Haley Gassel and Hambesi. (Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography)

Wayne, IL- Competition at the Chicago Festival of the Horse continued in the Smart Pak Grand Prix arena on Wednesday with the 5-year-old Jumper Qualifier. Haley Gassel took home the win riding Hambesi, a mount owned by Westwind Equine Training Center.

Gassel has been riding Hambesi for just over year after getting him in June 2016. Though it was a class for 5-year-olds, Gassel explained that Hambesi acts more like a 7 or 8-year-old, and his confidence in the ring definitely paid off. The pair had a great round, finishing the course fault-free to take home the blue ribbon.

Second place in the class went to Stephen Foran riding Caselli, owned by Ashleen Lee. Rounding out the top three was William Hickey and Arizona ODF after an incurring 4-faults for a knock down.

In the $1,000 1.35m Open Jumper class, 19 riders took to the ring to vie for the blue, and it was Rebecca Lannoye and her own L’Odyssee that took home the win. The pair completed a double clear round and a 35.443 second jump-off. The second place finisher was Stefanie Collier riding Emma-Lee, owned by the C and C Group. Collier and Emma-Lee also had a double clear round, finishing the jump-off in 36.707 seconds.

Rounding out the top three with another double clear round was 5-Year-Old Jumper winner, Haley Gassel. This time, Gassel was aboard Quite Dark 2, owned by the Westwind Equine Training Center. The pair had a jump-off time of 36.918 seconds, just shy of second place.

Competition picks up in the Grand Prix Arena today, August 3, with the $25,000 Welcome Grand Prix set to begin at 4:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.lamplightequestriancenter.com.