Competitions

Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward won the World Cup, Kent Farrington finished fourth

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April 21, 2024

By Staff Writers

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--Sweden's Henrik von Eckkermann on the incomparable King Edward jumped five clean rounds over five very tough courses to beat a field of top international riders and win the !.5 million Euro World Cup Finals for the second consecutive time.

Henrik von Eckerman on King Edward, World Cup Champion (Photo by FEI)
Kent Farrington on Greya finished fourth after starting with a fast,clean round on Toulayna in the first class, and then having just two rails down in the next four rounds to finish on 10 faults behind von Eckermann, 0 faults, Julien Epaillard of France on Dubai du Cedre, 4 faults and Sweden's Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S, 6 faults.

Toulayna and Greya are both only 10 years old and were competing st this championship level for the first time.

Farrington has been very careful in bringing Greya up through the ranks, ensuring the mare has the confidence and fire to be successful at the highest levels of the sport.

"Both the 10-year-olds jumped extremely well," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland. "They are young, but they both came through. It was a good move for Kent to bring Toulayna for the speed class.

"From start to finish, this was the highest level of competition," said Ridland. "Fourth place for Kent was not too shabby."

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Herrik von Eckermann leads going into the World Cup final day with Kent Farrington fourth

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April 19, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward won the second class in the World Cup Finals with Sweden's Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S second, and they lead going into the final day of competition.

fHenrik von Eckermann on King Edward (Photo by Martin Dopoukil)In a day that went from incredible joy to unbelievable sorrow, Jill Humphrey on Chromatic finished third in that class at the World Cup Finals behind von Eckermann and  Fredricson.

But just a few hours later, after cooling out normally, Chromatic died.

There's  a statement from his owner KC Branscomb, who bred Chromatic, posted at the bottom of this story explaining what happened.

von Eckermann won in an amazing performance that underscored King Edward's status as the best horse in the world.

In a seven horse jump-off, von Eckermann went last, and although he was leading on time after the second to last fence, he flat out ran the length of the ring and flew the last fence to win in 43.36, over two seconds faster than Fredricson, who had finished in what had looked like a very fast time of 45.45, with Humphrey third in 48.36.

Pieter Devon of Belgium on Casual DV Z, a 9-year-old that appears to have the potential to be another top world class horse, was fourth, clean in 49.28.

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Anna Marek on Fayvel placed ninth in the Grand Prix Freestyle won by Patrik Kittel of Sweden in the Dressage World Cup in Riyadh

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April 19, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--Patrik Kittel on Touchdown made history on Friday, April 19 as only the second Swedish rider to win the FEI Dressage World Cup Final, which was held in Riyadh.

Anna Marek on Fayvel (Photo by Dirk Caremans)Anna Marek on Fayvel was the highest placed U.S. rider at the end of the final day of dressage competition, scoring 74.518 percent in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for ninth place.

Rittel was the very last rider to compete on a night when the sport had plenty of twists and turns, and he nailed it with the performance of a lifetime, putting Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald on Blue Hors Don Olymbrio into second place and German superstar Isabell Werth into third on DSP Quantaz.

“I cannot believe it, seriously." said Kittel. "My trainer Louise (Nathhorst) won it the first time for Sweden and I’ve won it for Sweden again. I just want to thank everyone for supporting us,I’m very overwhelmed.”

The contest could hardly have been closer, with just 0.257 percentage points separating the top three.

Reigning World Champion, Great Britain’s Lottie Fry, on her Tokyo Olympic ride Everdale, after winning Wednesday’s Grand Prix, looked set to win again.

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Chromatic BF died hours after finishing third in the second class in the World Cup Finals in Riyadh

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April 18, 2024

By Staff Writers

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--K C Branscomb's Chromatic BF, ridden by Jill Humphrey, finished a fantastic third behind Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann's King Edward and Swede's Peder Fredricson's Catch Me Not S, beating a field of top international horses in the second class at the World Cup Finals..

Hours after this great finish, Chromatic died in his stall in Riyadh.

The FEI issued a "Statement on equine fatality at FEI World Cup Final.

It is with great sadness that we announce that the US horse Chromatic BF, ridden by Jill Humphrey, has passed away during the FEI World Cup Final.

Chromatic BF had returned to the stables after competition on the evening of 18 April and later unexpectedly collapsed.

He was immediately attended to by the US Equestrian veterinary staff and FEI veterinarians but was unable to be resuscitated.

In line with the FEI Veterinary Regulations, samples have already been taken from the horse, and a full postmortem in line with FEI protocols will be conducted.

