October 30, 2007 – Palgrave, Ontario – The National Young Horse Championships were held during the CSI-W Tournament of Champions to conclude the 2007 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series. Young horses from across the country were eligible to compete in the National Finals, which was divided into three days of competition for each age group and offered a total of $52,000 in prize money.

Following three legs of competition mimicking the World Cup format, Atlanta van de Padenborre accumulated 40 points to edge ahead of Game Ready with 39 points to claim the National Seven and Eight-Year-Old Championship title.

A seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Atlanta van de Padenborre is by Ahorn Z out of a Quidam de Revel dam. Purchased in Belgium, Atlanta van de Padenborre is owned by Mark Hayes and ridden by Hyde Moffatt.

"He is an absolutely incredible seven-year-old," praised Moffatt, a member of the Canadian Show Jumping Team short list. "He has scope, technique, carefulness - all of the qualities that you look for in a real horse. Atlanta's desire to do well is a quality most appreciated by riders. When he goes in the ring, he wants to win. It is a pleasure to ride a horse like him."

Moffatt, who competed in the National Finals with several mounts, was also full of praise for the Series and its season-end championships.

"Atlanta was imported last year from Belgium and this is his first season showing in Canada, so having the Young Horse classes to bring him along in has proven invaluable," he noted. "The progressive nature of the Series allows you to really get to know a new horse as you develop it. Having the National Finals during Tournament of Championships provides a great venue and gives you a great atmosphere to compete in as a rider - having lots of people in the stands is fantastic! It really feels like a national finals."

The Reserve Seven and Eight-Year-Old Championship title went to Game Ready. Having only been imported this spring after enjoying a successful young jumper career in Holland, Game Ready continued his success in Canada under Yann Candele, riding for Susan Grange and Lothlorien Farm. A brown Dutch Warmblood gelding, Game Ready is by Andiamo out of a Polydox mare.

In the Six-Year-Old Division, Frieda emerged the National Champion for the second year in a row for rider Ainsley Vince and owner KMA Group. Having also claimed the Eastern Canadian Championship title on Friday, Frieda proved her dominance by winning the National Championship title with a total of 49 points.

"She is a typical German mare and can be tough in a lot of ways, but she's got a good brain for horse showing and when she goes in the ring, she is all business," laughed Vince, a two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion. "What I really liked was that the course designer set a tough test; the jumps were what they should be at a national championship."

Frieda is a chestnut mare that is registered with the German-based Sachsen-Anhalt studbook. Bred in Germany, Frieda is by For Future by the great show jumping horse, For Pleasure, and out of a Graf Anhalt E dam. The KMA Group purchased Frieda in Florida during the winter of 2006 and successfully showed in the Five-Year-Old division, winning the National Championship as well as taking the reserve championship titles in both the Ontario Championships and the Eastern Canadian Championships.

As for the overall value of the Series in the development of young jumping horses, Vince noted, "I think that it is a great tool for developing young horses, and it is a great way to get in the main ring at a lot of shows with a young horse. A lot of people are really following the results of the Series now, and the classes are well attended. At the Tournament of Champions, the rings looked beautiful, and the National Young Horse Finals were put in the spotlight. And while last year the prize money was good, this year the prize money was great!"

Lothlorien Farm took another Reserve Championship title when the Dutch Warmblood mare Ariana finished second overall with a total of 44 points. Also piloted by Yann Candele, Ariana's bloodlines feature Dutch breeding with her sire being Oklund while her dam is by Damiro by Ramiro. In addition to excelling in the show ring, Ariana also had two foals this year by For Pleasure through embryo transfer.

Augustine made a clean sweep of the Five-Year-Old Divison, winning the Ontario Championship, the Eastern Canadian Championship and, finally, the National Five-Year-Old Championship title. Owned by Aubrie DeSylva and ridden by Rob Carey, Augustine was bred by Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms in Stratford, ON. A Canadian Sport Horse gelding, Augustine is by the late Hannoverian sire, Rio Grande, and out of Santa Lucia by Sergej.

The Canadian Championships proved to be a case of always the bridesmaid, never the bride for Lothlorien Farm as Venlo took the Reserve Five-Year-Old Championship title. Ridden by Yann Candele, Venlo is a grey Dutch Warmblood gelding by Celano by Capitol I out of a Farmer dam that was purchased in the spring of 2007, having already started his show jumping career at local shows in Holland.

Canadian-bred horses continued to dominate the Four-Year-Old Division with eight out of the top 10 finishers being foaled on Canadian soil. Riga emerged the National Four-Year-Old Champion for owner Sherri Hunt-Serazia. With 56 points, Riga was untouchable in the final standings. Ridden throughout the summer by Carly Campbell Cooper, Yann Candele took over the reins for the final event of the season while Campbell Cooper was sidelined with a broken ankle.

