Quintero and the 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding topped a field of 27 entries to take home victory in the $10,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open.

Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Maja Lindemann designed the course for the two-phase class in the Main Hunter Ring, and Quintero took advantage of the track’s various options and inside turns to really show off Songbird’s strengths. The pair’s scores reflected that, with a 90 and 88 giving them a 178 winning total.

“It was a fluid course,” said Quintero. “It showed lengthening of stride; it showed options, which is nice. I like when the winner can do a little pizazz or show a little spark.”

Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Second place with an overall score of 175 (89+86) went to Paige Dendiu and Vatikan, owned by Karin Binz. Cassie Frost and Casino, owned by Summit Farm, rounded out the top three on a score of 174.75 (88+86.75).

“[Songbird] was super, so it was a lot of fun,” said Quintero, who just began riding the gelding for owner Rose Hill Farm LA earlier this DIHP season. “The first couple of weeks, it was a little bit of figuring him out in the smaller rings, and then I was like, ‘Let’s keep going!’”

Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Quintero and Songbird did indeed keep going, advancing to the derby ring and now having successfully contested two USHJA national hunter derby classes.

“[Songbird] is very shy of other horses, but as a competitor, he concentrates,” said Quintero. “He’s always learning. He’s very confident to me; his jump is confident.”

In addition to Songbird, Quintero has taken on the ride on a number of horses for Rose Hill Farm LA and trainers Shari Rose and Rainie Rose, and while their current working relationship is relatively new, it is not the first time that Quintero has ridden with Shari Rose.

“[Shari Rose] is my childhood trainer from when I was 8 years old!” said Quintero. “I rode with [Shari] for I think almost five years as a kid…It’s fun that it is all one big family, and Songbird is a family horse. He’s trained by the grandmother, [Shari Rose], and he’s also ridden by the granddaughter, [Bailey Rose].”

For complete results from the $10,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.

Josephine Bumgardner and Rosehaven Gummy Bear. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Bumgardner and her 11-year-old roan Welsh Pony earned the win with a score of 154.5 over the one-round, two-phase course at Desert International Horse Park. Finishing in a very close second place with a score of 154 was Amelia van der Werf and her own Hat Trick. Rounding out the top three with a score of 151 was Iva Owens aboard Wheels Up, owned by Riley Conant.

“I’ve had [Gummy Bear] since I was 7, and we got him when he was 5,” said Bumgardner of the pony, owned by Kingsbury Lane Farm. “We’ve been to Pony Finals once, and he was really good. He’s really fancy, so it’s always fun to hack him. He’s just really fun to ride.”

Josephine Bumgardner and Rosehaven Gummy Bear. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In speaking of Friday’s derby course, Bumgardner continued, “It was really fun. I’m kind of glad there wasn’t a trot jump because those kind of scare me sometimes! Gummy Bear was really good, and he jumped everything so well. He’s a really good jumper, so it was really fun.”

When they are not jumping, Bumgardner – who hails from Hailey, Idaho – can also be found at home working hard on her flatwork.

“I do dressage at home, so I work on shape and stuff,” explained Bumgardner. “We mostly stay on a circle, and then we do leg yields and turn on the haunches and turn on the forehand.”

Josephine Bumgardner and Rosehaven Gummy Bear. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

For full results from the $1,500 USHA Pony Hunt & Go Derby, click here, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.

Mia Campf and In The End. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Scores of 88.5 and 92 for a 180.5 total earned the pair the victory, while second place with an overall score of 178.75 (90.5+88.25) went to Aedan Mooney and Nuance, owned by Brannon Loomis Mooney. Jordan Gilchrist and Point Luck, owned by Deana Crawford, finished in third with a score of 175.75.

“When I started riding [In The End] last year, we were just starting in the 3’,” said Campf of the young horse, owned by Lynn Olson. “The fact that he’s jumping around the 3’6” and doing classes like this and excelling is amazing. We’re very, very proud of him!”