The FEI, the Organising Committee and the SAEF send their deepest condolences to the rider, owners, groom and connections."

Following the second class, the U.S. had two riders in the top five for overall standings, with von Eckermann leading on 0 faults, Fredricson second with 2 faults, Julien Epaillard of France on 4 faults, Kent Farrington on 6 faults and Humphrey on 7 faults.

The full story on the second class at the World Cup Finals and the full overall standings going into the third class, to be held Saturday at 8:45 a.m., will be posted tomorrow.

Kent Farrington on Toulayna is in a good position, tied for fourth, after the first round in the World Cup in Riyadh

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April 17, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--Kent Farrington on Toulayna is tied for fourth after the first round, a speed class, at the World Cup Final on Wednesday, April 17.

Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward (Photo by Martin Dopoukil)Being in the top five puts Farrington in an excellent position going forward, and two other U.S. riders have done well.

Overall, three U.S. riders are in the top 12, while Sweden has two riders, the top two, in the top 12, and Germany and Great Britain each also have two in the top 12.

Henrik von Eckerman of Sweden leads on the great King Edward, finishing in 66.28, while Sweden's Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S is second in 67.40 seconds, followed by Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher on Elysium, 68.49 seconds.

Farrington and France's Julien Epaillard are tied for fourth on 66.69 seconds each.

For the U.S., Californians Skylar Wireman, who is only 19, on Tornado is 10th on 72.49 and Jill Humphrey on Chromatic BF is 12th on 73.79.

The other two U.S. riders had rails down nd didn't do that well, so Devin Ryan on Edie Blue is 25th on 80.56 seconds, and Sophia Siegel on A-Girl in 32nd on 100.40 seconds.

"What a great competition," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland. "I loved the course."

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Scott Stewart leads the list of hunter riders with qualified horses for the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair

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April 16, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--The list of riders who have qualified for this year's Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 22 to June 2, is now available on the Devon website, and while there is no list of Open Jumpers yet available, many of the Devon fans' favorite riders are qualified in junior and hunter divisions.

Devon Dixon Oval
McLain Ward is a fan favorite, and while he is one of the 10 short listed riders for the Paris Olympics, he has in the past returned from competing in Europe to ride at Devon.

Ward also has two great interests in early competitions at Devon, as his daughter Lilly is competing in Small Pony Hunters on Ward's Celebration over Junior Weekend and Baylee McKeever, daughter of Lee McKeever, Ward's right hand man, and whom Ward trains, is competing in Amateur Jumpers 1.40/1.45m Jumpers.

Jimmy Torano of Mohrsville, Pa., has top jumpers that may compete at Devon, but he also has Laskano, an International Hunter Derby repeat winner, competing in High Performance Hunters.

The Hunter Derby will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 30.

Torano's son JJ will ride Laskano in Large Junior Hunter, rider 15 and under, as well as Caster, and JJ also has Sports Illustrated in Large Pony.

Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., has been Devon Leading Hunter rider many times ,but he was beaten last year by Nick Haness, and Stwart has numerous entries qualified for this year's show to try to regain the title..

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Conor Swail on Count Me In won the $117,000 CSI3* Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix

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April 15, 2024

By Staff Writers

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO,, Calif.--After finishing in a close second in the Blenheim Spring Classic 1 Grand Prix, Conor Swail on Count Me In returned to the Blenheim Spring Classic 2 to pick up back-to-back wins, including the featured $117,000 CSI3* 1.50m Blenheim Spring Classic 2 Grand Prix on Saturday, April 13.

Conor Swail on Count Me In (Photo by McCool Photography)Prior to Saturday, Swail and Count Me In had already won the $32,000 CSI3* 1.50m Welcome Speed Stake, held on Thursday, April 11, and Swail demonstrated the same speed again in the week’s finale FEI event at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

Olaf Petersen designed the course for the Grand Prix, set on the newly revamped Ortega Ring, for the 23 starters, six of which advanced to the jump-off.

When Swail went in the jump-off, the time to beat had been set at 43.51 seconds by his student Vanessa Mannix on Carmela Z.

Swail made beating that time look easy as he finished in 39.83 seconds to win.

Nicole Haunert on My Lady Lavista, placed second in 42.40 seconds, and Mannix finished third.

“I thought it was a good course today,” said Swail. “It was a decent height, and there were enough tests, enough that there were only a few clears out of the 23. I thought Olaf did a very good job.”

