Edited press release from Upperville Colt & Horse Show

McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y. piloted Sport Four USA, LLC’s Quimi del Maset (Quasimodo Z x Indret del Maset) to victory in the $226,000 FEI CSI 4* Upperville Jumper Classic at the 170th Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by MARS Equestrian™.  Ethel M chocolates and Lugano Diamonds were co-presenting sponsors of the Jumper Classic, the signature event of the week. Canadian rider Tiffany Foster secured second place riding Artisan Farms’ Figor (VDL Groep Zagreb x C-Indoctro) while Katie Dinan finished third with her own Brego R’N B (Namelus R x Gerlinus). 

“He’s a very exciting new horse we acquired at the end of last year,” explained Ward of the 9-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding. “We brought him along a little bit slowly in Florida, got to know him, and so far he’s been spectacular.”

“He’s already done some impressive things and I am lucky to have a great group behind me; Mrs. Parsky, Mrs. Johnson, Susie Heller and Mike Smith,” Ward continued. “We were kind of trying to see a horse for Paris next year and we are excited about him.”

Cathleen Driscoll of Middleburg received the Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur, for accumulating the most points in FEI classes the week of the horse show. 

UCHS is the oldest horse show in the U.S. Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with more than 2000 equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm.