Jamie Sailor and Jaguar Fighter Go. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“Always when I go first in the order, I say in my head, ‘Go first, get first!’ That’s my little saying,” said Sailor. “Don’t hold back, put the pressure on everyone else that’s going to be behind me. There were 27 in the class, and I knew there were some fast riders behind me. I said, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose. It’s the last day of Spring Fling 2 and the whole Circuit, so let’s go for it, buddy!’ [Jaguar Fighter Go] was right there with me the whole way, and I’m super proud of that.”

With strides left out throughout the Steffen Bühling-designed course in the Grand Prix Stadium, Sailor and Jaguar Fighter Go set the time to beat at a quick 62.464 seconds. Throughout the remainder of the class, no one would come within even a second of that time. Coming the closest and taking second place with a time of 63.826 seconds were Simon Schroeder and NKH Cento Blue, owned by The Bridgeport Group LLC. Britt Scheifele and her own Querido van het Geinsteinde finished in third with a time of 63.928 seconds.

Jamie Sailor and Jaguar Fighter Go were presented as the winners of the $10,000 1.40m Open Speed Stake. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“During the course walk, I definitely thought one more stride than I ended up doing throughout basically the entire course,” said Sailor. “As he started to relax and open up the canter, we did one less over to the double, one or two less over to the oxer, two less over to the vertical…and then the rollback I was quite tidy, and he really trusted me there. It was a little bold. Then I said, ‘Okay, we got one less to the last!’ He’s quite fast so it’s fun to feel. Even though he’s a big horse, I can trust his foot speed, and we won today by leaving out a lot of strides.”

Jamie Sailor and Jaguar Fighter Go. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Sailor has only been partnered with Jaguar Fighter Go, owned by Arturo Parada Vallejo, for a few weeks, but she has already thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

“He’s a big guy, but he’s a bit sensitive. So, I have been trying to find the right amount of tension that he wants on the rein contact and the right leg pressure,” explained Sailor. “I’m just trying to be a little bit more delicate. It’s been fun getting to know him and where he wants to be placed at the jump.”

Simon Schroeder and NKH Cento Blue finished in second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Sailor concluded, “I don’t what the future really holds for us, but we’ll see! I’m happy with the whole circuit here. It’s been an amazing circuit, this week in particular. All the clients rode well. It’s always so much fun in the desert. It’s beautiful weather today. I couldn’t ask for more!”

To view full results from the $10,000 1.40m Open Speed Stake, click here.

Justin Prather and Grazie. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Utilizing the unique gambler’s choice format, riders had 60 seconds to accumulate as many points as possible by jumping fences assigned point values ranging from 20 to 120. With riders picking their own paths around the Grand Prix Stadium, the class rewarded both strategy and speed – and a bit of risk-taking as well. At the conclusion of the 60 seconds, riders had to make the choice whether to jump the “joker” fence, the highest fence on course which would either add or subtract 200 points from their score.

“Walking the course, there were a lot of people doing like very deep analysis. We could have been on Wall Street!” said Prather in discussing his course strategy. “I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do, and I got to watch a little bit and just kind of kept revising.”

Justin Prather and Grazie. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Part of Prather’s approach was opening his round with a move that no one else attempted: an impressive slice from one high-value fence immediately to another. That move, coupled with quick riding throughout and a successfully cleared joker fence, clinched Prather and Grazie the win with a score of 1370.

“I knew I had those first two jumps kind of in my back pocket as a bit of a slick move that I could pull off. I just kind of rode off the vibes!” said Prather. “I like this kind of stuff, and Grazie’s always game to come play with me for this kind of thing.”

Justin Prather and Grazie were presented as the winners of the $10,000 Spotlight 29 Casino Gambler’s Choice. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Finishing in second place with 1300 points were Carla Diewert and her own Cogito. Third place with 1250 points went to Sarah Almasri and Starboy, owned by Morad Almasri. With time as the tiebreaker, Jordan Gilchrist on Duchesse Z and Mackenzie Hudson on Ekyra Fortuna also finished on 1250 points each to take fourth and fifth, respectively.

