Competitions

Kyle King finished second to Scott Brash a the 5 Million CAD Spruce Meadows Grand Prix

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September 8, 2025

By Staff Writers

CALGARY,Canada--Kyle King on Kayanne Z finished second to Scott Brash on Hello Jefferson in the 500 million CAD Spruce Meadows Master Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept. 7

Kyle King on Kayenne ZThe third Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, with the unprecedented prize money of 5 million CAD  was a thriller.

From the first round of 36. the top 12  competed in a second round, in which Brash and King tied for the win with four faults each.

Steve Guerdat on Venard de Ceris was third with five faults..

The seriousness of the challenge was clear from the start. 

“The reality is, I design courses with focus on not being bad to the horses but challenging the riders – and the good riders can solve the problems," said course designer Leopoldo Palacious of Venezuela.

“When we had the ditches down in the second round, I thought that was it, over. It just shows what a test it was,” Brash said.

Going first in the jump-off, Brash was clean over the seven-fence jump-off in 46.97 seconds, and King did beat Brash’s time,but  at the cost of the Canada plank falling, leaving the title with Brash and Hello Jefferson.

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U.S. third in exciting Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows

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September 7, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

CALGARY, Canada--The U.S. team of Lillie Keenan, Elena Haas, Laura Kraut and Aaron Vale finished third, missing second by just one second, in a thrilling 5*, 1.60m National Cup at Spruce Meadows.

Lillie Keenan on Argan de Beliard (File photo)In a Nations Cup that came down to the very last rider for a decision, Great Britain won with zero faults, and Germany and the U.S.were tied with four faults each, but the tie breaker was the aggregate time of the top three riders, so Germany, finishing in 234,35 won by one second  over the U.S. team's time of 235.35. 

From an unusually large field of 11 nations, the top six nations from round one returned for round two,

"It was one of the best Nations Cups that I've ever seen," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland. "At the 50th annual Spruce Meadows, there was a very high level of competition."

For the second round, Brazil and Belgium returned with 12 faults each, the U.S. and Ireland had four faults each and Germany and Great Britain led with zero faults each.

Eliminated after round one were France, 12 faults, Netherlands, 15, and Canada, Austria and Mexico with 20 faults each.

"The course was tough enough, as you could see from the scores of the last three teams in round two," said Ridland.

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Kent Farrington on Grass de Mars won the $125,000 Grand Prix at HITS

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September 8, 2025

By Staff Writers

SAUGERTIES, N.Y.--Kent Farrington on Grass de Mars won the $125,000 CSI3* Grand Prix in a five horse jump-off at HITS during Championship Week on Saturday, Sept. 6,

 Kent Farrington on Grass de Mars (Photo by ESL Photography)Five from the starting field of 35 made the jump-off over the course set by Alan Wade, including Daniel Bluman of Israel on Kapitaal L, Farrington with Grass de Mars, Nayel Nassar of Egypt on Ivory TCS, Luis Larrazabal of Venezuela on Jon Snow and Philip McGuane of Irelaith Orphea HQ.

“You’ve got a top course builder today in Alan Wade, so the course sort of separated the field,” said Farrington. “In the Welcome on Thursday, he had many clear rounds, so today he knew that even though this is a three-star, the caliber of horses and riders that are here is very strong. He built a proper course, and there were not so many clear. That’s usually the sign of a well built course is that the entire course can have faults all over the place with different strengths and weaknesses depending on the horse.”

In the jump-off, Bluman was clean in 41.88 seconds, then, Farrington finished faster in 39.14 seconds to take over the top spot.

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Kent Farrington on Orafina won the $5,000 Welcome Stake at HITS Saugerties

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September 5, 2025

By Staff Writers

SAUGERTIES,N.Y.--Kent Farrington on Orafina won the $65,000 CSI3* Welcome. HITS Hudson Valley VIII, also referred to as Championship Week, on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Kent Farrington on Orafina (Photo by EDL Photograpjy)Alan Wade of Ireland set the course for the 38 entries.

Second in the ring, Michael Walton on Blues had the first clear round immediately followed by Wednesday’s $31,020 CSI3* Jumper Classic winner Nayel Nassar of Egypt on IIgor van de Wittemoere , also clean.

Then world number one, Kent Farrington on Kanny-Fee was clean followed by 16 others followed, for a jump-off of 19.

