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by Mollie Bailey
Amateur rider Katherine Bakker and Carambo Z beat a field of seasoned professionals in the $30,000 Split Rock Farm 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship Eastern League Finals.
When most amateur jumper riders go looking for a new show partner, they audition horses with plenty of miles in the ring. But not Katherine Bakker. When she bought Carambo Z as a 5-year-old jumper prospect, she knew she’d have her work cut out for her. But her decision paid off at the Hampton Classic, Aug. 24-31, when she and Carambo Z won the $30,000 Split Rock Farm 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship Eastern League Finals.
Bakker had to outride top grand prix riders like McLain Ward and Todd Minikus and their best up-and-comers to clinch the title.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking being an amateur up against such amazing professionals,” admitted Bakker, Winter Park, Fla. “Plus I’d never jumped big water on him, and I didn’t know if he’d spook at the water or the ditch, but he felt very confident.”
The 6-year-olds contested their final round on the Hampton Classic’s formidable grand prix field where some of the young horses appeared overwhelmed by the atmosphere, but the gray gelding galloped around like a veteran. Six horses jumped clear all week to jump off, and Carambo Z’s ground covering gallop helped him edge out last year’s top 5-year-old, Noël Love Gross’ Merlin and Jeffery Welles, who took second.
Bakker’s long-time trainers Wendy and Ezequiel Peralta acquired Carambo (Charming Z—Aramba Z, Akito Z) from Argentine breeders Ricardo and Marleen Kierkegaard. Though the Peraltas had bought plenty of horses from the Kierke-gaards in the past, they had additional first-hand knowledge about this pick, as Ezequiel rode the Zangersheide’s sire, Charming Z, and Wendy his grandsire, Akito Z.
When most amateur jumper riders go looking for a new show partner, they audition horses with plenty of miles in the ring. But not Katherine Bakker. When she bought Carambo Z as a 5-year-old jumper prospect, she knew she’d have her work cut out for her. But her decision paid off at the Hampton Classic, Aug. 24-31, when she and Carambo Z won the $30,000 Split Rock Farm 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Championship Eastern League Finals.
Bakker had to outride top grand prix riders like McLain Ward and Todd Minikus and their best up-and-comers to clinch the title.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking being an amateur up against such amazing professionals,” admitted Bakker, Winter Park, Fla. “Plus I’d never jumped big water on him, and I didn’t know if he’d spook at the water or the ditch, but he felt very confident.”
The 6-year-olds contested their final round on the Hampton Classic’s formidable grand prix field where some of the young horses appeared overwhelmed by the atmosphere, but the gray gelding galloped around like a veteran. Six horses jumped clear all week to jump off, and Carambo Z’s ground covering gallop helped him edge out last year’s top 5-year-old, Noël Love Gross’ Merlin and Jeffery Welles, who took second.
Bakker’s long-time trainers Wendy and Ezequiel Peralta acquired Carambo (Charming Z—Aramba Z, Akito Z) from Argentine breeders Ricardo and Marleen Kierkegaard. Though the Peraltas had bought plenty of horses from the Kierke-gaards in the past, they had additional first-hand knowledge about this pick, as Ezequiel rode the Zangersheide’s sire, Charming Z, and Wendy his grandsire, Akito Z.
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