Lexington, Ky. – Aug. 21, 2021 – The Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* was the lead Equitation event in the Walnut Arena on Saturday morning at the Kentucky Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Texan Eleanor Rudnicki topped a field of 12 young athletes in the competitive division. Augusta Iwasaki was awarded second place with Lion King Van’T Eigenlo and Natalie Jayne rounded out the top three on Charisma.
The Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* track, designed by Jasen Shelley, consisted of 14-efforts and included a one-stride, a triple combination, and several technical bending lines around the ring. Riders had the option to jump an open-water jump or an oxer for the fifth obstacle on the course. Following the jumping phase, all 12-riders were invited back for the flat portion of the class, bidding them one final chance to make a positive impression on the judges. Rudnicki and Linda Langmeir’s Flugel continued to impress the judges, ultimately capturing the win at the conclusion of the two phases.
Over the course of the summer, Rudnicki has had solid results at many of the top summer horse shows, including the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series, and the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic. As a working student for Barry Porter and co-trained by Linda Langmeier, the talented young equestrian seemed poised to answer all of the questions that were set forward by the course on Flugel, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding. The pair completed the course in a time of 71.140 with no penalties.
Augusta Iwasaki, riding the Orpen Horses entry of Lion King Van’T Eigenlo, was close behind Rudnicki to capture second-place honors with a time of 72.254. She also completed a beautiful round-over fence and showed off her technique in the flat portion of the class. Rounding out the top three placings were Jayne and Charisma, who is owned by Heritage Farm, who also trains Jayne.
Equitation concludes on Sunday with the Short Stirrup Equitation division that will take place in the Annex Ring and the WIHS, Dover / USEF Medal, and the USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal in the Covered Arena.
Livestream and scoring is available on www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Eleanor Rudnicki – Winner of the Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
On Flugel:
“I rode Flugel, who is owned by Linda Langmeier. I have been riding him on and off for a couple of weeks now. I love his canter and that you can gallop the jumps. He lands easily on both leads and makes my job easy.”
On the Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* course:
“I thought it was a little tricky starting with a nice oxer right away, heading away from the ingate as the first jump but the rest of it flowed nicely and allowed you to gallop. This course was all about track and pace. I thought it was a really good course.”
On her goals in the equitation division:
“My plan for this year is to be more consistent in the 3’6” Equitation and the USET classes. This fall, I plan to go to all of the finals and hopefully do well there. I really like competing in the Talent Search classes a lot because they are different and fun.”
On her trainer:
“I am a working student for Barry (Porter) and he lets me ride a couple of extra horses every day so that I can get more practice and I really appreciate that.”
RESULTS – Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / Time
1. Flugel / Eleanor Rudnicki / Linda Langmier / 0 / 71.140
2. Lion King Van’ T Eigenlo / Augusta Iwasaki / Orpen Horses / 0 / 72.254
3. Charisma / Nicole Jayne / Heritage Farm LLC / 0 / 73.814
4. Simply Stated / Hannah Hoch / Eleanor Rudnicki / 0 / 74.339
5. Quite Cassini / Tessa Downey / Ashland Farms / 0 / 74.962
6. RMF E-Boy W / Christopher Coberley / Rushy Marsh Farm LLC / 0 + 2 / 77.613
7. Inouk P / Ellie Dupuis / Trefoil Farm Inc. / 4 / 75.052
8. Hidalgo Van De Boslandhoeve / Mackenzie Carreras / Ashland Farm / 0 + 4 / 79.191
9. Uber / Eleese Shillingford / Donald Stewart / 0 + 6 / 81.493
10. Juice Wrld / Sofia Cady / Brookside Pine Farms LLC / 8 + 1 / 76.696
11. Carsandro / Sophia Gremley / Orpen Horses / 8 + 8 / 83.907