September 16, 2006 – Halton Hills, Ontario – The last event in the 2006 Canadian Young Horse Development Series before the Ontario and National Finals was held on September 3 during the CSI-W Canadian Country Classic at Halton Place in Halton Hills, ON.

The Young Horse classes featured courses designed by Danny Foster and were held on the grass grand prix field. In the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division, Hyde Moffatt of Brantford, ON, emerged victorious just as he has on so many other occasions throughout this season's Jumper Development Series. This time, he claimed top spot after posting a blistering fast time in the jump-off riding Kelly du Lautier, Kathleen Selke's eight-year-old selle francais mare by Camargue du Luc and out of a Jocariste mare.

Moffatt proved to be his own best competition, also taking second place after finishing more than three seconds slower than his winning time riding World Cup v/h Lindehof. Owned by Hawkestone Farms, World Cup v/h Lindehof is a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco.

Sliding into third position was Margie Gayford and Wingberry Farm's Winston, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wellington out of a Cantus dam. Now in his second year competing in the Young Horse Jumper Development Series, Winston was the National Six-Year-Old Reserve Champion.

In the Six-Year-Old Division, a nine-horse jump-off was needed to determine the winner. Despite being the first horse back for the jump-off, Millesime du Valy put in another clear round in what would prove to be the day's fastest time to take victory. Ridden by Sebastien Kapel for owner Mill Creek Stables of Cambridge, ON, Millesime du Valy is by Verdi by Narcos II out of a Matador du Bois dam. Imported from France as a three-year-old, Millesime du Valy was named the Grand Champion at the 2005 Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA) Stallion Inspection and was recently approved by the Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society.

Also posting double clear rounds, but more than a full second off the winning pace, was the Angelstone Farm's entry of Maharaja D'Armanville ridden by Keean White of Cambridge, ON.

Mill Creek Stables also took third place in the Six-Year-Old Division when Kapel was again clear in the jump-off riding the Hannoverian gelding, Rin Tin Tin. By the well-known sire, Raphael, and out of a Calypso II dam, Rin Tin Tin successfully competed in the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series as a four and five-year-old.

After finishing as runner-up one week earlier in the Five-Year-Old Division at the Fox Run Horse Show, VDL Ugene made a trip to the winner's circle at Halton Place. Owned by Debbie McFadden of London, ON, and ridden by Virginia McGovern, VDL Ugene was bred in Canada by Henk Klunder of St. Agatha, ON. A registered Canadian Warmblood, the gelding's breeding features impressive Dutch bloodlines - his sire is Indoctro while his dam is by Nimmerdor.

The W. Charlot Farm's entry of Vasco da Gama took second place under rider Robert Blanchett. Bred in Germany, Vasco da Gama is a Hannoverian stallion by Voltaire out of a Raphael dam.

The Canadian-bred entry of VDL Upsala H took third place under rider Michelle Vandal. Bred by Hogendoorn Farms in Baden, ON, and owned by Liam Dumont-Walker, VDL Upsala H is by Ahorn and out of a Libero H dam.

The Four-Year-Old Division was almost completely dominated by Canadian-bred entries. The winner was VDL Viper H, owned and ridden by Michelle Vandal of Milton, ON. Bred by Hogendoorn Farms, VDL Viper H is a registered Dutch Warmblood by Corland out of an Ahorn dam that is enjoying his first year of showing.

Allegro, the only non-Canadian bred horse to place in the top six, took home second place honours for owner Mill Creek Stables. Shown by Rafael Annunciacao of Brazil, Allegro, is a German-bred Hannoverian gelding by All in One and out of a Ritual dam.

Robert Blanchett then took third, fourth and fifth riding three Canadian-bred horses for owner and breeder, Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, ON. In third place was Fabiana W, a Hannoverian mare by W. Charlot Farm's own stallion, Futurist by For Pleasure, out of a Rio Grande dam. Riolanco W took fourth while Rio's Lancia W placed fifth. Both horses are by the prolific stallion, Rio Grande.


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 includes nine events in Ontario, as well as additional events in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. The final events in the Series, the Ontario Championships, Eastern Championships and the National Finals, will all take place during the CSI-W Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, ON, from September 20-24. The first two days of competition, Wednesday and Thursday, will determine the Ontario and Eastern Champions, as well as the top 15 placings in each age catagory that move forward to the National Finals on Friday (Four and Five-Year-Olds), Saturday (Six-Year-Olds) and Sunday (Seven and Eight-Year-Olds).

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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