Rodrigo Pessoa scored a big win Saturday evening when he piloted Major Tom to the top of the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Washington for the President’s Cup. In his first grand prix victory at the Washington International Horse Show, Pessoa and Major Tom set the tone as the first clear trip in the opening round over a course set by Nick Granat, 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.
Pessoa found Major Tom in 2020 when the Belgian Warmblood stallion (Vagabond De La Pomme—Uphdim Van De Puitvoet, Heartbreaker) was competing in Europe with Ireland’s Michael Duffy.
“He’s always been amazing since the first day we got him,” Pessoa said. “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,” he added, “but he really needed that time to get in his own space and be comfortable.”
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It was a thrilling five-star grand prix win for Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC and owners Jim and Kristy Clark.
“Jim and Kristy have been really fantastic for me the last six years,” Pessoa said. “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.”
Watch Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom‘s winning jump-off round.
Last year’s Washington grand prix winner, Katie Dinan, looked close to repeating her victory aboard Out of the Blue SCF, a 10-year-old U.S.-bred Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Grant Road Partners. Dinan had a clear round in the jump-off, 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.
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“I think if you had told me this morning I’d be second, I would have taken that all day long,” she said. “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.”
Kristen Vanderveen and her Bull Run’s Jireh finished third, and despite a bobble that caused a tack malfunction, with 4 faults in a time of 39.63 seconds.
“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,” Vanderveen said. “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 6 years old. She’s taken 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.”
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