Ladies Night at the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*on January 19

 Ladies Night at the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*on January 19
By Kim MacMillan, MacMillan Photography & Media Services
When the last fence was jumped in the nine rider jump-off on Saturday night three young ladies topped the 56-entry field that included riders from 14 countries.  The line-up included, among others, international stars such as Mario Deslauriers, Margie Engle, Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, Ian Miller, Rodrigo Pessoa and McLain Ward. 
Reed Kessler, at 18 the youngest Olympian to date at last summer’s London Games, riding her 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Ligist (Levantos II – Robin Z) made neat work of the jump off, blazing over the fences and tripping the finish timer in 37.81 to take top money. Less than a second behind her was Katie Dinan on Grant Road Partner’s 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding Nougat Du Vallet (by Scherif D’Elle out of Camme Du Vallet). The final pair in the jump-off Brianne Goutal and Remarkable Farm’s 11-year-old Selle Francais Nice de Prissey (by Rosire out of Trophee De Prissey) gave it their all, but they stopped the clock at 38.53 to capture third.
“I think that is the best Goose has ever jumped; he jumped incredibly,” Kessler smiled after her win. “I just tried to keep a nice, tight track and take a shot and he was fantastic. I did see Katie a little bit on the screen. I’m not sure where I made up the time. He is a really fast horse; I use him as my speed horse mostly,” said Kessler.
Dinan talked about her runner up jump-off ride, “I was lucky enough to watch both of them from the schooling area on the jumbotron,” Goutal noted. “My horse jumped amazing; I was thrilled with the way he went. He is a much bigger horse than theirs; he has a big stride and he takes a longer time to cover the ground. I was able to leave out a stride from one to two and I think I was quite fast back to three, but he is quite difficult to turn. I had to take a little time back to the in and out and again back to the last line, but I was thrilled with the results. I was thrilled with the way he jumped and both of their rounds were blazing fast, so I am very happy.”
Luc Musette of Belgium set the course and drew much praise from the riders. “I thought the course was outstanding. I love really natural-feeling courses and I thought the whole thing felt so natural and smooth. There were options for your horses and I thought it was fantastic. He actually reminded me that this was the second grand prix I have won that he designed. He designed the 2* in Paris that I won when I was 16 and I love his courses,” said Kessler.
Goutal commented on the all-girl finish, “I think that is nice. We have all grown up together. I have known them since they were on ponies and I think they saw me do ponies. It is nice to have everybody together. It is great to have all of the girls and it is nice for the sport. We need more of that here I think.”

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