Marcus Orlob Chasing Olympic Dream on Tarjan's Jane at 2024 CDI Myakka City

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2024 CDI Myakka City

Marcus Orlob (USA) and Alice Tarjan's rising Grand Prix horse Jane finished first in the 3* Grand Prix Special on the concluding day of competition at the 2024 CDI Myakka City on Sunday 7 April 2024. They scored 71.894% for the win.

On Friday, the pair came in second in the 3* Grand Prix with a score of 70.043%, just .001% behind Jennifer Williams and Joppe K (by Rousseau x Santano), owned by Joppe Partners. The leaderboard was flipped on Sunday, with Williams finishing second to Orlob.

Jane's owner, Alice Tarjan, competed the KWPN mare through developing Grand Prix level and won silver at the 2022 U.S. Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships at Lamplight. After winning the Intermediaire A at the 2024 CDI Wellington in January, Tarjan passed the reins to her coach, Marcus Orlob, as she has taken a step back from riding at international Grand Prix level. The new combination made their grand prix debut last weekend in Wellington, and made significant improvements to their scores whilst at TerraNova.

"For today's ride, I took the pressure out, and I was happy with her," Orlob said. "She was more focused and relaxed in the ring than in the Grand Prix. Eight weeks ago, Alice decided to give the horse to me because she was a little bit too strong for her. She said 'look, try your luck and see what you can do in the ring,' and here we are.

"It's all very new to me and her," Orlob said, admitting he is still learning Jane's "buttons," since Tarjan developed the mare from the age of 3. Orlob describes Jane as light, sensitive, and honest.

Alice Tarjan on Jane at the 2022 US Developing
Grand Prix Horse Championships

"Our goal or dream is to maybe make it to the top eight and go to Europe," Orlob said. Next week, the combination will head to Ocala as they chase that dream. With his first visit to TerraNova now in the books, Orlob hopes to return in the future.

Jane is a Dutch warmblood mare by Desperado x Metall.

TerraNova Equestrian Center will host a second CDI3* on May 2-5. The competition falls on the final weekend of the U.S. qualifying period for Paris.