Paul O'Shea and Imerald Van't Voorhof won the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group for the second consecutive year. Photo © SEL Photography.
Press release from Old Salem Farm
After clinching the win in the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group in 2023, Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Imerald Van’t Voorhof successfully defended their title at the 2024 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, posting the fastest double-clear time of 37.25 seconds.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are one of the premier stops on the nation’s hunter-jumper horse show circuit, offering a full schedule of world-class competition May 7-12 and May 14-19 that features the nation’s best in equestrian sport.
Of the 33 entries representing seven countries to ride clear over Alan Wade’s 16-effort, 1.50m course in Sunday’s Grand Prix, only seven made it to the jump-off to vie for top honors. The penultimate rider to return, O’Shea blazed his way into the top spot aboard Imerald Partners LLC’s 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding in 37.25 seconds, knocking previous leader Carly Anthony (USA) into second.
Paul O'Shea and Imerald Van't Voorhof. Photo © SEL Photography.
“We just gave it everything we had,” O’Shea said. “I wasn’t able to watch any of the other riders go, so we just had to stick to our plan, which was to give it everything we could. Imerald jumped fantastic. He’s good against the clock and very good at the turns because of his experience. He’s always looking for the next fence, so it’s a lot easier with a horse like him. Mark Bluman was after me, and he’s extremely fast, so I was definitely worried about that. I just did what Imerald could do comfortably and hoped it would be enough.
“I am showing next week, but Imerald won’t be,” he added. “We only jump him about once a month now. He’s only done four grand prix this year, but he’s won two of them. We’re very delighted with him. He’s such a great horse.”
Taking second-place honors, Anthony tripped the timers on a speedy 37.50-second round with Heavenly W, Portfolio Horses LLC’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Adding another podium finish to his record for the week, Darragh Kenny (IRL) rode Heathman Farm LLC’s 17-year-old Holsteiner stallion VDL Cartello into third on a score of 38.20 seconds.
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