Her Best Schott

“I told myself that I was just going to try to go and not touch the reins and see what happens,” said Callie Schott of her strategy aboard Garant in Saturday night’s 5* Grand Prix at MLSJ Palm Springs, CA.

“This was definitely the fastest I’ve ever gone! Normally, I give him a few checks here and there. [This time], I said, ‘You know what? I have nothing to lose. Let’s just go for it!’”

Schott’s best proved to be more than enough at Desert International Horse Park.

Her 38.08 second time with the 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding (Warrant x Verdi Tn) was over a second fastest, bumping fellow American Aaron Vale to second on Carissimo 25 in 39.48.

Garant is the former mount of Schott’s coach and four-time U.S. Olympian Beezie Madden and the same horse that took Schott to her first five-star win in 2022 at MLSJ Traverse City.

“He’s a lovely animal,” said Schott of Garant. “He is a great character. He typically has a little devilish look in his eye, and he’s got that fight. He tries to jump clear for me all the time, and he gives it 120, 150, 200 percent.”

The MLSJ season now hits pause until April 25–28 for Leg 8 at Kentucky, Lexington and wraps the following week in Monterrey, MX.