Press release from Wellington International, edited by World of Showjumping

Emily Dehoff (USA) and Manou De Muze, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood, stayed on top throughout the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic, closing out Saturday’s competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village.

With two rounds in which the top 12 returned with faults carried forward, Dehoff, 22, and Manou De Muze (Arko III x Quidam De Revel), owned by The Sporty Game, took the top spot on the podium. She stopped the clock at 49.17 seconds with Tony Stormanns (GER) posting a safe double-clear in 54.84 seconds with Rushy Marsh Farm’s RMF Balouwinsky, a 10-year-old Balous Bellini x Cornet Obolensky son.

Closing out the podium at 46.59 seconds and four faults carried through from the opening round, Zayna Rizvi (USA) and Oryzon van het Schaek, a 12-year-old mare (Zirocco Blue VDL x Vagabond de la Pomme) were third for owners Flying Z.

“I actually had a different plan going in; I wanted to do a couple fewer strides to hopefully try to be the fastest,” stated Dehoff, who trains with John Brennan and Missy Clark at North Run. “Then I saw Tony go—he was clear—but nice and slow. So, I knew I could go a touch faster while also clearing the jumps in hopes of beating him in the end.”

The pair’s partnership began when Dehoff took over the ride from Italy’s Filippo Tabarini and they have been moving up the divisions throughout the past several years. “She’s been my ‘move-up’ horse—she has helped me jump up to the big FEI classes, which was a goal of mine. She’s been a great ride for me and never lets me down.

Just last year, Dehoff was third overall in the BrainJuice U25 overall standings and gave the derby field a go for the first time. Now, she has their sights set on advancing through the FEI levels. “She’s proven herself time after time, so the goal is to keep moving up.”