Nickname: Contessa Owner: Marilyn Little LLC Groom: Raven Alfieri Gender: Mare Breed: Mecklenberg Disciplines: Jumping Sire: License Dam: Colli Foal Date: 5/2/2015

La Contessa joined Marilyn Little's string in early 2024, marking Little's return to international jumping. The pair began producing results quickly at the 2*/3* levels. In 2025, the duo captured their first podium result at the CSI4* level in Wellington, Fla.

The pair were selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the Caledon CSIO3*, where they jumped a double clear in team competition to help the U.S. secure the win, before going on to win the $90,000 Grand Prix of Caledon CSIO3* the following weekend. 

Now consistently jumping at the top levels, La Contessa and Little produced impressive results in the fall of 2025 including numerous podium finishes at the 5* level. 

In 2026, the pair were named to the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team for the Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4*, their first senior team appearance as a combination. The duo jumped an impressive double clear to help the team secure first place. Little and La Contessa added to their resume with a another podium finish in the week nine WEF Grand Prix CSI5*. The pair were named to the U.S. Jumping Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships. They followed their nomination to the short list with another podium finish, taking second in the $750,000 Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix Monterrey CSI5* before traveling to Europe for their summer campaign.  

Little and La Contessa have been major players for the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team in 2026, having jumped in numerous CSIO4* and CSIO5* Nations Cup competitions including Rome CSIO5* and the Longines Leauge of Nations Rotterdam CSIO5*.