Marilyn Little of Frederick, Maryland beat a deep field of international show jumpers to take the $35,000 Live Oak International CSI3* on Saturday. Little and her mount Corona topped an eight-horse jump-off to get the win at the 25th Live Oak International, each of whom qualified by posting clear rounds over the original Leopoldo Palacios designed course. "I put in the best clear round I could and hoped that Adam wouldn't catch me," said Little referring to Adam Prudent, winner of both classes on Friday, who was the only rider remaining after Little turned in her winning ride. Prudent and Si Bella actually beat Little's time of 35.38 seconds, finishing in 34.88, but a rail down gave him four faults and a third-place finish. "Marilyn is a very fast rider and I did feel the pressure a little bit. The rail I had was to my horse's left and I made a bad turn. You can't win them all, and I'm very happy," Prudent said. Emily Short of Pittsburg, Penn., took an early lead in the jump-off aboard Coco II finishing clean in 38.59 seconds. She held on to the lead until Little went in the second-to-last position. Little posted the only other clear round and with a time just fast enough to leave Short in the Reserve position. "I just wanted a clean round. My horse has a huge stride so that helps me especially in a big field like this one," said Short, who recently began competing full-time after graduating from Denison College. Little, double Gold Medalist in eventing at last summer's Pan American Games, also placed fourth with four faults in 36.34 seconds on Clear Water. Her performances thrilled the contingent of U.S. eventing riders on hand to cheer her on. Prudent's performance followed his two wins on Friday in the $35,000 Sovaro 1.50m CSI 3* on Vasco and the $10,000 Waldron Private Wealth 1.40m Power & Speed Stake on Si Bella. Those wins, combined with Saturday's third place finish, gave him the lead in the $10,000 E² Showjumpers Leading Rider Award. Prudent plans to ride Vasco in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday and Little plans to ride Corona.
Marilyn Little of Frederick, Maryland beat a deep field of international show jumpers to take the $35,000 Live Oak International CSI3* on Saturday. Little and her mount Corona topped an eight-horse jump-off to get the win at the 25th Live Oak International, each of whom qualified by posting clear rounds over the original Leopoldo Palacios designed course. "I put in the best clear round I could and hoped that Adam wouldn't catch me," said Little referring to Adam Prudent, winner of both classes on Friday, who was the only rider remaining after Little turned in her winning ride. Prudent and Si Bella actually beat Little's time of 35.38 seconds, finishing in 34.88, but a rail down gave him four faults and a third-place finish. "Marilyn is a very fast rider and I did feel the pressure a little bit. The rail I had was to my horse's left and I made a bad turn. You can't win them all, and I'm very happy," Prudent said. Emily Short of Pittsburg, Penn., took an early lead in the jump-off aboard Coco II finishing clean in 38.59 seconds. She held on to the lead until Little went in the second-to-last position. Little posted the only other clear round and with a time just fast enough to leave Short in the Reserve position. "I just wanted a clean round. My horse has a huge stride so that helps me especially in a big field like this one," said Short, who recently began competing full-time after graduating from Denison College. Little, double Gold Medalist in eventing at last summer's Pan American Games, also placed fourth with four faults in 36.34 seconds on Clear Water. Her performances thrilled the contingent of U.S. eventing riders on hand to cheer her on. Prudent's performance followed his two wins on Friday in the $35,000 Sovaro 1.50m CSI 3* on Vasco and the $10,000 Waldron Private Wealth 1.40m Power & Speed Stake on Si Bella. Those wins, combined with Saturday's third place finish, gave him the lead in the $10,000 E² Showjumpers Leading Rider Award. Prudent plans to ride Vasco in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Qualifier on Sunday and Little plans to ride Corona.