“This is a three-star show, but the list of riders is very strong,” said Farrington, who leads the world ranking for the fifth consecutive month. “We have one of the best course designers in the world this week in Alan Wade, so I think the course was very good. It can sometimes happen that you have more in the jump-off when you’re setting a qualifier event to try to get everybody going for the week. We’re riding young horses, some of us, and it’s a very mixed group of very experienced older horses and some younger ones coming up. You end up with a difficult class to build, which can happen, but there’s also an impressive caliber of riders we have in the Northeast staying in America to do these shows.”

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Jessica Mendoza on In The Air won the $400,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix

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September 1, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza on In The Air won the $400,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix with one of only two clean rounds in the three horse jump-off, finishing in 37.34 seconds on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Jessica Mendoza on In The Air (Photo by KindMedia)Nick Granat set the course for 39 entries representing 14 countries in the Grand Prix.

Granat’s course was challenging, with only three going clean.

Kristen Vanderveen was the first to go clean in the first round on Bull Run’s Jireh, but it took another 17 trips before Mendoza guaranteed the spectators a jump-off.

World #22 Shane Sweetnam of Ireland was the only other rider to go clean.

Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT  was fourth, the fastest of the four faulters, followed by Spencer Smith and Katie Dinan, each with four faults.

To show the difficulty of the course, riders with eight faults were 10th, 11th and 12th.

Kent Farrington and McLain Ward both had eight faults and were 13th and 15th respectively.

It was a pleasure to see a course commensurate with the value of the class that resulted in only three in the jump-off.

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Skylar Wireman on Barclino B won the Winners Round at the Hampton Classic

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August 31, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Skylar Wireman had her first FEI 5* victory on Saturday, Aug. 30 with a win in the $62,500 Winning Round class at the Hampton Classic.

Skyar Wireman on Barclino B (Photo by KindMedia)Wireman scored an impressive win, finishing 1.55 faster than second placed Luis Pedro Birabe of Argentina over a 1.50m course set by Nick Granat.

In the Winning Round format, of 35 entries, 10 were clean and two with one fault returned for the second round, all starting with zero vaults.

Wireman, the double-gold medalist from the 2025 North American Youth Jumping Championships finished clean inf 39.58 seconds in her first time at the Hampton Classic.a

Second and third were separated by just one hundredth of a second with Biraben clean in 41.13 seconds for second on Georgina De Carles, and Spencer Smith third in 41.14 seconds on Tulara Colmine.

“The goal was to shave off as many seconds as possible around every corner,” Wireman said. “I’ve had him for a little over a year now, and he is only 9, so still a little on the young side. I quickly learned he’s going to be a fantastic speed horse. He’s got a really good, natural ground speed which is very helpful. He also doesn’t spend a lot of time in the air. I know I can kind of turn into the jumps, and he’s right there with me.”

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McLain Ward won the $116,100 5* Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic

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August 29, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--McLain Ward on High Star Hero won the $116,100, 5* Grand Prix Qualifier in a 10 horse jump-off on Friday, Aug. 29.

McLain Ward on High Star Hero (Photo by Kind Media)Nick Granat set the course for the field of 43 entries. 

Jump-off times got faster and faster until penultimate rider, Ward went clean in 36.84 seconds for the win.

The Qualifier ultimately came down to the final four riders in the jump-off, with Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam. Ward and Jonathan Corrigan, also of Ireland, closing out the class.

“It’s always nice to have the luxury of going at the end,” Ward said. “Shane’s horse is a very fast horse with a big stride. I know he’s setting up for Sunday and leaving a little in reserve, but Hero’s focus for this week was this qualifier so I was able to take some risks. We know each other very well, and we stuck to our plan today."

“I’m looking forward to this weekend,” he said. “I’ll be riding Imperial HBF in the Grand Prix on Sunday. I think he’s possibly the best horse I’ve ever ridden. You need things to go your way in this sport, but we’ve set up well for it. It’s been a few years since I’ve won the Grand Prix, so I’m hoping for the best result.”

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Alex Matz won the $32,000 CSI5* Two-Phase at 50th Annual Hampton Classic

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August 28, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Alexx Matz on Cashew CR won the $32,000 CSI5* Two-Phase at the 50th annual Hampton Classic on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Alex Matz on Cashew CR (Photo by KindMedia)Matz was clean in 24.36 seconds for the win over the course set by Nick Granat.