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Adrienne Lyle on Helix won the Grand Prix Special CDI3* at the World Equestrian Center

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April 13, 2024

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Adrienne Lyle on a new mount, Helix, that she hopes will help her make the short list of riders for the Paris Olympics, won the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* on Saturday, April 13 for Lyle’s third win in three days at the World Equestrian Center.

Adrienne Lyle on Helix (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Lyle, a U.S. Olympic team silver medalist, started competition on Friday in the Grand Prix on Helix with a 2% winning margin, and earlier had won on Thursday in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* with Lars van de Hoenderheide, with whom Lyle also placed second place in Friday night’s freestyle.

Riding Helix, Lyle was the final entry in a 15 horse field and scored 71.553% to win the Grand Prix Special.

“Helix is coming off of three weeks of intense showing, traveling and training, and it's catching up a little bit with him,” said Lyle. “He felt a little bit tired today, so we didn't go pedal to the metal full power. However, I think for the long term when you're trying to develop a relationship with a horse it's really important that they know you're never going to ask more than what they're capable of that day in the ring. He still went in there and did everything I asked, and I think that's really important.”

In her limited time with Helix and Lars, Lyle has competed more than she normally would in order to gain qualifying scores to be considered for the U.S. Dressage Team short list for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France.

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Defending champion Tamie Smith and World Number 3 ranked Boyd Martin lead the list of entries in the Kentucky Three-Day Event

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April 10, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--As a stepping stone to this summer's Paris Olympics, the Kentucky Three-Day Event's entries include defending champion Tamie Smith and three of the world’s four top-ranked riders, with Olympians and World Champions among the riders from nine countries entered to compete .

Tamie Smih on Mai Baum (Photo by Michelle Dunn)The Kentucky Three-Day Event, one of only seven annual five star three-day events in the world, will be held in the Kentucky Horse Park April 25-28.

The Event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations.

In addition to the CCI5*-L, the Event also features a four star competition  and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix.

With many riders’ sights set on the Paris Olympics this summer, both the five star and the four star will be instrumental in choosing the U.S. team.

Smith won last year’s five star on Mai Baum, her longtime partner with whom she was reserve rider on the 2021 Olympic team and helped the U.S. win team silver at the 2022 World Championships.

She has entered Mai Baum in the four star  along with Danito, with whom she finished second in the 2022 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, and Kynan.

Also among those vying for a place on the U.S. Paris team are three-time U.S. Olympic veteran Boyd Martin, who is World #3.

Martin has several horses competing at both levels.

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Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti on Chagall de Toscane Won the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix Over Conor Swail at Blenheim

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April 9, 2024

By Staff Writers

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti on Chagall de Toscane won the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix at the Blenheim Spring Classic over a starting field of 24.

Brazil's Cassio Rivetti on Chgall deToscane (Photo by McCool Photography)Seven were clean to advance to the jump-off designed by Jaime Morillo and set on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

Rivetti was the fourth to go in the jump-off, and was the first to go clean, finishing in what would be an uncatchable time of 33.34 seconds.

Ireland’s Conor Swail on Count Me In was next to go and came the closest to catching Rivetti, clean in 33.53 seconds, less than two-tenths of a second off Rivetti’s time.

Nicole Haunert on My Lady Lavista was third.

“The first two jumps on the course were big,” said Rivetti. “It was a nice jump-off with good riders, and very fast. It was a nice course to jump.”

Rivetti’s winning mount, Chagall de Toscane, is owned by HF Farms LLC and is most often ridden by Rivetti’s student, amateur rider Laura Hite, but with Hite away from the show for the week, Rivetti took the ride.

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James Chawke of Ireland won twice at Blenheim

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April 8, 2024

By Staff Writers

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--Ireland's James Chawke won twice at the Blenheim Spring Classic on Saturday, April 6, first in the $15,000 1.40m  Open Jumper Classic, and then in quick succession, followed up with a win in the $32,000 CSI2* 1.45m Winning Round Classic.

James Chawke on Daido vant Tuytershof (Photo by McCool Photogrphy) Chawke, who finished second on Friday to Conor Swail, turned the tables on Saturday, winning in the Winning Round over Swaii, who was second and third.

In the Winning Round Classic, Chawke’ won on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z.

He had a rail down in the first round, but thanks to the winning-round format, he started on a clean slate over the Jaime Morillo-designed jump-off course.

Chawke was the fifth of 10 to come back for the second round, and, with the time to beat set at 43.17 seconds by Swail on Theo 160, and with Swail still to go on Vital Chance de la Roque, Chawke knew he needed to crank up the speed.

