Edited Press Release
After winning the qualifier on Friday, Texas native Jacqueline Ruyle raced to the top of the leaderboard in the CHF50,000 Griffis Residential CSI2* Grand Prix. With a first-round field of 44, the lucky number of the day seemed to be 15 as again 15 competitors advanced to the jump-off. Of those that advanced to the next course, nine exhibitors produced double-clear efforts. The lap of honor, however, was dominated by American female athletes as Ruyle led the charge, followed by Mimi Gochman and rounded out by Molly Ashe Cawley.
Standing not significantly taller than a pony, Ruyle’s partner, the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare Cyramo Z (Clarimo x Vigo D Arsouilles Stx) proved that heart counts more than size.
“She is by far the smallest, hottest, fastest horse I have,” Ruyle laughed.
Her time of 34.93 seconds, a full two seconds ahead of runner-up Mimi Gochman, proved as testament to the statement. “I bought her as a 7-year-old, and she was competing in the 1.20m classes and we thought she would be an awesome Medium Amateur horse.”
The move into two-star grand prix competition was not one that Ruyle saw coming for either her mount or herself, but the partnership prompted both horse and rider to put their best efforts forward.
“I was a slow rider competing in the medium amateurs when I got her, and she taught me how to go fast,” said Ruyle. “She has jumped everything we’ve put in front of her and is always incredibly brave. She’s honestly my favorite ride of the horses I have.”
Gochman rode to the second place position with the Gochman Sport Horses, LLC’s 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion Cosmos BH (Chellano Alpha Z x Artos Z) with a tidy time of 36.94 seconds. Molly Ashe Cawley and Oakridge Farm’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Loukas de la Noue (Malito de Reve x Mr Blue) stopped the clock in 37.33 seconds to earn the final top-three position.
Original press release from https://wellingtoninternational.com.
