Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 12, 2021 – The rain clouds built up over Wellington during Friday morning’s Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search during Week Five of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Things brightened up for Alida Treuting and Guardian, as they left the ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a blue ribbon in hand. Following behind Treuting, Maya Aryal and RA placed second while Blythe Goguen and Fanadwest Rebel came in third.
The course tested 16 horse-and-rider combinations over a series of 10 fences, including a triple combination and a liverpool. Judges were looking for athletes to complete the course in under 68 seconds while keeping the fences intact throughout the track. A total of 12 competitors were asked to return for the flat phase of the competition, with the cut-off score being 72. The riders were expected to demonstrate correct position and seat as they navigated their horses through a variety of skills including lengthening of stride at both the trot and canter and a counter canter on both leads.
Treuting and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc, went into the flat phase of competition with an impressive lead, scoring an 88 over fences. The duo has only been together for four weeks, but their partnership looked effortless and synchronized. With a score of 84.5 following the over fences portion of the class, Aryal demonstrated superb equitation during the flat portion of the competition aboard her 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding to advance into the second place position overall. Goguen, who earned a score of 86 in the jumping portion of the competition, dazzled the judges with her flat performance aboard the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Parker Cliff managed to keep their place.
Competition during Week Five of the Winter Equestrian Festival will continue Saturday, February 12th, kicking off in the International Ring with the $15,000 SJHOF 1.45m High Amateur Owner Jumper Classic at 7:30am.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE:
Alida Treuting – Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search winner
On her ride:
“I was really happy with my ride! [Guardian] is a greener horse, and I’m the first one that’s showing him in the equitation and he was awesome when it came to figuring out the course.”
About their partnership:
“I started riding [Guardian] this winter when I first got to Florida, so it’s been four weeks now. I’m hoping to keep winning and I’m going to keep working with him and as many other horses I get the chance to ride.”
About managing online school during WEF:
“I have to check in for the classes online, so I’ll be working around the barn or riding and then check in for the class and then keep going. I get all of my schoolwork done at night so I can be at the barn during the day.”
About how the pandemic has affected her show schedule:
“It’s definitely affected the way that we do things. It’s also given me the opportunity to come down here this winter because normally I wouldn’t be able to leave school for this long, so just as much as it has changed things negatively, it has also given me this opportunity.”
RESULTS
Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search
Place / Horse / Rider
1. Guardian / Alida Treuting
2. RA / Maya Aryal
3. Fanadwest Rebel / Blythe Goguen
4. Simply Stated / Hannah Hoch
5. Uber / Libbie Gordon
6. Conthacco / Emmanuelle Greenberg
7. Castellan W / Audrey Schulze
8. Calberon B / Layla Kurbanov
9. Travis Scott / Eleanor Rudnicki
10. Quathageno / Emily Dehoff
11. Campreoll / Avery Glynn
12. Carmelo / Tessa P. Brown