Rodrigo Pessoa and Let’s Fly have been making a habit of putting in perfect first rounds in big classes lately. In the jump-off, however, things haven’t been going so well.

But with a serious check and precious FEI World Cup points on the line in the final East Coast qualifier of the season, Pessoa had plenty of incentive to reverse that trend when he headed into the short course for the $231,000 Wellington CSI-W on March 12.

“We’ve been in the jump-off of two other major grand prix here, and we had a problem in the combination both times,” said Pessoa. “He’s been knocking at the door to win one all circuit. This time when I went in, I knew I had to get it right.”

He did. Let’s Fly left all the rails in the cups as he clocked around the short course, stopping the timers 3.66 seconds faster than the only other clear round, Nick Skelton on Carlo 273, to relegate the British rider to second. Lauren Hough and Quick Study logged a zippy trip with a single rail to take third in the signature class of Week 9 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

A storm rolled through Wellington, Fla., earlier in the week, forcing the cancellation of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup and prompting management to lump that prize money into the kitty for the Saturday night class. Leopoldo Palacios built the fences, and eight of the 42 starters managed to find a clear way around.

Let’s Fly, a 12-year-old Hanoverian (Lordanos—Famm, Forrest), is owned by Double H Farm and, according to his rider, requires takes a special touch.

“He’s a spooky horse and suspicious under the lights, but Saturday he jumped both rounds really well,” said Pessoa, who holds a Brazilian passport but is based in Belgium.

“There were some spooky fences and some strange walls in there that were newer, even though he’s become very comfortable in the arena, and he was excellent. The spookiness actually makes him jump better, but it does make him harder to ride to the jumps.”

This finish, coupled with his win with Let’s Fly in the $100,000 Green Cove Springs CSI-W at the Jackson-
ville International (Fla.), boosts Pessoa to third in the Western European standings and into position for an invitation to this year’s Rolex FEI World Cup Final. But Pessoa’s still working out which mounts will board a plane to Leipzig, Germany, for the Final, as well as which will head to the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“Originally I wanted to do Let’s Fly the first day at the World Cup Final, then HH Rebozo for the rest of the week, but Rebozo got hurt, and I’m not sure if he’ll be able to compete,” said Pessoa. “The vets are going to take a look at him this week, and we should know what kind of shape he’s in, and we’ll re-evaluate that plan.”

Skelton found plenty to be pleased about with his second-placed finish. He just returned to the show ring at the start of the Wellington season after four months off following hip replacement, rotator cuff and bicep surgeries, but the sunshine’s been treating him well. The Warwickshire, England-based rider started out the circuit topping the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m classic with Unique and has picked up checks every week, including a second-placed one in the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix during Week 8 with Carlo 273.

“Carlo’s been going very well all season,” said Skelton of the Holsteiner (Contender—Guinda IV, Cascavelle). “When I went I knew I needed to jump clear, but we weren’t terribly fast. I thought maybe we’d end up second, and that’s how it worked out. I’m pleased with how he went.

His horses had a four-month rest before arriving stateside. “They’ve been brilliant since we got to Florida,” he said. “We’re getting ready for the outdoor season in Europe, and they’re feeling quite good. We’ll head back over after the [$500,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix] next week.”

Wimula Wins Again

When Ralph Caristo sold his favorite jumper, Wimula, to a client outside his barn, he was sure to give the new owners a caveat.

“I told Matt [Cyphert] to send her back to me if his client moved on, and that’s exactly what he did,” said Caristo. “That horse isn’t just a good one. At what she does, she’s a great one. We were so happy to get her back in the barn.”

So was Morgan Trexler. Since she paired up with the Belgian Warmblood (Nabab De Reve—Stimula) the two have been winning everything in their path, clinching their third NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper, 36-49, Classic win of the circuit on the way to the adult amateur, 36-49, championship during Week 9, March 9-13.

Trexler started riding Wimula when she switched fulltime to jumpers 11⁄2 years ago, and since then the two have figured out how to get the best out of each other.

“She’s feisty, but as soon as the show tack goes on and she gets in the ring, she’s down to business,” said Trexler. “She dances to the ring and all the way home, but on course she’s a total gamer. She’s there to win. I think it works because our personalities match well, and we understand each other. The first time I rode her I found her intimidating, but I embraced her way of going. We trust each other completely now.”

