Sponsored Riders Successful at Tonimbuk

Kentucky Equine Research-sponsored riders faced strong competition at the Tonimbuk International Horse Trials, held 3-5 March, as many riders sought qualification for the Melbourne International Three-Day Event and Australian International Three-Day Event, competitions scheduled for later in the year.

Tonimbuk is one of the first four-star competitions of the year, with the course designed to encourage riders and horses, building on experience and confidence for the major events later in the year.

Kentucky Equine Research sponsored the CCN1* again this year in conjunction with Barastoc, and 32 riders contested the division, with sponsored rider Samantha Cesnik and Giovanni Georgio taking the win.

“I am thrilled to win the one-star on Giovanni Georgio, who is powered by both Kentucky Equine Research and Barastoc! This horse is a real star and one for the future. He jumped confidently around a tough track, is always careful in showjumping, and is a pleasure on the flat,” Sam said.

Sam Cesnik and Chris Height, who operate Spring Creek Equine, had other placings in multiple divisions, including an eighth-place finish in the CCI3* for Sam and Graftango.

Spring Creek recommends and uses Bio-Bloom HF, Restore, and Equi-Jewel from Kentucky Equine Research and Breed N Grow from Barastoc.

Since 2020, Sam and Chris, as Off The Track acknowledged “retrainers,” have also retrained Piemonte, Sharkara, King Cranach, and Don’t Doubt Nic through Racing Victoria’s RESET (Racehorse, Evaluation, Support, Education, and Transition) Program.

The RESET Program provides direct support for those horses that are sound but have not been successful in transitioning to a second career outside of racing. A key feature of the post-racing initiative, the RESET Program has the goal of responsible rehoming for all of its graduates.

Each horse in the RESET Program receives tailored retraining from an acknowledged horseperson, funded by the Victorian racing industry’s equine welfare fund. KER provides nutritional support to Racing Victoria and the RESET Program.

Jaimie Stitchel from Charleston in South Australia took four horses to the event, earning a fifth place with Malvado J in EvA95C; eleventh and fourteenth place with Alandro and Florida J, respectively, in 80B; and a sixth place with Toto Wolf J in the CCN1*B.

“It was Alandro and Florida J’s first competition and I’m really pleased with how they performed, staying focused on each task. All four horses jumper clear in the cross-country, with a few time penalties keeping them out of the higher placings,” Jaimie said.

Jaimie uses Restore, B-Quiet, EO-3, Nano-E, and Equi-Jewel from KER. She feeds Low GI Cube from Barastoc.

Lily Wickenden had both of her horses out for this event, claiming a seventh-place finish and a nine-place finish on EA Berlin and Fuerst Sensation, respectively.