Thermal, Calif. – Desert Holiday 1 marked only Stella Wasserman and Myla’s fourth show together, but the new partnership is already proving to be a winning one. On Sunday, December 7, Wasserman piloted the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare to victory in the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic at Desert International Horse Park.
Stella Wasserman and Myla. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“She’s my type of ride,” said Wasserman of the mare previously competed to great success by world number one Kent Farrington. “She’s small, typey, hot – that’s definitely what I like in a horse. With every horse you first start off with, you have to figure them out and learn their ins and outs, but she’s a great horse to work with so figuring her out is very pleasant.”
Wasserman continued, “My goal today was to kind of just keep forming that partnership with her and figuring her out and learning what makes her tick.”
Stella Wasserman and Myla in their winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Wasserman seemed to have things rather well figured out over the Alan Wade and Colm Quinn-designed track on Sunday. From the 44-horse starting field, Wasserman and Myla were one of just six entries to qualify for the jump-off.
It marked the first jump-off in competition for Wasserman and Myla together, but with trainer – and fellow jump-off competitor – McLain Ward’s blessing, Wasserman decided to go for it.
“When I walked in, McLain had just gone, and he said that I could give it a go!” said Wasserman. “I’m competitive, so I like to always go for it. She’s so seasoned when it comes to going fast. She kind of knows everything you want her to do. She makes it easy.”
Stella Wasserman and Myla. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
As the penultimate pair to jump, Wasserman, 20, and Myla breezed through the timers in 33.742 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard and ultimately clinch the win. Finishing in second place with a time of 34.673 seconds was another young rider, 18-year-old Avery Griffin aboard Oh My Star van Strytem, owned by PBC Equine Investments LLC. Rounding out the top three was Karrie Rufer on Stern dei Folletti, and Ward and Jordan Molga M finished in fourth..
As for what is next for Wasserman and Myla, the pair will start by jumping again this upcoming week at Desert Holiday 2.
“She’s obviously an amazing horse coming from a great person and program, and I’m very lucky to be able to have a horse like this,” Wasserman said. “I’m just figuring her out and forming a partnership and seeing where that takes us!”
For complete results of the $40,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic, click here.