Kyle King pictured with Steve Hankin and Ittolo. Photo by ESI Photography

Course designer Ken Krome set a track of 12 numbered obstacles, featuring a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination, an oxer-vertical double combination, and several long bending lines across the expanse of the Grand Prix Arena, asking tough questions of the experienced riders with their less experienced mounts. Riders who navigated the first round clear remained in the arena to jump off over a six-obstacle short course. Seven pairs navigated the first round clear and advanced to the jump-off.

Susan Artes was first to contest the track and pulled out a double-clear effort with Alix Fargo’s California Sunshine, a 9-year-old Bavarian Sport Horse mare, in a time of 34.653 seconds, which would eventually place her third. King took to the ring fourth in the order of go with his first mount I Zappo, owned by Greg Tomb, but pulled an unlucky rail at the final fence in the first round to ultimately finish 12th. Knowing he had two more attempts at securing the top spot, King returned midway through the order aboard Kerri Volek’s Ittolo, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The rider, who recently cracked the world’s top 100, piloted Ittolo to a clear first round, then laid it all on the line in the jump-off, blazing across the track and setting a new time to beat in the jump-off of 33.219 seconds.

Kyle King and Ittolo. Photo by ESI Photography

With nine entries still to come behind King, each attempted to jump clear and catch his quick time, but rails fell for several entries and the only other double-clear effort fell two seconds short. King returned as the last to go on a horse of a different color, the 10-year-old paint Belgian Sport Horse gelding Gipsy De L’epinette, and earned another shot at the jump-off track to challenge his own time. His third mount was just over one second off the pace, but still managed to slide into second place overall, securing King the top two placings in the class.

Developing Ittolo has been a balancing act for King, who strongly believes in the horse’s ability but has run into roadblocks along the way to success. Having already won a class together, King initially had the $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix in mind for Ittolo during Desert Circuit I, but opted instead for the $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity 1.35m to keep building his confidence. Both Ittolo and Gipsy De L’epinette are horses King sees as his next generation of top mounts.

Show jumping action resumes on Wednesday during Desert Circuit II with the $2,500 Whittier Trust Welcome Speed, and FEI competition kicks off on Thursday with the $1000 VitaFlex FEI 1.40m CSI 3*. Grand Prix action for Week II features Saturday’s $25,000 FarmVet National Standard Grand Prix, Sunday’s $137,000 Purina FEI 1.55m Grand Prix CSI 3*. 

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Kyle King – First and Second Place in $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Series 1.35m

On his plan for the course:
“Ittolo is a young horse of mine that I’ve been kind of going up and back down and up and back down with. He’s got a ton of ability and lacks a little bit of focus for some reason in this arena. He’s struggled here in November a touch. Then he got good; he actually won a class. And then he [was injured], so he missed the whole second half of November. This week he’s been a little bit rusty and shaped not the way I want him to be. I was going to put him in the Grand Prix, but I put him in this class instead. So I was very happy to go clear, and then, with that particular horse, I just wanted to put the pedal to the metal and let him just focus on the jumps a little bit. I made the right call. I did the Welcome Speed on Thursday and then I scratched yesterday, and it worked out because sometimes you have to go back down to go back up again.” 

On how the Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Series benefits his horses:
“Rollo [Ittolo] is a really neat horse. The other horse, Gipsy – the paint horse that’s owned by Spruce Meadows – I’ve had for a few years. He’s a very special horse and I have really high hopes for him. He’s a real character. Both those horses are characters. They’re kind of my next generation grand prix horses, so this is a great division for me to get the season rolling and get them in the kind of feel of a grand prix but it’s not quite a grand prix. Thanks to Interactive Mortgage – it’s really welcome to have this. I especially like that it’s in the Grand Prix Arena. This series is great!”

On DIHP:
“This place is top notch – I base out of here. This is my second season, and I base right at the horse park with my whole operation. I feel like it’s my personal playground. I get a little upset when everyone shows up to horse show, but it’s great. I don’t know anywhere else where you can train like you can here. We have the trails and we have all these different services to work on. Actually just outside the gate there, in those mountains, I found some really good trails where I can work my horses in the mountains. I don’t know where you can get a horse any fitter and more ready for competition then right here. What they’re doing now with how they’ve dressed the main ring up and improved the footing, it’s amazing.”

RESULTS

$10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Series 1.35m
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time

1. Ittolo / Kyle King / Kerri Volek / 0 | 71.822 / 0 | 33.219
2. Gipsy De L’epinette / Kyle King / Spruce Meadows Ltd. / 0 | 70.587 / 0 | 34.623
3. California Sunshine / Susan Artes / Alix Fargo / 0 | 72.951 / 0 | 34.653
4. Conrado 12 / Ali Ramsay / David Sport Horses Inc. / 0 | 71.619 / 0 | 35.195
5. Chaccara Blue / Paige Jardine / Guardian Stables LLC / 0 | 70.351 / 4 | 33.158
6. Zibaloubet Z / Matt Archer / Rhys Farms, LLC / 0 | 72.998 / 4 | 34.723
7. Iowa B / Travis Root / Lindsay Wendt / 0 | 74.040 / 4 | 36.950
8. Once Upon A Time / Jason McArdle / Tal Milstein / 4 | 70.320
9. Royal Dream / Mandy Porter / Beth Bowlen / 4 | 70.823
10. Captian Morgan / Ian McFarlane / Tara Corr / 4 | 73.291
11. Howard Du Seigneur / Ali Ramsay / Ramsay Equestrian Inc. / 4 | 73.339
12. I Zappo / Kyle King / Greg Tomb / 4 | 73.802

Leila Palestrant and Elevation. Photo by ESI Photography

The course, designed by Kevin Holowack, presented 10 jumping efforts, with fences one through six serving as the first round score, and fences seven through 10 serving as the handy round score, featuring a trot jump at fence nine and a high option at fence 10 for one bonus point. The handy portion of the round offered rollback turns and opportunities to turn tightly and show off the horses’ handy abilities before a long gallop to the final fence. 