It seemed likely hat when World #8 McLain Ward on High Star Hero took the lead in 25.74 seconds during the middle of the $32,000 CSI5* Two-Phase on Thursday, no one could catch him.

But immediately following Ward in the order was 20-year-old Skylar Wireman on Barclino B, her double-gold winning mount from the 2025 Gotham North/North American Youth Jumping Championships.

Wireman went into the lead with a clean round in 24.83 seconds, knocking Ward from the top spot and keeping the lead until Matz went late in the class of 68 entries.

He shaved almost half a second off Wireman’s time, clinching the win in 24.36 seconds.

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Mark Bluman won the $40,000, 2* Grand Prix at Hampton Classic

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August 27, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Mark Bluman on Phelina De Septon won the $40,000, 1.45m National Grand Prix on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Mark Bluman on Phelina De Septon (Photo by KindMedia)Bluman won over 13 in the jump-off from a starting field oh 33 over a course set by Nick Granat.

Bluman of Colombia  was clean in 36.252 for the win.

The only rider to have two entries in the jump-off, Bluman set an early time to beat on Phelina De Septon, his first horse,

He nearly caught his own time with his second mount, S & L Hello Sunshine, but the stallion had four faults.

“The mare I was riding is pretty quick across the ground,” Bluman said. “Even though she’s new to me, I know her quite well. We made a plan before the jump-off, stuck to it, and hoped it was going to pay off. And it did. When you go that early in the jump-off, the only thing you have to do is follow your plan, hope for the best, and sometimes have a little bit of luck.”

JJ Torano on Lyon 50 was the only other one to come within a second of Bluman and Phelina De Septon’s time, finishing clean in 36.426 seconds to place second.

Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza on Onslow De Roju, was third in 37.474 seconds.

Alexa Elle Lignelli won the $10,000 1.40m Open Jumper at the Hampton Classic Horse Show

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August 26, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMTON, N.Y.--Alexa Elle Lignell on XO Onermie won the $10,000, 1.40m Open Jumper at the 50th annual Hampton Classic on Tuesday, Aug. 26, beating Skylar Wireman on Citoki.

Alexa Elle Lignelli on XO Onermie (Photo by KindMedia)Lignelli and Wireman were two of the podium finishers from the 2025 North American Youth Jumping Championships, with 20-year-old  Wireman the double-gold medalist and 18-year-old e Lignelli the double-silver medalist.

At the Hampton Classic, Lignelli, clean in 60.386, won over Wireman, and longtime class leader Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain was third.

Thirty-three entries representing nine countries competed over Nick Granat’s speed course.

Ninth to go in the order, Mendoza and her first mount, Bullseye 111 Z, set the time to beat at 60.749 seconds.

It wasn’t until the final few rides that anyone came within a second of that time, with Lignelli finishing in 60.386 seconds.

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Brianne Goutal-Marteau won an early class at the Hampton Classic

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August 25, 2025

By Staff Writers

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--Brianne Goutal-Marteau S & L Marlon VD Heffinckw on the first class of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, a national jumper class with 43 entries.

Brianne Goutal Marteau on S L Marlon VD Heffnick (Photo by KindMedia)Goutal-Marteau won the $30,000 Wellington Jumper Classic, held in  a winning round format with a clean round in 40.483

The show offers $1 million in prize money, and the highlight of the week is the $400,000 Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 31.

International jumper classes begin Thursday.

 Goutal-Marteau was 1.4 seconds faster than second placed Sam Walker of Canada.

“I have a horse who rode a bigger stride than Sam’s,” Goutal-Marteau said. “My horse was fast everywhere; I was able to take advantage of his big stride from jumps one to two to three. Our whole team is so excited to be here for the Classic’s 50th anniversary. It’s just great to be back.”

Walker Funny on Star Semilly was second, clean in 41.838 seconds, and  Uma O’Neill of New Zealand on Luigi D’Eclipse was third.

Kent Farrington on Myla won the $63,000 Qualifier at the Major League Show Jumping in Toronto

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August 22, 2025

By Staff Writers

TORONTO, Canada--World no. 1 Kent Farrington on Myla won the CSI5* 1.50m $63,000 Grand Prix Qualifier under the lights on Thursday evening, Aug. 21 at the Major League Show Jumping in Toronto 

Kent Farrington on Myla (Photo by Mackenzie Clark)Toronto marks the second stop on the calendar of the fifth season for MLSJ.

