Jessica Springsteen Tops Costumed Gambler's Choice in Washington

By Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jessica Springsteen riding Lisona dressed as airplane pilot © Shawn McMillen Photography 
 

Washington, D.C. - The $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class, sponsored by Equestrian Sport Productions, was held on Thursday evening during the Washington International Horse Show's always popular Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery. Local young riders and horse enthusiasts attended in groups and had the chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening that included the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship races presented by Charles Owen.

Dressed as an airplane pilot, Jessica Springsteen added another international win to her tally for the week after also topping Wednesday night’s Welcome Stake. Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Lisona jumped to a score of 850 points and cleared the joker for an additional 200-point bonus for the winning 1050 total. Springsteen was presented with the Crown Royal Trophy, donated by Crown Royal, as the winning rider, and Lisona won The Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy, donated by the Washington International Horse Show, as the winning horse.

McLain Ward (USA) and Zander, owned by Ward and Grant Road Partners, finished second on a score of 1020 dressed in steeplechase attire. Beezie Madden (USA) rode Coral Reed Via Volo dressed as a Green Bay Packers fan to a 1010-point total to secure third place honors.

Springsteen credits her trainer, Laura Kraut, for coming up with the right course to accrue the winning total and was very happy with Lisona, her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality x Porsch), for a great night.

“Laura came up with a course that worked really well,” Springsteen acknowledged. “It is nice when the fences stay up, and you can stay to your plan. She jumped really well tonight, and I was lucky that everything went according to plan.”

“My horses have all been going amazing,” the rider added. “I jumped her this morning and she is kind of better as she goes on, and today she really felt great. Usually I don’t do her in speed classes, so she handled this really well. I was really happy with her.”

Springsteen plans on jumping Lisona in Friday night’s Puissance presented by The Boeing Company, noting, “She has so much scope, so I really do feel like she would jump anything.”

An added bonus to Springsteen’s Gambler’s Choice win was the thousands of excited young fans from Barn Night cheering riders on.

“It was so much fun. I was really impressed when I came here and I saw the big crowd,” Springsteen smiled. “The pony racing is so much fun to watch and I think that is a really great thing about this horse show, that they have so many fun events. It really does attract a great crowd. It is exciting. It is a great atmosphere, and it makes it fun for the riders and the horses I think."