Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Belgium’s Abdel Saïd made his winning debut at Traverse City Horse Shows on Friday by capturing the $117,000 CSI5*-W Welcome. The starting order for the two-round class brought 56 horses to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring as the Traverse City Tournament of Champions hosts the first of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League qualifying events this week. 

Sixteen horses advanced to Alan Wade’s (IRL) jump-off with the likes of recent Paris Olympians Mclain Ward (USA), Shane Sweetnam (IRL), Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Daniel Bluman (ISR) highlighting the start list. Saïd entered the ring on eight-year-old Calvaro after the lead changed hands from Ireland’s Conor Swail to world no. 10, Kent Farrington (USA), and then to Ward at world no. 7. The Holsteiner gelding (Cascadello x Quidam de Revel), owned by As Trading, stopped the clock and 34.07 seconds to pip Ward.

After coming back from an ankle injury that sidelined him from the summer Olympics, Saïd is back in top form. “My first plan was the Olympic games but after I broke my ankle, I really wanted to do something new. I have followed the circuit in the U.S., Major League [Show Jumping] and the shows here in Michigan and I said, ‘why not’. Normally I wouldn't be leaving Europe this time of year because we have so much going on at home, but I'm so happy I did because this is incredible and it’s nice to compete with these guys. 

“When you have Mclain and Kent, your bar has to be a bit higher or you won't win anything,” continued Saïd, currently ranked within the top 70 in the world. “[Calvaro] is only eight, and I was even doubting whether I should ride him in the class, but he jumped fantastic. I'm competitive, so I can't go into a jump-off like that and accept that I’m going to do a schooling round. I think when a horse works with you—like at the rollback to the second-to-last fence today—you need them to be a little bit freaky to take that kind of a risk.”

Ward held on for second aboard Quimi del Maset, a 10-year-old Spanish Sporthorse gelding (Quasimodo Z x Indret del Masset), owned by Sport Four USA, in 35.01 seconds. Farrington rounded out the trio in third riding his Riyadh FEI World Cup™ Final mount, Toulayna, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Toulon x Parco) owned by Rabbit Root Stables. They stopped the clock at 35.15 seconds, less than two-tenths behind Ward. 

When asked about his first time at Traverse City Horse Shows, Saïd responded, “It’s definitely my favorite here in North America by far. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, and I have American friends and clients who spoke very highly of the show, but I didn’t imagine it would be this nice, honestly. The footing, schedule and attention to horse welfare; I think it’s an incredible event.”

Calvaro is a relatively new mount for Saïd after joining his string in March. “Our relationship didn’t start on a high right away; he’s a sassy young man,” he admitted. “The first day, he tried to put me on the ground but as I got to know him that playfulness and arrogance is his quality. He believes in himself, and you can’t control him fully. We found our way together.”