Farrington beat Jordan Coyle of Ireland on Ariso by just over a half a second over the course set by Olaf Petersen Jr., 

Farrington finished clean in 31.05 seconds and Coyle was clean in 31.59.

Twenty-year-old Skylar Wireman was third on Barclino B, clean in 32.53 seconds.

Coming off a Grand Prix win riding Greya at the season opener in Traverse City just two weeks ago, Farrington returned to win again in Toronto – this time on Myla.

“Myla’s natural foot speed across the ground is incredibly fast, which is a big advantage in a small arena,” Farrington said. “Running is our normal speed – so for me – I don't really worry about the time allowed. If I do my normal tempo, it’s usually going to be good enough.”

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Adrienne Sterlicht won the $340,00 Grand Prix in Ottawa

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August 20, 2025

By Staff Writers

OTTOWA, Canada--Adrienne Sternlicht’s won the both $35,000 Grand Prix CSI2* and $340,000 Grand Prix CSI5* at the Ottawa International on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Adrienne Sterlicht on Origa vh Zuid Pajottenland (Photo by Ben Radvanyl)Sternlicht on Origa v/h Zuid -Pajottenland had the only clear riound in the three horse jump-off  to win the US $340,000 Grand Prix CSI5*.

A total of 24 riders took on the five-star track set by Brazilian course designer Marina Azevedo.

Sternlicht, Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza and Elena Haas were the only three riders who had clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.

Mendoza was the first to return for the jump-off, setting the early standard with four faults in a time of 38.08 riding Summerhouse.

Haas, who is one of five who will be competing for the U.S. at Spruce Meadows, on Claude also had a rail down in a slower time of 39.02 seconds.

Knowing exactly what she needed to do to win, Sternlicht went slower but was clean to win.

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Boyd Martin and Will Coleman win in 3* and 2* at Bromont

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August 19, 2025

By Staff Writers

BROMONT, Canada--Boyd Martin placed first and third in the CCI3* at Bromont on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Boyd Martin on Shawnee Cooley (Photo by Sally Spickard)Martin continued his solid weekend on cross-country, riding Shanroe Cooley to win the CCI3*-S win on a score of 29.5 after adding 3.6 time penalties as the quickest round of the division.

Martin had said his plan was to be slightly more conservative on his other, more experienced horses as they set up for their various fall destinations.

However, with “Dallas,” he planned to “let ‘er rip” a bit more to get a feel for where the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was in his fitness and training.

“It’s the first time I sort of opened him up a little bit, and for a big horse, he’s actually got a big step,” Martin said. “I was impressed with his galloping ability because I thought he might be slow, but he’s not. I’m very, very pleased with him.”

“Obviously, it’s one of Liz’s champion horses, and it’s just a real honor and privilege,” Martin said.

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Boyd Martin leads Bromont three star after dressage and jumping

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August 17, 2025

By Staff Writers

BROMONT, Canada--Boyd Martin dominated the first two sections of the Bromont Horses Trials CCI3*-S, finishing first second and third after dressage and show jumping, while Canadian Lindsay Traisnel leads the CCI4*-S and Will Coleman leads in CCI2-S.

Boyd Martin on Luke 140 The dressage and show jumping were held on Saturday, Aug. 16 prior ro Sunday's cross country.

World #4 Martin is first on Luke 140, who added nothing to his dressage score of 25.4 to hold  the lead, with Shanroe Cooley, 25.9 and Miks Master C, 27.0 second and third.

“I've come here with some mega horses that are four-star and five-star horses, so I just wanted to give them a nice confident run around an inviting course,” Martin said. “That's why I bring them up here to Bromont! It's sort of their first proper run as they prepare towards Maryland 5 Star, [Morven Park CCI4*-L], and Pau CCI5*. We’re off to a good start.”

Will Coleman on Honest Same is the overnight leader for the CCI2*-S division, with a two-phase score of 25.0, adding no penalties in the show jumping.

The 7-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding scored a personal best dressage score Saturday morning and will look to build on his growing experience on cross-country Sunday.

