McLain Ward started smiling after Goldika jumped the first round of the $75,000 Grand Prix of Devon. “I had a feeling when she went clear  that I had a good chance in the jump-off.

She’s a real woman, pardon the expression, and when she’s on, she’s on, and when she’s off, it’s really off the mark. But she was on the money tonight,” he said.

Goldika’s fast jump-off–faultless in 41.86 seconds-opped a six-horse jump-off in the feature event of the Devon Horse Show, May 31-June 5 in Devon, Pa.

The win helped restore Ward’s faith in Goldika after the FEI World Cup Final in Milan, Italy, in late April. There, Goldika fell twice. “It was the first time in my career that I can think I was a little bit fearful. I actually went into Milan quite confident, and then [she fell] the first day. It was such a freak thing,” said Ward.

“I’ve read everywhere that I missed, that I did this or that, but the horse picked up a stride early, and I don’t know why. The strangest thing was that the next day, she jumped a clear round in a 1.40-meter class, and then in the jump-off, did it again. Something was wrong.

“We schooled her at home over small courses and tried to get her confident, but, yes, I was rattled. But I’m a professional. If something goes wrong, what really tests you is how you     come back. She is a great horse, and it’s unfortunate that that happened, but she’s had a great rebound.”

Right behind Ward and Goldika in the ribbons were two up-and-coming grand prix riders. Callan Solem, 25, rode Allison to second  (0/45.02 seconds) and Eliza Shuford, 26, was third aboard Larentino (0/48.85 seconds). Right behind them with 4 faults was the Olympic-bound pair of Chris Kappler and Royal Kaliber.

“I think it’s safe to say we’re shocked. It was our night. The angels were looking out for us,” said Shuford.

She also finished seventh on Gustel II by picking up just 2 time faults in the first round.

“McLain is obviously tough to beat,” said Solem. “I wanted to go fast enough, but not have a jump down. To the vertical at the third-to-last jump, I got too direct an angle to it, and I had to take more time to get her turned back to the next oxer, and I think that’s where I took the time.”

Solem gives the credit to Allison, a 12-year-old mare. “She’s been a great horse for me. I feel like every day, if I give her a good ride, we have a shot at going clear. I’ve had her for six years now, so I know all the little things about her. But I’m still learning to go fast in the jump-offs,” she said.

Shuford hasn’t had the opportunity to get to know Larentino so well. She only bought the 9-year-old stallion three weeks before Devon. They debuted at the $25,000 Lexington Classic (Ky.) on May 20, where they were seventh.

“I brought him here, and said to myself, ‘I’m just going to walk the course, and if it’s too much, I’m not going to go.’ I walked it, and it was intimidating, but I decided to give it a shot. I figured that if I had trouble over the first few fences, I’d just pull up. But he was great,” said Shuford.

Kappler considered Devon to be an excellent prep for the European shows’ Hachenburg and Aachen in Germany–next on their schedule before the Olympics. He considered the one rail Royal Kaliber caught in the jump-off to be his mistake.

“I met it the way I wanted to, but I was trying to make a very short turn back to it. He felt a little heavy in my hand around the turn, so I tried to lift him a little in front of the fence, and he had it down behind. I should have just left him alone and let him do his job,” Kappler said.

Shachine Belle knows all about trying to leave her horse alone. She guided In Disguise to the regular conformation hunter championship, but she considers her job to be pretty simple.

“You just have to get him within range of the jump and he knows what to do, and he loves to do it. He gets there and explodes off the ground. I just try not to get in the way,” she said.

“Odie” was practically unbeatable in the green conformation division last year, and he made the move to four-foot division this winter. But after his first show at the Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) in February, he had to take some time off with a pulled back muscle. He was back in action for the two weeks of showing at Old Salem (N.Y.) before Devon.

“I always just jump two jumps and it feels like we’re back. I don’t really have to practice on him,” Belle said. And in Devon’s Dixon Oval, he gets to really flaunt his abilities.

“He’s a show-off. He loves to be admired. He’s really mature now, and he definitely loves this ring,” Belle said of the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood. “He really jumps the jumps. He gets such height over them, and it’s so easy for him. When I need him the most, he’s the best. He just knows when it’s important.”

Indian Summer might not have Odie’s years of experience, but the flashy chestnut gelding made his own presence known at Devon. He and Sandy Ferrell won every first year green class, earning the championship and the grand hunter champion title.

“It’s amazing–in my whole riding career, I’ve never won a class at Devon before. I guess I’ve been saving up!” Ferrell said wryly. “It’s just a great feeling. He got better every day he went.”

