Thermal, Calif. – Karrie Rufer has had the kind of winter circuit many riders only dream of. On Sunday, March 8, Rufer picked up her seventh headlining victory of the season at Desert International Horse Park, further lengthening her front-runner position in the 2026 Desert Circuit Leading Jumper Rider Standings. This time, Rufer’s win came aboard Stern Dei Folletti in the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic.
Course designer Julien Pradervand set the track for the Sunday morning class in the Grand Prix Stadium, and his course ultimately saw eight of 41 entries finish entirely fault free. Five additional riders also finished clear over the fences, but time faults would keep them out of the jump-off.
Karrie Rufer and Stern Dei Folletti. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“The course was really tough,” said Rufer. “There was no breathing room, and the time was tight. So, the first round, it was challenging for sure. I was glad that we were clear. Then, for the jump-off, it was not a group that you could afford to go slow in.”
Rufer was only the second rider to jump the short course, but knowing that Conor Swail, Kyle King, Cassio Rivetti, Mathijs Van Asten, Ariel Marx and Emily Esau Williams were all coming behind her, she put it into “game mode.”
Karrie Rufer and Stern Dei Folletti in their winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“I stuck to the plan that I had that suited [Stern Dei Folletti],” explained Rufer. “He’s just fast, and when you put him in game mode, he’s like, ‘Okay, what do you want me to do?’ He just gets better and faster and quicker. It was a nice class for him today, and I’m just glad that he’s as consistent as he is!”
With “Stan’s” large stride eating up the ground, Rufer and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Morning Star Sporthorses LLC, crossed the finish in 38.833 seconds. Finishing in a close second place with a time of 38.946 seconds were Van Asten and his own Noberlina VD Laarseheide Z. Rounding out the top three with a time of 39.087 seconds were Rivetti and Chalina’s Clou PS, owned by Monarch Farms LLC.
Mathijs Van Asten and Noberlina VD Laarseheide Z finished in second place. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“We’re at the end of week nine, and we love it here,” concluded Rufer. “My horse has been jumping since week three. He’s of course had a couple of weeks off, but he’s as fresh now as he was week three. For me, that just a testament to kind of how happy the horses are here because he hasn’t left the property. He feels amazing.”
For complete results from the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic, click here, and for more information on all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.