Wilmington, Ohio – March 02, 2024 – The $30,000 Grand Prix of Winter Classic 12 saw a head-to-head jump-off between two of the winningest open jumper riders at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington, Nicole Loochtan (USA) and Izzy Beisel (USA).

Despite never having jumped at the 1.40m level, Joe Carnicom’s (USA) challenging tracks were no match for Loochtan’s nine-year-old Royal Dutch Sport Horse – Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) gelding, Kupardie (Cidane x Akupardie).

Not only was Birdie’s [Kupardie] victory special for Loochtan, marking his first grand prix debut, but it also echoed a similar triumph from her previous winter circuit.

“My really good horse, Marvin, has been top three in every grand prix that he has done this winter, and he didn’t jump tonight. Almost a year ago, I did my first grand prix with Marvin here and he won it. His little brother is following in his footsteps. Marvin has had quite the career, so I think Birdie is also going to follow that path. It was his first time stepping up and he blew it out of the water.”

First to go, Izzy Beisel (USA) tacked an unfortunate four faults to her score at jump one with her speedy 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Diaz Barbotiere (Messire Ardent x Quambera Barbotiere), to secure second place in 40.485 seconds.

Loochtan simply searched for a double clear as she entered with her mount and secured the win in 50.732 seconds with three time faults.

“It is funny because Birdie is a ridiculously fast horse. I didn’t actually know that I could go that slow,” shared Loochtan. “Izzy Beisel is such a fast rider. Since she had the one down, I wanted to take it nice and easy for a double clear, and I didn’t realize how nice and easy I took it until I saw the clock on the way to the last jump,” Loochtan laughed about her unexpected time faults.

“I wanted to just give Birdie a good experience. I wanted to put him in the right places and be able to help him out. I didn’t realize how easily he would jump the track. Everything came up fast out of the turns and he is a cheeky horse, so sometimes those turns come up quite quickly, but he is so careful and understands that he has to jump across the oxers,” Loochtan shared.

“I want to thank my sponsors Perfect Products, Natural Equine Essentials, Enviro Equine, Fabbri, and CWD for keeping us in top condition. And of course, thank you so much to my barn manager Zoe Thomsen! She is Birdie’s number one fan.”

Hanna Toering (USA) and Spy Coast Farm’s nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Piranha SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Beluga), rounded out the top three as the fastest four faulter.

Final Results – $30,000 Grand Prix of Wilmington

1) Nicole Loochtan (USA) & Kupardie, Nicole Loochtan | 3 | 50.732

2) Izzy Beisel (USA) & Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel | 4 | 40.485

3) Hanna Toering (USA) & Piranha SCF, Spy Coast Farm | 4 | 76.606

4) Shawn Butler (USA) & BSH Matinee, Shawn Butler | 4 | 77.121

5) Sarah Meier (USA) & Brook De Brekka, Sarah Meier | 4 | 77.613

6) Sarah Meier (USA) & Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier | 4 | 78.377

7) Izzy Beisel (USA) & Contigo, David Beisel | 4 | 80.583

8) Michael Janson (USA) & Aruba Van’t Eigenlo Z, Kimberly Janson | 8 | 75.901

9) Richard Cheska (USA) & Ayrton Du Faurieu Z, Richard Cheska | 8 | 81.311

10) Katie Pelzel (USA) & ESH Imagine, Myrna Folsom | 26 | 101.543

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Winslow Photography

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