November 6, 2022 
The order of go for Sunday’s $30,000 Brown Advisory Open Classic Series 1.40m at the Desert International Horse Park included Olympians, FEI World Championship competitors – and one 13-year-old that would top them all.
That 13-year-old, Michelle Berry, was the 40th of 58 entries to take on the Alan Wade-designed course in the immediate jump-off format class, and she and Mecho van’t Kiezelhof produced a double clear effort in an uncatchable time of 28.702 seconds.
“It felt incredible [to win]!” said Berry. “I had no expectations today, as I was in an open classic against amazing riders. I was definitely worried about Luis Sabino, Eric Navet, Cassio [Rivetti], and Elisa [Broz]. They’re really good riders. I was just hoping for the best.”
From a field of 58 entries, Berry had good reason to worry about those competitors in particular, as they would give her a run for her money and ultimately fill the remaining spots in the top five.
In another strong showing for the young riders in the class, 18-year-old Broz finished in second place with a time of 29.025 seconds aboard her own Tinkerbell. French Olympian Eric Navet rounded out the top three with Cadillac Jack, who stopped the clock in 30.063 seconds, and Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti took fourth place with a time of 30.079 seconds aboard Cristal de Menardiere.
“[Mecho van’t Kiezelhof] tries his heart out every single time he goes in the ring,” said Berry of the 10-year-old grey Belgian Warmblood gelding, owned by Professional Maintenance Systems. “His ride is so fun. He’s so fast, and he just always helps you with the distance. Any distance I’m unsure of he really helps me cover it up and helps me jump the fence perfectly, so if you’re deep he backs himself up and helps us clear it. He’s really awesome.”
With an impressive 1.40m win now under her belt, Berry already has her sights set on the future.
“I would definitely love to do a grand prix before December,” said Berry, who trains with Everardo Hegewisch in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. “I want to move to the 1.50m-1.60m and all of that by when I am 18, and I would definitely love to go to the Olympics when I’m 20. That’s a big goal of mine. I would love to do that; I definitely push myself for that.”
For full results of Sunday’s $30,000 Brown Advisory Open Classic Series, 1.45m, click here.
