Wynn MedingerOld Salem Farm boasts five, all-weather outdoor rings and its famous grass Grand Prix field, and the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows were recently named to the North American Riders Group top 25 shows of 2015, offering prize money in excess of $500,000 in divisions ranging from ponies and equitation to Under 25 and top FEI competition.
Four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Beezie Madden claimed victory in the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI2*riding Breitling LS on Sunday, May 14, and Andrew Ramsay (USA) led the victory gallop in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix CSI3* a week later riding Cocq a Doodle. After a second-place finish in the feature grand prix during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Ramsay and Cocq a Doodle, owned by The Doodle Group, moved up for a victory in the $130,000 Empire State Grand Prix in a three-horse jump-off. The only double-clear effort of the day belonged to Ramsay, who stopped the clock at 45.50 seconds over a jump-off track built by 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Final course designer Alan Wade (IRL).
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Katie Dinan (USA) had the speed to beat Ramsay, but pulled a single rail in the final trip of the jump-off to settle for second place in 45.17 seconds riding Dougie Douglas, owned by Grant Road Partners, LLC. Third went to Lauren Tisbo (USA) who was the first rider to jump clean in the opening round, and stood as the lone clear until the final two riders joined her for a jump-off. She and Brindis Bogibo, owned by Tequestrian Farms, LLC, finished on four faults in 49.68 seconds.
The show supports non-profit and charitable causes from across the region.
Highlighting the list of local organizations with a presence at Old Salem Farm this spring was Pegasus Therapeutic Riding. Pegasus includes four chapters throughout Putnam, Westchester, and Fairfield counties, with Pegasus Farm, a 20-acre permanent facility in Brewster, NY, neighboring Old Salem Farm. Pegasus Therapeutic Riding aims to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and challenges through equine-assisted activities and therapies.
Headquartered in New York City, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) visited Old Salem Farm with adoptable cats and dogs. The ASPCA was the first humane society to be established in North America and is still one of the largest in the world.
Year after year, the farm’s Spring Shows draw many of the biggest names in the business, from U.S.A. Olympic team staples Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, to international competitors from around the globe. What makes the Old Salem Horse Shows so special? “It’s a great jumping off point for our summer,” says Quentin Judge. “We head to Spruce Meadows after this, so it’s great to have the horses jumping on the grass and for myself and our riders and horses to get back in that mode after being in the sand rings in Florida for so long.”