Schomberg, Ontario – Monopoly, the horse Beth Underhill rode at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, died on November 16 at the age of 32. Monopoly earned more than $1 million in prize money throughout his illustrious show jumping career, and was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2008.
Underhill and Monopoly enjoyed one of the longest partnerships in show jumping sport. Underhill first began riding Monopoly when he was 10 years old, and the pair enjoyed their last major grand prix victory, the $100,000 Treatwells Grand Prix held at HITS Ocala, FL, in 1999 when Monopoly was 20.
Over the course of their 10-year competition career, Underhill and Monopoly were stalwarts of the Canadian Equestrian Team. Partnered together by trainer Terrance 'Torchy' Millar in 1989, Underhill and Monopoly made their Canadian Show Jumping Team debut the following year on the fall indoor Nations' Cup tour comprised of Washington, New York, and Toronto's Royal Horse Show.
"For me, it was such a special accomplishment to make the Canadian Equestrian Team; that had been my goal since I was a little girl," said Underhill. "That first year I was riding him was very special. Not only had I obtained a lifelong dream, but we really grew together as partners. We went double clear in our first Nations' Cup in Washington, and then came home to win the Nations' Cup in Toronto at the Royal."
Following their successful Canadian Equestrian Team debut, Underhill and Monopoly represented Canada at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, winning both team and individual silver medals. At the 2011 Jump Canada Hall of Fame Gala, Underhill and her teammates Sandra Anderson, Danny Foster, and Ian Millar were inducted in recognition of their achievements at those Pan American Games.
Over the course of their career together, Underhill and Monopoly traveled around the world, competing at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, The Netherlands, where they finished 14th individually. While the pair enjoyed major grand prix victories throughout North America, Spruce Meadows was Monopoly's favourite place to compete. In 1994 and 1996, the pair claimed the Canadian Show Jumping Championship title and, in 1992, placed third in the $680,000 du Maurier Ltd. International (now the $1 million CN International) at the Calgary venue. In 1996, having finished second the previous three years in a row, Underhill and Monopoly finally won the $100,000 Shell Cup Derby.
"I swear, by the end, I didn't even have to steer," laughed Underhill of competing in the Shell Cup Derby, where the course remains the same each year. "He loved the crowd at Spruce Meadows and he loved that course! Even though he had competed around the world, Spruce Meadows truly was where he felt the most at home.
"He was a sensitive horse; you had to earn his trust," she continued of Monopoly's character. "Once he trusted you, he would go to the ends of the earth for you and try his heart out. He always tried his best."
Underhill and Monopoly's partnership was as remarkable for its longevity as for its success.
"He really made my career, he started everything," said Underhill, who became the first woman to win the Canadian World Cup League in 1993. "He was my first grand prix horse and allowed me to ride on the team for the first time. He won his last grand prix at the age of 20. For a horse to be jumping at that age was remarkable. There wasn't another horse like him."
Of the impact Monopoly had on her life, Underhill reflected, "It was in 1989 when I first started riding him, so he was in my life for 22 years. When you think of all the things that happen in your life over 22 years, he was there throughout the highs and the lows. I shared so many aspects of my life with him. He truly was a member of my family."
Bred by Mr. J.A. Cottle, Monopoly was born in New Zealand in 1979. A registered Hannoverian, Monopoly's sire was Witzbold while his thoroughbred dam was Suzy by Abridge Member. Discovered by Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes in New Zealand, Monopoly was imported to Canada by the Ierullo family, and was donated to the Canadian Equestrian Team in 1993. After 10 years competing at the grand prix level and earning more than $1 million in prize money, Monopoly was retired at Beth Underhill Stables in Schomberg, ON, where he continued to be a large presence in the barn.
"He did everything on his own terms," said Underhill. "Even in his retirement, he was still a very busy horse. He stall was located in the center of the action. He liked to put his head completely out of his stall so he could nip at the dogs and boss the other horses around as they moved throughout the barn. He felt he had an important job in the whole mechanism of how the stable ran. He enjoyed being top horse in the barn.
"He had a routine that could not be changed – his feeding routine, his turn-out routine – he had to go to the same paddock every day," continued Underhill, noting that although Monopoly allowed her pet goat to visit him from time to time, he did not like having any other turn-out friends in his paddock. "He was a loner. He liked his own space, he had his own way of doing things, and he didn't like change at all! He made it quite clear how he liked things to be."
Even at 32 years of age, which is well past the average life expectancy of a horse, Monopoly was very active and fit.
"I had been watching him carefully as he got older, and he was still a sound, healthy horse," said Underhill. "The day he died, he went out to the paddock and was trotting around. They were bringing him back into the barn when he had a heart attack. He was a remarkable horse, and a remarkable character. Monopoly was very special, and I feel grateful that I was able to have him in my life for as long as I did."