Of his 12-year-old winning mount, owned by Bradon Equestrian LTD, Prather said, “She’s a rocket! I got her around this time in her 9-year-old year. It was a little bit rocky getting started. I actually never tried the horse. I bought it off of a video. Then two summers ago, and really last winter down here, we kind of dialed in the routine and the plan. We stopped trying to be greedy and jump bigger and just left her where she’s a winner – 1.30m, 1.35m, a little 1.40m.”

Second place went to Carla Diewert and Cogito. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Another area where Grazie excels is in the victory gallop, and the mare and Prather led an exceptionally speeding one on Saturday night.

“It’s double exciting to win on this horse because she loves to win probably more than I do, and she lives for the victory gallop,” said Prather. “That’s we try and win, to give her the victory gallop, and then I just set her free. It has come up a few times that I tend to overdue a victory gallop, but whatever, it’s fun. It’s her signature move!”

To view complete results from the $10,000 Spotlight 29 Casino 1.10–1.15m Gambler’s Choice, click here.

Course designer Steffen Bühling set a challenging track for the Desert Spring Fling 2 featured class, with five out of 45 entries ultimately producing clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. From there, speed was the name of the game.

Michelle Parker and Vivalunaika Blue. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Kyle King and his highly accomplished mount, Kayenne Z, were the first to return for the short course, and they threw down the gauntlet with a time of 38.413 seconds. Two trips later, Camilo Rueda and Indus van het Keysereyck looked like they may overtake King’s time, but they crossed the final oxer just 0.042 seconds off the leading mark with a time of 38.455 seconds.

Michelle Parker and Vivalunaika Blue were presented as the winners of the $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Parker and her veteran partner, Vivalunaika Blue, were the final pair to jump, and they cruised over the final U.S. Equestrian fence in 38.304 seconds to narrowly clinch the win. King and Kayenne Z held on to second place, and Rueda and Indus van het Keysereyck rounded out the top three. Finishing in fourth with a double-clear jump-off effort were Mariano Maggi and Quantico 23, and Ian McFarlane and Madagaskar took home fifth place with just one fence down over the short course.

Kyle King and Kayenne Z took home second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“We took probably two or three more steps than Kyle and still managed to catch him so that was unexpected!” said Parker. “When I finished, I was super happy; I felt really fast, but I didn’t think I had it honestly.”

Parker continued, “[Vivalunaika Blue] really goes quick over the jumps. So, fortunately, I guess we were able to make up the difference because she’s more of a skimmer. [Kayenne Z] has all that scope and jump, and Vivalunaika Blue’s a little quicker in the air.”

Third place went to Camilo Rueda and Indus van het Keysereyck. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Parker has had the ride on the 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, owned by Cross Creek Farms, Inc., for the past three years, and in that time, Vivalunaika Blue has repeatedly proven to be a top grand prix contender for Parker.

“I got her on a strange horse deal, a trade right after I had broken my leg,” explained Parker. “If I’d gone out shopping for a horse for myself, I wouldn’t have chosen her, but she has actually been one of my most consistent horses that I’ve had, so it worked out for the best!”

Michelle Parker and Vivalunaika Blue. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

To view complete results from the $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix, click here.

Sunday, March 29, marks the conclusion of competition at Desert International Horse Park for the 2025-2026 season, with the 2026-2027 season returning in October 2026. To learn more, visit deserthorsepark.com.

Ali Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Going two-for-two in the Thursday morning featured class at Desert Spring Fling is particularly impressive given that Ramsay and “Dory’s” win during Desert Spring Fling 1 was also their debut at the 1.40m height. Ramsay just began riding the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare a few weeks ago, after Dory’s owner – and fellow Canadian rider – Jaclyn Duff sustained an injury. In the short time since then, Ramsay and Dory have meshed quickly, as was evident by their winning round at Desert Spring Fling 2.

“If it’s possible, she felt even better when I warmed her up today,” said Ramsay. “I think we’re really starting to get to know each other. I can’t say enough good things about this horse, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get to show her.”

Bradley Bowns of DIHP presented Ali Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z as the winners of the $15,000 Champion Shavings 1.40m Open Classic. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

The duo was one of 33 entries to take on the track set in the Grand Prix Stadium by course designer Steffen Bühling, and following the immediate jump-off format, they quickly took over the top of the leaderboard with a time of 33.416 seconds. While 10 additional entries also qualified for the short course, none would catch Ramsay’s time.