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Scott Stewart on Cadet won the Green Hunter Championship

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August 16, 2025

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, KY.--Scott Stewart of Flemngton, N.J., on Cadet won the final championship round of the 3’/3’3″ USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship on Friday,Aug. 15.

Scott Steward on CadetThe top 30 horses from the first two rounds of competition returned for the final round, where they started with a clean slate.

Stewart scored 88, 88, 90 for a total of 268, and just one point behind him was Holly Shepherd on El Porvenir Zara to place second, while the winner from the first round, Samantha Schaefer on Game On, was third.

“This is our fourth horse show that we have had,” Stewart said. “He is just perfect to ride and he is as easy as it looks. A good friend of mine called me and told me about a horse in Munich while he was over there on vacation and took an extra day to try him, and I am glad that he did.”

The 3’/3’3″ Green Hunter Incentive Championship had 165 competing for $193,844 in  the Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Wednesday’s competition began with a record-breaking 169 entries in the First Round over Ken Krome’s and Meghan Rawlins’ course. 

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Kent Farrington on Greya won the $340,000 Grand Prix in Traverse City

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August 15, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

TRAVERSE CITY--Kent Farrigton on Greya won the $340,000, 5 star Grand Prix at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in the first grand prix of the 2025 Major League Show Jumping  season.

Kent Farrington on Greya This was his fifth five-star grand prix victory in under one year, and he won in a  15 horse jump-off, going clean in 38.31.

“It just feels great to have a horse like this to ride at all,” Farrington. “No matter what venue I take her to, she can always deliver and she did that again today. I’m thrilled with the horse and I feel very privileged to have an athlete like this underneath me.”

 “She’s very fast; she’s almost more like a cat than a horse,” he said. “She’s really quick across the ground, incredibly careful at the jumps. She’s just a different level horse which is an advantage in a jump-off like today.”

Going early in the jump-off, Julien Anquetin of France held the lead on Blood Diamond du Pont until Farrington went, and he ended up second place, with Lillie Keenan placing third on Fasther.

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Laura Kraut on Bisquetta won the $500,000 Grand Prix in Dublin

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August 12, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

DUBLIN, Ireland--Laura Kraut on Bisquetta won the $500,00, 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland win the only clean round in the class on Sunday, Aug. 10.

The podium, Dublin, left to right, Rodrigo Pessoa, Laura Kraut and Shane Sweetnam Kraut was the only rider of the 40 that had qualified for the Grand Prix to solve all the questions asked by the course designed by Alan Wade of Ireland, with 11 riders having four faults.

Those with four faults were separated by their time over the course, and Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Major Tom was second in 73.61, with Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on James Kann Cruz third in 74.39.

Poles dropped all over the course,with every fences having at least one rider fault at it, but green plank at the Rolex fence after the water and the two combination at the end of the course caused the most problems.

"I can't put into worlds how thrilling this is,"said Kraut, who is 59. "To win it at my age s particularly gratifying."

"I have an unbelievable horse in Bisquetta, she said. "I saved her all week for this. Then when I walked the course, I thought I'd made a mistake."

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The U.S. team finished a close fourth in Dublin Nations Cup

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August 8, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

DUBLIN, Ireland--A U.S. team with a young rider and two young horses finished fourth behind the winning Neyherlands Team in the Nations Cup in Dublin on Friday, Aug. 8.

McLain Ward on Callas at Aachen (File photo by Devyn Tretheway)Netherlands finished with zero faults to win over Germany with four faults and Ireland. also with four faults but a slower aggregate time while the U.S had eight faults for fourth over a tough 1.60m course set by Alan Wade.

"I'm a little grumpy right now, but I'll get over it soon," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland immediately after the class. "We're a little spoiled after winning so many you expect to win them all."

And after round one, it looked as though that might be the case again, as the U.S. and Natherlands were tied with zero faults, Germany and Ireland were tied with four each and Canada had eight faults, followed by Mexico, 12, Great Britain, 16, and Switzerland, 24.

First to go for the U.S. was Aaron Vale on the 9-year-old Styles who had a beautiful clean round, then Alex Matz, one of the youngest riders in the class, was clean to the very last fence on Ikigai, but had that down for four faults. 

Laura Kraut on the 10-year-old Tres Bien Z and anchor rider McLain Ward on Callas both went clean, leaving the U.S. tied for first with zero faults.

