Leslie Howard of the United States opened international show jumping competition at the Royal Horse Show with a win in the $35,000 International Jumper Power and Speed on Tuesday, November 8.  The CSI4*-W Royal Horse Show is held as part of the 94th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Top show jumping athletes representing Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and the home nation of Canada contested the $35,000 International Jumper Power and Speed on Tuesday afternoon, opening five days of international competition at the Royal Horse Show.

Upon successfully completing the ‘power’ phase, riders advanced to the ‘speed’ portion where the fastest time wins.  U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Leslie Howard stopped the clock in 28.82 seconds over the track set by course designer Bernardo Cabral of Portugal to take the win riding Donna Speciale over David Will of Germany, who crossed the timers in 29.72 seconds riding Monodie H in his Royal Horse Show debut.

“Obviously, it takes a lot of pressure off,” said Howard of claiming the first international victory of the week.  “It puts everything in a positive light, and that’s a great feeling.  Today was a nice 1.40m with nothing that crazy, but the course designer gave us the option of some nice inside turns that you could take a shot at.  It was a perfect course for the first time in the ring.”

Of her winning mount Donna Speciale, an eight-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare (Cavalier x Concorde) owned by Peter Howard and Laure Sudreau, Howard noted, “She is a real horse for the future.  She just has everything; she's scopey, fast, careful, game, and she loves to win.  She's just a really super horse and if she can keep doing this up through the levels then she'll be the best in the world!”

Canadian riders made an impressive showing on home soil with Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, placing third in a time of 31.75 seconds riding Thalys Z for The Thalys Group.  Two-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster of North Vancouver, BC, clocked in at 32.18 seconds riding Brighton for owner Artisan Farms, while Keean White of Rockwood, ON, rounded out the top five riding Corette, owned by Angelstone Farms, Javier Salvador, and Diamante Atelier, with a time of 32.20 seconds.

No stranger to Toronto, Howard has been competing at the Royal Horse Show for nearly three decades.

“It's special for me simply because I have a lot of great memories,” said Howard, 60, who is especially pleased to be competing for Longines FEI World Cup points at this year’s Royal.  “I'm so happy that Toronto has one of the North American League World Cup qualifiers because I think it is the best indoor show that we have; the footing is perfect, they have great course designers, the scheduling is wonderful, and they have super crowds.  It really is the best of the best.”

Howard will pilot another mount, Gentille Van Spieveld, in the $130,500 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto on Wednesday evening, November 9, which highlights international show jumping competition at the Royal Horse Show, and is a qualifying event for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Omaha, Nebraska, next spring. Howard will face stiff competition in the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto from McLain Ward of the United States and HH Azur, who have returned to The Royal to defend their 2015 title.

Ward comes into Wednesday’s competition following a win in the $35,000 Jolera International Welcome on Tuesday night riding Malou, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare.  The pair raced to victory in the one-round speed class by stopping the clock at 54.66 seconds.  2004 Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil took second with a time of 54.75 seconds riding Citizenguard Cadjanine Z, owned by himself and Alain van Campenhoudt, while Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam placed third with a time of 54.80 seconds riding Main Road for owners Seabrook LLC and Sweet Oak Farm.

Rider  Country  Horse  Time
1. Leslie Howard   United States   Donna Speciale   28.82
2. David Will   Germany   Monodie H   29.72
3. Erynn Ballard   Canada   Thalys Z   31.75
4. Tiffany Foster   Canada   Brighton   32.18
5. Keean White   Canada   Corette 32.20
6. Harrie Smolders   The Netherlands   Cicero II   33.05
7. Jos Verlooy   Belgium   Caruso 472   33.15
8. Vanessa Mannix   Calgary, AB   Winslow High   36.00
9. Rodrigo Pessoa   Brazil  Ferro Chin van het Lindenhof   36.49
10. Sharn Wordley   New Zealand   Caiman des Sequoias   36.53
11. Lauren Hough   United States   Lady Davos   36.72
12. Darragh Kenny   Ireland Charly   Brown   39.70

Source: Press release from Jump Media