Edited Press Release
The future looked bright as the Lövsta Future Challenge welcomed the $25,000 Seven-Year-Old Young Jumper Final to the International Arena at Wellington International on Friday. The Lövsta Future Challenge, founded by Lövsta Stuteri owner Antonia Ax:son Johnson, has been running throughout the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season under the common vision to give young horses the best possible conditions to develop towards top international sports.
From the seven-year-old division, U.S. rider Charlotte Jacobs piloted North Star’s Irish Sport Horse Pablo C. (Pollux de Muze Z x Chino C) to two flawless rounds to take the win and the final title. “This series is unbelievable for a young horse,” described Jacobs, who stopped the clock with only fractions to spare in 41.963 seconds. “[Pablo] was pretty experienced his age when we got him, and he just keeps getting better and better; I’m incredibly excited for him.”
For Jacobs, young horse development is a family affair and one that the whole Jacobs family and their own North Star Sport Horses dedicates much of its efforts to.
“We plan our whole season around this for the young ones, and they make it a big deal now which is really great,” commented Jacobs, who also piloted Pablo C to a six-year-old final win at WEF in 2022. “We had eight horses showing this week and were knocking on the door all day, so to get the win in the seven-year-olds was great.”
Ireland’s Senan Hayes celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in style by winning the $15,000 North Star Six-Year-Old Young Jumper Final aboard Mischievous for owner Cody Parker.
The top 25 horses from the six-year-old division took to the International Arena with 10 advancing through to the jump-off. Mischievous, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Van Gogh out of Ambitious did just enough to seal the victory with a time on the board of 38.168. Second place went to Alice Tapper (SWE) and her own Ccstud’s Money Maker in 38.252, while third was collected by Alexis Bodo (USA) and Timeless with a time of 39.397 seconds.
“Cody Parker, the owner, bred Mischievous here in the USA and she jumped his dam in the high amateurs,” said Hayes. “I was asked during the summer if I’d take him on even though he had not done much yet in his career. I got him around June this summer and have been bringing him along.”
While Parker starts her family and recently welcome a new addition to the family, Senan will focus on continuing to develop Mischievous.
“We started schooling on Tuesdays and then came to WEF and straight into the six-year-olds,” continued Hayes. “He’s brave, careful and scopey so he’s been a pretty straight forward horse to bring along.
“There’s a reward with bringing along the younger ones just from day one where the four-year-olds are learning how to canter, and then getting them into the shows as five-year-olds, and then you really get to see the development when they are six,” Hayes added. “All of a sudden, they are seven and you are starting to get a real horse, which is a nice progression to be a part of.”
Andrew Barone (USA) was the one to beat in the $10,000 Wellington International Five-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. He guided Valcor ODF to the win and Wizard ODF to second for owner Alex Jayne.
From the qualified top 25, eight promising young horses advanced to the jump-off. Barone (USA) and Valcor ODF, a stallion by Dulf Van Den Bisschop crossed through the finish flags in 34.191 seconds. Winning by a margin of three second, Barone had only himself to beat as he also took second with Wizard ODF in 37.093 seconds. Third place went to Juliana Starbuck (USA) on GR Trophy Wife, clocking in at 38.93.
In addition to the win, Valcor ODF was presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for WEF 10.
“I went and tried horses at Alex Jayne’s farm at the end of August and he has nine five-year-olds right now, so I picked a couple I really liked and went partners on them and the rest I’m showing for him,” said Barone. “Alex and I have done business now for over 30 years, so it’s been a natural progression.”
Original press release from https://wellingtoninternational.com
