North Salem, N.Y. – May 18, 2018 – Mattias Tromp of North Salem, NY, scored a hometown victory in the $5,000 Under 25 Jumper 1.45m on Friday, May 18, at the 2018 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running through May 20 at Old Salem Farm.
Tromp, 23, and Sydney Shulman, 23, of Greenwich, CT, posted the only two double-clear efforts of the day with Tromp claiming the victory by more than three seconds in a five-horse jump-off over tracks designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Tromp stopped the clock at 32.598 seconds riding Avon for owner Swede Ventures, LLC, while Shulman took second in 35.920 seconds aboard Hilgarie, owned by Jill Shulman.
Avon, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion (Quidam de Revel x Cortez 679), is a familiar mount for Tromp after adding the ride to his string in 2016, and helped him step into the international ranks.
“The horse has been a big teacher for my growth as a rider,” he said. “I did a lot of my first international classes on him and he has come through many times for me. He has given me a lot of confidence over the years and I think he was very integral in what direction my career took.”
The Under 25 division was added to the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows schedule three years ago in an effort to further revolutionize the offerings at the two-week event. The division is an innovative way to bridge the gap between the junior/amateur and professional jumper levels.
“Under 25 classes are great to practice riding well and being competitive,” said Tromp. “The more you can do outside the FEI division is like anything else; the more practice you have, the better you are going to do.”
McKayla Langmeier, 18, posted the fastest four-fault round of the day riding Laney, owned by Linda Langmeier. They crossed the timers in 33.21 seconds for third place, while Chloe Field, 24, took fourth in 36.480 seconds riding Bar Harbor V.L., owned by Hidden Brook Farm. Victoria Birdsall, 24, and Doman, owned by Liberty Farm, LLC, rounded out the top five on an eight-fault score in 34.760 seconds.
Under 25 jumper riders will return in the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Miller Motorcars, on Saturday, May 19.
Earlier in the day on Friday, Ireland’s Cormac Hanley was victorious in the $6,500 Open Jumper 1.35m riding Cora 572, owned by Heathman Farm, LLC. The $5,000 Old Salem Farm Grooms’ Class ended the day on the Grand Prix Field with Levy Reyes winning the jumper section with Air Pia VG Z, owned by Swede Ventures, LLC, and Jose Vargas taking top honors in the hunter section with Millennial, owned by Sophie Cohen.
International jumper competition returns on Saturday with the $35,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic CSI3*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. In the hunter ranks, the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion will be crowned before the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby takes center stage in the June Road Ring.
RESULTS
$5,000 Under 25 Jumper 1.45m
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / R1 Faults / R2 Faults | Time
1. Avon / Mattias Tromp / USA / 0 / 0 | 32.592
2. Hilgarie / Sydney Shulman / USA / 0 / 0 | 35.927
3. Laney / McKayla Langmeier / USA / 0 / 4 | 33.219
4. Bar Harbor V.L. / Chloe Field / USA / 0 / 4 | 36.485
5. Doman / Victoria Birdsall / USA / 0 / 8 | 34.768
6. Baloucento 2 / Ailish Cunniffe / USA / 4 | 60.723
7. Flinstone Van’t Eigenlo / Megan Mcdermott / USA / 5 | 64.508
8. Durosa W / McKayla Langmeier / USA / 8 | 60.501
9. Butterfly Tibri Z / Lindsay Douglass / USA / 8 | 62.415