Success for Canadian Kim Farlinger in Washington

Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley

Washington, DC: Twenty-one year old Canadian show jumping athlete, Kim Farlinger (Annan, ON), enjoyed a successful week with top placings at the Washington International Horse Show riding the eight year old Dutch mare, Laforza.

Held at the MCI Center October 25-30 in downtown Washington, DC, the Washington International Horse Show hosts a full list of top North American and European riders. With the likes of Olympians Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker and Gerco Schroder on hand, it might be expected for a rookie like Kim Farlinger to feel somewhat intimidated, but that was not to be the case.

With maturity beyond her years, Farlinger, aboard the feisty mare Laforza, enjoyed an eighth place finish on opening night in the $20,000 International Gambler's Choice. A class where strategy plays a large part, riders are forced to invent their own course using jumps with assigned point values. Farlinger's course was up to par, but an unfortunate rail dropped her into eighth place from what would have been the winning formula.

Determined to make amends, Farlinger and Laforza set sail the following night against a star studded field in the $20,000 International Accumulator Class. With a smartly ridden, fast, clean round, Farlinger enjoyed a second place finish just behind The Netherlands' Harry Smolders aboard Verelst Quebec.

Continuing their winning ways on the final night of competition, Farlinger and her mighty mare captured fourth place in the $20,000 International Hit and Hurry competition. With a three for three outing, it was a successful International week of competition for the Dutch mare that just began showing in the bigger premier events this season.

Farlinger's strategy for Washington was simple; prepare Laforza for the upcoming Canadian Championships being held during the Royal Horse Show on November 4th and 5th at Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum. Having already pre-qualified for the International Division, Farlinger felt it would be prudent to save her 2004 Reserve Canadian Championship mount, del Destino, for the numerous subsequent International classes being held later in the week.

"The Royal is a long, arduous week on horses and riders alike. My hope in coming to Washington was that Laforza would have a good preparatory week and I could slot her in as my Canadian Championship horse," commented Farlinger. "Last year, I needed to qualify in the Championships to be accepted to the International division. This year, the pressure is off a little. The top five Canadians on the Gandini World Ranking list are automatically accepted, so my fourth place ranking already qualifies me. I am going to give Laforza the opportunity. She's definitely on a roll and she deserves the chance," continued Farlinger. "I'm feeling quite optimistic."

Focusing on advancing her equestrian career, Farlinger is taking time off from full time educational studies to concentrate her efforts on her sport. With generous sponsors like Molson, Grand Prix and Antares behind her, Farlinger has set her sights on earning her way onto the Canadian Team and representing her country at premier International events in the years to come.