Lexington, KY – July 25, 2024 – For Olivia Sweetnam, winning is in her blood thanks to her father, Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam. The talented junior rider has been victorious in the pony hunters, junior hunters and equitation, but Thursday night the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, presented by Rood and Riddle, added a new win to her resume. Olivia cruised to her first grand prix victory as she topped an elite field of athletes with HDB Quality in the $25,000 Kentucky Summer Classic.
“It’s really exciting, especially with such a competitive group in the jump off,” expressed Olivia after her win. “It’s a really good feeling. I’m proud of myself and my horse. I’ve been riding HDB Quality for a bit over two years now, but my family’s had her for seven years. My dad and two other people in our barn rode her before me, so it’s like a family car. She’s my favorite and I love her so much. I have a really strong bond with her in and out of the ring and she’s so competitive. I’ve never ridden a horse that has wanted to win as much as her!”
Olivia Sweetnam and HDB Quality
Course designer Anderson Lima asked questions throughout the 12-obstacle track in the Rolex Stadium at Kentucky Horse Park, which included a vertical-oxer double combination near the gate, and an oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination before the final bending line heading home over a final large oxer. Nine combinations had all the answers in the first round and advanced to the jump-off, where they had to jump the delicate vertical-vertical portion of the original triple combination before jumping two new oxers on their way to the finish line.
Kevin Gallagher was the first to return with the Freedom Group’s Campinas 4. They set a time that left the rest of the field racing to catch them as they dashed across the finish line in 39.700 seconds with all the rails intact. Olivia was the second to last to return, and the only rider who put Gallagher’s time to the test. A tight turn to the double combination and quick gallop to the last four fences knocked Gallagher from the top spot as they blazed through the timers in a clear 37.917 seconds, almost two seconds faster, to earn the victory. The third place award went to Ashley Vogel and Ceres Van Get Moeshof, who stopped the clock in a faultless 41.003 seconds.
Olivia’s win came while her father is in Paris, representing the Irish Show Jumping Team during the 2024 Olympic Games, and she admitted that having him away added a little pressure. “I feel a little more that I have to rely on myself and my plan, and my trust in my horse. When he’s here he tells me what to do, but it’s really good for me to be able to go and be a little bit more responsible for myself and my plan.”
This week, Olivia proved that she can make a plan that works on her home turf at the Kentucky Horse Park. She was thrilled to be back at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, concluding, “It’s a really well run show, beautiful show grounds and it’s a really great feeling to win in this ring.”
The next highlight event in the Rolex Stadium will be Saturday night’s $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix, which will be part of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hats Off Day. Show jumping action will continue next week as well during the Kentucky Summer Classic. For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.