Tamie Smith and Jump To Day D. Photo by Andy Media.
It was the best saved for last on Saturday at the Ocala International Festival of Eventing at Florida Horse Park, with cross-country concluding two days of competition in the CCI4*-S. This top-level division also served as a US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier event for the $200,000 Final at Morven Park in October.
Saturday’s victory was taken by a visitor who was amongst the competitors who’d traveled the farthest to compete in Ocala this weekend. Tamie Smith, 2023 Defender Kentucky CCI5* winner based in southern California, jumped her way to the top of the standings by achieving Jay Hambly’s set optimum time with Jeanne Schigo’s Jump To Day D, finishing on her dressage score of 31.5. Early trouble on course for overnight leaders Jack Curtis and Luska Candy Clover had opened the door for a new leader, and Smith moved up from third.
Jump To Day D (Up To Date – Nicola D), a 12-year-old KWPN gelding, was contesting just his second CCI4*-S. His first came at Carolina International in March, where he finished sixth in one of the most statistically competitive fields the U.S. has seen, according to EquiRatings. This win is the latest in the development of a horse Smith has much belief in.
Tamie Smith and Jump To Day D. Photo by Andy Media.
“I’m just absolutely thrilled with how he’s feeling,” Smith commented. She’s not had the ride on the gelding more than 12 months, and she took her time establishing a partnership – not always the easiest task, particularly when a horse has competed to a higher level before. “We just fit together now. I think we’re understanding each other and I feel really confident in him. Now it just feels like there isn’t anything he doesn’t want to try and do for you. You wouldn’t have said that last year – he was quite quirky a lot of the time, and even at the beginning of this year he was a little quirky on the flat. But now he’s just right with me and feeling really confident and happy in his body and his work.”
This win nets Smith 40 points in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing leaderboard competition, which features a $50,000+ bonus for the three top points earners over their best six results at qualifiers. Smith will bring a total of 195 Open points and third place in the earning standings into her next qualifier start this week at Defender Kentucky’s Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S. She’s next got her eye on a potential start at the Tryon International CCI4*-L in May for Jump to Day D.
Jessica Phoenix and Aeronautics. Photo by Andy Media.
Four-time Olympian Jessica Phoenix (CAN) took second place with Sara Irving’s Aeronautics (Two Step Salsa – Satin and Silver), a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. The pair added 3.2 time penalties on cross-country to finish the weekend on a score of 41.7.
Irving, herself an experienced competitor, produced Aeronautics to the Preliminary level after finding him on the racetrack before it was mutually decided that Phoenix would take the ride and see how far the gelding wanted to go in the sport. Turns out the answer might be: the sky’s the limit.
“The first time I ever saw him, Sarah was actually jumping him and I told her he was phenomenal,” Phoenix said. “He can just fly. He can be in the air forever, but not be wasteful in the time, and he just feels like such a cat. That is what really drew me towards him. And then his ability to move on the flat just all three gaits – he really can move in all three. It’s incredible to feel a Thoroughbred that has that ability.”
“I’m starting to figure out what kind of a ride he needs from me,” she continued. “He just made such light work of that incredibly tough course, and it was just a joy to feel him that confident and rideable and knowing to look for.” She’ll next target a CCI4*-L with Aeronautics; most likely with Tryon International in May or MARS Bromont in June.
Sarah Wyssen and Peace Out Man. Photo by Andy Media.
There’s nothing quite like your first four-star, and it’s even sweeter when you finish on the podium. That was Ontario-based Canadian rider Sarah Wyssen’s experience on Saturday as she conquered both her and her off-track Thoroughbred, Peace Out Man’s first contest at the level. Wyssen, who trains with Buck Davidson, has worked with the 9-year-old gelding since 2020 and has produced him entirely herself. She’s produced other horses to the Preliminary and CCI2* levels in the past, but Peace Out Man has now become her first Advanced horse.
“I had zero expectations,” Wyssman said of her mentality entering the weekend. Show jumping had historically been her biggest challenge, and she’s spent a lot of time this winter taking lessons from Davidson to sharpen this phase. “All I wanted to do was be safe and ride smart so I didn’t hurt my horse. If I can keep my mental game relaxed, he follows me. I think that’s been our biggest thing as a team, is just being confident that we’re prepared and not overthinking things.”
For a sight unseen purchase (he was sourced off the track by Philippa Hambly), Peace Out Man has exceeded all expectations thus far in his career. “I always have that thought of, ‘maybe this is the one!’ when I start a new horse,” Wyssan said. “But he’s just done it so easily and he absolutely lives for the cross-country.”
Wyssan also earned the additional honor of the Self-Made Horse Award generously supported by Betsy Ball to reward the efforts of riders who have produced their horses from the start.
“I’m still at the point where it’s all very surreal,” Wyssan said. “I honestly have to credit the horse, because he just doesn’t say no, that’s just accelerated everything. So I would say he’s made me, rather.”
Jay Hambly’s cross-country course as well as Chris Barnard’s show jumping course received top praise from competitors.
“Jay [Hambly] has definitely shown up at Florida Horse Park and stepped these courses up,” Tamie Smith commented. “The courses were up to standard and pretty technical, and Carolina didn’t faze him at all so he just went out there with tons of confidence. They did a tremendous job with the ground and I was able to go out to be competitive. [Jump To day D] really answered the call.”
Competition concludes on Sunday with show jumping for the CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L and CCI1*-L divisions, as well as cross-country for the remaining Beginner Novice through Training level competitors.
Florida Horse Park next looks forward to welcoming eventing during the Ocala Summer I Horse Trials May 30-31.
Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]
