THERMAL, Calif.--Skylar Wireman on Barclino B won twice at Desert Circuit 8 after returning from competing on the U.S. Nations Cup team in Abu Dhabi.
Skylar Wireman on Barclino B (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)She won the the $30,000 1.45m Open Classic on Thursday, Feb. 26 and then won the $75,000 Grand Prix on Saturday, Feb. 28.
“I flew in from LAX yesterday and just literally got on to come to the ring this morning for this class!” said Wireman on Thursday. “I was just going for a nice, smooth round to set him up for the Grand Prix on Saturday. This is kind of our first week back after a nice break for him. I was thrilled with him. He jumped so well and was just so lovely to ride.”
Wireman was one of 25 to compete in the Thursday morning speed class, and her time of 64.983 seconds proved uncatchable.
Kyle King on Ninja BF was second in 65.534 seconds, and Mark Kinsella on Hamilton Ex Bart 111 Z was third in 65.739 seconds.
“I thought it was a nice course; it was very flowing and had some places you could shave time off here and there,” said Wireman. “In general, this horse is a very naturally fast horse. I don’t even have to think about going fast. I honestly was just thinking about cruising around and a nice, smooth round.”
IN THE GRAND PRIX, Wireman was one of 29 to compete over the course set by Peter Grant, and six qualified to come back for the jump-off.
Avery Griffin on Oh My Star Van Strytem, first to go in the jump-off, was clean in 38.945, setting the time to beat.
Wireman went next and cut two seconds off Griffin's time to finish on a winning 36.813 seconds.
Griffin placed second place, and Mariano Maggi on Quantico 23 was third with a time of 39.492 seconds while Canada's Tiffany Foster on Steadfast was the only other clean in the jump-off to finish fourth in 41.387
“The big upside of this horse is he can go so fast to the jump and then turn so tight on the backside,” said Wireman. “You think it, and he’s already doing it, which is an unbelievable feeling to have underneath you. I did nine in the first line. I believe Avery behind me did the eight, but then my turn on the backside can be so many feet tighter than anyone else. Then, it lets me do less strides in the turn to the next jump. So, I actually worry more about doing less strides in the turns rather than in the long gallops. I do one more sometimes, but then I turn tighter.”
“Outside of the ring, my favorite part about this horse is how cuddly he is,” said Wireman. who does all her own grooming. “I’ll be sitting on my trunk and trying to do anything, sitting on my phone, eating lunch, whatever, and he’s just all in my business and knocking me over. He likes to rest his chin on my shoulder. He sits there and puts his whole head on your shoulder. He’s just a total love bug."
“You wouldn’t know that he goes in there and jumps like that when you see him outside the ring,” said Wireman. “He’ll just stand there and sleep in your lap, basically. Then he walks in the ring, and he knows it’s time to do business. He’s so amazing, and I couldn’t be more grateful for him.”