Palestrant piloted the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding to a beautiful and flowing first round, meeting each jump out of stride and keeping a steady rhythm all the way around Hunter 4. Riders had to switch into handy mode very quickly with no break between rounds, and Palestrant effortlessly changed her game plan as she approached each of the final fences, keeping her smooth and consistent pace but taking shorter approaches to fences seven and eight, showing off Elevation’s flashy trot to fence nine, and opening up the gelding’s stride to the high option at fence 10 for a bonus point.

Palestrant has been showing Elevation since October 2021 and now competes in the Junior Hunter 3’3” Division with the gelding. The pair took home a win in the under saddle this weekend at Desert Circuit I. 

Martha Price and Leviosa PT. Photo by ESI Photography

Taking place simultaneously in Hunter 5 was the Child/Adult Hunt & Go Derby 2’-2’3″, sponsored by Struck Apparel. Set in a similar fashion, the course offered 10 jumping efforts with a trot jump at fence seven and a high option at fence 10. Leviosa PT and Martha Price took top honors with a score of 165 after laying down a smooth and flowing round to propel them to the top.

Hunter highlights during Desert Circuit II include the $5,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, the $15,000 USHJA International Hunt & Go Derby, and the $1000 DIHP U/25 International Hunter Derby Series.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Leila Palestrant – Winner, 2’9” Hunter Derby, Sponsored by G2 Insurance

On the round:
“I’ve been doing the 3’3 Juniors this past Friday through Saturday, so going into the derby, I just wanted to go in confident and happy and just be happy to do it. Then just go in calm and chill, and just have every jump come up to me.”

On Elevation:
“Vinny, or Elevation, is absolutely incredible. I love him to death. He’s the sweetest in the barn. Over fences he takes anything I give him, any distance, he makes it look amazing. So I thank my lucky stars for him everyday.” 

On the 2’9 Derby class:
“It’s so nice because they’re not Internationals or Nationals, but they’re derbies, and you can go in there and have fun and compete with a bunch of other amazing people and have some fun.”

On DIHP:
“This is by far my favorite horse show. I love coming here. It’s my favorite place.”

RESULTS

2’9” Hunter Derby, Sponsored by G2 Insurance
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score

1. Elevation / Leila Palestrant / Leila Palestrant / 171
2. Lemba Z / Megan Sweeney / Lina Gruber / 169.5
3. Bourbon / Natalie Rae Medlock / Natalie Rae Medlock / 169
4. Sligo / Natalie Rae Medlock / Natalie Rae Medlock / 168
5. How Sweet It Is / Christine Mccormack / Sierra Geisler / 166
6. Hanky Panky / Romi Skolink / Romi Skolink / 164.5
7. Natan / Lucia Botham / Aurora Farms, LLC / 162
8. Wellington / Christine Mccormack / Christine Mccormack / 161
9. Checkmate / Justice Delhagen / Kelsey Williams / 160
10. Quintessence / Lily Stewart / Lily Stewart / 157

2’3” Hunter Derby, Sponsored by Struck Apparel
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score

1. Levisoa PT / Martha Price / Martha Price / 165
2. Gucci St. Anne / Caylin Garnett / Lynne Maclean / 164
3. Farmore Royal Gala / Maclean Sennhenn / Lynne Maclean / 160
4. Ringo / Ripley Ehrlich / Kathy Megla / 159
5. Coolman / Caroline Ebenhack / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman / 158
6. Whiskey Business / Lorena Christie / Lorena Christie / 157
7. Unscripted / Bella Moretti / Taylor Piecukonis / 151
8. Zelano / Elizabeth Spraker / Laila Klinsmann / 147
9. Fiorella / Paige Okerstrom / Paige Okerstrom / 146
10. Picturesque Best Dressed / Abby Wittie / Abby Wittie / 140

Avery Glynn and In Favor. Photo by ESI Photography

For day two of their division, the junior athletes took to the ring to first try their hand over a classic hunter course, designed by Michael Roy Curtis. They then returned for the handy round, featuring a course made up of mostly singles, plus a two-stride, that allowed riders to show their horse’s abilities to maneuver a course smoothly and handily, opening up the stride and wrapping tightly around the corners. 

Avery Glynn and In Favor. Photo by ESI Photography

Glynn and In Favor, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, gracefully navigated all four of the division’s over fences classes, meeting each fence with ease and jumping with style. The pair’s handy round showcased the horse’s adaptability when presented with a variety of questions on course. Glynn, who already took top honors in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* and the USHJA National Hunter Derby – Jr/Am during Desert Circuit I, had just taken over the reins on In Favor on Thursday when she showed the gelding in the Performance Hunters to get to know him. The pair developed a strong partnership very quickly with the help of Carleton Brooks and were nearly unbeatable in the Junior Hunter ring all weekend.

