Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com
CSIO5* DUBLIN
Dublin, Ireland
August 5 - 9, 2015
The following combinations will represent the U.S. in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition at CSIO5* Dublin:
Jumping - Team
Photo Credit: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports
Georgina Bloomberg
Born: January 20, 1983 Residence: New York, N.Y. Lilli – 2004 Deutsches Sportpfred mare owned by Gotham Enterprizes, LLC For Georgina Bloomberg, the daughter of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a love of horses has always run in her blood. She began in the pony hunter ring at age six and after graduating from the junior ranks in 2001, turned her attention to the jumpers exclusively. Georgina was rewarded by winning two Gold medals at the North American Young Riders’ Championships (Team Gold in 2002 and Individual Gold in 2003 with Riviera) and winning the 2001 USET Talent Derby. In 2004, Bloomberg won the USET Maxine Beard Award which recognizes accomplishment by an up-and-coming show jumper, as well as the Derby of Drammen. The follow-
4 CSIO5* Dublin
ing year, she made her FEI World Cup Final debut, and was a member of the Samsung Super League team at CSIO La Baule. Bloomberg has had consistent success at the top level of the sport. In 2009, Bloomberg won the eighth round of the WEF Challenge Cup with Street of Diamonds and was a winner at the Hampton Classic with Fiedi 3. She kicked off 2010 with a win in Round 1 of the WEF Challenge Cup Series with Metropolitan and the pair followed that up with another win in the Empire State Grand Prix. Later that year, Bloomberg rode Fiedi 3 to win the Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix in Kentucky. Bloomberg continued to have success in 2012 and 2013 with top finishes on the East coast and in Europe. In 2014, Bloomberg spent much of the summer competing in Europe, earning top finishes on the Longines Global Champions Tour and representing the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at CSIO5* Falsterbo. In August, Bloomberg and Juvina anchored the U.S. Team victory in the CSIO5* Gijon’s Nations Cup with a double clear effort. Upon their return to the U.S., the pair won the Central Park Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, before earning third-place finishes in the
Jumping - Team feature Grand Prix at the Longines LA Masters and National Horse Show. To kick off her 2015 season, Bloomberg won the Adequan Grand Prix with Lilli during the third week of the WEF. In February, she and Juvina contributed a double clear to help the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team to a second-place finish in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Edge Water Brewing Barcelona at CSIO4* Ocala and two days later picked up a fifth-place finish in the Ocala Grand Prix. During week seven of the WEF, Bloomberg and Lilli were fifth in the $372,000 Suncast CSI5* Grand Prix. The pair was then third in the $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix during the final week of the WEF. At Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show I Bloomberg and Caleno 3 were second in the $50,000 Old Salem Grand Prix. Heading to Spruce Meadows for the CSI5* ‘Continental’ Tournament, Bloomberg was second in the $85,000 Respol Cup with Caleno 3 and fifth in the $210,000 CP Grand Prix with Lilli. She and Lilli were fifth again in the $85,000 TD Cup during the CSI5* ‘North American’ Tournament. At the 2015 Pan American Games, Bloomberg represented the U.S. for the first time at a championship with Lilli, helping the U.S. team to a Bronze medal and finishing 11th individually. In addition to competing, Bloomberg is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts, including founding The Rider’s Closet, serving on the Board of the Equestrian Aid Foundation, and acting as a committee member of Friends of Finn. She is a proud mother of one-year-old son, Jasper Michael Brown Bloomberg.
