THERMAL, Calif. – Connect the Dots has only competed in two USHJA International Hunter Derby classes, but the gelding is two for two on wins — with one of those victories impressively coming in Friday, November 7’s $75,000 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Southwest Regional Championship.
With Nicole Bourgeois in the irons, Connect the Dots, owned by Amy Bean, was one of 26 horses to take on the regional championship class, held on the Desert International Horse Park’s expansive Grass Field. At the end of round one over the Archer Bailey-designed course, the pair already led the way with a combined score from the two judging panels of 184.
From there, Bourgeois and “Ducky” only further cemented their lead, earning a handy-round score of 193.5 (including handy bonus points), for an overall 377.5 total. Finishing in second place with a score of 368.5 were Michael Dennehy and Hulla-Balou, owned by Dana Vollbracht. Bourgeois also took home third place with a score of 363 aboard Barbara Lovre’s Mc Queen.
“He is a dream!” said Bourgeois of her winning mount. “He’s super brave. He loves the grass. We’re from Oregon, so there’s lots of green grass. Our horses go out on big grass pastures, so they’re totally happy out on the green grass. [The DIHP Grass Field] is so fun to ride in. It’s huge, and you just get to gallop around out there. I thought it was really fun today too with the course – a triple combination, a triple bar and then all the loop de doos in the handy round. They really made us make our brain work. [Archer Bailey] gave us so many options, so it was super fun.”
Coming back for the handy round already in the lead, Bourgeois elected to take a bit of a cautious approach – but Connect the Dots quickly showed that there was no need for the extra precaution.
“He’s a very experienced national derby horse; he’s won quite a few of those,” explained Bourgeois. “So, I knew he was pretty good at the turns and stuff. I just wasn’t sure with the bigger jumps, but he felt great. He felt so relaxed out there. I got to gallop the long runs a little bit. You cover a lot of ground out there! It’s just a little different than when you’re in sand footing. He jumped phenomenally. He felt super confident, and I was super happy with him the whole time.”
Bourgeois first began riding Connect the Dots when the now 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was 6, competing him through his green year before temporarily turning over the ride to owner Amy Bean’s daughter, Bella, to compete in the 2’6” children’s hunter divisions.
“He did that and, now he is back to being a derby horse!” said Bourgeois. “He’s now for sale sadly, so I’m not sure if I’m going to be his rider for much longer, but I’m sure we will see him do many great things in the future. He’s a fabulous horse, and I think he’s going to be successful in wherever he ends up!”
The Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships were created to showcase the tradition and art of horsemanship in the hunter competition arena. The Southwest Regional Championship at DIHP is one of six regional championships held throughout the country, all leading to the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., in August 2026.
To learn more about the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, click here, and to view full overall results from Friday’s class, click here.
The $75,000 Platinum Performance/USHJA IInternational Hunter Derby Southwest Regional Championship was held as part of National Sunshine Series 2, which continues through Sunday, November 9. To learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.