The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue with its fifth week of competition, sponsored by Rolex, on February 5-9, 2014. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela was the course designer for week four's finale event. There were 45 competitors on the beautiful grass derby field with eight clear trips in round one to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off. In the second round, four entries cleared the short course without fault.

Lauren Hough set the pace with her clear round in the jump-off aboard The Ohlala Group's Ohlala in 43.24 seconds to eventually finish third. Andres Rodriguez and Arao Enterprises LLC's Caballito upped the ante with their time of 42.94 seconds to end up in second place. Roosje Brouwer (NED) and Stal Heijligers and A. Vogels' SRI Aladdin also completed a clear round over the short course in a slower time of 49.56 seconds to earn fourth place honors. Last to go in the second round, Hardin Towell and Jennifer Gates' Man in Black got the winning edge, completing the course in 42.47 seconds.

Man in Black is a 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Calvados that Towell has been riding for one year. Gates showed the gelding in the Junior Jumpers last year and then handed him over to compete at the higher level with Towell. Sunday's win was the biggest of Towell's career - his second grand prix victory, and his first major win at the FTI WEF. The rider is 26 years old and from Camden, South Carolina.

"With him in the past year, probably starting last year in Thunderbird, I was really close in a lot of classes and I would go too fast," Towell said of his partnership with Man in Black. "On Thursday I was quite close to winning and I knew I should slow down, and I just kept running down the last line. I'm just glad I beat Andres, because in L.A. in November I was winning the World Cup class and was really fast, and everybody was like 'Congratulations you won!' and I said, 'No, Andres still has to go,' and he beat me by about one-tenth of a second. I think today was really close again, so I'm glad I could repay him the favor!"

"It feels very good (to win), and especially since I just started showing him," Towell noted. "He's a little bit strong. I have had a lot of trouble the last six months finding the right bit. I have changed a lot of bits and probably made a lot of mistakes using the wrong bits, but I think we have kind of figured it out. He's a really sweet horse. He is very brave, very scopey, and this is a great venue out in this grass field. He is always good at places like that. He is so brave that he is a little bit impressed out here sometimes, so today he jumped unbelievably. I could not ask for any more; he was fantastic."

Commenting on his winning round in the jump-off, Towell detailed, "I thought in the jump-off I was a little bit smarter. I thought about running and being crazy, and then I remembered, 'You know what, let's just try to be clean,' and I thought I was close enough. I landed and I actually saw a leave out to the last jump, which maybe six months ago or Thursday I would have done and knocked it down, but I decided to try to cut it close and win by just a little bit."

Towell got to compete at some different venues around North America this past year and explained that the experience has helped him grow as a rider.

"It helps a lot," he stated. "I went to different places and competed against different people. My whole life I have kind of stayed in the Southeast. I have never had that opportunity, so I met a lot of new people, and it was nice showing at Spruce Meadows and everywhere we went. I have had a great last year; it has been very lucky. Jennifer has been great the whole year and I want to thank Chris, my barn manager, and my mom and dad, and my sister. We just have a very good team."

Andres Rodriguez was happy for Towell's success this week and had a great round with his horse, Caballito. He acknowledged the beautiful venue at The Stadium at PBIEC, which has hosted classes throughout the week.

"I really enjoy this venue," Rodriguez stated. "The ring where they had the young riders grand prix the other day and this open field are a great change from the main stage. I think the horses appreciate the change and not jumping the same jumps in the same ring all the time. Leopoldo had a great course out there and I think with the time allowed, we had the right amount of people in the jump-off."

"When we went to the jump-off there were a lot of really fast horses," Rodriguez pointed out. "I think five horses in the jump-off have won international classes, so I knew it was going to be fast. It started with the first two having two jumps down, so that started to make me think, but then Lauren went and had a fast round so I went back to the first plan. From Hardin I knew he was going to get back at me at some point. I was hoping it wasn't going to be today, but it was! I only saw the last line of his round. I thought he was going to take the six strides, which I was kind of hoping he would, and he didn't. It was his turn to win, and I am happy for him. He's been too close too many times, and this was his day."

