Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger.
Overnight leader Sharon White and her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Claus 63 (Catoo – Tina II) could afford one rail down in the show jumping phase, but they jumped around clear and in the time to secure the win at the 2023 Millbrook Horse Trials on a score of 36.2. White also finished fourth in spite of one rail down riding the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shirsheen Ice (Candy Copper – Regal Sting xx) that she co-owns with Kathleen Neuhoff and Beth Lendrum (47.9).
Will Faudree claimed both second place riding Mama’s Magic Way (Mighty Magic – Straightaway), a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Stables (41.0), and third place riding Pfun, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tadmus – Celerina), also owned by Mosing (43.3).
Arden Wildasin, who was ranked fourth after cross country, had three rails down and dropped to 13th place with Sunday Times, leaving room for Shannon Lilley and Ideal HX, who started the weekend tied for 18th place after dressage, to finish fifth overall (50.1). Out of 22 horses to start the final phase of the event, six were able to complete the course clear and within the time allowed.
White, based out of Last Frontier Farm in Summit Point, West Virginia, said, “Claus was just a rock star. I have to be careful that he’s not too lackadaisical at this point because it’s just so easy for him. This event is great because of all the people — he likes the stimulation of that — and he’s a super show jumper. He’s very competitive and that was very fun. Shirsheen Ice is a very different ride — he was much more work, but I thought he tried his little heart out. I’m just thrilled and I loved the course, and I’m so appreciative of everyone who made this event happen.”
White’s next stop will be the American Eventing Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, where Claus will competed in the Advanced Championship, and Shirsheen Ice will compete in the Intermediate.
White was thrilled to have the part owner of Jaguar Duende (Jaguar Mail – Latina), who won her Preliminary division with three rails in hand, on-site this weekend. “Sandy Niles owns part of her, and it was really fun to have her here this weekend,” she said. “She’s a super supporter of the event, and her daughter Abby was also riding.” She continued, “My good friend Beth Lendrum owns part of Shirsheen Ice — she’s instrumental at Rebecca Farm — and Kathleen Neuhoff also owns part of ‘Wolfie’, and we’re all just so excited about his future. I also have a food friend at home, Anita Antenucci, who as far as I’m concerned owns part of all my horses because she really believes in me. I won the advanced at Millbrook years ago riding The King’s Spirit, and it’s great to be back. It’s really fun to have won it again and it’s so satisfying.”
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger.
Faudree, of Southern Pines, NC, commented, “I thought the course was good. It had some challenging lines and you had to smart about it, and the time was tight. That is Pfun’s strongest phase. It’s nice to ride him first, but it’s also a bit of a double-edged sword because he gives you such a feeling of confidence. I was also really happy with ‘Mason’. I rode him a little this morning because he was a little wild yesterday and we had cooler temperatures today, and I think that really benefitted him. He had a very good warm-up and had one rub in the warm-up — I had one quiet halt and rein-back, and then he didn’t touch anything else. I’m not one to try to get them to have a rub in the warmup, but you love it when they do, especially a horse like him who’s so thoughtful and sensitive. He jumped a super round, I was really proud of him. It was a great weekend.”
The week’s hot and steamy temperatures finally cooled off after a dramatic storm yesterday evening, and the day was cool and slightly breezy. Faudree smiled, “I woke up this morning and stepped outside and thought, ‘Today is gonna be a good day, it’s 55 degrees!’. I feel like I’ve been here all summer, and today was finally fall.”
Faudree plans to run Mama’s Magic Way at the Burghley CCI5* in England next month, and Pfun will try his hand at Grand Prix show jumping in Tryon, NC, in a couple of weeks. “I think it’s fun to get experience with things like that, and he loves it,” he said. “Mason will have a holiday after Burghley, and then we’ll keep plugging away at his dressage.”
Local rider Ariel Grald led wire to wire to win the Intermediate A division riding Forrest Gump (32.8), and Allison Springer claimed the Intermediate B win riding No Way Moon (36.5).
Sharon White and Claus 63 on their way to victory in the Advanced division at the 2023 Millbrook Horse Trials. Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger and for use only with the attached press release.
About Millbrook Horse Trials
A popular social and sporting event, Millbrook Horse Trials is characterized by beautiful, natural cross country courses over spectacular countryside. If features world-class competition, top-notch social events, as well as entertainment for the whole family. The Millbrook area has a strong equestrian tradition, and the horse trials enjoys strong support from the local community. Food trucks and vendors are on-site, with a trade fair all week and the popular “Millbrook Market” set up under one large tent over the weekend. There is a petting zoo for children and an arts and crafts tent. Tailgating is available during cross country.
Sponsors include YellowFrame Farm, Goldman Sachs Gives, Danbury Porsche and Audi, Taylor Harris Insurance, HW Guernsey at Compass, Bank of Millbrook, Purina, Triple Crown, Millbrook Equine Veterinary Services and Millerton Agway as well as numerous families, farms and individual patrons.
Millbrook H.T. (Millbrook, NY): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