“When you’ve got Conor Swail], Cassio Rivetti and Kyle King in the class, you’ve got to go pretty quick!” said Chawke, who was clean in 40.85 seconds.

Swail 0n Theo 160 was second also was third in 43.80 seconds on Vital Chance de la Roque.

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Conor Swail won the $32,000 Welcome Stake at the Blenheim Spring Classic

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April 6, 2024

By Staff Writers

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--Ireland’s Conor Swail started the Blenheim season the same way he ended the 2023 season: winning.

Conor Swail on Vital Chance de la Roque (Photo by McCool Photography)Swail on Vital Chance de la Roque won the $32,000 CSI4* Welcome Speed Stake on Friday, April 5 at the Blenheim Spring Classic I, held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano.

Swail had capped off his season at last year's Blenheim shows by winning the $226,000 FEI Jumping World Cup Las Vegas qualifier on Count Me In.

This year, Swail on “Vinny” was one of 28 entries to take on the one round speed class over a course designed by Jaime Morillo and built on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field.

When Swail went as the 10th in the order, the time to beat had been set at 58.98 seconds by fellow Irishman James Chawke on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z.

“Vanessa Mannix, James Chawke and Alexis Sokolov as well, we all work together," said Swail. "I was lucky enough that I saw James’ round right before mine. I thought James had a very, very quick round. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to beat him, to be honest.”

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Cian O’Connor won the Overall Leading International Rider Award at WEF

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April 6, 2024

By Staff Writers

 WELLINGTON, Fla.--Cian O’Connor of Ireland won the Overall Leading International Rider Award at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Cian O'Connor on Fancy de Kergane (Photo by Sportfot)A Leading International Rider Award was presented each week to the rider who earned the most points based on performances in that week’s WEF Challenge Cup and featured grand prix event.

Surprisingly, O’Connor did not win any of the weekly awards, but his consistent performances throughout the 12 week circuit gave him a total of 862 points and the new Overall Leading International Rider title.

Second place went to Margie Goldstein-Engle with a total of 823 points, while another Irish rider, Shane Sweetnam, was third overall with a total of 800 points.

“We had an incredible winter in Florida,” said O’Connor, who has been based in Wellington for many winter seasons. “The horses performed really well and that is thanks to all of their owners: Sue and John Magnier, Sarah Stoute, Nikki Walker, and Pat Crean. All our horses jumped outstandingly, and I was delighted to have won the title of Leading International Rider of the WEF circuit.

“All credit must go to the brilliant team behind the scenes, from everybody in the stable who puts in the hard work day in and day out, to all of my support staff, and everybody else who contributes to the Karlswood team,” said O’Connor. “I am extremely grateful to each and every one of them.”

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Eve Jobs won over Callie Schott in final WEF weekend

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April 5, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Winter Equestrian Festival came to a close on Sunday, March 31 after 13 weeks of exceptional competition that included most of the top world ranked riders.

Eve Jobs on High Point VDL (Photo by Sportfot)Eve Jobs on High Point VDL won the final jumper class, the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix over up-and-coming star Callie Schott on one of her young horses, Fair Field.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the course for the 45 competitors, six of which returned for the jump-off.

Jobs recently returned to competition, and had her first win on High Point VDL.

“He's a horse I actually got a couple years back from Enda Carroll and Stephanie Carroll from Ashford Farm, and he's been amazing,” said Jobs. “I took a couple years away from the sport and would just come back for a few shows here and there throughout the year. I slowly but surely built a really special partnership with him and it’s been amazing.”

“He's rideable and he's got such great natural balance,"' she said. "He's a naturally very careful horse and today it was good enough.”

Jobs was clean in 41.19 seconds for the win to beat Schott on Fair Field, clean in a time of 42.67 seconds, and Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on Chuck Bass was third in 42.79 seconds.

“I started this season on a blank canvas just seeing how the horses were and how I was feeling, and as the weeks have gone on I've gotten a lot more into it myself,” said Jobs. “The horses are going great, my team's amazing at home and they've done such a wonderful job of keeping them that way. For the foreseeable future I plan on coming back.”

Alyssa Phillips won the CCI4* at The Event at TerraNova

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April 3, 2024

By Staff Writers

MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Alyssa Phillips of Fort Worth, Texas, on Oskar won the CCI4*-S at The Event at TerraNova following the third phase, the cross country, on Saturday, March 30.