Ralph and Holly Caristo imported Indian Summer from Switzerland last fall, and the 5-year-old gelding started in the pre-green division at the WEF. But the Caristos and Ferrell thought he could handle moving right into the first year green division. “Indie” ended up as the WEF first year circuit champion.

“He has a beautiful jumping style, and he’s so smooth and slow,” said Ferrell. “I think what I like best about him is his desire to try so hard every time he goes in the ring.”

Ferrell didn’t show Indie again until the Old Salem shows just before Devon. “It was the first time I’d seen him since Florida, but he was great. I’m just so lucky that the Caristos chose me to ride him. We’ve always been friends, but I’ve never ridden for them before.”

Holly rides Indie at home and might show him in the adult amateur divisions eventually.

Scott Stewart re-peated his leading rider title at Devon as he showed Tribute to the green conformation hunter championship.

When Samantha Hallman bought Lucky three years ago, she and trainer Rob Bielefeld agreed on one thing. “He came with that name, and we sure weren’t going to change it,” Bielefeld said, laughing.

The name turned out to be apt, as Lucky topped the regular working hunter division in his first Devon appearance. “I thought he’d be competitive and that he had a chance to get good ribbons, but there are 20 good horses in this division, so this is wonderful,” said Bielefeld.

Lucky, a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood, spent the first part of his career in the open jumper ring, ridden by Margie Engle.

“He just loped around the jumpers like he does in the hunters,” said Bielefeld. “He’s al-ways been a quiet horse, and he adjusted to the hunters very well. He actually had fun in the handy class here, though, with all the broken lines and the tight turns. It was like going back to his jumper days.”

Because of his jumper experience, Lucky made his hunter debut in the four-foot divisions after Hallman bought him. “This is no effort for him. He’s such an athletic horse,” said Bielefeld. Bielefeld knew when he first rode Lucky that the career change would work. “I just jumped three jumps on him, and said, ‘You could not make a horse in a chemistry lab that’s more perfect for Samantha,’ ” he said.

Hallman has done her own winning on Lucky, taking the adult amateur, 18-35, championship at the National Horse Show (Fla.) the last two years.

Samantha Darling Conroy had tears in her eyes while walking out of the ring with Southern Lights and the second year green hunter championship in hand. “I won here as a junior but I never got to show a hunter here,” said Conroy. “Today I really wanted to do well.”

Conroy and Southern Lights had to really do well for the tricolor. They’d earned ribbons the first two days of showing, but Peter Pletcher and Ocean Park had won two classes. Conroy needed to win the final stakes class, with Pletcher out of the ribbons, to be champion. The fairy tale came true.

“Walking into the ring, I knew I had to be as good as I could possibly be. I knew I had to win,” said Conroy. “There’s a lot of hype leading up to it, but when you set such a high goal for yourself and then attain it, it’s wonderful.”

Conroy has ridden Southern Lights, a 7-year-old Holsteiner by South Pacific, for owner Sheila Buchbinder for two years. They earned the WEF first year green circuit championship last year. “We’ve both matured now, and we’ve developed a good relationship,” said Conroy.

And while it’s just the two of them in the ring, Conroy credits her husband, trainer Leo Conroy, and the rest of the support team, including groom Mario Marquez. “The only thing I have to worry about is my job. I know he’s perfectly trained and happy,” she said.

Leo and Samantha were married on Dec. 7, 2003. “I always feel so much support from him, both in and out of the ring,” she said.

 

 

JUDGES: A. Thom Brede, Randy Roy, Carolyn Vincent, John D. Ammerman, Adolph Magavero, Hendrik Nijenhuis, Ann Leck, Jeffrey Alt.

1ST YR. GREEN HUNTER CH: Indian Summer, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo.

RES: Noir, Mrs. Quentin Alexander.

2ND YR. GREEN HUNTER CH: Southern Lights, Sheila Buchbinder.

RES: Ocean Park, Lynn Walsh.

GREEN CONFORMATION HUNTER CH: Tribute, Krista Weisman.

RES: Popeye K, Elizabeth Spencer & Spencer Ranch.

REGULAR CONFORMATION HUNTER CH: In Disguise, Ellen Toon.

REGULAR WORKING HUNTER CH: Lucky, Samantha Hallman.

RES: Beyond, Scott Stewart.

LEADING REGULAR WORKING LADY RIDER: Sandy Ferrell.

GRAND HUNTER CH: Indian Summer, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo.

LEADING HUNTER RIDER: Scott Stewart.

