Wellington, FL – The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour returned home to The Ridge at Wellington for its third week of competition. Michel Ismalun, a member of the course design team from the World Equestrian Games 2014 and a world-renowned course designer, built the young jumper course on the Grand Prix field.

The course was very inviting and educational for each division, allowing the younger horses to go forward and gallop while on the turf.  Themes from yesterday’s Young Jumper Symposium continued today on a track designed by Michel Ismalun.  “Well, it was just like I explained during the symposium. Young horses need special courses. What I put here had a lot of air, time to breathe between the jumps, progressive and never a place where they had to put forth too much effort. Today we started a system, and the footing was fantastic, I am very happy with the results. I think people are really enjoying it, it is something new out here.” Cynthia Hampton, founder of Classic Champions Inc.,  spoke of her passion to develop a system for the young jumpers that would give them the best chance for success.  “I approached Nona [Garson] and George [D’Ambrosio], and we feel as though 5 and 6 year olds should show on grass first so that they move forward and have room to breathe. They were very open to the idea, so we are very fortunate to be able to begin with The Ridge.”

Ismalun will be setting the courses for all of the Young Jumper series. There are six separate weeks, and the final week will have a two-day championship format. The purpose of the series is to educate young horses and create long-lasting athletes.

The course presented to the young horses presented very fair questions and provided an optional last obstacle, the choice between a liverpool or a small open water option. Josh Dolan rode Genevieve Edwards’ Baloumerang Sv to a successful first place in the 5-year-old jumpers.  Diamiro, ridden by Denise Wilson for Blue Gate Farm LLC claimed the top prize in the first class of the 6-year-old jumpers.

Kaitlyn Campbell aboard Geoffrey Sutton’s Summer Time won the Young Jumper Championship 6-year-old Qualifier class.   Tina Di Landri dominated the 7 & 8 year-old jumper division. She rode Highpoint Farm LLC’s Diorado VDL to a first place ribbon in the first class and finished third in the $2000 class.  She also rode Dakar VDL for Eva Castegren to a third and second-place finish. Darragh Kerins rode Holsteins Eastwood, owned by M & M Show Stables, to a second-place ribbon in the first class and a fifth-place finish in the second class. For more information about the Ridge at Wellington please go to www.theridgefarm.com. For up-to-date information, please follow the Ridge at Wellington on Facebook. For more information on the Classic Cham