HorseBuff Magazine – Showjumping, Winter Equestrian Festival, WEF #WEF2023
Germany’s Richard Vogel closed out Week 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in the Van Kampen Covered Arena at Equestrian Village with a win in the CHF75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI4* 1.50m aboard Cepano Baloubet on Sunday.
The day gave riders a variation in venue after jumping on the grass derby field throughout the week as their quickness was then tested in an indoor environment. From a field of 32, six advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off designed by Anderson Lima (BRA).
Setting the pace in the jump-off, Jos Verlooy (BEL) clocked an opening clear with five to follow. Second to go clear over the opening track, Vogel and Cepano Baloubet, a 2014 German-bred gelding (Chaman x Stakkato’s Highlight) owned by Veronica Tracy, clocked in at 33.16 seconds in the jump-off to take the win. Second went to Alex Matz (USA) and Cashew CR for owner Dorothy Matz just off the lead in 34.20 seconds. Third went to Mclain Ward (USA) and First Lady, owned by Robin C. Parsky, coming in at 35.15 seconds.
WEF 4, presented by MARS Equestrian™, is only the second show for Vogel and Cepano Baloubet after the gelding joined his string. “Last week he did really well in the International Ring, this week he was also great on the grass and now under these circumstances he was very good in the indoor today,” said Vogel, 25, of his versatile mount.
“I knew there were competitive people in the jump-off, but my horse felt very good in the first round so I was quite motivated,” continued Vogel. “I saw Jos [Verlooy] going first, which was a bit lucky. To see him go from the second to last combination to the last fence in eight, but a bit steady, I thought I could do one less there and then also from fence two to three I tried to get there with six and my horse did a very good job which made it a bit easier for me today.”
After pocketing their first FEI win together on Sunday, Vogel sees unlocked potential in Cepano Baloubet. “He’s nine years old now, so not too inexperienced or too old but I think he has the abilities, the attitude and the will to jump the bigger classes,” he said. “The is a great spot here to bring the horses up into the bigger levels so I’m very happy with how he’s going at this level right now and in a few weeks I think we can start thinking about the next step.”
Major reporting contributions for this article were received from Wellington International in Wellington FL. Please visit Wellington International at https://wellingtoninternational.com.
