It has been two years since Jake Endicott regularly competed in the equitation as a junior rider, but on Friday, December 13, he returned to the top of the equitation ranks like it was yesterday. Aboard Chatino PS, Endicott topped a field of fellow professionals to take home the win in the $20,000 DIHP 3’3” Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Core Specialty.
The class was the first of two special equitation classes offered exclusively for professionals during the 2024-2025 Desert International Horse Park season, and this time, 25 professionals rose to the challenge.
Jake Endicott and Chatino PS. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Following an opening round in the Main Hunter Ring, that starting field was narrowed to the top 12 to return for a second round in reverse order of their standing. With a score of 88 in the first round from judges Virginia Edwards and Jessica Lohman, Endicott took over the top of the leaderboard. A score of 90 over the second Archer Bailey-designed course then only further cemented his lead, giving him the win with an overall score of 178.
Second place with scores of 86 and 87 for a 173 total went to former Pro Eq Challenge winners Halie Robinson and Tangled Up In Blue. Finishing in third was young professional Dominic Gibbs, who piloted Chrome Hearts to scores of 84.75 and 88 for a 172.75 overall total.
Jake Endicott rode Chatino PS to the win in the $20,000 DIHP Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Core Specialty. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“It’s nice to revisit the equitation!” said Endicott, who rides and trains for his family’s Pegasus Show Stable in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. “It’s nice to go back in the eq and see what it’s like again. Once you age out, you don’t even think about it. So, to try and come back and do it again is nice.”
Endicott had had his sights set on contesting Friday afternoon’s equitation challenge, but it was not until Thursday that his mount for the class was decided to be Desi Cyr’s Chatino PS.
“It’s a really nice horse; he makes my job pretty easy,” said Endicott, 20. “He actually hasn’t been doing the equitation for very long; he has really only been doing it for like three months. He went to ‘Indoors’ with Desi and did really well. Then, he came back here in November and won the [USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West] with her. Then, I got to ride him, and now he won again. So, it’s just a really fantastic horse.”
Jake Endicott and Chatino PS. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
To view full results of the $20,000 DIHP 3’3” Pro Equitation Challenge, presented by Core Specialty, click here. The next DIHP Pro Equitation Challenge will be held during Desert Circuit 8, February 26 – March 2, and new for 2025, the class will now offer $100,000 in prize money! To view more upcoming competition highlights at the Desert International Horse Park, click here.