CSIO5* Dublin
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Jumping - Team
Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com
Lucy Davis
Born: October 22, 1992 Residence: Los Angeles, Calif. Barron - 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Old Oak Farm Lucy Davis is already proving to be a force in the Grand Prix ranks, often besting people twice her age. Davis got an early start, riding as soon as she could walk and taking lessons by the age of five. It was a natural progression for Lucy to take up riding early on, as her grandfather works in the horse racing industry. In the summer of 2009, Davis and True Love traveled to Lexington, Ky., for the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, where they earned the Individual Silver medal in the Young Rider Championships for Zone 10. In 2010, Davis returned to Kentucky riding Nemo 119 on the Gold-medal winning team, and placed fifth individually at the Adequan/ FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships
6 CSIO5* Dublin
presented by Gotham North. Davis started off the 2011 season by collecting top placings at every turn on the Desert Circuit. Nemo 119 and Davis kicked off the month of March by winning the $50,000 HITS World Cup Qualifier. Davis returned to the Grand Prix ring the following day with Hannah to win the $25,000 Smart Pak Grand Prix presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Teaming up once again with Nemo 119 the following weekend, she beat a star-studded field in the largest class of the Desert Circuit, the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix. This was also Davis’ fourth consecutive Grand Prix win. Davis started off 2012 in a big way by finishing 10th with Nemo 119 at the USEF National Show Jumping Championship and being named to the Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team. In 2013, Davis made her Rolex/FEI World Cup Final debut and gained valuable experience. She then represented the U.S. team at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines in Rotterdam riding Barron, helping the team to a second-place finish. For her double-clear jumping efforts, Davis received the Furusiyya Leading Rider of the Day Award.
Jumping - Team Later in 2013, Davis had the biggest win of her career when she claimed top honors in the Grand Prix of Lausanne with Barron, also becoming the youngest rider to win a Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at the age of 20. She also added being a representative of the U.S. at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona to her resume, where she again rode Barron helping the U.S. team claim top honors in the Consolation Round. In 2014, Davis kicked things off with a third-place finish in the $370,000 CSI5*-W FEI Word Cup presented by Rolex with Barron during week five of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The pair finished third again in the $100,000 Engel & Volkers CSI4* Grand Prix during week 11. Davis then represented the U.S. at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Lyon, France, where she finished in 17th place. In June, Davis and Barron jumped in the lead-off position in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines at CSIO5* Rotterdam. The following the month, the pair produced a double-clear effort in the Mercedes-Benz FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* Aachen, leading the United States to a second-place finish. They closed out their first trip to CHIO Aachen by finishing sixth in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. Davis and Barron ended their summer by being members of the Bronze medal-winning Hermes U.S. Show Jumping Team at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The pair completed their 2014 campaign with second-place finish in the World Cup Qualifier at CSI5* Stuttgart in Germany. Davis’ 2015 season started off strongly as she won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*-W with Barron at HITS Thermal Desert Circuit IV. The pair then traveled to Wellington, Fla., to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival where they won round seven of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup series. In June, Davis and Barron won the Longines Grand Prix in Rotterdam after an intense jumpoff featuring 16 riders. Next, the pair helped the U.S. team to the win in the 100th Nations Cup of Germany at CSIO5* Mannheim. In addition to riding at the highest level, Davis recently graduated from Stanford University.
CSIO5* Dublin
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Jumping - Team
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman Photo
Kent Farrington Born: December 28, 1980 Residence: Wellington, Fla.
Uceko – 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by R.C.G. Farm As a talented young equitation rider, Kent Farrington won the Pessoa/AHSA National Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Final in 1998 and the Washington International Equitation Medal in 1999. He then climbed another notch when his team won the Gold medal at the North American Young Riders’ Championship in 1999. In 2001, he was named the winner of the Maxine Beard Award, given to an individual based on their potential to represent the United States in international competition. In 2007, Farrington and Up Chiqui won the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championships, capping off a year where they were nearly invincible. With Uceko, Farrington found much success. In February of 2010, this pair was fifth in the first USEF Selection Trial
8 CSIO5* Dublin
for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In April of 2011, Farrington and Uceko collected top honors in the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational. On his first tour of Europe with the U.S. Team, Farrington and Uceko won the prestigious Longines King George V Gold Cup at CSIO5* Hickstead. Farrington and Uceko were also part of the Gold medalwinning U.S. team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 2012, Farrington won the FTI Grand Prix with Voyeur at the Hampton Classic. The pair next traveled to Spruce Meadows for the CSIO5* ‘Masters’ Tournament and won the Encana Cup. Their success continued as they finished second in the American Gold Cup. He kicked things off in 2013 in a big way by scoring top honors at the Trump Invitational Grand Prix with Dynamo. During CSIO Wellington, he was a member of the winning U.S. team in the FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* presented by G&C Farm with Uceko and also took top honors in the CSIO4* Grand Prix presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty with Blue Angel. Traveling to Europe for the summer, Farrington scored
Jumping - Team two huge wins. At the La Coruña CSI4* in Spain, he and
week nine with Willow. With Gazelle, Farrington was second
Voyeur won the Telefonica Grand Prix. At CSIO5* Dublin,
in week 11’s $127,000 Engel & Volkers CSI4* Grand Prix.
