Champions Emerge in Various Jumper and Hunter Divisions
Edited Press Release
North Salem, NY – May 10, 2025 – Six-time U.S. Olympian and World #8 McLain Ward added another victory from the annual Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows to his record on Saturday, this time claiming top honors in Evergate Stables’ $65,000 New York Welcome Stake with High Star Hero. Ward and Hero blazed faultlessly through the timers in 31.62 seconds.
One of the premier stops on the American hunter-jumper horse show circuit, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows host competitions for riders of all levels and ages, ranging from young children on ponies to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Week 1 (May 6-11) is USEF ‘National-6’ rated for hunters and jumpers and designated FEI CSI3*; Week 2 (May 13-18) is USEF ‘Premier-6’ rated and designated FEI CSI4*.
Course designer Alan Wade challenged 40 entries representing nine nations to a technical, 16-effort track set at 1.50m for Evergate Stables’ $65,000 New York Welcome Stake. Of the 15 horse-and-rider combinations who made it to the jump-off, Jordan Coyle (IRL) and King Kannan GP took an early lead, tripping the timers in a blistering 32.93 seconds. Only two other pairs caught that time: first Daniel Bluman (ISR) aboard Hummer Z (0/0/32.33), then Ward aboard High Star Hero as the penultimate entry (0/0/31.62).
“Having experienced horses like Daniel’s and mine helped a lot [when catching Jordan’s time], especially in that turn from Fence #1 to #2,” Ward said. “These classes are very competitive, and the levels are very high. With a great surface [like the Old Salem Farm International Arena], even after the many inches of rain that we’ve had, we were able to compete at 100 percent.
“He’s a wonderfully talented horse,” he added of Michael and Wendy Smith’s 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding. “We’ve had some great moments, and we’ve had some down moments. But we’ve really hit our stride from the second half of the season in Florida, performing there very consistently and continuing that here today. We’re looking forward to a great summer in Europe with him. I’m going to be using my tried-and-true partner First Lady in the Grand Prix tomorrow, and then both of these horses go to Europe next week to compete in [the Nations Cup of] Rome the following week.”
Bluman earned second place for his blistering 32.33-second time with Abigail Wexner’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Coyle ultimately landed in third with his time of 32.93 seconds aboard Elan Farm’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Other jumper highlights included the naming of several division champions, including Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s Casanyo PS, ridden by Ilan Bluman (COL) in the Open Jumper 1.35m, and Kay Lawson’s Navarro O, ridden by Jonathan Corrigan (IRL) in the Open Jumper 1.25m.
The $3,500 Junior Jumper 1.15m, $3,500 Amateur Jumper 1.15m, and $7,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.25m classics also took place throughout the day, with their respective winners as follows: Eva Tucci (New York, NY) aboard her Princip F. Damgaard (0/0/30.269), Kimberly Coyle (Wellington, FL) aboard her Dartani (0/0/28.012), and Scarlett Samuels (New York, NY) aboard Channel Equestrian LLC’s Karissa HDH (0/0/33.608).
In the Hedge and June Road hunter rings, Amateur-Owner and Children’s Pony hunters took the stage with multiple new champions emerging. Stella Propp of New York, NY, earned both the Champion and Reserve Champion titles in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-35 division with Aquitaine Equine’s Remedy and Arabesque, respectively, while Becky Gochman of Wellington, FL, piloted Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Forever Romance to the Amateur-Owner 3’3” 36+ Championship.
Coming out on top as the Grand Children’s Hunter Pony Champion was Catrine Golia’s 17-year-old Royal Prince, ridden successfully in the Combined Children’s Hunter Pony division by Skylar Davis of Armonk, NY.
Full show results can be found on HorseShowsOnline.com. Photos from the event are available via Dropbox.
Located just one hour north of New York City, Old Salem Farm has a long history of hosting world-class horse shows. Over the years, Old Salem Farm has hosted United States Olympic Team Selection Trials, FEI World Cup™ qualifiers, FEI North American Youth Championships and ASPCA Maclay Regional Finals.
The Spring Horse Shows’ Week 1 takes place May 6-11 with highlights including the Evergate Stables’ $65,000 New York Welcome Stake, $5,000 FEI 1.45m Two-Phase presented by The Will Stuart Team, $40,000 FEI 1.45m Jump-off, $25,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic, $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic presented by Eastern Hay and $135,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group/UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Week 2 competition follows May 13-18, featuring the $75,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem presented by The Kincade Group/UBS Financial Services, Inc., $5,000 FEI 1.45m Two-Phase presented by Eastern Hay, $37,500 FEI 1.45m Jump-off presented by Fidelity Investments, $25,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic, $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic presented by Evergate Stables, Governor’s Perpetual Hunt Seat Cup, $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $5,000 Old Salem Farm Groom’s Class presented by McLain Ward, Inc., and EquiFit, Inc., before concluding on Sunday, May 18, with the $225,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by Old Salem Farm.
The ambiance at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is unlike any other venue in the country with over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping offered along Old Salem’s popular Boutique Row. Old Salem offers opportunities for a curated group of vendors to set up their boutiques in the vendor area located overlooking the International Arena. Food vendors provide meals to go and delicious snack options.
VIP catering will be provided by ONTHEMARCEVENTS from Wednesday through Friday each week and The Fireman Hospitality Group both weekends. Additionally, Old Salem Farm will also showcase equine-inspired art by sculptor Emma Tate. Tate has created equine sculptures for the World Equestrian Games, Horse & Country TV, and Cazenovia’s Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, as well as interior designer Kelly Wearstler and Olympians Lyndal Oatley and Patrik Kittel.
Family fun activities include pony rides, weekend face painting and an ice cream party each Saturday, hosted by Pegasus Therapeutic Riding on May 10 and the Wolf Conservation Center on May 17. There will also be pet adoption events with the SPCA of Westchester (May 10) and A New Chance Animal Rescue (May 18), along with an ongoing presence from HEART Equine Ambulance and a visit by the Animal Embassy on Sunday, May 18 (11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.). Additionally, on May 17-18 (11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) the EQUUS Foundation and The Riders Closet will host games, arts and crafts in their Activity Center sponsored by Fairfield Equine and a Miniature Horse Meet & Greet with Rising Starr Horse Rescue. Admission to the Spring Horse Shows is free for everyone!
Horse show action starts at 8:00 a.m. daily with classes running in three rings simultaneously throughout the day. Live streaming is available via ClipMyHorse.TV, with the Friday-Sunday live streams sponsored by Hollow Brook Wealth Management for both weeks. Further information on Old Salem Farm and the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is available at www.OldSalemFarm.net.