Mia Campf and In The End. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Campf continued, “We changed his prep a little bit this week. We usually do the division classes; usually he does the conformation hunters first, and then we do a derby or a special class. He’s been so good all circuit that we were like, ‘Let’s just see if he can come out and do just the derby and not do another class prior to it.’ He excelled. He was spectacular. We couldn’t ask anything more of him. I think the future for this horse is very, very exciting, and I’m excited to see what he does next.”

The all-new Desert Spring Fling horse shows offer two back-to-back weeks of National Hunter and Level 5 Jumper competition, continuing through March 29. To learn more and to view a complete schedule of class offerings, click here.

Mia Campf and In The End. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

To find full results from the $10,000 Purina USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here.

Violet Tatum and Just Apple. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

The prestigious class – held on the West Coast since 2013 – attracted 58 entries for the opening, classic hunter round on Friday afternoon at Desert International Horse Park. Following the first round, the field was narrowed to the top 18 horses for a handy hunter round under the lights of the Grand Prix Stadium.

Tatum and Just Apple’s opening round over the Meghan Rawlins-designed course earned them an average score of 90 from the two judging panels, composed of Connie Dorsch, Richard Slocum, William Sparks and Steve Whal. That score put them on top of the leaderboard heading into Friday evening’s handy.

Violet Tatum rode Just Apple to the win in the $150,000 USHJA WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“I was definitely very nervous!” said Tatum of coming back in the first-place position. “I’ve never really been on top in a professional class like that.”

Tatum’s nerves certainly did not show, however, as she and Just Apple returned to earn a second-round score of 87.625 for an overall, winning average score of 88.81.

Second place with scores of 89.25 and 87.75 for an overall average of 88.50 went to Halie Robinson and Simba de Vinck, owned by Big Picture LLC. Finishing in third were Mia Campf and In The End, owned by Lynn Olson. The pair earned scores of 87 and 87.50 for an 87.25 average.

Violet Tatum and Just Apple. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“I was very, very happy with my round,” said Tatum. “I trusted my horse. It was incredible, and I was just very, very happy with the outcome.”

While Tatum and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding looked every bit the veteran partnership, Tatum had not jumped a course aboard Just Apple prior to Thursday.

“My friend, Evie Becky, she asked me if I wanted to ride Apple in the Spectacular, and of course I would love to,” explained Tatum. “I do not know him, but he’s a great horse. I trust him through everything. He’s just incredible.”

Halie Robinson and Simba de Vinck finished in second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

The $150,000 USHJA WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular marked the culminating finale of 10 weeks of top-notch professional hunter competition at DIHP’s Desert Circuit. For each of the top three, it marked a ‘spectacular’ end to a spectacular season in Thermal, Calif.

“It’s such a nice way to end the season for these horses,” concluded Robinson. “I’ve always had a variety of horses here at the circuit, and whether they’re 4 years old or 15 years old, I think they leave the desert feeling so prepared for whatever’s going to come next. This finale is a really nice culmination toward the end of it, and you get to see where your horse is at and where you’re at together in your partnership…I’m just grateful that we get to all be here and enjoy the desert and the consistency that it offers to horses because you leave feeling better than ever.”

Mia Campf and In The End took home third. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

For complete results from the $150,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Hunter Spectacular presented by Core Specialty, click here. For more information about the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program, visit ushja.org/WCHR, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.

Halie Robinson and Verdad de Milo. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“It’s a really nice way to culminate the end of the season for the young horses,” said Robinson of the class held in the Main Hunter Ring as part of Desert Circuit 10. “We’ve been doing the 6-and-Under Young Hunter division which offers great consistency for them…The whole timeline here [at DIHP] gives them so much good experience, and then it’s nice to step it up just a little bit at the very end when all the horses are kind of getting the hang of what they’re doing. I have to say, [Verdad de Milo] got the hang of it quite early on, so it was really fun to do him in this class!”

Robinson and Verdad de Milo have been champion or reserve champion every time out in the 3’ Young Hunter 6 & Under division this season, and the 6-year-old American Warmblood rose to the occasion again on Friday. Showing the same consistency he has shown all season, Verdad de Milo earned scores of 88 and 89 in the two-round class to ultimately take home the win with a total score of 177.

