Taylor St. Jacques Claims $5,000 Equitation Challenge at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows

Eighteen-year-old Taylor St. Jacques of Glen Allen, VA, won the $5,000 Equitation Challenge on Saturday, May 13, at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running May 9-14 and May 16-21 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Also earning victories on Saturday, Sydney Shulman (USA) won the $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe, riding Quidam 13, and Early August, ridden by Katie Robinson, was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion.

After leading both rounds of competition, St. Jacques’ two scores of 86 and 88.5 were combined for a 174.5 total. She piloted Charisma under the tutelage of trainers Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith of Heritage Farm based in Katonah, NY.

“He was absolutely perfect,” said St. Jacques of the Heritage Farm-owned mount. “We came into the first round and as soon as I walked in the ring, I could feel he wanted to win. He was on his absolute best behavior, and he did everything I asked so perfectly.

“The second round felt exactly the same,” continued St. Jacques, who returned last to go in the second round carrying the highest score out of 18 riders. “I think he knows when he is coming back on top because he walked in and he was game. I could not have asked for him to be any better.”

A single point behind St. Jacques in Saturday’s event was Samantha Cohen of New York, NY, who finished second on a score of 173.5. Caroline Dance of West Chester, PA, pocketed a score of 171.25 to finish third, while Alexandra Pielet of Highland Park, IL, claimed fourth on 170.5. After winning the Equitation Challenge in 2016, Madison Goetzmann of Skaneateles, NY, earned a fifth-place ribbon with a score of 169.

Now in her last year as a junior rider, St. Jacques will make one final bid for year-end equitation finals, saying, “My biggest goal for my final year would be to win at all the major equitation finals.”

St. Jacques, who was seventh in the 2017 Equitation Challenge, is competing at the 2017 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with hunter, equitation, and jumper mounts.

“This venue is gorgeous,” she said. “I love showing out on the grass for the jumpers, but everything is so stunning and I really like being here.”

Sydney Shulman Races to Win $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe

Sydney Shulman, 22, of Greenwich, CT, had the speed to top the $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe, on the Grand Prix Field on Saturday. She rode Quidam 13, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Bogegardens Quattro x Carano), owned by her mother Jill Shulman.

Shulman and Quidam 13 finished the faults-converted speed derby track built by Ken Krome of Westminster, MD, fault-free in 75.705 seconds for their first derby win. McLain Ward (USA) and Balando, owned by Signe Ostby, finished second with a clear trip in 76.259 seconds for second place. Adrienne Iverson (CAN) was third in 79.870 seconds riding Analyze This for owner Kimberly Jakubowski, and Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) took fourth riding Raia d’Helby, owned by Starlight Farms, LLC, with one rail for a final time of 81.683 seconds. Ward also rounded out the top five aboard his own Bijou du Pont Rihen on four faults for a final time of 82.315 seconds.

Shulman has had the ride on Quidam 13 for five years after purchasing the mount as an eight-year-old.

“He was my first young rider horse, my first grand prix horse, and I know him really well,” said Shulman. “He is probably the bravest horse I have ever had in my life, and his stride is enormous, so in this big open field he is so game for whatever I ask.

“I looked up at the clock at 55 seconds and knew I was on it,” continued Shulman. “But, he bucked after the grob and it made the eight [strides] in the last line look super far away, but his stride is so huge that he made it up easily.”

Shulman and her mother Jill’s Back Country Farm has 28 horses competing at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and Sydney feels right at home, saying, “I grew up showing here. I showed my first small pony here, and it is like our own home show. We love it here!”

Also taking place on Saturday, Early August, ridden by Katie Robinson of Bronxville, NY, was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion. After also winning a Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship earlier in the week, Robinson again found success in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Division. She and Early August won the under saddle and the handy, and picked up first and second-place ribbons over fences to be named Champion and claim the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship.

