01 July '25
Verdini d'Houtveld Z shines in Ocala
©Andrew Ryback Photography - Ocala
Last weekend, the United States was once again dominated by international show jumping, with competitions at no less than three different venues. The impressive World Equestrian Center of Ocala hosted a four-star competition, where 14-year-old Verdini d'Houveld Z once again showed his best side. Under the saddle of Australian rider Lauren Balcomb, Verdini d'Houtveld Z appeared twice in the competition ring and this also twice resulted in an absolute top ranking.
On Thursday, in Ocala, everything revolved around the Grand Prix Qualifier, in which it was Lauren Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z who took the top prize. Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z, a son of Verdi TN and Caretino from the breeding farm of Xavier Van Melckenbeke, were one of the ten combinations to clear the 1.50m base course run by Irish course designer Alan Wade and his team, thus advancing to the decisive jump-off. As the first combination at the start, they immediately produced a fantastic performance in this, as a clear round in 37.60 seconds enabled them to immediately put the winning time on the scoreboard.
The CSI4* Grand Prix that was on the programme on Saturday and in it, too, the successful duo managed to ensure a strong performance. In a jump-off for which five combinations managed to qualify, they saw a fault on the way this result earned them 4th place in the rankings.
Lauren Balcomb: "We restarted Verdini mid-winter and got him really fit and strong at home. We rode the national Grand Prix in week XI of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series, where he came2nd. After that, we gave all the horses a good break for two months. I rode again the first week of summer to get him going and he was immediately double clear in the three-star qualifier last week. Verdini d'Houtveld Z really belongs to the family. I have had him since he was six, so we have been together for a long time. I actually bought him to do three-day eventing. I also did a few in the USA, because that was what I mainly did before I switched to show jumping, but he just jumped so well that I decided to make the full switch. I was incredibly lucky - I think we both were - and we formed a special bond."
Following their victory in the CSI3* Grand Prix the week before, this CSI4* Grand Prix also saw another great result for Portuguese rider Luis Sabino Gonçalves and his 11-year-old chestnut gelding Scoop de Septon Z, a son of Hunters Scendro and Echo van 't Spieveld bred by Elevage de Septon. Sabino Gonçalves and Scoop de Septon Z, who already started their competition on Wednesday with a 7th place in the 1.45m class, also managed to leave all obstacles untouched this time, but 1 time penalty point unfortunately kept them out of the jump-off and made them settle for 6th place this time.
Austrian rider Peter Petschenig also managed to jump into the prizes again with the 9-year-old stallion Hocus Pocus 111 Z, a son of Hermantico and Heartbreaker, bred by C.A.M. van de Oetelaar and Stud 111. In the 1.40m class on Wednesday, Petschenig and Hocus Pocus 111 Z did not have any faults in the1st and2nd phases, which resulted in a great 3rd place.
In the 1.45m main class on Friday, American rider Blythe Karolyi managed to secure a top 5 ranking with 14-year-old gelding Theo Duc T&L Z, a son of Toulon and Nabab de Rêve from the breeding farm of Luc Tilleman and his team. Karolyi and Theo Duc T&L Z kept nicely clear in both the first round and the 'Winning Round' and this performance earned them 5th place in the standings.
In addition to the CSI4* competition, a CSIU25 competition also took place in Ocala last weekend and here too there was success for our blue/yellow colours of Zangersheide. Thus, victory in the 1.40m opening class went to Mexican rider Maya Ines Denis Chambon and the 9-year-old gelding Callypso de la Hamente Z, a son of Chellsini Z and Kashmir Van Schuttershof from the Emmanuel Wera breeding farm. In a class against the clock, Maya Ines Denis Chambon and Callypso de la Hamente Z sped to the finish line in a convincing 62.06 seconds, putting them as much as two full seconds ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.