LADIES SIDE-SADDLE HUNTER CH: Harbor Master, Catherine Wanamaker Cox.

RES: Ante-Up, Victoria Clavan.

AMATEUR-OWNER HUNTER, 18-35 CH: La Cara, Leah Schwendeman.

RES: Candlelight, Megan McGuire.

AMATEUR-OWNER HUNTER, 36 & OVER CH: In Return, Caroline Moran.

RES: Saint Nick, Caroline Moran.

GRAND AMATEUR-OWNER HUNTER CH: La Cara, Leah Schwendeman.

LEADING AMATEUR-OWNER HUNTER RIDER Tie: Leah Schwendeman.

  CH Tie: Caroline Moran.

AMATEUR-OWNER JUMPER CH: Memphis, Caitlyn Shiels.

RES: Sampson, Kate Levy.

OPENJUMPER CH: Goldika, McLain Ward.

RES Tie: Flier, Todd Minikus.

RES Tie: Hola, McLain Ward.

LOCAL HUNTER, SEC. A CH: What A Hoot, Joan Riddle.

RES: About Time, Courtney Robinson.

LOCAL HUNTER, SEC. B CH: Either Or, Richard J. Scarlett.

RES: Armondo, Eileen McCardle.

LOCAL HUNTER, SEC. C CH: Maverick, Darby J. Mazzarisi.

RES: Sweetness, Four Season Horse Sales.

GRAND LOCAL HUNTER CH: Maverick, Darby J. Mazzarisi.

LEADING OPEN JUMPER RIDER: McLain Ward.

PAIR PONY CH: Allison Stroud.

RES: Paul Martin Jr.

CARRIAGE MARATHON CH Tie: Tannis Marley.

CH Tie: Robert A. Weaver.

SINGLE HARNESS CH: Tannis Marley.

SINGLE HARNESS PONY CH: Samea Baker.

COACHING CH: Harvey Waller.

RES: Misdee Wrigley.

1st Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Indian Summer;
2. Dynamic, C. Kelly;
3. Intermezzo, J. Ehrhart.

1st Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Indian Summer;
2. Point Guard, Mr. & Mrs. K. Wheeler Jr. & Cismont Manor Farm;
3. CC Bloom, S. Hallman.

1st Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Indian Summer;
2. Cool Blue, S. Stewart;
3. Noir.

1st Yr. Grn. Htr. U/S –
1. Indian Summer;
2. Noir;
3. Jasper, J. Read.

1st Yr. Grn. Htr. Stakes –
1. Indian Summer;
2. Just Matt, A. Thorpe;
3. CC Bloom.

2nd Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Reese, S. Price;
2. Southern Lights;
3. First Hand, S. Garber.

2nd Yr. Grn. Htr. U/S –
1. Jazz, Caroli Stables;
2. Ocean Park;
3. Coast To Coast, Fashion Farm.

2nd Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Ocean Park;
2. Beyond;
3. Southern Lights.

2nd Yr. Grn. Htr. –
1. Ocean Park;
2. Southern Lights;
3. Beyond.

2nd Yr. Grn. Htr. Stakes –
1. Southern Lights;
2. Attache, E. Toon;
3. First Hand.

Grn. Conf. Htr. Model –
1. Tribute;
2. Popeye K;
3. Smart Society, Cismont Manor Farm.

Grn. Conf. Htr. –
1. Popeye K;
2. Waltz With Me, J. Fellingham;
3. Go Far, M. Nolan.

Grn. Conf. Htr. U/S –
1. Waltz With Me, J. Fellingham;
2. Tribute;
3. Due North, A.S. Dimmig.

Grn. Conf. Htr. –
1. Tribute;
2. Popeye K;
3. Opie, E. & J. Lauinger.

Grn. Conf. Htr. –
1. Tribute;
2. Popeye K;
3. Hat Trick, S. Ingle.

Grn. Conf. Htr. Stakes –
1. Tribute;
2. Mio, M. Ohrstrom;
3. Opie.

Reg. Conf. Htr. Model –
1. In Disguise;
2. For The Music, K. Weisman;
3. Social Secretary, C. & T. Deibert & Why Wait Farm.

Reg. Conf. Htr. –
1. In Disguise;
2. In Return;
3. Admiration, Mrs. S. Clark.

Reg. Conf. Htr. –
1. In Disguise;
2. In Return;
3. For The Music.

Reg. Conf. Htr. –
1. In Disguise;
2. Westcliffe, E. & C. Russo;
3. Admiration.

