Competitions

Isabell Werth won the World Cup Grand Prix at the Festival

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February 20, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Global Dressage Festival's standing was raised into the stratosphere as the undisputed global queen of dressage, Germany’s 12-time Olympic medalist Isabell Werth, burst onto the Florida dressage scene on opening day of Week 7 of the Festival.

Isabell Werth on Special Blend 3 (Photo by Centre Line Media)Werth won the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix with her much-anticipated ride on Special Blend 3, scoring 73.13% despite the gelding losing a front shoe in the first extended trot.

In a truly international class, riders from six different nations filled the top six spots.

Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor placed second on Jewel’s Goldstrike, the horse he rode in the Paris 2024 Olympics, with a score of 71.196%, which would have been higher but for a costly mistake in the two-time changes.

Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu was third on Jaccardo with 70.761%.

“I lost my rein and then the shoe, which was funny, but anyway, Special Blend did really, really good,” said Werth, who last rode in Wellington 15 years ago on her Olympic team gold medallist horse, Satchmo.

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Conor Swail won in Thermal and Eduardo de Menezes won at WEF

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February 19, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Ireland’s Conor Swail on Theo 160 won the CSI3*, $32,000 Welcome Speed on Wednesday, Feb. 19 on the Grass Field at Desert International Horse Park in Desert Circuit 7.

Conor Swail on Theo 160 accompanied by his dog Ralph (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Eduardo Pereira de Menezes of Brazil on H5 Kontador VDM won the CSI5*, $32,000, 1.45m Two Phase at the Winter Equestrian Festival on the same day.

Despite being only the second pair to go the Welcome Speed, Swail set a time that would stand untouched.

Through the remainder of the class, no one came within even three seconds of Swail's winning time of 65.87 seconds.

Kaitlin Campbel on Cosm Questa VD Heffinck, the last to go in the Speed, finished second in 69.52 seconds, and Tiffany Foster of Canada on Anton was third in 71.50 seconds.

“All the numbers came up lovely for Theo, and he is a quick, competitive horse,” said Swail. “I must say, he jumped beautifully today. This is his first time out on the grass this year. He has been here before on the grass, and he is very good on it. I was very pleased with the size of his step and how easily he went around. It was very smooth.”

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Luis Fernando Larrazabal won the WEF Challenge Cup

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February 19, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal on Baroness won the $62,500, CSI3* WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 on Feb. 14 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Luis Fernando Larrazabal Baroness (Photo by Sportfot)The win was their third international victory at WEF this season and came on the grass derby field during Hunter week while many competitors were in Ocala at the World Cup qualifier.

Over the course set by Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris, 14 were clean to go on to the jump-off.

Larrazabal finished clean in 45.78, with Ireland’s Bertram Allen on Pacino Amiro, his mount from the Tokyo Olympic Games, second in 46.61 seconds.

Quentin Judge on HH Griffin van de Heffinck was third in 46.97 seconds.

“When we come out here on the grass field, she has a lot of success, and I always have a good feeling, but you never know until you pass the timer flags after that last jump,” said Larrazabal. “I’m very pleased. Luckily, I was at the end of the second round, which gave me perspective on how the others were doing.

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Richie Vogel on Cardentos won the 2 star Grand Prix at WEC

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February 17, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla,--Richard Vogel of Germany on Cardentos, a new ride, won the $65,000 Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the World Equestrian Center.

Richie Vogel on Cardentos (Photo by Andrew Ryback)A field of 37 competed over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, with 11 going clean, seven of which were also clean in the jump-off.

It was a very tight jump-off, with the top five times all within one second.

Vogel was clean in 32.44 seconds to win, with Vaclav Stanek of Czechoslovakia on Langley second in 32.52 seconds, and Mark Bluman of Colombia on Hastella third in 34.54, just two one-hundredths of a second back. 

This was the first FEI competition for Vogel on Cardentos after first competing three weeks ago in a national competition.

“Cardentos is a very exciting addition to our string of horses,” said Vogel of the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion. “He felt very good today. I think with him, it's just about giving him confidence. He has a lot of quality, and I'm super happy with the result today."

“He wants to be very, very careful, so I don't have to protect too much,” he said. “I can really focus on having good foot speed and almost, in a way, attack the jumps. I think that was a good advantage today that I could keep going everywhere.”

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Ben Maher on Ginger Blue won the Speed at WEC

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February 16, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Great Britain's' Ben Maher on Ginger-Blue won the $62,500 1.50m Speed CSI5*-W class on Saturday, Feb. 14, repeating their winning performance from Thursday, at the Winter Equestrian Center.

