McLain Ward, who has had victories all over the world, took the grand prix at New Jersey's largest horse show for the first time since 2000
McLain Ward won the $40,000 Junior Essex Troop/Garden State Grand Prix at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on Oh' D Eole"We're just trying to give her some miles," said the country's number one-ranked show jumper, explaining why he brought her to the Garden State Horse Show at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta.
"I think she's super talented. She has all the jump, she's very careful, she's very sensitive,'' said Ward of the Belgian/French mare, but he couldn't make more of a prediction of what she might do as she continues to compete and move up the ranks.
Could she ever be as good as his two-time Olympic team gold medal mount, Sapphire?
"I think you just have to be patient," said the Brewster, N.Y., resident.
"Which ones come through, you never know, but it's nice when you can win some stuff along the way."
He took the $12,000 first prize by virtue of a blistering gallop to the final fence, finishing with a clear round in 41.555 seconds. The runner-up in the 12-horse tiebreaker was Irish Olympian Kevin Babington on Mark Q, clocked in 43.104, while the only other fault-free trip in the jump-off belonged to Callan Solem on Magic Cruise (44.723).
"I knew Kevin was pretty fast,' said Ward, who had to slow down for a tricky double and then turned on the speed.
"I thought I needed to get on here a little bit. She's very good off the gallop. You can press her at one (jump) and she reacts quite well. She actually jumped me a little loose at the last fence. She really put out," said Ward, who had no hesitation about pushing her.
"They have to learn how to do it," he explained.
Things didn't work out as well for Ward with his other horse, the Belgian warmblood Domino, who had two rails down in the tiebreaker to finish eighth.
"He's inexperienced at going fast and maybe I tried to go a little too hard," he reflected.
Course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio Jr. had a tough task, because he was faced with a group of veteran and inexperienced riders, as well as horses that belonged to both categories.
"What I did was stay very much to the conservative side of the specifications," D'Ambrosio said before the class.
"My feeling is I'm respecting the specifications and the amount of prize money, and also respecting the fact that we have some young horses and they'll have to step up. But I don't think it's a course that should get a young horse frightened, or that a young horse couldn't even win if it had a good day and was ridden well."
More than half in the starting field of 23 were fault-free, but Ward didn't think that was a problem.
"It's a nice national grand prix. I don't see anything wrong with that, you have a good winner and horses get a great education. It's a good competition, but it's not the place to really separate them by an over-tough course."
The show marked its 60th anniversary with a reunion of the Junior Essex Troop, a defunct cavalry-style unit that used to be headquartered in West Orange. Former troopers have continued their show tradition over the decades, making their show into New Jersey's largest, with more than 1,100 horses entered this year.
ON THE RAIL -- Centenary College of Hackettstown was the high-point team at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's national finals in Kentucky yesterday. Centenary student Marissa Cohen won the Cacchione Cup for individual honors.
Jersey Fresh, one of the country's premier three-day events, has drawn a stellar field for this week's 2- and 3-star-rated competition. Those entered at the Horse Park of New Jersey fixture in Allentown include such big names as Boyd Martin, Buck Davidson and Phillip Dutton.
There is no charge for parking or admission. Competition begins Thursday with dressage, while cross-country is set for Saturday and show jumping on Sunday.
For the first time the event is offering tail gating on Saturday. To make arrangements, call (732) 505-9700. Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. "Dining with the Stars" is an opportunity for spectators to join the competitors' party in the indoor arena. To reserve tickets at $30 each, call (609) 259-0170.
The event is dedicated to the memory of the late Horse Park President Dr. Stephen Dey, and honors the U.S. military.
Centenary College on Saturday will bestow an honorary doctorate on IHSA founder Robert Cacchione. From a group of five friends, with whom Cacchione started a riding club at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1967, IHSA has grown to a nationwide organization of 380 colleges and 8,800 students. Cacchione travels to one or two of the shows every weekend during the school year. He has never lost his passion for the organization.
"I love the kids, I love to see the smiles on their faces, the excitement when they come out of that ring and know they did their best, whether they won or got a sixth place," said Cacchione.
"That opportunity is for every one of them, whether they're a walk-trot rider or a Medal/Maclay rider."
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Garden State Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township; Suddenly Farm Dressage Show, 325 Main St., Lumberton; Monmouth County Show, East Freehold Park, Kozloski Road, Freehold.
Tomorrow: Literary Horse Lecture, Sussex County Main Library, Chaps and Breeches 4-H Club, 125 Morris Turnpike, Newton (7 p.m.).
Wednesday: Hawk Hollow Ranch Dressage Show, 100 River Rd. West, Bedminster.
Thursday: Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown (through next Sunday)
Friday: EMMA Spring Fling II Dressage Show, U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, Pottersville Road, Gladstone (through Saturday).
Saturday: N.J. Pony Breeders and Owners Association Show, DVHA Showgrounds, Route 604, Ringoes; Palermo Show Stable Show, 1555A Burnt Mills Rd., Bedminster (through next Sunday); Sussex County Benefit Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Carousel Farm Dressage Show, 8 Linn Smith Rd., Augusta; Saddlebrook Ridge Dressage Show, 10 Saddlebrook Court, Shamong; Saddle Up for St. Jude Trail Ride, 104 Hasley Rd., Newton (973-383-9144); Baymar Farm Show, 38 Harbor Rd., Morganville; Woodedge Stable Show, Borton Landing Road, Moorestown.
Next Sunday: Readington Trail Association Trail Pace, Cole Road Towerfield, Whitehouse Station (readingtontrail.org); Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Western and Draft Show, DVHA Showgrounds, Route 604, Sergeantsville; Windy Hollow Hunt Dressage Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Fidler Run Dressage Show, 456 Fidler Rd., Woodbine; Monmouth County Hunt Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.