Mändli and Chartraine Pre Noir Chase Victory in $78,000 Speed Final CSI5* at 2023 WIHS
Swiss Olympic team silver medalist Beat Mändli headlined the feature class on Friday, October 27, at the 2023 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian™. Riding Chartraine Pre Noir, Mändli outraced the field to win the $78,000 Speed Final CSI5*, capping off the exciting Military Night, presented by Boeing. Earlier in the day, Ariana Marnell with Babylon and Jessica Gulden with First and Goal claimed Junior Hunter Grand Championship titles, while Emma Brody nabbed the win in the $7,500 Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic.
Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) along with assistant Nick Granat (USA) set the speed track, where jumping faults were converted to three-second time penalties. Twenty combinations representing eight countries raced around the course, but it was Mändli’s efficient and smooth effort with Chartraine Pre Noir that was the fastest, crossing the timers fault-free in 51.06 seconds.
Last year’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington winner Conor Swail (IRL) came close to catching Mändli’s time, but when the clock stopped at 51.67 seconds, he would have to settle for second with Casturano, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Castelan 3 owned by Mannon Farm. Mändli’s student, Katie Dinan (USA), finished in third place aboard Atika des Hauts Vents, a 13-year-old Selle Français mare (Rock’N Roll Semilly x Scherif D’Elle) owned by Grant Road Partners LLC.
“When we walked the course, I thought it looked a bit bigger than a normal speed class,” explained Mändli, who won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington in 2017 and the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in 2007. “It wasn’t just a speed class, really. There were also some lines, and the jumps were big enough. Obviously when you go fast, the chance to knock one down is higher. It was a tough class, but it was nice, and obviously when you win it, it’s even better.”
As of Thursday morning, it was Mändli’s plan to jump his other horse, Dsarie, in Friday’s Speed Final. After competing with both Dsarie and “Sherry” Thursday evening, he switched things up Friday morning.
“Actually, I was planning to jump Sherry tomorrow night in the World Cup, but then my other horse, Dsarie, was very fresh yesterday, so I actually switched Sherry this morning to do this class,” related Mändli. “I knew Sherry is in good shape. She likes this place. I would have never thought I would have won the class, to be honest, but sometimes it works out.”
The switch paid off with a win for Mändli and the 11-year-old Selle Français mare by Kannan x Corrado II owned by Grant Road Partners LLC.
“She’s super chilled,” expressed Mändli of his mount of two and a half years with whom he finished fifth in the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington. “She’s super nice. I know we always say this, but really, she’s a perfect horse. She’s nice for everything. She just likes to do her job, and she really tries to do the right thing and always tries to do her best. I don’t think there’s ever a class she lets you down. She really wants to please you. She’s a happy girl.”
For his win, Mändli was presented with The General Dwight D Eisenhower Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late Arthur J. Morris. From 1969-2011, this trophy was awarded to the winner of the $10,000 International Open Jumper class. The trophy was reassigned in 2012 to the $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final.
The “Jump for TAPS” was a part of the Speed Final, with money donated for every clear over the TAPS jump on course, with $10,000 total donated to benefit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the WIHS Official Military Charity since 2010.
Veteran Marnell and Newcomer Gulden Earn Grand Junior Hunter Championships
Junior Hunter divisions wrapped up on Friday with two Grand Championships awarded. In the 3’6” section it was Ariana Marnell with Babylon who donned the winning cooler, while Jessica Gulden and First and Goal took home the coveted Georgetown Cupcakes for the 3’3” section.
It seemed like time stood still as Marnell, 17, of Las Vegas, NV, walked into The Show Place Arena for her final championship hunter presentation. With both of her horses, Babylon and Ocean Road, in tow, Marnell accepted the Grand Junior Hunter 3’6” Championship title for Babylon as well as the Georgetown trophy for the highest Junior Hunter score, a 95, which she earned with both Babylon and Ocean Road.
Marnell shared earlier during the Indoors season that she would be focusing on the jumper ring after this year, and it was decided that Babylon would be for sale. However, the original plan was to finish things off at The National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, but Marnell and her team made the decision Friday morning to make WIHS their last hurrah.
“Neither horse scored below a 93 this week,” said an emotional Marnell. “I’m not going to ask them to do more when they keep giving and giving 200 percent every time. I’m only sad because I’ve had so much fun with them, and I love showing them. I’m really excited to see what they do next. I’m just so thankful for all they’ve done for me. This week feels like they knew and tried their heart out.”
In addition to her tremendous horses, Marnell credits her trainer, John French, with bringing the three of them to the next level to achieve all that they have.
