An enthusiastic crowd filled the Sanctuary Arena stands Saturday afternoon for feature jumper action. Fans cheered for their favorite horse and rider combinations as they tackled the courses in hopes of a big win.
Nineteen entries took on the Grand Prix course, which had a time allowed of 80 seconds in the first round. Bobby Murphy designed the course, challenging many riders’ technical abilities throughout the class.
Wilhelm Genn stole the show with an incredible win in the $30,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix aboard his own Van Gogh. He also won Thursday evenings $10,000 Welcome Stake on this talented mount.
Thursday saw father and son, Wilhelm and Ryan Genn of Goshen, Ohio, take both first and second place in the $10,000 World Equestrian Center Welcome Stake. In this class, Ryan and VDL Gerinus T (Arezzo VDL x Rosalina) took fifth place, jumping the evening’s fastest first round of 74.781 seconds with four jumping faults.
“Winning never gets old! I am super happy with our ride,” Genn said. “I started a different warm up routine with him after a mishap a few weeks ago and the new routine gives him so much confidence now. We don’t jump any oxers now in the warmup ring, just strictly gymnastics and it has made such a difference for his confidence.”
Genn and Van Gogh crossed the timers in the first round at just 77.39. The pair blazed through the jump off with a clear round in 45.613, nearly four seconds ahead of the second place finisher.
Taking second place was Genn’s student Natalie Thornell and the beautiful Snow White (Clinton x Jung Laguna), a 12-year-old Westphalian mare. Snow White, a former mount of the first place finisher, Wilhelm Genn, was well-prepared for the class, navigating the first round nearly effortlessly and going clear in just 79.448 seconds. Thornell and Show White crossed the jump off timers at 49.617 seconds for a very respectable second place finish.
Shortly after, Maria Roberts and the talented fifteen-year-old bay horse, Tyson Uno (Tyson x Izaura G), landed in third place. Their fast and furious clear first round ended in just 78.354 seconds, followed by a clean jumped second round of 51.947 seconds with two time faults.
$30,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix Results
- Van Gogh, Wilhelm Genn – 0 | 0 | 45.613
- Snow White, Natalie Thornell – 0 | 0 | 49.617
- Tyson Uno, Maria Roberts – 0 | 2 | 51.947
- Bugatti, Wilhelm Genn – 1 | 80.428
- VDL Gerinus T, Ryan Michael Genn – 4 | 74.781
- Ammeretto, Izzy Beisel – 4 | 75.511
- Lancome, Colleen Acosta – 4 | 75.624
- Banco Du Moulin, Kady Abrahamson – 4 | 76.167
- Maraca LS La Sala, Kady Abrahamson – 4 | 77.734
- FF Olive, Jill M. Gaffney – 4 | 79.444
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography
