Kent Farrington Leads the Way at 70th SFHJA Charity Horse Show

Held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) from November 18-22, the 70th Annual South Florida Hunter Jumper Association (SFHJA) Charity Horse Show concluded Sunday following a week of exciting competition. The show was the final installment at PBIEC before the beginning of the ESP Holiday Series, which starts November 24, the first day of the Holiday & Horses CSI4*. 

Saturday afternoon featured the highlight jumper event of the competition as Kent Farrington (USA) and his own Orafina jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the $50,000 Spy Coast & Sweet Oak Farm Grand Prix. The 16-effort course set by Eric Hasbrouck (USA) in the International Arena saw 53 horse-and-rider partnerships contest the track, with nine athletes successfully turning in fault-free rounds to advance to the jump-off. Mario Deslauriers (CAN) led the way, and he was soon joined by Ilan Bluman (COL), Santiago Lambre (MEX), Schuyler Riley (USA) and Erynn Ballard (CAN) by the halfway point. In the latter portion of the pack, Willie Tynan (IRL), Kent Farrington (USA), Ashley Vogel (USA), and Ashley Fleischhacker (USA) also added their names to the list.

Photo - Kent Farrington and Orafina won the $50,000 Spy Coast & Sweet Oak Farm Grand Prix and $15,000 Paul Tracy Farrier Services Welcome Stake. ©Anne Gittins Photography 

Following faults from the first five partnerships, Tynan and Michelle Guardino’s Fancy Girl finally turned in the initial clear round of the jump-off as the sixth duo to go in a time of 41.51 seconds to claim the early lead over the abridged pattern. Their top spot did not hold long though, as Farrington and Orafina were the next to follow and galloped to a foot-perfect time of 40.58 seconds. Tynan and Fancy Girl retained the second spot, followed by Fleischhacker on Quadros 3, owned by Ashland Show Stables LLC, in a clear time of 44.817 seconds, the final double-clear partnership.

"Orafina is a great young talent," commented Farrington of the eight-year-old KWPN mare by For Fashion x Canturo. "She doesn't have a lot of experience, certainly not like this. Really hats off to the team here that keeps these shows going for us and allows us to keep doing our job and our sport. Early in the season like this, it's great for these young horses to get into the main ring. Tonight they even got a little taste of going under the lights. All in all, even besides the win, this was a great experience for my horse."

Saturday’s victory was the second major win for Farrington and Orafina of the week, after also topping the $15,000 Paul Tracy Farrier Services Welcome Stake on Thursday as the quickest clear pair from the 14-horse jump-off. As the second duo to navigate the short course, designed by Hasbrouck, Farrington and Orafina served as the pathfinders with the first double-clear ride of the day, setting a lightning-fast precedent in 38.04 seconds. As the second round of riding progressed with 12 more combinations, it became clear that the frontrunners’ time would hold to claim the top spot by nearly two full seconds. 

"Somebody that I work with in Europe, Leon Thijssen, said he had a horse that he thought I would like and would work for me because it's extremely careful," remarked Farrington of the new relationship with Orafina. "The plans are to build her up, just like always. Keep doing what we are doing by giving her positive experiences and time to mature. We will let her grow into herself. It was a great first step tonight."

Though Mark Bluman (COL) and Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) managed to stop the timers slightly quicker than the winning pair, they both did so at the expense of a downed rail to incur four faults. Riding Stone Hill Farm’s Hungry Heart, Jessica Springsteen (USA) earned second place with a clear time of 39.81 seconds, and Jonathon Millar (CAN) rounded out the podium in third aboard Shadow De Shalimar, owned by Isotropic Networks Inc.

Sunday’s classes wrapped up the horse show, but not before Catherine Wachtell of Long Valley, NJ, and Autumn View Farm’s Indy Van De Roten topped the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by JTWG, Inc. A field of 24 horse-and-rider teams competed over the first-round course, and seven of those earned a spot in the jump-off. As one of only two double-clear pairs, Wachtell and Indy Van De Roten were the clear victors, tripping the timers in 32.81 seconds, more than three seconds ahead of the next-closest duo. Liza Finsness of Wellington, FL, and her own Shiver jumped to second place in 36.16 seconds, and third place went to Audrey Schulze of Saddle River, NJ, aboard Riverbrook Sport Horses LLC’s Mr. Cash. Schulze and her mount were the fastest four-faulters in a time of 36.18 seconds.

To view the full results of the $50,000 Spy Coast & Sweet Oak Farm Grand Prix, please click HERE. 

To view the full results of the $15,000 Paul Tracy Farrier Services Welcome Stake, please click HERE.