Pacific des Essarts and Esprit Earn Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Awards at 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival

Pacific des Essarts, ridden by Jennifer Gates (USA), and Esprit, ridden by Sloane Coles (USA), were named the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award recipients during week 11 at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL, recognized as both a CSI5* and CSI2* event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Equis Boutique, a luxury tack and apparel shopping experience, is sponsoring the Best Presented Horse Award at each International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Horse Inspection held throughout the 12-week WEF, as well as at other FEI-sanctioned events throughout the United States.

The FEI CSI5* and CSI2* Horse Inspections for week 11 were held Tuesday, March 21, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Led by President Ralph Alfano (USA), the FEI Ground Jury evaluated the appearance and condition of horses jogging for FEI competition, and recognized Pacific des Essarts, owned by Evergate Stable, LLC, and Esprit, owned by The Springledge Group, as the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award winners.

Gates, 20, piloted Pacific des Essarts during CSI5* competition. The 14-year-old Selle Français stallion (Diamant de Semilly x Totohe du Banney) was prepared for the Horse Inspection by barn manager Christopher Howard and groom Louis Macias.

“It really is a team effort day in and day out,” said Gates, who trains with Hardin Towell and Sayre Happy. “This award means a lot, and I want to thank Equis Boutique for sponsoring it. We have so many wonderful grooms that work with the horses, so we come to the ring with a whole team of people rooting for them to do well. This reflects on the team behind me, an organized barn, and happy horses.”

Of the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award, Howard noted, “This is something that we try for every week. The horses should always look well-presented. This horse is a stallion, but back at the barn he is like a puppy dog and he is obviously very handsome.”

Following the CSI2* FEI Horse Inspection, Coles and Esprit’s groom, Andres Govea, were rewarded with the Equis Best Presented Horse Award. Govea prepared the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Querlybet Hero x Nabab de Reve) for CSI2* competition, in which Coles and Esprit earned a sixth-place ribbon in the $8,000 CSI2* Illustrated Properties 1.40m class on Wednesday, March 22.

“This horse is my number-one,” said Govea, who has been working with Coles since she launched Springledge, LLC four years ago. “I really like this horse, so it is nice to win an award like this with him.”

“This means a lot,” said Coles, 28. “We work hard to give Esprit the best care, and Andres does a really good job. He loves Esprit, so he takes good care of him and works very hard at it.”

Grooms Macias and Govea were recognized for their Equis Best Presented Horse Awards with commemorative vests, while Gates and Coles were each presented with a $100 gift certificate to Equis Boutique.

Equis Boutique is a shopping experience for the discerning equestrian and offers the most convenient and luxurious choice for top equine brands to dress both the horse and rider. Featured brands available at Equis Boutique include Dy’on, euro-star®, Flex-On, KASK, Kentucky Horsewear, Kingsland Equestrian, Manfredi Equestrian, Parlanti, and Theria Bits.

Visit Equis Boutique throughout WEF in the Vendor Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. For more information, please visit EquisBoutique.com, or look for Equis Boutique on Facebook and Instagram!  Email info@equisboutique.com for questions on the stores and their products.