Bronze for Calcite EB Z in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Thermal

Besides the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series at the World Equestrian Centre of Ocala and the Winter Equestrian Festival of Wellington International, a third international show was on the programme on US soil last week. The place to be was the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, where several Z-horses also managed to attract attention.

With an ^8th place in the 1.50m class on Thursday and on top of that a podium place in the CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, the most eye-catching name was that of the 12-year-old grey mare Calciet EB Z, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky and Berlin bred by LVP Stables. Calciet EB Z appeared at the CSI4* Grand Prix under the saddle of American rider Chandler Meadows and after a clear basic round, the duo was among the group of seven combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. In it, they managed to repeat their flawless performance from the basic round and with a finishing time of 44.85 seconds, they secured ^3rd place.

Another notable combination in Thermal was Dutch rider Mathijs van Asten with the 13-year-old chestnut mare Noberlina Vd Laarseheide Z, a daughter of Nabab de Rêve and Chin Chin born at Stoeterij de Laarseheide. During both the 1.45m class high Longines Ranking Test on Friday and the 1.45m high final class on Sunday, van Asten and Noberlina Vd Laarseheide Z could not be caught out on a fault and this earned them a ^3rd place in the ranking twice.

There were also two placings for Austrian rider Peter Petschenig with the 9-year-old stallion Hocus Pocus 111 Z, an offspring of Hermantico and Heartbreaker out of the breeding of C.A.M. van de Oetelaar and Stud 111. Petschenig and Hocus Pocus 111 Z started their show on Wednesday with a ^7th place in the 1.40m opening class and took the prizes again on Saturday when they managed a ^6th place in the 1.45m Longines Ranking Test.

Finally, in the CSI2* competition classes, American rider Matt Archer managed to jump into the limelight twice more with the 11-year-old stallion Zibaloubet Z, a son of VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P. and Baloubet du Rouet who was bred in Germany by Karin Lippold. Archer and Zibaloubet Z competed twice in Thermal in a 1.45m class, winning ^5th and ^6th place.