Ocala, Florida, USA – November 16, 2023 – Come rain or shine, a field of 32 top-notch athletes gathered at the WEC Grand Arena to contest the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix during week II of the 2023 November & December Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. In a competitive 13-horse jump-off, Samantha Schaefer (USA) and Bonne Vie LLC’s Frasier (Carambole x Bloem) posted an uncatchable time to ultimately take home the victory. 

Oscar Soberon (USA), an FEI Level III course designer set the opening tracks to kick off feature competition for the week. Of the 13 jump-off contenders an even eight yielded double clean efforts. 

Schaefer knew that the jump-off track would suit her big-strided 13-year-old Royal Dutch Sport Horse / Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) gelding perfectly, “The jump-off was really fun. It suited Frasier very well. He has such a big stride and it’s great when I can use that to my advantage,” expressed Schaefer. “Having the turn back to the double where I could coil up his stride, then let him turn loose again, set me up perfectly for the seven, which I don’t think many others tried. I think I did eight back to the [C. Jarvis Insurance] plank and then just showed up to the last out of a nice gallop.” 

“He’s a funny horse because he doesn’t look the fastest, but when he’s loose and can open up, that’s when he has it,” described Schaefer.

Aaron Vale (USA) rode Sigma Stables LLC’s Constantin de Hus, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding by Ugoback Des Balenies x Cafe Creme, to a time of 37.323 seconds which was quick enough for second place.

Third place honors went to Megan Wexler (USA) and Doo-Wop, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Golden Oaks Farm, LLC, with a time of 39.715 seconds. 

With a time of 36.894 seconds, Schaefer and Frasier held the top spot on the leaderboard to take home the lion’s share of the prize money. 

Frasier is just coming off a much-deserved break from the summer season, “I gave him a bit of a break after September, so I could focus on indoors. Last week was his first week back showing, and I’ll be honest, I was a bit rusty. We had an unlucky rail on Saturday night, but the goal is to work on fitness. We’re gearing up for the FEI CSI3* competition in December and the upcoming winter circuit. But, after today, he’s already feeling pretty great and ready to go.”

Final Results – $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix

1) Samantha Schaefer (USA) & Frasier, Bonne Vie LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.894

2) Aaron Vale (USA) & Constantin de Hus, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.323

3) Megan Wexler (USA) & Doo-Wop, Golden Oaks Farm, LLC: 0 | 0 | 39.715

4) Ali Wolff (USA) & Casall, Blacklick Bend Farm: 0 | 0 | 41.333

5) Luis Sabino Gonçalves (POR) & PST de Muze, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 41.723

6) Megan Wexler (USA) & Chronicle 4, Golden Oaks Farm, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.214

7) Bree Rosales (USA) & Gunfire PJ, Gail Dady: 0 | 0 | 42.508

8) Sharn Wordley (NZL) & Champion League, Daniel Michan: 0 | 0 | 48.509

9) Tracy Fenney (USA) & MTM Apple, MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 36.921

10) Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) & Scoop de Septon Z, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 4 | 37.672

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center – Ocala

Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Link