JUNE 2024 THE RIDER /41


Exclusive to the Digital Edition of The Rider


JUNE 2024 Vol. 5, Issue No. 8


CELEBRATING 53 YEARS


Farms World Equestrian Center May Dressage CDI3* Presented by Lugano Diamonds


Canada Sweeps Opening Classes at Hampton Green


Ocala, FL – The Hampton Green Farms World Eques- trian Center (WEC) May Dressage CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds began on Thursday, May 23, at WEC – Ocala, and Canadian riders swept top honors. Ariana Chia and Guateque IV won the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*, while Jill Irving and Knight were best in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. The Hampton Green Farms WEC May Dressage CDI3* pre- sented by Lugano Diamonds, which includes international- and national-level classes, continues through Sunday, May 26. Chia and Guateque IV


have been partnered for a year. The pair started compet- ing at the national grand prix level in October 2023 and moved up to the CDIs in Jan- uary 2024. Chia took over the ride after riding sales and young horses for the owners of Coves Darden Farm in South Carolina. “They have a phenome-


nal string of PRE horses and a breeding farm,” said Chia. “We had the goal in mind to qualify for Paris for Canada. We went down that path and here we are. “His strong point was


the piaffe work; that is always a highlight for him,” de- scribed Chia of their grand prix test, which scored 68.869%. “It had an overall flow, good harmony and felt quite confident. His changes were great, and that’s been a part we’ve been working to improve. He was really steady and expressive, so that was awesome.” Guateque IV is a 14-


year-old PRE stallion by Layco x Salinero XIII and “the least stallionish stallion I’ve ever been around,” re- marked Chia. “Anybody could handle him or take him on a hack. He’s the ultimate sweetheart. He wants to do it, and that makes him so spe- cial.


“He is a typical PRE in


the sense that his mind is phe- nomenal,” she continued. “That’s one of the things I like


Jill Irving’s Knight showing off his “fabulous walk” that helped them win the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography


Jill Irving bought Knight as a four-year-old, and they have won two Prix St. Georges classes in a row. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography


while she focuses on the grand prix with her top horse Genesis. Irving trains with Olympian Ashley Holzer, and she has entrusted some of Knight’s growth


education and to


Canadian


Olympian, Brittany Fraser- Beaulieu, who rode Knight while Irving competed in Eu- rope during the summers. Irving expressed, “It’s


no stress with this horse, and I just enjoy him. I want to do well, pat him and have him go home. He thinks it’s a great life!”


Ariana Chia and Guateque IV on their way to winning the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography


the most about PREs. They’re very logical and straightfor- ward in many ways, but also sensitive, which makes a good grand prix horse. He’s wonderful and been a fantas- tic partner. It doesn’t matter what venue we’re at, he takes it all in stride like he’s been there a million times, which is a fantastic quality. He’s a great teammate.” Chia, who is originally


from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and now based in Wellington, FL, will compete with Guateque IV in Friday night’s Hampton Green Farms May Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* pre- sented by Lugano Diamonds, only their second freestyle to- gether. Spectators will be clapping their hands through Guateque’s test, which in-


cludes music from Kygo, Gryffin and Coldplay. Naima Moreira Lalib-


erte (CAN) and Inspire, an 11-year-old Dutch Warm- blood gelding by Vitalis x Glock’s Johnson TN owned by KML Inc. scored 67.109% for second place in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*. Third place went to Chase Shipka (USA) and her own 13-year-old KWPN gelding Gladstone Zee T (Apache x Jazz) with 65.171%.


Irving Vanquishes Competi- tion with Knight Fellow Canadian Jill Irv-


ing topped the Prix St. Georges CDI1* with Knight. They scored 67.647% for their second Prix St. Georges victory in a row in Knight’s fourth-ever CDI class.


Charlotte


Equestrian Center and judge at C Agnieszka Majewska in their winning presentation. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography


Ariana Chia and Guateque IV with Roni Tumminia of World “Knight has a fabulous


walk,” said Irving. “That re- ally helps your mark when you can add points there.” Indeed,


the judging


panel of Kerrie Swan-Bates (AUS), Agnieszka Majewska (POL), Peter Storr (GBR), Kari McClain (USA) and Sandra Andrea Smith (ARG) gave Knight three scores of 7.0 as well as two 7.5s in the collected walk, while the ex- tended walk scored an 8.0 from the judge at E. Irving purchased Knight


as a four-year-old during the pandemic having only seen him on video, but she trusted her friend Chantal van Lanen in the Netherlands, who rode the young horse multiple times and reported on his qualities.


Irving has focused on


her grand prix horses in recent years, so Knight did not com- pete at the FEI level until 2024. Despite the lack in in- ternational competition expe- rience, Knight entered the atmospheric WEC Grand Arena like a seasoned cam- paigner. “He just walked in there


and lit up, performed, and was totally relaxed,” she said of the nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Blue Hors Zack x IPS Krack C. “He’s a true show horse, and he does his job. It’s quite remarkable, so we will see where he goes in the future.” Irving was pleased with


Thursday’s small tour test, and she does not plan to com- pete Knight further this week


Osborne


(GBR) rode Escada RB, a 10- year-old Rheinlander mare by Escolar x Fidertanz to 65.912% for owner Chantelle Noble. With 65.647%, Shelly Francis (USA) and Dante, her 12-year-old Hanoverian geld- ing by Danone II x Andiamo 28, placed third.


Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* Results


Prix St. Georges CDI1* Re- sults


For more information, visit www.wec.net.


About World Equestrian Center World Equestrian Center


features two premier eques- trian and multidisciplinary venues in Ocala, Florida, and Wilmington, Ohio. These exclusive facili-


ties comprise state-of-the-art arenas, expansive stadiums, versatile outdoor space, sport- ing fields and well-appointed exposition centers. An abun- dance of lodging options and luxury accommodations are conveniently located on-site, along with shopping and din- ing throughout each property. Dedicated to offering


great sport and good fun in a family-friendly environment, World Equestrian Center promises an unparalleled ex- perience for exhibitors, spec- tators, vendors, sponsors and retailers built on three core values: Quality. Class. Dis- tinction. Learn more at wec.net.


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