Verdini d'Houtveld Z triumphs in the CSI3* GP of Ocala!

A few weeks after their victory in the CSI3* GP of Kentucky, the New Zealand lady rider Lauren Balcomb and her 12-year-old gelding Verdini d'Houtveld Z, a son of Verdi TN and Caretino who was bred by Xavier Van Melckenbeke, again managed to add a GP victory to their list of honors last weekend! In the beautiful World Equestrian Center of Ocala, the duo jumped to victory during the CSI3* GP.

Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z became already 8th on Thursday during a 1.50m class and were one of the 11 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off during the CSI3* GP. As the first combination at the start, she rushed to the finish line in 37.62 seconds, a time that no other competitor was able to catch!

Lauren Balcomb: “Verdini has really matured in the past year, and I have certainly tried to as well. I feel like we are growing together, which is very exciting. He is just unbelievable, and I feel like the luckiest person to ride him. The plan is to jump the next two weeks with him here, and hopefully a trip to Europe and Mexico is on the cards as well! It’s been an exciting year, and I am so happy to have this facility right in our backyard.”

Next to the victory of Balcomb and Verdini d'Houtveld Z, also the 2nd place during this CSI3* GP colored blue and yellow. The Brazilian rider Marcelo Ciavaglia took care of this with the 12-year-old stallion HST Cartouche, a son of Premiere Carthoes B Z and Chester Z who was bred by Haras Santa Therezinha. They also managed to stay clear in the jump-off, but crossed the line in 38.02 seconds.