Violet Tatum and Valedictorian. Photo by ESI Photography

In addition to the classes held as part of their respective divisions, the Junior Hunters also competed for top honors in the Junior Hunter Classics, combined with all entries for each fence height. The course was extended to use 10 fences in Hunter 2 and the course design allowed riders to show off their horses’ scope and consistency across a longer track. The first hunter round of the division served as the first classic round, while classic entries returned to be scored in the second round for a total, two-round score. The Junior Hunter 3’3” Classic, sponsored by Tack Warehouse, was topped by Hailey Eynon and Exquisite RW. Valedictorian and Violet Tatum won the Junior Hunter 3’6” Classic, sponsored by Rusty Brown Jewelry.

Hailey Enyon and Exquisite RW. Photo by ESI Photography

Hunter competition for Desert Circuit I concludes on Sunday with the Amateur-Owner Hunter division championships as well as the Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3’6”, sponsored by Rusty Brown Jewelry, and the Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic 3’3”, sponsored by Platinum Performance.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Avery Glynn – Champion, Junior Hunter 16-17 3’6” 

On In Favor:
“This horse is in training with Carleton and Traci Brooks at Balmoral Farm. They asked me if I would show him for them in the Junior Hunters this weekend. I’d ridden some horses for Carleton in the past; they’re good friends of mine and my parents’. His barn name is “Finn.” This week, I showed him in the Performance Hunters on Thursday as a warm-up to get to know him and then I did him in the Juniors on Friday and Saturday. Carleton coached me on him and he taught me everything I needed to be able to ride him. Overall, he was just a lovely horse to ride. He was so brave to the jumps; he gives you a really good feeling around the course. He was really a lot of fun.” 

On her approach to the handy round:
“The handy today I liked because I felt that they made it a little different. Since they combined the Small and Large Older Juniors I ended up actually having three horses in the division this week, so I got to do that course three times. On each horse I took a slightly different track because I wanted to do the best track for the horse I was on. My gameplan for the handy was to make it as tidy as possible, while still giving myself space for lead changes so the horses could follow me through the course. I could keep the flow so I could get down the lines and make it a nice, even course.”

On goals for circuit:
“I personally ride a lot of horses that are for sale, so it’s hard for me to set specific goals on horses because I never know when they will sell or if someone else will get the ride. My goal is really to just improve my overall riding in all three rings: the hunters, jumpers and equitation. I would love to compete in the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship during Week 8, and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting in the jumper ring more and continuing to be successful in the hunter and equitation ring as much as possible.”

RESULTS

3’6” Junior Hunter 16-17
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner

1. In Favor / Avery Rose Glynn / B R Farms LLC
2. Aventus / Avery Rose Glynn / Jennifer Cancellieri
3. Echezeaux / Chloe Hazen / Chloe Hazen
4. Gerardus / Clea Caddell / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman
5. Everything / Avery Rose Glynn / Stephanie Ray 
6. County Line / Mia Burlington / Aleron LLC
7. Get Rowdy / Kyra Russell / Teton Farms LLC 

3’6” Junior Hunter Handy 16-17

Place / Horse / Rider / Owner

1. In Favor / Avery Rose Glynn / B R Farms LLC
2. Everything / Avery Rose Glynn / Stephanie Ray 
3. Aventus / Avery Rose Glynn / Jennifer Cancellieri
4. Echezeaux / Chloe Hazen / Chloe Hazen
5. Gerardus / Clea Caddell / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman
6. County Line / Mia Burlington / Aleron LLC
7. Get Rowdy / Kyra Russell / Teton Farms LLC  

Karl Cook and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet. Photo by ESI Photography

Krome set a winding course of 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts total, featuring bending lines, a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, an oxer-vertical double-combination, and a careful liverpool vertical. Fences fell across the course, but most notably at fence one and down the triple combination, which was a very careful one-stride to two-stride set off a long approach.

First to jump the track clear and within the time allowed was Bruno Diniz Das Neves and Adele XIII. Returning for the jump-off, Diniz attempted to set the time to beat and put pressure on the remaining five entries, but had a rail down that would eventually place him fourth. Kaitlin Campbell and Mitch Endicott each accumulated faults as well, leaving just three to go and no double-clear efforts to that point. Cassio Rivetti, fresh off major Grand Prix wins at both National Sunshine Series and Desert Holiday in 2021, took to the short course with Cristal De Menardiere, a 10-year-old gelding owned by Delaney Batter, and quickly jumped to the top of the leaderboard posting the first double-clear round in a time of 41.288 seconds. Lisa Carlsen and Livestream 2, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, picked up the pace and ultimately beat Rivetti’s time, but with one rail down to place third overall.

Karl Cook and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet. Photo by ESI Photography

Karl Cook, who had captured the final Grand Prix win of Desert Holiday with the same mount, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, was the final contender for the short course, and the pair galloped from fence one to two in fewer strides than most of the other entries before wrapping tightly to the double combination and effortlessly flying across the Grand Prix Arena, keeping all fences intact. He crossed the timers in 39.981 seconds, claiming the lead and winning the class.