Ben Maher on Ginger-Blue (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Despite going very early, third in the class of 33, Maher set the early time to beat of 56.56 seconds and couldn’t be caught.

Of the 14 that jumped clean in the Speed class, Wednesday’s winners, Erynn Ballard of Canada on Her Game Ball BG placed second, just off the pace in 56.64 seconds, and Laura Kraut on Tres Bien Z placed third with a time of 57.12 seconds.

Hunter Holloway on Pepita Con Spita was fourth in 57.30, with Jordan Coyle of Ireland on For Gold fifth  in 57.77 and Nina Mallevaey of France on My Clementine sixth in 58.27.

Only 1.71 seconds separated the top six placed entries, with less than eight seconds separating the top14 finishers.

“The double of verticals were early on, and I was able to really ride at them," said Maher. "It’s slightly unconventional compared to some horses where you have to be more careful, but I really trust her quality, and we know each other well. After that some of the distances were short, but I was able to just keep a little bit of outside line and keep traveling forward, which made the lines slightly quicker. They got very, very close, but luckily, it worked for us today.”

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Natalie Dean scored in Abu Dhabi

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February 16, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

ABU DHABI, UAE--Natalie Dean had one of only a few clean rounds in the Nations Cup on Friday and then had another clean round, but with one time fault, in the Grand Prix on Sunday at the League of Nations first competition in Abu Dhabi, Feb. 11-15.

Natalie Dean The young team of Natalie Dean, Sophie Segal, Skylar Wireman and Callie Schott placed eighth in the Nations Cup, and then Dean,, seventh, and Segal, 17th, both placed in the top 20 in the Grand Prix against a field of 50 that included a number of of Olympic and World Championships medalists.

The Grand Prix turned into a very strange competition as five of the 13 in the jump-off had time faults, which completely altered how the competitors planned their strategies and their rides.

From the starting field of 50, the top13 with four faults or less qualified for the second round against the clock.

With a big, very hard and technical course with a very tight time allowed, only two were clean, five had time faults and six had four faults.

Dean had jumped clean but with one time faults in round one, so, with riders going in reverse order of qualification, of the four faulters, four had eight faults, and two went clean in round two to stay on four faults,

Then the strategy for Joseph Stockdale and Tim Greddley of Great Britain, with three time faults and two time respectively, changed for them, as they didn't have to go for time to stay where they were, and with the ability to take their time, both went clean to stay on three and two.

Marco Kutcher of Germany had added 11 faults to his one time fault.

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Mimi Gochman won the $300,000 World Cup - Ocala

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February 15, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Mimi Gochman on Iron Maiden won the $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala at the World Equestrian Festival on Saturday evening, Feb. 14, and the win qualified her for the finals to be held in Fort Worth, Texas in April.

Mimi Gochman on Iron Maiden (Photo by Andrew Ryback)For Gochman, 22, that was her first five-star and first World Cup victory, and she beat Olympians Eduardo Pereira de Menezes of Brazil and Cian O’Connor of Ireland.

There were 14 Olympians of 11 countries in the class of 38 that competed over the course set by Bernardo Costa Cobral of Portugal, and only four went clean to advance to the jump-off.

Of those four, only Gochman went clean again.

Gochman was first to go in the jump-off, and despite a problem at the fifth jump where Iron Maiden made a huge effort to stay clear, she finished clean in 41.79 seconds.

 "I'm so honored," said Gochman. "I'm super, super proud of my horse. This is what I've been working towards, and what my team has been working towards.

"Iron Maiden is a horse that is not the most experienced going quick in jump-offs, especially with me," she said. "The partnership isn't as developed as maybe it is with my other horses. He can sometimes get a bit stressed out in jump-offs, almost anxious. I just wanted to keep it really smooth with him. He kind of saved me a little bit at one of the jumps, and he really gave me a good effort, so I was very happy. He really stepped up and gave me so many nice jumps, and he really tried so hard. Double-clear was really the goal there."

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Victoria Colvin on Dicoblue PS won the $150,000 Hunter Spectacular at WEF

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February 16, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, Fla., on Dicoblue PS won the $150,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Feb. 14 during World Championship Hunter Rider Week at the Winter Equestrian Festival.  

Victoria Colvin on Dicoblue PS (Photo by Sportfot)Meghan Rawlins of Canada designed the two-round class of a classic first round and then a handy track.

