Rodrigo Pessoa aka Maverick piloted his fighter jet, Corrie 9, to a win in the $63,000 CSI5* Costume Accumulator Class.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
October 24, 2025 – Upper Marlboro, MD
MARS Barn Night, presented by Walkenbach Equestrian, packed a full slate of entertainment and competition in a full house of spectators on Friday, October 24, at the 2025 Washington International Horse Show, presented by MARS Equestrian™. Starting the night off with a blazing-fast win in the $63,000 FEI Accumulator Costume class was Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Corrie 9, owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC. The class was followed by special awards, a stunning exhibition by Sylvia Zerbini and her 12 Arabian horses in “Grande Liberté,” and the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase, sponsored by Artemis Farm.
Earlier in the day, the grand junior hunter champions were crowned, along with the winner of the $10,000 1.20m-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic and the champion of the division.
Twenty-three costumed riders and their horses took to the course in the $63,000 FEI Accumulator Costume class designed by Nick Granat (USA), and they accumulated points for every jump cleared. Eight were clear over the entire course, including the final joker jump, for 65 points. The fastest over that course was Rodrigo “Maverick” Pessoa riding Corrie 9 in 47.32 seconds. “Mr. Incredible” Daniel Coyle and Incredible, owned by Coyle and Ariel Grange, were second-fastest in 47.51 seconds. Finishing third with a time of 49.13 seconds was McLain “American Flag” Ward and First Lady, owned by Robin Cleary Parsky.
Pessoa only chose his outfit earlier in the day while sightseeing with his daughter Lucia and a friend in downtown Washington, D.C. Noting that Corrie is “like a little fighter jet,” he chose an appropriate costume.
Continuing to describe his mount, Pessoa said, “She’s very, very careful and very fast as well. She’s always game. She had a fun schedule this week and jumped a bit lower than normal. With a third place last night and winning today, I was super pleased with her. Going in the ring, you know that you always have a chance with her.”
Despite not having a horse for the grand prix, Pessoa made the decision to attend as it’s a “traditional horse show on the calendar.” He added, “The facility is really good. We still wanted to come and compete. The atmosphere tonight at Barn Night was great. It’s always a pleasure to compete here.”
Daniel Coyle and Incredible were ‘Incredible’ to take second place in the $63,000 CSI5* Accumulator Costume Class.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Mclain Ward and First Lady flew into third place during the night’s $63,000 CSI5* Accumulator Costume Class.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Linck and Hagerty Go for Grand in the Junior Hunter Divisions
Junior hunter riders took center stage during the daytime session at The Show Place Arena on Friday as champions and grand champions were crowned at both the 3’3” and 3’6” division heights. With the most overall points in the Junior Hunter 3’3” divisions, Kaitlyn Linck of Clinton Corners, NY, catch rode Sundown to the title of Grand Champion, while Brooke Hagerty of Terrebonne, OR, and longtime partner Casino Cash were named the Grand Junior 3’6” Hunter Champions.
The 3’3” divisions came to a close first, and Linck was invited to return with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Sundown, to accept the Small Junior Hunter 3’3” championship and the Grand Junior 3’3” Hunter Championship. An impressive feat in any circumstance, Linck’s win was even more incredible knowing this was their first show together.
“Don Stewart called last week while I was at the New England Equitation Finals and asked if I could show Sundown and Mirage this week,” she explained. “I rode him yesterday for the first time and he won both classes, then today he was second in the under saddle.”
Despite being unfamiliar with Sundown himself, Linck is no stranger to riding new, green, or developing horses, and the gelding’s way of going proved to be one she is already comfortable with.
“Something that I noticed about him was that he was very similar to a couple of my horses that I have in the stable,” recalled Linck. “He’s a bit colder to your leg, which is a ride that I’m very familiar with and good with. I’ve ridden several horses for Don over the past five years. He always thinks about me, which I’m very grateful for.”
While many would be rattled by just getting to know a horse at a major championship, Linck detailed it is often a process she actually prefers.
“I think for me, it’s easier to ride a horse I don’t know as well because I don’t put so much pressure on myself to do well,” she added. “I just always want to give the horses the best ride I can, especially if they’re a little bit greener. I try and tell myself that while I can’t control what’s going to happen in the ring, I can control how I do it. At these types of shows, anything can happen.”
Hunter competition concluded for the day with Hagerty and The Hagerty Family’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Casino Cash, her partner of four years, donning the attire for the Grand Junior 3’6” Hunter and champion of the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division.
“He’s so consistent; he does everything I ask, so it’s fun to step into the ring with him every time,” expressed Hagerty. “I can truly trust him with everything. I love competing in the junior hunters because I love him, and I love riding him.”
While the win is one of the most rewarding for Hagerty, it follows a string of success throughout the indoors season for the pair.
“John is the best; he’s so competitive and so smart,” she said of longtime trainer John French. “He really is calm and trusts me, and I trust him. This weekend I really wanted to stay consistent. I had a great Harrisburg, so I just wanted to stay the same. Winning both classes yesterday felt really good and put me in a good place to come here.”
Hagerty and Linck will also contend for the top prize in Saturday’s WIHS Equitation Final.
