Thermal, California, USA – January 26, 2025 – Six months ago, Keri Potter (USA) received a call from U.S. Olympian Karl Cook asking if she would be interested in taking on a bit of project horse. On Sunday, January 26, Potter rode that horse, Kalimera van de Nethe Z to victory in the $40,000 FarmVet Open Classic – 1.45m at Desert Circuit 3, presented by American Wild Horse Conservation.

“This horse is pretty special,” said Potter of the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Cook. “[Karl] had her for a little while, and they weren’t really a good match, I guess…It was definitely a project from day one, even learning how to canter. She didn’t really want to canter. Then it was going through the steps of, ‘Okay, she only wants to trot jumps.’ So, we kind of just did this step-by-step thing, and here we are six months later in the desert!”

Potter continued, “These past two weeks, she’s made a big step with me and has gone to the ring and given me her all. It’s all about trust and really learning to understand what she wants. I have to make sure I give her that, which is a lot different than any other horse I’ve ever ridden.” 

When the pair returned to the ring as the ninth of 12 entries to jump off, the time to beat had been set at 36.621 seconds by young rider Zoe Brown (AUS) and Bling VD Duvelshoeve Z.

With Kalimera van de Nethe Z’s speed on her side, Potter blazed across the finish in 35.752 seconds to take the win. Brown and Bling VD Duvelshoeve Z, owned by Rooster Run Foundation, held on to second place, and Mark Kinsella (IRL) and Bogano took third with a time of 38.558 seconds.

“I saw Zoe go, and she was fast,” said Potter. “I knew I could leave a couple strides out where she added a few. The mare just covers the ground so well, and speed is her best friend, so kind of the faster I go the more likely she is to jump.”

What Kalimera van de Nethe Z seemed to want on Sunday was to win, and with Potter’s guidance, the mare did just that.

Final Results – $40,000 FarmVet Open Classic – 1.45m

1) Keri Potter (USA) & Kalimera van de Nethe Z– 0 / 0 – 35.752

2) Zoe Brown (AUS) & Bling VD Duvelshoeve Z – 0 / 0 – 36.621

3) Mark Kinsella (IRL) & Bogano – 0 / 0 – 38.558

Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park

Photos: © DIHP / High Desert Photo / MG Photography

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