Trexler relies on that relationship and the Glenview Stables team to keep the 12-year-old mare show-ready, as she works doing institutional fixed income sales in New York, N.Y. Trexler’s been racing away from her desk with her laptop in hand on Thursday afternoons and makes it back for Monday morning. But with this year’s frequent snowstorms jamming up air traffic, she joked that she knows every JetBlue terminal within 50 miles of the city inside and out as she’s had to swap flights on a regular basis.

“Luckily the people I work with understand that this is the big push for me, and I don’t show an awful lot the rest of the year,” she said. “Last year I had a circuit of a lifetime with her, and we ended up series champions. Besides
it being fun, it gave me a lot of experience and raised my level of riding. When I came down this year I never thought it could be as good, but she keeps winning.”

Ostentacious Shows Off

For Sheila Motley, a partnership with Ostentacious was a textbook case of the right horse coming along at the right time.

Trainers Kelley Farmer and Larry Glefke had been working with the gray Belgian Warmblood since last fall, when he came to their farm to be sold. At the start of circuit Motley found herself horse-less, as her regular amateur ride was in a pasture recuperating from a minor injury. She never expected to find the perfect animal right down the barn aisle.

“It all just fell into place,” she said. “He’s a super honest horse who jumps great and is a great mover. He’s nice enough to win during the week and on the weekends with me, and he jumps the 3’6″ just as well as he does the 3’9″ for Kelley. That’s pretty rare.”

Indeed, the 9-year-old dapple gray claimed the amateur-owner jumper, 18-35, title with Motley up and the regular conformation title with Farmer during Week 9. He’s won a tricolor most weeks he’s shown in Wellington, which Motley credits to his consistent form, outstanding attitude and the hard work of Glefke, Farmer and Motley’s aunt, Lane Change Farm barn manager Debbie Buchanan.

“He goes on a loose rein, and he loves to go slow around the ring then just fire at the jumps,” said Motley. “We’re pretty well-matched. I think he was waiting for the right ride and the right team to really believe in him to come into his own. His barn name is Austin, but I call him Marshmallow, because he’s this lovely round conformation horse. People tease me that I glorify him and treat him like an overgrown pony, but I don’t care.”

Motley has had more time to spend at the barn since she moved from Virginia to Wellington, Fla., last year. She started her own event planning company in the fall and has been mixing business with pleasure as she’s found plenty of clients within the equestrian community.

“I try to really focus in Wellington because I can’t show nonstop the rest of the year,” she said. “I’m trying to focus on my business, which keeps me plenty busy. After Wellington I’ll just take it week to week.”

No Practice Needed

Jessica Herzog had been on the hunt for the perfect horse for ages, and when she swung her leg over Winnetou she knew she’d been waiting for a reason.

“We literally got him the night before the horse show,” said trainer Nona Garson. “Jessica’s been riding with me for a few years now, so I know what she likes and what works for her. We felt like it would be a good match.”

Herzog proved that true when she piloted the Dutch Warmblood (Lupicor—Ilanda) to a children’s hunter, 14 and under, title for DHS Stables.

The chestnut boasts a diverse résumé, having recently made the transition from the amateur-owner jumper ring to the hunter ring with Stephanie Vijan. Herzog’s already taken advantage of his versatility, campaigning him in a few 3-foot medal classes.

Most of Herzog’s experience is in the pony ring, most recently on her large pony Vermont Show Me The Gold, whom she still rides in hunter and equitation classes. She’s dabbled aboard full-sized mounts before, but she hopes that Winnetou’s experience will make him the perfect partner to graduate to the junior hunter ring.

“I think he’s just what I need,” said Herzog, 14. “He’s scopey, honest, comfortable, and he’ll just go around nicely. I’m so happy to have found him. I tried so many horses!”

Herzog managed to migrate south for much of WEF from Colt’s Neck, N.J., thanks to understanding, supportive parents and daily tutoring. She follows in the footsteps of her sister Samantha, who shows jumpers. Herzog found her way to Garson after a few years with a local trainer.

“Nona’s picky but in a good way,” said Herzog. “We go over a lot of little things that will make me better. She pushes me to be as good as I can be, and she never lets me get away with anything, like having my stirrups too short.”