Callie Schott and Garant Fly To a Win in the MLSJ Palm Springs Grand Prix

U.S. Rider Callie Schott and her partner Garant did not hold back in the jump-off at Desert International Horse Park. She and Garant were rewarded with the victory in the $340,000 1.60m FEI 5* Grand Prix by GoRentals in Thermal, California. "I think that was the fastest I've ever gone in my life," Schott said. "It was really fun."

Schott and her 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding improved upon their 12th-place finish in last week's MLSJ Grand Prix in Thermal, California, when they pulled a rail in the first round. Perhaps their second-place finish Thursday this week in the $182,000 1.55m FEI5* Qualifier was a sign of what was to come.

Americans finish in the top three

Perhaps their finish in Thursday's $!82,000 1.55 m FEI5* Qualifier Three U.S. riders finished in the top three in the Coachella Cup Grand Prix last week, and tonight's Grand Prix, during week two, Leg 7 of Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ), also saw three U.S. riders on the podium, but the names were different. Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25, a 12-year-old Hosteiner gelding, came in second, 1.40 seconds behind Callie Schott and Galant. Jessica Springsteen and the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Don Juan van de Donkhoeve were third.

First-round frustration for Laura Kraut and McLain Ward

Last week, Laura Kraut and Bisquetta won the MLSJ Grand Prix, by being 0.03 seconds faster than McLain Ward and High Star Hero in the jump-off. This time, Kraut had a different mount - Una Mariposa JPS - and though they jumped clear, they had one time fault in the first round, and Kraut could only shake her head after crossing the timers. Kraut and Mariposa won the Individual Speed class on Friday, as the only clear round in a field of 10. McLain Ward rode the same horse as last week in the Grand Prix, but pulled the last rail in the first round.

Top Results:

1 Callie Schott - GARANT - 0/38.08

2 Aaron Vale - CARISSIMO 25 - 0/39.48

3 Jessica Springsteen -DON JUAN VAN DE DONKHOEVE - 0/40.14

4 Daniel Bluman - CORBIE V.V. - 4/37.63

5 Nina Mallevaey - DYNASTIE DE BEAUFOUR - 4/38.84

6 Stella Wasserman - PRECIOUS DWERSE HAGEN - 4/39.25

7 Eduardo Pereira De Menezes - H5 LONDONTIME - 8/38.13

8 Laura Kraut - UNA MARIPOSA JPS - 1/86.16

9 Hilary Scott - OAKS MILKY WAY - 3/88.54

10 Michael Duffy - BE SKY HAWK - 4/83.22

Israel's Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V. also were fourth in last week's Grand Prix, while France's Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour repeated a fifth-place finish. Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V. have finished in the top 10 in every MLSJ Grand Prix in 2025.

In a field of 32 under the lights, seven advanced to the jump-off. In the first round, the triple combination and the Hermès jump caused the most trouble. There were just two double-clear rounds after the first half of the order - Jessica Springsteen and Aaron Vale.

MLSJ returns in 2026 with Leg 8 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Photo courtesy of Major League Show Jumping