WIHS NEWS – Saturday Oct. 26 Report: Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom Are Out of This World in WIHS Grand Prix Victory

October 26, 2024 – Upper Marlboro, MD

The pinnacle event of the 2024 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian was held on Saturday, October 26. Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) piloted Major Tom, owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC, to victory in the $340,000 FEI Jumping World Cup Washington, presented by Experience Prince George’s for the President’s Cup.

In his first-ever grand prix victory at WIHS, Pessoa and Major Tom set the tone as the first clear trip in the opening round over a course set by Nick Granat (USA), who was designing his first World Cup track.

Pessoa was joined in the jump-off by four others, but he would post a wire-to-wire victory after he finished the short course with no faults in 38.77 seconds as the first in the ring.

Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her Bull Run’s Jireh were next in, and despite a bobble that caused a tack malfunction, they finished with just four faults in a time of 39.63 seconds. Their time would hold up for third place.

Vanderveen explained, “When I turned tight back on the vertical, he was a superstar to get over it clear, and my left leg aggressively slipped back in the air and caught my stirrup behind the saddle. I could not get it uncaught, then I think my balance was way off. I didn’t have a lot left to help him out. I was just trying to hold on at that point and just finish up as best we could, but I really couldn’t get it free.”

Vanderveen has ridden Bull Run’s Jireh since the horse was six years old and took her time with the talented 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He has all of what I think the right pieces are,” she said, “so I’ve wanted to not rush him. Now he’s jumped a few five stars, and this is also our first indoor show. I was really happy.”

Carly Anthony (USA) rode in next on Heavenly W, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Calvaro F.C. x Quidam de Revel owned by Portfolio Horses LLC. They recorded a blazing time of 36.75 seconds, but with two poles on the ground for eight faults, they finished in fourth place.

Last year’s WIHS grand prix winner, Katherine Dinan (USA), returned to the jump-off next with Out of the Blue SCF, a 10-year-old BWP mare by Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini owned by Grant Road Partners. Dinan was close to making it a repeat victory with a clear round, but was just off the pace in 40.27 seconds and would have to settle for second place.

This was the pair’s first indoor horse show, and they have not had much experience jumping off at this level. “I’m still in a building relationship phase with this horse, so I was thrilled to be second behind Rodrigo. I’ll take that,” she remarked.

In statistics provided by EquiRatings, Dinan has had the most starts in the grand prix at WIHS since 2014 with eight rides in the class, along with three clear rounds and two podium finishes prior to this year’s edition.

“I think if you had told me this morning I’d be second, I would have taken that all day long,” she admitted. “But then of course looking back, I was a second and a half behind. I could easily have made it up, but my horse gave 110% today, and super kudos to her.”

Last into the ring was Olympian Daniel Bluman (ISR) riding Gemma W, owned by Blue Star Investments and Over The Top Stables LLC. Bluman and the 13-year-old KWPN mare by Luidam x Unaniem had eight faults in 37.43 seconds for fifth place.

Pessoa found Major Tom in 2020 when the horse was competing in Europe with Ireland’s Michael Duffy. “He’s always been amazing since the first day we got him,” related Pessoa. “He’s a very sensitive horse and very delicate, so we really had to take our time with him. But I feel that now as some years have gone by, he’s really starting to mature and really be able to express himself the way that we always hoped. I’m really thrilled with his performance tonight. He was pretty impeccable.

“I think, for me, he’s one of the best horses that I’ve ever had,” remarked Pessoa, “but he really needed that time to get in his own space and be comfortable.”

It was a thrilling five-star grand prix win for Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC and owners Jim and Kristy Clark. Pessoa noted, “Jim and Kristy have been really fantastic for me the last six years. Obviously, the owners are a huge part of our success. It wouldn’t be possible without them, so I’m very, very happy that we could manage the win today.”

The international jumper field at WIHS this year was one of the strongest ever, with 14 Olympians, 13 countries represented, and seven riders ranked in the world’s top 20.

WIHS President Vicki Lowell summed up, “Our goal is to make this the best five-star indoor show in the country and produce the best show we possibly can. We will continue to evolve the show and make it bigger and better.”

