With numerous top finishes at elite show jumping competitions from coast to coast, in just two years the elegant KWPN mare Orafina has made a rapid rise to the top of the sport. In 2022, "Finny" and her rider, US Olympian Kent Farrington, were virtually untouchable. The pair earned twelve first place finishes at international Grands Prix in both the U.S. and Canada, along with several other podium placings. In recognition of her consistent high level of performance, Orafina was recognized by the US Equestrian Federation as a 2022 International Horse of Honor at its annual Pegasus Awards banquet.
But Finny hasn't let success go to her head. Besides jumping, her favorite activities are still going out in the field or snacking on bananas, and she bonds strongly to her" people. She is described as an extremely intelligent horse; a quick learner who is eager to please. Her team has crafted a program designed to bring out the best in this talented young mare, including daily strolls on the hot walker and plenty of hacks along the canals near their winter base in Wellington, Florida.
"She knows how to jump, that's for sure," says Denise Moriarty, Farrington's head groom. "We focus on her fitness and her rideability. If she's going to jump, we build something specific for her."
Although Finny does become more energized in the show environment, she has a rather independent disposition, and doesn't worry about her stablemates leaving to take their own turns in the ring. When it is time for Orafina to compete, Farrington and Moriarty work to keep the energy around her as calm as possible, and plan for a warm-up that will provide this exceptional athlete the time she needs to get into top form.
This thoughtful preparation has no doubt contributed to Finny's strong finishes during the 2022 season-results which include wins at the $75,000 Adequan WEF (Florida) Challenge CSI5*, the $140,000 Bainbridge Companies (Florida) Grand Prix CSI3* (1st), $186,900 Longines Grand Prix (British Columbia) CSIO5* (as a member of the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team), $215,000 RBC (Ontario) Grand Prix CSI5* , the $139,000 Horseware Ireland (North Carolina) Grand Prix CSI3* , and the $74,200 CWD Jump-Off Challenge (California) CSI5*.
Team KPF maintains a busy show schedule, spending months on the road with stops in Canada and Europe, as well as at prestigious venues across the U.S. Each of Farrington's horses travels with a special stuffed animal; Orafina's is a stuffed version of Toothless, the dragon from the movie How to Train Your Dragon.
"Some days, I wish she were like Toothless, because she can take a little nip out of you when she gets quite excited," says Moriarty with a laugh. "But it's not a big deal-- she's a pretty cool horse."