Mitch Endicott and Chaccrobat. Photo by ESI Photography

Show jumping resumes on Sunday to conclude Desert Circuit I with the $5,000 1.35m Open Classic in the Grand Prix Arena and the $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity in Jumper 1. Desert Circuit II, beginning Wednesday, will mark the start of international FEI competition in the Grand Prix Arena.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Karl Cook – Winner, $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix

On the jump-off:
“Fence one, the timers were cocked at a bit of an angle, so you couldn’t come to the approach that you wanted you kind of had to put it into a turn. There was an eight from one to two, but you had to really get fence one right. Everyone was kind of getting nine because that eight is really inside track. But she just followed so easily and landed on the inside track to fence two and we got the eight perfectly. I knew at that point that I was up on time, and so I saw one less coming into the double, but I said ‘You know what, it’s along the fence. I know I’m up on time – because I watched Cassio go – let’s just add, do something a bit more conversative.’ Then she landed from the double and accelerated and so I was like, ‘Okay, we’re still doing okay.’ So I saw one less to the black oxer – fence 4/15 – but, again, I added because I felt confident that my time was still good. We landed and she cut such a hard edge to the oxer – fence five – and we got it out of stride and just awesome. We landed and started turning. I had one less in my eye to the second to last, but she turned so hard on landing – we actually lost some traction. At that point it was just safer to add to the second to last. And then seven strides, even though I was under the second to last, the seven to the last was not continuing.”

On Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet and their partnership:
“I’ve had her for about three years now. She’s super hot, super fiery. We would say like a ‘gamer’. She gets the game and she loves doing it, sometimes too much where she leaps in the air and it’s a bit wild. She understands the point of the game and it makes it so much fun to ride because she gets it. It’s a partner that’s just here with you and sometimes dragging you saying, ‘Here, let’s do this not that!’ It’s so much fun to ride.”

On Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet’s character:
“Well she’s very small and in the barn she’s very sweet, easy, and calm. Everything in the barn is super easy. When you go to ride her she’s very hot. Some days, like earlier this week, I flatted her for like an hour straight and she was still pulling and bucking. I took her back to the barn and then Jenny got on her later and rode her for another 30-45 minutes. She just has so much energy that you just have to stay on top of it. She needs that fitness and the strength to do this and you just have to, as a rider, stay on top of it so it doesn’t get out of hand.”

On Karl’s goals for the circuit on Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet:
“I’m here for this week and next week and then I go to Florida. Next week she’ll do the 3*, so I’m just hoping to continue what was going well here this week to next week. There were a couple issues, particularly in the first round, where my riding was not as accurate as it needed to be. So I need to fix those issues so that I can give her an easier job so she doesn’t have to save me. I’m doing my part better.”

On DIHP:
“They’ve put in a lot of money and they continue to put in a good effort and I think it’s apparent. People are happier to be here. Horses are happier to be here. And not only people are happier, but their numbers are up compared to a number of years ago so all the signs are showing that people are happy with all of the hard work that the horse park has put in.”

RESULTS

$40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time

1. Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet / Karl Cook / Signe Otsby / 0 | 74.832 / 0 | 39.981
2. Crista De Menardiere / Cassio Rivetti / Delaney Batter / 0 | 80.098 / 0 | 41.288
3. Livestream 2 / Lisa Carlsen / Lisa Carlsen / 0 | 78.683 / 4 | 40.292
4. Adele XIII / Bruno Diniz Das Neves / BDN Horse Investments / 0 | 79.775 / 4 | 43.034
5. Chaccrobat / Mitch Endicott / Bridgeport Farms LLC / 0 | 82.297 / 4 | 46.561
6. Armentos / Kaitlin Campbell / SWS Training & Sales / 0 | 80.726 / 24 | 68.309
7. Arc De Triomphe / Nick Gegen / 4 | 74.214
8. Bonita VH Keizershof Z / Ali Ramsay / Ramsay Equestrian, Inc. / 4 | 75.871 
9. Cerafina / Jessica Gleason / Jessica Gleason / 4 | 76.425
10. Calgary IV / Nicole Haunert / Cherokee Show Horses Inc. / 4 | 78.836
    11. Carissimo 25 / Mavis Spencer / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman / 4 | 81.64
11. Quatar / Jamie Taylor / JT Equine LLC / 8 | 76.430

Joie Gatlin and D’Avant. Photo by ESI Photography

Course designer Michael Roy Curtis set forth two beautiful hunter courses that helped to highlight the impeccable talent that was showcased throughout both classes. The first round was a classic hunter course that consisted of 11 obstacles, featuring four high options set at 3’5”, that allowed the horses to ride forward to each fence and down the long lines, showcasing each horse’s brilliant scope. 

After the 26 entries in the Open section completed and were scored for their first rounds, the top 12 horse-and-rider combinations returned in reverse order of first-round scores for the handy round, navigating their way over a challenging nine-obstacle course that asked several testing questions of both horse and rider. The handy course began with a long gallop to a single oxer at the far end of Hunter 1, then an immediate rollback to a trot jump one-stride. The course featured multiple opportunities to show off a hunter’s handy abilities and turn tightly, while also opening the stride and keeping a steady rhythm the whole way around.

