FEBRUARY 2020 THE RIDER /53


Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Akuna Mattata Earn a Turbo-Powered Win in $36,600 Turkish Airlines Classic CSI4*-W


Saturday, February 1, 2020 — Wellington, FL — Last to go in the 1.50m $36,600 CSI4*-W Turkish Airlines Classic at Deeridge Farms, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) knew she had one more ace in her pocket aboard Akuna Mattata. “She’s very funny, she


covers a lot of ground. When you land and you ac- celerate, she kicks into turbo, and she really grabs the ground,” said Shahinian- Simpson, who dashed through the jump-off timers in a winning time of 33.01 seconds. “Over the years and time [together], I’ve be- come comfortable with that. She can leave out a stride easily, and that’s where she won today.” The pair finished just


ahead of a foot-perfect Karl Cook (USA) and Fecybelle with 33.48 seconds and a smooth-but-speedy Rodrigo De Paula Pessoa (BRA) in third with Venice Beach on 33.81 seconds. Held in the Sand Arena


during the Palm Beach Mas- ters Series® Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Week


CSI4*-W/CSI2,


Course Designer Alan Wade’s (IRL) 12-obstacle, first-round track proved challenging for a number of combinations in the 30- horse field. Ten moved for- ward to contest


shortened course, and there, the ability to harness Akuna Mattata’s raw power moved Shahinian-Simpson to the


Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Akuna Mattata put pedal to the metal to win the $36,600 Turkish Airlines Classic CSI4*-W at the Palm Beach Masters Series®. Photo by Kathy Russell Photography


top of the pack. “[Akuna Mattata] is


the


super sensitive, and al- though she looks very ac- tive, she’s not at all strong. She roots, but she’s very manageable and easy to rate to the jumps,” the Welling- ton-based rider said. This is the second win of the week for Shahinian-Simpson and the 12-year-old American- bred Holsteiner, who also topped the 10,000 CSI4*-W Palm Beach Masters Warm- up on Thursday. Despite Akuna Mat-


tata’s specialized program


for loading into the start- gate and exiting the arena, Shahinian-Simpson says the mare’s unconventionality is part of her strength. “We’ve done some training with her, keeping her manageable in the [schooling ring], and getting into the ring. We got a little bit of a handle on it, because it was getting pretty out of control—all of it is adrenaline with her.” Shahinian-Simpson,


who also rode Akuna Mat- tata’s mother, Carole Rosen- stein’s M-Dragonfly, says that knowing the mare for so


many years has helped them build a special bond. “A lot of it is trust. I couldn’t imag- ine trying to change her in any way, because I don’t think I would win, or any- body would win, so you just accommodate,” she said. “I guess it’s what


makes her good!” The


$213,300


Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington CSI4*-W highlights the first week of Palm Beach Mas- ters Series® competition at Deeridge Farms for the fifth straight year.


The main event will


feature the 40 best athletes from Friday’s $72,900 Candy Tribble Qualifier CSI4*-W. An incredible field


will line up to compete in what will be the penultimate qualifier of the 2019/2020 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North Ameri- can League season. Points received from the event will determine the seven east coast U.S. riders and three west coast U.S. riders that will earn invitations to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas in April. The top two Canadian and Mexican rid- ers in the standings will also qualify out of the North


American League. Three former World


Cup Final Champions will come forward Sunday, in- cluding Beezie Madden (USA), who has twice won the Final (2011, 2018). McLain Ward (USA) won the Final the last time it was held in the United States, tri- umphing in Omaha in 2017, while Beat Mändli (SUI) won the Final in 2007, one of six previous occasions when the Final was held in Vegas. Also among the field


will be the event’s defend- ing Champions, Alex Granato


(USA) and


Carlchen W. The pair recorded their first World Cup victory at Deeridge


Farms in 2019 and went on to represent the United States in the 2019 Pan American Games (PER), where they earned a team bronze medal. The leaders of both the


east and west coast sub league standings of the North American League, Brian Moggre (USA) and Karl Cook (USA), will line up, as well as the World’s No. 1 ranked rider, Martin Fuchs (SUI). Fuchs cap- tured the 2019 FEI Euro- pean Championships after making his Palm Beach Masters Series® debut last year.


World No. 1 Martin Fuchs at the Palm Beach Masters Series®. Photo by Kathy Russell Photography


Equestrian Businesswomen Welcomes Aon as Continuing Founding Partner


Las Vegas, NV – January 28, 2020 – Equestrian Business- women (EQBW) is pleased to announce that Aon will continue as a Founding Partner, led by Di- rector of Lifestyle for Aon Pri- vate Risk Management, Joe Norick. Aon is a leading global professional services firm pro- viding a broad range of risk, re- tirement, and health solutions. Equestrian Businesswomen con- nects businesswomen in the equine industry to provide them with resources and community to foster their professional develop- ment and business opportunities. The EQBW Summit will be held on April 14-15 in Las Vegas, NV, and will provide thought-provok- ing and inspiring speakers, knowledgeable panelists, and helpful workshop coaches talking about timely, relevant topics to help engage, support, and inform equestrian businesswomen. “We are grateful for the


support that Aon has shown since we held the first EQBW Summit last year,” said EQBW Founder and CEO Jennifer Wood. “As a founding partner, Aon is helping equestrian businesswomen na- tionally and globally. They work to empower economic and human possibility for


their


clients, which is something we at EQBW hope to foster as well. EQBW wants to help equestrian businesswomen throughout our industry and feel that Aon can play a big role in assisting them personally and professionally.” As a Founding Partner of


EQBW, Aon will have a presence at the second annual EQBW Summit and share all of the op- tions and opportunities that Aon can provide to the summit atten- dees’ companies. “Women are indispensable


in the equestrian industry,” said Norick. “Recognizing their value as business owners and entrepre-


Visit www.therider.com


neuers, Aon strives to help women succeed and protect their assets. We are proud to be a part of Equestrian Businesswomen and to support their mission at the Summit and beyond.” The Equestrian Business-


women Summit will provide in- spiration and information on how to grow as a businesswoman and find success for your business with inspirational speakers, infor- mational panels, educational workshops, and networking op- portunities. The EQBW Summit can provide ways to learn as well as motivational moments for a connection to a supportive com- munity. To learn more about Eques-


trian Businesswomen and the Summit,


please visit


www.EqBusinesswomen.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. To find out more about Aon,


visit them at www.aon.com or


call Joe Norick at 561-346-9000 for more information.


About Aon Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is


the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 50,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to em- power results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solu- tions and through industry-lead- ing global resources and technical expert- ise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world’s best bro- ker, best insurance intermediary,


rein-


surance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting


firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon’s global part- nership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.


WHAT: The 2020 Equestrian Businesswomen Summit WHEN: April 14-15, 2020 WHERE: MGM Grand Confer- ence Center, Las Vegas, Nevada WHO: Equestrian business- women who want to learn, net-


work, and be inspired! We will be announcing our speakers, pan- elists, and workshop coaches in the upcoming weeks. HOW: Visit the link below to buy your ticket through Event Clinics - tickets are limited, so get yours today! STAY: Book your hotel room with special pricing through our link at MGM Grand! Visit here to b


o o k :


https://book.passkey.com/go/Equ estrian


Visit: www.theridermarketplace.com


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