Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

Nicole Shahinian-Simpson rode Akuna Mattata (Quinar x M Dragonfly) to victory in the $37,000 Restylane® 1.45m FEI Welcome class at the Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Lexington International CSI2*.

Operating under COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, the Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Lexington International CSI2* is being held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Running with approvals from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, FEI and USEF, the event will run through Sunday.

Out of the starting field of 73, Shahinian-Simpson was one of only seven to reach the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-effort, first-round course designed by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge. One rider, Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain had two of the seven and she took an early lead in the jump-off when, riding third in the order, she rode Dublin (Cobra x Caribik) clean over the 8-jump, tiebreaker course finishing with a time of 38.63 seconds. 

Shahinian-Simpson followed Mendoza on her 12-year-old, Holsteiner mare and she took over the lead with a clean ride in a blazing time of 36.53 seconds. After the next two riders faulted, Mendoza returned as the last rider with a chance to move Shahinian-Simpson out of the lead. She again rode clean but her time of 37.56 seconds on Diamants Aurora (Dirado x Chance For Ever) was a full second slower than Shahinian-Simpson's time on Akuna Mattata, leaving her in second. Mendoza also finished third with her ride on Dublin.

Split Rock’s Lexington International CSI2* is one of the first USEF and FEI sanctioned horse shows in the U.S. since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Split Rock Jumping Tour Founder and CEO Derek Braun praised the event’s participants, officials and staff for their outstanding cooperation in following the event’s protocols and guidelines, allowing the event to proceed successfully.

“I want to commend everyone for the extra effort they are putting in to ensure that our horse show remains safe for all,” Braun said. “The safety of our exhibitors and everyone involved remains our top priority and we continue to emphasize the need to closely follow all protocols and guidelines put forth by the CDC, USEF and FEI. Working together, we can set an example of how the U.S. can safely return to what we all love doing.”