Skylar Wireman Wins $20,000 Markel Insurance & Leading Lady Rider Bonus

By Jumper News USA on September 26, 2023

San Juan Capistrano, California, USA – September 22, 2023 – As Skylar Wireman (USA) crossed the finish in Friday’s $20,000 Markel Insurance 1.35m Final, she not only moved to the top of the class leaderboard, she also secured the Markel Insurance 1.35m Jumper Series Espoir Leading Lady Rider Bonus Award.

Following three other successful Markel Insurance Jumper Series outings throughout the season at Blenheim EquiSports in San Juan Capistrano, CA, Wireman returned aboard Karen to clinch the finale victory on September 22 during the International Jumping Festival.

Wireman and the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by MJ and Todd Kaplan, were one of 25 entries to take on the Anthony D’Ambrosio-designed (USA) course and one of eight combinations to advance to the jump-off. When Wireman and Karen entered the Grand Looke Arena, the jump-off time to beat had been set at 40.379 seconds by Bailey Fuller (USA) and Quick Step, and Wireman knew she would have to be quick – but, simultaneously, not too focused on winning.

“If I think to go fast and win with her, then I usually mess something up!” explained Wireman. “My plan with her is never to think, ‘Oh, I’ve got to win this jump-off,’ because I just know she’s naturally fast, and if I think I want to win, I usually end up plowing into something. That or I turn too tight; the only time that she has one down is if it’s my mistake. So, my plan was to go just fast enough.”

Wireman continued, “I know that she turns so well. In the jump-off, we kind of had a serpentine line down the side of the ring; it was like a left turn, right turn, left turn, so I thought that was where I could save all my time. In my turn to the last line, I landed off the oxer, and she turned like a cat. I think ‘Oh the jumps right there,’ and she’s already over there at that jump. That horse is quite a partner, I must say.”

As Wireman flew over the final Horseflight oxer, the timers flashed 38.464 seconds which would narrowly hold up for the win. Just one trip later, Mariano Maggi (SWE) and Gogolinus, owned by Brylee Dickey, came quite close to catching Wireman but settled for second place with a time of 38.718 seconds. Rounding out the top three were Jose Maria Quintana (MEX) and Priceless van het Mangelhof who stopped the clock in 39.561 seconds.

The competition marked the final of 11 events in the 2023 Markel Insurance 1.35m Jumper Series, all held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. The series provided horses and riders with the opportunity to compete regularly in $5,000 to $20,000 open and FEI-sanctioned jumper events in various formats. At the conclusion of the series each year, the Leading Lady and Leading Gentleman are presented with cash bonuses, with $50 from each entry fee throughout the year added to the bonus payout.

Wireman did not initially have her sights set on the bonus, but after strong results early in the season, she started to pay closer attention to the standings.

“I saw there were a couple of other girls in there that were close [to me in points] but not super close, so I started to keep an eye on it,” said Wireman. “When I saw that the close ones were going to show again, I thought I better too! I knew that it would probably be worth doing, and it’s a good final Markel class to do because it’s got good prize money.”

With a close margin between herself and McKenna Skelton in particular, Wireman called on Karen, a horse that she knew she could rely on for the final.

“It’s kind of one of Karen’s specialty height classes, so once I realized I was in contention for it, I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!” explained Wireman. “Karen has done a lot of winning for me, and all she wants to do is win. She always tries her heart out and is doing whatever she can to win. It’s a really special horse for me. I want to say thank you to the owners, MJ and Todd Kaplan, for their continued support with Karen.

“She’s an amazing mare,” continued Wireman. “She has the biggest heart in the world. She’ll always jump for you. She’s so special. She wants to win as bad as I do.”