North Salem, United States – May 11, 2025 – In the morning, 24 entries representing nine countries kicked off the competition on super Sunday with the running of the $40,000 Jump-off Challenge – 1.45m, presented by Old Salem Farm. Alan Wade (IRL) presented a winding 16-effort track. After 12 horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off, only seven posted double-clear scores, and eight-time Olympic veteran Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) came out on top. He blazed to victory in 35.13 seconds aboard Ester de Maugre.
“The jump-off started by having riders make little mistakes here and there, but I had a good plan for my mare,” Pessoa said. “I know she’s very fast and very competitive, so I just tried to stick to my plan when I went in and do what I thought was going to be enough. It all worked out.
Darragh Kenny (IRL) was another rider who answered all the questions correctly, tripping the timers in 35.44 seconds for second place aboard Diaroubet, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Oakland Training & Sales.
Alessandra Volpi (USA) and Gracieux du Pachis, Cedar Fox LLC’s 13-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding, finished third for their faultless time of 36.67 seconds.
“My mare is very, very nice,” Rodrigo added of Artemis Equestrian Farm’s 11-year-old Selle Français mare. “We haven’t had her for very long. We started with her at the beginning of this year, but she’s been very competitive. She has only one speed – go. It makes the courses really fun, and she’s very smart. She knows where she’s going often enough that I just have to stay out of her way and take her through the finish.”
The liverpool oxer coming into the final line proved to be the greatest challenge in the morning jump-off. “Turning into that oxer after the double [combination], it was actually quite big,” Pessoa said. “It might’ve been a bit more than 1.45m, especially with the liverpool. If a horse didn’t really finish the turn, it ended up being an obstacle that caused a lot of trouble.”
Final Results – $40,000 Jump-off Challenge – 1.45m, presented by Old Salem Farm
1) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Ester de Maugre – 0 / 0 – 35.13
2) Darragh Kenny (IRL) & Diaroubet – 0 / 0 – 35.44
3) Alessandra Volpi (USA) & Gracieux du Pachis – 0 / 0 – 36.67
Source: Press Release from Old Salem Farm Horse Shows
Photos: © OSF / SEL Photography