Kaitlyn Linck and Sundown outshined the competition and were named the Junior Hunter 3’3″ grand champions.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Brooke Hagerty and Casino Cash jumped to victory to earn the title of Grand Champion in the Junior Hunter 3’6″ division.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Best Child Rider on a Horse
JJ Torano
Small Junior Hunter 3’3”
Champion: Sundown,Kaitlyn Linck, Charlotte Rossetter & Pamela Wright
Reserve Champion: Remember Romance, Taylor Matalon, Matalon Equestrian LLC
Large Junior Hunter 3’3”
Champion: MTM Enchanted, Madison Ramsey, Kevin Eufemia
Reserve Champion: Southland, Darya Davoudi, Epic Sporthorses, LLC
Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under:
Champion: Bond, Elizabeth Rinehart, Elizabeth Rinehart
Reserve Champion: Disney, JJ Torano, Alice Goodwin
Small Junior Hunter 16-17
Champion: Corzico Melloni Z, Emma Brody, Brody Sporthorses
Reserve Champion: Jagerbomb, Violet Tatum, Tatum Equestrian LLC
Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under
Champion: Tiara, JJ Torano, VBK Equine LLC
Reserve Champion: Kapatero, JJ Torano, Alice Goodwin
Large Junior Hunter 16-17
Champion: Casino Cash, Brooke Hagerty, The Hagerty Family
Reserve Champion: Spoken, Lily Sonneborn, Andesite Equestrian
Georgetown High Score Junior Hunter Owner/Rider
TIE:
Casino Cash, Brooke Hagerty, The Hagerty Family
Bond, Elizabeth Rinehart, Elizabeth Rinehart
Anleigh Ahlert raced to a blazing finish to win the $10,000 1.20-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic with Mademoiselle-A.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Eloise Eisner and Toy Soldier jumped nothing but clear rounds all weekend to win the Low Junior/Amateur Jumper championship.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Anleigh Ahlert and Mademoiselle-A Make Headlines in the $10,000 1.20-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Twenty-five top junior and amateur combinations geared up to contest the $10,000 1.20-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic. Rounding out their debut week at WIHS, junior rider Anleigh Ahlert of Tyrone, PA, shaved precious milliseconds off of the previous leading time to take the win with Mademoiselle-A in 37.043 seconds.
Nick Granat (USA) built his first jumper track of the night and 11 pairs advanced to the jump-off. As the time-to-beat got tighter the rails continued to fall, and only three duos were able to produce a double-clear effort. Caroline Lloyd and Fallciana held the early lead in 40.913 seconds, which would hold up for third place. Ahlert had two entries for the first round, but it was her stellar performance with the Grier School’s 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Corland, Mademoiselle-A, that qualified her for the jump-off and ultimately secured the top call. Finishing in second place was Eloise Eisner and Toy Soldier, owned by Abigail Gordon, in 38.328 seconds.
“My mindset for today’s class was just to go for a double-clear round,” she detailed. “I wanted to have the best ride that I could. I don’t think we were always the most consistent in our earlier classes, but we got into the groove more each day.”
For Ahlert, the win was the icing on the cake of a successful first time to the venue.
“I’m really feeling like all my hard work has paid off because we’ve been working all year for this,” admitted Ahlert. “I didn’t have a great performance with her at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show; I actually fell off. This was an extra great comeback.”
Coming off two wins in the division earlier in the week, Eloise Eisner of New York, NY, and Toy Soldier once again delivered a fault-free finish. Their second place earned them the championship title.
“He’s one of the most amazing horses I’ve ever had,” enthused Eisner of the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding by Black Jack. “He always goes into the ring wanting to win. Today there was a lot of pressure going in because I won the last two classes, but I tried to follow the plan and go as fast as I could.”
2025 MARS Barn Night, presented by Walkenbach Equestrian Contest Winners
Largest Group Contest, sponsored by Dover Saddlery
Overall Largest Group: Enticement Stables
Largest Runner-Up Group: Meadowbrook Stables
Best Group WILD FOR WIHS Spirit & Mascot Contest, sponsored by United Metro Golf Cart
Champion: Fence Post Farms
Reserve Champion: Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Farthest-Traveled Group, sponsored by Dover Saddlery
Champion: Thousand Hills Riding Stables in Delaplane, VA
Reserve Champion: Loudoun 4-H Canterlopes in Purcellville, VA
Best WILD FOR WIHS Poster Contest, sponsored by The Clothes Horse
Champion: HMC Equestrian
Reserve Champion: Thousand Hills Riding Stables
WILD FOR WIHS Video – winners of a clinic with Brianne Goutal-Marteau
Champion: Quinn Haven Stables
Reserve Champion: HMC Equestrian
Action at the 2025 Washington International Horse Show will come to a head tomorrow on Saturday, October 25, as the venue comes to life in anticipation of the evening’s $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington CSI5*-W, presented by Maryland Sports Commission. Daytime competition will highlight the pony hunters before junior and amateur riders once again vie for the win in the junior/amateur jumper classics. The country’s best junior equitation riders will close out daytime competition with the final jumper round of the WIHS Junior Equitation Final, and the top 10 work-off will start the evening session competition. Outside of The Show Place Arena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a variety of activities will take place during Kids’ Day, presented by Delta, including face painting, pony rides, horseless jumping, crafts, and more.
Written by Jump Media LLC
