Wellington, Fla. – March 29, 2017 – Wyndmont Inc. horses and clients had an incredible winter season in 2017. Proving to be one of the best years yet, the athletes at Wyndmont dominated the Winter Equestrian Festival, showcasing top talent, training, and ability in both the jumper and hunter rings under the tutelage of Ronnie Beard and Michael Dorman. As the winter show season came to a close, Wyndmont, Inc traveled to HITS Ocala to finish on high note, winning the $25,000 Smart Pack Grand Prix and earning a top ribbon in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix.
“This has been an incredible year for the whole team at Wyndmont,” acknowledged Beard. “We have a really talented group of horses and this season everything came together for each of them. Michael worked very carefully with each of them at home, and the riders were able to put it together in the ring. We are very excited about the rest of the year with this group.”
Wyndmont’s 12-year-old gelding Valinski S continued to impress following a successful summer at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Todd Minikus and Valinski S were a force to be reckoned with at the HITS Ocala Championship, beginning the week with a victory in the $25,000 Smart Pack Grand Prix. They then had a clear first round in the prestigious Great American $1 Million Grand Prix, where they went on to have the fastest jump-off round and only 4 faults for sixth place.
Minikus and Valinski S traveled to Ocala following a successful circuit at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. The pair started the winter season winning round one of the WEF Challenge Cup, and taking second place in round eight. With numerous top 15 grand prix finishes throughout WEF and a seventh place ride in the WEF Week Nine $380,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI5*, Valinski S consistently performed at the highest level throughout the competitive winter circuit.
Minikus and Wyndmont’s Zephyr were no different, beginning the first week of WEF with a seventh place finish in the $35,000 WEF challenge Cup. The pair continued to impress at WEF with $35,000 1.45m class wins Week Three and a blue in the CSI5* 1.45m class Week Five. Zephyr proved to be tough international competition, finishing Week Five by winning the FEI 5* $86,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. Zephyr concluded WEF with a second place finish in the FEI $10,000 CSIO Speed Stake during Week Eight and the sixth place award in the Week Ten $35,000 1.45m class.
“It’s been very comfortable and very easy as a rider for those horses,” said Minikus. “Ronnie and Michael are obviously top professionals and have been in the business for decades. It’s easy riding for professionals and for people who truly know the sport and who understand the ups and downs. It just so happens that I got along with the horses really well, so we make a successful team.”
Wyndmont student Nicole Loochtan and her horses also excelled in the jumper ring. Nicole and Quarterman 5 had a number of top five finishes in the High Amateur Owner classes while Cuchica and Loochtan were successful in the Medium Amateur Owner jumpers, consistently ribboning in larger classes during their first season together.
WEF 2017 provided Wyndmont’s young horses with opportunities to showcase their top of the line training and potential for success in both the hunter and jumper rings. Nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood Cas and Minikus won the $5,000 1.35m Open Jumper Classic Week One, while Amai Du Bourgeonet was named the 7-Year-Old Developing Jumper reserve champion Week One at WEF with Minikus in the irons. Wyndmont proved to be competitive in the hunter ring when Game Changed and Peter Pletcher were crowned Green Conformation Hunter Champions Week Five, the pair currently rank third in the circuit standings for the Shapley’s Green Conformation Hunter.
With premier training programs for both horse and rider, Wyndmont is a consistent producer of champions in both the hunter and jumper rings. Beard and Dorman provide clients with the skills necessary to be competitive at the top levels of the sport, traveling to and winning at the nations top horse shows. Wyndmont Inc. is client oriented, diligently working with and helping clients achieve their unique goals with every step of the process including finding the best horse for a clients needs, and the training necessary to succeed.
To learn more about Wyndmont Inc., their students and competitive sale horses please visit their website www.wyndmont.com.