The panel one judges were Alex Jayne and Shane George; panel two was Mary Lisa Leffler and Mary Eufemia; and panel three was Rob Bielefield and Tom Brennan.

Entries for the ‘Saturday Night Lights’ class qualified by winning the champion title in their respective divisions at the 3’6” height or above.

Colvin and the 11-year-old Diarado’s Boy son posted a 95.66 from the opening round and a 97 in the handy, including a perfect 100 from panel three.

She finished with a final average score of 95.83.

“He is the best,” said Colvin of Dicobluet, who also carried her to win the International Hunter Derby Championship this summer. “He has not been fazed by anything. He was great at Derby Finals under the lights and incredible again there. I was confident that he was going to be good, but you also never know, but he walked in and was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked him to do anything better.”

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Shane Sweetnam won the $62,500 Winning Round at WEC

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February 14, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam on Coriaan van Klapscheut Z won the $62,500 Winning Round CSI5*-W on Friday.Feb. 13 at the World Equestrian Festival.

Shane Sweetnam on Cotiaan van Klapscheut (Photo by Andrew Ryback)With the Winning Round format, from 33 entries12 were clear, but only the top 10 qualified for the second round.

Over the course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, only three were clean in the jump-off, with Sweetnam winning in a time of 35.80 seconds.

McLain Ward on Lestro vd Valckenborg, finished second, clean in 37.22 seconds, and Stephanie Macieira of Brazil on Toulouse van’t Prinsenveld Z was third, clean in 38.48 seconds.

Richie Vogel of Germany on Michael Jackson W was the fastest of those with four faults, finishing fourth in the fastest overall time of 35.55,

Tanimara Maria Macari Carrillo of Mexico on Queenala T was fifth, four faults in 36.83, and Jacob Pope on Jecibelle was sixth, four faults in 38.41.

“I wanted to win, but it was hard to gauge what needed to be done to win,” said Sweetnam. “There was a turn to the second-to-last jump, which I wasn’t in love with. I sort of took a gamble there to go around and be fast, then do one less stride to the last jump. It worked out well. It was just a little bit of an awkward jump-off, so I wasn’t sure it would be enough. Thankfully it was.”

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Young U.S. team eighth in Abu Dhabi League of Nations

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February 14, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

ABU DHABI, UAE--A young,, inexperienced team of four girls finished eighth in the first League of Nations Nations Cup competition in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 13.

French team Their eighth place finish won 50 points for the U.S. as it begins its campaign to be one of the eight teams that qualify for the final in Barcelona.

Ireland and France were on zero faults after round one with Great Britain and UAE  next on four faults.

Sarah Seal on Boreale de Fondcombe and Natalie Dean on Pedro van de Barlebuis were both clean in round one, while Skylar Wireman on Tornado had eight faults and Callie Schott on Uricas v/d Kettevennen was eliminated to finish round one on eight faults , one of four teams with eight faults.

That left the U.S.in a good spot going into round two, in which only three riders for each team competed, so no drop score.

That's when trouble struck for the U.S.

First go go in round two for the U.S., Wireman turned to fence three but met it slightly off stride, and despite Tornado's effort to jump, he ended up stopping into the fence, tossing rails all over and half pulling his bridle off.

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Ben Maher won the World Cup Qualfier at WEC

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February 13, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Ben Maher of Great Britain on Ginger-Blue, despite the huge disadvantage og going first of 17 in the jump-off, won the $117,000, 1.55m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the World Equestrian Center .

Ben Maher on Ginger Blue (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The week's highlight is the $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W World Cup Ocala, a qualifier for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday evening, February 14.

Fifty-nine entries competed over a first-round course set by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, and 18 went clean, but only 17 competed in the jump-off as Laura Kraut chose not to go again on Dorado 212.

First to go in the jump-off, Maher was clean in 37.63 seconds and then had to watch the next 17 in the jump-off.

“I was watching the clock count down to get past the 37-second mark, and a couple of them came really close," said Maher of the only three after him that also went clean in the jump--off.

Erynn Ballard of Canada on Epsilon de Brenil was second, clean in 37.82 seconds, Nina Mallevaey of France on My Clementine finished third, clean in 38.29, Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on James Kann Cruz was fourth, clean in 39.13, and Kraut on Tres Bien Z was fifth with four faults in 37.35, the fastest of five with four faults.

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Erynn Ballard won the 1.45m Speed at WEC

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February 12, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard on Game Ball BG won the $32,000 1.45m Speed CSI5*-W on Feb. 11 at the World Equestrian Center.

