Articles: Horse News
Callan Solem and Allison Score $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix Victory at HITS
Ocala
Callan Solem and Allison took home the top prize during the $50,000 Ring
Power Grand Prix at HITS Ocala. Photo By: Lindsay McCall.
Contact:
Rebecca Walton for
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
Ocala, FL -March 10, 2010 - Callan Solem and Allison topped a field of 24
competitors during the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix at HITS Ocala on
Sunday, March 7, 2010, after completing a double-clear effort. The pair
completed the technical jump-off round in a time of 41.454 seconds to beat
Tracy Fenney aboard MTM Timon, and Taylor McMurtry riding Just an
Illusion. Solem is an elite rider who will be opening Callan Solem Show
Stables beginning April 1st with the support of Virginia and Collin McNeil
in Chester Springs, PA.
Five riders completed fault-free efforts over Danny Foster's first round
course to advance to the short course in the weekend's grand prix. Solem was
the third rider to show over the jump-off course aboard Allison, and with
Fenney and McMurtry following, she knew she would have to be flawless. The
duo made all the inside turns and left each fence standing as they blazed
home in a time of 41.454 seconds, which no one else would be able to
catch. Solem and Allison's excellent performance earned them their third
grand prix victory of the season and $15,000 in prize money.
"Aaron [Vale], Tracy Fenney, and Tracy Magness are three of the fastest
riders around, so you know it's not going to be an easy class to win when
those three are in the jump-off," said Solem. "Fortunately I got to go
third, so I saw that Tracy [Magness] and Aaron had one down in the
jump-off. Allison feels great and she's been jumping really well, so I felt
like I had to try to win the class. With Tracy Fenny still behind me, I
tried to do my best and do all the inside turns. Allison was just great;
she's such a nice horse!"
Solem recently had surgery for a broken finger and had to show the
18-year-old Warmblood mare, owned by Quiet Winter Farm and BJ Maghan, with
an awkward cast on her left hand. "It gets a little complicated with the
reins because I can't shorten them without using my other hand," she
explained. "I've ridden Allison with the flu, with a broken arm, and with a
hurt knee, so she knows I'm doing the best I can and that's sort of how our
relationship works. We try to pick up the slack for each other when we know
that the other one isn't feeling their best. I've definitely carried her
around a few courses and I would say she did a nice job carrying me around
on Sunday."
With their success this season Solem and Allison will be able to set their
sights on the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. The pair still needs a few more
grand prix competitions to qualify for the event, but they have planned
their schedule with the hopes of being able to compete. "Allison is at the
point in her life that she doesn't owe anyone anything, and whatever she
feels like doing she does," noted Solem. "I would love to be able to ride
her in that class if she feels like it. Our plan right now is to try and
qualify, and then when it's closer we'll decide what's right for her."
Solem is thrilled to have this victory as she moves closer to opening Callan
Solem Show Stables. She commented, "I think we're going to have a great
operation, and it's definitely nice to have a little momentum going into
that change."
For more information about Callan Solem and Callan Solem Show Stables,
please call 610-827-9003 or visit www.callansolem.com/.
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