By Liz Leamy
Last weekend was an affair to remember as many of the world’s top-ranked equestrians and horses convened to face off against one another at the Greenwich Polo Club for the 2024 CSI Greenwich Horse Show, a celebrated annual international show-jumping event.
This memorable four-day competition, held from Thursday through Sunday, was headlined by a CSI 5* (highest competitive level) and a CSI 2* jump off to represent the fifth of 10 total events comprising this year’s Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) series.
Back in 2021, the MLSJ series was implemented by some of the sport’s figureheads and athletes as a means to provide top-ranked riders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico with a platform to compete in North America and Mexico without having to travel to Europe. (This series, however, is open to riders and horses based all around the world.)
Despite inclement weather of gray skies and passing rain showers, this event was a golden one on all fronts, drawing more than 3,000 spectators who vocally expressed their clear appreciation for the efforts and skills the competitors, both equine and human, and most of who are Olympic, World and U.S. champions, medalists and contenders, as they cheered them on with resounding applause.
Notable members of this year’s event roster included McLain Ward, the 2024 Olympian and 2022 CSI5* Greenwich victor who had grown up in Greenwich, Kent Farrington, the esteemed number-one MLSJ equestrian and U.S. Olympian who helped implement and organize this event through the support of Peter Brant and his family, Nayel Nassar, the 2021 CSI5* Greenwich champion who represents Egypt, Lillie Keenan, the prominent U.S. contender from New York City who had grown up training in the Greenwich area and who is the number-two ranked MLSJ rider and Jessica Springsteen, the renowned American contender from New Jersey, among others.
“This is a top-level competition and it’s been a great event,” said Erik Leander of Boca Raton, Florida, whose stellar charge, Legaland Sandro, in tandem with Gabriel De Matos Machado, his esteemed rider, qualified for the celebrated FEI CSI5* jump off on Sunday. “Everyone has been great and this venue is wonderful. Greenwich is beautiful and we’re very happy to be here.”
Abdulrahman Alrajhi of Saudi Arabia clinches CSI5* title in triumphant style as Americans Lillie Keenan and Kent Farrington claim second and third
The CSI5* Jump Off event, sponsored by Fidelity Investments and featuring a 200 thousand dollar purse, had 44 total entrants representing countries from all around the world and was the crown-jewel event of the weekend competition.
In the final tally, Abdulrahman Alrajhi of Saudi Arabia and his fierce charge, Ventago, the last contenders to compete in both segments of this competition, catapulted to the top of the leaderboard with their two consecutive clear rounds whereby they leapt over every fence with power, explosiveness, focus and timing to earn a 35.42 and 76.45, respectively.
According to Alrajhi, who, along with Ventago, earned a thunderous standing ovation at the conclusion of their winning second run, the primary focus was to just do the job in as optimal a fashion as possible.
“This has been a great show and great competition as well. I’m very happy to be here and I’m very happy to win the competition,” said Alrajhi, who also expressed his thanks to the whole MLSJ organization. “I’m lucky enough to be with so many amazing riders at this amazing show in this amazing [area].”
At the same time, Alrajhi stated his great appreciation for the work of Ventago throughout this event.
“He’s an unbelievable horse and has a very huge stride,” said Alrajhi. “He’s one of the best horses in the world and he helps me make it happen.”
Alrajhi also talked about his excitement in regard to competing in the U.S.
“It’s a new experience for me to be in the States and it’s been great,” said Alrajhi. “I also think the crowd was really amazing.”
U.S. contenders Lillie Keenan and Kent Farrington claim second and third place
Lillie Keenan, the luminous laser-focused equestrian from New York City, clinched second in this dramatic showdown, while Kent Farrington, the Teflon-tough rider from Wellington, Florida, claimed third with both athletes representing the U.S. in a stellar manner.
Like Alrajhi, Keenan and her gorgeous charge, Kick On, with whom she’s been working with for a year, flew over all of the fences in both rounds with ease, strength and command to rack up two clear runs for a 35.88 and 75.68, respectively.
Keenan, who donned a buoyant pink riding jacket, described her experience at this competition as memorable on all fronts, particularly because she was competing in Greenwich, a place and community with which she has many meaningful ties to.
“It was great to compete here and it’s been such an exciting week. I love being back here in Greenwich. I had grown up riding in the area and it’s so nice to come ‘home.’ This is a special town with so many amazing people,” said Keenan. “There is also such a deep-rooted history in this town, especially with horses. Everyone is so dedicated to horses and you can see and feel that all around here.”
Keenan’s enthusiasm and love of horses was apparent in her connection with Kick On all throughout this event, that is for certain.
“My relationship with Kick On is a partnership. He’s a horse that has gotten me to believe I can win every time he goes into the ring,” said Keenan. “You’re working together with another being and that bond is at the heart of everything.”
Keenan also talked about about her excitement in regard to representing the U.S. at this event.
“It’s wonderful to represent the U.S. and to have two Americans do so well. It means so much,” said Keenan. “It’s also cool to represent women today.”
Farrington, like Alrajhi and Keenan, also had a stellar outing whereby he and his stunning charge, Myla, executed two clear rounds to claim the event’s third-highest scores, a 36.27 and 74.81.
In both runs, Farrington and Myla cleared all of the fences with tremendous grace, power and command and were, like Alrajhi and Keenan, big crowd favorites.
At the press conference following the awards ceremony, Farrington, like Alrajhi and Keenan, gave big props to his horse for their excellent work.
“Myla is a really exciting horse and I’m excited for the future,” said Farrington. “It’s all about building a longer-term plan.”
CSI Greenwich celebrates horses with Roberto Dutesco’s ‘The Wild Horses of Sable Island’ Collection on display at the Brant Foundation Art Study Center.
All weekend, the Brant Foundation Art Study Center, located on the Conyers Farm property, was made open to the public, showcasing its latest installment of large-scale images from ‘The Wild Horses of Sable Island’ Collection by Roberto Dutesco, the famed Romanian-born Canadian artist, photographer and filmmaker.
This stunning collection of images depicting the wild horses of Sable Island who roam that remote Canadian island situated nearly 200 miles southeast of Nova Scotia to designate this as yet another unforgettable aspect of this event, which was all free of charge to the public.
At the conclusion of the press conference that was held at the expansive Brant Foundation venue, Dutesco, who attended the CSI5* jump off, then gave each of the top-three finishers a copy of his book, ‘The Wild Horses of Sable Island’ which he signed individually for them.
“This is a fabulous art exhibit in addition to the sport,” said Farrington. “The Brant family has been very generous allowing us to be here and continue to grow. We’re looking forward to what we can do in the future.”
By all counts, this event was world class on all fronts as the Greenwich Polo Club once again delivered a gold-standard experience to so many individuals from Greenwich and beyond in an inspirational and indelible fashion.
“Greenwich is spectacular and being here at Conyers Farm and the Greenwich Polo Club is always amazing,” said Keenan. “There’s such a love for horses here and you see that at this event and with the polo. It all means so much and I’m so excited to be here.”