Farrington and Blue Angel won the JLT Dublin Stakes one
Making several stops on the Global Champions Tour, Far-
day after helping the U.S. team to a third-place finish in the
rington started in Antwerp, finishing second in a CSI5* class
Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Longines.
with Willow. In Shanghai, he won two CSI5* classes with
Returning to North America, his winning streak contin-
Blue Angel and one with Waomi. Farrington rode Voyeur to
ued. At the Hampton Classic, he won the FTI Consulting
the win in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix
Grand Prix with Zafira. A week later at the CSIO5* ‘Masters’
presented by H&M and won a CSI5* class with Belle Fleur
Tournament at Spruce Meadows, Farrington and Blue Angel
8 in Hamburg. He had other top performances in Europe
earned top honors in the Suncor Energy Cup and the Akita
during the spring, including wins with Cha Cha Cha 7 and
Drilling Cup.
Waomi at CSIO5* Rome and a fifth-place finish with Voyeur
During the fall of 2013, Farrington and his string of horses didn’t slow down. At the Washington International Horse Show, he and Blue Angel came out on top in the President’s
in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen at the World Equestrian Festival. Heading next to Spruce Meadows, Farrington and Voyeur
Cup Grand Prix CSI3*-W presented by Events DC, as well as
won the $400,000 RBC Grand Prix, Presented by Rolex
an Open Jumper class, earning Farrington the Leading Open
during the CSI5* ‘National’ Tournament. The following week
Jumper Rider Award.
at CSI5* ‘Continental’ Tournament, he and Gazelle won the
Farrington began 2014 on a high note, winning the Trump
$126,000 Scotiabank Cup. During the CSI5* ‘North Ameri-
Invitational presented by Rolex with Blue Angel. In February,
can’ Tournament he and Uceko won the $50,000 Lafarge
Farrington and Blue Angel won the Salamander Hotels &
Cup, while he and Gazelle were fourth in the $85,000
Resorts Grand Prix and the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge
Enbridge Cup.
Round VI. During week nine of the FTI Consulting Winter
He and Gazelle represented the U.S. at the Pan American
Equestrian Festival (WEF), he won the Ruby et Violette
Games in Toronto, Canada and helped the U.S. earn the
WEF Challenge Round IX with Voyeur.
Team Bronze medal.
In April, Farrington traveled to Lyon, France for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final, where he won the
In Europe, Farrington and Willow won the Prix Hotel Royal Emeraude at CSI5* Dinard.
second leg of competition with Voyeur. Farrington had continued success in Europe, winning the MAG-JLY Small Grand Prix at CSIO5* Rome with Blue Angel in May before winning the Prix SBM Le Casino with Willow at CSI5* Monaco. Farrington then headed back to North America to compete at Spruce Meadows, where he won the prestigious ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Voyeur and the Pan American Cup presented by Rolex with Uceko. Farrington and Voyeur won the Prize of Europe at CSIO5* Aachen and placed second in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, prior to heading to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where they helped the U.S. to a Team Bronze medal. In 2015, Farrington has again started his season at the WEF, where he won the $85,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix with Blue Angel for the second consecutive year. He won the $85,000 Suncast 1.50M Classic during weeks seven and 11 of the WEF with Waomi and during CSIO5* Dublin
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Jumping - Team
Photo Credit: Rebecca Walton/PhelpsSports
Charlie Jayne Born: March 11, 1986 Residence: Elgin, Ill.
