Willie McCarthy and Ibella clear 6'1" to win the PRO Bareback Puissance. All photos by Jenni Autry.
The PRO Bareback Puissance has become a spectator favorite at Plantation Field, and you wouldn’t believe the number of people who crowded around the main arena to watch Tik Maynard, Willie McCarthy and Elizabeth Stewart take on the high-jump wall. While Tik and Elizabeth’s horses jumped well, it became clear that no one was going to catch Willie and Ibella, a stunning mare owned by Tim and Nina Gardner. The mare was absolutely jumping out of her skin, and she and Willie ultimately cleared 6’1″ to win the Puissance and take home $2,000 in prize money.
That sets a new height record in the PRO Bareback Puissance, as Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace cleared 5’10” last year to win. Willie also competed on the winning steeplechase jockey team in the Mechanical Bull Challenge on Friday night, and he took home a chunk of the $1,000 in prize money. I’d say Willie had quite a successful weekend! Many thanks to Samantha Lendl and PRO for putting on the Puissance and submitting this video. Go Plantation Field!
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- Willie McCarthy clinched the PRO Bareback Puissance last year with Ibella. Photo by Jenni Autry.
