Sydney Shulman Captures Second in the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix CSI2* at WEF 2

For Immediate Release

Lindsay Brock, Juliana Chapman, and Sabrina Brashares for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Sydney Shulman finished just fractions behind Great Britain’s Emily Ward in the Under 25 division at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) during the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix CSI2*. The featured competition was held on Sunday, January 19, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Fifty-five horses challenged Oscar Soberon’s (USA) opening track, with 19 returning for a deciding jump-off. After winning the Hermès Under 25 Welcome just a day earlier, Ward wasted no time in establishing herself as the one to beat this season. She and Millioninmind, owned by Steven Barnes, stopped the clock in a quick 35.99 seconds over second-place finisher Sydney Shulman (ISR), who finished in a time of 36.18 seconds riding Jill Shulman’s Azilis Du Mesnil.

Shulman’s top finish was an early birthday present to herself before turning 25 on Monday. She hails from Greenwich, Connecticut, and rides for Israel with seven years of experience in the under 25 division.

“It’s an amazing division, and I am very grateful to Hermès for sponsoring it,” she said. “It’s a great stepping stone for riders like me. When I was younger coming up, and I couldn’t do FEI legally, it was great to get my feet wet in FEI competitions. The horse I did today [Azilis du Mesnil], I bought her a little less than a year ago, and she’s so competitive. She was a little bit green when I got her, but all she wants to do is jump the jumps and go fast.”

Leah Rogers Meierfeld, Senior Equestrian Account Executive with Hermès, commented at the conclusion of the weekend’s events.

“It’s super special to be able to support a younger generation that’s moving up. I think it’s one of the most amazing classes within the Winter Equestrian Festival just because of that. It gives them an opportunity that they might not have had. To be able to support that and be a part of that is what Hermès is all about.”

Final Results: $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix CSI2*

1. MILLIONINMIND: 2007 ISH gelding by ARD VDL Douglas

EMILY WARD (GBR), Steven Barnes: 0/0/35.99

2. AZILIS DU MESNIL: 2010 Selle Français mare by Tinka’s boy x Jarnac

SYDNEY SHULMAN (ISR), Jill Shulman: 0/0/36.18

3. COVERBOY: 2007 KWPN gelding by Veron x Corland

CATHERINE WACHTELL (USA), Autumn View Farm: 0/0/36.71

4. CARACAS: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cachas

EUGENIO GARZA PEREZ (MEX), Nerijus Sipaila: 0/0/37.29

5. JEWEL DE KWAKENBEEK: 2009 BWP gelding by Cicero Z x Quidam de Revel

NATALIE DEAN (USA), Marigold Sporthorses LLC: 0/0/37.35

6. LURON S Z: 2007 Zangersheide gelding by Lord Z x Landetto

RILEY NEWSOME (USA), Riley Newsome: 0/0/38.12

7. BALOU’S FLY HIGH: 2007 Oldenburg stallion by Balou du Rouet x Grandeur

ISABELLA RUSSEKOFF (USA), Suave Pony LLC: 0/0/38.28

8. E CLINTON: 2009 KWPN gelding by Clinton x Kojak

LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/0/39.40

9. WALONA 15: 2003 KWPN mare by Quasimodo Z x Silvio II

NICOLA POHL (GER), Nicola Pohl: 0/0/45.60

10. CON PLEASURE 5: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Contendro 1 x Funny Fasion

FLO NORRIS (GBR), Cisca Norris: 0/4/37.29

Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, Official Photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Special thanks to Jennifer Wood Media Inc., for excerpts of the January 19 WEF press release.

Tricia BookerJanuary 19, 2020