Laura Kraut and Constable Make International Debut at the Longines Global Champion Tour Jumping Chantilly
27-Jul-2013
Chantilly, France – July 27, 2013 – The Longines Global Champion Tour Jumping Chantilly saw a new star emerge last week, Cherry Knoll Farm’s Constable.
The competition was fierce at the international horse show Jumping Chantilly France 2013. From July 18-21 the sport’s most renowned riders picked up the
reins to compete for the top prizes. Kraut guided Constable to several top rankings in the 6-Year-Old Jumpers, riding to the win in the Prix Equidia Life
International Jumping Competition.
The chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding rose to the top of the rankings from the start of the competition. Kraut expertly guided him to the seventh place
position in the two-phase Prix Equidia Life International Jumping Competition on Friday, August 19. The gelding took the 1.30m course with ease, snatching
the seventh place position with a final time of 38.50 seconds. It became apparent that the duo was only beginning to warm up for the Prix Equidia Life
International 6-Year-Old Jumping Competition on Sunday.
“I think he is probably one of the most talented young horses I have ever had, and it probably won’t be until he is 8 or 9 that we try to go out and win
a lot, but it was nice in this instance,” Kraut explained. “There were only a few clear and the clear ones in the jump-off each had a rail, so I was able
to go around slow and win the final. I didn’t have to push him for time, and he jumped four rounds this week without a rub. I am very proud of him, he
is very special.”
Kraut continued, “He is super sensitive, like all of the ones I have. I don’t use spurs or a stick; he is a very quiet ride and is very brave. He is brave
about the jumps and he is very adjustable, but very sensitive. He doesn’t try to pull you around or do anything bad. He has the best intentions, he doesn’t
try to pull you around, and I am just lucky to have him.”
Luc Musette and Erica Sportello designed Sunday’s course, using 15 efforts to challenge horse and rider alike. The course included an oxer-vertical double
combination, vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, hard rollbacks, bending lines and an oxer-liverpool. It was the jump-off round that would prove
to stand the test for the horse and rider combinations. The course began over a vertical set down the diagonal, and then headed to an oxer on the far side
of the arena, where they then made a left turn over a second oxer where they then headed through a vertical-oxer double combination. A right turn over
a vertical then led riders to the opening oxer of the outside double combination, where riders raced toward the finish line to seal their fate in the rankings.
Kraut navigated Constable to the first place finish in the class, surpassing 14 contenders for the win. She beat out Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden aboard
Cassini’s Angel, as well as Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Bacarat de Sainte Hermelle who claimed the third place. Kraut took the win in 51.85 seconds leaving
all rails in place, to claim Constable’s first victory internationally.
“It was very testy. I think the ring in Chantilly for the young horses is a difficult ring because it is on a hill with a little bit of a bowl, and is
on grass,” Kraut explained. “The course was definitely sizeable, and they used a triple combination and a double on the end, which was a good test. I think
it is good for July, for 6-Year-Olds, it is big enough, and it was difficult, but he handled it no problem. He is an experienced in his mind 6-year-old,
so I don’t think he needs as much mileage as some of the other horses. I might show him locally in England, but he will have some time to relax before
the Winter Equestrian Festival.”
Kraut will continue to show Constable for Cherry Knoll Farm, as she continues to compete among the top-ranked international riders in the Longines Global
Champions Tour. For more information on the Longines Global Champions Tour where Kraut currently ranks first, please visit
www.globalchampionstour.com/events.
Photo Credit: Laura Kraut and Constable won the Prix Equidia Life International Jumping Competition at the 2013 Jumping Chantilly. Photo Courtesy of SportFot.
This photograph may only be used in relation to this Phelps Media Group press release.