Alyssa Phillips on Oskar (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)She also won the Open Preliminary division on Keep Calm and placed third in the CCI3*-S with Cornelius Bo.

Jessica Phoenix of Canada finished second in the CCI4*-S on Freedom GS, and Lauren Nicholson of Ocala, Fla., placed third on I'll Have Another.

Nicholson also won the CCI3*-S on Larcot Z .

The cross country course's 34 jumping efforts had technical questions that posed stiff challenges, but they offered options that some riders found saved the day.

FEI 3*/4* Course Designer Alec Lochore's goal was to create a "nice galloping open start to the course."

He said he placed the first combination at fences five and six "so the course would begin with a test but on a really positive, forward stride."

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Adrienne Lyle on Lars Van De Hoenderheide won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special

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April 3, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle on Lars Van De Hoenderheide won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special on Saturday, March 30 at the Global Dressage Festival.

Adrienne Lyle on Lars Van De hoenderheide (Photo by Susan Stickle)Lars Van De Hoenderheide had finished second in the qualifying grand prix, just behind Lyle''s other horse Helix, but Lyle decided to ride Lars Van De Hoenderheide in the Grand Prix Special, who won on 73.192 % over 14 starters.

Endel Otis 0n Bohemian, another new high-profile acquisition for owner Heidi Humphries, placed second in the Special with 72.49%.

The top six riders were all from the U.S., with Kasey Perry-Glass going one better than in the grand prix and finishing third on Heartbeat WP on a score of   71.383% in their second ever CDI.

“I think it’s 10 weeks now that we’ve had Lars and this is the first full Special I’ve ridden through on him," said Lyle, who trains with Debbie McDonald. "I’m so incredibly happy at his energy and his honesty and his willingness. It seems like he’s starting to understand what I want and fight for me in there, which is really special in such a new relationship."

“I was really happy with his piaffe/passage tour." she said. "I got a bit braver to make the piaffe stay on the spot more and feel like I could trust that more. His canter tour is always super; he’s got super power and the changes are just a treat to ride.”

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Christian Kukuk won over McLain Ward in the $500,000, 5* Grand Prix at WEF

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April 2, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla--Germany’s Christian Kukuk on Checker 47 took advantage of going last in the jump-off to win the $500,000 CSI5* Grand Prix during the final ‘Saturday Night Lights’ of the Winter Equestrian Festival on March 30.

McLain Ward on Ilex (Photo by Sportfor)But perhaps the biggest winner of the evening was McLain Ward, who has found a new mount in the 11-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding Ilex, who appears to be as good, if not potentially even better, than Ward's super horses Sapphire and HH Azur.

McLain Ward on Ilex, third to last to go in the nine horse jump-off, finished second in 36.24, less than four-tenths of a second back of Kukuk's 35.82.

Ward has only ridden Ilex for seven weeks, and to be second in a class of maximum difficulty against most of the top international riders in the world, including the world ranked one and two riders, is an amazing feat.

This was the first time Ward had ridden Ilex in a jump-off, and he and Ilex have already begun to trust each other so much that Ward let him run flat out to the last fence, which Ilex cleared with ease.

It was only a buck from Ilex early in the jump-off that cost Ward the win.

Ward owns Ilex together with Bonne Chance Farm, and Ilex is the former mount of Brazil’s Fabio Leivas da Costa.

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Anna-Christina Abbelen on Sam Donnerhall won the 4* Grand Prix Freestyle at the Festival

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March 30, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Germany’s Anna-Christina Abbelen on Sam Donnerhall won the final ‘Friday Night Stars’ freestyle class under lights at the Global Dressage Festival  on March 29.

Anna Christina Abbelen on Sam Donnerhall (Photo by Susan Stickle)Trailing Abbelen by just 0.045 percentage points, and placed first by four of the five judges, was Sweden’s seven-time Olympian, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Esperance who, in just the stallion’s fourth big tour CDI, scored 75.86% to place second.

Charlotte Jorst on the 11-year-old Zhaplin Langholt, the youngest horse in the class, had a personal best score of 74.375% to finish third.

Sam Donnerhall, at 17, was the oldest horse in the class, and Abbelen is carefully considering his future.

“At every show he keeps getting fresher and fresher,” she said. “Today he was really on his peak. The floorplan is quite difficult, and the feeling was actually really good, especially in the passage and the piaffe. And the whole canter tour was mistake free. But due to his freshness the first halt, which is usually a strong part, was not really good."