Monopoly was cremated and will be buried at Underhill's farm beside her other memorable grand prix mount, Altair, who died in 2006 at the age of 18.
"I would really like to thank the Ierullo family for the opportunity to ride the horse and to keep Monopoly though his retirement," acknowledged Underhill. "They were a big part of his life and his career. I was riding for Torchy at the time and he put the horse in my direction, which was a nice thing to do considering he was still competing himself at the time. Marion Atkinson was his groom throughout the majority of his career. Pippa Stanley and Jerome Caron made his retirement exceedingly special. He knew his people and he knew who he felt comfortable with. I don't think there are many horses that enjoyed their retirement as much as Monopoly did. He was an integral part of our lives."
* Photo credit – Clix
Beth Underhill and Cavendish Claim National Six-Year-Old Championship
Palgrave, Ontario – Cavendish was crowned the Six-Year-Old National Champion when the $51,000 Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals were held September 21 to 25 at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON.
Comprised of three phases held over three days, the Six-Year-Old Division of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals featured a total of $17,000 in prize money. In the first phase of Six-Year-Old competition, Underhill guided Cavendish to victory over the Canadian-bred Rayley, ridden by Brady Hayes for owner Susan Grange. In the second phase, it was Incognito, ridden by Darragh Kenny for owner Zeidler Farm Canada Ltd., who took the win over Underhill and Cavendish.
For the third and final phase of competition held Saturday, September 24, the Six-Year-Old Young Horse Finalists were showcased in the grand prix ring at the Caledon Equestrian Park. Two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela set the final test to determine the national champion.
With $10,000 in prize money on the line, it took a fast jump-off to determine the winner. In the end, Roberto Teran guided Los Pehuenes Tornado to victory for owner Bob Suriwka with a jump-off time of 40.69 seconds to stay ahead of the 40.71 posted by Elliott Stone riding Stanley Stone. Kenny and Incognito placed third with a jump-off time of 41.11 seconds.
When the points were totalled after all three phases of competition, it was Cavendish who earned 33 points to take the Six-Year-Old Championship title over Incognito, who earned 32 points for the Reserve Championship title. Los Pehuenes Tornado and Stanley Stone tied for third with 29 points.
Despite his young age, it is not the first national title for Cavendish. The Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cantos out of an Ulster dam also earned the Five-Year-Old National Young Horse Championship at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament for owners Underhill and Teri Erickson.
Underhill had spotted Cavendish at Paul and Emile Hendrix's stable in the Netherlands over Christmas of 2009. She immediately called Erickson, who had expressed an interest in investing in a young horse while Underhill was conducting a clinic at her Maplebook Farm in Duncan, BC. That phone call has now resulted in two National Young Horse titles.
"He's been two for two," smiled Underhill, who represented Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games. "He had the opportunity to compete in Wellington this year where he did the young horse classes, as well as here and in Quebec. He also did some 1.30m classes and gained a lot of experience. We've been very pleased with his progression this year, and I am very appreciative of Teri and her support."
As for Cavendish's character, Underhill noted, "He has a great work ethic, but he's a bit special in that he looks at what is around the jumps instead of at the jumps themselves. We've been working on his focus, and my sense is that as he gets older, he will focus more on the job at hand. I think at this point in his career, we have a good sense of his character and his power. He's ultra careful, his scope feels good, and he's a fast horse."
The Six-Year-Old Reserve Championship title went to Incognito, an Oldenburg gelding by Continue. Imported from Germany, Markus Beerbaum recommended the purchase of Incognito to Canadian Show Jumping Team short list member, Tani Zeidler of Zeidler Farms Canada Ltd.
"Markus said he had a lovely young horse that was well-bred, and that has certainly proven true," said Lori Green, Manager of Zeidler Farm for the past two years. "He is a really spectacular horse and has performed amazingly well for us."
The National Finals marked only the second time that Darragh Kenny had ridden the chestnut gelding in competition. The first was in August during the Summer Fort Classic at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, when the pair topped the Six-Year-Old Division in the Jump Canada Young Horse Series.
"It's a very special horse," said Kenny, who represented his native Ireland at the 2010 World Cup Final. "He has so much quality. He's brave, scopey and careful. He jumped fantastic, and tried really hard. In the Final, he was jumping too high in the jump-off, but that is a nice complaint. It's very nice of Tani to give me the opportunity to ride such a special horse."
Of the three phase championship format, Kenny noted, "I love the fact that it's done over three days and rewards consistency. The courses are very appropriate to the age, and Leopoldo Palacios built super tracks at the right height that asked the right technical questions."
Throughout the season, young horses competed in three regions across the country - Eastern, Central, and Western. The top horses in each age division from each region were invited to contest the National Finals of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series.
