Farlinger wins twice at Summer Classic while Caledon Equestrian Park celebrates Canada 150 in style

Orangeville’s Kim Farlinger and Sher-Al Farm’s Stanley Stone claimed both the Open Welcome and the Grand Prix during the Summer Classic at Caledon Equestrian Park between June 28 to July 2.

Farlinger advanced to the jump-off with six others on Sunday (July 2) out of a starting field of 24 in the $25,000 Grand Prix – Presented by Vestrum Canada.

Farlinger and Stanley Stone — a 12-year-old Warmblood Gelding — were slotted third in the second and the pair posted a time of 40.61 seconds. No one would come close before or after.

Jacob Bell of Vestrum Canada presenting Kim Farlinger and her mount Stanley Stone the red rosette for their win of the $25,000 Grand Prix presented by Vestrum Canada

Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

“It was a great week for sure for me and for Stanley, he was really jumping fantastically well in both of the classes. He’s such a fast horse and always reliable in the jump-off knowing he’s still going to try to miss the rails even when you’re going full speed,” said Farlinger.

“I had a better order in Friday’s (Open Welcome), so I went really fast today in the jump-off knowing there were some fast riders behind me and it paid off. I think they were trying to chase Stanley and tripped over a couple.”

Mexican course designer Ana Catalina Harris Cruz put together a challenging jump-off, which only saw two of seven competitors go clear. Guelph Ontario’s Jeff Brandmaier and Jenny van het Waterblok were the other rider-horse combo to go clear, placing far behind Farlinger and Stanley Stone in second with a clear round of 49.33.

Kim Farlinger aboard Stanley Stone navigating the Course of the $25,000 Grand Prix presented by Vestrum Canada. Photo credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

“It was a tricky jump-off. A lot of turning, especially at the beginning. The first three jumps were kind of in a circle and so it’s hard to really get speed going when you have to turn so much. I think that caught a lot of the horses where they were trying to get going on the gallop and the jumps were coming up so quickly… But Stanley, he’s so quick and so catty even off the turn that you can still gallop him even around the corners,” added Farlinger.

Tottenham’s Erynn Ballard took third and fourth in the class riding EDISON P and BELLA DONNA, respectively.

Friday (June 30) saw Farlinger and Stanley Stone start off the weekend with a win the first big-money class of the show in the $10,000 Open Welcome — Presented by Horseflight.

Kim Farlinger and Stanley Stone victory galloping for their win of the $10,000 Open Welcome presented by Horseflight. Photo credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

The pair topped an impressive starting field of 31, beating out Sam Pegg and Shaia de Macheco for the red ribbon in the jump-off. Ballard also took home third and fourth in that class, this time riding EDISON P and Royal du Rouet, respectively.

There was no shortage of action in the hunter rings at the 2017 edition of the Summer Classic either, with a number notable sponsored classes on the five-day schedule.

Back at the park last week was the LongRun TB Hunter Classic Series’ EAST/WEST Challenge, featuring retired thoroughbreds competing in a new career in the hunter ring. Horses competing in the series on both the east and west coasts accumulate points throughout the season, with the leader at season’s end earning a $500 bonus provided by Chiefswood Aftercare.

Emma Kestle and her mount Soul Seeker from Stratford, Ont. claimed top prize in Saturday’s $2,000 TB Hunter Challenge — Presented by Nobleton Feed Mill and the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA).

Catherine Martin of Exclusively Equine Gifts & Decor along with Donna Ralph of LongRun present Emma Kestle and her mount Soul Seeker for the win of the $2000 Thoroughbred Hunter Challenge presented by Nobleton Feed Mill and the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA). Photo credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Cindy Phillips-Wood and Northolt took second with Daniella McLean and Eighth Wonder of the World claiming third.

The OHJA held its annual Pony Power Handy Hunter small, medium and large divisions, with the top four in each class punching their tickets to the OHJA Pony Power Finals at the Autumn Classic, running Sept. 13-17 at Caledon Equestrian Park.

Aimee Rotman and Nantucket placed first in the Large Pony Power Division, while Lauren Sauriol and Dream Maker won the Medium Pony Power leg. Elizabeth Parrish and Alexandria’s Short Notice claimed the red ribbon in the Small Pony Power Division. Visit caledonequestrianpark.com to view a full list of results and qualifiers.

