Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 7, 2021 – Week Four of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), hosted at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, continued Sunday, February 7. Highlighting equation talent, the ASPCA Maclay class was split into two sections featuring 38 and 36 horse-and-rider combinations in each respective section. Finishing the week on a high note, it was Baylee Mckeever and Salvatore who rode away with the blue ribbon in Section B.
Hailing from New York, Mckeever and her long time partner Salvatore, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Mclain Ward, braved rainy conditions to earn the well deserved win out of a competitive field of 38. The team moved with fluidity over each obstacle, navigating the 11 fence track with ease. In the under saddle portion of the class, judges asked riders to demonstrate a sitting trot, challenging their ability to maintain their position and testing their strength.
This season marks Mckeever and Salvatore’s third WEF together as a team. Their long-time partnership was apparent in the arena as they executed their plan seamlessly. At the conclusion of the flat phase, there was no denying the smile on Mckeever’s face as she left the ring, most likely because this was the duo’s first win of the 2021 WEF season.
Placing second in Section B was Mimi Gochman and the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Kaskade, owned by Gochman Sport Horse, LLC. Receiving the third place honors for Section B was Riley Hogan and Jones, owned by Donald Stewart.
In Section A, Hensley Humphries and her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood, Imaginator, took home the top honor. Anna Robson and partner Checkland, her 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, came in second place. Eva Fisherman and Boldly Stated, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding, rounded out the top three in Section A.
Competition at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival will resume Wednesday, February 10 in the International Arena with the $6,000 Restylane 1.40m CSI 2* slated to begin at 8:00 a.m followed by the $1,000 Bainbridge 1.40m CSI 5*.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Baylee Mckeever – ASPCA Maclay Section B winner
About their ride:
“Well, he’s always good, but today I think I rode him really well. I hit the second to last jump, but that was my fault. Sal was amazing.”
About Salvatore:
“This is our third WEF together and he’s the second horse I’ve had.”
On her goals for this season:
“I would like to do well in the equitation down here. I would also love to qualify for all of the finals and hopefully place in the top 25 at one of them, too.”
RESULTS
ASPCA Maclay (Section B)
Place / Horse / Rider
1. Salvatore / Baylee Mckeever
2. Kaskade / Mimi Gochman
3. Jones / Riley Hogan
4. Ironman / Luke Jensen
5. Illusion Imperio Egipcio / Ansgar Holtgers Jr.
6. Vagrant Z / Alexandra Ryden
7. Itteville / Kat Fuqua
8. Limitless / Jordan Gibbs