PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 8, 2007

It took Mel Gibson’s Braveheart nearly three-hours to serve up epic action. But at the $35,000 Jacksonville A-Z Grand Prix presented by Outback Steakhouse, which closed out Week III of competition at the Jacksonville Winter Series. Braveheart, ridden by classic horseman Bjorn Ikast, turned in some epic thrills in under 40 seconds.

Ikast and the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding that he owns and trains, bested eight jump-off contenders with a clear go in the seven-obstacle final round (the course today designed by Allen Rheinheimer) that challenged riders with a hairpin turn or two and a swift pace.

Ikast piloted four rides in the class, held on Super Bowl Sunday in the covered grand prix arena of the Clay County Agricultural Center. Of the four, only Braveheart made the jump off. “I actually thought all my horses jumped well,” said Ikast following his victory gallop. “My two horses that had one rail down [Anchorman and Monte Cristo] jumped at least as good as this one,” he added. “But, this sport is in the small details, and sometimes you’re just lucky to have a clear round. This is just the nature of show jumping.”

Ikast, who has captured a total of 46 career grand prix wins, attributed his success to Braveheart’s experience in the show ring and his natural speed. To make one particularly tight turn for instance, Ikast noted: “Braveheart saw the fence and he knew he had to turn, and he just immediately followed me around. I think that’s why I won,” he continued. “Also, I left a stride out to the last [fence]. I took a big chance, but I knew Sharn [Wordley] was behind me, and I had to go for it. He’s a very fast and very good rider. Anytime Sharn’s in a jump off,” Ikast laughed, “you don’t like that.”

Wordley and his 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Medrano, owned by Filip Amram, ended up with 4th place in the grand prix. But last week the team won the National Hunter Jumper League Open Jumper Classic Welcome Stake, sponsored by Outback. “He’s a really a great horse,” said the New Zealand native of his mount. “He’s either won or placed in almost every grand prix I’ve ever taken him too.” Wordley, arguably one of the hardest working man in show jumping these days, will next be working to prep his horse Rockville for the Olympic trials in Germany this June. “I’m always looking, looking, looking for new horses,” added Wordley, who qualified for the Games in 1996. “I was in Europe nine times last year.”

In the A-Z, second place went to Larry Hollahan aboard Sky King while Lauren Hayes and Sweet Leonie captured third.

The Danish born Ikast will next take his horses to The Gulfport Winter Classics in Mississippi before heading back to his home base of Mexico. (What brought a world-class European-born equestrian there, you ask? “Love,” sighed IKast pointing to his simple gold wedding band. “You can compete with money and everything else, but love you cannot compete with,” he laughed.). Of his big day in Jacksonville Ikast concluded: “I think they made a good course. All the horses jumped well, it was a beautiful afternoon, and when you’re the winner you’re always happy.”

Schaefer and Lyle Take Home the $25,000 Open Hunter Classic

When the dust cleared, it was 13-year-old Samantha Schaefer and Lyle that were left standing after some of the nation’s top hunter riders vied in the $25,000 Jacksonville Jerry Parks Insurance/“Artists” by Timothy Priano Open Hunter Classic, held Feb. 3, under the lights of the covered arena at the Clay County Agricultural Center in Green Cover Springs, FL.

In all, 29 rider teams competed on the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer. The class consisted of three sections, with amateurs and juniors jumping 3’6” while professionals took 3’6”, 3’9” or 4’ fences depending on the horse’s level. Judges Teri Beck, Scott Fitton, Dacia Johnson, and Patty Anderton presided over the scoring returning only the top 12 teams for round 2.

Schaefer, a leading pony rider, and Lyle, a 14-year-old German Warmblood owned by Mrs. Susan Rinehart of Ocala, led the first round, putting forth a classic score of 88, followed by M. Scott Hofstetter and Lazy Sunday with 87, and Sunfest, also ridden by Schaefer, with a score of 83. The second round was led early by Winn Alden and the powerful Rousseau, whose total score of 170 dominated until the last two contenders took the course, Hofstetter gave a near-perfect performance aboard Sunday, finishing with a score of 175, but in the end it was not their night. Schaefer and Lyle—in their very first show appearance—bested the team by two points, finishing with a 177 and the coveted blue ribbon (Sunfest took 4th place). A national champion, Lyle also won the class in 2006 with Megan Massaro in the irons.

“He’s an awesome horse,” said trainer Don Stewart, who works with Schaefer and her full-time trainer Kimberly Stewart. “Very dependable, ultra careful. He’s a really great classic horse. He won the $30,000 National Classic in Palm Beach. And my daughter, Erin, won the Junior Hunter Finals on him 2002.”

Kim Stewart procured the horse from owner Rinehart and suggested the match-up between the seasoned vet and the young Schaefer. (“It’s nice to have a trainer who is friends with a lot of good people,” joked the young rider.) With only a few schooling rides at Don Stewart’s Ocala farm, the duo came to Jacksonville to attempt the Classic. And the trainers had absolutely no qualms about sending the 13-year-old rider in against adult amateurs and professionals, “She’s a tough, tough rider,” confirmed Don Stewart. “She’s a quick study and a very agreeable girl. She’s very witty, too.

Not to mention precocious. When asked if she was at all anxious about competing against the big guns she quickly quipped, “Nah, not with the horses I was riding.” While she’s excited about this very auspicious kickoff of a career on horses, Schafer says she will continue to show in the large pony division—at least until she’s a bit taller. “The ponies are still fun,” she noted, “especially the good ones.”

Schaefer, who hopes to compete on Lyle again when she goes to the Ocala meet later in the month, received $7,500 of the prize money for her 1st place win and the “Artists” by Timothy Priano Perpetual Trophy, which was donated and presented by class co-sponsor Timothy Priano along with North Florida Hunter Jumper Association President Tony Weight, and Ronda Mack of Jerry Parks Insurance.

Also, a portion of the proceeds from this Jacksonville Hunter Classic will benefit “Horses Helping Horses,” a cause developed by show managers the Classic Company to allow horse people to give back. “Horses Helping Horses” supports Old Friends, a Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, KY., which is currently home to 22 permanently retired ex-racers and is open to visitors year round.

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322,

cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com or Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com.