Ocala, FL – The WEC Grand Area at World Equestrian Heart – Ocala was buzzing with power as exhibitors and spectators gathered for the $75,000 Barnwalkers Grand Prix throughout Week II of the 2024 November Present Collection. An exciting seven-horse jump-off had the gang on the sting of their seats, culminating in a dramatic end when last-to-go Richard Spooner (USA) clinched the win aboard Molly Ohrstrom’s Halcon.
FEI Stage III course designer Oscar Soberon (USA) set difficult tracks for a aggressive discipline of 29 horse-and-rider mixtures. Riders from ten totally different nations competed, however the jump-off got here all the way down to a battle between Eire, the USA, and Australia.
Robert Blanchette (IRL) was the primary to go and set the bar excessive, piloting Ridersmith LLC’s speedy 13-year-old Westphalian mare, Chardonnay (Comme II Faut 5 x Quinni Van Het Rozenhof) to a blazing time of 36.752 seconds. Many thought his effort would stay unbeatable.
Richard Spooner (USA) made it to the jump-off with two mounts: Lyjanair (Lyjanero x Villa), a brand new companion owned by Present Leaping Syndications Int’l, and Halcon (Con Air 7 x Jota-e Calista), a horse he’s developed since he was 4. Watching Blanchette’s spherical, Spooner adjusted his technique: “Whenever you watch somebody go that quick, there isn’t a plan anymore—it’s simply how briskly can I get from one timer to the following?” Spooner guided the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding to a quick spherical, stopping the clock at 37.117 seconds, simply shy of the lead.
A number of riders tried however couldn’t greatest Blanchette’s time. As the ultimate competitor, Spooner entered the world aboard his second mount Halcon, a horse he’s produced from leaping a 1.10m in Jumper 1 to profitable aggressive grand prix occasions in the course of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Present Collection.
“Coming again on Halcon, once more, I couldn’t actually have a plan. I didn’t suppose I might go any quicker as a result of Robert was so quick. I imply, on Lyjanair, I used to be simply kicking your entire time. After I got here in on Halcon, I believed, ‘If I can stick with the identical numbers, I can journey quicker,’ as a result of Halcon has a shorter stride than Lyjanair. After hitting that triple bar, I needed to fly to get the eight, which meant I used to be most likely up half a second from my earlier time. Then, I got here a bit tighter to the mix, on an angle, and sharper out. I actually put the hammer down throughout the center—it felt like I used to be in a distinct space code,” he joked. “The six to the oxer was a no brainer, and I simply saved going, ready for the final oxer, which he gave an unimaginable effort.”
With a exceptional time of 36.156 seconds, Spooner and the gifted nine-year-old Argentinian Sport Horse stallion took the win.
Richard Spooner and Halcon proudly obtain their first-place awards, offered by Whitney Grabe of Barnwalkers and Bart Kenis, proprietor of Barnwalkers. Picture by Andrew Ryback Pictures
Spooner couldn’t have been prouder of his horses. “I’m elated. To really feel an animal get dialed in and battle as exhausting as they’ll to leap clear, all whilst you’re saying, ‘go quicker, go quicker, go quicker,’ they usually simply do it—it’s fairly invigorating.”
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) earned the Quickest 4-Faulter Award aboard Vick Du Croisy, posting a swift first-round time of 72.756 seconds with one rail down.
Ben Taylor (GBR) was honored with the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
Watch the profitable jump-off.
$75,000 Barnwalkers Grand Prix Outcomes
Discover the day by day class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and last outcomes on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, try Ryegate.Stay.
Pictures courtesy of Andrew Ryback Pictures.Movies obtainable at ClipMyHorse.TVMake positive to go to the WEC Weblog and observe us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full protection on all function courses! Plan your keep at World Equestrian Heart – Ocala.
