Fantastic Wellington debut

After seven successful weeks in Wellington, the recent situation around the world has forced Bertram and his team to return home to Europe a few weeks earlier than planned. Luckily we can look back at some great results and a great first stay at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Photos Ashley Neuhof
Published  16.03.2020
They say your first time is always special! So it was! The first week in Wellington started the best way possible for Bertram and his horses. Two wins from two starts in the first two days on the tour made us all smile. Quiet Easy speeded up to win the CSI4* 1.40 class at WEF, followed up with Ballywalter Stables' GK Casper taking the top spot in the CSI4* "Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 4" .

The success continued the following week with Bertram dominating the five-star $37,000 Bainbridge 1m45 speed class, taking first and third place: Lafayette Van Overis took the top spot, while Bertram's speedy partner Quiet Easy finished third. Two days later, the talented gelding Lafayette followed up successfully with taking the runner-up spot in the 5* $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m jump-off class.

On the fourth week, Bertram and Lafayette were again victorious in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5*.

Bertram is thrilled about Lafayette's achievements:

"He's been jumping great all week. He’s incredibly straight forward. I feel like he truly understands what we are trying to do out there. Ever since I got him, he has impressed me. He wasn’t bought to be the best horse in the world or to jump 5* Grand Prix, but every question he’s asked he does it with ease and is very competitive. He’s naturally very fast but also very careful, so you don’t ever have the feeling that you need to slow him down. I'm very happy and excited about him!"

After a short break at home competing the young horses (and being victorious with the 8yo gelding Pacino Amiro,) Bertram returned to Wellington to take the runner-up position in the Live Oak International CSI3* 1m50 ranking class with his new ride; the 10-year-old stallion Gun Powder (Econoon van het Lindehof x Caretano Z). A solid debut for this new pair.

The success story continued the week after with Bertram and Lafayette picking up their third win in the FEI $37,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic at WEF, and making it a solid 4th place with Gun Powder in the 5* Grand Prix Qual at Palm Beach Masters. All in all some great weeks in Wellington. 

Sadly, coming home to Europe appears a bit different from usual, in light of the difficult global situation we are all facing. Still, we will stay positive and keep on working from home with developing horses and keep the day to day activities running, as well as following necessary restrictions needed to stay safe. Let's hope things turn for the better very soon!

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