A registered Hannoverian mare, Riga was bred by Mill Creek Stables in Cambridge, ON. Her sire is Raphael, the Westphalian stallion that has produced numerous international grand prix show jumping horses, while her dam is Chanel by Carte d'Or.

The Ontario Four-Year Champion, Rio's Lovestory W, settled for the Reserve Championship title in both the eastern Canadian and the national standings. The success was a great way for the grey Canadian Warmblood mare to finish her first show season and continue the legacy of her sire, Rio Grande. Ridden by Canadian Show Jumping Team member Erynn Ballard, Rio's Lovestory was bred by owner W. Charlot Farms and is by Rio Grande out of Lavinia by Laval I.

"This marked the tenth year for the Canadian Jumper Development Series and, thanks to the dedicated work of our volunteer committee and strong support from our sponsors, we were able to offer $52,000 in prize money at the Canadian Young Horse Championships held at Tournament of Champions," noted Phil Henning, Chair of the Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series. "We extend a special thank you to Jump Canada and the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association; without their support, this important series would not be possible. The quality of the horses this year was world-class, and many of the top-placed horses were bred in Canada. Next year, we will be working hard to increase both prize money and the prestige of this very important Series."

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 wishes to extend its gratitude for all the supporters that made the 2007 season a great success: Jump Canada, the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association, Mr. Michael Boyd, Brubacher’s Harness Shop, Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association, Gary Cooper, Dutch Masters Construction Services Ltd., 4 Star Trailers, the Hannoverian Breeders Club of Eastern Canada, Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd., Horse Sport magazine, KingRidge Stables, Dr. Alan Manning, Mill Creek Stables, Peter Miller, Mr. Charles Ormston, Scotia McLeod, Seegmiller Limited, TD Waterhouse and W. Charlot Farms.

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


Horse Owner Rider
Champion Atlanta van de Padenborre Mark Hayes Hyde Moffatt
Reserve Game Ready Susan Grange Yann Candele
3. (tie) Diplomat KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
3. (tie) Wembley 234 Chadburn Holdings Mac Cone
5. Triton Sher-Al Farms Frankie Chesler-Ortiz
6. (tie) Assini Eastwood Group Angela Covert-Lawrence
6. (tie) Kinsale Burmonds & Wetmore Yann Candele
6. (tie) Navarre Mikali Farms Alison Moore
6. (tie) Showgirl Wingberry Farms Margie Gayford
10. Baron Mark Hayes Hyde Moffatt

Horse Owner Rider
Champion Frieda KMA Group Ainsley Vince
Reserve Ariana Susan Grange Yann Candele
3. Utah Hannah Anderson Hannah Anderson
4. (tie) Fifth Estate 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
4. (tie) Vasco da Gama Augustin Walch Martien van der Hoeven
6. Unanimous Laura Kelk Mac Cone
7. VDL Upsala H Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal
8. Accabello Paige and Gord Munro Ben Murphy
9. Sacramento Vant Paradis S Whitney Linders Chris Sorensen
10. Quizical Kid Susan Grange Yann Candele

Horse Owner Rider
Champion Augustine* Aubrie DeSylva Rob Carey
Reserve Venlo Susan Grange Yann Candele
3. Grand Finale 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
4. Mystical M* Ann Matthews & Millar Brooke Jonathon Millar
5. Taboo's Charlie Brown Taboo International Inc. Robert Sharpe
6. Vancouver Susan Grange Yann Candele
7. (tie) J.R. Gord and Paige Munro Ben Murphy
7. (tie) VDL Viper H* Michelle Vandal Michelle Vandal
9. (tie) Capriato Windy Hill Farm Angie Temelini
9. (tie) GH Fortune's Son* Glenhadden Farm Yann Candele
9. (tie) Lilius Liam Dumont-Walker Michelle Vandal

Horse Owner Rider
Champion Riga* Sherri Hunt-Serazia Yann Candele
Reserve Rio's Lovestory W* Augustin Walch Erynn Ballard
3. Head's Up 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
4. Bale Par Mill Creek Stables Yann Candele
5. Holiday 3E* KingRidge Stables Hugh Graham
6. (tie) Holy Smoke 3E* KingRidge Stables Roberto Teran
6. (tie) Privilege* Sarah Bates Hyde Moffatt
6. (tie) Viking Ferro Richard and Meryl Cannon Chris Sorensen
9. Futi's Calypso W* Augustin Walch Erynn Ballard
10. Relevant K* Danielle Vavaroutsos Jennifer Ramsey

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