Richard Spooner: Peak Performance

By Paula Parisi March 25, 2011

California’s fair-haired boy, Richard Spooner, became the toast of Palm Beach, distinguishing himself at the Winter Equestrian Festival and on the Florida circuit with mounts including Cristallo and Billy Bianca. The international show jumping champion  returned to Southern California in early April, having spent the prior month competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. He came home with two major grand prix victories to show for it, a pair of Sanctuary Peak Performance Awards, a place on the U.S. World Cup team and lots of great experience for several of his young horses.

Piloting Cristallo, Spooner won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series on Feb. 24. As one of 16 to make the jump-off, Spooner had an impressive time of 40.39 on the Olaf Petersen, Jr.–designed course. The 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Show Jumping Syndications International, helped Spooner beat some classy WEF competition, including Olympians Mclain Ward and Beezie Madden. Spooner, who spent the first few weeks of winter competing at HITS Thermal, said the competition in Wellington was, “as usual, very strong.” Of his overall performance on Cristallo, who he’ll ride in the World Cup, Spooner—who was reached in transit on the drive back to the West Coast—said, “We had a bit of bad luck. We kept having one down in the triple combination. That gives me something to work on when I get home.”

Spooner was back in the winner’s circle later in the WEF circuit with Billy Bianca, taking the blue in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic. The 10-year-old Warmblood mare, owned by Molly Ohrstrom of Virginia, came to Spooner in September. “I think she’s going to be exceptional,” he said. “She’s very careful and quite scopey, and apparently fast, so I think if I manage her properly we can get some results.” Billy Bianca was previously ridden and trained by Olympian Laura Kraut, who successfully showed the mare in Europe.

Spooner is also riding Ohrstrom’s Kartol and another new horse, Let’s Dance, owned by Tracy Katayama Esse. And he brought along for the ride to Florida a horse called Ace of Spades (bred from Ace, since sold), who “got to do some little hunter classes and have a good time.” Spooner said this year’s circuit was highlighted by “beautiful weather. Last year it was very cold, and my grooms were about to mutiny because I said, ‘Come to Florida, the weather is great!’ And it was wet and awful,” he laughs.

After the World Cup competition in Leipzig, Germany, April 27­–May 1, Spooner plans to return to the U.S. to compete at the Del Mar National (“my favorite show in California”) for hunter/jumper week, May 3­–8, and then will head up to Canada to compete at Spruce Meadows before making his way back to Europe.

Spooner, who has won more than 100 grands prix in his career, was honored with Sanctuary Peak Performance Awards for both WEF victories in recognition of a horse with a successful performance due to their conditioning and fitness level. Sponsored by the Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the awards were presented by general manager Brenda McDuffee.

 

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