OCALA, Fla.--Chester Weber, 18-time USEF Champion Four-in-Hand, was among those awarded for his win at Live Oak International in the FEI 3* on Sunday, March 6.
Chester Weber in the conesWinning the USEF National Champion Advanced Single Pony was Jennifer Keeler with her pony Zeppo.
Taking the USEF National Champion award for Advanced Pair Pony was Katie Whaley, with Mary Phelps winning the USEF National Champion for Four-in-Hand pony.
The USEF National Champion Advanced Horse Pair went to Jacob Arnold.
Keeler’s Zeppo won the cones phase in Sindle Pony and secured the championship spot.
“It’s a remarkable story with Zeppo,"said Keeler. "He is only 11 but was diagnosed with a metabolic condition. He had a flare up three months ago, and even coming to Florida let alone competing at this National Championship which of course was the goal, was very much in doubt. So, the fact that he has rebounded to be here today, to win this, is just an incredible testimonial to the heart of this pony. We did two competitions to prepare for this, we felt confident, but it was an incredible field of competitors,” said Jennifer Keeler.
KATIE WHALEY was thrilled with her result today in the cones phase which finalized her USEF Championship for Advanced Pair Pony.
“Driving down the road to come to Live Oak International is like Christmas morning," said Whaley." They make you feel special here. My young pony, Timmy this was only his third show in his life. To bump him up here for him to go FEI, and for him to do the dressage and the cones with this atmosphere I was so thrilled. I am really excited about this young pony.”
Familiar Live Oak International competitor, Mary Phelps stepped into a different category this year competing in the Four-in-Hand Pony for the first time at the tournament and only the second time in the division ever.
“My first Live Oak International with a four in hand,"said Phelps. "When I started driving Four-in-Hand, I thought we can do this, and we also only had one event before here, and I was blessed to have my trainer here, and he coached me through the week. It was a big step, four in hand at live oak and we did it.”
Jacob Arnold brought a younger team to Live Oak International this year, but the inexperience didn’t hinder his results.
“I was super pleased; with the dressage, I used a horse that had only done one test before," said Arnold. "He honestly performed better than my more seasoned horse. To run three 7year-olds at an FEI show, and to have this result I was really pleased.”
BERTRAM ALLEN had the advantage of going last on Harley vd Bisschop and won the $216,200 CSI4* FEI Jumping World Cup in a jump-off with a time of 37.67 seconds.
Of the 30 starters, 12 went clean over the course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr.
“I’d watched the first few go in the jump-off, and I’d watched as far as Andre (Thieme), and he was fast,"said Allen. "I was following the jump off from the warmup ring, and I saw Daniel (Coyle) was very fast and was one second faster than Andre, I was a bit confused as to where he could have saved that second. My horse is naturally very fast and I just knew it was going to be hard to beat Daniel. I didn’t even know if it was going to be possible, so I just set off from the start and tried to have the best round I could. It was great to come out on top.”
Leading until the final rider and placing second was defending champion, Daniel Coyle on Legacy in a time of 38.03 seconds.
“I knew last night when I saw the start list and I saw Bertram was last to go, I knew he was looking for blood, for me beating him yesterday," said Coyle. "So, if it was a jump off situation, it was either going to be all or nothing. You can’t make a mistake in these jump offs, and even sometimes you have the best round you can have, and you don’t have enough. Today I don’t think I could do much more.”
Andre Thieme put in a solid effort aboard DSP Chakaria, finishing third with a jump-off time of 39.01 seconds.
