27 January '26
Another Grand Prix glory for Verdini d'Houtveld Z in Ocala
© Andrew Ryback Photography
Busy days last weekend on American soil, as in addition to the five-star competition at Thermal's Desert International Horse Park, two other international competitions were scheduled across the country. At Wellington International, for instance, there was the third week of the famous Winter Equestrian Festival, but also a little further away at the beautiful World Equestrian Centre of Ocala, there was international action to be experienced again. There, New Zealand rider Lauren Balcomb and her trusty partner Verdini d'Houtveld Z once again showed their class with an absolute stunner in the CSI3* Grand Prix.
The World Equestrian Centre in Ocala was filled to the last seat on Saturday evening for the Ascentѐ Aviation CSI3* Grand Prix, in which a prize pool of no less than $120,000 was up for grabs. The 1.50m high basic course designed by German course designer Olaf Petersen had a lot of technical challenges, which meant that only four of the twenty-seven combinations managed to jump to a place in the jump-off. In it, the first combination was Lauren Balcomb and her now 15-year-old gelding Verdini d'Houtveld Z, a son of Verdi TN and Caretino who was bred by Xavier Van Melckenbeke and with whom Balcomb already managed to win two Grand Prix in Ocala in 2025. Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z immediately started their barrage round superbly and with a whirlwind finishing time of 44.91 seconds, they wrote another Grand Prix victory on their record!
Lauren Balcomb: "Verdini is so cute. He's like my pet and just the sweetest animal. He has such a big heart. Where do you have to stop with a horse like that? He's a horse you only meet once in a lifetime."
During the 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier on Thursday, her New Zealand partner Sharn Wordley also managed to jump into the limelight again with the 12-year-old gelding Brin d'Or de Haute Melen Z, a son of Bamako de Muze and Baloubet du Rouet from the breeding farm of Georges Trulemans. Wordley and Brin d'Or de Haute Melen Z, who already captured 3rd place in the CSI3* Grand Prix a fortnight ago, kept nicely clear in both the basic round and the jump-off, securing 4th place.
Finally on Wednesday, the American rider Mary Rose Canterbury also claimed a podium finish with the 13-year-old chestnut gelding Saido vd Koutermolen Z, a son of Skill Z and Gottwald, bred by Dorine Goegebeure. In the 1.40m class, Canterbury and Saido vd Koutermolen Z delivered faultless performances in both the first and second phase, securing an excellent second place overall.