Reg. Conf. Htr. U/S –
1. In Return;
2. Westcliffe;
3. Admiration.

Reg. Conf. Htr. Stakes –
1. Westcliffe;
2. In Return;
3. For The Music.

Reg. Wkg. Htr. –
1. Lucky;
2. Somerset Bay, J.W.Y. Martin Jr. & Worthington Farm;
3. Beyond.

Reg. Wkg. Htr. U/S –
1. Fiddlers Bridge, S. Riggio;
2. Beyond;
3. Lucky.

Reg. Wkg. Htr. –
1. Lucky;
2. Carmen, Millridge LLC;
3. Somerset Bay.

Reg. Wkg. Handy Htr. –
1. Thursday Nite, D. Wheeler & Cismont Manor Farm;
2. Carmen;
3. Fiddlers Bridge.

Reg. Wkg. Htr. Stakes –
1. Beyond;
2. Lucky;
3. Thursday Nite.

Ladies Side-Saddle Htr. U/S –
1. Ante-Up;
2. Harbor Master;
3. Southern Etiquette, D. Ackenbom.

Ladies Side-Saddle Htr. –
1. Harbor Master;
2. Southern Etiquette;
3. Parissa, Full Cry Farm.

Ladies Side-Saddle Htr. Hack –
1. Harbor Master;
2. Ante-Up;
3. Southern Etiquette.

A/O Htr., 18-35 –
1. La Cara;
2. Centerfield, K. Corrigan;
3. Fiddlers Bridge.

A/O Htr., 18-35 –
1. La Cara;
2. Strapless, All Seasons Farm LLC;
3. Sydney, T. Scheriff.

A/O Htr. U/S, 18-35 –
1. Priceless, All Seasons Farm LLC;
2. Jazz;
3. Fanfare, N. Amling.

A/O Htr., 18-35 –
1. La Cara;
2. Jazz;
3. Strapless.

A/O Htr. Stakes, 18-35 –
1. Candlelight;
2. Jupiter, L. Phoebus;
3. La Cara.

A/O Htr., 36 & Over –
1. In Return;
2. Saint Nick;
3. Lennox, S. Brown.

A/O Htr., 36 & Over –
1. In Return;
2. Red Dragon, Mr. & Mrs. E.M. Oare;
3. Lifestyle, L. Lewis.

A/O Htr., 36 & Over –
1. In Return;
2. Saint Nick;
3. Lennox.

A/O Htr. U/S, 36 & Over –
1. Small Talk, R. Spencer & Spencer Ranch;
2. Saint Nick;
3. In Return.

A/O Htr., 36 & Over –
1. Red Dragon;
2. Lifestyle;
3. Lennox.

A/O Htr. Stakes, 36 & Over –
1. In Return;
2. Saint Nick;
3. Lifestyle.

Local Htr. –
1. Enough About You, D. Wigand;
2. About Time;
3. Landro, N. Adams.

Local Htr. U/S –
1. What A Hoot;
2. About Time;
3. Masquerade, B. Mannis.

Local Htr., Owner To Ride –
1. Invisible Ink, K. Weiss;
2. Two Oaks Tall, M. Crawford;
3. Landro.

Local Htr. Stakes –
1. What A Hoot;
2. About Time;
3. Enough About You.

Local Htr. –
1. Armondo;
2. Either Or;
3. Luck Of The Draw, E. Mimlitsch.

Local Htr. U/S –
1. Last Laugh, J. Osterstock;
2. Landfriese, J. Cannizzo;
3. Flirting With Fame, L. Brower.

Local Htr., Owner To Ride –
1. Curious George, D. Rubin;
2. Either Or;
3. Saffier, D. Agnew.

Local Htr. Stakes –
1. Brighton, F. Weiss;
2. Emerald Eclipse, K. Henselman;
3. Gulliver, K. Dietrich.

Local Htr. U/S –
1. Sweetness;
2. Code Of Honor, S. Corrado;
3. Maverick.

Local Htr. –
1. Sweetness;
2. Code Of Honor;
3. Maverick.

Local Htr., Owner To Ride –
1. All That Jazz, B. Weaver;
2. Wellington, M. Dougherty;
3. Summer Shadow, K. Carey.

Local Htr. Stakes –
1. Maverick;
2. Wellington;
3. Outrageous, M. Petrecz.

A/O Jpr. –
1. Camerino, J. Suida & Windward;
2. True Love, R. &N. Segal;
3. Lojana, Sir Ruly Inc..

A/O Jpr. Hit & Hurry –
1. Sampson, K. Levy;
2. Maverick, N.S. Amling;
3. Shindig, Fat Chance Farm.

