Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Hesed. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Press release from World Equestrian Center
A perfect Florida night set the stage for the $62,500 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*, featuring 42 top Jumping combinations from 13 nations. FEI Level IV course designer, Guilherme Jorge (BRA), crafted the winding tracks for the tonight’s qualifier which culminated in an exciting 13-horse jump-off. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.’s Bull Run’s Hesed (Christian 25 x Lord Z) clinched victory by a mere tenth of a second.
Fourteen combinations managed to jump Jorge’s first round tracks clear, and 13 opted to return for the jump-off.
Luis Sabino Goncalves and Scoop De Septon Z flying to second place. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Vanderveen guided both her mounts, Bull Run’s Jireh and Bull Run’s Hesed, to the jump-off. An unfortunate rail with Bull Run’s Jireh left her determined as she returned with Bull Run’s Hesed.
“It was a tough start because you really needed to stay inside the gazebo to be competitive, but there was a jump in the way, so it ended up being a little of a swivel. It’s handy to have a horse like him tonight because I was able to just add in a little step rather than trying the flier like I did on my other one. I almost started to go for it again, but I thought, he’s quick-footed and small, so I would still have the same speed with an extra step,” Vanderveen shared.
Vanderveen and the speedy 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding flew through the rest of the course, stopping the clock at 36.81 seconds.
Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple rounding out the top three. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
“He’s so confident. I wasn’t sure if he was going to leave the ground, and he ended up being there right with me,” Vanderveen remarked.
Bull Run’s Hesed is still a new partner for Vanderveen, “I got him in the fall of last year, so I’ve had him for the winter circuit. Right off the bat, he won a four-star grand prix qualifier and has been great. His personality is my favorite because he is a can-do man. Anything he believes he can do; he will do. Tonight, clearly proved he can fly!”
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), the last athlete to attempt the jump-off, was close behind on Sigma Stables LLC’s Scoop De Septon Z (Hunters Scendro x Echo Van T Spieveld), a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, finishing in 36.96 seconds, just a tenth of a second short.
Tracy Fenney (USA) held an early lead with MTM Farm’s 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Willemoes), clocking 37.47 seconds for a respectable third place finish.
Then