Frankie Chesler Fourth and Seventh in Palgrave
Even though we are two days away from summer and experienced record breaking heat last week, in true Palgrave fashion it was feeling like the middle of April with cloudy skies and a cool brisk wind from the North. That didn’t seem to deter the twenty-six horse and rider combinations from making an appearance at the Summer Classic, the fifth show here at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, Ontario. Sundays Modified Grand Prix drew many riders with their younger horses to mix in with a handful of seasoned mounts to try for the $10,000 in prize money.
A very difficult first round found no traps or unfriendly areas however, it contained many visual effects accompanying each obstacle, jumps along the side and corner of the ring and the open water in the centre. Built by Ontario native Rick Smith, he created a course that challenged the experienced horses and tested the nerve of the younger ones. With only six clear out of twenty-six horse and riders, it made for a very exciting jump-off. A tight vertical vertical combination and a skinny jump on an angle as the final jump tested those who passed the first round. In the end, it was John Pearce aboard Archie Bunker who captured the win with Chesler finishing in a tight fourth position with Picolien Zeldenrust and in seventh on VDL Nuit de Pomme. "Having VDL Nuit de Pomme back in the ring was a real treat for me today. He is just coming back from a small procedure he had done during the winter and we expect him to be back to his old self in the next few weeks," Chesler stated.
Earlier in the week Chesler aboard two of her newer mounts, seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood Ranville and eight-year-old Picolien Zeldenrust captured first and seventh placings in the 1.45m Jumper Class. "Both Ranville and Picolien have made some great progress since we acquired them last year in Holland from the Schep & Waldman Stables." Chesler commented. "I knew the moment I rode them that they would be great horses to compete with and let me tell you - they are well on their way." Chesler also competed successfully in the 1.35M Jumper Class with her ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood VDL Nuit de Pomme.
Venezuelan team rider and Chesler's future husband, Juan Ortiz also competed successfully this past week aboard six-year-old Steve, owned by Schep & Waldman Stables in Holland, placing fourth in the 1.35M Jumper Class. Chesler and Ortiz will be showing younger horses this upcoming weekend and Chesler will also be judging at a show in Barrie, Ontario.