Valeska – 2005 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Pony Lane Farm Charlie Jayne grew up on his family’s farm outside of Chicago and horses have always been part of his life. Along with his parents, Alex and Linda, and his sisters, Maggie and Haylie, the Jayne family runs the definition of a family business. Jayne won the USET Maxine Beard Award in 2006, which recognizes accomplishment by an up-and-coming show jumper. He also won the USEF Talent Search Finals – East that year. In 2007, the successful junior rider made the transition into the senior ranks and at the age of 20 represented the United States on the Gold medal-winning Team at CSIO Buenos Aires with Urbanus. Jayne was named to the USEF Show Jumping Short List for the 2008 Olympic Games with Urbanus after an
10 CSIO5* Dublin
impressive performance at the 2008 USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping. He then represented the U.S. in the first three Samsung Super Leagues with the FEI Nations Cup Team in Europe, turning in consistent results. In 2009, Jayne and Urbanus were part of the U.S. effort on Tour Three of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. While in Europe, Jayne and Urbanus were second in the Grand Prix of Dublin. Jayne finished off the 2009 season on a high note, winning the $25,000 Spy Coast/Sweet Oak Farm Grand Prix on Sampras. Jayne finished off his strong 2010 campaign by collecting top placings with Athena in the fall. They were winners of the $125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix in Saugerties. Three weeks later, the pair was a credible second behind McLain Ward and Sapphire in the $1 Million Pfizer Grand Prix. In 2011, Jayne began the season jumping with strong performances on both U.S. coasts. On the HITS circuit at Thermal, Jayne and Athena won the $31,000 HITS Welcome Classic in early February. Over the summer, Jayne and Athena competed on the U.S. team at FEI Nations Cup stops in La Baule, Rome, and St. Gallen. In 2012, Jayne and Chill R Z proved to be a force to be
Jumping - Team reckoned with at the Devon U.S. Show Jumping Team
Jayne’s 2015 season started off with a win in the $25,000
Observation Events. starting out with a third-place finish in
SmartPak Grand Prix with Playboy at the HITS Ocala Janu-
the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, then winning
ary Classic. He and Valeska were third in the $127,000 Ruby
the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake two days later.
et Violette WEF Round IX during week nine of the WEF.
Jayne traveled to London with Chill R Z as the reserve rider
Heading to the West Coast, Jayne and Chill R Z were third
for the U.S. team at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Upon
in the $1 Million AIG Grand Prix at the HITS Thermal Desert
returning to the U.S., the pair finished second in the New
Circuit VIII. Returning to the East Coast, Jayne scored the
Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix. They had another
biggest win of his career in the Great American $1 Mil-
second-place finish at the Pennsylvania National Horse
lion Grand Prix with Chill R Z. Jayne then rode Valeska to
Show in the $40,000 PA Big Jump.
a second-place finish in the $85,000 Mary Rena Murphy
Jayne began 2013 on a high note with a third-place finish
Grand Prix CSI2* at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. During
in the $100,000 Trump Invitational CSI2* Grand Prix on
week eight of the Tryon Spring show series, he and Chill R
Waldman Z. He then traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden, to
Z were third in the $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI4*. With
compete in his third consecutive Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.
Playboy, Jayne was second in the $50,000 Win Vision Grand
Heading to Spruce Meadows for the CSI5* ‘Pan American’
Prix during the Showplace Spring Spectacular II.
Tournament, Jayne and Chill R Z finished fourth in the
Heading overseas, Jayne and Chill R Z were members of
fourth in the $33,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup. The pair
the third place U.S. Team in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of
returned to the states and won the $75,000 Grand Prix of
Great Britain presented by Longines at CSIO5* Hickstead.
