Christian Coyle Wins $30,000 FarmVet Jumper Classic at Lake Placid Horse Shows
John French and Snow Day Are Grand Hunter Champions
Christian Coyle won the $30,000 FarmVet Jumper Classic on Thursday at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the 2023 Lake Placid Horse Shows (LPHS) Sponsored by Bainbridge Farms, LLC, and Presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC. Awarding more than $600,000 in prize money, the horse show continues through Sunday and is highlighted by the $75,000 Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Presented by Kadley Farms on Saturday and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship North on Sunday.
Celebrating 54 years of equestrian tradition, LPHS hosts competitions for riders of all levels and ages ranging from young children on polished ponies, to glistening hunters, to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Competition at the North Elba Showgrounds is held in four spectacular show rings – the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix Field, the E.R. Mische Jumper Ring, the EquiJet Main Hunter Ring, and the Kovacs Williams Hunter Ring.
Coyle rode sixth of the 18 who reached the jump-off by riding fault-free over the 14-effort first-round course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, course designer for this year’s FEI World Cup Finals. He and his mare, Ma Pomme De Tamerville, took the lead with a clean ride in 31.732 seconds over the eight-jump tiebreaker course. Winner of the first week’s Open Jumper Classic last year on Coco Mercedes, Coyle then watched as the final 12 entries tried and failed to beat his score. Coming closest was Laura Chapot, winner of the class last year on Diarado’s Flying Dutchman, who finished clean in 32.035 seconds on Chandon Blue for second place. Then Coyle’s cousin, Jordan, finished third with a clean ride in 32.128 seconds on Centriko Volo.
“My plan was just to go as quick as I could possibly go,” Coyle said. “I knew it was going to take something special to win with a lot of good ones coming after us. I didn’t really think I would hold on. My horse is naturally fast, and right from the start I got a good stride to number one. I just kept going and everything kept showing up how I would like. Today proved to be my day. I really love riding in this big field here in Lake Placid!”
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