SJHOF A/O Jpr. Classic –
1. Memphis, C. Shiels;
2. Ronan, A. Weeks;
3. Maverick.

Open Jpr. Gambler’s Choice –
1. Hola, M. Ward;
2. Samantha, Sundance Group;
3. Funny De Liere, K. Levy.

Open Jpr. –
1. Little Big Man, L. Chapot;
2. Flier, H.R. Gill;
3. Mianta, Quiet Winter Farm &Redfield Farm.

Open Jpr. Stakes –
1. Little Big Man;
2. Korina, C. Kappler & Pro Jump;
3. Allison, Quiet Winter Farm &B.J. Maghan.

NAL Open Jpr. –
1. Hola;
2. Lucky 13, M. Chapot;
3. Eloise, H. Goddard.

Open Jpr. –
1. Korina;
2. Sorento, J. &D. Torano;
3. Sprite, L. Chapot.

Open Jpr. –
1. Galinska De Rouhet, Ri-Arm Farm;
2. Justice, J.M. Carmona;
3. Lionel, Maypine Farm.

Open Jpr. –
1. Goldika 559, Double H Farm;
2. Sorento;
3. Tango, Falcon  FarmLLC.

Open Jpr. Hit & Hurry –
1. Warsaw, Quiet Winter Farm;
2. Cash Flow, J. & D. Torano;
3. Samantha.

Field Htr. Performance –
1. Maverick;
2. Emerald Exlipse, K. Henzelman;
3. Catch 22, L. Caruso.

Hunt Team –
1. J. Syphers & S. Glassman;
2. A. Healey & C. Haskins;
3. H. Lohman & C. Welsh.

Parent & Child –
1. M. & L. Chenelle;
2. S. Glassman & J. Sypers;
3. Ladow Family.

Family Class –
1. King Family;
2. L. & S. Hansen;
3. Smith Family.

Carriage Marathon, 2-Wheel –
1. T. Marley;
2. W. Hale;
3. L. Willits-Bartholomew.

Carriage Marathon, 4-Wheel –
1. L. Plummer;
2. G. Fitzpatrick;
3. Mrs. S. Sidewater.

Carriage Marathon, Double Harness, Pairs/Tandems –
1. J. O’Rourke;
2. M. S. Waller;
3. R. O’Donnell.

Carriage Marathon, Unicorns & 4-In-Hand –
1. R. Weaver;
2. J. Hunt;
3. M. Wrigley.

Carriage Marathon, Pony, 2-Wheel –
1. K. Martin;
2. N. duPont;
3. L. Merz.

Carriage Marathon, Pony, 4-Wheel –
1. S. Baker;
2. J. Godshall;
3. J. Drane.

Carriage Marathon, Pony, Double Harness, Pairs/Tandems –
1. P. Martin Jr.;
2. C. Whittle.

Carriage Marathon, Pony, Unicorns & 4-In-Hand –
1. Mrs. S. Bright.

Carriage Marathon Lt. Commercial/ Farmer’s –
1. F. Baker;
2. R. Odell;
3. F. Calhoun.

Open Tandems –
1. L. N. Plummer;
2. M. Macfarlane;
3. M. Wrigley.

Open Randems –
1. L. Plummer. Pairs Scurry Driving – 1. J. O’Rourke;
2. M. Gracie Sr.;
3. R. O’Donnell.

4-In-Hand, Suitable For Pleasure –
1. S. Macfarlane;
2. H. Waller;
3. R. Weaver.

Pair Pony Scurry –
1. A. Stroud;
2. P. Martin Jr.;
3. C. Whittle.

Open Unicorns –
1. M. Wrigley;
2. S. Adcox;
3. S. MacFarlane.

Country Pleasure Driving –
1. Harlem’s Last Call, S. Stoltz.

Coaching –
1. R. Longstaff;
2. D. J. Rosato;
3. R. Weaver.

Pair Pony Pleasure –
1. A. Stroud;
2. P. Martin Jr.;
3. A. Stroud.

Coaching Obstacles –
1. D. Rosato;
2. H. Waller;
3. M. Wrigley.

Coach Horn –
1. R. O’Donnel;
2. P. McDonnel.

4-In-Hand, Am. To Drive –
1. H. Waller;
2. R. Palmer;
3. M. Wrigley.

Show Pleasure Driving –
1. Harlem’s Proud Mary, M. Wrigley;
2. Shamanic Dream, J. Sylvester;
3. Kendall Jackson, D. Carlow.