Lauren Hough & Ohlala Win double Bronze at 2015 Pan American Games

In a series of competitions that could hardly have been choreographed to better effect, USA took home Bronze in the Team Final while Lauren' took home Individual Bronze and teammate McLain Ward clinched individual gold in Jumping on July 25, 2015 at the Pan-American Games in Caledon Park, Toronto, Canada.

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Top and above, Lauren and Ohlala compete at the Pan American Games, July 2015. Ph. ©StockImageServices.com

Thursday’s team tussle was an intriguing battle that proved unpredictable to the end when Argentina filled the team silver medal spot ahead of the USA in bronze. And it continued in the same vein today when the individual medals were decided in a two-way jump-off for gold and silver as well as a five-way race for the bronze.

Both Individual Jumping Gold and Bronze were decided by jump-offs after two rounds of intense competition over the big and impressive Michel Vaillancourt-designed tracks. McLain Ward jumped three clear rounds, including in the jump-off against Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez to win Individual Gold. Lauren Hough captured Individual Bronze as the only clear round in the field of five in the jump-off for Bronze.

USA's Lauren Hough and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala had the first element of the double-combination down in Round A, a fence that proved troubling for many combinations. The young mare jumped flawlessly in Round B and headed to the jump-off as the fourth to go. With the three combinations ahead of the pair having at least one rail down, the door was left open for Hough and Ohlala who entered the arena and displayed their signature speed and agility to cross the timers clear and inside the time. The final combination in the jump-off also pulled a rail, leaving Hough and Ohlala as the only pair to post a clear round and thus securing Bronze.

“I am thrilled – we worked really hard for this medal. It was a great week and my horse performed beautifully. I am really happy to be going home with [an individual] medal,” said Hough. “I went as quickly as I felt comfortable [in the jump-off] without taking too much risk and it worked out my way. She was a true champion.”

 

Pan Ams Preview: Lauren Hough and Ohlala are Ready for Toronto

There’s only one way to prepare for a championship, and that’s by riding among, and as, one of the best in the world. The United States’ Lauren Hough has been doing exactly that all spring and summer from her European base, busy with her string of horses and a growing group of students who have accompanied her to five-star stops from the South of France to the United Kingdom.

Based on her success and her growing partnership with the light-footed Ohlala, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare [Orlando x Cardento], Hough, who is the FEI-ranked World No. 25, was singled out by her federation and USET chef d’equipe Robert Ridland to represent the USA at the fast-approaching Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Hough, already a two-time Pan Ams veteran, is well-positioned to be an anchor player at the Pan Ams, even though the week will mark Ohlala’s first-ever team championship. We caught up with Hough as she wrapped her last show in Europe (pictured above) before heading to Toronto, where the show jumping competition will begin on July 21st:

Q: Where are you based this summer? Can you describe your stables?
A: I am in a town called Cherington-Tetbury, which is in the Cotswalds area of England. It’s Mark Phillips’ farm, and we have a really beautiful facility to call home. The horses are really happy there.

With all of my students, we have 18 horses based here for the summer. And including the young ones, I’ve got about six for myself.

Q: What was your schedule for Ohlala in the 90-day lead up to the Pan Ams?
A: Well she had quite a busy end of the winter there in Florida, and she was in very good form but I gave her a bit of a break. She did GCT Madrid and GCT Hamburg in May, and

then after CHIO Aachen at the end of May, again she had a few weeks of break. Then we just did GCT Monaco and GCT Paris, with Paris being her last show leading up to the Pan Ams.

I try to keep her on a schedule of two weeks on, two weeks off. So she’ll have about 10 days break from Paris (pictured at top on July 5th) until she jumps in Toronto.

Q: Was making the team for the Pan Ams a big goal for you, or were you pleasantly surprised to have been chosen?
A: I don’t know that I would call it a big goal, this will be my third Pan Ams, but we felt that it was a good venue for Ohlala. I like the location and I like that we’re not traveling too, too far away. It’s a place we’re all familiar with so with all those factors and in having a good support crew of owners, we wanted to do it, as it is good to have a championship under our belts with the Rio (Olympics) goal in mind for next year.

