The sixth week of competition at the Desert International Horse Park concluded Sunday with the $137,000 FEI 1.55m CSI3*, sponsored by Adequan. Serving as the highlight class of the afternoon, the final FEI class of the week challenged thirty-two horse and rider pairings representing eight nations, each hoping to claim a podium position. Leading the victory gallop after producing the only double-clear ride was USA’s Richard Spooner aboard Quirado RC (Quinar x Ursula).
Top course designer Alan Wade (IRL) built a challenging and technical course for riders to contest. The thirteen obstacle track composed of a double combination, a triple combination, and many twists and turns that required athletes to constantly be looking towards the next fence. It wasn’t until twelfth in the order, Eric Navet (FRA) and Cadillac Jack (Cantoblanco x Cordina), that we would see the first clear ride. Many riders fell victim to four faults, keeping them out of jump-off contention. Only two additional riders would add their names to the jump-off list: Kaitlin Campbell (USA) and Spooner.
“I think it was a good course. It was kind of different. I gotta say it was a little funky, not in a bad way. Alan is a buddy so not in a bad way. It was very twisty and turny and looping back around,” explained Spooner. “A lot of times you will have straight lines where you have to make a lot of choices and decisions. Today, it was a lot of bending and sweeping and swooping. I think that kind of suits me, so I had my plan and I stuck with it.”
Wade’s shortened course continued with the day’s theme of twists and turns. Serving as the pathfinder, Navet had an unfortunate rail at the third jump in the course. Campbell was next and ended in similar fate with a rail down at fence four in the jump-off. Spooner was last to go and produced the only double-clear ride of the class with a time of 46.75 seconds, ultimately earning the lion’s share of the prize pool.
Spooner’s mount, Quirado RC is a twelve-year-old American Holsteiner gelding owned by Show Jumping Syndications International. The pair have an impressive resume together with multiple wins including a Nation’s Cup win in Vancouver in 2019.
“To have support like that for twenty-five years is amazing,” expressed Spooner. “I have just been lucky in the sport and lucky with the people I have known and the horses that I have gotten to be associated with and this horse is no different. This horse has been absolutely spectacular and he continues to impress. He has a ton of scope and is very careful. I’m just lucky to keep doing this.”
Capturing second place was Campbell and Doraindo with a four fault score and time of 42.89 seconds. Doraindo is a thirteen-year-old Dutch Warmblood by Labor’s VDL Indorado out of Siloma and is owned by SWS Training & Sales. Finishing third was Navet and Signe Otsby’s Cadillac Jack, an eleven-year-old Oldenburg gelding, with a time of 45.56 seconds and a four fault score. Darrin Dlin was the top Canadian aboard Buddy Bounce in 6th place.
FEI competition will resume during Week VIII of Desert Circuit and will feature the $250,000 FEI 1.55m CSI4* on Sunday of competition.
To view the full results of the $137,000 FEI 1.55m CSI3*, visit Showgrounds Live.
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