“At the very end, in the music I put in a little thank you to my horse because this was maybe my last show with him," she said. "I don’t know. But he’s at his strongest at the moment and he’s so fresh and I learned everything from him. I did so many great five star shows with him and learned a lot. I thought if this was a really good one today, then I’d be happy to say that maybe I’ll just do smaller shows, or even just ride him at home. I owe him everything.”

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Alyssa Phillips leadsThe Event at TerraNova going into cross country

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March 31, 2024

By Staff Writers

MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Alyssa Phillips of Fort Worth, Texas on Oskar went into the lead after show jumping on Friday, March 29 in the CCI4*-S division at The Event at TerraNova.

Alyssa Phillips on Oskar (Photo by Shannon Brinkman) Phillips was clean in show jumping to lead after placing second in Thursday’s dressage.

“He has become so reliable in the ring and is acting as a professional these days," said Phillips of Oskar'a dressage. "It’s nice to be able to go into the ring and show him off now. I'm really happy with all four of my horses, and I can't wait to show jump and run around the beautiful cross-country track. They’ve done an amazing job.”

Phillips also is third in the CCI3*-S with Cornelius Bo, a Hanoverian gelding whose comical personality earned him the barn names “Corny” and “Corn Dog.”

In the 4*, Karl Slezak of Canada on Hot Bobo moved up to second place from fifth after a clean stadium jumping round and New Zealand's Monica Spencer was third.

"Preparing him for the CCI4*-S iis a work in progress because he is a bit stronger when the show jumping phase comes before cross country," said Phillips of Oskar. "I've worked really hard on that this winter.”

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Conor Swail on Casturano won the $117,000 CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup

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March 29, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Irish scored again as Conor Swail on Casturano won the $117,000 CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup over a field of 57 on Thursday, March 21 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Conor Swail on Oasturano (Photo by Sportfot)The Cup was a qualifier for ‘Saturday Night Lights’ $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix before the 2024 season concludes on March 31.

Over a course set by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, 15 horses advanced to the jump-off that included six Irishmen and representatives of five other nations.

Swail set the time-to-beat of 36.25 seconds early in the jump-off.

“The horse is phenomenal,” said Swail of the gelding that is still gaining experience at the five-star level. “He just needs a few more big classes, another six or seven five stars, and I'm going to have a lot of fun with him. He’s so much quality, careful; he's honestly incredible. In the beginning he was going too high, but he’s matured a lot over the last year."

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Endel Otis on Bohemian won the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix, with Adrienne Lyle second and third

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March 29, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Endel Otis on Zen Elite's Bohemian won the  CDI3* FEI Grand Prix on Thursday, March 28 at the Global Dressage Festival.

Endel Otis on Bohemian (Photo by Susan Stickle)Otis won over 24 starters with 72.761%.

Adrienne Lyle on Helix placed second with 71.065, and she placed third on Lars Van De Hoenderheide on a  score of 70.652%

Zen Elite Equestrian’s team of three new top horses had the top three scores.

Owner Heidi Humphries bought the high-profile horses Bohemian, Helix and Lars Van De Hoenderheide for the U.S. riders Endel Ots and Olympic team silver medalist Lyle at the end of 2023, and this was the first CDI appearance for all three.

Bohemian was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won freestyle silver in 2021 under Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.

Ridden by Otis, Bohmian had a number of of eights, particularly for piaffe and passage, but the final score was lowered by mistakes in the two-time changes, which earned twos and threes from the panel of five judges.

U.S. riders placed first through sixth in the class, which was a qualifier for Saturday’s Grand Prix Special.

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Lillie Keenan won both the WEF Challenge Cup and the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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March 26, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Lillie Keenan won Friday's WEF Challenge Cup, the grand prix qualifier, and also the $200,000 CSI4* on Sunday, March 24 at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Lillie Keenan on Agana van he Gerendal Z (Photo by Sportfot)Keenan, 27, on Agana van het Gerendal Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide stallion, was clean in 35.76 to win in a five-horse jump-off over courses designed by Andy Christiansen of Ecuador in the Grand Prix.

Mario Deslaureiers of Canada on Bardolina 2 was second, clean in 37.23 seconds, and France’s Nina Mallevaey was third in 38.41 seconds on Cartier SR.

“Every class I put him in he can win, so when he’s my number-one I have a few chances to win some important classes,” said Keenan, who was a member of the U.S. team at the 2022 FEI World Equestrian Games in Herning, Denmark. “He was a star on Friday and he bettered that performance in the grand prix.”