Halie Robinson and Verdad de Milo. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Second place with a score of 175.5 (87.5+88) went to Lindsay Stefanko and Nightingale, owned by Proper 12 LLC, and Shauna Pennell and Abbey Road, owned by Leslie Scharf, took home third with a 171.5 (87+84.5) total score.

Robinson began showing her winning mount in November 2025, and she credits Verdad de Milo’s owner and breeder, Katherine Corona, with the horse’s success.

“He’s literally the most perfectly trained horse ever,” said Robinson. “He’s a late turning 6-year-old this year, and he rides like a 12-year-old. You never have to worry about anything with him. He’s just a really great-minded young horse.”

Halie Robinson and Verdad de Milo. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Robinson continued, “There was one time that his fake tail came loose in the round, and no one could believe what a good boy he was. I didn’t even know that it happened, and his owner said, ‘Oh yeah, well I had tarped trained him as a baby, so of course he’s okay with that!’ So, I give full credit to her. She did a great job training him. He developed slowly over time with her. This last year, she wanted him to go to a little bit more of a real hunter program to really start his show record. On the off weeks, he actually goes home back to her farm just to turn out. So, it’s been a really fun partnership so far. He’s the best homebred I’ve ever met before.”

For full results from the $20,000 CWD Young Hunter Championship, click here.

Zambrano was the first in the winner’s circle in the Main Hunter Ring. He and Fabulous kicked off the morning by topping 44 entries to take the victory in the $10,000 Western Alliance Bank USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open.

John Zambrano and Fabulous. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“The course was amazing,” said Zambrano of the track designed by Archer Bailey. “I liked that there weren’t many lines to walk. They left it sort of open. There was one bending line that you could have done any striding you would like to do, other than a two stride…If you really are daring, you can gallop those jumps, and that’s really what they’re looking for. It gave you an opportunity to be creative with the striding, and in the handy part of it, there were a lot of options to do tidier turns or go around. So, it was just a matter of the rider deciding, ‘Can they do the inside?’”

John Zambrano and Fabulous. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Zambrano took advantage of many of the opportunities to show off Fabulous’ handiness and abilities, earning the pair scores of 88.5 and 90 for the win with a 178.5 total score. Finishing in a very close second place on a 178.25 (89.5+88.75) were Lindsay Stefanko and Nightingale, owned by Proper 12, LLC. Third place went to Emily Esau Williams who piloted Morgan Beyler’s Sligo to a score of 177.5 (89+88.5).

“Fabulous is a new horse that came to our barn from a new client a few days before [Desert Holiday 1],” said Zambrano of the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. “I loved the horse from the minute I saw him, and I wanted to purchase the horse early on in September the year before. The horse was not for sale. Needless to say, the client came to us, and I ended up with the horse. I’m very happy, because I really wanted him. When I rode him, I loved him as much as I did when I was watching him!”

For all results from the $10,000 Western Alliance Bank USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here.

Greenley Achuck and Aoki. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In the $10,000 Ice Horse USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Amateur, a score of 170.5 (83.5+87) earned Achuck and Aoki the win. Second place on a 166 (83+83) went to Allegra Greco and Take the Crown, and Morgan Beyler and Kuala Lumpur finished in third with a score of 161 (87+74).

“The hunt & go format is definitely a little more difficult,” said Achuck, who trains with Tasha Visokay at Ingenium Farm. “You have one round to get it right. In the beginning, I liked how it was just a couple of jumps here and there, not a lot of lines. I got to kind of feel it out in the corners. It was a little tricky after the trot jump, having to slip inside and be handy, but it really helps that we’ve been doing the eq, so he’s super ready for all that, and he’s been jumping amazing!”

Greenley Achuck and Aoki. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Achuck acquired Aoki just over a year ago, and the high school senior only recently aged out of the juniors to beginning competing in the amateur divisions with the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

“He’s super brilliant with a great mind. He’s great out there and an awesome three-ring horse,” said Achuck. “We’re here and there. He does some of the big eq. Last week he did that. He’ll be in the [$150,000 World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Hunter] Spectacular next week with Chelsea Brittner. This week we’re doing the AOs, so sticking in the hunters. I’m a new ammy; I just got into the ammy world, and gosh, I am glad to be here! It’s so relaxed, and I love it. It’s a lot of fun.”

