North Salem, New York, USA – May 17, 2024 – It was a busy Friday at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show. Early in the day, 53 entries representing eight countries challenged Wade’s 15-effort course in the $25,000 Old Salem Farm 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic, with 15 pairs advancing to an immediate jump-off. Nineteen-year-old Mimi Gochman (USA) set an early time to beat in the first third of the class, posting a double-clear score of 31.932 seconds aboard Gochman Sport Horse’s Gigi’s Girl BH. She and Gigi ultimately finished over a full second ahead of their fellow competitors.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are one of the premier stops on the nation’s hunter-jumper horse show circuit, offering a full schedule of world-class competition May 7-12 and May 14-19 that features the nation’s best in equestrian sport. 

“I try not to get too intimidated [by the faster international riders],” Gochman said. “I mostly try to focus on myself, but I definitely look out for them and know who they are. I’m always watching and seeing what they’re doing to figure out what I could do better… I watched Jordan [Coyle] and Darragh [Kenny] do the course before me. They were the first to do the inside turn, so I knew that it was possible and I just needed to make sure I did it right. I knew I had to give my mare a good shot at it, and I think that with a more experienced horse like she is, she knew what I was asking for and just stepped right up.

“I’m lucky enough to know my horse very well at this point,” she added. “We’ve been partnered for almost six years now. I know her, she knows me, and I knew where I had to go quick because she’s not the most naturally quick horse. I’m lucky enough that she’s really scopey and has a huge stride, so I used that to our advantage. I was able to do seven [strides] on the turn at the top of the ring as well as the inside turn toward the end. Luckily, that turn went well for us, and I made the last line in seven strides, which I believe was more of a leave-out than everyone else.

“That definitely gave me a bit of an edge, but I just got lucky,” she continued. “I mean, anyone could’ve beaten me there; there were so many fast riders in the class. Thankfully, everything came up very naturally for us, and our plan worked for today.”

With Gochman leading by a full second, the five highest-placing riders in the $25,000 Old Salem Farm 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic came from five countries.

Bluman finished second aboard his Quick Chick 3 (0/0/33.135), with Stephen Moore (IRL) in third aboard Oakland Ventures’ Diva Karef BH (0/0/33.495), Pessoa in fourth aboard Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s Eclat du Cerisier (0/0/33.644), and Erynn Ballard (CAN) in fifth aboard Ilan Ferder’s De Flor 111 Z (0/0/33.754). 

Final Results – $25,000 Old Salem Farm 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic

1) Mimi Gochman (USA) & Gigi’s Girl BH – 0 / 0 – 31.932

2) Mark Bluman (COL) &  Quick Chick 3 – 0 / 0 – 33.135

3) Stephen Moore (IRL) & Diva Karef BH – 0 / 0 – 33.495

Source: Press Release by Marty Bauman / Classic Communications for Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows

Photos: © SEL Photography

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