May 18, 2006 – Palgrave, Ontario – Hyde Moffat dominated the opening event in the 2006 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series, winning both the Six-Year-Old and the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Divisions.

Held during the Classic at Palgrave Phase I running May 10-14, the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series had to cope with wet weather at its opening event. The Four and Five-Year-Old Divisions, originally scheduled for May 11, were instead held May 16. However, the Six-Year-Old and the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Divisions went ahead as scheduled, and there was no denying the dominance of 26-year-old Hyde Moffat of Brantford, ON.

In the newly introduced Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division, held at the 1.35m level over a course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur, Moffat and Ramazotti V were one of only two clears to advance to the jump-off. Despite having the second to last fence down to incur four faults, Moffat and Ramazotti V stopped the clock 39.13 seconds to take the victory. Purchased in Belgium last summer, Ramazotti V is an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Calvados out of a Calando I dam. Tall and handsome, Ramazotti V is owned by Christopher Cullen, 22, who will eventual take over the reins to contest the High Junior/Amateur divisions.

Moffat also took second place riding World Cup van het Lindehof for owner Hawkestone Farms and Mark Hayes. Moffat and World Cup van het Lindehof also incurred four faults in the jump-off with their slower time of 40.81 seconds leaving them in the runner-up position. Developed through the Young Horse Series, World Cup van het Lindehof is a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco.

In third place, it was Moffat once again, this time with Hawkestone Farms' Denver, a seven-year-old Trakehner gelding by Donauwalzer. Erynn Ballard took fourth place riding Aimee Deluce's Windus, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Skippy II, while Roberto Teran guided Double Diamond, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood by Nabab de Reve out of a Chin Chin dam, to fifth place for owner KingRidge Stables.

In the Six-Year-Old Division, Moffat rode a new horse on the Canadian scene, Baron, to the top of the ranks. Only 15 horses started in the wet weather conditions, but 13 of those posted clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Moffat guided Baron, a selle francais gelding by Ulior des Isles out of a Narcos II dam, to the fastest of seven double clear performances in a time of 35.63 seconds.

"I purchased Baron in Belgium, and he is a very green young horse with very little show experience," explained owner Mark Hayes who operates Kestrel Farms in King City, ON. "He was imported in January and went right to Florida where we concentrated on getting him broke on the flat, and also jumped him in a few small classes. He is very careful, and is always very brave, so we should have a fun show season with him."

Runner-up was Canadian Show Jumping Team member Chris Pratt and Split Decision, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Calido out of a Continue dam. Imported from the Netherlands by owner Susan Grange of Lothlorien Farm in Cheltenham, ON, Split Decision was the Six-Year-Old Reserve Champion at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida earlier this year.

Dutch competitor Sebastien Kapel took third and fifth place for owner Mill Creek Stables. Riding Millesime du Valy, a chestnut selle francais stallion by Verdi, Kapel placed third while also piloting Rin Tin Tin, a German-bred Hannoverian gelding by Raphael, to fifth place.

Squeezing between the Mill Creek entries for fourth position was Michelle Vandal and Divine Diva, a Canadian Sport Horse mare owned by Vandal and Julie van Wieren. The only Canadian-bred in the top five, Divine Diva is by the thoroughbred sire, Vice Chancellor, and out of a Clydesdale mare. Jim Mackay of Dobbinton, ON, was the breeder.

Despite the delay, competition was healthy in the Four and Five-Year-Old Divisions. In the Five-Year-Old Division, which had 22 entries, the top five horses were Canadian-bred. Jennifer Gray hopped to the top of the standings riding Peter Rabbit, a bay Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Forever that she owns in partnership with Jim Gray.

Hugh Graham and Feature Attraction attracted a lot of attention as they slid into second place. A Canadian Sport Horse owned and bred by KingRidge Stables, Feature Attraction is sired by the legendary Baloubet de Rouet, Olympic Champion and winner of three World Cup Finals under Rodrigo Pessoa.

