Sandy Ferrell And Barcelona Win First Year Green Hunter Championship, Section A

Wellington, FL – March 5, 2004 – Competing in his first season as a junior, Daniel Bluman, 13, of Medellin, Colombia, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, won the $2,500 Junior Jumper High, Power & Speed aboard Gullit Shagal owned by Christine Firmin Didot at the Winter Equestrian Festival today in Wellington, Florida. Bluman topped a class of 31 entries in the Internationale Arena over a course designed by Dr. Arno Gego. Nine riders were clear over the Power phase, but only two went clean in the Speed phase, with Bluman posting a time more than four seconds faster than Cody Auer aboard Regina owned by Esther Kane-Waring who earned second place.

“I think I rode pretty well, “ said Bluman. “I went second in the order and I knew it would be very hard to win because there were really good riders on the course. I expected to go clean and have a nice jump-off and try to place. He went really well and had a nice first round and then he jumped really well in the jump-off. It was a little bit my mistake on the last jump but the horse saved me on that one. Everything came out really well.”

Bluman has been riding for 10 years and currently trains with Francisco Martinez and Debbie Stephens. It was Stephens who gave him the ride on the 15.2-hand, white gelding from Argentina at the start of the 2004 circuit just six weeks ago. “When I first met Debbie she told me he would be a really hard horse and it would not be an easy job, but if we understood each other, we could win a lot,” said Bluman. “I did my best to understand the horse and now we make a really good couple – he understands me and I understand him really well. We could be a winning team again. He’s got a great personality.”

Gullit Shagal was named Best Horse in Argentina four years in a row before he came to the U.S. and began competing in the Grand Prix. He eventually found his way to Stephens’ Centennial Farms based in Palmetto, Florida, and Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. “Debbie thought he could be a winner for the high juniors,” explained Bluman. “The horse was good when she got him but he could be much better – she got him going really well. She’s really organized and she got him good enough to be ridden by a kid.”

Bluman attends school in Ft. Lauderdale from Monday through Thursday and rides an average of four horses per day for his trainer, Martinez. He has three horses of his own – one he is rehabilitating after an injury and his younger brother Steven is riding the other two in the Children’s Jumpers. (The younger Bluman rode Turko to the win in the FEI Children’s World Jumping Competition 2 Overall during Week 4, on February 22.) Bluman competes Friday through Sunday at WEF.

Today’s course was not one of the easier tracks, Bluman pointed out. “It was really hard. Last week there were many clear rounds but today there were only two double clear rounds,” he said. “I like it harder because I believe I always have the chance to go clean and if there are not so many clear rounds, then I don’t have to kill myself running in the jump-off to win. That’s why I like them bigger, and I like to challenge myself. I was in the Children’s division until this year, so I’ve added one-and-a-half feet in two months.”

And Bluman has one more challenge he’d like to tackle this season. “It felt really good to win and I want to win more. I wanted to face Addison Phillips today, but she didn’t jump. One day she’ll jump when I jump. I believe she is a great rider and I admire the way she rides horses, so I would like to ride like her and maybe face her some day and be able to beat her.”

Sandy Ferrell And Barcelona Win First Year Green Hunter Championship, Section A

After two days of competition in the Grand Hunter Field, Sandy Ferrell, 36, of Churchville, Maryland, riding Barcelona for Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare earned the First Year Green Hunter Championship, Section A. Jimmy Torano riding Rising Sun for owner Kendall Bate earned the Reserve.

Ferrell and Barcelona placed second and third in over fences classes yesterday, then placed third in one jumping class today, were out of the ribbons in one class, and won the Under Saddle, which clinched the championship. The duo bested a field of 28 horses in the section.

“He’s a trier, he’s extremely athletic and he’s a Thoroughbred, which adds a tremendous amount of elegance to his way of going,” said Ferrell of her mount. She pinpointed what the judges liked about him, “It is his ability to jump the jumps high and slow and still be able to do the distances with a nice flowing soft canter.”

Barcelona is an 11-year-old, 16-hand dark brown gelding that the Oares purchased 18 months ago. “I went out to California to see him for the Oares and I liked him and suggested they go out and try him,” explained Ferrell. “They ended up buying him.”

Ferrell has had the ride on Barcelona from the start. “We started showing him last year and decided that he needed a little more time. We wanted to wait until this year to do the First Year Greens,” said Ferrell. “This is his first week of showing, so his first week out he was champion! That’s a good start. It feels great.”

The partnership with Barcelona and the Oares is one that Ferrell is aiming to continue. “I’m looking forward to a great summer with him and very lucky to have the Oares as the people that employ me to ride their horses. I’m very lucky that they own several champions, no doubt about it.”

In the First Year Green Section B, rider/owner Scott Stewart won the Championship aboard Dynamic. Sandy Ferrell riding Indian Summer for Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo was the Reserve.

For complete results visit www.stadiumjumping.com

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival are Wednesday through Sunday. Gates open at 8:00 am. Ticket Prices: Wednesdays are free to everyone; Children 12 and under are admitted free every day; Young Adults 13 to 18 and Seniors are $5 on Thursday through Sunday; Adults are $5 on Thursday and Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday. The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is located on Pierson Road off South Shore Boulevard. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com or call 561-793-5867