McLain Ward kicks off WEF on Paris Hopeful

McLain Ward kicks off the opening day at the Winter Equestrian Festival showcasing his Paris hopeful Quimi Del Maset in the 1.40m Open Jumper.

“He’s really an exciting horse, we acquired him at the end of [2022],” McLain said after the pair won the FEI Grand Prix in Upperville last summer. “We’ve been kind of trying to see a horse for Paris, and we had an opportunity.”

Quimi Del Maset, Spanish-bred sporthorse (Quasimodo Z x Increta del Maset) owned by Sport Four – Mrs Karsky and Mrs Johnson, Suzy Halor and Mike Smith. “It’s really important that I have a great group behind me,” said Ward. “They are all great horse enthusiasts.” So far, so good as Ward paces himself in the process of building up for a potential Olympic campaign. “We brought him along a  little bit slowly in Florida – as we got to know him,” he said. “We’ve only jumped two 1m 60 grand prixs so far but he’s also won 1.50m grand prixs and he’s now won four out of five. 

“Unfortunately my other horses are getting a little older and probably Paris would be a bit of a stretch agewise to ask that of them. This group behind me has been very enthusiastic. We’ve acquired a few horses but you know it’s like any other big sport now, it’s not one swing and done. I think we have something special and I hope I’m up to his level and manage him well ‘til then.”