Erynn Ballard on Game Ball BG (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The five-star competition's highlight on Saturday evening, Feb. 14 is the $300,000 1.60m World Cup Ocala, the final qualifier for the World Cup in Fort Worth, Texas, April 8-12, 

Ballard went 32nd of the 38 entries over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cobral of Portugal, and finished clean in 62.69 seconds for the win.

Hunter Holloway on Pepita Con Spita finished second in 63.63 seconds, and last year’s winners, Nina Mallevaey of France on My Clementine, placed third in 65.58 seconds.

Ballard has ridden Game Ball since July of 2025 and has now recorded their sixth FEI victory. 

“She's an incredible partner,” said Ballard. “It's pretty special to have an ownership group stand behind me like that and give me an opportunity to have a horse like Game Ball.”

Ballard has been riding for Ilan Ferder Stables for nine years.

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Jessica Mendoza won at WEC and Erynn Ballard won at WEF

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February 9, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA. Fla.--Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on In The Air won the $200,000 Grand Prix over a field of 32 at the World Equestrian Center and Erynn Ballard of Canada on De Flor 111 Z SantaRosa won the $62,500 1.50m Top 12 at the Winteer Equestrian Festival on Sunday, Feb. 8,

Jessica Mendoza on In The Air (Photo by Andew Ryback Photography)At WEC, seven went clean to go on  to the jump-off over the course set by Canada’s Peter Grant, with only two going clean again.

Ashley Vogel on Otis Blue was the first to return in the jump-off, going clean in 49.57 seconds to set the early target.

“I was third to go with some fast riders behind me, and I knew I had to go for it,” said Mendoza. “I didn’t plan on doing that inside turn, but the person in front of me did it, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know I needed to do that.’ But she’s so athletic. I know I can do that turn on her, and she’d be right there with me.”

Mendoza finished clean in 45.87 seconds, a time that ultimately proved unbeatable.

“I’ve had In The Air for about two years now," said Mendoza. "She’s always been amazing, but she’s turned into this superstar of a horse. She loves jumping, and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to have her. I actually have her brother, too, so that’s pretty special. He also does five-stars. They’re a pretty good family. I got them at the same time from the same breeder; they both have the same mom. They’re completely opposite animals, but they’re both very, very special.”

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Richie Vogel on Gangster Montdesir won the $500,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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February 8, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Richie Vogel of Germany on Gangster Montdesir won the $500,000, CSI5* Grand Prix over a field of top riders in the world on Saturday evening, Feb. 7 at the Winter Equestrian Festival. 

Richie Vogel on Gangster Montdesir (Photo by Sportfot)Three of the world’s top 10 placed first, second and third in the Grand Prix on Saturday Night Lights over a course set by Gregory Bodo of France.

World ranked number 6 Vogel on his 10-year-old new star Gangster Montdesir was clean in 42.65 to win the first of four five-star events at WEF by three-tenths of a second over British Olympic Champion Ben Maher on Enjeu de Grisien, clean in 42.95.

World number 8, 26-year-old Nina Mallevaey of France was third in 43.37 seconds on Dynastie de Beaufour.

Lillie Keenan, world ranked 29th, on Argan de Beliard was fourth in 44.36, and world number 2 Kent Farrington on Greya was fifth, fastest of the four-faulters in 40.43.

At only 10, Gangster Montdesir already has two five-star grand prix wins after also winning  in Lyon last October.

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Christian Simonson on Fleau De Baian won the Grand Prix Special at the Festival

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February 8, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Christian Simonson on Fleau De Baian won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special over a field of 14 at the Global Dressage Festival on Feb. 7.

Christian Simonson on Fleau De Baian (Photo by Centre line Media)

Simonson had never before ridden a CDI special on 16-year-old stallion Fleau De Baian, and he won on a score of 70% on a sunny Saturday.

Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana was second on 69.447, and Jennifer Williams on Joppe K scored 68.872% to place third.

Simonson and Fleau De Baian earned plenty of eights, but had mistakes in both lines of changes on the diagonal.

This result marked the first CDI win for them since Simonson took over the ride in late 2023 from Adelinde Cornelissen, who also rode Fleau De Baian’s full brother Parzival at two Olympic Games.

“Horses are always a learning process, and with ‘Felix’ I’ve learned an immense amount about them already,” said the 23-year-old Simonson. “It’s a testament to my trainer Adrienne Lyle and the team that we can deconstruct what happened and look at how we can best understand it and move forward. Today was a good reflection of our mentality to always try to do right by our horses, understand them better and present them better."