In round two, Vale had the last two fences down for eight faults, and Matz just touched the tape landing after the water for four faults, Kraut had the very big and wide triple bar down and Ward went clean again for a team total of eight.

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Skylar Wireman and Phillippa Ammann won the Youth and Junior Championships in Traverse City

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August 5, 2025

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, MIch.--Skylar Wireman  and Pillippa Ammann  won the FEI North American Youth Championships and Junior Championship respectively at Traverse City Horse Show on Sunday, Aug, 3 after five rounds of competition.

Skylar Wireman on Barclino (Photo by Megan Giese Media)Zone 10’s Wireman of Bonsall, Calif., on Barclino won two  gold medals, both the Team and Individual.

After winning the Team gold, Ammann of Wellington, Fla., on Zarina de Vidau led the junior category from day one, winning the individual qualifier on Thursday before jumping perfect rounds on Friday and Sunday to win the Individual title.

The Youth and Junior teams that will compete in the international championships in Lier, Belgium on Sept. 17-21 will be named from these championships.

"The teams of five will consist of the three medalists from the Youth and Junior competitions here plus two that I chose," said international chef d'equipe Anne Kursinski. "I think we will have two very strong teams to field again his year. The Junior team won the International last year."

An NAYC medal has been a long time coming for Wireman as her 2021 and 2023 appearances at NAYC were cut short due to injury, and she was chosen as the alternate in 2022.

The last year, she placed in the top 10 abut didn't make the team.

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Canada's Sam Walker won the $117,000 Grand Prix in Traverse City

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August 3, 2025

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Canada’s Sam Walker and Carruso PJ won the $117,000, CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday evening during Traverse City Horse Shows.

Sam Walker on Carruso (Photo by Sam Garvin)Peter Grant of Canada designed the evening’s course, with seven advancing to the jump-off.

Walker, 23, was clean in 40.53, stopping the clock a half a second faster than the closest competitor.

“Although he’s green, when you turn the jets on and go fast, he definitely shows up to the occasion,” said Walker of the up-and-coming mount that was previously campaigned as a young horse by Carly Anthony. “It’s been a lot of learning for both of us; he’s only 9 and hasn’t had very much experience at such a high level. But, he’s been extremely consistent since we’ve stepped him up.”

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Aaron Vale won the Rolex Grand Prix in Dinard, France

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August 2, 2025

By Staff Writers

DINARD, France--Aaron Vale on Carissiomo, in front of a sold-out crowd, won the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix Ville de Dinard, a Rolex Series event, on Sunday, July 27.

Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 (Photo by Rolex series)Over the 1.60m course designed by Jean-François Morand of France, 38 competed in the Grand Prix.

Marc Dilasser of France on Arioto du Gevres was the first to go clean, opening the door to a potential jump-off.

Nicolas Delmotte of France, 2017 Rolex Grand Prix Ville de Dinard winner, came close, finishing clean, but just 0.20s over the time allowed for one time fault.

It wasn’t until José Antonio Chedraui Promof Mexico on Haraminka P, 18th to go, that the crowd saw a second clear, and the jump-off was on.

Nina Mallevaey (of France followed with a clean round on Dynastie de Beaufour , and Max Kühner of Austria, Rolex Grand Prix Ville de Dinard winner in 2023, secured his jump-off spot on EIC Daloubet, and they were joined by Ignacio Maurin of Agentian on Conchado, Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden on Steely Dan, Harrie Smolders of Netherlands on Mr. Tac, and Vale on Carissimo 25.

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Kent Farrington and McLain Ward win at HITS

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August 2, 2025

By Staff Writers

SAUGERTIES, N.Y.--Kent Farrington won the $62,480 CSI3* Welcome Stake at HITS Saugerties for the third week straight, this time time on Grass de Mars on Thursday, July 31.

Kent Farrington on Grass de Mars McLain Ward on La Sera placed second in the Welcome Stake and then went on to win the $40,000 Winning Round on Friday, Aug.1

In the Welcome Stake,over a course set by Ken Krome, 14 went clean to go on to the jump-off.

The leading time changed hands several times, but Farrington, with the advantage of being last to go, shaved a mere three hundredths of a second off Ward’s previous leading time of 33.49 seconds to win in a time of 33.46 seconds.

