Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 25, 2018 – The Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* saw 16 horse-and-rider combinations entering the ring hoping to take top honors on Friday morning at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). After two phases of competition, an over fences phase and a flat phase, it was Ellie Ferrigno and her own FRH Remarkable who walked away with a blue ribbon.
Seventeen-year-old Ferrigno has been partnered with FRH Remarkable, also known as Remy in the barn, for four consecutive seasons of WEF. The pair used their long-time partnership to their advantage during Friday’s course, which featured a number of technical elements including a triple combination and a water jump. Ferrigno and Remy, unfazed by the water jump, were able to show off their partnership with long gallops and forward turns.
The course, designed by Steve Stephens had athletes and their mounts tackle 11 obstacles total, with a time allowed of 90 seconds. Following the over fences phase, 13 horse-and-riders returned for the flat portion where they were asked to perform a sitting trot, counter canter, and extensions of both the trot and canter.
Second place in Friday’s equitation competition was captured by Olivia Broder and Quax, owned by Kimberly Griffiths. Broder, who is trained by Stacia Madden, is coming off of a successful 2018 indoor equitation season, having placed sixth in Dover Saddlery/U.S. Hunter Seat Medal Finals in November.
Following Broder’s second place finish, was Mimi Gochman. Gochman, another student of Stacia Madden, rode Gochman Sport Horses, LLC’s Heroy Von De Hei to claim the third place.
Competition at WEF continues on Saturday, culminating with the week’s highlight being the $134,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI3*. Equitation will continue on Sunday in Ring 9 with the ASPCA Maclay at 8am and the Dover Saddlery / USEF Hunter Seat Medal immediately following.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Ellie Ferrigno – Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* Winner
On FRH Remarkable:
“We call him Remy in the barn. This is my fourth winter on him, so I’ve kind of developed him myself. I own him with my trainer [Valerie Renihan]. He has been such a great horse for me. I got him and we started doing the USET equitation classes and he can really do anything. We do hunter derbies with him, he does the jumper phases in the USET’s beautifully. He is great. In the barn he is really goofy and snuggly. He really just wants to be in your lap, he wants to be a lap dog.”
On Friday’s course:
“I thought the course was really suited to me today. Part of what I feel like makes our partnership so special is how forward we’re able to ride around. Today I felt like the long gallops really showcased what makes him so special. I was able to gallop around the turns too and he has a nice look to him when he gets that canter going.”
RESULTS
Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
Place / Horse / Rider
1. FRH Remarkable / Ellie Ferrigno
2. Quax / Olivia Broder
3. Heroy Von De Hei / Mimi Gochman
4. C-L’artiste Z / Jordan Allen
5. Kalimero Van Het Kruisblokhof / Ava Stearns
6. Campreoll / Ava Ellis
7. Contelido / Sophie Gochman
8. Conto Blue / Paige Matthies