WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ashlee Bond of Israel on Donatello 141won the $116,100, CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in a 18 horse jump-off on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Ashlee Bond on Donatello 141 (Photo by Sportfot)Bond, who went sixth in the jump-off, was clean in 35.20 to beat Ben Maher of Great Britain on Enjeu de Grisien, clean in 36.20, and Lorenzo de Luca of Italy on Denver de Talma placed third, clean in 36.94.
Seven of the 18 in the jump-off were clean, and 10 of the top12 placed riders were Olympians, showing the strength of the field that competed over a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio.
Bond had made a plan to have Donatello 141 peak after two months away from competition, just in time for the Saturday night CSI5* Grand Prix, now offering $500,000 in prize money.
“He is such a fighter and is feeling really good,” Bond said. “He came back for the jump-off feeling even stronger than in the first round. We’re on the right track now and hopefully Saturday he’ll come out feeling 100% fit and ready.”
Bond knew the pace would be incredibly quick in the jump-off time, and she'd be up against some of the best in the world, so she surprised even herself when she ended up on top.
“I TRY NOT to learn the jump-off until I’m in the jump-off because I do what I feel with him,” Bond said. “I went out and did my thing and I was fortunate that Kent Farrington had a rail because he was so fast. I didn’t think I was going to win. Kent was 33 seconds and I was 35. This was a pleasant surprise. We know each other so well, so I do what I feel in the moment and not take everything out before the grand prix on Saturday.”
Bond has ridden Donnie since 2018 when they debuted at the FEI level, and she plans their schedule meticulously.
“I’ve learned that if I give him too much of a break it takes me a long time to get him back into shape,” she said, having given the horse most of December and January off from showing. “I didn’t continue jumping him but I did keep him in full work. He needs four or five of these bigger classes to get his physicality back. I’m hoping he’ll be perfectly peaked for the Grand Prix.”
Donnie’s time off included ample turnout time, plus some rides from Bond’s daughter, Scottie.
“Scottie gives him turnout rides where she sits on him bareback with no halter or anything and he walks around. She sits on him in his stall for hours on end,” said Bond.
“It’s a lot of flatting and the treadmill twice a day,” she said. “He pops over small jumps once or twice a week. As the season was coming, I increased the work and did a lot of trot sets with him, which comes from my polo friends. Two days before, I’ll do sprint work to get his lungs opened up. Yesterday, I did power walking to get him to stretch.”
“It feels amazing during a five-star week with the quality of riders we have here,” she said of the win Thursday. “At this point in my career I’ve won enough to know I belong here but it’s still very validating for your program and your team and your horse. It validates that we know what we’re doing and to keep at it. This sport is so difficult and there are so many ups and downs. I’m excited for Saturday and the rest of the season.”
