Source:  News Release/Starting Gate Communications

Canada's Tiffany Foster and Victor Victorious in $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup

Canada’s Tiffany Foster guided Victor to victory in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B on January 23 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot

Tiffany Foster, mounted on Victor, is presented as the winner of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B by ringmaster Gustavo Murcia at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot

Wellington, Florida – Canada’s Tiffany Foster emerged victorious in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round III – Section B held Thursday, January 23, at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

A total of 92 horses attempted the first round track set by course designer Guilherme Jorge with 25 posting clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.  Returning for the jump-off mid-way through the order, Foster guided Victor to a blazing fast round in a time of 40.50 seconds to take over the lead from her 2012 London Olympic teammate, Ian Millar, who had stopped the clock in 40.84 seconds riding Dixson.  Only one rider, Todd Minikus, was able to better her time, crossing the timers in 40.34 seconds riding Quality Girl to take the win in Section A while Foster was crowned the victor of Section B.

“He felt awesome, he was perfect!” said Foster, 29, of her 2012 Olympic mount.  “The jump-off course was really wide open; there was a lot of open galloping, so you had to carry a lot of ground speed which can get a little hairy sometimes, but not for Victor!  He loves it!”

Now in their fourth season together, Foster and Victor, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Elmshorn x Grandeur) owned by Torrey Pines Stable and Artisan Farms LLC, are no strangers to the International Arena at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.  They were members of Canada’s Nations’ Cup team in Wellington in both 2012 and 2013, posting clear rounds on both occasions.

“He knows this ring really well, so I know I can take a lot of risks with him here and he’s really confident and comfortable,” explained Foster of Vancouver, BC.  “When he’s jumping like he was today, I knew I could go really fast!”

Foster even out-raced her coach, 2008 Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, who placed third riding Zigali P S in only their third competitive appearance together.

Foster competes at the grand prix level with Victor as well as Verdi III, a new mount acquired in June of 2013 by her owners, Andy and Carlene Ziegler of Artisan Farms LLC.  In addition, she has several young prospects she is developing for Artisan Farms of Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium.

Artisan Farms Acquires New Mount, Clever Lady

Artisan Farms of Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium, has acquired Clever Lady for Andy Ziegler.

The 2003 grey Holsteiner mare (Cassini I x Limbus) enjoyed incredible success during the European fall circuit under Pius Schwizer of Switzerland, earning top placings in Lyon, Doha, Geneva, Olympia and Basel.

“We are excited about Clever Lady,” said Andy Ziegler who, with his wife, Carlene, owns Artisan Farms LLC. “She’s got lots of scope and quality, she can be quite competitive, and importantly for me, she’s very rideable. Eric (Lamaze) knows the horse well, and we are optimistic that it will be a good match.”

Lamaze first watched the horse compete at CSI5* Lyon, France, and said, “When I first saw the mare, I watched it go and really liked it. When we were looking for a horse for Andy this winter, our agent Gilbert (de Roock) thought of that horse. It had just come out of CSI5* Basel where it had a great show.”

In the spring of 2013, Artisan Farms purchased Powerplay for Eric Lamaze and Verdi III for Tiffany Foster from Schwizer. Both horses were members of Canada’s Nations’ Cup teams at the Spruce Meadows “Continental” and “Masters” tournaments in Calgary, Canada, as well as the €1,500,000 Furusiyya Nations’ Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain.

“I obviously like doing business with Pius,” said Lamaze. “We are so happy with the first two purchases. Powerplay and Verdi III are so well-mannered, well-broke, and their groundwork is impeccable. We have great faith in Pius, and we feel very comfortable that Clever Lady is going to be a great addition for Andy. I think Andy is thrilled about the horse.”

Ziegler added, “We are completely comfortable buying horses from Pius. He’s a terrific rider and horseman, and also an honest and straightforward person to deal with. I certainly appreciate him making Clever Lady available to me, and we will give her a very good home.”

Clever Lady joins Ziegler’s string which also includes Cyber van Vryhern and Diebrich de Kalvarie, as well as Quintender II, acquired this fall from Ludo Philippaerts of Belgium. Ziegler will compete at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, throughout the winter season. When based in Belgium, he competes at the CSI2* level, including Global Champions Tour events.

Artisan Farms is home to rising amateur Andy Ziegler, young professional Caitlin Ziegler, 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, and Olympian Tiffany Foster. Committed to the continued improvement and promotion of competitive show jumping, Artisan Farms is the presenting sponsor of the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series, now entering its’ fourth year at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

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