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.