Complete results from the $10,000 Ice Horse USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Amateur, are available here.

Harlow Bottarini and The Duchess. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Taking the win in the $10,000 Ice Horse USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior were Bottarini and The Duchess. In order to clinch the win, Bottarini had to top a field of 43 entries, but she did so with ease, earning scores of 90.5 and 92 for a total winning score of 182.5.

Sweeping second through fourth place was Violet Tatum. The young rider earned second place with a score of 180 aboard Uptown, third place with Braavos and fourth place with Journey.

“I’ve been doing derbies for a really long time, and last week I also did the derby,” said Bottarini, 13, who trains with David Josiah at Morning Mist Farm. “This course was definitely a lot more challenging, but [The Duchess] was so good. She was so good around the rollbacks, and she did all of the high options.”

Harlow Bottarini and The Duchess. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In speaking of the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Bottarini continued, “She’s the best girl in the whole world. She’s super slow. That’s the exact ride I like, and she just goes. She takes me around the course. She’s not scared of anything. She jumps 110 percent every time! She’s so sweet. She’ll hug you as soon as you come up to her. She enjoys [going out to graze on the grass] so much, so that really helps our bond grow. I feel like it’s really important because when our bond grows it helps me to go around the course.”

Bottarini has only been partnered with The Duchess for roughly six months, and she currently competes the mare in the 3’ Children’s Hunters. However, her future plans and goals include stepping The Duchess up to the 3’6” Junior Hunters.

“She just gets better and better and our relationship is stronger and stronger every day,” concluded Bottarini.

To see more results from the $10,000 Ice Horse USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior, click here. To learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.

Nicole Bourgeois and Mc Queen. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

At the conclusion of the first round in the Grand Prix Stadium, Bourgeois and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare sat in third place with a score of 183 (92.5+90.5). From there, Bourgeois knew that she could count on Mc Queen’s handiness to ideally help move them up the ranks.

“The first round was good,” said Bourgeois. “She actually had quite a bit of energy out there in the first round. The last time we did an international [hunter derby] it was out on the grass, so I think just coming back into the grand prix ring was fun and a little exciting…I was pretty happy with where I sat after the first round. She can be a really handy horse, and we’ve again gotten to do quite a few handies together. So, I really trust her a ton, and I felt pretty confident going into that second round that we could deliver a pretty nice round.”

Nicole Bourgeois and Mc Queen in their winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Mc Queen rose to the occasion and did just that, earning a score of 188 for an overall winning total score of 371. Second place with a score of 369 (177+192) went to Karli Postel and Cavaletto Loma Z, owned by West Coast Equine Partners LLC. Rounding out the top three with a score of 366.5 (184+182.5) were Leslie Steele and No Reservations, owned by Curtis Holdings Inc.

“[Mc Queen] is a queen through and through!” said Bourgeois of the mare, owned by Barbara Lovre, that she has now been partnered with for several years. “She wears a little tiara on her forelock when she shows. I’m just lucky to have a horse that I’ve gotten to develop into the derby star that she is. I’m very lucky, her owner, Barb, has bought her for me. I’m the only one that gets to show her. So, it’s so nice to just have that horse that really is kind of my own to show in the big classes!”

Second place went to Karli Postel and Cavaletto Loma Z. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

The next big class that Bourgeois and Mc Queen will target is Desert Circuit 10’s finale $150,000 World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Hunter Spectacular on Friday, March 13. To view more season-end highlights at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com, and for complete results from the $49,900 Meadow Grove Farm USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

Katie Gardner was presented as the winner of the $100,000 DIHP 3’3” Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Valencia Sport Saddlery. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“The words, they’re hard,” said an emotional Gardner following her win at Desert Circuit 8. “I lost my dad a few months ago, and it’s all for him, honestly. It’s so hard not to be able to call him. I just had to make a choice to keep going.”