International Open Jumper
Champion: Major Tom, Rodrigo Pessoa, Artemis Equestrian Stables LLC
Reserve Champion: First Lady, McLain Ward, Robin Cleary Parsky

Leading International Jumper Owner, presented by Karina Brez
Mannon Farm

Leading International Jumper Rider Award, presented by Fab Finds By Sarah
Leading Foreign Rider Award
Conor Swail (IRL)

Leading U25 Rider Award
Nina Mallevaey (FRA)

Leading FEI Groom Award
Francisco Hernàndez

Leading Lady Rider Award
Jessica Mendoza (GBR)

Forte Flourishes in WIHS Equitation Finals

Precluding the highlight event of Saturday at WIHS, the top 10 highest-ranked riders in the WIHS Equitation Finals returned in reverse order of rank on mounts that they swapped onto for the final “work-off.” While the standings saw a shake up, upcoming young rider Adriana Forte’s brilliant performances across the three phases held strong and secured her the winning title with Candescent.

In her first time competing at WIHS, Forte dominated from the start after taking the early lead in the hunter phase on Friday with a dominating score of 92. Putting in another positive performance in Friday’s opening round, the jumper phase, Forte earned eighth place but still sat in the lead with Heather Macinnis’ Warmblood gelding going into the final callback.

For the final phase, only the top 10 out of the original 40 qualified combinations were asked to return. Riders were presented with the same jumper track but were made to switch horses and only afforded three minutes to familiarize themselves on their new mount and warm up.

Mounted on Paige Walkenbach’s Let’s Go, Forte entered in the pinnacle position in hopes of earning her first WIHS Equitation Finals win. Despite incurring an unfortunate rail, Forte’s consistent efforts paid off and the anticipation built until she was officially announced as the 2024 WIHS Equitation Finals winner.

“Last year at Medal Finals in 2023 was actually my first Medal Finals, and I was very nervous,” said the 17-year-old from Water Mill, NY, who rides with First Blue LLC and Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm. “Everything happens for a reason though, and Andre noticed me from that. Once I started with Andre, I started riding a bunch of different horses which has helped. Andre always told me that the goal was to be as consistent as possible and if I could do that, there was a definite chance I could win.”

“My first WEF was only three years ago,” she admitted. “I have never even done a ride-off on a different horse before today, so it was definitely a bit nerve wracking. I just knew that as long as I put in the best rounds that I could, hopefully it would be enough to put me in a good spot, and I’m very happy.”

After winning the jumper phase earlier in the day aboard the Sea Horse Investment’s 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Oki D’Eclipse (Catoki), Taylor Cawley of Wellington, FL, ultimately jumped into second place with a solid round in the final work-off.

“I was coming up through the ranks as a bit of an underdog today, which I like to do because I have nothing to lose,” stated Cawley, who started off the day in 12th place. “Being able to move up into the top 10 and be able to switch onto an amazing horse and lay down the best round I could was really special.”

Cawley, who rides with Beacon Hill Show Stables and is the daughter of international jumper rider Molly Ashe Cawley, explained that one of her biggest joys has been bringing along ‘Oki’s’ equitation career herself.

“I did the equitation a bit before I got him, but he has been my first superstar of an equitation horse,” she expressed. “We have worked so hard to get him to where he is now, and I’ve been the only one to show him in the equitation. He’s risen to every occasion, and he’s always ready to tackle the next battle.”

Christian Dominguez of Barrington, RI, rounded out the top three with his 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Iwan (Quasimodo vd Molendreef). As a true testament to the ups and downs of the sport, Dominguez sat in 22nd place following the first hunter phase. An impressive fourth place finish in the jumper phase launched Dominguez into the top 10 overall and a brilliant work-off ride ultimately became good enough for third.

“I was fortunate enough to ride a horse this evening that I’d previously competed, so that was super special, and he gave it his all as well,” he stated.

While Dominguez credited his work-off mount (Schuyler Dayner’s mount Talk) with his move up, he gave partner Iwan all of the credit for getting him here.

“I feel so privileged because I’ve had him for four years, and he’s truly never put a foot out of place,” he stated. “I can always trust him, and I feel like I have such a deep connection with him because of how many rounds we’ve had together in the ring.”

