Temperament for the Crossover Venice also did the hunter-jumper combo at the 2016 Santa
Fe Summer Series. She was second in the National hunter derby week I, and two days later was sixth in the Kastel Denmark Welcome to Santa Fe Grand Prix. Jenni says, “Sunshine II is the first show we went back and
did an International hunter derby, and the first time we did this right after doing a Grand Prix. Really, we did an FEI 1.45 meter class on Thursday, and then the derby Saturday. Then we also jumped Sunday in the 1.60 meter. As we are bound
Venice’s Baby Brother
LEGIS Touch the Sun, or “Whiskers,” focuses on the Grand Prix ring, moving to that level in 2015. Jenni piloted him to their biggest win in October 2016, the $132,000 Longines FEI World Cup in Calgary at the Royal West CSI 3*. “Venice’s brother
is just coming into his own,” says Marnye. “It’s cool to have a full sibling set, not only out there competing, but in your own program.” “He’s her little big
brother,” says Jenni. When Marnye’s husband Larry saw the young
horse’s long whiskers, he promptly named him Whis- kers. “Then the groom promptly shaved them off,” Marnye jokes. Marnye recalls when they tried him out in Germany.
“When we both sat on him—I’d never sat on anything with a canter like that. He just has an amazing canter and rhythm.” Marnye and Jenni both showed the young Whiskers.
“We shared him,” says Marnye. “I got to show him in his first class in the U.S., a 1.10 meter adult jumper class. “He was really on target for the six-year-old champi-
onship. So midsummer I said, if we thought he wouldn’t be super competitive, I would have kept riding him. But it was like, he’s got a real shot.” And so Jenni took over the reins. In 2012 Whiskers won several Young Jumper Cham- pionships classes as a six-year-old. And he ended that year winning the Western League Finals. Jenni was tied with trainer Guy Thomas on Ravello and won the cham- pionship after a jump-off. At the Santa Fe show, Whiskers and Venice both
competed in the Grands Prix. He was fourth in the Grand Prix de Santa Fe—won by his sister.
Photo: LEGIS Touch the Sun (Nekton x Capitol I) ridden by Jenni McAllister, at the Sunshine Grand Prix CSI4* in Ther- mal, California last November.
by FEI rules and had to follow schooling and drug protocol, it meant no Bute or anything. It gives a whole new meaning to clean sport.” “She seems to understand the different ride,” she adds. “But I think it was a challenge to actually switch in the same arena.” Venice thrives on work. Marnye credits her work ethic for
her success in crossing over. “She just goes to work. If she was your employee, you would never say, ‘Venice, focus. Venice, get on task. Venice, I think you’ve chatted enough.’ It would be more like, ‘Venice, did you take a break today?’” Venice has shown she can shine in both events, and each helps her excel. “It seems to me that the derbies have helped her realize her great style. She has learned to use her back and neck a little better, and I have learned as a rider to trust that kind of a jump from her,” Jenni says. “When she jumps 1.60 meters, then I can’t really give her the same ride. But I admit that I have tried to ride her a little softer with my hand, and trust her front end more.” And the Grand Prix experience benefits her derby perfor-
mance. “The Grand Prix helps the derbies because she is just so brave. She is brave anyway, but I never ever think, ‘Oh, this will be too big or spooky.’ She just goes and jumps everything—even though we never see jumps like that in the big ring.” The hunter derby fences simulate those in the hunt field, so the course designer can use logs, hedges, stone walls, gates and brush. “The bigger ground lines are a plus too, because she is
used to having none,” Jenni continues. “It gives me some- thing to ride at. Of course the handy is always fun. She is handy and can slice the jumps well, and do any inside turn.” Jenni is continually impressed with Venice’s willingness
and versatility. “She would truly be an FEI hunter—if there was such a thing!”
Also a Proud Mom
Venice has a son, Beach Boy, sired by Boritas (Baldini I x Alcatraz), who follows his dam by competing both as a hunter and a jumper. In 2016, this six-year-old gray showed in the hunter division, in five hunter derbies and also in equi- tation and jumper classes. With his owner-rider Emily Williams, 15, he won the 1.10 meter Children/Adult Jumper High class at the National Sunshine Series, Week II—the same day that Venice and Whiskers both showed in the $200,000 Sunshine Grand Prix.
Photo: Beach Boy and Emily Williams, on course in a 1.10- meter jumper class at the National Sunshine Series in Ther- mal, California, last November.
Warmbloods Today 47
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