In the Chronicle’s Rolex Kentucky Preview issue, Jim Wofford said that Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision “have all the elements of success, but that success has eluded them so far.”

At the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, Ransehousen finally grabbed that success, placing third aboard Critical Decision. “I never thought I’d make it to a four-star, much less to the top three of one!” she said.

Ransehousen and Critical Decision worked their way up from 12th after dressage. After a clean and fast cross-country round moved them up to fourth, a show jumping round with just one rail put them another notch higher.

Ransehousen, daughter of Olympic dressage rider and trainer Jessica Ransehousen, had a stellar career as a young rider in eventing, culminating with the individual gold medal at the 1988 North American Young Riders Championship. She won the Markham Trophy as the highest-placed young rider at the 1989 Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.) and in 1995 won team silver at the Pan American Games, where she also placed fifth individually on Pacific Lion.

For Ransehousen, 37, her weekend at Rolex Kentucky was the culmination of nine years with Critical Decision, a 12-year-old Oldenburg- Thoroughbred cross by Consul. She bought the lanky bay gelding as a 3-year-old from his breeder.

“He was easy to sit on, and I just loved how he jumped, even over little itty bitty jumps then. He’s got an easy style of jumping,” she said.

Critical Decision and Ransehousen, of Unionville, Pa., made their first appearance at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in 2007 and completed with a run-out on cross-country.

This year, Critical Decision was well placed in advanced divisions at Rocking Horse Winter (Fla.) and Southern Pines II (N.C.) horse trials, but at their last run before Rolex Kentucky, The Fork (N.C.), things didn’t go so well.

“I think it was the worst run of my life,” Ransehousen said. “I felt like I was going to get excused, my dressage test was so bad. Then, I think we ran cross-country over the stadium course. He was a little bit better on cross-country, but we did have a run-out. After that, I just took a step back in my mind, did some basic homework on the flat and over fences for the past two weeks, and came here hoping it all paid off.”

Ransehousen had a much better ride at Kentucky. “I came out of the box a little nervous, but as my ride went on, I felt much more in sync with him, and everything started really flowing.

He has such a wonderful gallop stride. I’m happy that he stayed straight and honest through all the combinations,” she said.

Critical Decision has a long neck and upright head carriage. Ransehousen found a western bit with long shanks and a plain snaffle mouthpiece to use on cross-country. “I wanted a little bit more leverage just to get his head a little lower. But when I got out on cross-country, it worked a little too well! His head got too low,” she said.

Although their top spot might have made them candidates for the Olympic short list, Capt. Mark Phillips said Ransehousen had not applied for Hong Kong. Instead, said Ransehousen sadly, Critical Decision is for sale.