A year has passed and the prize money more than doubled, but the results were the same. Six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward and First Lady defended their 2024 title to win the $182,000 5* Qualifier, presented by Visit Greater Palm Springs, held on Thursday during Leg 6 of Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ). The 2025/2026 MLSJ schedule resumed by cutting the tape on back-to-back weeks at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) in Thermal, California, after a six-week break for The League.
Desert International Horse Park is home to stalwart MLSJ squad the DIHP Roadrunners, of which Ward has been an anchor member since 2022. “I’m very thrilled to be out here competing on the west coast,” said Ward, whose eight-point qualifier win helped his team hold steady in fourth in the current team standings. “It’s been a phenomenal effort by all the organizers of these tournaments to make this a great tour.
“The Roadrunners have brilliant riders on our team, but the trade-off is that in the early part of the season, a lot of those riders are committed to championships and other events,” continued Ward on how the pieces are falling into place for a strong finish to the season for the Roadrunners. “We’re light on the front end but always finish strong. We’re always fighting.”
Ireland’s Alan Wade designed the two-round Grand Prix Qualifier course, and nine pairs advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off. Wade, a familiar face on the DIHP course designing roster was recently tapped as the builder for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Ward, current World No. 11, matched First Lady’s cat-like foot speed with a heavy dose of strategy to come out on top, saying, “I was lucky to watch a few, and saw both rollbacks to the verticals were a bit awkward; the number three and then the second to last. It walked seven after, but I decided to make a good cut and hold out in eight — I think that was a better play and kept my horse more organized for the bogey double at the end.”
First Lady, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos) owned by Robin Parsky, stopped the clock on a winning time of 36.01 seconds. The mare is coming off an injury, but keeps impressing Ward at every stage. “She was out for a while this summer, but she’s come back strong and has been phenomenally consistent. We are aiming her at the biggest shows and she’s delivering week after week.”
Reigning French national champion and Northern Lights newcomer Nina Mallevaey finished as the runner-up just fractions off Ward’s pace. Mallevaey, currently the world’s top under-25 rider, piloted Dynastie De Beaufour to a time of 36.95 seconds for owners Tara Dow-Rein and The Rein Family. Ireland’s Conor Swail rounded out the podium placings in third for the Trelawny Trailblazers aboard Clonterm Obolensky, owned by Oliver Raymond Glancy, in 41.59 seconds. (Top Canadian was Erynn Ballard, 6th riding Fave d’Authuit.)
As Season 5 continues, momentum builds and the stakes climb higher with all eyes on Saturday’s $750,000 Coachella Cup, one of the richest Grand Prixs of the season.
Complete results from the $182,000 5* Qualifier, presented by Visit Greater Palm Springs, can be found here. View current MLSJ team and individual standings here.
Action continues in the desert on Friday as teams go to battle in the $262,500 5* Team Competition, presented by Cabana Coast, live at 7pm PT. The week culminates in the $750,000 5* Coachella Cup, presented by Morrow-Meadows Corporation, on Saturday at 6pm PT.
For more information on Major League Show Jumping and to view complete schedules, rosters and more, visit majorleagueshowjumping.com. Get in on the action by downloading the MLSJ App and tune in live all season at ClipMyHorse.tv.
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