Q: In terms of all those shows that you mentioned, what was your best preparation for the Pan Ams?
A: That’s a bit hard to say, the horse doesn’t really care what kind of venue she goes in. She’s pretty adaptable for any sort of environment so I wouldn’t say that a particular place or class has been extra important. It’s more that she is fit and fresh and having consistent results in the lead up to Toronto, and we’ve accomplished that.

“She goes on the gallop track, the treadmill, and the fields. She has a full day when she’s not showing, and she does enjoy being home, but not for too long!”

Q: Describe your training program, and your focus for Ohlala?
A: We don’t jump her so much at home, we just focus on keeping her fitness level up. I’ll give her one school before she flies to Toronto.
My manager when I’m away at shows, Nina Ulenberg, does a beautiful job with her on the flat. She goes on the gallop track, the treadmill, and the fields. She has a full day when she’s not showing, and she does enjoy being home, but not for too long!

She’s been quite consistent, I haven’t really won anything big as of lately but her consistency over these last few months has been good, so I think we’ll be ready.

Q: Does Ohlala have any special quirks or requirements?
A: Well, she does like a vacation but not too long of a vacation! She’s quite grumpy in her stable. Normally when you open the door to her stall, she turns and faces the corner. But she looks a lot tougher than she is. She is a horse that kind of has a lot of blood, which helps her out a lot in the ring because of her small size.

When you sit on her, she feels like a small horse, but she gets bigger when she gets into the ring. She definitely doesn’t know that she’s a small horse, and her character lends herself to that.

Q: Who are Ohlala’s owners, and will they be at the Pan Ams?
A: Her owners are the Ohlala Group; I’m an owner, as is Dennis Singer, Desi Dillingham, and Fred and Heather Briggs. Most of them are all attending the Games, which will be really nice. They always watch her on the Internet, so for them to be able to watch her in person will be a treat.

Lauren Hough wins Credit Suisse Grand Prix in Geneva

The Credit Suisse Grand Prix, counting for the Longines World Rankings, was won by none other than the lovely Lauren Hough (USA) aboard Ohlala. Germany's Ludger Beerbaum on Chaman came second and third place went to Pieter Devos of Belgium on Dream Of India Greenfield. This was a qualifying competition for Saturday's Champions' Challenge presented by Rolex and for the Rolex Grand Prix, competition of the Rolex Grand Slam.

Beforehand, Morroco’s Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Cordano Sitte Z took first place in the Prix des Vins de Genève ahead of Alain Jufer (SUI) riding Radja d'artemis and Reed Kessler (USA) on Soraya de l’Obstination.

The first international competition of the CHI Geneva 2014 took place this Thursday. Ireland's Allen Bertram riding High Valley won the Table A, Prix du Léman, against the clock jumping event. (Swiss's) Niklaus Schurtenberger on Davidoff V. Schl´hof Ch came second while the rider Niklaus Rutschi on Earl Pery´s Caro Ch 3rd.

Lauren Hough & Ohlala Group Welcomes Belle Grey Farms

Lauren Hough and Ohlala Group are proud to welcome a new member to the Ohlala Group. We are thrilled to welcome Fred and Heather Briggs of Belle Grey Farms to the Ohlala Group. Ohlala Group, composed of Lauren Hough, Dennis Singer and his family, as well as Desi Dillingham, are excited about the newest members of our Group.

We are grateful that Bell Grey Farms would like to join us on this exciting journey with such a talented horse. Ohlala (Orlando x Cardento) enjoyed a terrific year in 2014 and we look forward to another exciting season in 2015 with Fred and Heather Briggs of Belle Grey Farms.

