Wilmington, Ohio – August 10, 2024 – Featured competition concluded at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Summer III Saturday evening with the $30,000 GGT Footing Grand Prix. FEI Level III course designer Anderson Lima (BRA) designed an appropriate track for the field that saw seven horse-and-athlete combinations move onto the jump-off. Kelly Soleau-Millar (USA) and M. Michael Meller’s Fire Fly (Arezzo VDL x First Price G) ultimately ended their summer at WEC the same way they started, back on top of the leaderboard.

A day trip to Wilmington after a successful week in Lexington, Kentucky, proved worth while for the team at Millar Brooke South. “What a great weekend! I just came from Pony Finals and our pony was second overall, but I love it here and was determined to come back! My team is amazing, so while we were showing yesterday my manager brought Fire Fly up and we hoped for the best and what a week we had! And, on top of it, we helped Sarah [Sturges] and we were so excited about her win.”

Soleau-Millar has had great success with the talented young mare during the summer series including a Welcome Stake and Grand Prix win at Summer I. “I am thrilled with her performance. She has been so consistent and she loves it here,” Soleau-Millar shared her thoughts on Fire Fly’s recent winnings. “I am so excited for her future and to be able to develop her here. She has always been a fast horse, but she is really learning how to jump the bigger jumps while going fast, that is always the next step in their learning. I have been able to do that and really produce her here at WEC. Her next stop is young horse finals in Michigan and then I will be back here in the fall!”

The eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) mare showcased her natural footspeed around the short course and was unable to be caught with a speedy time of 36.97 seconds to secure her third open win this summer.

“I thought the track was great. I thought Anderson [Lima] built really well for the people and horses that he had. Again, it is an amazing place to develop horses and riders. I think he made it tough enough without trapping anyone. I thought the jump-off was good. You had to be fast and clear and get across the ground and Fire Fly is exactly that. She is a little race car. I am very lucky to have the ride on this horse and I love her so much.”

Stephen Foran (USA) piloted Freedom Woods’ 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Colour Your Day (Contendro I x Vision), to second place in 37.975 seconds.

Rounding out the top three was Welcome winner Kady Abrahamson (USA) and her own nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Jazil du Houssoit (Peppermill x Gerboise Du Houssoit), in 38.23 seconds.

Final Results – $30,000 GGT Footing Grand Prix

1) Kelly Soleau-Millar (USA) & Fire Fly, M. Michael Meller – 0 / 0 – 36.97

2) Stephen Foran (USA) & Colour Your Day, Freedom Woods – 0 / 0 – 37.975

3) Kady Abrahamson (USA) & Jazil du Houssoit, Abrahamson Equestrian – 0 / 0 – 38.23

4) Sarah Meier (USA) & Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier | 0 | 40.444

5) Luke Rinehart (USA) & Captain America 10, Catherine Rinehart | 4 | 38.039

6) Stephan Foran (USA) & Idool, Freedom Woods | 4 | 41.38

7) Lani Hutchison (USA) & Duc de Jentiere, Lani Hutchison | 0 | EL

8) Kady Abrahamson (USA) & Vancouver, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 4 | 82.467

9) Harry Harding (USA) & Deisy Casanova Z, Old Oak Farm | 8 | 75.324

10) Charlotte Clark (USA) & Kinsella, Charlotte Clark | 8 | 80.505

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Winslow Photography

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