Jamie Taylor Jumps to Victory in $50,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National Winning Round Jumper Classic

Las Vegas  NV – Jamie Taylor and Quatar sped to victory in the $50,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National Winning Round Jumper Classic, presented by Blenheim EquiSports, on Saturday, November 20, at the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W, held at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.

A field of 28 entries contested the first-round course created by internationally renowned course designer Guilherme Jorge, and while only five riders would jump clear, adhering to the winning-round format, the top 10 finishers in the first round were invited back for round two, regardless of faults.

Conor Swail was the first to return for the shortened speed track, and until Taylor entered the ring as the penultimate entry, it looked like the Irish rider and Theo 160 would claim their second win of the week with a clear time of 40.51 seconds

Jamie Taylor and Quatar.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

However, with strides left out and a particularly tight rollback turn, Taylor and Quatar, owned by JT Equine LLC, shaved nearly two seconds off of Swail’s time to secure the win. Karl Cook and Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet, owned by Signe Ostby, were the last to jump, and they slid into second place with a time of 39.60 seconds, relegating Swail to third.

“It feels amazing to win this class!” said Taylor. “I’ve always loved showing in Vegas. I’ve always had a fairly successful time here, but more so in the hunter ring. To win in a class like this with the riders that I was competing against is amazing!”

The victory marked Taylor’s second Fédération Equestre Internationale win after only beginning to show consistently in FEI competition for the first time this year.

“I’ve done indoors back East, and it’s great; it’s super fun and very unique, but out here, you have this entire horse show – the FEI and the affiliate classes,” said Taylor. “There are so many people here that just enjoy watching the show, and then you have Vegas as the backdrop. You can’t really beat that!”

Jamie Taylor and Quatar won the $50,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National Winning Round Jumper Classic, presented by Blenheim EquiSports.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

“For my plan in the jump-off, I was planning a few more strides from one to two than I ended up doing,” said Taylor. “Quatar followed me there very well, so that sort of got me feeling that I better go for it!”

“I’ve had Quatar for two and a half to three years, and he is a funny guy,” continued Taylor in speaking of the 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion. “He’s a big character, but man, he wants to win as badly as I do.”

Jamie Taylor and Quatar in the awards presentation for the $50,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National Winning Round Jumper Classic, presented by Blenheim EquiSports.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

For the win, Taylor was presented with a Horseware Ireland blanket, a Topline Design Ribbon Wreaths gift certificate and ornament, and an Ogilvy saddle pad, provided by Tack of the Town.

Prior to Taylor’s award presentation, the M. Michael Meller Style Award was presented to Natalie Dean. Each year, this award is presented to an equestrian who displays an exemplary style of riding as well as sportsmanlike conduct in and out of the ring in the FEI Jumping Division – someone who exemplifies what it means to be a true role model for our industry. 

“It’s a really big honor,” said Dean, 22. “A lot of the riders that I look up to and idolize have won this award, so to even be considered for it feels really special. The style award is about more than just your riding in the ring, so I’m really grateful to Michael for believing in me and everything that I’ve been doing in this sport. It just feels really good.”

Natalie Dean (pictured right) was presented as the winner of the M. Michael Meller Style Award by Alexandra Zulia of Blenheim EquiSports (left) and previous award recipient Erynn Ballard.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

For full results from Saturday’s $50,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National Winning Round Jumper Classic, presented by Blenheim EquiSports, click here.  

To learn more about the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W, visit www.TheLasVegasNational.com.

WATCH Interview with Jamie Taylor.

Keep Up With Coverage: the Marshall & Sterling/USHJA National Championships

For the latest news, photos, and results from the Marshall & Sterling/USHJA National Championships at the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W, visit the links below.

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About the Las Vegas National Horse Show CSI4*-W 

The Las Vegas National Horse Show CSI4*-W is an internationally recognized, premier year-end event that attracts top horses and riders from across the U.S. and beyond.

Among the highlight events of this year’s show is the $150,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup^TM Las Vegas, presented by Walter Oil & Gas Corporation, one of only eight World Cup Final qualifying classes held in North America. The Las Vegas National Horse Show is also home to the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/U.S. Hunter Jumper Association National Championships which gives the best, qualified riders the opportunity to compete against their peers for national titles at all levels of the sport. 

Tickets for the $150,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup^TM Las Vegas are available for purchase here, and admission is free throughout the rest of the week. To learn more about the Las Vegas National Horse Show, visit www.TheLasVegasNational.com