Third place finisher, Lauren Hough, had a great week with Ohlala, including a win in Friday's $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. Hough was very happy with Sunday's conclusion to the week and in addition to the third place prize, was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week four. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

Commenting on her jump-off round with Ohlala, Hough explained, "I have to stick to my plan with that mare. She doesn't have a huge stride, but she jumped fantastic and I think Leopoldo did a super job today. He had just the right amount of clear, the time was short but not impossible, and I knew the first two had two jumps down, but I went with what I could do. This is a huge field, so I just had to hope that maybe I would get a little lucky today, but unfortunately these two young men with big horses and big canters went just a little bit faster than me."

"I went as fast as I thought I could go," Hough acknowledged. "I don't know if I could have gotten them, to be honest. She is who she is, and she wins a lot of classes, but they got me today. She was fantastic the whole week and one of her owners is here today, so I'm thrilled that she was able to see her."

Week 4 Classic winners:  

$15,000 Engel & Volkers, Sollak Carr SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Ali Wolff and Artemis   

$10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumpers - Emanuel Andrade and Wilkina Lithya   

$10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Francesca Bolfo and U2   

$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Christina Firestone and Zodiac   

$10,000 Martha Jolicoeur, Illustrated Properties Adult Jumpers 18-35 - Alissa Kinsey and Grisset   

$10,000 Classical South Florida Adult Jumpers 36-49 - Joaquina Barrios and Luky des Rocquelines   

$10,000 Horseware Ireland Don Little Masters - Elizabeth Lamotte and Windfall   

$10,000 Maria Mendelsohn, Illustrated Properties Low Junior Jumpers - Cloe Hymowitz and Bon Vivant   

$10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers - Emanuel Andrade and Costa

Week 4 Champions:  

EnTrust Capital Children's Jumper 14 & Under - Bobby Kraut and Calimero XXVI

FarmVet Adult Modified Jumpers - Tina Robinson and VDL Aloha H

National Disaster Solutions Children's Jumper 15-17 - Madison Charlton and Petit Flipper

Griffis Residential Children's Modified Jumpers - Andres Alberto Correa Rivero and Jaima

Equiline Low Adult Jumper 18-35 - Kathryn Haefner and Kaberle

Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over - Monica Algarra and RMF Valentina; Patricia Hurter and Zazu

Crown Family Low Children's Jumper - McKinsey Hughes and Consulado; Anna Platek and Limerick

Speak Up for Kids Wins Fifth Annual FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments�

A signature event of the twelve-week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, this year's FTI GCC will distribute approximately $2 million to the lucky Palm Beach County charities that were chosen at random to be represented in the pro-am team relay competition. Each team was made up of junior and amateur riders competing side by side with top professionals.

In addition to the FTI GCC competition, the evening featured a concert by four-time Grammy Nominee Hunter Hayes. The fans flooded the stadium to enjoy the family fun event and amazing entertainment as part of the "Saturday Night Lights" series at the FTI WEF.

The winning charity, Speak Up for Kids, raises needed funds to support the efforts of the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Program to recruit and train GAL volunteers, train volunteers and staff, and provide needed program and family support, so that all abused, abandoned, and neglected children will have a voice in court - someone who will speak for them, stand up for them, and follow through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

Ten-time Olympian, Ian Millar, captained the winning team with riders Kelly Soleau and Emily Kinch. All three riders jumped clear over their courses and had the fastest combined time of the night in 93.107 seconds to win the top prize of $150,000 for their charity. There is a sliding scale for the balance of the proceeds down to 35^th place, which wins $15,000, ensuring that everyone is a winner.

Coming in second place was the team for Wellington PTO/PTA/PTSA, sponsored by EnTrust Capital and Rose Hill Farm as well as corporate sponsor Rosenbaum Mollengarden PLLC. The team consisted of Ken Berkley, Cloe Hymowitz, and Lilli Hymowitz, who all cleared the course with a combined time of 95.056 seconds to earn $125,000 for their charity.

