NORTH SALEM, N.Y.--McKayla Langmeier on Pepita VD Rollebeek won the $32,000 FEI 1.45m Two-Phase on Thursday, May 7 to begin the CSI3* competition at the first of two Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.

McKayla Langmeier on Pepita VD Rollebeek (Photo by SEL Photography)Half of the class of 50 entries were clean over phase one to go on to phase two over the course set by Alan Wade of Ireland.

Langmeier was the fastest of those going on to phase two, finishing in 24.29 seconds to win over Mark Bluman of Colombia on S&L Eyes 4U, clean in 24.92 to place second.

Cousin Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W was fourth, clean in 25.08, with Mark also finishing fourth on S&L Haquinsa, clean in 25.45.

Jessie Springsteen on Naomi van het Kiezershof, clean in 25.88, placed fifth, and McLaim Ward on Le Louvre 5, clean in 26.00m was sixth.

Going early in the order,, three-time Olympian and World #14 Daniel Bluman set the time to beat at 25.08 seconds, which held through most of the class.

 

LANGMEIER was among the last 10 competitors, breaking the 25 second barrier and ultimately winning in 24.29 seconds when Mark Bluman, second to last to go, just missed her time to finish second.

“The plan today was to go for it,” Langmeier said. “I knew I had a very big stride, and my horse is quite deceivingly fast. She may not look it, but then you look at the clock, and you’re like, ‘Whoa!’ I think that definitely showed up today."

“I’ve had this mare since she was 7,” she said. “I’ve developed her into jumping the 1.60m, but she’s really taken her niche in these classes where she can just go fast.”