Joie Gatlin and D’Avant. Photo by ESI Photography

Toward the end of the order, Gatlin took to the ring for a first round with Cathy Morris-Schmitt’s D’Avant, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding, and gracefully cantered around the course with a steady, rhythmic pace and showed off the horse’s scope over each fence. Taking all four high options for four extra bonus points, they landed a first round score of 93. Returning for the handy round, Gatlin laid it all on the line and showed off what the gelding had to offer, being rewarded for her efforts with a high score of 98.

Nick Haness took both second and third place honors aboard Inkwell and Reese’s, respectively. Haness and Tami Cabaniss’ Inkwell, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, rode to a first-round score of 90.5 and an impressive handy round score of 95 for a total of 185.5, which proved to be just below the mark for the title, but put him by a quarter of a point right above the West Coast Equine Partners, LLC, entry Reese’s, the 7-year-old gelding who, with Haness aboard, received incredible scores of 93 and 91.25 for a 185.25.

Avery Glynn and Opportunity Mars. Photo by ESI Photography

In the second derby of the day, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Jr/Am, it was Avery Rose Glynn who continued her winning ways after topping the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* Friday morning. She topped the 25 entries aboard Opportunity Mars, owned by Hope Glynn. She  piloted the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding to scores of 85 and 90.5 propelled her to the top of the leaderboard. Second place went to Catherine Westling and Rigoletto, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, and third place honors went to Didi Mackenzie and MTM Do Right, a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding.

Avery Glynn and Opportunity Mars. Photo by ESI Photography

Hunter competition in Hunter 1 continues Saturday with the Amateur-Owner Hunters and the $1,000 Dog Puissance to benefit USHJA, and hunters conclude on Sunday with the Amateur-Owner Classic. The Junior Hunters conclude on Saturday with the Junior Hunter Classic in Hunter 2.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE 

Joie Gatlin – Winner, $5,000 $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open, sponsored by Ritz Carlton

On the handy round:
“I wanted to have a good even pace the whole way through, so I stepped right in, picked up a good gallop, and galloped right up to the first oxer. I just thought about taking him right just a little bit so he could have a good handy turn. He trotted the one-stride beautifully; I was really happy with that. He landed right in a good rhythm. I used the inside turn, that double inside to the oxer, and he used his scope and I was really happy with how he jumped that oxer. I skated out just a little bit so I could kind of come back on that vertical, and land with a good turn to the brown vertical across the diagonal. Then, off the right lead, we did a wonderful inside turn, he just was right with me every step of the way to the big gray oxer. After that,  I wanted to be a little direct to the hay bales and then try to get a nice nifty turn afterwards and just kind of pick up the gallop down to that last jump. I was so happy with him. He was just right with me every step.”

On D’Avant:
“We’ve only been partners for a year now. I bought him for one of my very good amateur ladies, Cathy Morris-Schmitt, and he’s going to be her amateur horse here shortly. I’m just trying to get miles on him. We just love him. He’s super comfortable to ride, lovely to train, jumps great, moves nice, and I’m just really excited about his future. I do the 3’6” First Year Greens with him and in a little bit she’s going to start doing the A/Os.”

Goals for the circuit with D’Avant:
“Maybe we’ll do another derby or two, and then I would really love for him to get really consistent in the 3’6” Green Working Hunters.”

On DIHP:
“It’s beautiful. They’ve done a tremendous amount of work out here – new footing, new landscaping. It’s really nice to be out here.”

RESULTS 

Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Score | R2 Score / Total Score
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open, sponsored by Ritz Carlton

1. D’Avant / Joie Gatlin / Cathy Morris-Schmitt / 93 | 98 / 191
2. Inkwell / Nick Haness / Tami Cabaniss / 90.5 | 95 / 185.5
3. Reese’s / Nick Haness / West Coast Equine Partners, LLC / 94 | 91.25 / 185.25
4. Crowd Pleaser / Julia Rossow / West Coast Equine Partners, LLC / 89 | 93 / 182
5. Charismo / Katie Taylor-Davidson / Molly Brock / 91 | 89.5 / 180.5
6. Cloud 9 / Katie Taylor-Davidson / Kristine Floyd / 90.25 | 90 / 180.25
7. Cascarillo / Hope Glynn / Maureen Buckley / 87.5 | 90.5 / 178
8. Kanndarco / Jordan Appel / Emma Solomon / 86.5 | 91 / 177.5
9. Picnic / Katrina Karazissis / Lisa Hankin / 87 | 89 / 176
10. No Reservations / Chad Mahaffey / Curtis Holdings Inc / 90 | 81 / 171

RESULTS 

Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Score | R2 Score / Total Score
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Jr/Am, sponsored by San Marcos Stables

1. Opportunity Mars / Avery Rose Glynn / Hope Glynn / 85 | 90.5 / 175.5
2. Rigoletto / Catherine Westling / Catherine Westling / 86 | 89 / 175
3. MTM Do Right / Didi Mackenzie / Didi Mackenzie / 82 | 91 / 173
4. Sokrates / Natalie Rae Medlock / Natalie Rae Medlock / 83.25 | 89.5 / 172.75
5. Paperboy / Julia Greenspan / Brighton Farms / 91 | 80 / 171
6. Decklin / Gable Gering / Gable Gering / 79.5 | 89 / 168.5
7. Andover / Cathy Morris-Schmitt / Cathy Morris-Schmitt / 80 | 87 / 167
8. Caprio 33 / Michelle Berry / Professional Maintenance Systems / 82.5 | 69 / 151.5
9. Blue Moon / Gabriella Goshtigian / Rosegale Farm / 75 | 68 / 143
10. Lighthouse / Avery Rose Glynn / Rebecca Fahrendorf / 93 | 47 / 140

Avery Glynn and Donatello. Photo by ESI Photography

Each of the entries in the prestigious class completed a technical course of 11 jumping obstacles set at the 1.15m height, featuring two double combinations, a jump set on the bank at the south end of the arena, plus the option to jump an open-water jump or an oxer for the final obstacle on the course. Glynn, from Petaluma, CA, piloted Donatello around the course with precision and grace, meeting each jump naturally and carrying a forward yet balanced and consistent stride throughout the demanding course.

