Press release from Old Salem Farm, edited by World of Showjumping

The 2025 Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank kicked off on Wednesday with a speedy victory by Nayel Nassar (EGY), who set an early time to beat in the $32,000 CSI4* 1.45m Two-Phase. He and longtime class leader Dorado de Riverland (Untouchable M x Argentinus) ultimately proved uncatchable, bringing home the win with a double-clear score of 24.26 seconds. 

With the beautiful backdrop of Westchester County’s surrounding horse country, the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank feature two weeks of world-class competition on par with what everyone has come to expect from Old Salem Farm. The 2025 Shows host an CSI4*/2* event, September 9-14, and an CSI2* event, September 16-21, with both weeks rated USEF ‘National’ for hunters. Additionally, Old Salem’s September schedule includes the ASPCA Maclay Region II Championship on Saturday, September 13, and a USEF National/Level 2 event, September 24-28.

Course designer Alan Wade (IRL) welcomed 44 entries representing 12 countries with a 15-effort track set at 1.45m in Wednesday’s $32,000 CSI4* two-phase. Nassar and Evergate Stables LLC’s 12-year-old Selle Français gelding made short work of the course, posting a 24.26-second time that none of the 14 other riders who put in faultless rounds could beat. 

“It was a good start to the week for sure,” Nassar said. “I won on Dorado, who’s kind of my specialist for these classes. He’s extremely fast, so it really becomes about leaving the jumps up and finding the neatest track possible. The leave-out to the last (fence) was a long way for him, but I knew that if I didn’t do it, I’d probably be off the time. I went early enough in the class that I figured we could take the risk, and it paid off today. He jumped awesome."

“I also jumped Donvier in this class just to get his feet wet,” Nassar added. The 13-year-old BE/SIES gelding (Don VHP x Andiamo Z), owned by Evergate Stables LLC placed fifth with a double-clear score of 25.34 seconds. “I’ll jump him in the qualifier tomorrow, and then I have a third horse here who’s a bit new to me. He’ll go tomorrow and then hopefully in the Grand Prix if he feels good. Being here is great; it’s such a lovely show, and there’s so much to do. We’ll find the right spots for these horses and see what else we can pick up.” 

Chasing Nassar in second place was Ireland’s Paul O’Shea, who stopped the clock in 24.60 seconds aboard Squirt Gun (Diarado x Quick Star), Eye Candy Jumpers’ 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Luis Fernando Larrazabal of Venezuela finished third in 24.90 seconds aboard Baroness (Balous Bellini x Polydor), LeeAnn Ablin’s 10-year-old Westphalian mare.