Thermal, Calif. – Karrie Rufer can no longer count on one hand her major victories this winter after she picked up another Desert Circuit win on Sunday, March 1, in the $30,000 Marshall+Sterling 1.40m Open Classic.
Karrie Rufer and Stern dei Folletti. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
With Mr. Europe and Stern dei Folletti, Rufer has made frequent trips to the winner’s circle at Desert International Horse Park, and this time, during Desert Circuit 8, it was Stern dei Folletti’s turn to return there again.
Rufer and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Morning Star Sporthorses LLC, were one of six entries to jump clear over the 1.40m first-round course designed by Peter Grant. As the penultimate rider to come back, Rufer then galloped away with a commanding victory, crossing the finish in 38.778 seconds.
Bradley Bowns presented Karrie Rufer and Stern dei Folletti as the winners of the $30,000 Marshall+Sterling 1.40m Open Classic. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
No one else would come close to catching Rufer’s time, with second place going to Ashley Papalia and her Clan de Nyze Z on a time of 44.434 seconds. Alicia Gadban-Henaut finished in third after riding her Caipirinha de Reve through the timers in 45.470 seconds.
“That horse loves jump offs!” said Rufer of Stern dei Folletti, better known as “Stan” in the barn. “You start the first jump on a pretty big pace, and he’s like, ‘Oh, okay. I know what’s happening here!’ He gets very catty, and he has a huge stride and is so brave. So, it’s pretty easy to kind of just go fast and not really worry about anything.”
Second place went to Ashley Papalia and her Clan de Nyze Z. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
When Stern dei Folletti is not picking up top placings in the show ring, Rufer’s primary focus with the gelding is on keeping his body relaxed.
“He’s built really funny; he doesn’t really have much of a back,” said Rufer of the horse that she has been partnered with for roughly eight years. “If you look, the end of my saddle is like his hip. So, if you see me on the off days, I’m usually in a snaffle on the buckle getting his nose to the ground just to stretch his back out.
“With him, it’s just more like stretching – stretching at the trot, stretching at the canter,” continued Rufer. “He’s so electric that if you work into him, he just gets more and more energetic. He doesn’t actually relax into the work; he just gets more and more excited and fired up. So, the less I can do, the better. Keeping him as calm and relaxed as possible is really kind of his key.”
For full results of the $30,000 Marshall+Sterling 1.40m Open Classic, click here, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.