December 4, 2021 
With the final two stages of the Major League Show Jumping season among us, the team championship race has rounded the home stretch at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA.
Eye Candy holds on to its dominant lead, but with home team Roadrunners and the Crusaders neck in neck for second and Lucky Charms trailing by just two points, this race isn’t over.
Here’s where the teams stand and the riders they’ll be fielding in phase IX of League.
Eye Candy lead with 54 points
Eye Candy continues to lead the team standings and by a considerable margin. With this week’s lineup—Amy Millar and Christiano, Paul O’Shea and Hellcat, and Conor Swail and Theo 160—they’re not looking to give an inch. All three riders have contributed to top two podium finishes for the Team this season and O’Shea leads the individual standings by a massive 24 points. The wild card: Theo 160. Swail’s mount will be making his MLSJ team debut today. But given their recent record—seven FEI victories this year along—it’s hardly a risk.
Roadrunners and Crusaders need a win
Currently tied for second on the team rankings with Crusaders, the Roadrunners are breaking out the big guns in the desert. Four-time Olympic medalist McLain Ward will anchor the team with his Rio Games mount, HH Azur. He’s joined by 2018 World Equestrian Games team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht with Lafayette Van Overis and MLSJ #2 ranked rider Kyle King aboard Etalon. As the DIHP home team, they’ll have the home field advantage, but need a win, and for Eye Candy to be off the podium, to have a shot at the title.
Same for the Crusaders. The team took home the win in San Miguel de Allende, but had a disastrous turn in Monterrey that saw the team eliminated. They’ll be looking for redemption this week and have tapped MLSJ Rookie Alessandra Volpi, speed demon Samuel Parot and substitute rider Nicky Galligan and Javas Miss Jordan to do it. Galligan is a strategic choice. The pair won the $250,000 Grand Prix CSI 4* in March this year at the Desert Horse Park.
The Charms are hoping for a change in luck
Fourth ranked team, Lucky Charms, pulled an unlucky early draw this week. They’ll go second in Thermal. With Andrew Bourns (Darquito), Margie Engle (Dicas) and Jordan Coyle (Picador) in the irons, they have speed and experience on their side and they’ll need it. The Charms had a stellar record at the start of the season, making the top four in every event but one in the first half of the season, but have been struggling to make the podium in the second half. Can they regain ground in California?
The bottom four
A.I.M United (36 points) has tapped Olympians Ashlee Bond and Eugenio Garza to ride in Thermal. Bond’s performance with Lazy went off the rails in Monterrey and the pair were forced to retire in the second round. She’ll ride home grown Contefina LVF this week, the same horse who’s speedy second round helped capture the win for A.I.M United at Angelstone II. Garza is partnered with Contago this week, after contesting San Miguel de Allende with Armani SI Z and Monterrey with Victer Finn Dh Z. Subbing in this week to complete the triumvirate is hometown hero Karl Cook aboard Fecybelle.
Diamond Devils has one of the strongest teams on paper, but sitting on just 34 points they have much ground to make up and little runway to do it. This week they’ll ride rookie Natalie Dean (Kamilla D), team staple Erynn Ballard (Jack Van’T Kattenheye) and Nayel Nassar, who’s making his MLSJ debut for the team with Coronado.
Otomi Warriors (32 points) have had an up and down season with moments of brilliance—a podium finish in Toronto—and moments in the dirt. Literally. This week, they’ll be represented by Cassio Rivetti (Kayack), Keri Potter (Ariell La Sirene) and John Perez Bohm (Voodoo 10).
Ranked last in the standings, Blazing 7s have been closing the gap, fighting their way to 30 points. They’ll field their deepest team yet at Thermal with Rowan Willis and Wellington Grey Goose, Cara Raether Carey and her veteran partner Cedric, and Lauren Hough and Canamera 2. All three riders have championship experience. And they’ve finally broken the bad draw luck. Blazing 7s have three-times had to go first this season. This week they go sixth.
Tune in for the MLSJ Team Competition at 4:00pm ET (1:00 pm PT) live from the Desert International Horse Park on MajorLeagueShowJumping.com.