The Canadian Warmblood stallion VDL Ulando H was the runner-up with Canadian Olympian Beth Underhill. By the Holsteiner sire, Corland, and out of an Ahorn mare, VDL Ulando H is repeating the success he enjoyed as a four-year-old for owner Tim Millard. VDL Ulando H's talent may very well be passed on to future generations with 23 foals expected in 2006.

Making his competition debut, Unbelievable, a Canadian Sport Horse gelding, took fourth under Chris Pratt. Bred by owner Susan Grange at her Lothlorien Stables, Unbelievable is by the legendary Voltaire out of a thoroughbred mare. Another Canadian-bred entry, Viva's Lightning W, rounded out the top five under Erynn Ballard. Bred by Augustin Walch at his W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, ON, Viva's Lightning W is a Hannoverian gelding by Viva Voltaire.

In the Four-Year-Old Division, Mill Creek Stables took top spot with its entry, Allegro. A German-bred gelding by the Hannoverian sire, All In One, Allegro was piloted to victory by Dutch rider, Roy Wilten, who was showing in his first Canadian competition.

The next four places in the standings were claimed by Canadian-bred entries. Michelle Vandal and her own VDL Viper were the runner-ups. A Dutch Warmblood gelding by Corland, VDL Viper was bred by Hogendoorn in Baden, ON, and is in his first year of showing.

Comet, by Cockpit out of a Polydor dam, took third place under rider Sebastien Kapel. Bred and owned by Mill Creek Stables, Comet is a beautiful grey mare with an easy-going disposition that will excel in the hunter or jumper ring.

Erynn Ballard and Augustin Walch teamed up to take fourth and fifth positions. Fabianna W, a Hannoverian mare by Futurist out of a Rio Grande dam, edged ahead of stable mate Riolanco W, a Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Rio Grande. Both horses were bred at Walch's W. Charlot 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 2006 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series will include nine events in Ontario, as well as additional events in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. The Canadian Young Horse National Championships will then be held September 20-24 during the CSI-W Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON. The next event in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series will take place May 17-21 during the Classic at Palgrave Phase II in Palgrave, ON.

Proud supporters of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series include Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, 4 Star Trailers, TD Waterhouse, Scotia McLeod, Peter Miller, Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association, W. Charlot Farms, Gary Cooper Chev Olds, Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd., Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Brubacher’s Harness Shop, KingRidge Stables, Sea Air International, Mr. Charles Ormston, the Hannoverian Breeders Club of Eastern Canada, Mr. Michael Boyd, and Mrs. Elaine Gray.

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

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Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series – Results from Palgrave, ON

Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division

Horse Owner Rider
1. Ramazotti V Christopher Cullen Hyde Moffat
2. World Cup v/h Lindehof M. Hayes & Hawkestone Farms Hyde Moffat
3. Denver Hawkestone Farms Hyde Moffat
4. Windus Aimee Deluce Erynn Ballard
5. Double Diamond KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran

Six-Year-Old Division
Horse Owner Rider
1. Baron Mark Hayes Hyde Moffat
2. Split Decision Susan Grange Chris Pratt
3. Millesime du Valy Mill Creek Stables Sebastien Kapel
4. Divine Diva* M. Vandal and J. Van Wieren Michelle Vandal
5. Rin Tin Tin Mill Creek Stables Roy Wilten

Five-Year-Old Division
Horse Owner Rider
1. Peter Rabbit* Jim and Jennifer Gray Jennifer Gray
2. Feature Attraction* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
3. VDL Ulando H* Tim Millard Beth Underhill
4. Unbelievable* Susan Grange Chris Pratt
5. Viva's Lightning W* Augustin Walch Erynn Ballard

Four-Year-Old Division
Horse Owner Rider
1. Allegro Mill Creek Stables Roy Wilten
2. VDL Viper* Michelle Vandal Michelle Vandal
3. Comet* Mill Creek Stables Sebastien Kapel
4. Fabianna W* Augustin Walch Erynn Ballard
5. Riolanco W* Augustin Walch Erynn Ballard

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