Madden & Breitling Reassert Themselves With Longines Win in Washington

By Catie Staszak

As the defending champion of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, US Olympian Beezie Madden is prequalified for next year’s Final in Gothenburg. Saturday night in Washington, D.C. (USA), she reminded everyone why she’s earned such a distinction.

Madden, aboard her World Cup Champion Breitling LS, put on an absolute clinic to win the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington. On a night that celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Washington International Horse Show, the duo topped a four-horse jump-off, crossing the timers of Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER)’s shortened course in 30.74 seconds. It was an all-American female podium, as Katie Dinan (USA) and Dougie Douglas finished second (32.93 seconds), and Lucy Davis (USA) and Caracho were third (33.44).

“This was [Breitling’s] first indoor event of the year,” Madden said. “It’s nice to see that he’s in form. It just shows why he was so good at World Cup Finals. He walked right in here, and he’s clever, rideable, adjustable, careful, and he can handle tight spaces like this.”

Coming back third in the jump-off, Madden and Breitling were able to shave more than two seconds off Dinan’s time thanks to their swift turns—particularly one taken to the penultimate vertical.

“My horse has natural foot speed and is quite good at turning,” Madden said. “I think I made [the time] up on the turns at both ends [on the ring], particularly on the last turn.”

A Closer Race in the East

Washington’s results made the World Cup standings tighter than ever. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) remains at the top of the east coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League with 29 points, but with her third-place finish, Davis is now tied with Georgina Bloomberg (USA) in second. They each have 28 points. A point behind them is Mattias Tromp (USA), and just four points separate the top five, with Madden (26 points) now sitting in fifth.

The North American League continues in Lexington, KY (USA), on 3 November 2018.

Result:

1. Breitling LS, Beezie Madden (USA) 0/0 30.74

2. Dougie Douglas, Katie Dinan (USA) 0/0 32.93

3. Caracho, Lucy Davis (USA) 0/0 33.44

4. Don’t Touch du Bois, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) 0/4 30.90

5. Confu, Laura Kraut (USA) 4 64.74

6. Catoki’s Son Z, Erynn Ballard (CAN) 4 65.04

7. HH Gigi’s Girl, McLain Ward (USA) 4 65.71

8. Eddie Blue, Devin Ryan (USA) 4 65.87

9. Chamonix H, Kelli Cruciotti (USA) 4 66.62

10. Alma Z, Cormac Hanley (IRL) 4 66.65

Full results can be viewed here

Beezie Madden (USA) – 1^st

“Last year, I didn’t really know what horse I was taking [to World Cup Finals] until the middle of the [winter]. I’ll probably plan on the same thing [this year]. I’m trying to make [all my horses] eligible. I’ve already have done [a qualifier] with Darry Lou, and now Breitling, and I’m going to take my new horse Chic Hin D Hyrencourt to Lexington. Then I just have Coach left, and we’ll see which ones are on form.”

Katie Dinan (USA) — 2^nd

“I have a huge amount of trust and faith in my hose. He’s absolutely a superstar. He doesn’t need a Halloween costume to be one! I’m so grateful for him, and I knew that with him, I could take a good shot. In a way, there was less pressure having Beezie [jump] after me, because I knew she’d be fast, and I had no choice but to go for it.”

Lucy Davis (USA) — 3^rd

“I’ve been patiently waiting since [Caracho] was 7 [years old], so we know each other well. Luckily for me, he has an amazing brain, so I can keep challenging him at each show. He’s been delivering each time.”

Standings: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League — East Coast

1. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) 29

2. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) 28

2. Lucy Davis (USA) 28

4. Mattias Tromp (USA) 27

5. Beezie Madden (USA) 26

6. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) 23

7. McLain Ward (USA) 22

8. Wilhelm Genn (GER) 20

9. Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) 20

10. Conor Swail (IRL) 17

10. Katie Dinan (USA) 17

10. Peter Lutz (USA) 17

Full standings can be viewed here

Standings: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League — West Coast

1. Zazou Hoffman (USA) 32

2. Eve Jobs (USA) 31

3. Uma O’Neill (USA) 24

4. Kelli Cruciotti (USA) 23

5. Richard Spooner (USA) 23

6. Eduardo Menezes (BRA) 21

6. Karrie Rufer (USA) 21

8. Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) 20

9. Jamie Barge (USA) 20

10. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) 18

Full standings can be viewed here