Ashlee Bond won the $226,000 Devon Grand Prix in a three horse jump-off
- Details
- By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--Ashlee Bond on Donatello 141, riding for Israel, won the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon over Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue and Schuyler Riley on Robin De Ponthual in a three horse jump-off on Thursday evening, June 1, at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Ashlee Bond on Donatello 141Having to go first in the jump-off, Bond laid down a very fast, clean round in 37.29 seconds that proved uncatchable.
Eddie Blue has a very big stride and is deceptively fast, but Ryan steadied him a couple of times, particularly to the last fence, and finished a full second back in 38.29.
Last to go, Riley, who had been second in last year's Grand Prix, had eight faults in 39.32 to finish third.
"I've had my horse for six years, so the plan is always the same, to do what's best for my horse regardless of who's behind me," said Bond. "We know each other inside and out. He reads my thoughts."
Bond said she hadn't walked the jump-off course and never walked jump-off courses with Donatello.
“He’s so adjustable," said Bond. "I land, and I’m just always pushing him to go as fast as he’ll go. He’s not really trying to run, I’m encouraging him to go faster. I just see where I’m at and do what I feel he can do in that moment, and it’s worked out so far most of the time.”