Hunter Hayes's charity, Musicares, finished third and won $112,500. The team was made up of Alvaro 'Doda' de Miranda, Paige Bellissimo and Alex Crown, sponsored by Dressage Team and the Rizvi Family and corporate sponsors Carol Cohen, Diamante Farms, Michael Collins, Mike Davis, Rose Peslar (Everglades Dressage), Tim Dutta, Tuny Paige, and the Van Kampen Foundation. All three riders cleared the course without fault and finished with a time of 96.117 seconds overall.

Jumper Highlights - Wednesday through Sunday

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its fourth week of competition on Wednesday with a win for Colombia's Roberto Teran, Jr. and Chanel in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class.

Venezuela's Leopoldo Palacios was the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week four competition. The week kicked off with the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class and a win for Robert Teran, Jr. aboard Chanel, owned by Chehebar, Simhon, and Blue Star Investments. The pair completed the fastest of nine clear rounds out of 41 entries in 70.32 seconds.

Stephan Barcha (BRA) and Quizas Diamant finished second in 70.49 seconds. Alexa Pessoa (USA) and Rodrigo Pessoa's Levade 35 placed third in 73.30 seconds, and Benjamin Meredith (AUS) placed fourth in 74.53 seconds aboard River Farm Sporthorses' Harley 86.

A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class was also held on Wednesday with a win for Hector Florentino (DOM) and Anemone's Vicky, owned by Stransky's Mission Farms, Inc. The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class was won by Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Eregast van't Kiezelhof to conclude the day.

The FTI WEF continued with a full schedule of competition on Friday, January 31, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 began the day's competition with a win for Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala. The $34,000 Suncast� 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held in the afternoon with a win for Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Quiz.

The day also featured the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, which was held at The Stadium at PBIEC in the evening with a top finish for the team of Kalvin Dobbs, Gabriela Mershad, Hayley Barnhill, and Abigail McArdle.

For the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4, which was held as a speed class, course designer Leopoldo Palacios saw 63 entries with 22 clear rounds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farms, held the lead through most of the class with their time of 62.58 seconds, but eventually settled for second when Lauren Hough and Ohlala raced through the timers in 61.46 seconds.

Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Arao Enterprises LLC's Caballito finished third in 62.98 seconds. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane placed fourth in 63.36 seconds, and Ben Maher (GBR) and Jane Clark's Aristo Z took fifth place honors with their time of 63.82 seconds. 

In addition to the prize money in Thursday's class, Hough earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG 'Go Clean for the Green' promotion for wearing her SSG 'Digital' Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG 'Digital' Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

She was also awarded a special trophy for her win, earning the Barry Louise Lane Perpetual Memorial Trophy, presented by Debbie Lane.    

The $34,000 Suncast� 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held on Friday with a win for Darragh Kenny and Spruce Meadow's Quiz. The class saw 23 entries with 5 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off and three double clears. Kenny and Quiz earned top honors in 41.05 seconds.

McLain Ward (USA) and Kantunaro, owned by Ellen Holtgers and David Paige, finished second, clearing the course in 41.17 seconds. Alexa Pessoa (USA) and Rodrigo Pessoa's Levade 35 were the first pair to jump clear and stopped the clock in 42.41 seconds to finish third.

Alex Granato (USA) and Wood Run Farms' Mullaghdrin Rado had the fastest time of 39.80 seconds, but had one rail down to place fourth. Sydney Shulman (USA) and Marcus Hagglund's Quirado had four faults in the jump-off in 42.37 seconds to place fifth.

Friday's competition concluded with the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, held in the International Arena at The Stadium at PBIEC (home of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival) in the evening. The class was held in a Nations Cup format over two rounds of competition. With nine teams competing, labeled Team A through Team I, Team F was the winner.

Team F, made up of Kalvin Dobbs and Treesdale Farms' Winde, Gabriela Mershad and Mershad Stables LLC's Udonna, Hayley Barnhill and Cara Cheska's Zephire, and Abigail McArdle aboard David McArdle's Cosma 20, finished on a total of four faults after the two rounds of competition. The team Chef d'Equipe was Abigail Blankenship.