Finishing in a close second place with a time of 33.700 seconds were Alyce Bittar and her own Cezanne B. Third place on 34.175 seconds went to James Chawke and Rananka-A, owned by Britt Scheifele.

“I thought this jump-off really suited her because it was pretty twisty-turny with chances to get inside,” said Ramsay. “[Dory is] so fast. She’s so competitive. I can kind of trust her to be game for anything.”

Second place went to Alyce Bittar and her own Cezanne B. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

In addition to their two, back-to-back 1.40m wins, Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z also finished in a very close second place in Desert Spring Fling 1’s $75,000 C3RV Grand Prix. Now, Ramsay will be looking to only better that performance in Friday, March 27’s $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix.

“I felt the pressure was on because, to try to top last week, we’re going to have to win both classes this week. So, at least we’ve started it off the proper way!” said Ramsay.

For complete results from the $15,000 Champion Shavings 1.40m Open Classic, click here.

James Chawke and Kazelli VDL. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“That was actually the first time I’ve ever shown the horse,” said Chawke of Kazelli VDL. “I’m just jumping it in a couple of classes for Conor [Swail] [and owner Chandler Meadows]. I thought the course all came up nicely and rode well. There were nice inside turns, and you could kind of do one less in a bunch of the lines.”

As the 26th of 39 entries to take on Wednesday morning’s speed track, Chawke took advantage of the inside turns and leave-outs to take over the lead in a time of 55.507 seconds. The notably fast rider made it look easy, as though he and Kazelli VDL had been partnered far longer than their first ride together just a day prior. That was, at least, until the final fence on course.

James Chawke was presented as the winner of the $7,500 Horseflight 1.30m Welcome Speed. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“We parted ways, but thankfully it was after the timers!” said Chawke. “When she came to the last, she twisted a wee bit, and I lost my stirrup. Then I realized we were parting ways, so I held on until after the timers and tried to fall off gracefully.”

With Chawke successfully hanging on through the finish, he and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare secured the win. Second place with a time of 55.993 seconds went to Justin Prather and Grazie, owned by Bradon Equestrian LTD. Tammy Chipko finished in third place with a time of 56.492 seconds aboard her own Hesmee.

Second place went to Justin Prather and Grazie. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

For complete results of the $7,500 Horseflight 1.30m Welcome Speed, click here.

Competition at Desert Spring Fling 2 – the final week of the 2025-2026 Desert International Horse Park season – continues through Sunday, with highlights including Friday night’s $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix. To learn more and to view a complete schedule, visit deserthorsepark.com.

James Chawke and Rananka-A. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Course designer Chris Jones set the morning’s speed track in the Grand Prix Stadium, where Scheifele soon laid down what would become Chawke’s time to beat. After already winning earlier in the week, Scheifele and her own Phaedra Dor, crossed the finish line in 74.122 seconds.

A few trips later, however, Chawke made short work of Scheifele’s time, blazing through the timers in 70.075 seconds for the win. While Chawke’s time relegated Scheifele to second place, Chawke’s win was also a win for Scheifele, as she purchased his winning mount, Rananka-A, at the end of 2025.

Britt Scheifele on Phaedra Dor (left) and James Chawke and Rananka-A (right). Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“This is a new one that we just bought for Britt,” said Chawke of the 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. “She’s really nice. I’ve jumped her a few weeks, and then Britt jumped her a week. Just to give her a bit more experience and a bit more mileage, I jumped her again this week. She’s a simple and really sweet horse.”

Chawke continued, “There were a lot of mistakes [from others] today…The shadows obviously play a big part [in early morning classes]. Even for [Rananka-A], she’s not used to all the shadows. Definitely you could tell the difference jumping into the sun versus the other way, so I think that’s why you saw a few.”

Britt Scheifele and Phaedra Dor finished in second. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Finishing in third place behind Chawke and Scheifele was Cassie Frost who piloted Blueprint NBS, owned by Summit Farm, to a time of 74.795 seconds. Fourth place with a time of 75.938 seconds went to Justin Prather and Mulan BF, owned by Bradon Equestrian LTD. For all results from the $10,000 1.40m Open Speed Stake, click here.

James Chawke and Rananka-A. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

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.