Keenan also won the WEF challenge Cup qualifier on Friday with Agana van het Gerendal Z, and as a result, won the Martha Jolicoeur Leading International Rider Award.

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Ireland's Jordan Coyle won over Conor Swail in the $150,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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March 25, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ireland's Jordan Coyle on For Gold won over fellow Irishman Conor Swail on Gamble in the150,000, CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final on Saturday, March 23 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Jordan Coyle on For Gold (Photo by SportfotIreland has built an incredibly good and deep cadre of top international riders.

While Coyle and Swail were winning at the four star level, the Irish team of Darragh Kenny, Daniel Coyle, Cian O'Connor and Shane Sweetnam was winning at the sport's top level in the League of Nations at Ocala, and a month earlier an entirely different Irish team of Richard Howley, Michael Pender, Mark McAuley and Denis Lynch placed second to Germany at the League of Nations in Abu Dhabi.

From a starting field of 44 that had qualified for the final, Coyle won in a 13-horse jump-off with less than a second to spare over courses designed by Andy Christiansen of Ecuador.

“Winning anything here at WEF is pretty good," said Coyle. "To be honest, that was one of the only times I ever went into the arena in a big competition and felt like I was one of the favorites. He felt very fast tonight, and I have come to know him very well."

“I thought Conor was for sure going to beat me going to that last jump,” said Coyle. “He’s beat me plenty before, but luckily today it's been the other way around. This is the first Saturday night that I've won. I've been trying for a while, so it's pretty nice.”

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Ireland’s Cian O’Connor Won the $62,500 Winning Round CSIO5* at the World Equestrian Center

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March 23, 2024

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.-- Cian OConnor on Fermoy (PPhoto by Andrew Ryback)Ireland’s Cian O’Connor on Fermoy won the $62,500 Winning Round CSIO5* in a 10 horse jump-off on Friday, March 22 during the League of Nations at the World Equestrian Center.

From the first round, the top 10 were to return for the jump-off, with all in the jump-off starting on zero faults, no matter how many faults they'd had in the first round.

The starting field of 34 competed over a course set by Irish course designer Alan Wade.

As the second to go in the jump-off, O’Connor on Fermoy, a 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion was clean and set what turned out to be the unbeatable time to beat of 44.76 seconds.

Two-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster on Kadans was the only other rider to go clean in the jump-off, finishing in 45.78 seconds to place second.

 As the last to go, Richard Vogel, 26 of Germany, had the fastest time of 41 seconds flat, but a rail down left him third on Cydello, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding.

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Rising star Callie Schott was third in $330,000 Grand Prix during League of Nations week

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March 22, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

 OCALA, Fla.--Callie Schott, a rising star in the international ranks, placed third to Switzerland's Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat in the $330,000 Grand Prix on Thursday evening, March 21, during the League of Nations week at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.

Callie Schott on Garant (Photo by Allen Macmillan)Only five from the starting field of 49 of the top riders in the world that included eight of the 10 top rated riders went clean over the course set by Alan Wade of Ireland.

Fuchs on Leone Jei, world ranked number 6, won with a clean jump-off round in 36.68, with Guerdat on Albfuehren's lashin Sitte, world ranked number three, placing second and Schott of Garant, world ranked 229, third in 37.88 seconds.

Ireland's Shane Sweetnam on RR Comel's, world ranked number 11, first to go in the jump-off, was fourth, clean in 39.44, while Kevin Staut of France on Beau de Laubry Z, world ranked number 15, elected not to go in the jump-off and was fifth,

Laura Kraut on Baloutinue, world ranked number 28, was sixth with one time fault, and McLain Ward on Ilex, world ranked number 10, had the last fence down as he appeared to be pushing to make the time, was 13th, and the last to receive prize money over a very tough course with a tight time allowed that caught numerous riders.

While Scott is presently world ranked far below those riders, watch for her in the future, she may rise up the ranks quickly.

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Simon Delestre won the Grand Prix qualifier on Opening Day of the League of Nations at World Equestrian Center – Ocala

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March 21, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

 OCALA, Fla.--Simon Delestre of France on Dexter Fontenis Z won the $62,500 Grand Prix Qualifier CSIO5* on Wednesday, March 20, at the World Equestrian Center.

Simon Delestre on Dexter Fontenis ZWhile all 40 riders competing in the League of Nations are guaranteed a starting spot in Thursday evening’s $330,000 Grand Prix CSIO5* under the lights at 7 p.m., 10 more individuals were able to qualify based on their performance in the qualifier.

