her mount Boogie Shoes. Orly Antevy of Plantation, FL and Renaissance Man, owned by Erica Hatfield, finished in third place with a 46.473-second jump-off. 

Juliet Johansson of Fort Lauderdale, FL and her entry Jubliem Van De Achterhoek bested the field in the $1,500 Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic presented by French Horse Exports after a jump-off time of just 28.7 seconds. Carson Campbell of Boca Raton, FL was close behind with a jump-off timed at 31.661 seconds riding On The Rocks, owned by Kristin Schuttenmeyer. Taking home third-place honors was Emilia Garcia of Boca Raton, FL and C. Jack Sparrow Z, after their 32.13-second jump-off.

Earlier in the week, jumper competition kicked off with the $5,000 Ford’s Garage 1.35m Open Stake in the Van Kampen Covered Arena on Thursday. Joao Eduardo Ferreira De Carvalho of Delray Beach, FL claimed top honors aboard Lamina VH Gelutt Z, owned by Karina Rocha Mello, after their 38.411-second jump-off. Kim Farlinger captured second place aboard Good Time with a jump-off timed at 38.824 seconds, and third place aboard Lionsway Farm’s Kreator with a jump-off timed at 39.289 seconds.

On Friday, Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, MA championed the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies Open Stake with Maestro Van Het Binnenveld, owned by Ilan Ferder after they crossed through the timers in 38.894 seconds. Birdsall also took home second place aboard Gamko S, owned by Liberty Farms LLC, after completing the course in 40.933 seconds. Santiago Lambre of Wellington, FL rode his entry Cetano Van Aspergem Z to third place with a jump-off time of 38.898 seconds and four faults.

Hunter Highlights

Over on the Derby Field Annex, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Score At The Top took place on Friday afternoon. Amy Momrow of Wellington, FL once again claimed the blue ribbon, this time aboard Monty Kelly’s Victorino Z after receiving a final score of 189. Momrow and Monty Kelly’s second entry Steele Jordan clinched the red ribbon as well with a final score of 188. Emma Vandenhouten of Plantation, FL and her mount Decision Made received a final score of 182 to take home third place. 

After her win, Momrow told us more about her winning mount. “Victor is ten years old and we got him about a year and a half ago. We went right into the international derbies with him, and he actually placed in the top 20 at the derby finals last year so he’s awesome.” Momrow and her team have participated in the last few derbies at Equestrian Village and commented that although international derbies are her main focus, “it’s nice to get out here and just have some nice trips around, so we’re really taking advantage of this awesome opportunity to get out on the derby field each week.”

Originally from New York, Momrow decided to stay in Wellington this Summer with a small group of clients and horses, while the rest returned to the northeast. “This is my first summer season in Wellington and it’s been great so far, I can’t complain.” Momrow also explained the benefit to competing on the Derby Field Annex at PBIEC: “It’s so nice to get some mileage on the grass here. Some horses take to it better and it gives a little more pop to the jumps, but we just don’t see [the grass] that often so it’s definitely different for them. We’re utilizing it as much as we can and are really grateful.”

Momrow is also one of the latest top hunter riders to begin wearing a safety “airbag” vest. “I’ve been dabbling with it for just about a month now and it’s very comfortable. I don’t feel it when I’m riding, and It doesn’t inhibit me at all. I remember when I was first getting fitted they said I’d feel a little extra sense of security with it, and at first I was like ‘ah I don’t know about that’ but it’s true, you really do.” 

Only recently, the hunter ring has started to see more riders sporting the vest. Momrow gave her thoughts on the trend overall. “I think it’s finally making its way to the hunter rings, thankfully. I think sometimes riders don’t think about them as much in the hunters because we don’t travel at the same speed as the jumpers do, but no matter what height you’re jumping or speed your flatting, they’re still animals and we have to respect.” Momrow plans to continue showing at PBIEC over the next few months with both of Monty Kelly’s successful entries.

Julie Burton of Loxahatchee, FL and her Uppercase championed the Children’s/Adult Amateur Hunter division presented by Resilient Fitness, while Kelly Cruciotti of Bluffdale, UT took reserve aboard Coronado, owned by Pony Lane Farm. 

The Green Hunter 3’3” & 3’ division was swept by Molly Sewell of Wellington, FL, taking first place with Cote D’or Z and second place with Narco. 

Sydney Banack of Vero Beach, FL captured champion honors in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter division presented by Pilates Rocks aboard her entry Art of Seduction, while Thomasa Sanchez of Kissimmee, FL rode Goldschlager to reserve. 

The Medium/Large Pony Hunter division presented by Dover Saddlery awarded the champion ribbon to Lauren Gee of Valdosta, GA and Aquitaine Equine’s Eastside, while reserve honors went to Allison Coleman of Wellington, FL and her entry Radiance. 

The ESP Summer Series, hosted at Equestrian Village, continues this week with the ESP Florida State Fall & Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship on September 17-20. Click HERE to view the Prize List. No spectators or outside media are allowed on-site, but friends and family can view all classes via our SGL live stream HERE. 

Exhibitors, please remember to book your stalls on the grounds early as stabling is almost full.

To view the full results of the $20,000 ProElite Grand Prix, please click HERE.
To view the full results of the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Score At The Top, please click HERE.
To learn more about the new safety protocols and procedures at the horse show, please click HERE.
Photo credit ©Anne Gittins Photography and ©PBIEC. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with proper credit.