For the successful endeavor of guiding Forte to the win, Andre Dignelli was awarded the Leading Equitation Trainer Award. The Hollow Brook Wealth Management Sportsmanship Award was presented by Blake Rowan.

Westfall and Itschuli Earn Championship

On Saturday afternoon, junior and amateur riders had their final shot at a win in their respective jumper divisions. The first division championship, as well as the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall (SJHOF) of Fame 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic win, went to Eve Westfall of Boulder, CO, and Itschuli, while Isabelle Ehman of Milton, GA, stole the show in the 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper division after claiming both first and second in the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame 1.40m/1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, and finishing as the division champion.

Following a busy morning of Pony Hunter performances, the 16 combinations in the $15,000 SJHOF 1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic put forward their best final efforts, but only four pairings advanced to the jump-off. As the first to return over the short course, Westfall laid down the trip to beat aboard the Trotting West Equestrian LLC’s eight-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cascadello I) in a time of 31.34 seconds and fault-free over the fences. With at least one rail down in each of the following rounds, their performance proved worthy of the win.

“My horse is pretty young, so our round was more about confidence and making sure she was with me to the first jump,” detailed Westfall. “I got her at the end of March and had been looking for a jumper for a while. We waited and waited, and she sort of just fell into our laps. I’ve shown her this summer through Young Riders and Prix de States, and she’s just been amazing and handling it all so well for how young she is.”

For Westfall, ‘Itsy’ has quickly become a trusted partner. “She is so little, but she covers so much ground,” she explained. “She’s also very smart and super careful. She is just dainty and barefoot, and simply the best.”

The win was a career highlight for Westfall out of her experiences at WIHS, and a special way to kick off her weekend. “I competed in the lower jumpers a few years ago, and I’ve been here a few times for the equitation finals, but this definitely takes the cake,” she admitted. “It’s extra special to me because this is my last junior year. It’s a great way to end it.”

Ehman Dominates in 1.45m Division

The $20,000 SJHOF 1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic rounded out action for the juniors and amateurs, and it was not one but two impressive performances from Ehman that landed her the lead in the classic and the division championship. As two of the three trips to return over the jump-off track, Ehman first delivered a clean and quick clear round in 30.039 seconds on the Double E LLC’s 12-year-old KWPN mare Magnolia (Mylord Carthago). Determined to best her own score, she came last with the Double E LLC’s 11-year-old Selle Francais mare Darra du Soleil (Kannan GFE) and outdid herself in 29.464 seconds.

“Obviously I wanted to go clear because I wanted to finish strong here,” explained Ehman, who also earned the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Year title and the Horse of the Year title with Magnolia. “This is my last show of the year with my jumpers, so I wanted to end on a good note. I went first on Magnolia which I was worried might be a disadvantage, but it wasn’t, and we had a great clear round. We were fast but cautious with Magnolia and then for the last one we said, ‘Why not go for it,’ and she ended up winning. Being able to finish first and second with my two jumpers at their last show of the year is incredible.”

The finish is extra exciting for Ehman, who plans to turn professional in the coming months following an illustrious junior career. She will continue to compete Magnolia and “Darra” in the two-star and three-star competitions. She has had both horses for less than a year.

“We took our time getting to know each other and build a partnership; once Magnolia trusted me, I knew I could ask whatever questions of her, and she’s always going to be with me. I only started riding Darra in August, so this is a very new partnership. I feel so lucky to have two very great mares, and to be able to end my junior years with them like this is very special to me.”

1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper
Champion: Itschuli, Eve Westfall, Eve Westfall
Reserve Champion: Billy Galleon, Britta Stoeckel, EHS, LLC

1.40/1.45m Junior/Amateur Jumper Championship
Champion: Darra Du Soilel, Isabelle Ehman, Double E, LLC
Reserve Champion: Diablotine Jump, Cassidy Rein, Rein Family LLC

Junior Jumper Style of Riding Award
Taylor Cawley

Leading Junior Jumper Rider Award
Itschuli, Eve Westfall, Eve Westfall

Leading Amateur Jumper Rider Award
Escorial K, Cassidy Rein, Rein Family LLC

The 2024 WIHS concludes on Sunday, October 27, with the pony hunter championships, WIHS Pony Equitation Finals presented by Huntland, and the pony hunt teams costume class.