As one of the featured events of Desert Spring Fling 1, the class drew 39 entries to contest a Chris Jones-designed track under the lights of the Grand Prix Stadium. Of those 39 horses, five advanced to the jump-off round, where the time to beat got increasingly faster.

Camilo Rueda and Chocoprince of Picobello Z. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

When Rueda and Chocoprince of Picobello Z returned to the ring, Ali Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z had just taken over the lead with a time of 37.556 seconds. Rueda, however, had a good sense of what he needed to do to get the win.

“In the beginning, I wasn’t planning to turn inside to the last one, but I saw that the previous riders did it,” said Rueda. “My plan actually was trying to do a leave out for the last line and just going around so I could be a little bit quicker, but I thought if everyone was doing [the inside turn], I had to take a shot! It paid off. I didn’t end up needing the leave out for the last line, so it was a little bit the luck of being the second to last [rider to jump].”

Camilo Rueda and Chocoprince of Picobello Z were presented as the winners of the $75,000 C3RV Grand Prix. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

With the same inside turn taken as Ramsay, Rueda shaved off just enough time – 0.104 seconds – to ultimately take the win with a time of 37.452 seconds. Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z, owned by Windermere Stables LTD, maintained second place, and Kassidy Keith and her own Havana took home third on 38.939 seconds.

“Over the fences, he’s just a solid, brave horse,” said Rueda of the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, owned by Picobello Horses. “Today, I was really happy with it being his first time under the lights. He showed me that he’s ready for this type of class, so I was pretty happy. I’m really happy to have such a strong team behind me that makes this possible.”

Ali Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z finished in second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Rueda acquired Chocoprince of Picobello Z in the summer of 2025, and lately, he has been focused largely on rideability with the gelding.

“[When I first got him], I feel that I did a couple of big things with him without knowing him that well,” said Rueda. “I think I was a little bit too hard with him. When I figured him out, I decided to put him in a little bit just the smaller classes, and for sure it’s paying off. He’s a really big, tall horse. He has such a big stride. I just need to create a little bit better connection between my leg and the hand. Sometimes, I still feel that I lose him in the turns, so I’ve been like really working on his rideability.”

Third place went to Kassidy Keith and Havana. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Rueda will next point Chocoprince of Picobello Z at Desert Spring Fling 2’s $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix. 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.

For all results from the $75,000 C3RV Grand Prix, click here.

Ali Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Ramsay only began riding Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z a few weeks ago for the mare’s owner, Jaclyn Duff, but she and the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare have meshed rather quickly.

“[Jaclyn] got hurt kind of mid-circuit,” said Ramsay of her good friend and fellow Canadian rider. “So, I showed it two weeks ago just in some smaller classes. Then, this was our first week coming out in the grand prix ring, and that was actually our first 1.40m. She’s my type – bay, spicy mare. Those are all my good horses. It took some getting to know her the first week, but I would say, this week coming out, I felt like we really figured each other out. She’s a really cool horse.”

Ali Ramsay (pictured aboard Kaffee) in her winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Ramsay and “Dory” were one of the first entries to take on Thursday morning’s course, designed by Chris Jones, and they quickly showed how it was done. After advancing to the immediate jump-off, they stopped the clock in 37.519 seconds.

“I had Jaclyn yelling at me from the side to go faster before I crossed through the start timers!” said Ramsay. “I think that just fired me up to take a little risk. [Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z] is super fast. It was a lot of galloping in the jump-off, and she just kind of followed me and was super on.”

Ali Ramsay (pictured aboard Kaffee). Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Ultimately, Ramsay and Dory’s lead held up by a very narrow margin, with less than three-tenths of a second separating first from fourth place. Coming the closest to catching Ramsay – by not even a full tenth of a second – was Simon Schroeder who crossed the finish in 37.595 seconds aboard NKH Cento Blue, owned by The Bridgeport Group LLC. Third place on 37.735 seconds went to Jordan Gilchrist and Casallco’s Ana PS, owned by CRA Equestrian, and Camilo Rueda and Chocoprince of Picobello Z took home fourth in 37.772 seconds.

Ramsay and Domina VH Scheefkasteel Z will next take on Saturday night’s $75,000 C3RV Grand Prix, before Duff soon returns to the irons on the mare.

Simon Schroeder and NKH Cento Blue finished in second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

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.

To find full results from the $15,000 Risk Strategies 1.40m Open Classic, click here.

