“In January, a 1.50m seemed like a dream,” admitted Little of the plan for Narado, a talented but still young Dutch Warmblood gelding (Grandorado TN N.O.P. x Purioso) owned by the Morcombe Lempera Family’s Ten Carrot, LLC. “Today was a big step up, and to see him be that quick over a big track from a difficult designer like Alan Wade is fantastic and proves how smart the horse is.”

Over Wade’s (IRL) one-round speed test, Little and Narado were fastest by half a second to best Charlotte Jacobs on an all-American podium. Narado crossed the timers in 67.98 seconds, and settled Jacobs in second riding Rincoola Milsean, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Aldatus Z x Cruising) owned by North Star, in a time of 68.62. Jonathan McCrea rounded out the top three in 70.88 seconds aboard Jannan S, a 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding (Kannan x Numero Uno) owned by Windsor Show Stables. 

In the gelding’s first five-star outing, Narado added a second podium finish in as many days after finishing third in Wednesday’s opening CSI5* 1.45m. The pair is also coming off a win in the Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix during WEF 7. 

“I’ve had him since June, so I know him very well, and he had a great start from a lot of good riders, but this week was still a big ask,” said Little of Narado, piloted as a young horse by Dutch rider Sanne Thisjssen, Giavanna Rinaldi (USA) and then Germany’s Jana Wargers before joining Little’s string. “He will head straight to the paddock now for a rest, and I’d love to be able to use him as a second horse later in the summer.

 “He came into himself at the beginning of the circuit and grew up in January—every time he goes in the ring, he tries his heart out,” continued Little. “He doesn’t know what he can’t jump, and he jumps it all incredibly.”

With the support of the Morcombe Lempera Family, Little will one day turn over the reins to 17-year-old Victoria Morcombe Lempera. “They have been fantastic supporters of mine, and this was always meant to be Victoria’s horse,” said Little of the long-term plan for Narado.

 Coming off a team win as a member of the U.S squad in WEF 8’s FEI Nations Cup a week earlier, Little is basking in the success of a season that seems to be going her way. “This season is like a dream for me,” she concluded. 

 For full results from the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Speed, click HERE.