Tanner Korotkin has taken the reins aboard the talented 9-year-old gelding, Ideal.
Photo by Catie Staszak Media
Castlewood Farm, Inc. and Sandalwood Farms have acquired the 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Ideal for 20-year-old Tanner Korotkin (USA).
Formerly campaigned by Shane Sweetnam (IRL), the bay jumped to wins in Lexington, KY and Traverse City, MI, at the three-star level over the summer, including the $137,000 CSI3* Tournament of Champions Grand Prix. Pegged as a talent to watch, he will join 10-year-old Volo's Diamond—recently sixth in the CSI4* Holiday & Horses Grand Prix in Wellington, FL—at the top of Korotkin's string.
"I have never had two horses that could both show at the five-star level," Korotkin said. "Since the day I first saw Shane riding [Ideal], [from] the way he goes to his style, I've absolutely loved him."
Sweetnam, for whom Korotkin has worked for the last year and a half, acquired Ideal as a 7-year-old, and the bay continued his development under another Spy Coast Farm rider David O'Brien before rejoining Sweetnam's main string last December. He quickly made an impact, recording placings up to 1.50m at the highly competitive Winter Equestrian Festival. His breakout moment came in May, when he bested a field of more than 85 entries to win the CSI3* 1.45m Spring Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park.
He went from strength to strength in the following months, recording a ranking class win in Traverse City before adding his first three-star grand prix victory. Sweetnam competed Ideal in five-star competition on the Major League Show Jumping circuit in Traverse City and Caledon (CAN), and the pair most recently recorded two top five finishes at the National Horse Show CSI4* before Korotkin took over the reins.
Tanner Korotkin and Ideal. Photo by Catie Staszak Media.
"It kind of just happened," Korotkin said. "I got [Volo's Diamond] and knew I needed another horse to really succeed at the top level. I talked with Shane, and he suggested [the pairing].
"He's a very hot type of horse, which I personally really like," he added. "He has his own style and way of going. He's an aggressive horse, and he loves to jump. He's still only nine, but he's done a lot."
Korotkin and Ideal made their show debut at the ESP Holiday series in Wellington, with a double-clear performance. Korotkin will now focus on growing his new partnership with an eye toward top events at the upcoming 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival.
"Having a string like this gives me a lot of confidence, to know I can go into big grand prixs and have a chance to win," Korotkin said. "With the horses underneath me, I know that if I ride the course well, they’ll do their job. They want to go clear as much as I do!"