Lexington, Ky.—April 28
The show jumpers got a taste of what it feels like to be an eventer riding into a packed stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park when the first ever grand prix show jumping competition took place after Saturday’s cross-country phase.
The inaugural $225,000 Kentucky invitational CSI*** Grand Prix pulled 10,000 spectators to witness the winning-round format class. The crowd got super into the rounds, cheering riders as they galloped to the final fence and gasping and groaning at the efforts and faults, ultimately cheering Santiago Lambre to victory aboard Dingeman.
Two clear rounds gave Santiago Lambre the win with Dingeman. Photo by Ann Glavan.
“I’ve never competed in an atmosphere like this; it’s incredible,” said second-place finisher in the class, Eve Jobs. “They filled the stadium; I’ve never seen it like that, and seeing the eventing earlier in the day—it’s just do fun to see another discipline.”
Equestrian Events Inc., the production company behind the Kentucky Three-Day Event, brought Derek Braun’s Split Rock Jumping team in to run the CSI*** class. In previous years the three-day event has slotted other performances in after cross country, like a concert or a reining competition, but this is the first year they’ve tried an FEI-recognized show jumping class.
Young rider Eve Jobs took second with Venue D’fees Des Hazalle. Photo by Ann Glavan.
“We have continued to look for things that spectators believe is a value add to their tickets, and show jumping seems to be that thing,” said Stewart Perry, president of EEI. “My board that elected me in this position said look for something, and we’ll see what works. The concert worked; reining worked, but show jumping seems to not just work but be an outstanding addition.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled we were; we were counting heads; we wanted to know how many people were there,” Perry continued. “It was incredible; this was just fantastic.”
Braun’s team has hosted FEI-recognized horse shows at his farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and recently expanded to hosting events at facilities in Ohio and California.
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“I’m just glad that my team is experienced enough at this point in our progression to be able to execute an event of this caliber,” Braun said. “I hope this continues into the future, because this is an event that can really progress our sport forward and educate our fans and be able to make something even more exciting for people in this area.”
In the winning-round format competition, the top 10 first round rides regardless of faults were invited back to jump off against the clock, and Lambre and Dingeman were fastest by nearly a full second.
“The last time I was a show like this, with this atmosphere; it was Aachen [Germany],” Lambre said. “This was awesome.”
Lambre’s horse, Dingeman, has been in his barn since he was a 4-year-old, so Lambre knows the horse quite well.
“This is the first time he has been in front of a crowd like that,” Lambre said of the 10-year-old gelding. “He is very spooky, yesterday [in the opening speed class]; I had two down because he was spooky, but today he was braver.”
Perry said there is no official contract to host the grand prix again next year, but said EEI is strongly looking at hosting it again in 2019.
The stands were packed as Conor Swail rode Rubens LS La Silla to third. Photo by Ann Glavan.
Jonathan McCrea jumped two clear rounds to take fourth with Aristoteles V. Photo by Ann Glavan.
Samuel Parot and Thriller P rounded out the top five. Photo by Ann Glavan.
