My Clementine Wins the Five-Star Grand Prix in Traverse City with Nina Mallevaey

When the Rein family found My Clementine (by O.B.O.S. Quality-Kashmir van Schuttershof), who is now ten years old, in Ireland three years ago, the mare was one thing above all else: fast. She was seen as a speed horse. The major five-star competitions weren’t really what people thought she was capable of.

Not her, but Nina Mallevaey’s trainer, Helena Stormanns, did. She advised the French rider—ranked 10th in the world and currently the best woman in show jumping—to prepare the mare for bigger challenges. Victories in three-star competitions in Le Touquet and Kessel followed. It looked as though Helena Stormanns had been right once again.

A week ago, Mallevaey made the leap to the five-star level with My Clementine. This past weekend, the mare competed in her second CSI5* Grand Prix in Traverse City. The prize money was $340,000. But the main question was how My Clementine would handle the challenges. She won—beating out two of the world’s very best pairs.

Nina Mallevaey could hardly believe it. But she was thrilled. “I’m so happy for Clementine. I think she deserves this victory more than anyone else. She’s been fighting for me ever since I’ve had her. She isn’t the best jumper, but she has a huge heart and always gives it her all—she’s the best and she really deserves it.”

Tenths of a Second Against the World’s Best

While most of the world’s top riders may have gathered at Spruce Meadows this weekend, it was anything but a walk in the park for Mallevaey and My Clementine.

In the jump-off, they faced World Cup-winning pair Kent Farrington (USA) with Greya and Falsterbo winner Shane Sweetnam (IRL) with James Kann Cruz—two of the strongest pairs in the world. In the end, less than half a second separated the three podium finishers. Mallevaey and My Clementine prevailed in 40.56 seconds; Farrington and Greya, who were the last to compete in the jump-off, came within one-tenth of a second (40.66), while Sweetnam finished third in 40.97 seconds.

“It means a lot to me,” said Mallevaey. “If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that she would win a five-star Grand Prix, I might not have believed it. I’m so happy and proud.”

“This is our sport at the highest level—it comes down to fractions of a second,” Farrington said of the close result. “For every jump-off you lose by a tenth of a second, you win another by a tenth of a second. It’s frustrating right now, but that’s the reality at this level.”

Teamwork Is Key

My Clementine is by no means the only top horse that Mallevaey rides for the Canadian Rein family—among others, the two European and World Championship mares Nikka VD Bisschop and Dynastie de Beaufour are also in her stable.

Mallevaey celebrated her success right away with the Rein family, who have been supporting her for the past five years. “Without my team, I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything,” said Mallevaey. “They were the first ones to believe in me. They provide me with great horses, but above all, they give me tremendous support. They are wonderful people with big hearts.”

Sweetnam Also Takes the Lead in the Two-Star Grand Prix

Shane Sweetnam also had a strong international weekend, having already won the CSI2* MLSJ Grand Prix—with a purse of $62,500—on Saturday afternoon. Riding Qmusic-K Van’t Kattenhaye (by Le Blue Diamond van’T Ruytershof out of Cornet Obolensky), he was the only rider to complete two clear rounds. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) on Eddie G Z (Echo van’T Spieveld–Jodokus) took second place with four penalty points in a fast time. Erynn Ballard (CAN) rounded out the podium in third place with Ravallo van de Helle (by Casello van de Helle out of Carvallo BB).