UPPER MARLBORO, Md--Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Corrie 9, dressed as Top Gun's Maverick, won the $63,000 Accumulator Costume class on Friday, Oct. 24 at the Washington International Horse Show.
Rodrigo Pessoa on Corrie 9 (Photo by Shawn McMillen)As is usual in Washington for the Costume class and Barn Night, the stands were packed.
And while it was good fun, and the riders seemed to enjoy getting dressed up, the competition was very serious.
Mclain Ward on First Lady had the unenviable spot of going first in the class of 23 competitors.
Dressed as the American Flag, Captain America Ward got the maximum number of points of 65 and set the very fast time of 49.13.
In an Accumulator class, fence one is worth one point, fence two is worth two points, fence three is three points, etc. with a final fence, the Joker, worth 20 points if jumped clean.
Fifth to go, Pessoa beat Ward by almost two seconds, finishing with 65 points in 47.43 to eventually win.
Daniel Coyle of Ireland on Incredible, and obviously dressed as Mr. Incredible in a tight red , Superman type of costume with his horse's neck
also covered in red, then finished with 65 points in 47.51 to place second, dropping Ward to third.
CONOR SWAIL of Ireland on Theo 160, dressed a a spooky skeleton, was fourth with 65 points in 49.26.
Some of the great costumes included Kaitlin Campbell on Cozm Hesed, dressed as the Big, Bad Wolf, complete with a huge gaping jaw on her head and a long tail that bounced on the horse's back and side with every stride.
Lillie Keenan was the most daring, with a skimpy dress, scooped low in front and reaching just to the top of her thighs, leaving her to ride with bare legs.
Over the course designed by Nick Granat, eight were clean over the entire course, including the final joker jump, for 65 points.
Pessoa chose his outfit earlier in the day while sightseeing with his daughter Lucia and a friend in downtown Washington, D.C.
Saying that Corrie is “like a little fighter jet,” he chose an appropriate costume.
“Corrie is very, very careful and very fast as well," said Pessoa. "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.”
“The facility is really good," he said. "We still wanted to come and compete. The atmosphere tonight at Barn Night was great. It’s always a pleasure to compete here.”
Earlier in the day, Anleigh Ahlert on Mademoiselle-A won the the $10,000 1.20m-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, clean in 37.043, and Eloise Eisner on Toy Soldier, clean in 38.3328, was second, with Caroline Lloyd on Fallciana, clean in 40.913, third.
