Darien, Conn. – June 11, 2019 – Back for its 88th year, the Annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, presented by the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund, commenced Thursday with show jumping athletes featured in the jumper ring of the historic Ox Ridge Riding and Racquet Club. Tuesday’s track, which was set by Philip J. DeVita, saw competition ranging from the young training jumpers up to the 1.30m level. Lauren Tisbo highlighted the afternoon with a double-clear round aboard Tequestrian Farms LLC’s Madento EG to win the 1.20m Jumpers, sponsored by the Sovereign Financial Group and Failla Family.
First in the ring for the 1.20m Jumpers, Cassandra Orpen and Concord served as the early trailblazers in the class, mastering DeVita’s 12-effort track with ease to advance to the immediate jump-off. Navigating the abridged course successfully, the duo set the short course pace in 36.080 seconds, leaving all the fences intact to emerge as the frontrunners. As the remainder of the pack aimed to chase them down, Orpen and Concord’s initial time looked as if it would stand, with only one partnership left to tackle the track to conclude the contest.
Last to enter the ring, Tisbo and Madento EG, a 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, put the pressure on the early leaders by qualifying for the jump-off with a clear first round effort. As the final duo to try their luck over the jump-off track, Tisbo piloted Magento EG to a subsequent successful effort without any downed rails, crossing the finish line in 31.841 seconds to eclipse Orpen and Concord’s long-standing leading time by more than four seconds, clearly solidifying the final team as the class victors.
With two mounts finishing on quick double-clear rounds, Orpen ultimately claimed second place with the Orpen Horses’ Concord, and also earned the third place award with Donald Stewart’s 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Caddilac FS Z.
Immediately following, the 1.30m Jumpers, sponsored by Agway, brought a series of talented entries to the ring. As the class neared its end, it appeared that the class winners would finish on 4 faults, as no pair could efficiently master the pattern, until Escales and Heaven VH Bloemenhof Z took to the ring. Last to ride in the start list, Escales and the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Ilan Ferder jumped to the top of the leaderboard as the only clear round, clinching the lead spot on the scorecard. Second place was ultimately awarded to Paige Jardine and G. Power, owned by Twin Oaks Stables, Inc., while Orpen and Caddilac FS Z captured another third place finish.
Competition at the 88th Annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show will continue Wednesday, June 12, with the jumper ring highlighting the $1,500 1.40m Open Speed class, as well as a variety of classes for young horses and more experienced competitors up through the 1.40m level.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Lauren Tisbo – 1.20m Jumper winner
On Madento EG:
“He is a newer horse. I think he came in at the end of January. He’s only 7, but he is still young in his brain and his body. He still needs to develop a little more physically so I haven’t done much with him. I think I showed him in a class or two in the post-circuit at [the Winter Equestrian Festival]. I did a few classes at Old Salem then jumped him today, so he is still relatively new to me. We’re hoping he’ll develop into a horse to jump some of the bigger fences, but with young horse you never know until you get there. He has a great personality and quick reflexes. He’s a nice Thoroughbred type and he has a lot of blood, so he just needs to figure the rest out. It’s a fun project right now.”
On her plans for Madento EG:
“I plan to come back [Wednesday] and then I will go to the [Great Lakes Equestrian Festival] this summer for the 4 FEI shows – the two CSI2* weeks and the two CSI3* weeks, so he will come with my other horses and campaign there. I want to give him a little ring time but also a chance for his body to catch up with his brain.”
On the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show:
“This was my first time at Ox Ridge. I think it’s great that the community and the area supports these historical shows that have been around and are a part of the tradition of horseback riding. It’s a great opportunity and it’s nice to go to a show and have a relaxing atmosphere.”