In a field brimming with experience and talent, it was the young gun, 17-year-old Brian Moggre, who managed to win the $100,000 Longines FEI Ocala World Cup qualifier on March 10, at Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida.

Riding Major Wager LLC’s MTM Vivre le Reve, Moggre, who also won Friday’s $35,700 CSI3* Longines World Ranking Competition, earned the first clear round of the jump-off, and his red-hot time of 41.29 seconds was unmatched by the rest of the group.

“I have to say I had low expectations for myself, but I never do for my horses. I really wanted to go in today and jump a clear round. That was the main goal, so once that happened I went pedal to the metal in the jump-off,” Moggre said whose win came in his first-ever FEI World Cup class.

Brian Moggre won his first World Cup qualifier with MTM Vivre Le Reve. Erin Gilmore Photography Photo

Of the 38 starters, six made it to the jump-off over the course designed by Olaf Peterson, Jr. While several riders fell victim to a spooky wall at fence 10, the exciting jump-off thrilled the crowd.

“This is a World Cup qualifier, and in the [2019 Longines FEI World Cup  Final] we will see scary things, and you need to test those things in this class,” said Peterson, referring to the wall. “For some horses it was difficult, but for me, it belongs in this class.”

Of the six who returned to test their skill against the clock, only three: Moggre, second-placed Andre Thieme, and third-placed Sharn Wordley, jumped a final clear round.

Brian Moggre and MTM Vivre Le Reve were the fastest clear in a six-horse jump-off. FEI/Shannon Brinkman Photo

Germany’s Thieme made quick work of the stout track with his and Turnierstall’s Aretino for second place. He had complete confidence in his horse over the dodgy wall, so he turned all his focus on the clock to finish the jump-off in a time of 41.56 seconds.

“I knew my horse had seen walls like that,” said Theime. “That’s why I was very sure that I was going to make the time because I knew I could go short to that wall and make up some time. I think that’s what got most of the people. They wanted to get there straight, so they went farther out. For me, that was the most difficult jump because it was so different.”

New Zealand Olympic veteran Sharn Wordley went all in with Sky Group’s Casper. Their jump-off time of 43.96 seconds landed them in third place. For his overall performance through the tournament’s four classes, Wordley was awarded the $10,000 NetJets, Inc. Leading Rider Award as the rider who accumulated the highest number of points over the three days of show jumping competition.

“We had a good show, we always have a good show here,” he said. “I’ve been coming since its inception, and it’s a favorite of mine on the circuit. Sometimes you have shows you just do well at, and I always do well here, so I keep it on my calendar.”