1st place CCI3*-S: Sara Sellmer and PDQ Leigh (Kamloops B.C.) Photo by Aaron Sonego.
Aspen Farms H.T. took place last weekend in Yelm, Washington, against a backdrop of tall pines, sapphire blue skies and vistas of a snow-covered Mount Ranier. The event is a no-miss for Area VII eventers, and the FEI divisions in particular drew a good-sized starter list: the CCI3*-S had 22 entries and the CCI2*-S had 23. It was a dynamic competition, with the winners of both jumping their way up the scoreboard from start to finish.
In the CCI3*-S, Sara Sellmer and PDQ Leigh rose from eighth after dressage to fifth after show jumping, then posted a cross country double clear to secure the top spot. They won on a final score of 32.7, ahead of second-placed Leah Breakey with Master Class on 34.7 and third-placed Samantha Pritchard with King’s Landing on 35.3.
CCI3*-S top three, with thanks to Aaron Sonego for the great photos!
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- 1st place CCI3*-S: Sara Sellmer and PDQ Leigh (Kamloops B.C.) Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- Leah Breakey and Master Class. Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- 3rd place CC!3*-S: Samantha Pritchard and King’s Landing (Cochrane, AB). Photo by Aaron Sonego.
For Sara, of Kamloops, British Columbia, Aspen Farms H.T. marked the one-year anniversary of her relationship with the 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Quite Easy x Ennie, by Escudo I).
“I acquired the ride on PDQ Leigh at Aspen last year,” she says. “He is owned by Jil Walton, and her and her team produced him to Prelim then I got the ride on him. He is by the stallion Quite Easy, and he is! He attaches to his person, and I am lucky to be that person now.”
Sara and “Q” won the Advanced division at The Spring Event at Woodside in Woodside, California last month and had top 10 CCI3*-S placings at Galway Downs and Fresno Park this spring.
1st place CCI3*-S: Sara Sellmer and PDQ Leigh (Kamloops B.C.) Photo by Aaron Sonego.
“The weekend went really well,” Sara says of Aspen. “His dressage test was not what I was hoping only because we lost the marks in the canter because he was showing off his great flying changes! The trot work was super. He produced a double clear showjumping round which we have been working on. His cross country was stellar, fast and confident.”
“We now have our sights set on the CCI4*-S at Rebecca Farm,” says Sara, who last contested the level in 2016 with TF Kriesler. “It feel amazing to be back at the top of the sport with such a super partner and fantastic support team in Jil and her group.”
1st place CCI2*-S: Kayla Dumler and Faramir (Enumclaw, WA). Photo by Aaron Sonego.
The Aspen Farms CCI2*-S was bested by Kayla Dumler and Faramir, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Capitalimprovement x Princess Malaga, by Zuppardo’s Prince) owned by the rider. The pair completed their first CCI2*-S together at Galway Downs in March and have had top placings in Prelim horse trials.
The pair jumped from 9th after dressage into 5th and finally 1st, finishing on their dressage score of 32.7. The jumping phases proved influential to the standings: the top three finishers all posted double-clears. Second place went to Whitney Shapiro and Eridani on a score of 35.6; 3rd went to Elizabeth Linde and Pie and Ice Cream on a score of 41.7.
CCI2*-S top three:
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- 1st place CCI2*-S: Kayla Dumler and Faramir (Enumclaw, WA). Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- 2nd place CCI2*-S: Whitney Schapiro and Eridani (Everett, WA). Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- 3rd place CCI2*-S: Elizabeth Linde and Pie and Ice Cream (Washougal, WA). Photo by Aaron Sonego.
The Open Preliminary A division was won by Mikayla Hoffman and Eli on a score of 31.3; Open Preliminary B was won by Madison Langerak and Normandy’s Kivalo on a score of 24.1.
Open Prelim A top three:
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- 1st place Open Preliminary A: Mikayla Hoffman and Eli. Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- 2nd place Open Preliminary A: Sara Sellmer and Burleigh Grimes. Photo by Aaron Sonego.
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- 3rd place Open Preliminary A: Caitlin Miller and Iron Will. Photo by Aaron Sonego.
View complete results for Aspen Farms H.T. here.
CCI3*-S Final Top 10:
CCI2*-S Final Top 10:
Aspen Farm Horse Trial Division Winners:
Open Intermediate: Stephanie Goodman & Drs Resolute (32.5)
Open Preliminary A: Mikayla Hoffman & Eli (31.3)
Open Preliminary B: Madison Langerak & Normandy’s Kivalo (24.1)
Jr. Training: Madelyn Myers & Bare Necessities (34.5)
Open Training: Marc Grandia & Rubel (27.2)
Training Horse: David Adamo & Solaguayre California (26.4)
Training Rider: Bobbie Smith-Ede & Winston (28.8)
Jr. Novice: Lilly Linder & Mia San Mia (23.3)
Novice Amateur: Tracy Stein & Apollo (29.2)
Novice Horse: Jennifer Dunzelman & Hardscrabble Salem (30.2)
Novice Rider: Piper Newman & Ferngully (30.0)
Beginner Novice Horse: Jordan Linstedt & Lovely Lola (25.0)
Beginner Novice Rider: Karen King & Deadwood Sage (41.5)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Makenna Henry & Danciana (31.8)
