The stage was set on the beautiful afternoon of July 14, 2024, for the $30,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix at the HITS Vermont Summer Festival. Top jumper riders donned their white breeches as they prepared to take on the challenging course. Several riders showcased brilliant performances, but Riley Delbecq (USA) and Cardozo 4 ultimately secured the win.
Twenty-seven horse-and-rider combinations set out to contest the track set by Catsy Cruz Harris of Mexico City, Mexico. Thirteenth to go in the class, Debecq understood all the questions the course asked and executed accordingly, producing a fault-free effort. One of seven to jump the shortened course, Delbecq set a blazing pace of 37.458 seconds that would hold up for the win.
“I thought the course was really nice, obviously; it was a good day for us,” laughed Delbecq. “The jump-off was nice and flowy. In places I may have turned a little wide, but we were quick across the ground to make up some time, and it worked out.”
Delbecq paired up with Cardozo 4, Todd Minikus LTD.’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Colestus x Falkenhof’s Lancer) almost exactly a year ago. They have had a successful first year together, yet this win comes as the most meaningful, as it is Delbecq’s first grand prix victory.
“I’ve been showing him in the national grands prix and U25 classes throughout the winter,” explained Delbecq. “We had a couple of top placings, but I’ve had a few mistakes here and there that have kept us out of the jump-offs. We’ve been working towards this win for a long time.
“Cardozo is just very patient and forgiving,” she continued. “He’s scopey and athletic enough that when you do make a mistake, he’s always there to back you up.”
Kirk Webby (NZL) and Jamie Stryker’s 10-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Celestial x Lord Kemm), Cameron 38, finished just tenths of a second behind Delbecq in a time of 37.786 seconds to clinch the runner-up position. U.S. rider David Jennings and Bionce Des Monts, a 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Ravage De Mars x Cenaze Du Hil) owned by Hillview Farm Sporthorses, finished on the podium for the second week in a row, this time taking home third-place honors.
The week’s competition saw several exciting performances. On Friday, July 12, Morgan Ward and Fenn, Tyson Ziebarth’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Landwind II B), jumped to an exciting victory in the $7,500 STX Open Speed for the second week in a row.
For junior rider Aidan Kennedy, the week certainly proved to be one of the highlights of the summer as he and his own 12-year-old KWPN gelding Highlight van Molga (Cantos x Cardento) took the victory in the $5,000 Manchester Designer Outlets Welcome and the $5,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic.
For a full list of results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
