Source: News Release/Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for JWM Inc.
Ben Maher Goes Two For Two With a Win Aboard Urico in the
$82,000 Adequan® CSI 2* Grand Prix at FTI WEF
Avery Hinson Triumphs in THIS National Children's Medal 14 and Under
With Rio's Reflection
Wellington, FL - Week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured another exciting "Saturday Night Lights" event with over 4,000 spectators looking on as Great Britain's Ben Maher won his second grand prix in a row for the winter circuit. Maher jumped to victory in the $82,000 Adequan® CSI2* Grand Prix aboard Jane Clark's Urico after also taking top honors in last week's $100,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI 2* Grand Prix riding Cella.
Week five of the FTI WEF circuit, sponsored by Adequan®, runs February 6-10. The week will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9-March 31, 2013, and awards almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
Watch an interview with Ben Maher, Winner of 2013 FTI WEF $82,000 Adequan Grand Prix! |
Saturday night's grand prix was generously sponsored by Adequan, which is distributed by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Allyn Mann, Director of the Animal Health Division at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, was on hand to watch the class on Saturday evening and was thrilled with the success of the event and the great competition displayed. Mann presented Maher with an Adequan Tack Locker for his win.
"We are honored as a company to be involved with this whole sport," Mann stated. "I think tonight was just another example of the commitment by the horse, the rider, and especially the owners, which are really the foundation of everything that happens with this industry. We really appreciate everybody's efforts and it is just exciting to be a part of it."
Ben Maher and Urico. Photo © Sportfot. |
"Urico jumped great," Maher smiled. "I was lucky at fence one; I had a lucky rub. Another day it may have fallen, but somebody helped out today. I think that helped me; he jumped better and better as the jump-off went on. I made sure of the green vertical in the middle of the course. It was a nasty rail that caught McLain and a few other riders, so I took my time there and tried to make up time everywhere else."
Ben Maher and Urico with ringmaster Cliff Haines, owner Jane F. Clark, Caroline Hogan, Dr. Leah Patipa, Miriam McLure, Allyn Mann - Director of Animal Health Division at Luirpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Kathy Serio, and Dr. Victoria Maxwell. Photo © Sportfot. |
Brianne Goutal was also very happy with her mare, Uata, who is new to the big classes as well. "I am thrilled with my mare tonight," Goutal smiled. "I didn't think we were going to be here, definitely not at the beginning of the week. She has come a long way since two months ago when I started riding her. She is very unconventional, but she tries harder probably than any horse I have ever had or in the ring I think in general. Conor Swail, my trainer, has been riding her for me and it made a huge difference. A few months ago she wouldn't turn at all, so I was thrilled with her. I made her step up this week because I am trying to save my other two for the rest of the weeks. I don't think she could have jumped any better, so I am really happy."
1. URICO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Zandor Z x Fedor
5. WHITNEY: 2003 KWPN mare by Indoctro x Concorde
MARIO DESLAURIERS (USA), Legacy Stables, LLC: 0/0/46.82
7. ANTARES F: 2000 Württemberger gelding by Araconit x Cento
10. VENUS: 2002 KWPN mare by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius
11. USER ID: 2001 KWPN gelding by Namelus R x Goodwill
HILARY SIMPSON (USA), Quiet Hill Farm: 0/4/50.94
Avery Hinson Triumphs in THIS National Children's Medal 14 and Under With Rio's Reflection
Avery Hinson of New Albany, OH, bested a class of 29 junior riders during Saturday's Taylor Harris Insurance Service's (THIS) National Children's Medal class during week five of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Hinson led the class with her twelve-year-old Warmblood gelding, Rio's Reflection, with a score of 87 points.
Avery Hinson and Rio's Reflection. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography. |
Hinson and Rio's Reflection competed during the latter part of the 2012 season in both hunter divisions and equitation classes, but Hinson has decided to focus on equitation classes for 2013. "Competing only in the equitation classes has let me focus more. It was difficult to adjust to riding Rio in both hunters and eq," Hinson described. "I like equitation more than hunters because you can focus on yourself."
Hinson's secret to success is a close bond with her big bay gelding and grueling no-stirrups lessons. "Most of my lessons are no stirrups, so that's pretty torturous, but we get through it" Hinson laughed. "Even in the short amount of time I've had Rio, I feel a connection with him. Everything I ask him, he does it for me."
"I have to spice him up [in the ring], but he's just a big puppy dog for his size [an impressive 17.2 ½ hands]. He loves his job," Hinson continued.
Hinson was fifth in the order for the large class, but her strategy for the course full of twists and turns, designed by Danny Moore, made her impossible to beat. Despite going early on, she remained in the lead for the entirety of the class. "The course rode really well for me. The lines were pretty open, but having to do those inside turns afterwards was most challenging. I chose the inside turns as much as I could, and that really paid off in the end for me," Hinson described.
Hinson will continue to compete in the THIS Children's Medal with Rio's Reflection, but has her sights set on the ASPCA Maclay classes as her ultimate goal. Both equitation classes are hosted weekly at the FTI WEF. The THIS National Children's Medal Finals will be held in conjunction with the Capital Challenge Horse Show (MD) in October.
Week five of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Adequan, will conclude Sunday with the Florida Community Bank Small Pony Hunters, hosted in Ring 12 of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix and $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic held in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, us.sportfot.com, and Anne Gittins Photography, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, www.annegittins.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
About FTI Consulting
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
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