On Friday, Gardner kept going up the ranks through three rounds of competition in DIHP’s Grand Prix Stadium. A field of 45 professionals took on the first-round equitation course, designed by Archer Bailey, on Friday afternoon. Then, the top 12 riders were invited back on a clean slate for a second round under the lights on Friday night. From there, the top four competitors switched horses for a final test phase.

Katie Gardner and Dark Harbor. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

At the conclusion of the first round, Gardner sat in third place aboard Dark Harbor, owned by Monarch Farms LLC, and at the end of the second round, she sat in second.

“I have a tendency to sort of rush. My goal today was to just take it one step at a time,” said Gardner. “The course was super fun. I liked a lot of the different tests…I also kind of liked where I was sitting coming into [round two]. I know it’s a clean the slate, but I kind of had a feeling it was a good spot to be in, a little bit behind. So, I just gave it my all that second round. I have to say, I felt the most relaxed I’ve ever felt, and I think maybe that showed.”

Gardner continued, “It means a lot to me to have the opportunity to ride [Dark Harbor]. Every step of the way with our short career, he’s just done nothing wrong, and he’s given me so much confidence. It’s just one of those horses where – it doesn’t matter what’s in the ring or what test there is – he doesn’t falter. Just to have that is really, really cool.”

Katie Gardner and Dark Harbor. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

While the 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood – that Gardner just began riding in December – got her to the final test, it was Gardner’s ride aboard Zoe Brown’s mount, Kronos, that ended up clinching her the win. With Brown leading heading into the final phase, she and Gardner switched mounts. Nicole Bourgeois on Loui K and Juliette Joseph on Vivant sat in third and fourth place, respectively, and also swapped rides with one another.

“The switch horse looked lovely to ride, and I watched it and thought that there were places I could be pretty slick on that horse!” said Gardner, who proved to be quite slick indeed, securing her the victory.

Bourgeois moved up a spot to take second place; Brown finished in third, and Joseph rounded out the top four.

Katie Gardner, Nicole Bourgeois and Juliette Joseph took the top three spots in the $100,000 DIHP 3’3” Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Valencia Sport Saddlery. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“A few years ago, I thought I was going to give up on the whole thing, and I met these people [at Pegasus Show Stable], and they brought me out of a lot of despair,” said Gardner, who currently rides for Pegasus alongside the Endicott family. “They’re my family now too, and to have their support has been huge. As well as Danielle [Morrow] trusting us to buy the horse. We were like, ‘We really love this horse,’ and she said, ‘Absolutely!’ So, I mean, there are a lot of different levels to this win today. It means a lot for sure.”

Gardner concluded, “What a cool class – and the prize money! It’s just really, really cool to get that opportunity because I don’t do the big jumpers anymore. So, I don’t quite ever get to ride for that much money. I think it’s really, really awesome that they’re supporting it that way, and I can’t wait to do it again!”

For full results of the $100,000 DIHP 3’3” Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Valencia Sport Saddlery, click here.

Nina Alario and While Away. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“[While Away] is just the nicest horse I’ve ever had,” said Alario. “She has a very slow cadence – just naturally slow like you want in a hunter – but she is so light. I always say it’s like riding a ballerina. She has always been an amazing show horse. She goes in the ring, and she knows. She just brings it.”

The 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Middlepath Farm LLC, certainly brought it on Friday, earning scores of 90 and 89 for a winning total score of 179. Second place went to Jordan Gilchrist who earned a score of 177.5 (89.5 and 88) aboard Point Luck, owned by Deana Crawford. Scores of 87 and 90 for a 177 total gave third place to Marisa Metzger and Kessina, owned by Laurie Jueneman.

Course designer Lynn Mullins set the track in the Main Hunter Ring at Desert International Horse Park, and it was one well-suited to Alario and While Away.

“I love Lynn Mullins’ courses,” said Alario. “The beginning just gave us time to get a feel for the ring, and then the handy, there were some very good inside turn options. Both my horses I rode, especially [While Away], were right there to let me pick the first option on all the handy turns. Then we finished with a nice gallop to the gate. It’s always fun!”

