Kaitlin Campbell and Bull Run's Hesed. Photo © High Desert Sport Photo.
Press release from Desert International Horse Park
Since partnering at the end of last year, Kaitlin Campbell and Bull Run’s Hesed (Christian x Lord Z) have been making their way up the ranks, and on Thursday, March 13, they made their way straight up to the top of the leaderboard in the $63,000 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI4* Welcome Stake.
A field of 50 horses took on the grand prix qualifier class at the Desert International Horse Park’s Desert Circuit 10, presented by KASK and Vogel. From there, the Peter Grant-designed course narrowed that field down to 17 for a lightning-fast jump-off.
When Campbell and Bull Run’s Hesed returned in the middle of the pack to jump-off, the time to beat had been set at 40.59 seconds by frequent winners Jos Verlooy and FTS Killossery Konfusion (Livello x Cruising). Campbell, however, saw an opportunity to squeeze ahead of the Belgian rider.
Second place went to Jos Verlooy and FTS Killossery Konfusion. Photo © High Desert Sport Photo.
“Jos is extremely fast on his horse,” said Campbell. “He’s had super results all season. The only thing I saw that he didn’t do was there was an island on the way from [fence] one to two, and he went around the island. I just slipped right inside of the island. So, I think that’s where I just shaved that tiny bit off.”
With that slick maneuver, Campbell and Bull Run’s Hesed crossed the finish in 39.70 seconds to ultimately take home the win. Verlooy and FTS Killossery Konfusion, owned by Euro Horse BVBA, held on to second place, and the USA’s Shawn Casady and Cool Quarz (Quarz Ask x Cassini I), owned by Morning Star Sporthorses LLC, finished in third place with a time of 40.92 seconds.
Campbell’s winning mount, Bull Run’s Hesed, was previously competed by fellow U.S. rider Kristen Vanderveen before Mirasol Equestrian LLC purchased the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding in late 2024.
Karrie Rufer (left) of Morning Star Sporthorses and Bradley Bowns (right) of DIHP presented Kaitlin Campbell as the winner of the $63,000 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI4* Welcome Stake. Photo © High Desert Sport Photo.
“I started out just kind of in national classes at the end of last year getting to know him,” explained Campbell. “I started the 1.45m beginning of this year and keep stepping him up. He’s jumped this level before with Kristen, but Kristen and I are kind of very different riders. So, we just wanted to give him a chance to get to know me, but he does have experience at this level.
“He's very fast obviously, and he’s very sensitive to what you’re doing on top of him,” continued Campbell. “That’s why I just wanted to take it a little bit slower: so that he could kind of get to know my cues, and I could get to know him a little bit better. Now, it’s finally coming together.”
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