After the first round, each team dropped their highest score. In the second round, all nine teams returned in order of highest to lowest total faults with three riders each. The winner was determined by the lowest total of each team's top three riders from each round.   

Dobbs and Winde jumped clear in round one and finished with four faults in round two. Mershard had four jumping faults and one time fault in round one to be the drop score in round one and did not return for round two. Barnhill and McArdle both jumped double clear rounds to help their team to victory.

Behind the winning team, Team H finished second on a six fault total under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe John Roche. The team was made of up of Lorcan Gallagher and Spy Coast Farm LLC's O'Splendido, Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Patriot, Chloe Reid and Chloe D. Reid LLC's Athena, and Wilton Porter aboard Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Radio City. Chloe Reid and Athena were the only other pair to jump double clear in the competition with Barnhill and McArdle. Team H also earned the Best Team Spirit Award.

Team A, coached by Chef d'Equipe Michelle Grubb, placed third with 15 faults in total. The team was made up of Hayley Waters and Dana Waters' No Doubt, Ali Wolff and John C. Wolff's Caya, Adrienne Sternlicht and Hathaway, and Alexander Zetterman aboard Springfield Showjumpers' Zidane.  
Canada's Ian Millar, Kelly Soleau and Emily Kinch were the winning team in the fifth annual FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments� (FTI GCC) on behalf of their charity, Speak Up for Kids, on Saturday evening at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Sponsored by Lothlorien and corporate sponsors Bass, Bolfo, Newlands and Rowland, the three riders made up the top team of the night  out of 35 pro-am combinations paired with Palm Beach County charities.

Hunter Highlights - Wednesday through Sunday

Heavy rainfall put a hold on competition for the fourth week of the FTI WEF, with competition being cancelled Thursday, and early hunter divisions were pinned based on results from Wednesday's classes. The Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Level 1 division was split due to a high number of entries, with two division champions ultimately crowned.

Champion of Section A was Cy Young, ridden by Tim Goguen and owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC. Cy Young, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding, swept the section, winning the under saddle class and both over fences rounds. In Section B, CC Cool and Lainie Wimberly were crowned champion. Wimberly and CC Cool, a four-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Piccolino Farm, LLC, placed eighth under saddle and first and second over fences.

Spencer Smith and Ashland Farm's Beau Van Het Keysershof, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood, topped the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search on Friday morning at the FTI WEF. This was the second week in a row the pair collected the top prize for the class.

Second place went to Victoria Colvin with Stallone VDL and the top three was rounded out by Lilly Ulrich and Vocus. The top ten riders over fences were called back to test on the flat, when riders were asked to demonstrate lengthening of stride and the counter canter in both directions, including a simple change in front of the judge's box.

Melisa Groher of South Glastonbury, CT, may have only been at the FTI WEF for the weekend, but she certainly made it count. Groher finished first in the Ariat National Adult Medal on Saturday afternoon.

The top four riders were called back into the ring for the test. Groher and Logan, a six-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, had a first round high score of 86 before riding to the top of the class. Second place went to Rachel Boggus, who qualified with a first round score of 81.5 aboard Papillon 134. Elizabeth Kirby and Validation finished third after scoring 83 in the first round and Groher's sister, Amanda Groher, was fourth with Castelano and a score of 82.

Victoria Colvin added yet another accolade to her name when she topped the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, presented by Antar�s, on the final day of Week 4 of the FTI WEF. Colvin and the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker were third under saddle and third, second, first, and second over fences before being crowned division champion Sunday morning.

The reserve champion for the division was Vida Blue, ridden by Meredith Darst and owned by Elm Rock, LLC. Darst piloted Vida Blue to two blue ribbons over fences and jumped to second and fifth place on the second day of competition for the division.

Owner-rider championship honors were also awarded for the division. Cloe Hymowitz and her horse Perfectionist were announced as division champion owner-rider. There was a tie for reserve champion owner-rider between Piper Benjamin and Corvine and Vivian Yowan and Gretsky. 

For full results, please visit  www.showgroundslive.com.