Hanna Mauritzson & Parkmore Lux Shine in $25,000 Farmvet Grand Prix at Thermal

By on 14 14America/Sao_Paulo March 14America/Sao_Paulo 2021

Thermal, California – March 11, 2021 – The Grand Prix Stadium welcomed back top show jumping action for Week VII at Desert International Horse Park’s (DIHP) eight week long Desert Circuit. With forty-four horse and rider combinations on the order of go, the $25,000 Farmvet Grand Prix saw top quality competition. In the end, Hanna Mauritzson (SWE) and Parkmore Lux took home the lion’s share of the prize pool with a jump-off time of 45.141 seconds.

Peter Grant (CAN) built a stout 1.50m course featuring a triple bar as the first fence and a triple combination down the outside. Grant gave insight to his design technique and his goal for every course is to first build a good line for riders to find a rhythm off of before he builds out additional tests based on the level of competition. In addition, he explains how he spreads out the different questions throughout the track.

“I try to always have balance in the questions. There are a few tall verticals. Fence 5 after the liverpool could come up a little short on them. The triple combination, with the way it is set, it is a little steady to a little bit of a push.”

The triple bar as the first fence was intended to aid riders in their track by giving them a fence to gallop up to and create a good jump rhythm. Mauritzson claimed it to be a slightly unforgiving fence if you weren’t on that forward stride, “one of the biggest challenges was a triple bar and a lot of horses came in and were not forward enough or jumping across it.”

Mauritzson boasted about the improvements made to the horse park, “You can really feel like the horse show is caring about us. Every time we come out here, there is always a new improvement, looks nicer, and all the little things are coming together. The extra shade structures, the footing is better, we now have the extra arenas in the back to school so they don’t need to be in the warm-up ring, which makes it easier for those competing. All of those little improvements are really appreciated.”

The $1,000 U25 Classic, sponsored by AIG, ran as an overlay to the Grand Prix. Riders of the age twenty-five or younger were able to compete in both classes simultaneously and earn points to the U25 final to be held during Week VIII of Desert Circuit. Winning the U25 was Lisel Anderson (USA) aboard her own Misterio. The pair also claimed the second place ribbon in the $25,000 Farmvet Grand Prix, registering a double clear and a final time of 45.241 seconds.

Anderson has been attending shows at the property for years and has loved every minute of it. As one of her favorite shows to attend, she is pleased with the improvements made by the new management team.

“This is one of my favorite shows. I think the improvements are great, I liked it before and now it is even better. It has always been one of my favorite shows. I have been coming here forever, it was one of my first shows and it has been great to watch it develop.”

Alicia Gadban Lewis (CAN) and Beneficial completed the podium backed by a clean scorecard, timed in 45.641 during the tiebreaker.