“She’s been a winner right from the beginning,” said Farrington. “She was winning classes when she was 8 and she’s just 9 this year. She already jumped some 1.60m rounds, and I don’t know how many international classes she’s won, but a good share of them have been at the five-star level, so very proud of the horse and happy with the progress.”

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Team for Dublin Nations Cup includes two Olympic medalists, McLain Ward and Laura Kraut

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August 1, 2025

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team in the Nations Cup in Dublin CSIO5*, a part of the Dublin Horse Show, a Rolex Series event.

The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson.

The following riders have been named to the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Lucy Davis Kennedy of Long Beach, Calif.

Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Alex Matz of Coatesville, Pa.

Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla.

McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y.

Competition Information;

Competition in Dublin will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 6, with the highlight Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5* for the Aga Khan Trophy beginning at 3:00 p.m. , which is 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 8.

The Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland CSIO5* will start at 3:00 p.m., which is 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, to conclude the weeklong competition.

The competition will be live streamed on HorseandCountryTV.

Callie Schott won the Traverse City Grand Prix in her return to competition after injury

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July 27, 2025

By Staff Writers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Callie Schott on Garant returned to international competition to win the $117,000 CSIO3* Grand Prix on Saturday, July 26 during Nations Cup week at Traverse City Horse Shows.

Callie Schott on Garant (Photo by Megan Giese Media)Schott was sidelined for nearly seven months after an injury and subsequent shoulder surgery kept her from riding.

Nations Cup week in Traverse City, the site of her and Garant’s first five-star grand prix victory in 2022, was her return to international competition.

“This is great for our whole team because we’ve come off quite a break,” said Schott. “Garant loves it here. I think he feels at home, and this is our first FEI grand prix since December. It was great for the morale of the whole team to have this win.”

From a starting field of 42, six advanced to the jump-off over the course designed by Nick Granat.

Going first in the jump-off, Shott was clean in 36.45 seconds, to set a time to beat that no one could catch.

Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny, 17th in the world ranking, was the only other clean in the jump-off, finishing in 37.67 to place second on   Amsterdam 27. 

Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard on Fave d’Authuit had the fastest four-fault round of 37.28 seconds to place third.

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U.S. wins second consecutive 3* Nations Cup in Traverse City

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July 25, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--A young but very impressive U.S. team won the $75,000 Nations Cup in Traverse City CSIO3* after beating a strong team Irish team in a jump-off on Thursday, July 24.

U.S winning team at Traverse CityCanada was third, finishing on eight faults.

The U.S. team of Mimi Gochman of New York,N.Y., on Celina BH. Jacob Pope of Columbia, Md., on Highway FBH, Mia Bagnato of Fishkill, N.Y., on Ballyoskills Big Bucks and Charlotte Jacobs of Wellington,, Fla., on Korbach van de Renger had a total of four faults and tied with the experienced Irish team of Conor Swail, Simon McCarthy, Phillip McGuane and Darragh Kenny after two rounds, necessitating a jump-off of one rider from each team chosen by the chef d'equipe.

Gochman, Pope and Jacobs all went clean in round one while Bagnato had four faults for a round one total of zero,and in round two Gochmman and Jacobs were clean again while Pope had four faults and Bagnato was the drop score of eight.

In round two, while it rained, just two riders, Swail and Gochman had to go during a five minute torrential downpour.

"I haven't seen rain like that in years," said chef d'equipe Anne Kursinski. "Mimi got the worst of it."

Swail, who had been clean in round one, had 12 faults in the downpour but somehow Gochman managed to put in a second clean round.

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Ann Merryman's Great Notion colt won the MHBA Yearling Show

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July 20, 2025

By Staff Writers

TIMONIUM, Md.--It was a Merryman family sweep at the 91st annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show held on Sunday, June 29.

Championship presentation: (left to right) MHBA president Kent Murray, Mike Pons, Ann Merryman, Michael Merryman with Great Notion–Sista colt.Judge David Ingordo selected as grand champion a Great Notion colt bred and owned by Ann Merryman., and Reserve champion was Louis and Grace Merryman's filly by Bourbon Courage, bred in the name of their Anchor and Hope Farm.

The show's champion is out of Sista, a winning Two Punch mare Ann Merryman co-bred and trained, then retired to her broodmare band.

Sista is the dam of four named foals, including Maryland Million Sprint Turf winner Fiya, who made headlines when Merryman sold the 3-year-old gelding for $400,000 at the Wanamaker's sale in 2020.

