McLain Ward Wins the $226,000 FEI CSI 4* Upperville Jumper Classic Co-Presented by Ethel M Chocolates and Lugano Diamonds at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show Presented by MARS Equestrian™
UPPERVILLE, VA — McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, piloted Sport Four USA LLC’s Quimi del Maset to victory in the $226,000 FEI CSI 4* Upperville Jumper Classic at the 170th Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by MARS Equestrian™. Ethel M Chocolates and Lugano Diamonds were co-presenting sponsors of the Jumper Classic, the signature event of the week. Canadian rider Tiffany Foster secured second place riding Artisan Farms’ Figor while Katie Dinan finished third with her own Brego R’N B.
“He’s a very exciting new horse we acquired at the end of last year,” explains Ward of the 8-year-old Spanish sport horse gelding. “We brought him along a little bit slowly in Florida, got to know him, and so far he’s been spectacular.
“He’s already done some impressive things and I am lucky to have a great group behind me; Mrs. Parsky, Mrs. Johnson, Susie Heller, and Mike Smith,” Ward continues. “We were kind of trying to see a horse for Paris next year and we are excited about him.”
Cathleen Driscoll of Middleburg received the Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur, for accumulating the most points in FEI classes the week of the horse show.
UCHS is the oldest horse show in the U.S. Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with more than 2,000 equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm.
The weeklong show culminated on June 11 with the excitement of the $226,000 Upperville Jumper Classic CSI 4* featuring top world-class equestrians. Governor and First Lady Youngkin made presentations just prior to the Jumper Classic.
In addition to presenting sponsor MARS Equestrian™, UCHS is sponsored by The Ethel M Chocolate Brand and Lugano Diamonds. Other sponsors include Buckeye Nutrition, Nutro Natural Choice, The Salamander Collection, B&D Builders, Delta Air Lines, Markel, and Piedmont Equine Practice.
For more information on the show, visit upperville.com.
Photos courtesy of Dillon Keen Photography.
Posted on: June 15, 2023