Naomi Wegner and First Choice. Photo by ESI Photography

After all athletes had jumped the course, they were invited to compete in the flat portion of the class to test their abilities and further impress the judges in order to take the top prize. The riders were asked to demonstrate their skills on the flat including the extended trot, sitting trot, extended canter, and counter canter in both directions. At the conclusion of the flat phase, Glynn was awarded the overall top score of the class, giving her valuable points toward qualifying for Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals in the fall of 2022.

The daughter of top trainer Hope Glynn, Avery Glynn is making a name for herself on both coasts as a top equitation and hunter rider. She rides with various trainers across the country and extensively plans her show schedule so she can get the most experience and exposure throughout her junior years. She spent the first two weeks of the winter show season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, where she claimed top honors in the WIHS Hunter Phase against some of the top equitation talents in the nation. Balancing showing, training, being a working student, and a rigorous academic course load, Glynn stays focused every day of the week in order to get the most out of her time and work towards her goals as a rider and a student of the sport.

Gabrielle Sokolow and Go For It B. Photo by ESI Photography

Equitation athletes will have more opportunities to shine during Desert Circuit I in Saturday’s ASPCA Maclay Medal, Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, and CPHA Hunter Seat Medal, plus additional equitation classes at the 3’3” height including Friday’s USHJA Jumping Seat Medal 3’3” and Sunday’s NHS Hamel Foundation Medal 3’3”, both of which have prestigious finals in the fall. Show jumping action continues Saturday with the $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Avery Glynn – Winner, Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*

About Donatello
“I rode this horse for the first time two days ago. This is my first equitation class I’ve ever done with him and I believe this is his first equitation class as well. My friends Nicole and Ryan Haunert are the trainers of this horse and they asked me to show him this weekend. He was just lovely in this round. I got to jump the open water in this round, and it’s so nice to ride a horse who doesn’t have a second thought about that. He’s just a lovely horse to ride and, for being green in the equitation, I think this is where he wants to be. His flatwork was lovely as well.”

On her plan for the course:
“I liked this course because it had a lot of flow. I like this ring – we get to use the bank – so I really wanted to get up to pace and stay on that nice, open gallop. That’s why, with my horse, I decided to leave out a stride in the last line and the first line. Especially to the open water, I felt like I liked the flow it had throughout. My plan for going up the bank was to keep a nice, collected canter and keep him balanced when I come down the bank. That’s a place where it asks your stride to get a little too big and it’s hard to regroup after that.”

On balancing showing across the East and West Coasts:
“At the beginning of the year, during December and early January, I try to come up with a show schedule for the upcoming months and I’m lucky enough to have a lot of different trainers I get to ride with on both coasts. I reached out to them to see what shows they were going to. I also like to get ahead on schoolwork as much as possible; on Mondays and Tuesdays I try to catch up on that so I’m ahead by the time I go to the east coast and show. My goal is to try to be as organized as possible between school, trainers, horses, flying, organization is key.”

On her equitation goals for Circuit:
“For this circuit, I plan to do the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship during Week VIII, so I’d like to have a positive ride in that and hopefully get a ribbon this year. I’ve done it a couple years prior, but I’ve been a little unlucky in my riding in those rounds. So I’d really like to have a positive and fun time this year.”

DIHP:
“I’m so impressed by the changes they’ve made here. In the past, this was not my favorite show, but now I really look forward to coming here. It’s a show I really prioritize and I love bringing my horses here because there’s great footing. I love the grass arena they put in; it’s going to be really exciting if I get to show on it. I think they’ve done such an amazing job making this place into what it is now.”

RESULTS

Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner 

1. Donatello / Avery Rose Glynn / Elle Rose 
2. First Choice / Naomi Wegner / Naomi Wegner
3. Go For It B / Gabrielle Sokolow / Sophie Root-Stevens
4. H De Revel / Gable Gering / Gable Gering 
5. Clearing / Lauren Kolbe / Haylee Hall 
6. Denver / Katie Smith / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman
7. One Cool Dude / Sierra Geisler / Sierra Geisler 
8. Bruce Wayne / Makenzie Damus / Makenzie Damus 

Darrin Dlin and Buddy Bounce. Photo by ESI Photography

The course featured 12 numbered obstacles, including three double combinations, a liverpool vertical, and lines extending across the expanse of the Grand Prix Arena. With the goal of going as quickly as possible, riders opened their horses’ strides in the bending lines and around the corners, but the three combinations required a balanced and collected stride in order to keep rails from falling, which interfered with some riders’ attempts to stay on an open, flowing stride. Dlin and Buddy Bounce, owned by Dorothy Dlin, beat out Olympian Cassio Rivetti and his mount, Delaney Batter’s Cristal De Menardiere, by just under half a second. In third was Canada’s Lisa Carlsen with Livestream 2.