The OHJA also hosted the $4,000 OHJA Junior Amateur Handy Hunter Challenge on Sunday, which saw Ella Davison and Sydney Jefferson’s Socialite beat out a field of 30 with a high score of 88 for the win.

Sydney Jefferson's Socialite with Rider Ella Davidson accept the win for the $4,000 OHJA Junior Amateur Hunter Challenge. Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Also in the hunter ring, Ride Every Stride Inc. continued its ongoing seasonal support at the Summer Classic, sponsoring five more classes in the hunter ring last week. Ride Every Stride sponsors five classes per show at Caledon Equestrian Park, providing Champions and Reserve Champions with custom soft-shell jackets as special awards. This week winners and runners-up in the Children’s Hunter, Small Hunter and Medium Pony Hunter, Large Pony Over Fences and Junior Working Hunter divisions were also awarded saddle pads along with their ribbons.

Large Pony Hunter Champion Dayz of May and rider Tatum Horan taking home the top prize. Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Caledon Equestrian Park celebrated Canada’s 150th birthday with some additional “home-of-the-brave” themed competitions and prizes on Saturday night as exhibitors and visitors enjoyed a fully-catered Canada 150 barbecue to in honour of our nation’s momentous occasion.

After wrapping Saturday’s (July 1) regular show schedule, competing barns took to the Grand Prix ring with a different kind of ride in the first-annual Canada Day “Quest for the Best” Golf Cart Decorating Challenge.

A number of teams took part, but the team of AJ McCoy/Golden Gate Equestrian stood out from the field, claiming a $500 gift certificate courtesy of CWD.

AJ McCoy/Golden Gate Equestrian-Deanna Desantis, Lauren Schickler, Tina Georges, Avery Sharp, Delany Ownens, Grave Paxton, Jenna Boucher, Claire VanBaardwjik, Ted (the Dog)

Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Second place and a complimentary stall from EMG and Caledon Equestrian Park went to the team of Darcy Hayes/Hayes Limited.

Darcy Hayes /Hayes Limited-Darcy Hayes, Kendra Martenfeld, Quincy Hayes, Madison Hayes, Emily Fisher, Erin Ugolini, Alex Ugolini, Ella Davidson, Rachel Theirault, Rachel Kup, Sarah Kim, Lexi Sermer. Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Team “Footerra” — a combo squad from Foothills Farm and Monterra Farms — won third an Edinburgh All-Wool Throw in Royal Stewart Tartan, donated by Exclusively Equine Gifts and Décor for their impressive efforts.

Team Footerra-Ruby Harris, Miranda Travers-Cavill, Jeremy Murdoch, Cathy Inch, Sydney Mascard, Lucy Cantellon, Erica Plivelic. Photo Credit: Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

The first-annual “Dressed to Impress” Award went to the team of Sloan Letimonier, Estee Letimonier, Liza Jean Brandmeir, Kiera Smith and Clay Tout, receiving a loot bag from vendors in the Equestrian Mall for their Canadian-pride-inspired fashion statements.

Dressed to Impress award recipients (Left to right):Sloan Letimonier, Liza Jean Brandmaier,Kiera Smith, Estee Letimonier and Clay Tout.

Photo Credit:Mackenzie Clark for Ben Radvanyi Photography

Next up at Caledon Equestrian Park is the first phase of the Caledon Premier running Tuesday, Jul 4 to Sunday, July 9. Check caledonequestrianpark.com for a full schedule and list of events.

Photographs may only be used one time only in relation to the above news item.

Results — Top 5 (Horse, owner/rider):

$25,000 Grand Prix Presented by Vestrum Canada (July 2) 1) Stanley Stone/Sher-Al Farm/Kim Farlinger

2) Jenny Van Het Waterblok/Knightwood Stables/Jeff Brandmaier

3) BELLA DONNA/Sagamore Farms/Erynn Ballard

4) EDISON P/Holter Leasing & Stal Hendrix Looking Back Farm/Erynn Ballard

5) Stormin'/Hyde Moffatt/Hyde Moffatt

$10,000 Open Welcome Presented by Horseflight (June 30)

1) Stanley Stone/Sher-Al Farm/Kim Farlinger

2) Shaia de Macheco/Michael Pegg/Sam Pegg

3) EDISON P/Holter Leasing & Stal Hendrix Looking Back Farm/Erynn Ballard

4) Royale du Rouet/Jake Krembil/Erynn Ballard