Back-to-Back! Déjà Vu Win by Karrie Rufer & Mr. Europe in the $24,999 Marshall+Sterling Open

By Jumper News USA on February 18, 2026

Thermal, California – Feb 13, 2026 – Karrie Rufer (USA) and Mr. Europe were back in the winner’s circle at Desert International Horse Park for the second time in three days on Friday, February 13. After already winning the $10,000 Platinum Performance 1.35m Welcome Speed earlier in the week, Rufer and Mr. Europe returned to the Grand Prix Stadium to take the top honor in the $24,999 Marshall+Sterling Open Classic – 1.40m at Desert Circuit 6.

Rufer and her longtime partner were the 45th of 47 to contest Friday’s course designed by Colm Quinn (IRL), and – much as they did just two days prior – the pair made winning look easy. Following their immediate jump-off ride, Rufer and Mr. Europe shaved nearly a second and a half off the previously leading time to take the win in 35.24 seconds.

“You don’t realize you’re going that fast on that horse!” said Rufer. “Even if you watch the video, it does not look that fast. He just eats up the ground. He covers the ground really efficiently, and he doesn’t spend a lot of time in the air over the jumps. He’s actually quite big, and you just don’t expect from a horse like him that he’d be as fast as he is…You’re covering the ground quickly on this huge stride, and then he’s not jumping super high over the jumps. It ends up shaving off fractions of seconds here and there that just add up over nine jumps, and, somehow, you’re just that much quicker!”

Finishing in second place on 36.657 seconds were Zazou Hoffman (USA) and Diamantina Z, owned by Meadowgrove Farm. Emily Esau Williams (USA) piloted Cocette du Plevau Z, owned by McKee Sport Horses, to a time of 37.476 seconds for third place.

For Rufer, 2026 marks her first season fully back in competition mode following the birth of her daughter roughly a year and a half ago – and she seemingly has not missed a beat.

“Coming back, it took a long time to get really fit again,” said Rufer. “Now, I feel super fit and ready, and the horses feel amazing.

“After the baby, [Mr. Europe] was the first horse I did,” continued Rufer in speaking of the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that has been owned by her Morning Star Sporthorses LLC since 2019. “He was the first horse I showed because I just knew he would take care of me, and I knew he understood me. Luckily, I’ve had very long relationships with two of mine. I’ve had [both Mr. Europe and Stern dei Folletti] for over eight years. Getting back on them was like putting on a comfortable coat. There are just warm and fuzzy feelings all day long when I ride them!”

With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more and to view a complete schedule of events, visit deserthorsepark.com.