THERMAL, Calif.--Callie Schott on Garant won the $340,000, CSI5* Grand Prix over Aaron Vale and Jessie Springsteen on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Desert Holiday CSI5* finale,
Callie Schott on Garant (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)“I told myself that I was just going to try to go and not touch the reins and see what happens,” said Schott. “This was definitely the fastest I’ve ever gone! Normally, I give him a few checks here and there. Today, I said, ‘You know what? I have nothing to lose. Let’s just go for it!’”
Schott was the fastest by more than a second in the seven-horse jump-off over the course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr.
Schott had the advantage of being the second to last to go in the jump-off, and when she went the time to beat had been set at 39.48 seconds by Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25.
Schott finished in a lightning quick time of 38.08 seconds to win, with Vale placing second and Springsteen on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve third in 40.14.
“This is the third jump off he’s made in a row at 1.60m, so hopefully we’re developing some consistency,” said Vale of Carissimo 25. “The horse has all the ability, and I feel like we’re really starting to get some consistency. I was a bit early in the jump off, so I was pretty good at the beginning. In hindsight, I’d like to take a little more chance at the second to last, but I left the ring as the leader and only one of them beat me, so we got to say it was a good night!”
SPRINGSTEEN had the difficult position of going first in the jump-off and finished in 40.14 seconds.
“When you’re in a class like this with horse and rider combinations that are the best of the best, you kind of know you have to just really go for it,” said Springsteen. “I think I was just a little bit too cautious in my turns, but I was super happy with him. I think tonight I could have taken more of a chance. He was jumping out of his skin! I’m still super happy with the result.”
"Callie rode beautifully," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland, who was at Thermal observing. "Aaron is really getting Carissimo better in jump-offs, and for Jessie, that's the best I've seen that horse jump recently."
"Between Thermal and Geneva, with Kent (Farrington) being world ranked number one and winning the Grand Prix, this was a pretty good way to cap off the year," said Ridland. " American riders had an unprecedented year both in individual wins and in team competition."
For Schott and Garant, the win further bolsters an already impressive résumé built over their nearly four-year partnership.
“He’s a lovely animal,” said Garant of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He is a great character. He typically has a little devilish look in his eye, and he’s got that fight. He tries to jump clear for me all the time, and he gives it 120, 150, 200 percent.”
Daniel Bluman on Corbie V.V. was the fastest of three with four faults in the jump-off to place fourth in 37.4, with Nina Mallevaey on Dynastie de Beaufour fifth in 38.84 and Stella Wasserman on Precious Dwerse Hagen sixth in 39.35.
Eduardo Pereira de Menezes on HS London Time was seventh with eight faults in the jump-off and Laura Kraut on Una Mariposa was eighth with one time fault in the first round.
