May 29, 2009 – Caledon, Ontario – The 2009 Canadian Young Horse Development Series opened at the Caledon National horse show held May 20-24 in Palgrave, Ontario.

In the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division, Yann Candele emerged victorious with the fastest time in the jump-off riding Naiade de Kergane. Owned by Normandy Hills, the eight-year-old selle francais is by Caloubet de Rouet and out of an Aspede Pierreville dam.

Following close behind in second was Hyde Moffatt with Naiade des Garins. Bred by Geldof Gaston in Belgium and owned by Mark Hayes, the eight-year-old selle francais is by Damiro out of Joyeuse des Garins by Muguet du Manoir.

A Canadian Sport Horse, Feature Attraction 3E, took third place with a double clear performance under Hugh Graham. Bred and owned by KingRidge Stables, the eight-year-old Future Attraction 3E is by 2004 Olympic Champion Baloubet du Rouet and out of King Ridge’s own Galaxy 3E by Aerobic Z. Finishing fourth was Beth Underhill riding Viggo, a seven-year-old by Quick Star out of a Cantus dam. The pair had a quick jump-off time, but a rail down at the second-to-last fence left them in fourth position.

In the Six-Year-Old Division, seven riders jumped clear in the first round to advance to a jump-off. Once again, Yann Candele came out on top, this time riding Hudson for owner Sue Grange and Lothlorien Farm. Imported from Candele’s home country of France in the fall of 2008, Hudson is a selle francais gelding by Epsom d’Utah out of Love Song d’Utah by Yarlands Summer Song. Earlier this year, Candele and Hudson successfully competed in the six-year-old classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Close behind Candele to clinch second place was Johan Letimonier with Troy, a Canadian Warmblood by Indoctro out of Pheobe by Flipper, the former grand prix mount of Jay Hayes. Letimonier and Troy, bred and owned by North Ridge, already won a six-year-old young horse class in Ocala, FL, this year, and are looking for their first victory on Canadian soil.

Also clear in the jump-off, Frankie Chesler-Ortiz wasn’t quick enough to catch Candele and Letimonier, leaving her in third place with Sher Al Farms’ Muhammad Ali, a registered Zangersheide horse by Quasimoto Z out of a Nimmerdor dam. Fourth place went to Linkin, a Holsteiner gelding by Cassini out of Malta II by Ubertino I, owned and ridden by Miranda Travers-Cavill.

Jay Hayes and Frankie Chesler-Ortiz finished in fifth and sixth place respectively, with Hayes riding the Dutch-bred Wonderboy by Lupicor out of Hilaya by Renville and Chesler-Ortiz aboard Caprice Z, a Belgian-bred by Chin Chin owned by Sarah Bellamy. Both riders acquired four faults in the jump-off at the second-to-last fence.

Chesler-Ortiz enjoyed a trip to the winner’s circle in the Five-Year-Old Division riding the Canadian-bred Eli. Bred and owned by Mill Creek Stables of Cambridge, ON, the registered Hannoverian gelding is by El Bundy out of Rachelle by Rio Grande. In the Five-Year-Old Division, horses are awarded scores objectively for their jumping performance, and subjectively for their style. Eli jumped clear for a perfect score of 50, and was awarded 37 points by the style judge to earn the highest score of 87 points. Chesler-Ortiz also secured third place with 86 points riding Obelia for owner Sarah Bellamy. A Belgian Warmblood, Obelia is by Obourg and out of Trappiste de Meia Lua by Fantastique, and was imported from Belgium in 2008.

Finishing second with a score of 86.5 points was Talula, ridden by Lauren Hayes. Bred and owned by Jay and Shawn Hayes of North Ridge, Talula is a Canadian Warmblood mare by the Dutch stallion Lux Z, out of Lauren’s former grand prix mount, Emanuelle, who is by Nimmador.

Although they earned the highest style score of the day, an unfortunate knock-down at the final fence left Yann Candele and Casius Clay, a Canadian Warmblood owned by Lyda Bostock, in fourth position. Bred by Grande Farms in Orangeville, ON, Casius Clay is by Catrick II out of First Class by For Pleasure. No stranger to the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series, Casius Clay was the 2008 National Four-Year-Old Champion.

Allison Zlepnig finished fifth with the Ottawa Southway Inn Group’s Lino, an Oldenburg gelding by Lordanos out of Fiane by Pablo. Rounding out the top six was Juan Ortiz with Free and Clear, an American thoroughbred owned by Sher Al Farms.

The purpose of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.

The Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series is truly national in scope with competitions being held from coast to coast. This year, The Rocky Mountain Classic II will play host to the $20,000 Western Canadian Championships from August 28-30 in Calgary, Alberta. After being held at Thunderbird Showpark in Langley, BC for the last three years, the move to Calgary in 2009 will encourage more participation from Alberta owners and breeders.

The Ontario Championships, Eastern Canadian Championships, and National Young Horse Finals will also change venues this year, and will take place at the Canadian Country Classic at Halton Place in Halton, ON, from September 9-13.

The next event in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series will take place during the Summer Classic from June 17-21 in Palgrave, ON.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series include Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, Cavalor, Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., 4 Star Trailers, Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Peter Miller, Preston Sand and Gravel, Scotia McLeod, Sher-Al Farms, and W. Charlot Farms.

For more information on the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series, please visit www.jumperdevelopment.com.



Horse Owner Rider
1. Naiade de Kergane Normandy Hills Yann Candele
2. Naiade de Garins Mark Hayes Hyde Moffatt
3. Feature Attraction 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
4. Viggo Beth Underhill Beth Underhill
5. Vancouver Susan Grange Yann Candele

Horse Owner Rider
1. Hudson Sue Grange Yann Candele
2. Troy* North Ridge Johan Letimonier
3. Muhammed Ali Sher-Al Farms Frankie Chesler-Ortiz
4. Linkin Miranda Travers-Cavill Miranda Travers-Cavill
5. Wonderboy North Ridge Lauren Hayes
6. Caprice Z Sarah Bellamy Frankie Chesler-Ortiz

Horse Owner Rider
1. Eli* Mill Creek Stables Frankie Chesler-Ortiz
2. Talula* North Ridge Lauren Hayes
3. Obelia Sarah Bellamy Frankie Chesler-Ortiz
4. Casius Clay* Lyda Bostock Yann Candele
5. Lino Ottawa Southway Inn Group Allison Zlepnig
6. Free & Clear Sher-Al Farms Juan Ortiz

NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.