January 28, 2022 
Jenny Karazissis and Big Shot are no strangers to the winner’s circle.
The 2021 US Equestrian National Horse of the Year has been a blue ribbon printing machine since his debut in the low hunter division at age five with Karazississ in the irons. In the seven years since, they’ve won nearly every major derby title. Last year alone, the 2011 Holsteiner known as “Dude” took home wins in the $100,000 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) West Coast Spectacular and four USHJA International Hunter Derby qualifiers, not to mention champion or reserve champion titles in six out of the seven performance and high-performance hunter competitions.
The gelding has the bank account to back it up too. Big Shot is currently listed in the top 50 for the USHJA International Hunter Derby–Horse Money Won lifetime standings.
But just because this pair wins—and often—doesn’t make it any less nerve wracking to compete, said Karassiss.
“It’s a lot of pressure because he’s so good. I mean, he’s going to do what I ask him to do,” she said.
“And so I go out there going, Oh gosh, just don’t blow it.”
In a surprise to exactly no one, they didn’t.
Twenty-two combinations contested Ken Krome’s Hunt & Go course in the $15,000 Butet USHJA International Hunter Derby at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA on Friday. Ninth in the ring, Karassiss and Big Shot executed all the high options and handiness in spades with a sharp approach to the trot jump, an inside roll back to the bounce, explosive jumps and a hand gallop to the last to earn a 182 from the Panel One judges and a 173 from Panel Two. Their total score of 355 was good enough for the win.
Hear Karassiss’s take on the round:
Look for this pair in the week’s to come. DIHP will host two $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies and the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular during the 2022 Desert Circuit. Karassiss and Big Shot are looking to defend their 2021 title.
“He won [the Spectacular] last year, so we’re hoping [to do it again]. He’s just a blast and I’m so fortunate to ride him. It’s just been a really fun journey.”
