Sacramento International lit up on Saturday night for the $40,000 FEI Welcome Grand Prix sponsored by Lasher's Elk Grove Dodge Ram. A total of 33 FEI horse and rider pairs entered the grand prix ring to tackle the 1.45m course designed by Werner Deeg of Germany. 

Many horses jumped spectacularly, and 13 were able to go clear over the 16-effort first round course which included one double and one triple combination. But the jump off course proved more challenging: as the riders went for speed, the majority had a rail or two down. Only three pairs were double clear, and the fastest of those was amateur Karrie Rufer and her mount Georgie D'Auvray EC, who were first in the order of go in both the first round and jump off round.

"Tonight since I was first in the ring I had to make a plan and stick to it, and luckily it worked out," said Rufer. "George was quite forgiving to me, I was a bit deep in a couple places and he just made it up for me." Georgie D'Auvray EC is a 12-year-old bay Belgian warmblood gelding. 

"We call him the flying hippo because he's built a bit big, but what he lacks in confirmation he makes up for in a lot of heart and a lot of effort," explained Rufer. "He just pricks his ears and heads towards the jump. He's such a blast; I always love riding him."

Also turning in double clear rounds were Taylor Siebel who rode Mountain Home Stables' Evidence to 2nd place, and Mariano Maggi who rode Uma O'Neill's Quintago VA to a 3rd place finish.