THERMAL, Calif.--Ashlee Bond of Israel on her Olympic mount Donatello 141 won the $1,000,000 Major League Show Jumping CSI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix on Saturday Dec. 7.

This win was 10 years after her first $1,000,000 grand prix win at the Desert International Horse Park.

From a field of 40, including Olympians and top-ranked riders from around the world, Bond was one of 12 to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr.

Early in the jump-off, Lucy Davis Kennedy set the time to beat with a clear round inf 41.33 seconds on Ben 431, but soon Mark Bluman of Colombia on Ubiluc took the lead with a time of 40.91 seconds.

But then Bond, riding eighth in the order, shaved more than a second off Bluman’s time, finishing in 39.33 seconds to win.

Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 placed second in a time of 40.48 seconds, while Bluman and Ubiluc finished in third.

The Coachella Cup Grand Prix was a highlight of the Major League Show Jumping series.

 

ALONG WITH the top prize of $600,000, Bond won a Pet Portrait Necklace from Irene Neuwirth.

Neuwirth is a renowned fine jewelry designer with flagship boutiques in Los Angeles and New York City and Bond will now have a beautiful necklace made to immortalize an animal of her choosing.

The process of creating the necklace is unique and results in a completely one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Neuwirth first works with an artist in Germany who carves crystal quartz, where an animal portrait is then hand-painted in relief.

From there, the painted quartz is set on abalone, Mother of Pearl and 18k gold and finished with diamond pave or colored stones.

Conor Swail won the Individual Championship title, as a clear round and seventh place finish in the $1,000,000 Coachella Cup Grand Prix CSI5* gave him the championship on points after after a season with top performances.

Swail’s season included his win on Casturano in the $340,000 Grand Prix CSI5* in Tryon and in in the MLSJ 1.60m Grand Prix, along with consistent top placings