Indianapolis. Jayne and Chill R Z had a solid performance
Jayne graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca
at the American Gold Cup, finishing in fourth place in the
Raton, Fla., in May 2008 with a degree in Business Manage-
feature Grand Prix. They were then just shy of a win, com-
ment. Despite all of the awards he has picked up over the
ing in second in the New Albany Classic International Grand
years, he considers the fact that he was able to ride full-time
Prix CSI2*. During the fall indoor competition season, Jayne
and graduate in five years to be his greatest accomplish-
and Chill R Z earned two fifth-place finishes, in the $125,000
ment.
President’s Cup at the Washington International Horse Show and in the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix during the Alltech National Horse Show. Jayne began his 2014 season at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), kicking things off with a fourth-place finish in the $370,000 CSI5*-W FEI World Cup presented by Rolex with Chill R Z. The pair spent much of the late spring and summer competing outside of the United States and earning top results. At the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Scotiabank at the Spruce Meadows CSIO5* ‘Continental’ Tournament, they were the only combination to jump double-clear. In August, Jayne and Chill R Z jumped in the lead-off spot for the U.S. at CSIO5* Dublin’s Furusiyya FEI Nations presented by Longines, again producing a double-clear helping the United States to earn victory. Returning to the states, the pair was fourth in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII. With Valeska, Jayne was second in the inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Rolex. CSIO5* Dublin
11
Jumping - Team
Photo Credit: Sportfot
Todd Minikus
Born: June 11, 1962 Residence: Loxahatchee, Fla. Babalou 41 – 2005 Oldenburg mare owned by Two Swans Farm Turning professional in 1980, Todd Minikus competed in his first grand prix in 1985. For more than twenty years, he has forged an impressive career highlighted by more than 75 Grand Prix wins, five FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals, and multiple Nations Cup teams. Minikus was an alternate to the U.S. show jumping team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In 2001, he won the $100,000 Rolex/USET Show Jumping Championship and was selected as the recipient of the Horseman of the Year Award. In 2007, Minikus and Pavarotti were members of the Gold medal-winning team at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Minikus was on a tear in 2009, continuously placing in the
12 CSIO5* Dublin
money at multiple events. He won three big classes in February: the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup during week eight of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Presidente and both the $76,600 ESP WEF 7 Grand Prix and the $25,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix with Alaska. 2009 also marked the fifth time Minikus represented the U.S. at the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas. Minikus and Pavarotti represented the U.S. on Tour Two of the Nations Cup in the summer of 2009. In Rotterdam, the pair helped the U.S. secure a second-place finish. The pair returned to the U.S. and continued their successful season, winning both the $25,000 and $75,000 Grand Prixes at HITS-on-the-Hudson in July. In 2010, Minikus was back at it with Pavarotti, winning the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix at the end of January. He wrapped up the WEF season with a third-place finish in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI5*. At the 2010 USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team, Minikus and Pavarotti won trials 1 and 4 after turning in the fastest no-fault rounds, earning them a place on U.S. Show Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI World
Jumping - Team Equestrian Games. Minikus spent the spring traveling around the East Coast,
NY Grand Prix with Babalou 41 and the Jumper Classic with Quality Girl at the I Love New York Horse Show. He and
winning the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at the HITS-on-the-
Arino du Roulet scored a win in the $50,000 Horze Grand
Hudson I on Pavarotti in late May, and the $50,000 Idle Dice
Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV. Traveling to Bromont, Can-
Open Jumper Stake a week later at the Devon Horse Show.
ada, Minikus and Quality won the CSI3*-W Grand Prix. The
In August, Minikus won the $40,000 Grand Prix at the Win-
pair then scored a huge win in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand
ston National on Little Annie, then followed up the win with
Prix. Minikus closed out his year with a second-place finish in
a second-place finish in the Constitution Classic’s $40,000
$100,000 Hickstead FEI World Cup Grand Prix with Quality
Grand Prix.