Nina Alario and While Away. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Alario and While Away have achieved numerous national hunter derby wins in their roughly four years together, but today, the mare’s primary role is competing in the 3’ Amateur-Owner Hunters with owner Elizabeth Robbins.

“I only show her in the derbies when it doesn’t conflict with the division,” concluded Alario. “So, this was the only one we did this circuit, but we made it count!”

In the $15,000 Zeppelin Farms USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, Duke similarly made her time away from school at the University of Oregon count. She rode her partner of five years, Understudy, to scores of 87 and 85 for the win with an overall score of 172.

Second place went to Abby Morris and her own Chillman with a score of 169.5 (84.5+85), and Kathy Nolan and her Just Because took third with a 168.5 total score (85.5+83).

“I don’t think I had ever done a hunt and go derby before. So, I really liked the format,” said Duke, who trains with Shelley Campf. “I started off the course just trying to be super smooth. It’s kind of [Understudy’s] first real day showing here because he just drove down on Monday. So I was just trying to be smooth and calm. Then, once I realized he was being perfect, I kind of picked up the pace for the handy and tried to gallop around and stay tidy.”

Ella Cate Duke and Understudy. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In speaking of the horse that has also carried her to the USEF/Dover Saddlery Hunter Seat Medal Final, the ASPCA Maclay National Championship and the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship, Duke continued, “He’s such a little sweetheart. He is a very lovely ride. He carries himself well. He jumps so smooth. He’s easy to stay with. He has a nice, soft mouth. He’s my dream horse to be honest.”

Duke is currently a sophomore studying communications and sports business and keeping busy balancing schoolwork with riding her 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

“Honestly, if you ask any of my friends, I’m almost never at school. Don’t tell my teachers that!” joked Duke. “I’m driving home a lot on the weekends to come help ride for Shelley and school [Understudy] as well. I’m definitely the type that cannot stay in college over the weekend. I have to come ride and keep myself busy.”

Ella Cate Duke and Understudy. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

For full results of the $15,000 Burrtec Waste & Recycling USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here, and for all results from the $15,000 Zeppelin Farms USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, click here.

Ellie Aitchison and Dominion. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Aitchison and the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding, owned by Stacey Lucko, earned two second-place finishes over fences and a win under saddle on their way to the 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division championship, awarded on Sunday, February 22, at Desert International Horse Park.

“He’s been really good to me!” said Aitchison of the horse that she has been partnered with for the past year. During that time, Dominion has taken Aitchison from the Children’s Hunters to the 3’6” under the tutelage of trainer Dustin Goodwin.

“Circuit 5 in the big grand prix ring was our first time ever [in the 3’6”]; he was so good!” said Aitchison. “He took me around. I was trying to figure myself, and he still kept ahold of me and was so good.

Ellie Aitchison and Dominion. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“This week, my favorite was probably my handy round,” continued Aitchison. “Even though I had a little bit of a rub, he was ready for it. Me and him both love the handies. We always do so well with him in the handy. He likes turning tight.”

Aitchison will now return home to Woodinville, Wash., after enjoying her time spent competing in Thermal, Calif.

Finishing as the reserve champions in the 3’6” Large Junior Hunters 16-17 behind Aitchison and Dominion were Darya Davoudi and Southland.

Luciana Gonzalez So and Sinmigo Dos. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In the 3’6” Small Junior Hunters, the division championship went to Luciana Gonzalez So and Sinmigo Dos. The duo took the win in three out of the four over fences classes and finished in second in the only class that they did not win.

“He’s the most amazing horse ever,” said Gonzalez So. “Literally, I’ve never met a horse like him. He’s just the best. It doesn’t matter if you’re just hacking around or if you’re showing. He tries his hardest for you every single time.”

Luciana Gonzalez So and Sinmigo Dos. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Sinmigo Dos has been shown in the professional hunter divisions by Halie Robinson for roughly a year and a half, and about a year ago, Gonzalez So began training with Robinson, and soon after, her family’s Big Picture LLC purchased the talented gelding.

Finishing as the reserve champions behind Gonzalez So and her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood were Payton Fuller and Kensington.