Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa took the crown in the $90,000 Grand Prix of Caledon CSIO3*, presented by BFL CANADA, wrapping up a big night at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON. Just five of the 17 starters managed to go clear over Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany’s initial course, and all five had at least one rail in the jump-off. Little and her 10-year-old Mecklenburg mare were the speediest, however, to pin fellow American Kama Michelle Godek and Charissa into second place, and Canada’s Amy Millar riding Jagger HX into third. Little and La Contessa had also been members of the winning US team in the Nations Cup held earlier in the week.
Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa. (Angelstone Events Facebook)
“This has been a dream week from start to finish,” Little, 44, remarked. “It’s always an incredible opportunity to ride for your country. Today was a challenging enough course and I had some fast riders coming behind me, so I felt that I really needed to put the pedal to the metal. In hindsight maybe not quite so much! But a win is a win and I’ll take it.”
Little, who had not competed at CEP in ten years, said of her mare with which she’s been partnered for a year and a half, “She is the horse of a lifetime, she is incredibly fast, and very intelligent ‒ which can work for you and sometimes against you! She is such a competitor; she knows the game and she just loves it.”