OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on I Adermie R 4 won the 40,000 1.45m CSI3* Speed on March 1, the first day of FEI competition at the World Equestrian Center - Ocala.
Aaron Vale on I Adermie R 4 (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The WEC is a world class facility, but, because of the USEF mileage rule and due to its location in Ocala next to HITS, it operated without recognition when it opened but has finally been awarded limited USEF and FEI recognition.
The win was an emotional one as I Adermie R 4 is owned by Lori Osterstock, who died the morning of his win.
"This morning Lori Osterstock passed away after fighting a long battle with cancer," said officials at WEC. "The World Equestrian Center – Ocala sends condolences to family, friends and the Vale family for their loss."
“It’s been an emotional day for everyone at the barn," said Vale. "While I was on course with Adermie R 4 I got jumped loose through the last combination, and I think Lori pushed me back on. She was my guardian angel and flew with us through that course today.”
WHEN VALE entered the arena on I Adermie R 4, he was leading the class on his other mount Cristo Beech on a time of 63.67.
“I was a hair wide from two to three on ‘Cristo’ which maybe left a little crack of the door open, but I felt like he had a super round,” said Vale.
“On ‘Adermie’ I was a bit more aggressive and caught the first fence coming forward," said Vale. "I think that was the difference. She is a little bit of a smaller strided horse, so when everyone does seven, the horse with the smaller stride is faster. Then I caught the wall on a really nice angle."
Vale and the ten-year-old KPWN mare finished in 62.64 seconds to win.
“As always, there was fresh material out in the arena," said Vale. "The jumps today were so beautiful – the prettiest I have ever seen in America and anywhere I have been in the world. It’s fabulous the way they are able to keep new jumps coming to keep the ring a bit fresh for the horses that continuously show here. All of my horses were incredible today and rose to the occasion. I know Lori was cheering me on the entire time.”
Vale held the first and second places until Canada’s Jacqueline Steffens Daly on finished in 63.47 seconds to place second and bump Cristo Beech to third.
Olympian Santiago Lambre of Brazil on Casey won the $6,000 1.40m CSI3* Speed, the first international class of the day as seven different nations were represented over Ireland's Alan Wade’s opening speed track.
“It was a perfect course for an opening class," said Lambre. "Many riders enter this class to give their horses a chance in the ring and have a nice school. Casey has been in this arena many times, so I was able to take some inside turns and go quick, but I didn’t want to do anything too crazy.”
Lambre and the 13-year-old Hanoverian mare finished in 60.89 seconds.
Lambre entered both of his top mares, Casey and J’Adore Van Het Klinkhof in this week’s FEI CSI3* competition.
“Both mares will jump Thursday night in the $50,000 Welcome Prix CSI3*, and then I will decide who jumps on Saturday night,” said Lambre. “I am looking forward to the rest of the week, the ring looks great and the new jumps are beautiful.”
Peter Petschenig of Austria on It’s The Senator 111 placed second, finishing in 65.16 seconds.
Chloe Reid on Luis P stopped the clock just one tenth of a second off second place in 65.22 seconds to ultimately finish third.