Cassio Rivetti and Cristal De Menardiere. Photo by ESI Photography

Dlin got on a good pace with the gelding from the beginning of the course, taking direct paths down the bending lines and utilizing the horse’s large stride around the turns. He took a bold inside turn to the oxer at fence 10, cutting back tightly but finding the right distance and giving the pair the edge they needed to speed down the final line and claim the top spot in the class. 

Lisa Carlsen and Livestream 2. Photo by ESI Photography

Buddy Bounce, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding has been ridden by Dlin for three years and the two have grown as a partnership. Dlin noted that he knows when it’s show time, and showcased it both Thursday night and throughout 2021 as he moved up the FEI ranks. Dlin used his mount’s stride and scope to his advantage to take home the top prize during the afternoon’s highlight event to kick off the eight-week Desert Circuit. 

Juniors and Amateurs take center stage in the Grand Prix Arena on Friday of Desert Circuit I. The weekend features Saturday’s $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix with the $1,000 EquiFit U25 Classic and the first class in the $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Series on Sunday. 

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Darrin Dlin – Winner, $25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix

On today’s course:
“It was a really nice course. It was getting a little bit harder as it went with the shadows and the sun going down. Right off the bat I had to challenge him a little bit at the first jump and then just keep challenging him a little bit as it went. He’s a very careful horse and with the shadows the way they were, it was kind of tailored to him, so he jumped really well – he was right on it. It’s his first time back this year and he was ready to roll. I’m super happy with him.”

On Buddy Bounce and their partnership:
“This horse I’ve had since 2019. He was sent to me to start up, and he was 7 at the time. He’d done a little bit, but not much. Since then I’ve just brought him up level to level quite quickly and he’s jumped some very big FEI classes last year and I think this year is going to be a big year for him. He’s Irish, so he’s very casual, very arrogant, and then he walks into the ring and he puffs up and he’s a real show competition horse.”

Goals with Buddy Bounce over Desert Circuit:
“Goals are to get him back into the FEI probably next week. The following week he’ll have a little break and gear up for the big 4* at the end to just get him going. Really the biggest one will be the 4*.” 

On DIHP:
“The desert facility is fantastic. The amount of improvements they’ve made, the staff here – I can’t say enough about it. It’s world class now.”

RESULTS

$25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix
Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time 

1. Buddy Bounce / Darrin Dlin / Dorothy Dlin / 0 | 63.209
2. Cristal De Menardiere / Cassio Rivetti / Delaney Batter / 0 | 63.666
3. Livestream 2 / Lisa Carlsen / Lisa Carlsen / 0 |  66.871
4. Dauphin / Everado A. Hegewisch / Andrea Snyder / 0 | 67.966
5. Chaccala / Michelle Parker / Cross Creek Farms, Inc. / 0 | 68.760
6. Carissimo / Mavis Spencer / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman / 0 | 70.027
7. Chaccrobat / Mitch Endicott / Bridgeport Farms LLC / 0 | 70.441
8. Centurion / Sloan Elmassian / Sloan Elmassian / 0 | 72.799
9. Boucherom / Trent McGee / Trent McGee / 4 | 61.266
10. Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet / Karl Cook / Signe Otsby / 4 | 64.790
11. Quatar / Jamie Taylor / JT Equine LLC / 4 | 64.897
12. Calgary IV / Nicole Haunert / Cherokee Show Horses LLC / 4 | 66.619

Shawn Casady and Fugon. Photo by ESI Photography

The course featured 11 numbered obstacles with 13 jumping efforts total, including an oxer-vertical double combination and a vertical-oxer double combination, plus several tight rollback turns that required precision and balance to execute quickly. In an attempt to shave valuable seconds off their times, the quickest riders jumped the single oxer at fence eight on a slice, took an inside turn from fence eight to fence nine, and turned very tightly toward the large oxers at fences three, five, and six, taking as few strides as possible along the way to the end timers.

Shawn Casady and Fugon. Photo by ESI Photography

Casady piloted three mounts in the afternoon’s class, and as first to take on the track, Casady rode Tiffany Sullivan’s Castelissimo to the first clear round, getting a sense for how the course rode and how the jumps came up. France’s Eric Navet took an early lead in the class with a time of 61.470 seconds aboard Signe Otsby’s Coronado Blue NF, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. His lead held for nearly 20 rounds, but would eventually place him second. Casady took to the ring midway through the order with The Points Guy, a 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Elizabeth Kilham, to try to catch Navet, but narrowly missed his time, eventually finishing in third with a time of 63.781 seconds. Knowing he had a final chance to give it a go, Casady laid it all on the line, slicing fences and taking sharp turns, crossing the beams in a time of 60.803 seconds and snatching the lead from Navet at the very last second.

Eric Navet and Coronado Blue NF. Photo by ESI Photography

Of the three horses in the class, Fugon, owned by Oz Investments, was the one with which Casady had the least experience. He was offered the ride just prior to Desert Circuit beginning and had only ridden the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding a handful of times before piloting him to the win in the feature class. 