The purpose of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Jump Canada Young Horse Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.
ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS
"Cavendish, owned by Teri Erickson and Beth Underhill and ridden by Underhill, was named the Six-Year-Old National Champion at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON."
"Incognito, ridden by Darragh Kenny for owner Zeidler Farm Canada Ltd., was named the Six-Year-old National Reserve Champion at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON."
Photo Credits – Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com
Photographs may be used free of charge in relation to the above press release. High resolution photos available upon request, please e-mail: jward@startinggate.ca.
Beth Underhill and Celline 2 Claim National Seven and Eight-Year-Old Title
Palgrave, Ontario – Celline 2, ridden by Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, was crowned the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Horse National Champion in the $51,000 Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals held September 21 to 25 at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON.
Comprised of three phases held on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals featured a total of $17,000 in prize money. All three phases were held in the grand prix ring at the Caledon Equestrian Park over courses set by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, with Sunday's final held immediately before the $50,000 Caledon Cup Grand Prix. Points were accumulated throughout the three days of competition. A total of 20 horse-rider combinations contested the Seven and Eight-Year-Old National Final.
Having placed sixth in both the first and second phases of competition, Underhill and Celline 2 won the final phase on Sunday with the only double clear performance of the day. Their consistent performances over all three phases gave Underhill and Celline 2 the Seven and Eight-Year-Old National Championship title.
"She was extremely consistent," said Underhill of the seven-year-old Oldenburg mare. "She did not have a jump down over the entire weekend. She jumped clean every time out. She just felt better and better each day, particularly the last two rounds. She was spectacular and didn't give me a bad moment anywhere."
Underhill began riding Celline 2 in December of 2010 for owner Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON. The pair won the opening event in the central region of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series at the Summer Classic in Palgrave, ON, to qualify for the National Finals.
Of the three-day format, Underhill said, "it's a great format for the young horses because it builds excitement for the owners and spectators. It's like a proper championship. It's realistic in that the horses have to be on their game and consistent throughout, and the courses build and get more difficult. It's really a great test for them."
Bred in Germany, Celline 2 is by Continue and out of a Juventus dam. Now that the show season has wrapped up, Underhill will hand Celline 2's reins over to Walker. The 2010 Jump Canada Medal Final winner plans to show Celline 2 in the high amateur divisions next year, ultimately hoping to move into the grand prix ring.
"We couldn't be more thrilled with how she's done this season and how she's turned out," said Underhill, who represented Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. "She's had two foals, so this was really a great mileage booster for her. I am very pleased with this mare and think she'll be a top mount for Nicole."
The Reserve Championship title went to Sera, ridden by Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON. The pair placed fourth, fifth and sixth in each of the phases, with their consistency giving them the edge over the winners of the first and second phases of competition, Jeff Brandmaier aboard Damiro Van Ter Notelaere who finished third overall, and Roberto Teran riding Sioux de Ambar Z, who finished fourth in the final standings.
"I like that the finals are held over three days because it's not always the winner on any given day that's the best horse, it's the best horse throughout a series of classes," remarked Ballard, who has been riding Sera since the mare was a five-year-old. "Any major championship has more then one round, so it is good place to start to train the horses to be ready to jump at their best in more than one class a week. Sera had a clear round in all three phases, and some bad luck in the jump-off's kept us from being the winner."
A seven-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare by Escudo and out of a Lacros dam, Sera is owned by breeder Braeburn Farms in Collingwood, ON. She was also the top ranked Canadian-bred horse in the final standings for the Seven and Eight-Year-Old National Championships.
"She is the first crop of Braeburn's offspring and I think they are thrilled to have produced a horse that has the ability to perform at the highest level of sport," Ballard said. "As a breeder, I think that anything you produce should be a winner wherever their abilities are best suited. Braeburn has produced winners in the hunter and jumper divisions, as well as some that have excelled in eventing. They should be very proud of what they have produced, and I know they are looking forward to the future."
As for Ballard and Sera, the future could mean improving on this year's results. "Sera will be geared towards the eight-year-old final in Wellington, Florida, next winter with the hopes of moving into the 1.40m division," explained Ballard. "Her summer will work around the eight-year-old final in September next year. She has been developed through the Young Horse Series in Ontario as well as in Wellington, Florida, and is a great example of why the young horse classes are so important."
The purpose of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Jump Canada Young Horse Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.
For more information on the Jump Canada Young Horse Series, please visit http://www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&id=88&Itemid=3 .
PHOTOGRAPHS
"Beth Underhill and Nicole Walker's Celline 2 won the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Jump Canada Young Horse National Final on September 25 at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON."
