News

Rothchild Owned by Sagamore Farms

Zander owned by Mclain Ward and Grant Road Partners

Super Trooper De Ness owned by Grant Road Partners

Super Trooper De Ness owned by Grant Road Partners

Antares F owned by Grant Road Partners

Coco 135 owned by Tequestrian Farms

Zander owned by Mclain Ward and Grant Road partners

The week of Devon Horse Show was going an emotional one. Mclain Ward showed his Olympic hopeful Antares F in their first observation class and on the same evening would be retiring his two time Olympic mount, Sapphire.

The night started in tears for many, saying goodbye to one of the Worlds Greatest Show jumpers. The stands were full of fans of the amazing team the atmosphere was as exciting as when Sapphire would enter the ring to compete, although this time left u ntacked lead in hand by Mclain.
Directly after Mclain had to mount up onto Antares F and prove this horse would be able to follow in Sapphires steps and be part of the US Team for Olympics.
And that he did! taking first place in the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon, which is the seventh time Mclain has taken the Blue Ribbon in this Grand prix, this time meant that little more knowing this really was the start to his road to the Olympics.

With a very sad start to the week with the retirement of Mclains Olympic horse Sapphire mclain was able to bring home ribbons to keep spirits high at Castle Hill Farm.
Friday's Grand Prix Mclain finished second on Louisburg Farms Vocus.
And Sunday taking the B;ue Ribbon on Zander, owned by Grant Road Partners. Zander only eight years old and due to Mclains recent injury they are quite a new partnership in the ring. Mclain has high hopes for this young horsein the future

Monday, May 14, 2012 was a very sad day at Castle Hill Farm. The decision was made that Mclain Wards two time Olympic partner was to retire.
Sapphire has been Mclain mount since she arrived in the states ten years ago nearly to the day.
Since has been part of the Castle Hill Family and the partnership successfully competed in two Olympics , two World Equestrian Games, Six World Cup Finals, winning CN Million Dollar International,Spruce Meadows masters and the Pfizer Million Dollar GP , Saugerties. and the list goes on of major achievements the pair have accomplished.
Proving to be One the Best Showjumpers across the world! Will be missed my thousands of fans world wide!

Great first week back in the ring for Mclain Ward!
His nice string of young horses have been raring to go after being put on hold. Especailly Emma, 7yr mare owned by Mclain Ward taking two firsts in the 7 & 8 yr old classes.
Antares F, owned by Grant Road partners also stepped right back into the winners circle winning the $40,000 Old Salem Farm GP.

Mclain Ward back in the showing for the first time since his fall back in Jan. One his forst rounds including his Olympic hopeful, Antares F. Warming up in a 140 class proved to be as strong team as they were last year!

Mclain is back in the saddle! One step closer to being back riding his Olympic hopefuls Sapphire and Antares F.

First week showing at the WEF had its ups and downs for Mclain Ward and his team.
First day showing for the new year and Mclain Ward teamed up with his two time Olympic mount Sapphire to compete at 1.40m level which brought smiles to all Mcalin ward team and many people who were able to watch Sapphire jump for the first time since being hurt in March 2011.
Mclain could not of been happier how she felt and Sapphires freshness proved she was more than ready to be back in the ring.

Oh D"eole went onto to win the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup.
And Esplanade, owned by Louisburg Farm won the Spy Coast, $6000, 1.40m

Saturdays $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix was not such a lucky night for Mclain.
First time competing under lights, Oh D'eole got green jumped very highcomiing into a one strie combination, when Mclain opted to pull her out before B the mare took over and attempted to jump out causing Mclain and her to land in solid standard and fall to ground.
Mclain hit standard with his knee, breaking his knee cap and deole fell to her knees but stood shortly after with no injury.

Saturday, Final day and three of four american team competed for the individual medal, Mclain Ward, Beezie Madden and Christine Mccrea. Unfortuntaely although quaifying kent Farrington had to support his team ringside with only three members able to compete.

Going into the final round in third place ,Mclain Ward riding Antares F just tipped a rail coming out of the triple combination finishing his round with four faults and Brazils Bernardo Alves completed another clear round putting him just ahead of Mclain taking Bronze medal.
Beezie Madden and Christine Mccrea left competing for silver and gold both cleared all jumps but a time fault made the difference on Beezie Madden final round taking silver and Christine Mccrea took Gold.

A Very Successful Pan Am GAmes for the US Showjumping Team!!

Thursday, Nations Cup and an amazing day for US Showjumping Team winning, taking GOLD! All four riders rode two perfect, clear rounds.

All US Riders, Mclain Ward, Christine Mccrea, Beezie Madden and Kent Farrigton have qualified onto Saturday's individual competition.

First day, speed round, Mclain Ward and Antares F have two rails down but with a very fast time finished up in seventh place.

