Samantha Schaefer and Skylar Wireman Share CSI3O* Speed Victory
Two top riders tie for the win in speed action to kick off Nations Cup week in Traverse City
Week four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, known affectionately as Nations Cup week, got off to an exciting start Wednesday as two international athletes finished in a tie for first in the $31,100 CSIO3* Speed. Both riding for the United States, Samantha Schaefer and Skylar Wireman shared the glory, each piloting their mounts to a time of 65.07 seconds.
Schaefer, who rode James Bond HX, typically reserves her winning horse for grand prix and jump-off action, but thought the speed format might play in their favor Wednesday. She was right.
“This is a horse I’ve had since the end of its 8-year-old year and he’s 12 now, so I know him very well,” she said of James Bond HX. “He was supposed to jump last week so he was nice and fresh coming into this week. My plan was to have an efficient go, and to stick with my plan and play to our strengths.”
Wireman’s winning mount was Barclino B, a horse that has taken the young rider all over the world to jump at the highest level.
“I’m really happy with ‘Barry’; he was amazing,” Wireman said after the prizegiving. “We went with our plan to go for a bit of speed and aim for a top placing today. Obviously, being tied for first was exciting. Honestly I don’t think there was a faster route to take without doing the risky inside turn.”
While they took different tracks, the two still managed to cross the timers in the exact same time over Peter Grant’s (CAN) course.
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