Girl at the Royal Winter Horse Show.
In 2011, Minikus won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup dur-
This year is off to a strong start for Minikus as he won the
ing week 10 of the FTI Consulting WEF before defending his
$30,000 WEF 1 Grand Prix with Cordonos. During CSIO4*
2010 victory in the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake at
Wellington, Minikus and Babalou 41 were on the Hermes U.S.
Devon. Minikus returned to the winner’s circle at the I Love
Show Jumping Team that won the FEI Nations Cup pre-
New York Horse Show in the Woodlea Farms Grand Prix II
sented by Kingsland Equestrian and were the winners of the
and Open Jumper Classic II on Pavarotti. During HITS-on-
CSIO4* Grand Prix presented by Lugano Diamonds.
the-Hudson V, he won both the $25,000 SmartPak Grand
Heading to Spruce Meadows, Minikus and Babalou 41
Prix and $75,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sweetheart. Two
were second in the $210,000 CP Grand Prix at the CSI5*
weeks later, Minikus won the $30,000 Wild Card Grand Prix.
‘Continental’ Tournament. During the CSI5* ‘North Ameri-
At the National Horse Show, a win in the Welcome Speed
can’ Tournament, he was second in the $85,000 Enbridge
Class closed out his competition season.
Cup with Quality Girl and third in the $400,000 ATCO
Minikus began 2013 by scoring top honors in the $50,000
Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Babalou 41.
Live Oak Grand Prix CSI2* with Quality Girl. With Uraguay,
Over in Europe, Minikus and Babalou 41 were members of
Minikus earned another victory in the $50,000 Old Salem
the third place U.S. team in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of
Grand Prix. He then won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix
Great Britain presented by Longines at CSIO5* Hickstead.
with Quality Girl during HITS-on-the-Hudson II and IV. At
Minikus, who grew up near Des Moines, Iowa, now oper-
New York Horse & Pony Show, the pair claimed top honors
ates Todd Minikus, Ltd., in Loxahatchee, Fla. When he’s not
in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix. They then scored an
at the barn or on the road, he enjoys playing golf, fishing, and
impressive second-place finish in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand
spending time with his family.
Prix. Minikus closed out his year with a win and secondplace finish with Quality Girl in the $50,000 Welcome Speed class and $100,000 Open Jumper class, respectively, at the Alltech National Horse Show. Starting 2014 off in fine form, Minikus and Quality Girl scored a win in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Round Three. With Babalou 41, Minikus took home top honors in the $100,000 1.50M Championship Jumper Classic during week 12 of the FTI Consulting WEF. He and Quality Girl were first in the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake at the Devon Horse Show. Minikus continued his winning ways with Arino du Rouet in the $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix and Macoemba in the $25,000 Landgero Cup Grand Prix. In the summer, Minikus was on a roll, winning the I Love CSIO5* Dublin
13
Chef d’Equipe
Photo Credit: © 2008 Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson www.Tomlinson.com
Robert Ridland Chef d’Equipe Born: November 7, 1950 Residence: Irvine, Calif.
Robert Ridland brings several decades of international experience to the Team, including two appearances in the Olympic Games during his career as a member of the United States Equestrian Team. Over the years, he was victorious on four continents, including the American Invitational, the Grand Prix of New York in Madison Square Garden, and the Grand Prix of Switzerland. In addition to his riding career, Ridland has been extensively involved in the governance of the sport, including several terms as a board member of the USEF and the USET. His analytical approach to the sport is aided by virtue of his vast experience as an international course designer. Ridland twice won the Course Designer of the Year Award while building the courses for the U.S. Olympic Trials and numerous international competitions. As an interna-
14 CSIO5* Dublin
tional official, he is the only American to have served as the FEI Technical Delegate for four FEI World Cup Finals. As a television commentator, he worked for many years as the color analyst for ESPN and CBS, as well as two stints for NBC at the Barcelona and Athens Olympic Games.