Desert International Horse Park’s FEI Week Starts With Fierce Competition

Ellicia Edgar and Igor K shared the winning presentation for the $5,000 Welcome Speed sponsored by Smartpak with her family. Photo ESI Photography

For Immediate Release

THERMAL, Calif. – March 17, 2021 – Competition kicked off FEI week at the Desert International Horse Park Week VIII, loaded with four FEI classes featuring the $250,000 FEI CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix which takes place on Sunday. Jumper action this week also includes the North American Youth Championship (NAYC) Trials for 1.20m – 1.45m riders. With a $25,000 Grand Prix sponsored by Farmvet, a $25,000 1.40m Jumper Classic sponsored by Great American Insurance and a $10,000 U25 Classics sponsored by AIG and presented by Equifit, the horse park will offer over $465,000 in jumper prize money this week.

Igor K and Ellicia Edgar blazed the way in the opening Welcome Speed. Photo ESI Photography

Luck of the Irish was with Igor K and Ellicia Edgar as they claimed the top spot in the $5,000 Welcome Speed sponsored by Smartpak on this St. Patrick’s Day. The best of 34 entries over the course designed by Maria Azevedo (BRA), Igor K stopped the clock at 64.634 to set the fastest time over 13 clean jump off rounds for the win. Edgar (Parkland County, AB, CAN) imported the horse from Holland and has had  the eight-year-old for two years, bringing him along herself. She and her husband have a breeding and sale operation in Canada at their Valleyfield Farm and have been coming to the horse park for years and says it’s a great venue to compete at and a great venue to develop young horses at, which is why they come. She admits the improvements are impressive and they will continue to return to horse show. Edgar is aiming for the $25,000 1.40m class on Saturday to end her season on a good note.

“I have to say he’s my favorite horse in the whole barn,” said Edgar of her Igor K. “He has been developing and doing all  the right things so far in his career. I’m super excited about his win today. He’s really starting to show us what he’s made of.”

Jessica Gleason (Eugene, OR) and Cerafina finished just behind Edgar with 66.213 for second and Jason McArdle (Rancho Sante Fe, CA) took home third with Eye Catcher and his time of 66.509.

1.30m Open Jumper

Mr. Miracle and Jeffrey Fields topped a field of 108 entries to claim the victory in the 1.30m Open Jumper sponsored by Equine Trading Company and Red Top Farm. Photo ESI Photography

Mr. Miracle Man truly was a miracle man today with the fastest clear round out of 108 entries in the 1.30m Open Jumper sponsored by Equine Trading Company and Red Top Farm. Ridden by Jeffrey Fields (Redwood City, CA) and owned by the Kehring Family, the Swedish Warmblood can be found in the junior jumper ring with Katie Kehring and is here for the NAYC trials.

S&L Remember My Name and Raymond Texel finished in second and Carma Z with Harley Brown in the tack rounded out the top three.

1.40m Open Jumper

Harley Brown and Quidam’s Rose finished at the top of the leaderboard for the 1.40m Open Jumper sponsored by Premier Rehabilitation & Retirement. Photo ESI Photography

Harley Brown (Redwood City, CA) and Quidam’s Rose, owned by Caroline Burke, finished at the top of the leader board in the 1.40m Open Jumper sponsored by Premier Rehabilitation & Retirement.  Brown, who went toward the end of the class, was able to slice four seconds off the previous class leader’s time, nudging out Francie Nilforushan and My Love Carthago for the win. Brown brought six of his riders for the NAYC Trials and for the great experience it allows them to have throughout the event.

“[The trials] are fabulous for them,” said Brown. “The trials, the open water, everything, it makes them confident and it’s all very good for them.”

Brown added it is a pleasure to be at the facility and Steve Hankins and the group are all doing a really great job with all of it.

Jumper competition continues Thursday at the horse park with the $25,000 Farmvet Grand Prix and the $5,000 FEI 1.40m class sponsored by Human Touch in addition to Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers 1.40m.

All rings at the Desert International Horse Park are livestreamed. Catch the action at Deserthorsepark.com and click the “Watch Live” tab to view.

About the Desert International Horse Park

With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.