Rollbacks and combinations dominated the third day of competition at the Showplace Spring Spectacular I held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, as the Open Equitation riders chased points in the hopes of qualifying for their respective finals. Whether it is the USEF Talent Search Medal, Washington Equitation class, or the ASPCA Maclay, with points at stake, riders had their sights set on the top of the ranks. The hunt for October was a common thread among the riders, with all the major finals looming in the fall. While some riders made significant ground toward their objective, others will have to wait to fight another day.    

The Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, one of the major avenues for riders hoping to advance through the equitation pipeline, tests riders' abilities to 

Friday's competition was no easy task with riders facing a tricky course in addition to what could be considered a rigorous flat class, but Caitlin Boyle was in the irons aboard Diagon Decaré to outshine the rest. Boyle is the daughter of Pat Boyle, the show manager and owner Showplace Productions. It is Pat's visions that bring the three weeks of Showplace Spring Spectacular to life, and while he is navigating the showgrounds and teams of people, his daughter is navigating her way to another impressive champion honor. 

Caitlin Boyle and Diagon Decaré

As a one-star event, fences were set between 1.10 and 1.15 meters for the afternoon's competition. The course consisted of 13 efforts, testing riders abilities to be able to manipulate their horses' strides and approach the jumps accurately.    

"I liked the course today a lot, and the questions it posed to us as riders. There were a lot of jumps and lines that required us to move up or come back for, like the short seven-stride line after the water jump to the USET-oxer," Caitlin commented.    

Course designer Danny Foster, hailing from Canada, noted that he "wanted to test the riders but also give them a chance to show off their equitation, so the course had the potential to be tricky but could be mastered by a skilled rider."   

Time does matter in the first phase of the Talent Search, and Boyle wasn't on top entering the second phase. Her time of 72.006 seconds fell just short of Caitlyn Epperson's time of 71.385 seconds aboard Stanislaus. Giavanna Rinaldi and Cayambe claimed the third spot at 73.013 seconds, and Kira Telford on Larry was the last clear round with a time of 75.318 seconds. Kyle Perkovich on Everlasting Goodness and Elizabeth Adelson on Bull Run's Rubicon took fifth and sixth, both with faults.

 

Of her horse, it is clear that Boyle has a clear respect and admiration for him, saying that "he is very scopey and does a great job taking care of me. I never have to worry about the height of the fences and he did everything that I asked of him today."

Diagon Decaré, owned by Cassie Berke, began his career overseas as a jumper, but was quickly transitioned into an equitation horse after his voyage across the pond due to his apparent calm nature. Living up to the ideal that the USET Talent Search holds-that riders are able to master the basics of equitation-Boyle claimed that she and Diagon Decaré don't jump much at home, but instead focus on lots of flatwork. "The jumps are nothing to him, so as long as we maintain suppleness and responsiveness I know that we can do well."   

Following the jump phase, riders were required to compete in the subsequent flat phase, the aforementioned specialty of Boyle's. The judge wasted no time in trying to find his winner, and proceeded to ask for a series of tests from the riders. Half turn on the haunches, cantering on the counter lead, a change of lead, and working sitting trot were just a few of the skills asked of the exhibitors. While all competitors performed well, it was Boyle's expertise that bumped her up from second to first.   

Boyle is no stranger to the winner's circle. Already qualified for the finals in Gladstone, New Jersey, in early October, she now has her sights on achieving a Gold Medal, a distinction given to riders who rack up an impressive 20 wins in the class. With today's win, she is up to 18. Sticking around for two more weeks of the Showplace Spring Spectacular, Boyle hopes to earn her final two wins while competing at her father's show. "I know it may be a lofty goal, but it's definitely possible."   

Finishing behind Boyle was Kira Telford on Arly Golombek's Larry earning the red ribbon, and Giavanna Rinaldi on Alex Jayne's Cayambe in third.  

Telford and Larry

A field of 11 riders and horses took on the Washington Equitation class in the grand prix ring and braved the 12-effort course which featured a series of sprawling combinations and some tight turns. The class is conducted as a two-phase competition, a jumper course and a hunter course with the jumps set to the 3'6" height in both phases. Riders must compete on the same horse in each round. With only 40 invitations extended to riders around the nation to attend the finals in October, the stakes are high at each qualifying event. 

After the first round of competition, 16-year-old Giavanna Rinaldi and her mount Cayambe, the same horse she rode in the Talent Search, had gained a significant lead with a high score of 89, her next closest competitor, Carson Ruff and Toulouse, eleven points behind with a score of 78.    

"The jumper phase is definitely my strong suit. Where some of the other competitors struggled toward the end of the course, we were able to stay consistent," noted Rinaldi. It is no wonder that she considers her strengths to lie in the jumper ring-Rinaldi has made consistent appearances in regional grand prix over the years, no small feat on its own but especially noteworthy considering her age.   

Rounding out the top six headed into the hunter phase was Elizabeth Adelson aboard Bull Run's Rubicon in third position, Hunter Holloway on family horse Orion in fourth, Kira Telford and Larry standing in fifth, and Misty Redd on another Holloway horse, Holyfield.  

Giavanna Rinaldi and Cayambe

Further opening her commanding lead, Giavanna Rinaldi and Cayambe scored an impressive 88 from judges Timmy Kees and Richard Wilkerson in the hunter ring to earn a total score of 177. "Cayambe is still a bit green to the hunter phase. He's only 8 years old and this is his first year doing the equitation," claimed the leader. If a score of 88 is considered green, then Rinaldi may be one to keep on the radar. 

To add yet another twist to the story, as if the young grand prix rider taking a newly transitioned jumper into the hunter ring wasn't enough, Rinaldi is a rookie to the equitation scene. "I've never done equitation before. This is my first year and I like it a lot; it is definitely challenging but it is making me a better rider."   

Although Rinaldi was able to maintain her position, there was quite a bit of place-swapping among the other front-runners. Carson Ruff, previously in second, lost the second place with a score of 66 to Elizabeth Adelson, earning the second-best hunter score of 84. Ruff fell to fourth. Another strong performer was Hunter Holloway and Orion, who scored an 83 to bump the pair up from fourth to third after the second phase.

Not satisfied with a win and a third for the day, Rinaldi once again rode her way to the top later into the afternoon in the ASPCA Maclay class. Sixteen junior amateur riders attempted to shine in the ring, but were no match for Rinaldi and Cayambe. "I really like the big equitation and would love to make it to the finals in the Washington, USEF, and the Maclay if I can," she commented.

Across the property in Ring VI, Anne Waldo was busy riding her own horse Roc All Night to the gold, or the blue rather, to win the $1000 Novice Adult Hunter Classic. Frances McGinley navigated Ron Daugherty's Marbourgh to the second place finish, while Kathleen Caya's Sweet T ridden by Colleen Nagy also put in a good showing to take third.

The Equitation and Hunters, as well as a number of classics, continue tomorrow as the Showplace Spring Spectacular Series reaches its fourth day of competition. The highlight of the day will be the $50,000 Barrington Saddlery Grand Prix.