October 28, 2018 
As if there was ever any doubt.
Elizabeth Madden (USA) and Breitling LS served a hot a plate of “It’s Beezie, b*tch” in the Longines FEI jumping World Cup™ Washington at Washington International Horse Show on Saturday night.
The reigning World Cup champions didn’t just win the third leg of the North American east coast sub-league, they owned it with a two plus second lead over runner ups, Katie Dinan (USA) and Dougie Douglas.
Of the 24-horse field, four qualified for the jump off in the Olaf Petersen, Jr. designed course. Second to return, Dinan and Dougie, show jumping’s gift to alliteration, set the time to beat at 32.93 seconds only to have it blown out of the water by Madden and Breitling one round later. The tight turning pair stopped the clock at 30.74 seconds.
“I thought one to two was a little bit of a tough turn to a big jump, so I didn’t think that was really the place to win it,” said Madden of their jump off performance. “I feel like I was a touch slow there, but then I knew my horse has some speed, and he’s quite good at turning, so I think I made it up at the turns on both ends, particularly the last turn.”
By “touch slow” she means they did one stride less to the oxer. Watch:
Last to go, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam came the closest to catching Madden’s time (30.90 seconds), but incurred four faults aboard Don’t Touch du Bois, a horse whose name (ironically?) translates to Don’t Touch Wood. Lucy Davis (USA), rounded out an all-female podium in 33.44 seconds riding Caracho 14.
Said Madden of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion she captured the World Cup title with in Paris last April, “This was his first indoor event of the [season], so it’s nice to see that he’s in form. It shows why he was good at the World Cup [Final]; he walked right in here and was clever, rideable, adjustable, careful, and he can handle tight spaces like this.”
Perhaps it had something to do with the help? Madden, it’s worth noting, played double duty this week, as both groom and rider. #Superwoman
As defending champion, the 55-year-old rider is prequalified for the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Göteborg. She’s spoiled for choice when it comes to which mount she’ll take to Sweden.
“Last year I didn’t really know which horse I was taking until probably the middle of the Wellington season when [Breitling] showed that he was on great form, so I’ll probably plan on the same thing,” said the four-time Olympian. “I’m trying to make them all eligible. I already have done a class with Darry Lou and with Breitling, and I’m going to take my new horse Chic Hin d’Hyrencourt to Lexington so that hopefully he completes in that grand prix, and then I just have Coach left. We will see which one’s on the best form!”
