Daryl Portela and Winner in their Grand Champion Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ presentation with ringmaster John Franzreb, groom Gerardo Briseno, and Betty Oare
An amazing and exceptional 2015 Washington International Horse Show for Daryl Portela and Winner!!
Daryl has now been Grand Champion 3 out of the last 4 years on Winner at the Washington International Horse Show!! And the only reason it wasn't 4 out of 4 is Jimmy was the judge one of the years and Daryl couldn't show as a result!
Here is an excerpt from Jennifer Wood's final wrap-up of the WIHS:
At the conclusion of the afternoon, Isalou Inc.’s Winner was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Champion, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Earnest M. Oare. Winner’s rider, Daryl Portela, was named the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider for the 3’3” division overall.
The pair topped the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35 division with three wins over fences and a third place finish under saddle. Portela also accepted the award for Best Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Stake Round with a high score of 88 and was awarded the EQUUS Foundation Best Amateur Performance of the Day. Reserve honors went to Glen Senk and Fashion Farm’s Loyalty, with two second-place ribbons over fences, as well as a second place finish under saddle.
Portela has owned Winner, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding (by Haarlem), for four years. The pair competes with the help of trainer Jimmy Torano and has consistently swept ribbons around the country since their partnership began. Portela also earned the same division championship, grand championship and leading rider titles in 2012 and 2013 with Winner. Those two years, the duo won all four division classes. She took last year off from WIHS while Torano judged the competition.
“It is a little emotional. It feels really good,” Portela said of her overall accomplishment. “I wanted to come back and do it again after my year off. Winner was great yesterday and won the first class, then he was third in the hack and won both classes today, so it is very exciting. He loves this horse show. I like this horse show. It is exciting to be in the city.”
Portela said that she does about 15 horse shows a year, and tries to keep Winner’s schedule focused on the most important events. The horse also maintains a light work schedule at home.
“I don’t show him a lot. I never jump him at home. I hack him,” she noted. “He has been pretty consistent. I know him really well now and I trust him. I try to just go in and have fun, but I am very competitive. He has just been an awesome horse.”
Portela and Winner travel to Kentucky to compete next week and then make the trip to Wellington, FL, for the winter, where Winner will enjoy living at Torano’s brand new farm.
A partnership of a life time. And huge thanks to Jimmy Torano's training and to Gerardo Briseno who was recognized in the ring as the Groom for Winner!! Slide show below has winning photos from Washington.
- Winner of all three over fences classes,
- High Point Stakes Winner (score of 88),
- Champion with 34 points in the Amateur Owner 3'3" 35+ Division,
- Grand Champion Amateur Owners 3'3",
- Essex Leading Amateur Owner rider of all the A/O divisions including the 3'6" divisions chosen by the judges.
Daryl has now been Grand Champion 3 out of the last 4 years on Winner at the Washington International Horse Show!! And the only reason it wasn't 4 out of 4 is Jimmy was the judge one of the years and Daryl couldn't show as a result!
Here is an excerpt from Jennifer Wood's final wrap-up of the WIHS:
At the conclusion of the afternoon, Isalou Inc.’s Winner was named Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Champion, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Earnest M. Oare. Winner’s rider, Daryl Portela, was named the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider for the 3’3” division overall.
The pair topped the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35 division with three wins over fences and a third place finish under saddle. Portela also accepted the award for Best Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Stake Round with a high score of 88 and was awarded the EQUUS Foundation Best Amateur Performance of the Day. Reserve honors went to Glen Senk and Fashion Farm’s Loyalty, with two second-place ribbons over fences, as well as a second place finish under saddle.
Portela has owned Winner, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding (by Haarlem), for four years. The pair competes with the help of trainer Jimmy Torano and has consistently swept ribbons around the country since their partnership began. Portela also earned the same division championship, grand championship and leading rider titles in 2012 and 2013 with Winner. Those two years, the duo won all four division classes. She took last year off from WIHS while Torano judged the competition.
“It is a little emotional. It feels really good,” Portela said of her overall accomplishment. “I wanted to come back and do it again after my year off. Winner was great yesterday and won the first class, then he was third in the hack and won both classes today, so it is very exciting. He loves this horse show. I like this horse show. It is exciting to be in the city.”
Portela said that she does about 15 horse shows a year, and tries to keep Winner’s schedule focused on the most important events. The horse also maintains a light work schedule at home.
“I don’t show him a lot. I never jump him at home. I hack him,” she noted. “He has been pretty consistent. I know him really well now and I trust him. I try to just go in and have fun, but I am very competitive. He has just been an awesome horse.”
Portela and Winner travel to Kentucky to compete next week and then make the trip to Wellington, FL, for the winter, where Winner will enjoy living at Torano’s brand new farm.
A partnership of a life time. And huge thanks to Jimmy Torano's training and to Gerardo Briseno who was recognized in the ring as the Groom for Winner!! Slide show below has winning photos from Washington.
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