Jumper competition continues Sunday with the featured $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by The Kincade Group, taking the spotlight on the Grand Prix Field at 1 p.m. ET. In hunter competition, the Grand Pony, Children’s, and Junior Hunter Champions will be crowned.

Spectators are welcome at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. General admission to Old Salem Farm is free Wednesday through Friday. On the weekends of May 13-14 and 20-21, admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets are available at OldSalemFarm.net.

Stay informed on the happenings at Old Salem Farm this spring with live streaming of the Grand Prix Field Friday through Sunday during the Spring Horse Shows at www.oldsalemfarm.net. Old Salem Farm and Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are also on Facebook, as well as on Twitter and Instagram as @oldsalemfarmny. Follow for an exclusive and behind-the-scenes look at the Old Salem Farm experience.

Final Results: $5,000 Equitation Challenge

1 Taylor St. Jacques
Charisma, Heritage Farm, Inc.
86+ 88.5 = 174.5

2 Samantha Cohen
Kaskade, Samantha Cohen
85.5+88 = 173.5

3 Caroline Dance
Braavos, Bryan Baldwin & Meralex Farm, Inc.
84.25+87 = 171.25

4 Alexandra Pielet
Common Sense, Co-Pielet, LLC
84.5+86 = 170.5

5 Madison Goetzmann
Stallone, Madison Goetzmann
83+86 = 169

6 Daisy Farish
Carlo, Heritage Farm, Inc.
82.5+84 = 166.5

7 Lolly McLellan
Play It Again, Lolly McLellan
85+77 = 162

8 Sara McCloskey
Action Painting, Sara McCloskey
84+77 = 161

9 Sophie Transou
Watch Me, Sophie Transou
81.5+77 = 158.5

10 Hayley Mairano
Everton, Hayley Mairano
80+78 = 158

11 Isabella Bleu Baxter
Gin Fizz 67, Lakeview, Inc.
82+75.5 = 157.5

12 Coco Fath
Catachi, Hillside Farm, LLC
81+76 = 157

Final Results: $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe

1 QUIDAM 13: 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding by Bogegardens Quattro x Carano
SYNDEY SHULMAN (USA), Jill Shulman: 0/75.705 = 75.705

2 BALANDO: Dutch Warmblood gelding by Burggraaf x Jasper
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Signe Ostby: 0/76.259 = 76.259

3 ANALYZE THIS: 2004 Hannoverian gelding by El Bundy x Hengst N. Einget
ADRIENNE IVERSON (CAN), Kimberly Jakubowski: 0/79.87 = 79.87

4 RAIA D’HELBY: 2005 Selle Français mare by Fergar Mail x Papillon Rouge
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms, LLC: 4/77.683 = 81.683

5 BIJOU DU PONT RIHEN: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Radco D Houtveld x Pluriel
MCLAIN WARD (USA), McLain Ward: 4/78.315 = 82.315

6 E-BOY W: 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Mr. Blue x Phin Phin
DEVIN RYAN (USA), Devin Ryan: 0/82.460 = 82.460

7 HARAKIN Z: 2009 Zangersheide gelding by Hardrock Z x Caledo
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Jordan Coyle: 8/76.224 = 84.224

8 INNOCENT NINA: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare by Quadrillo
FILIP DE WANDEL (BEL), Five Way Farm, LLC: 4/81.878 = 85.878

9 RICO S: 2003 Warmblood gelding
ANDREW KOCHER (USA), Lexi Mulkey: 4/87.050 = 91.050

10 ALEXANDRIA: 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Corland x Ahorn Z
GABRIELLE HERO (USA), Pebble Lane, LLC: 4/87.545 = 91.545

11 CLEARWATER 5: 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Clearway x Carry
SARA DEES (USA), Sara Dees: 4/96.538 = 100.538

12 WASHINGTON SQUARE: 2005 KWPN gelding by Quattro B x Nimmerdor
VASCO FLORES (PUR), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 12/96.140 = 108.140