What is the LA Masters Pro Am Charity Class?

If you follow equestrian social media closely, today you might have seen a wacky picture of Brazilian rider Rodrigo Pessoa in a blue wig and skirt, dressed as Katy Perry flying over grand prix fences. Rodrigo was just one of the fabulously attired riders who jumped for a good cause last night at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the LA Masters Pro Am Charity Class.

So what exactly was the LA Masters Pro Am Charity Class? Think costume class combined with Grand Prix jumping. During the Saturday program, eleven teams of riders, one professional one amateur, paraded into the arena at the same time to a theme song that went along with their costumes. Last night Cruella Deville on horseback (aka Julie Hancock) led Dalmatian puppy (aka Karl Cook) on a leash through the arena to the delight of the audience. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” boomed in the background.

You had to be there. Yes, Karl was bare-chested.

Surfers and flower children, race car drivers, and Las Vegas showgirls on horseback spiced up the evening. There was even a Grease ensemble that did a little pre-jumping dancing.

Hang ten! On an oxer?

Will Simpson and Hannah von Heidegger swapped surfboards for horses and finished second for Compton Junior Posse.

The first rider began the course and jumped half of it, then the second rider finished the course. It was like a relay with a baton, minus the baton. The goal was speed, yet they also were judged on style.

Last night the celebrity style judges were fashion designer and socialite Ariana Rockefeller, Sebastian Roche (known for his roles on General Hospital and The Originals), and Jeannie Mai, the snarky co-host of The Real.

Sebastian was on Style Jury. The emcee kept comparing him to Simon Cowell.

In this class, the riders were allowed to bribe the Style Jury who evaluated the teams’ costumes after they’d navigated the course, chiming in with comments and a scorecard held up a la Dancing with the Stars. Some rider teams bribed with alcohol, others candy, while Jessica Springsteen and Hillary McNerney dressed as hippies, tossed flowers onto the the judges’ podium.

Each team rode on behalf of a charity. During last night’s competition the charities ranged from Thrive Animal Rescue, to Autism Speaks, to the Andre Agassi Foundation. The winning team of Laura Kraut and Hannah Selleck, dressed as characters from Batman, rode for Just World International and galloped in with a score of 68.82 seconds.

Steffi and Andre. A whole lotta tennis talent in one couple!

Everyone was a winner at the LA Masters Pro Am Charity Class! Charities, riders, horses, and the fans who attended and shared in the madness.

Hannah and Laura captured the winning time, but all teams received $35,000 for their charity.

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