It was a million-dollar question for Ashlee Bond.
After a subpar performance at the Paris Olympics, the Israeli rider’s second games with Donatello 141, Bond considered retiring the 13-year-old Westphalian gelding.
Bond and “Donnie” helped Israel advance to the Team Final with their four fault performance in Thursday’s Team Qualifier, but followed with a 20-fault performance in Friday’s Final. It was an uncharacteristic result for a pair who boast a 77% four faults or better average at 1.60m (Jumpr Stats).
At the time, Bond wrote, “Personally Don & I didn’t have the best round today but that’s show jumping and God works all things to the good and I’m grateful for all the lessons learned along the way the good and the tough ones which build character and make us stronger.
“Don always gives me his all and he owes me nothing—for this reason I am scratching him from the individual competition as it’s in the best interest of my best friend. I’ll be Cheering on my fellow teammates in 2 days.”
In the weeks following, she considered retiring her partner of more than six years.
“I thought maybe he doesn’t want to do this level anymore,” said Bond. “We ended up pulling the shoes right after the Games and he had a long break.”
When she returned to the saddle, she kept the shoes off—a trend that’s growing more common among elite show jumpers.
“It’s just made him so much happier, and he’s so fresh and sound. His [stride’s] gotten bigger, and I just feel like he’s reinvigorated and has this newfound happiness to go around and do his job.”
On Saturday evening at Desert International Horse Park, Donnie showed just how fresh he’s feeling in the $1 Million MLSJ Individual Final at MLSJ La Quinta.
There, 12 pairs advanced to Olaf Petersen Jr.’s short course, including seven of the world’s top 50. Eighth to return and chasing the time to beat set by the USA’s Aaron Vale, Bond set off at a blistering pace and never let up.
“I watched everyone go and they were so fast, I thought second or third would be good,” admitted an emotional Bond, who grew up riding in California but is now based in Florida. “Donnie’s stride is so big; I was able to keep flying through the places where others had to slow down.”
A third of the way through the class, Colombia’s Mark Bluman and Ubiluc took over the lead from pathfinder Lucy Davis Kennedy, setting the new benchmark at 40.91 seconds. It was short-lived, however, as Vale and Carissimo 25 made the most of a very short turn back to Fence 2, rising to the head of the class on 40.48 seconds
Next to go on the nine-fence jump-off, Bond and Donatello 141 somehow found a way to shave more than a full second off that time. The pair crossed the timers in 39.33, taking their sixth, 1.60m victory (Jumpr stats) and the biggest of Bond’s career.
“It’s super surreal,” the rider for Israel said immediately following her win. “It hasn’t hit me yet. I feel like big moments like this in your career, it never really sets in. It’s almost too big to kind of feel it. It’s just such a nice end to our year and a reward for my team and my horse. My little Donnie, he’s just such a fighter. He gives me so much every time, and I’m just super grateful.”
Bond continued, “I think this has to be the biggest [win so far] because I won the million here 10 years ago, but it wasn’t an FEI, and it didn’t have this caliber of riders. So, a five-star million? I mean, that’s big! It’s very exciting.”
Discovered in Germany through American Olympian Richard Spooner and horse dealer Marc Wirths, the Bonds bought Donatello as a six-year-old off a video and developed him to the championship level. The pair has jumped to 20 podium finishes at 1.55m and higher, and has a 59% top 10 finish average over 44 rounds at 1.60m.
Impressive stats, to be sure. But ask Bond—who’s been known to sign-off social posts with hashtags such as #GodisGood—and she’ll tell you there’s another big guy working in her favor.
“[Donnie’s] just always been super special. I’m just really grateful,” she said. “You don’t get these horses much in your lifetime, so I’m very blessed to have him.”