Ferreira De Carvalho Back on Top in $125,000 Old Salem Farm 3* Grand Prix

Joao Eduardo Ferreira De Carvalho (BRA) and Ester De Maugre won the $125,000 Old Salem Farm 3* Grand Prix © SEL Photography

North Salem, NY – September 22, 2024 – After his victory in the $40,000 Old Salem Farm 2* Grand Prix on Saturday, September 14, Joao Eduardo Ferreira De Carvalho (BRA) returned to the winner’s circle on Sunday, September 22, in the final international competition of the 2024 Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows. He faultlessly tripped the timers in 37.95 seconds for top honors in the $125,000 Old Salem Farm 3* Grand Prix riding Ester De Maugre.

The Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows host competitions for riders of all levels and ages, ranging from young children on ponies to top Grand Prix stars aboard their elite mounts. Week 1 (September 10-15) was designated CSI4*/2* while Week 2 (September 17-22) was designated CSI3*. Old Salem’s September schedule also includes a National/Level 2 event (September 26-29). 

Course designer Alan Wade presented 36 entries representing nine countries with a technical 16-effort course set at 1.50m in Sunday’s $125,000 Old Salem Farm 3* Grand Prix, where only seven horse-and-rider combinations returned for the jump-off. Eight-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) posted an early clear round in 40.16 seconds with Corrie 9, Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s 9-year-old Westphalian mare. Irish Olympic veteran Darragh Kenny was the first to catch the time, stopping the clock in 38.75 seconds aboard Chaccoletto, but final placings came down to the wire as Ferreira De Carvalho was the last rider to return.
“I know that my mare is very, very quick over the ground,” Ferreira De Carvalho said of Alison Firestone LLC’s 10-year-old Selle Français mare, who posted the winning 37.95-second time. “There were some amazing, fast riders before us, but I knew that I had the chance to beat them if we could go clear. I don’t think there was a specific place where we caught them because the mare was so fast around the whole course.

“It’s a dream to be jumping here with these amazing horses,” he added. “These last two weeks are something to remember for sure. I work for Kent Farrington, and my two Grand Prix mounts are from Alison (Firestone), who wants to spend more time with her kids. I had the privilege to show them here, and this was an opportunity that I’m so grateful for. I knew I had to just ride my best and be clean because these are really amazing horses.”

Kenny ultimately landed in second place with Oakland Ventures LLC’s 11-year-old Polish Sport Horse gelding, while Pessoa and Corrie 9 took third.
Earlier in the day, Cristian Hacker of Wellington, FL, claimed top honors in the $7,500 1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic and the $15,000 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic aboard CSH Equine LLC’s Caramix (0/0/28.204) and Cocaine De Riverland (0/0), respectively. 

Hacker said of his pathfinding time on Caramix, which held against 11 other jump-off competitors for the win: “My mare is pretty young – she’s seven – so I didn’t want to risk too much with her. I had a good plan of trying to make the turns as quick as possible and not having to run her off her feet. It was a great jump-off course for that. It was so much fun. I wasn’t sure if we would keep the winning time because there were a lot of really good riders in the class, but I knew that I put my best foot forward. My mare was super, and she reacted so well.”

After sweeping the 1.40/1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper classes all week and posting the only double-clear round in Sunday’s Classic, Hacker and Cocaine De Riverland also brought home the 1.40/1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Championship.

“She is a wonderful mare,” Hacker said of the mount who won February’s Show Jumping Hall of Fame Horse of the Month Award sponsored by Markel. “I’m so blessed to have her. My trainers Nick and Norman found her for me, and she has just been unimaginable in our career together. I have so much trust and faith in her, and she’s just been so wonderful, especially throughout the week here. She loves jumping and has so much heart, and she really seems to find competing as fun as I do.”

Other jumper champions included Stella Buckingham of Palm Beach, FL, and the Santa Rosa Group’s Macho, who earned the 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Championship. 

The final hunter champions for Week 2 of the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows were also crowned in the beautifully manicured Hedge and June Road hunter rings, including Emma Hakim of Greenwich, CT, and Beyaert Farm Inc.’s Summertime in the Large Children’s Pony Hunter division. Another Beyaert Farm Inc. entry, Faylins Kodachrome, claimed top honors in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunter Championship with Lilly Ward of Brewster, NY, in the irons.

The Grand Pony Hunter Championship was awarded to Samantha Teller of New York, NY, and her Why Not? for their successful performances in the Large Pony Hunter division. Other Pony Hunter champions included Robertson Family LLC’s Clovermeade Heartthrob (ridden by Reilly Robertson of Monroe, CT, in the Small division) and Sweet Oak Farm’s On Your Mark (ridden by Finley Baras of Bedford Corners, CT, in the Medium division). 

Bringing home the tricolor in the Combined Amateur-Owner 3’6” and Grand Amateur-Owner hunter championships was Quando VA, owned and ridden by Laura Sexton of Greenwich, CT. Uphill Equestrian LLC’s Know How won the Grand Junior Hunter Championship with Combined Junior 3’3” Hunter rider Madeline O’Hara of New Canaan, CT. 

For full show results, visit HorseShowsOnline.com. 

Located just one hour north of New York City, Old Salem Farm has a long history of hosting world-class horse shows. Over the years, Old Salem Farm has hosted United States Olympic Team Selection Trials, FEI World Cup™ qualifiers, FEI North American Youth Championships, ASPCA Maclay Regional Finals and the annual Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.

The first week of the September Horse Shows, September 10-15, featured Thursday’s $10,000 4* Two-Phase and $5,000 2* Speed Class, Friday’s $65,000 4* Welcome Stake and $32,000 2* Qualifier, Saturday’s $38,700 4* Speed Stake and $40,000 2* Grand Prix, and the inaugural $200,000 4* Blue Diamond Cup on Sunday.

The excitement continued September 17-22 with FEI 3* highlights including Thursday’s $10,000 Two-Phase, Friday’s $65,000 Welcome Stake, Saturday’s $38,700 Great Oak Speed Stake and Sunday’s $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix. 

Each week’s action starts at 8:00 a.m. daily with classes running simultaneously in three beautifully manicured rings throughout the day, including during the USEF National/Level 2 event, September 26-29. Click here for the September Horse Shows’ final weekend schedule.

The ambiance at Old Salem Farm is unlike any other venue in the country with over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping offered along Old Salem’s popular Boutique Row. Old Salem offers opportunities for a curated group of vendors to set up their boutiques in the vendor area located overlooking the International Arena. Food vendors provide meals to go and delicious snack options.

Further information on Old Salem Farm and its September Horse Shows is available at www.OldSalemFarm.net.

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