Other Team mates, Beezie Madden aboard Coral Reefs Vio Vola went finished in the lead with a fast, clear round and Christine Mccrea in second riding Romantovich Take One. Kent Farrington and Uceko finished fifteenth.

Thanks to Eqifit, one of Mclain's sponsors for their day-to-day blogging and photo (above), follow yourself on the Equifit Facebook page.

The US Showjumping Team
Beezie Madden riding Coral Reef Ranch's, Coral Reef Via Vola
Mclain Ward riding Grant Road Partners LLC, Antares F
Christine Mccrea riding Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stable's, Romantovich Take One
Kent Farrington riding RCG Farm's, Uceko
and team alternate, Mario Deslauriers riding Jane F clark's, Urico.

Showing started October 26th. Good luck to Mclain, Antares and the team.

A few weeks at home is always nice for everyone at the farm, but with new horses always arriving and not many shows left in the season, Princeton was the perfect show to take a few new and young horses to have a chance in the ring.

Lauren, Mclain's wife, also got the oppotunity to show her horse, Oskar in her first Grand Prix and proved to be very competitive finishing 2nd in the $30,000 Grand Prix of Lexington beating Mclain who finished fourth on Rendez-vous, owned by Grant Road Partners and 9th on Oh D'eole.

Mclain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zoonehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm did it again!!!
First place in the Grand Prix.

Mclain decided to just take Pjotter Van De Zoonehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm and Sagamore Farm's, Rothchild to compete at the Kentucky National Horse Show, and they proved to be all he needed to win both grand Prixs during the weekend.

Pjotter won the $50,000 Hagyard Equine Institute CSI WC and Rothchild finishing 6th.
Saturday was Rothchild's day to take the blue ribbon, winning the $30,000 CSI Prix De Lexington.

Mclain Ward was placed third in Grand prix on Antares F, owned by Grant Road Partners with an unlucky, but the fastest four faults in the first round.
The only two clears were Andre Thieme, aboard Aragon Rouet, who took first place - being the only double clear - and Duncan Mcfarland and Mr Whoopy were second.

Mclain had a great start to the week winning the $15,000 Prudential douglas Elliman, 1.45m Open on his own mare, Oh D'eole. He then went on to fiinish the week with the same winning streak, tieing his own record of winning all three Grand Prix in three consecutive days over the weekend!

Friday afternoon, Antares F, owned by Grant Road Partners, took first place in the $50,000 Spy Coast Farm Grand Prix, CSI **.

Saturday Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, owned by Loiusburg Farm took the blue ribbon in the $30,000 Nicolock Open Jumper Challenge, Oh D'eole was third and Vocus, owned by Louisburg farm was right behind in fourth.

Sunday, Mclain did it again, with Antares F. winning the $250,000 FTI GRand Prix FEI World Cup Qualifier.
This is the sixth time hes has won this Grand Prix, twice as many than other rider and the third consecutive year winning it.

Mclain had a very successful trip to Spruce Meadows...

Antares F, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC placed:
1st $200,000 CN Reliability GP
4th CN Performance Cup

Coco 135 placed:
1st $30,000 Atco Pipelines Cup
1st $35,000 Atco Midstream Challenge
5th $175,000 Nexen Cup Derby

Vocus, owned by Louisburg Farm placed:
1st $30,000 Talisman Energy Cup
1st $31,000 Friends Of Meadows Cup
9th $200,000 Atco Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farms placed:
4th $50,000 RBC Financial Group Cup

Oh D'eloe, owned by Mclain Ward placed:
1st $31,000 West Canadian Cup
4th $80,000 TD Cup
7th $35,000 D Line Cup

Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm placed:
1st $31,000 Friend of the Meadows Welcome
2nd $50,000 Lafarge Cup
7th $65,000 Esso World Cup Qualifier

Watch Mclain compete in the Rolex World Cup Finals, Leipzig, Germany, April 26
He will be showing Antares F and Rothchild

Rothchild had 2 early rails so finished the course with 8 faults, but with a fast time put him into 21 st place.

Mclain and Antares jumped great first round allowing them to compete in the 7 horse jump-off.
Unfortunately, having the last jump, although the winning time, took the 5th place.
However, this moved Mclain into 10th place overall.
The final rounds will be held Sunday May 1st - watch live on FEI TV.

They completed the first round successfully putting them in the jump off against 6 other riders.
McLain and Rothchild were double clear although within a second of the winning jump off time finished third behind Ire. Dennis Lynch and Ire. Billy Toomey.

Only 29 riders went through to the last day, including Mclain and Antares F who went in in tenth place.
Mclain and Antares completed the course clear and moving them up to the 6 place going into the final round.
Unfortunately having the last jump in the final round meant they finished tenth overall.
Mclain was still very happy with Antares as this is one of the biggest classes the horse has jumped and looks forward to his future with the very talented 11 year old gelding.