Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – April 01, 2022 – Morgan Ashby (USA) and her own Dutchess Carola continued their triumphant return to competition by grabbing a second $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake win in the past two weeks, stopping the jump-off timers in 39.796 seconds and dropping one rail. In reserve, Doug Payne (USA) and his own Chaccolate, a 2013 Warmblood gelding by Chacco Blue, navigated the jump-off track in 38.453 seconds with eight faults, while Peyton Preblick (USA) rode Pennacle, the 2011 Hanoverian mare (Paparazzo x Verona) owned by Happy Valley Show Jumping LLC, to third on a score of 15 in 58.113 seconds. The top three were the only competitors of 20 entries to clear the first round of the Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) course design.

Ashby (USA) and the 2011 Holsteiner mare (Contados x Koriska II) walked into the jump off round knowing that Payne had not gone clean, “so I was going in there to win,” she recapped. “It was a pretty difficult course, with nobody going double clear. There were combinations coming out of the corners, a wide oxer, and some long runs.”

In light of her competition, Ashby chose to be “tidy while opening her up a little,” she explained. “She was absolutely perfect and jumped amazing!”

Their recent successes have come from dedicated homework and the continued refining of their warm-up routine, Ashby noted. “We’ve changed a couple things in the schooling ring, kind of figuring out what to do to keep her round and stuff like that. This different way of riding her has worked out very well,” she concluded.

“She’s really stepped up to the plate and always wants to be clean. She loves me a lot, and I think that’s the reason she does it; she’s like my best friend, and tries really hard for me.”

Final Results – $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

1) Morgan Ashby (USA) & Dutchess Carola – 0 / 4 – 39.796

2) Doug Payne (USA) & Chaccolate – 8 / 38.453

3) Peyton Preblick (USA) & Pennacle – 15 /  58.113

Source: Press Release by Sarah Madden for TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center

Photos: ©TIEC

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