Because those 40 were in the Grand Prix, many of those riders chose to go slowly, giving their horses a schooling round in the qualifier.

Course designer Alan Wade of Ireland set a friendly opening speed track that saw a total of 16 go clean.

Delestre was clean in 65.41 seconds to win.

World number one Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden placed second, stopping the clock in 66.11 seconds on Calizi.

“I had a very good feeling with Dexter today,” said Delestre, 42, who is competing in the League of Nations as a member of the French team. “It is my first time in the arena. It is really beautiful and great for the horses. The ground is really nice also.

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Baylee McKeever won the U25 series final while Frances Derwin won the series title

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March 20, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Baylee McKeever, 19 of Brewster, N.Y., on Formidable won the $50,000 season finale of the Under 25 Grand Prix Series on March 17 at the Winter Equestrian Festival., while Ireland’s Francis Derwin won the series title after consistent results all season on Elien

Baylee McKeever on Forminable (Photo by Sportfot)Only McKeever and Carlee McCutcheon on Coco Mercedes went clean in the first round, and McKeever was clean in a tough time to beat before McCutcheon pulled a rail in the jump-off to place second.

“My horse is always reliable, and we’ve built a really strong partnership over the last two years,” said McKeever of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she rides under the training of Mclain Ward. “She’ll forever be one of my favorites, and she felt on top form today. Thankfully, I have a team behind me that is able to keep her prepared while I’m in school and had her perfect today.”

McKeever is a communications major at Auburn University in Alabama where she also competes on the division 1 equestrian team.

“We have so much trust in each other,” said McKeever of Formidable, a horse found by Ward. “She underwent colic surgery several years ago, and I brought her back from that which built our relationship.”

Ansgar Holtgers Jr. finished third on Good Morning B in the final, and second in the overall standings.

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Daniel Coyle won the World Cup qualifier over Kent Farrington at Live Oak

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March 19, 2024

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Daniel Coyle of Ireland on an exciting new mount, Incredible, won the FEI Jumping World Cup tat Live Oak International in Ocala on Sunday, March 17.

Daniel Coyle on Incredible (Photo by Allen Macmillan)“I’ve had a really, really good experience with the World Cup already, but I think this is the first year I’ve ever won three in one season,” Coyle said, “so I’m really, really happy about that.”

Coyle, a veteran of the 2023 World Cup Finals in Omaha, changed his routine this year and divided his season between the North American League and Western European League.

On his championship mount Legacy, he won Western legs at both Leipzig, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

He then made it three-in-a-row when returning stateside for the final NAL leg of the season with Incredible, a horse he only started riding in January.

"Every time I go in the ring, I'm finding something new in Incredible," Coyle said. "It's great that I can find that out while competing at the top of the sport."

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Chester Weber won the Advanced Four-in-Hand at Live Oak International

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March 18, 2024

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Chester Weber added another title to his long list of accomplishments, winning his 21st USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses on Sunday,  March 17 at Live Oak International.

Chester Weber coming out of obstacle two (Photo by Allen McMillan)Weber was the wire-to-wire leader, beginning with a commanding lead after Thursday’s dressage test where he scored a 39.59.

Weber then won Saturday’s marathon phase, posting the best time on all seven of the obstacles, amd he secured the win on Sunday with the fastest cones round and only six faults, finishing on a score of 167.45.

“The horses were in really good form,” said Weber. “They showed up with a nice, solid dressage test on the first day. For the cross-country, we drove a combination that I thought would be very fast. It was a super challenging course, but the team handled it very well and took all of the questions and challenges in hand and did a great job with it.”

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Ashley Holzer on Liberty L won the future Challenge Prix St. George

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March 18, 2024

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ashley Holzer on the 8-year-old Liberty L won the last qualifier for the Future Challenge Prix St Georges.

Ashley Holzer on Liberty L (Photo by Susan Stickle)Holzer won over 18 competitors with a score of 70.588%.

Jennifer Williams placed second to get the second qualifying slot available on the 9-year-old gelding Babylon Berlin on a score of 69.314%, and Lars Linus of Germany on Visionär, an 8-year-old, finished third with 68.873%.

The qualifiers, and the final, offer riders the opportunity to get their up-and-coming talented younger horses into a championship type environment.

They compete in the main International Arena, gaining exposure to spectators, tents, flags and a bustling VIP tent alongside, without the pressure of competing in a CDI and needing to stable at the venue for days.

Liberty L is so calm that he participated in the 2024 Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week in January with a 12-year-old, “whose foot could hardly get below the flap”.

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