Geoffrey Hesslink scored the biggest win of his young career Feb. 19 in Wellington, Florida, topping a field of 35 of the country’s best hunter combinations to win the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular aboard Mon Tresor.

The Shelburne, Vermont, resident only recently started riding the 10-year-old Holsteiner (Nekton—Odessa XIV) owned by Little Brook LLC, but they put together a pair of rounds that bested stars of the sport.

“I don’t know my horse that well, but he does give me a lot of confidence,” Hesslink said. “He is a new partnership for me that I have competed less than 10 times, but he has been champion every one of those times. I am told he has a background in three-day eventing, which I think definitely played as a strength in this class in particular. He is extremely brave and has never spooked at a jump, but yet is quite sharp and athletic and covers a lot of ground.”

Going sixth in the first round, the pair scored a 90.66 to take the lead  and earn the final spot in the order when the top 12 returned for the  handy round. There, they maintained their form to score 90.5 for a two-round total of 181.16, taking the win over junior rider Mimi Gochman on Catch Me (179.16). Last year’s winners, Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, finished third (177.66).

Click the photo below to watch the handy round that clinched the Spectacular for Hesslink and Mon Tresor:

Geoffrey Hesslink and Mon Tresor. Kimberly Loushin Photo