Wellington, Florida, USA – December 18, 2018 – Abigail McArdle (USA) jumped to first place in the $25,000 ProElite® Grand Prix in the 2018 ESP Holiday II at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). McArdle secured a winning time of 41.004 seconds riding Cade, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Heartbreaker x Darco), owned by David McArdle. Margie Engle (USA) earned second place aboard USA Normande, a 2008 Selle Francais mare (Made in Semilly x Urbain Du Monnai), owned by Paillot Equestrian & Gladewinds Farm, Inc. Engle and USA Normande flew through the timers in 41.214 seconds. Peter Lutz (USA) claimed third place with Excellent, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn), owned by Bosch Sport Horses, with a time of 43.034 seconds.

Among 22 competitors, McArdle and Cade remained the swiftest pair in the course set by Jason Shelley of Wellington, Florida, USA, earning their way into the jump-off by being one of six four-fault performances after no pairs went clear in the first round.

McArdle explained that her strategy changed mid-ride, and later, mid-jump-off. “My plan was to go in, lay down a clear round and win the class,” she detailed. “But, I ended up having a rail down toward the end of the course and then I just tried to keep it together to make sure I was in that jump-off with the four-faulters. I saw Todd [take an] inside turn, but he had the rail down. Someone told me Peter and Margie went around and it was faster, but that Margie really laid it down and I’d have to go fast. So, I tried to do what Margie did, but a bit faster.”

Abigail McArdle (USA) & Cade during the awards ceremony

While just weeks ago McArdle was claiming top honors aboard Victorio 5 in the USEF U-25 Show Jumping National Championships, any win on Cade, a longtime partner, is always particularly special, McArdle revealed.

“This is my old horse – he’s seventeen and I’m just so happy for him to be able to have a win. I’m keeping him doing whatever he wants right now, and he feels good, so it’s nice to have a horse I’m so familiar with. I’ll keep him as the second for now and bring him out when he wants to,” she said of her season plans for Cade. “With the older horses you have to be cautious with what they do, obviously, because I’d like to keep him going for another couple years.”

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Source: Press release from PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center

Photos: © Anne Gittins Photography