PRE Stallion Tests the Waters

Next to ride was, of course, another Californian – Kristina Harrison-Naness on the 12-year-old PRE stallion Rociero XV (Rociero VIII x Jenson). No doubt a good number of horse owners in the crowd were thinking that this handsome gray has a tail to die for. Once again, the background music was a perfect fit – a Latin theme with tempo transitions that perfectly matched those of the ride. Like the Californians before her, Harrison-Naness seemed to have traveled to Vegas with her fan club in tow. Most certainly, she and Rociero tapped into the hearts of the Iberian lovers.

“He’s a great character and a great personality. This is his fifth Grand Prix,” Harrison-Naness said of Rociero. “I love the Spanish horses. He’s my first Spanish horse and I’ve had him one year.” They finished with a score of 61.625 percent.

Last to go was a foreigner of sorts – East Coast-based rider Michael Barisone. Barisone had been on the West Coast for some weeks after traveling to Southern California to compete in the U.S. League Finals in Burbank. He didn’t make the final World Cup U.S. Team cut, but he did get an invite to ride in Vegas. Barisone and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Neruda (Haarlem x Ladalco) came closest to knocking Rosencrantz and Basquewille out of first place.

Neruda was definitely feeling some tension despite the fact that the horse has competed in an indoor environment before. “He was definitely distracted. And I had some mistakes,” Barisone said. “And when you make three or four mistakes you lose points.” Still, Barisone managed to settle him and put in a good ride, despite the tension, missed tempis and other errors. The pair finished with a score of 63.042 percent, which landed them in second place.

Grand Prix - Iinvitational