Grand Prix successes in Thermal

On European soil, the World Cup competition of Jumping Amsterdam could be enjoyed last weekend, but also in the other continents there was once again competition at the highest level. In the United States, the world's top riders travelled to California for a five-star competition at Thermal's beautiful Desert International Horse Park, where several Z-horses once again managed to put their best foot forward.

The highlight of the weekend took place on Saturday evening with the CSI5* Grand Prix, which brought a total of 19 combinations to the start. Irish course designers Alan Wade and Colm Quinn had laid out a technical course, but the level was sky-high! Of the nineteen combinations that took their chances, no fewer than eight managed to complete the course without any faults and thus secure a place in the decisive jump-off. One of them was American world number one Kent Farrington and his 12-year-old top mare Toulayna, the daughter of Toulon and Parco who was given the birth name Toulayna van het Bloesemhof Z by her breeder Jasper Doucé. Farrington and Toulayna shone last month in Geneva with a^2nd place at the famous Rolex Top 10 Final and in Thermal they had the luxury of being the very last combination to re-enter the ring. They were therefore keen for another Grand Prix victory, but a mistake on the way unfortunately threw a spanner in the works. The successful duo finished in 39.85 seconds, which gave them final ^5th place in the standings.

However, Farrington and Toulayna were not the only ones to ensure Zangersheide success at this CSI5* Grand Prix. American rider Elisa Broz also qualified for the jump-off with the 11-year-old grey stallion Consult Picobello Z, a son of Cicero Z van Paemel and Nabab de Rêve who was bred from a collaboration between the Ruant family of Picobello Horses and Jos Lansink. Broz and Consult Picobello Z also ran into 4 penalties in the jump-off and a finishing time of 37.50 seconds earned them a ^6th place in the rankings, just like during the 1.50m class on Thursday.

There was also a blue and yellow victory in Thermal, however, and Canadian rider Ali Ramsay took care of that with her now 15-year-old mare Bonita vh Keizershof Z, a daughter of Bustique and For Pleasure out of Leon Otten's breeding. Ramsay and Bonita vh Keizershof Z triumphed in the 1.45m main class on Friday, where they were more than half a second ahead of the competition with a clear jump-off in 33.38 seconds.

Also in this class, Irish rider James Chawke was among the seven barragists with his 12-year-old mare Daido van 't Ruytershof Z, the daughter of our stallion Dieu Merci van T&L Z and Bamako de Muze born to breeder Bert van den Branden. Chawke and Daido van 't Ruytershof Z, who also jumped quite well last year, saw a fault in the jump-off and this performance resulted in a ^6th place.

In addition to her victory with Bonita vh Keizershof Z, Ali Ramsay also had a successful weekend in Thermal with the 13-year-old gelding Conrado 12, a son of Cardento VDL and Diarado who was born Conrado Z at breeder Duka Invest D.O.O. On the opening day on Wednesday, Ramsay and Conrado 12 immediately secured ^4th place in the 1.40m class, followed a day later by a fine ^5th place in the 1.50m Grand Prix Qualifier.

Another notable combination was Ramsay's compatriot Tiffany Foster and the 11-year-old stallion Anton SKB Z, a breeding product of Louis Bijloos who combined the blood of Arko III with that of Quintero ASK. Foster and Anton SKB Z jumped into the limelight for the first time on Wednesday with a^2nd place in the 1.45m main class, while on Friday they secured a ^10th place during another 1.45m class.

Last but not least, Dutch rider Mathijs van Asten also managed to secure a place on the podium with the also 11-year-old stallion Vedet DK Z, a son of Vagabond de la Pomme and Carthago Z bred in the Netherlands by Stal de Krochten. During the 1.45m class on Wednesday, van Asten and Vedet DK Z ensured a flawless round, with a handsome ^3rd place as final result.