Palm Springs Recap: A Desert Finale That Reshaped Season 5

Palm Springs delivered impactful results as Season 5 reached its turning point

Published

07 APR 2026

Est. reading time

4 min

By the time The League entered its second week in the desert, the pressure had fully settled in.

What followed was a weekend where execution defined outcomes, and where Season 5 took on its clearest form yet.

Leg 7 of Major League Show Jumping returned to the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, closing out the 2025 calendar with a critical stretch of competition. At this stage, every round carried weight, and every result contributed directly to the final shape of the championship race.

Leg 7 | Desert International Horse Park, California

Major League Show Jumping remained in Thermal, California, for the seventh leg of Season 5 at the Desert International Horse Park.

As the second consecutive week in the desert, Palm Springs built on the competitive foundation of Coachella Cup while introducing a sharper sense of urgency, where consistency and precision became influential factors across all three days.

Thursday: Bluman Opens with a Statement Win

The week began with a performance that immediately set the tone. Mark Bluman secured victory in the $182,000 5* Qualifier, presented by Great American Insurance Group, riding Landon de Nyze in 40.75 seconds.

In what marked an early chapter of a new partnership, Bluman delivered a composed and efficient jump-off, finishing more than a second clear of the field. The result reinforced Maccabi United’s consistent presence at the top of the standings while signalling strength heading into the crucial rounds of the week.

Callie Schott finished second, while Laura Kraut followed in third, maintaining her momentum from the previous leg.

Mark Bluman aboard Landon de Nyze.

Friday: Roadrunners Deliver on Home Ground

If Thursday set the tone, Friday shifted the balance. The $262,500 5* Team Competition, presented by ClipMyHorse.tv, brought the championship battle into a critical phase.

The Roadrunners, represented by Kaitlin Campbell, Erynn Ballard, and Mclain Ward, delivered a composed and decisive performance under pressure. Double clear rounds from Ward and Campbell, combined with Ballard’s fastest jump-off time, secured the team’s first victory of Season 5.

In the gold medal round, Campbell’s final ride proved significant, edging Daniel Bluman out by less than a second to clinch the win in front of a home crowd. The result moved the Roadrunners into third place in the overall standings, tightening the margins heading into the final stages of the season.

Maccabi United finished with silver, maintaining their lead in the standings, while the Trelawny Trailblazers completed the podium with bronze.

Kaitlin Campbell aboard Cosm Castlefield Cornelious.

Saturday: Schott Seals the Grand Prix Under the Lights

By Saturday night, the pressure had fully translated into performance. Callie Schott claimed victory in the $340,000 5* Grand Prix, presented by Go Rentals, riding Garant with a winning time of 38.08 seconds.

From a competitive jump-off, Schott delivered a precise and efficient round to secure her second MLSJ Grand Prix victory. Aaron Vale followed in second place, completing a strong result for the Archers, while Jessica Springsteen secured third with a composed double clear aboard Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve.

The result capped a consistent week for Schott, who had already featured prominently in earlier rounds, and reinforced the Archers’ position as one of the most reliable teams across consecutive legs.

Callie Schott aboard Garant.

Looking Back at Leg 7

In hindsight, Palm Springs marked a defining close to the 2025 phase of Season 5. The Roadrunners secured a breakthrough team victory on home soil, Maccabi United maintained control at the top of the standings, and Callie Schott’s Grand Prix win reshaped the individual leaderboard.

At the same time, consistent performances from riders across multiple teams reinforced just how competitive the field had become heading into the final legs.

Palm Springs also stood as the final event before the championship resumes in 2026.

After the winter break, Season 5 now moves toward its next chapter: Kentucky in April, where the race for the title enters its most definitive phase. With that, attention turns forward again.

The anticipation is already building ahead of the return to competition, and the experience extends beyond the arena.

Fans can now take part in the current MLSJ giveaway, offering the chance to win tickets and a full VIP experience at the Kentucky International CSI5*. From hospitality access to premium viewing, it marks a rare opportunity to be part of the season’s defining moments in person.

Enter Now!

Enter to win a VIP Experience in Kentucky

Enter Now

Seven legs are complete. Only two remain.