Capitalizing on her horse’s impressive and well-known footspeed, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) navigated Silver Raven Farms’ Akuna Mattata to the victory rosette ahead of a talented jump-off field to conclude the day with a new prize money check in her pocket and a win under her belt headed into Sunday’s grand finale.

It’s worth leaving your ringside seat to watch Akuna Mattata in the warm-up before a big class. The mare can be counted upon to execute a series of athletic leaps and bounds, inspiring gasps from onlookers. Her rider, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, appears calm, cool and collected from her spot atop the spirited mare. It’s a trusted partners developed since “Nahla” was a baby.

Oscar Soberon (USA) tested 38 horse-and-ride pairs on his first-round track, with seven pairs qualifying for the jump-off contest. Shahinian-Simpson and “Nahla,” the 2008 Holsteiner mare (Quinar x Landwind II) owned by Carol Rosenstein and Silver Raven Farms, were one of two double-clears on the night, taking the victory in what is only Nahla’s second show back after recovering from major surgery to repair guttural pouch mycosis via two nitinol plugs placed in Akuna Mattata’s internal carotid artery.

Out of the starting field of 73, Shahinian-Simpson was one of only seven to reach the tiebreaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-effort, first-round course designed by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA). One rider, Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain had two of the seven horses that had qualified for the decisive phase. She took an early lead in the jump-off when, riding third in the order, rode Dublin clean over the 8-jump, tiebreaker course finishing with a time of 38.63 seconds, a mark that would earn her bronze honors.

But the strong performance didn’t quell Shahinian-Simpson’s concern that something might be off with Nahla, a horse she’s known since the mare was a foal. Jordan scheduled an overground endoscopy, which gave the mare’s veterinary team an inside view of her throat while she was exercising.

The highlight jumper class of week 6 at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival, the $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI3*, was held at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday, February 15. Taking the top spot of the night was Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Akuna Mattata, owned by Silver Raven Farms. World of Show Jumping (read the full article)

Last to go in the $36,600  Turkish Airlines Classic CSI4*-W at Deeridge Farms, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) knew she had one more ace in her pocket aboard Akuna Mattata. Jumper News (read the full article)

After making their Devon debut in 2018 with multiple top placings, the United States’ Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Silver Raven Farms’ Akuna Mattata returned to Devon, Pennsylvania, all the way from California, to take home their first win together and the Sylvester L. Quigley Memorial Challenge Trophy at the iconic venue, besting 25 other horses and athletes.

Competitors brought their A-game on Sunday afternoon for the final leg of the FEI CSI 3* Gold Tour. A sizeable crowd filled the hillside cabanas, the Riders’ Lounge and the grandstands at the Blenheim EquiSports Derby Field. The challenging course and top competition did not disappoint! With a jump-off of seven, it was last to go Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Silver Raven Farms’ 11-year-old Holsteiner mare, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, who topped the field in the $100,000 1.50m Gold Tour Grand Prix CSI 3*

Following just a 2-horse jump-off, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Silver Raven Farms’ Akuna Mattata topped the class ahead of the only other athlete to demonstrate a clear first round, Spencer Smith (USA) aboard Gut Einhaus LLC’s Quality FZ. Phelps Sports (read the full article)