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.”