Lauren Hough wins $210,000 CANA Cup with Ohlala

Weather conditions were markedly improved for today's opening competition of the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament. While originally scheduled to start yesterday, snowfall, downed trees, and power outages pushed the start of all competition to Thursday at the 'Masters', the first instance of a complete day's reschedule of competition in the 39-year history of Spruce Meadows tournaments.

There were three events on the Thursday schedule, with an increase in prize money to $210,000 for the CANA Cup 1.60m. Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala were the fastest for victory. Earlier in the day, Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel sped to the win in the $50,000 TELUS Cup 1.50m. Eric Lamaze (CAN) prevented a U.S. sweep of the day when he won the $50,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m with Fine Lady 5. All three competitions were changed to a speed format as well to help keep the footing in top shape for the rest of the week.

The Spruce Meadows 'Masters' runs through Sunday, September 14, with Saturday's $300,000 BMO Nations' Cup and Sunday's $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex – the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – as the feature competitions of the week.

The addition of $85,000 in prize money to the CANA Cup 1.60m (originally for the Finning Cup) made it even more competitive. The courses this week are designed by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. The speed competition had 44 entries, with eight clear trips. Hough and Ohlala, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmlood mare by Orlando x Cardento owned by The Ohlala Group, were the only pair to break the 60 second mark. Their time of 59.901 took the top spot. Kent Farrington and Uceko were just behind in 61.331 seconds, while Kevin Staut (FRA) went into third place on a time of 62.961 seconds with Oh D'Eole.

Hough went third to last, and while she was able to see Farrington and other quick trips, she knew her plan for Ohlala's way of going. “I actually have a plan for that horse from the moment I walk the course,” she confirmed. “It doesn't normally change. She's a really naturally fast horse across the ground, and always putting one more (stride) in is quicker than leaving one out with her. I stuck with my plan. I took a couple shots here and there, and I got a little bit lucky today.”

Ohlala has been a winner at the biggest show jumping competitions in the world, including a successful CHIO Aachen in July. “I think this is quite similar to Aachen. I have high hopes for the weekend; if I don't screw up, I think she'll perform really well,” Hough said.

While many were unsure what today would bring in terms of footing, the team at Spruce Meadows was praised by all of the riders. “Hats off to the team here,” Hough remarked. “I'm sure that they worked hours and hours and hours while we were all sleeping, snuggled up in our warm hotel rooms! You really never lose faith at a venue like this, with the crew that they have. You knew that one way or another they were going to pull off a fantastic competition, and they did.”

Hough added, “I think Leopoldo did a super job today, putting the fences in all the right places, having two 1.50m (events) and moving the fences. Everything that they needed to do today, they did, and they still had a great competition. It was unbelievable prize money on the first day of the competition; to jump for $210,000 over a Table A course, you don't see that anywhere else in the world.”

“This week, my only doubt was to take out the snow!” Palacios said. “What is important here is the quality of the footing. This footing is fantastic and in great condition.” Hough plans to ride Quick Study on the U.S. team in Saturday's BMO Nations' Cup and Ohlala in Sunday's $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex.

Source: Spruce Meadows

Final Results: $210,000 CANA Cup 1.60m

1 OHLALA: Swedish Warmblood / M / 10 Orlando x Cardento
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), The Ohlala Group: 0/59.901

2 UCEKO: Dutch Warmblood / G / 13 Celano x Koriander
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), RCG Farm: 0/61.331

3 OH D EOLE: Selle Francais / M / 12 Kannan x Papillon Rouge
KEVIN STAUT (FRA), Haras de Hus: 0/62.961

4 VAN GOGH: Dutch Warmblood / S / 12 Numero Uno x Berstein
MARCO KUTSCHER (GER), Hengstenhouderij De Ijzeren Man B.V. & Stal Horn: 0/63.737

5 MYSELF DE BREVE: Selle Francais / M / 14 Quidam x Grd Veneur
MARIE HECART (FRA), Eurl Top Stallions Compagny: 0/65.630

6 ADMIRABLE: Hanoverian / G / 14 A Jungle Princex Rhytmo
MARIE ETTER (SUI), Ecurie Galoubet: 0/66.121

7 LORO PIANA ONCE DE KREISKER: Selle Francais / S / 12 Papillon Rouge x Muget du Manoir
LUCIA VIZZINI (ITA), Philippe Le Jeune: 0/71.174

