North Salem, New York, United States – May 16, 2025 – After his victory in Evergate Stables’ $65,000 New York Welcome Stake CSI 4* at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows on Saturday, May 10, five-time Olympic medalist McLain Ward (USA) returned to the winner’s circle in the $75,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem Presented by The Kincade Group/UBS Financial Services, Inc. on Friday, May 16. He and Snapchat Van De Broekkant Z faultlessly stopped the clock in 32.62 seconds to secure victory.

One of the premier stops on the American hunter-jumper horse show circuit, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows host competitions for riders of all levels and ages, ranging from young children on ponies to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Week 1 (May 6-11) was USEF ‘National-6’ rated for hunters and jumpers and designated FEI CSI3*; Week 2 (May 13-18) is USEF ‘Premier-6’ rated and designated FEI CSI4*.

Forty-two entries representing nine countries challenged Alan Wade’s (IRL) initial 16-effort, 1.50m course in Friday’s $75,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem, with 15 advancing to the jump-off and six posting double-clear scores. Ward and the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding he co-owns with Susan Heller and Beechwood Stables were the pathfinders for both rounds, setting the bar high for their fellow competitors despite Snapchat’s inexperience at this level.

“Today just shows the level of sport we have here at Old Salem,” Ward said. “When we’re down in Florida, we always say that we have a lot of strong [events], and it’s great to see that level here in our home community. Snapchat is a young horse that we’ve been bringing along; this was actually his biggest competition to date. He jumped a brilliant clear, and I know he’s a fast horse. I just set my plan, and everything worked out because he was so game. Sometimes, in this position, it’s good to make all the rest chase you.

“You’re always a bit nervous when you have riders like Mark [Bluman], Jordan [Coyle], and Daniel [Bluman] coming behind you,” he continued. “They’re very fast riders, and they’re all brave enough to try no matter what. I think Mark was a bit unlucky, actually, but they were all very close. That’s the nature of the sport. Sometimes you’re on the winning side, and sometimes you get caught.”

Colombia’s Mark Bluman had Ward’s time with S&L Maracana (31.97 seconds), but a downed rail dropped him and S&L Farms’ 11-year-old Italian Sport Horse gelding into seventh place with the fastest four-fault score.

Final Results – $75,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem Presented by The Kincade Group/UBS Financial Services, Inc. CSI 4*

1) McLain Ward (USA) & Snapchat van de Broekkant Z – 0 / 0 – 32.62

2) Daniel Bluman (ISR) &  Landon de Nyze – 0 / 0 – 32.71

3) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & For Gold – 0 / 0 – 32.78

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

Photos: © OSF / SEL Photography

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