“That probably makes me the most upset, that I won’t be working with John as much,” expressed Marnell. “We’ve started to think alike, and I’ve learned so much from him. I’ll always be so grateful that I’ve had this time with him and to have ridden with him. If you would have told me five years ago that I would have even taken a clinic with John, I would have said it’s the best day ever. To get to ride with him on a daily basis and have him on my team, I’m so grateful. I would love to take John with me everywhere and with all of my horses. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had. I always joke with my parents that if my schoolteachers were like John, I would be really, really happy. If my math teacher were like John, I’d be a mathematician.
“It just feels like with the horses I have and John as a coach, I can beat anybody on any day,” she continued. “Even when I couldn’t have, it still felt like that. Maybe I don’t have the knowledge, but John does, and he gives it to me. He gives me that confidence. He’s really helped me on the mental side and every aspect: training, competing, how to be a real competitor, making it count when it counts, and being able to deliver when you have to. I’m really going to miss working with John.”
While Marnell started out as a relative unknown, her strong partnership with both of her horses has catapulted them into the spotlight. Of course, Babylon, affectionately known as “Crumbles,” an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (L.B. Crumble x Balou Du Rouet), was already making a name for himself with French in the irons, but he cemented his champion status with Marnell. On the other hand, Ocean Road, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Canatano Z affectionately known as “Roadie,” was thought of as just a derby horse, never a division horse, in the beginning of his career with Marnell. With French’s tutelage, they have since solidified themselves as top division contenders.
For Marnell’s victory with Babylon, they were presented with the Ides of March Trophy, donated by Linda Lee and Lee Reynolds.
In the 3’3” section, Jessica Gulden, 15, of Williamsburg, VA, and First and Goal, owned by Karen Robinson Dickman, scored all their points over fences, notching two wins with a score of 88 and a 91 in the stake. They added a second-place finish to their collection with a score of 89 in the handy, propelling them to the Large Junior Hunter 3’3” division championship and overall Grand Junior Hunter 3’3” Championship title.
“It’s incredible,” said Gulden of that winning feeling. “Washington is such a big show just to place in the ribbons, so to be Grand Champion is amazing. I definitely didn’t think I would do this well, but I was hoping to do well and have a good experience.”
Gulden has had the ride on “Toothless,” named for the lack of his four bottom front teeth, for almost three years now. They started together in the 2’6” hunters when the now nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Levisto was just six and have progressed together to this point.
“We were green together, and we just kind of grew up together, and now we’re here and it’s been awesome,” reflected Gulden. “He has the biggest personality. He’ll eat anything. He’s just so sweet and one of the best horses ever. He likes you to be soft when you’re riding. He’s super slow, so you always need a strong leg, but if you canter around softly, he just lopes around. He’s so comfortable in the environment and tries his best all the time.”
Toothless is under the training of Chris Wynne, and Gulden meets up with them at shows and occasionally for lessons. Because she lives an hour and a half away from Wynne, Gulden’s time there is limited. She gets extra time in the saddle training with Jill Tewksbury at local barn Cedar Valley Farm.
“With Chris, we focus on building a relationship with Toothless and trying to do what’s best for him,” explained Gulden. “We work on making him perform his best and how my riding can reflect that.”
After a banner week, it was time to celebrate. While oatmeal cream pies and donuts might be Toothless’s favorite treats, Gulden was excited to share the winning cupcakes with her deserving mount.
The Best Child Rider on a Horse award presented by the Danhakl Family Foundation went to Clara Propp. She was presented with The Divecchia Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. & Mrs. Frederick DiVecchia.
Junior Hunter championships were awarded as follow:
Small Junior Hunter 3’3” Champion: Bonne Starlight, Caroline Hoover, Caroline Hoover
Reserve champion: Semi-Automatic C, Taylor Matalon, Taylor Matalon
Large Junior Hunter 3’3” Champion: First And Goal, Jessica Gulden, Karen Robinson Dickman
Reserve champion: Canvasback, Rylie True, Bridlegate Farm, LLC
Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion: Iladin du Rouet, Eva Mackenzie, Eva Mackenzie
Reserve champion: Evermore, Violet Tatum, Tatum Equestrian LLC
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion: Arabesque, Clara Propp, Aquitaine Equine
Reserve champion: Princeton, Paige Walkenbach, Walkenbach Equestrian LLC
Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Champion: Babylon, Ariana Marnell, Marnell Sport Horses
Reserve champion: Ocean Road, Ariana Marnell, Marnell Sport Horses
Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Champion: Twain, Maddie Tosh, Ceil Wheeler
Reserve champion: Thunderbird, Gigi Phillips, Gigi Phillips
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