Edited Press Release
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.”
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