"Beth Underhill and Celline 2 are presented as the Seven and Eight-Year-Old National Champions by Gary van Bolderen of Dutch Masters Construction Services at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON."
Photo Credits – Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com
Photographs may be used free of charge in relation to the above press release. High resolution photos available upon request, please e-mail: jward@startinggate.ca.
Beth with her Jack Russells
Beth with her Jack Russells, Forrest on left and Devon.
Forrest was rescued from Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario,a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to find homes for abused and abandoned Jack Russells.
If you can help in any way perhaps by fostering a needy Jack or a donation to the foundation I would really appreciate it. These are wonderfull, intelligent dogs who need our help.
Thank you for anything you can do.
Please contact Jocelyn Dollack
at Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario or myself.
Interview with Beth
Canada Wins Nations’ Cup in Wellington, Florida
Wellington, Florida – The Canadian Show Jumping Team claimed victory in the $75,000 Nations’ Cup,
Presented by CN, held Friday night, March 5, in Wellington, FL.
The Canadian Team comprised of Mac Cone of King City, ON, Yann Candele of Nobleton, ON, Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, and anchor rider Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, won the event with a total of 5 faults. Mexico finished second with a final score of 13 faults while Ireland was third with 29 faults. The home team of the United States finished fourth with 31 faults.
A total of 11 countries contested this year’s Nations’ Cup team event, the only one held in the United States. Canada completed the first round of competition with a perfect score of zero and incurred only five faults in the second round to secure victory in front of 8,300 fans, including a raucous Canadian cheering section. The win marked the fifth victory for Canada since the event’s inception in 2002. Canada has won the Nations’ Cup in Wellington more than any other country.
“Wellington is our town, we have been extraordinarily lucky here the past few years,” said Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar, chef d’equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. “We try hard for this event. We have a lot of fans that come down from Canada for this event. We put our best foot forward, and we had four great riders here tonight.”
In the first round, lead-off rider Cone incurred four faults at the final obstacle riding Larry Evoy and Sara Houstoun’ s Ole, his mount at the 2008 Olympic Games where Canada claimed Team Silver. Cone’s would prove to be the drop score as teammates Candele, Underhill and Lamaze all produced clear rounds.
In a format that sees only three riders from each country return for the second round with all scores to count, Candele led off the second round for Canada. Riding Pitareusa, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Susan Grange, Candele again produced a clear round. It would prove to be the only double clear round of the evening.
“It was the first Nations’ Cup for her, and it was super that she was double clear doing two rounds back-to-back at this level,” said Candele who made his Nations’ Cup debut for Canada last year in Wellington, FL, when Canada was also victorious. “The competition was at a high level, with even more teams and more competition than last year.”
Underhill incurred four faults in the second round, dropping a rail at the ‘c’ element of the triple combination riding Top Gun, a 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Iron Horse Farm.
As the final rider to tackle Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course, Lamaze could have two rails down and still secure the victory for Canada. It was a cushion the Olympic Champion did not require however, as he left all the rails in place, incurring only one time fault for exceeding the time allowed.
“Ronaldo was even better in the second round than in the first; he was actually a little bit spooky in the first round,” said Lamaze of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ashland Stables. “Even though this was only his first Nations’ Cup, I have been riding this horse for a few years and I know him well.”
Lamaze, currently ranked the number two rider in the world, summed up the Canadian victory by saying, “All of the Canadian horses were outstanding and all of the Canadian riders were outstanding. It was a great night for us, it was great sport, and we had great results.”
Beth Underhill and Top Gun From the Royal CN World Cup
Schomberg, Ontario – Monopoly, the horse Beth Underhill rode at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, died on November 16 at the age of 32. Monopoly earned more than $1 million in prize money throughout his illustrious show jumping career, and was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2008.
Underhill and Monopoly enjoyed one of the longest partnerships in show jumping sport. Underhill first began riding Monopoly when he was 10 years old, and the pair enjoyed their last major grand prix victory, the $100,000 Treatwells Grand Prix held at HITS Ocala, FL, in 1999 when Monopoly was 20.
Schomberg, Ontario – Monopoly, the horse Beth Underhill rode at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, died on November 16 at the age of 32. Monopoly earned more than $1 million in prize money throughout his illustrious show jumping career, and was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2008.
Palgrave, Ontario – Cavendish was crowned the Six-Year-Old National Champion when the $51,000 Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals were held September 21 to 25 at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON.
"Markus said he had a lovely young horse that was well-bred, and that has certainly proven true," said Lori Green, Manager of Zeidler Farm for the past two years. "He is a really spectacular horse and has performed amazingly well for us."
Palgrave, Ontario – Celline 2, ridden by Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, was crowned the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Horse National Champion in the $51,000 Jump Canada Young Horse Series National Finals held September 21 to 25 at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament in Palgrave, ON.