The son of Great Notion took the blue ribbon in the first class of the day, for colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, by Maryland stallions.

"First impression is a powerful thing on a horse, and it's funny, the horse that ended up being the champion, he was one of the first horses I saw," said Ingordo. "Everybody else after him was either going to be up or down, and he remained at the top. You're looking for athletes, and athletes come in all shapes and sizes."

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Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque won Falsterbo’s Grand Prix

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July 14, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

FALSTERBO, Sweden--Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque won the 500,000 Euro, 1.60m Grand Prix with an incredibly fast round on Sunday, July 13 in Falsterbo.

Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque Cook won over a starting field of top riders in the two round class before a sold-out stadium.

Under the format of this class, the 13 with the fastest clean rounds made the second round, in which riders competed in reverse order of their time in round round, so Cook, who was five seconds the fastest in round one, went last in round two.

Round two served as the jump-off, with the fastest clean winning.

With Sanne Thijssen of Netherlands on Con Quidam RB leading on 43.74, Cook used his mare's speed to finish in 43.28, a half second faster for the win.

Steve Guerdat of Switzerland on Dynamix de Belheme was third, clean in 44.20.

"I'm so elated," said Cook. "It's a joy. "I'm so proud of my mare."

"It's nice when you go into a jump-off to know you have the speed," he said. "She's faster. I just had to keep up the ground speed."

"I thought I could handle the technical parts of the course," said Cook. "My mare has a shorter stride than some of the others, but she has the ground speed,"

"I love coming to Falsterbo," he said. "The crowd was amazing."

"Karl had terrific consistency in Falsterbo," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland. "He's riding really well. This win came on the heels of a double clear in the Nations Cup."

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U.S. team wins the Nations Cup in Caledon

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July 19, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

CALEDON, Canada--The U.S. team of Sloan Coles, Elena Haas, Alexandria Worthington and Marilyn Little won the 3* Nations Cup of Caledon over experienced Canadian and Irish teams on Thursday, July 15.

Chef d'equipe Anne Kursinski, a former OlympianAfter round one, Ireland led with zero faults, the U.S.was second with one fault and Canada was third with four faults.

"I thought we'd be second to Ireland, but Ireland fell apart in round two," said chef d'equipe Anne Kursinski.

The U.S. won with one fault, Canada was second with eight faults and Ireland was third on 33 faults.

In round one, Coles on Ninja JW van de Moeerhoeve, first to go fort he U.S. was clean, Elena Haas on Claude had one time fault,  Alexandra Worthington on De L'Oiseliere had eight faults and anchor rider Marilyn Little on La Contessa was clean.

It had been very windy all day, but just before round two expectantly  it began raining.

"We didn't even have any rain gear with us." said Kursinski.

In round two, when, for Ireland, Conor Swail had four faults, Christian Coyle had 12 faults and Simon McCarthy had 17 faults, that team had no possibility of winning, so Jordan Coyle didn't go.

Coles and Haas both went clean again and Worthington had four faults.

Canada's Vanessa Mannix had four faults, and Carly Campbell-Cooper and Nicole Walker were both clean, but when Amy Millar had five faults, the U.S. was already the winner without Little having to go.

But Little chose to go and was clean to have the U.S. finish on just 1 fault.

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U.S. placed second to Sweden in the Nations Cup in Falsterbo

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July 12, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

FALSTERBO, Sweden--The U.S.team of Spencer Smith on Keeneland, Carly Anthony on Heavenly W, Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque and McLain Ward on High Star Hero finished second, just one rail behind the winning team home team of Sweden in the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Falsterbo on Friday, July 11.

Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque It rained during the entire class, leaving the grass field a bit slippery, but the rain didn't deter the spectators, leaving the stands packed with standing room only.

Sweden won with four faults, the U.S. finished second with eight faults,  and Ireland was third, also on eight faults, but with a slower time than the U.S. 

Four teams, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland and the U.S were tied with four faults each going into the second round.

The Swedish team of  Petronella Andersson, Amanda Landeblad, Peder Fredricson, and Henrik Von Eckermann had three clean rounds in the second round.

So when the U.S. anchor rider, Ward on High Star Hero went, four faults would leave the U.S. tied for second with Ireland and a clean round would give the U.S.a tie for the win with Sweden, necessitating a jump-off.

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