Britt Scheifele and Phaedra Dor. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Scheifele and Phaedra Dor were one of 32 entries that contested the first class of the day in the Grand Prix Stadium, and when they entered the ring, the time to beat had been set at 61.912 seconds by Patrick Billes and his own Espartano LS.

Winners just last week at Desert Circuit 10, Billes and Espartano LS are known for their speed, so Scheifele knew she would need to pull out all the stops if she wanted a shot at the top of the leaderboard.

“When I walked the course, some of those inside turns were really questionable!” said Scheifele, who trains with James Chawke. “I was like ‘Should I do them, or should I not?’ …The inside to the double, I saw some people do, some people not do, but when I saw that the leading time had it, I thought ‘I have to do this for the win!’”

 Britt Scheifele and Phaedra Dor. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Scheifele continued, “Patrick is fast! That little horse has a short step, but it flies. He was good. He did 10 [strides] between [fences] two to three and three to four, I did nine and nine. I think that’s where I got just that little bit of extra time, and then [Phaedra Dor] is so fast, it’s hard to beat.”

With those strides left out, Scheifele flew over the finish in 60.580 seconds for the win. Billes and Espartano LS held on to second place, and Steffen Hauter and Donatella Versace finished in third on a time of 63.367 seconds.

Scheifele has had her winning partner, Phaedra Dor, for the past year and a half, and she knows that the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare is a force to be reckoned with in a speed class.

Britt Scheifele and Phaedra Dor, joined by Bradley Bowns of DIHP. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“She’s blood; she likes to go,” said Scheifele. “I’ve never had a horse that loves to win the way that she does. She’s so fast; she’s so competitive. She looks for the jumps. She’s so quick in the turns. She’s just the most fun to ride. Honestly, she is everything to me. She’s a really, really special mare. James [Chawke] found her for me, and she has just exceeded all expectations. She’s been an incredible partner.”

Scheifele and Phaedra Dor have competed in the high amateur jumper divisions throughout the 2025-2026 season at Desert International Horse Park, and Scheifele, who currently resides in Canada, is always happy to have the opportunity to compete at the facility.

“I actually used to show when it was the old Thermal,” concluded Scheifele. “I took 10 years off of show jumping, and I didn’t ride at all. I came back to the sport to the new venue, and it’s been amazing. My family comes down. I don’t go back and forth anymore, and I just love it here.”

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.

To find complete results from Wednesday’s $7,500 Core Specialty 1.35m Welcome Speed, click here.

Melody Liu and Helwell du Chabus. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

Liu and Helwell du Chabus have only been partnered for a few short months and are still working to get to know one another, but it all came together for them in Sunday’s jump-off. Liu and the 13-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare, owned by Corsari Equestrian LLC, were the final of four entries to jump off, and they flew to the win in 46.33 seconds.

Taking home a close second place on 46.84 seconds was Kyle King aboard Ninja BF, owned by Richard Kirby. Third place went to Megan Garcia and her own Bentlis with a time of 48.821 seconds, and Alexandra Biederman and Nicky van de Start Z took fourth with just one rail down in the jump-off.

Melody Liu and Helwell du Chabus were presented as the winners of the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

“I’ve only had this horse for three-ish months, and I’ve only ridden her for about a month,” said Liu, who explained that the mare colicked not long after Liu got her. “We ended up giving her about a month and a half off.

“She’s a very nervous horse,” said Liu of Helwell du Chabus, who was previously competed up to the CSI5* level with Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Jur Vrieling of the Netherlands. “She did all the big stuff…but I got her, and she’s just a little bit anxious. A month ago, I couldn’t hack her around without her running off with me. At home it’s a lot of lunging and groundwork, not a whole lot of riding. So, I really don’t get to practice with her. Which I mean, how much practice was I going to really get in one month? We’ve just been kind of winging it at the horse show, and she’s really starting to trust me and her personality is coming out. I’m really excited. She’s so talented and so careful, and then she was amazing in the jump-off today.”

Melody Liu and Helwell du Chabus. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo

For complete results from the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic, click here.

Sunday, March 15, marked the conclusion of the 10-week 2026 Desert Circuit, but the Desert International Horse Park season continues through March 29 with two weeks of Desert Spring Fling. To learn more and to view full schedules, click here.