8 GOLDEN HAWK: Belgian Warmblood / S / 9 Vigo DArsouilles x Chin Chin
SHANE BREEN (IRL), P Sultan and Breen Equestrian Ltd: 0/71.288

9 TIC TAC: Belgian Sport Horse / S / 11 Clinton x Darco
LESLIE HOWARD (USA), Jane Clark: 1/72.414

10 UPPERCLASS: Dutch Warmblood / G / 13 Concorde x Indoctro
WILLIAM WHITAKER (GBR), Elisan AB: 4/60.861

11 CARLITO C: Belgian Warmblood / G / 12 Kannan x Unknown
OLIVIER PHILIPPAERTS (BEL), Frans Jens: 4/61.300

12 DIAGHILEV: Warmblood / G / 11 Vangelis S x Handstretch
BILLY TWOMEY (IRL, Mr C T Payne: 4/61.308

Lauren Hough takes big win in front of glamorous Glock Guests at CSI5* Treffen

Those who have been present live today at the CSI5* competition in the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER, were able to witness a true show-jumping spectacle! 38 top athletes entered the 1.55 m high world ranking jumping competition aiming for just one thing: victory! The path to it led via a one-off jump off and the quality of the top-notch starting group was proven in the moment of ruling.

No fewer than 23 duos were able to really speed it up once more in the shortened course. And suspense lingered till the end, since one benchmark time was followed by the next. US-American rider Lauren Hough as the fourth but last starter succeeded in delivering a performance that was simply unbeatable with her only nine-year-old mare. In incredible 39.78 seconds the duo managed to fly through the finishing line ending as winners!

"I have ridden Royalty only for the second time in a competition and did not count on winning. Thus this victory is a great surprise and honour for me. It is certainly one of the most beautiful events I have ever participated in, stated a beaming Lauren in the winner’s interview.

Even Olympic silver medal winner Beat Mandli (SUI) was not able to undercut the fantastic time in the saddle of his Super Trooper de Ness, with a time of 40.14 seconds – good enough for second place and also the nimble Irish rider Billy Twomey on Ardcolum Duke had to finish for third place with a time of 40.43 seconds.

Austria’s most successful female rider Julia Kayser (T) and her ten-year-old daughter of Vigo Darsouilles, Sterrehof's Ushi stayed error-free both in the course as well as in the jump off, thus making it to twelfth place.

Competition 04: CSI5* Int. jumping competition with jump off 1.55 m
Competition counts for the LONGINES Ranking list

1. Royalty Des Isles - Hough Lauren (USA) 0 - 39.78 sec – jump off
2. Super Trooper de Ness - Mandli Beat (SUI) 0 - 40.14 sec - jump off
3. Ardcolum Duke - Twomey Billy (IRL) 0 - 40.43 sec - jump off
4. Fyloe V. Claeyssenhof - Deusser Daniel (GER) 0 - 41.38 sec - jump off
5. Talina - Lindeloew Douglas (SWE) 0 - 41.49 sec - jump off
6. PSG Future - Fuchs Martin (SUI) 0 - 42.00 sec - jump off
7. Flash Dance V. Kalevallei - Vrieling Jur (NED) 0 - 42.64 sec - jump off
8. USA Today - Whitaker Robert (GBR) 0 - 43.51 sec - jump off
9. Singular LS la Silla - Ehning Marcus (GER) 0 - 44.13 sec - jump off
10.Roso Au Crosnier - Karaevli Omer (TUR) 0 - 44.64 sec - jump off
11.Amaretto d'Arco - Dinan Katherine A. (USA) 0 - 46.02 sec - jump off
12.Sterrehof's Ushi - Kayser Julia (AUT/T) 0 - 46.83 sec - jump off