Shawn Casady and The Points Guy. Photo by ESI Photography

Desert Circuit I continues on Thursday with the $25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix. The weekend features the $40,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix with the $1,000 EquiFit U25 Classic, and featured jumper competition concludes with the $10,000 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Series.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Shawn Casady – Winner, $2,500 Whittier Trust 1.35m Welcome Speed

On Fugon:
“I just started riding him. I rode him on the flat once in November, then he went back to Oregon. A few weeks ago, everyone was getting geared up for the winter circuit, and they asked me again if I was interested in riding him and I said yes. I rode him on Monday, and on Tuesday we did a 1.20m class and then this class today, so we’re just getting to know each other.”

On his plan for the course:
“My plan was to try to get as close to 61 [seconds] as I could. I didn’t think I was going to be able to go as fast as Eric [Navet], especially on a new horse. But clearly he was super game and quick. We just started and we seem to be getting along so I’m really excited and grateful for the ride. I’m in the process of building up my own business so it’s nice to have these horses to ride.”

On DIHP:
“I think it’s great. The Grand Prix Arena looks awesome. There’s no better footing in the country right now. The stabling is nice. It’s going to be busy; where I normally park there are now more tents. But it’s a good layout with the hunters right there. Everything being so close, you can get a lot of work done. Whether it’s young horses or grand prix horses, I think it’s a great place to develop them.”

On goals for the circuit:
“To win as many classes as I can. I have a new group. Obviously everyone wants to win, but it’s still important that I develop them and further their careers, making them more valuable. It all kind of goes together.”

RESULTS

$2,500 Whittier Trust 1.35m Welcome Speed

Horse / Rider / Owner / Faults | Time 

1. Fugon / Shawn Casady / Oz Investments / 0 | 60.803
2. Coronado Blue NF / Eric Navet / Signe Otsby / 0 | 61.47
3. The Points Guy / Shawn Casady / Elizabeth Kilham / 0 | 63.781
4. Cerafina / Jessica Gleason / Jessica Gleason / 0 | 64.447
5. Cristal De Menardiere / Cassio Rivetti / Delaney Batter / 0 | 67.105
6. Castelissimo / Shawn Casady / Tiffany Sullivan / 0 | 67.225
7. Duc de Rhoan / Michelle Kerivan / Michelle Kerivan / 0 | 70.548
8. Luikan Q / Ben Asselin / Attache Stables / 0 | 73.786
9. Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet / Karl Cook / Signe Otsby / 0 | 77.348
10. Banana Pancake 2 / Shota Ogomori / SIG International Inc. / 1 | 82.031
11. Va Voom / Natasha Traurig / Natasha Traurig / 4 | 67.109
12. Eminent / Zacko Hardin / David Murdoch / 4 | 67.374

1. Just add some more stalls – We know some of you didn’t get stalls or the stalls you wanted or enough stalls. And the common refrain is “just add some more stalls” (we did add a few).  In short, the limiting factor in the number of stalls is our show day. Our goal is for the vast majority of our show days to start at 8 am and end by 4:30 pm. We know we can’t always do this but it is our goal. And we know it is what you want. So, in the end, while we may have space, we are limited to 13 competition rings plus the grass field. Over the last two years we have upgraded to ensure as many of our stalls are now 12×12. In fact, 84 percent of our stalls are now 12×12. We’re proud of this because it is good for horses. In the few remaining tents that have smaller stalls, we have increased the aisle width to 15 feet, so we have fewer stalls in those tents than before. This will be the last year of smaller stalls and next year we’ll only have 12×12 stalls. 
2. We have made some additional improvements – Some big, some small. You’ll find new footing in three more rings Jumper 2, Jumper 3 warm-up, and Jumper 4. We have changed the fencing on each ring to wood for the tractor entrance. You’ll find new shade at Hunter 1 and a new Pony VIP at Hunter 7. We have upgraded the Parlanti bar. And importantly, built a new parking lot on the northeast corner of the property to the right when you come in the stable gate. We think you’ll be happy with how the horse park looks and works. 
3. Patience will be needed – Unfortunately, we are not immune to the challenges of running a business right now. We are short staffed and a few projects, like the expansion of the RV park are a bit behind. We appreciate your patience as we continue to strive to provide a great experience for everyone. 
4. COVID and credentials – We think it is important for safety and security to have credentials for access to the horse park. Starting now, you’ll be able to download a photo after you complete the credential application process on our website. You can email your photo to credentialphotos@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and your role at the horse park, e.g., trainer, vendor, exhibitor. We’ll then produce your badge and can pick it up at the show office window. 

We are in the final stages of securing a COVID testing site for the property. More on this to come. 

PS – Speaking of the grass field – Stay tuned, we will be expanding the schedule on the grass field for Week 4 and 7. 

Time to show!!
Steve

The 2022 Desert Circuit will play out over an action-packed eight weeks from January through March and will feature hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.

Desert Circuit Highlights Include:

• Five weeks of FEI show-jumping, including CSI3* and CSI4* competition
• Three USHJA International Hunter Derbies
• USHJA Hunter Spectacular
• Ronnie Mutch Equitation Classic
• Two WCHR Weeks (Week 4 and Week 8)
• $100,000 West Coast Hunter Spectacular
• NAYC Zone 10 Qualifying Event

To see a complete schedule and list of events, click here.