WELLINGTON, Fla.--Jacob Pope on Highway FBH won the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix while Henrik von Eckermann on Glamour Girl won the $62,500, CSI4* 1.50m Classic on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Jacob Pope on Highway FBH (Photo by Sportsfot)Pope had both his parents and barn family supporting him ringside.
“This is my first win at WEF,” said Pope, who was originally from Maryland but who now bases out of Wellington and Traverse City, Mich. “The best I’d done before was second in a WEF Challenge Cup so it’s really special to win, especially with such a great crowd of family and supporters here.”
Among his cheering squad were his parents, his aunt, the horse’s owner, plus his group of students and barnmates.
“I always joke that my mom and dad are my good luck charms,” Pope said. “I won my first grand prix on my dad’s birthday and my second grand prix they were there. Now they’re here today and I won.”
Pope was one of 10 to go clean over Peter Grant’s course and was also clean in the jump-off in 40.19 seconds for the win.
JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN on Naomi van het Keizershof was last to go in the jump-off, and she barely missed Pope’s leading time by three tenths of a second to place second while Gabriela Reutter of Chile on Maharees Rock was third in a time of 41.25 seconds.
Pope credits much of the success in Sunday’s jump-off to his training with 1986 World Champion Katie Prudent and partner Henri, which began last summer and has continued now that they are all back in Wellington together.
During the course walk, Katie suggested everywhere Pope could make up time, and he went out and executed her plan.
“It’s been amazing; I’ve learned a lot,” Pope said of working with the Prudents, who are based out of Virginia when not in Wellington. “We’ve been working on turns and tidying up the end of the ring and going fast, which I think really paid off today. Katie puts a lot of trust and positivity in her coaching. Highway felt amazing and Katie’s plan helped it come together today.”
Pope is one of many trainers at the show that not only has a busy riding schedule but also a packed show schedule for students he trains, which means he never stops moving throughout a show day, even when he has a big class to compete in himself.
“I did have a kid in the small ponies today, as well as junior hunters and other jumper classes, and honestly keeping me going I think helps me focus,” he said of how his routine prepares him for the big moments. “If I waited around all day for one class I think I’d be nervous. I like to try to follow the plan and be as good as I can, so it’s better to keep me busy.”
Earlier on Sunday, world no 1 Henrik Von Eckermann of Sweden on Glamour Girl pulled off a hat-trick as he won the $62,500 CSI4* 1.50m Classic, his third win in as many starts at WEF.
Von Eckermann beat an field of 16 in the jump-off contenders.
He went second to last and finished clean in 35.35, a full second fast than second placed Mark Bluman of Columbia on S&L Maracana’, clean in 36.49. and Great Britain's Ben Maher on his Olympic mount Dallas Vegas Batilly, was third, clean in 36.50.