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Jordan Coyle and Laura Chapot win at WEF

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February 7, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Jordan Coyle of Ireland on King Kannan GP won the $62,500, CSI5* 1.50m Speed and Laura Chapot on Ginola won the $32,000, CSI2* Qualifier on Friday afternoon, Jan. 6 at the Winter Equestrian Festival 

Jordan Coyle on King Kannan (Photo by Sportfot)The 5* Speed also served as a qualifier for Saturday evenings''s $500,000, CSI5* Grand Prix, which will include five of the world’s top-10 ranked riders.

The top 10 finishers in the Speed not previously qualified for the Grand Prix were added to the list of the top 30 qualifiers from Thursday's WEF Challenge Cup.

The last to go in a speed class always have the advantage, but in this Speed class, the top six finishers were all in the first half of the class.

Despite going 14th in a class of 53, Coyle's time of 58.66 proved to be uncatchable.

Mark Bluman of Colombia on Phelina de Septon was second in 58.91, with Richie Vogel of Germany on Iron Dames Abouchaker NRW third in 59.62,, Tanner Korotkin on Cardozo 4 fourth in 61.97, Erynn Ballard of Canada on De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa fifth in 62.97 and Carlos Hank Guerreiro of Mexico on Nostalgie GIE sixth in 62.54.

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Pablo Gómez Molina and Genay Vaughn win at the Festival

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February 7, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Pablo Gómez Molina of Spain on Servus Ymas won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle, the horse’s first-ever CDI freestyle, during Friday Night Stars on Jan. 6 at the Global Dressage Festival.

Pablo Gomez Molina on Servus Ymas (Photo by Centre Line Media)Gómez Molina's Queen routine, which included a final centerline of piaffe into extended trot into piaffe into halt, scored 74.49%, had a high score of 76.45% from British judge Stephen Clarke.

Devon Kane of Wellington on Vamos finished a close second with 74.235%, riding to Latin rhythms, and Susan Dutta on Don Design DC was third with a disco music routine.

The class served as a qualifier for the US Open of Dressage series, now in its second year.

Seven of this season’s 24 qualifiers are held at the Festival before the final in California in November. 

Gómez Molina has been competing Servus Ymas, since he was 5. 

“I had a bit of doubt about today because in the grand prix he was spooky with the wind and the rain,” said Gómez Molina, who has trained with Ali Brock over the past month. “But once I got on, he was really focused. There’s no better place to try these things than here."

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Mimi Gochman won the $116,100 WEF Challenge Cup

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February 6, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Young superstar Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH won the $116,100 CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 over a field of world top ranked and Olympic champion riders on Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH (Photo by Sportfot)Under the top round format, 12 returned for the second round over Paris Olympic course designer Gregory Bodo’s course, including three Olympians, an Olympic Champion and two of the world’s top 10.

With the pressure on, Gochman, knowing her mount’s abilities, stuck to her plan and finished clean in 43.99 seconds to win over second placed Marilyn Little on La Contessa, clean in 44.74.

“I looked back at the oxer where I knew five had been a little flat in the first round. I knew if I had a good one in, I could let him canter up there,” said Gochman, 21. “My rollback to the vertical and the six put me in a really good flow, and I think that is where I had the time.”

Lillie Keenan on her new mount Highway TN was third by a slim margin in 44.80 seconds.

Gochman has ridden Inclen BH, barn name Alfie, for three years.

“Alfie has such a competitive brain himself and is super level-headed,” she said. “He really knows how to place himself well, which makes my job really easy.”

“WEF is so challenging on so many different levels," said Gochman, who has already had four international top 10s during WEF. "There are amazing rider and horse combinations here. It’s nice to be able to prove myself against some of these top riders. I feel honored to be in this class, and I’m honored that my horse was right there with me.”

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Genay Vaughn and Ashley Holzer won at the Festival

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February 6, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Geñay Vaughn on Gino won the CDI4* Grand Prix, and Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana.won the CDI3* Grand Prix at the Global Dressage Festival on Thursday, Jan. 5.

Genay Vaughn on Gina (Photo by Centre Line Media)A total of 27 grand prix riders competed on opening day of week five at the Festival in the day’s two top level classes, while unusually chilly and blustery conditions allowed a single plus-70% score to be enough to claim the honors in each class. 

In the CDI4* class, Vaughn won on 70.283 with Devon Kane on Vamos second on 68.717%, their highest score in this test in their three years at the CDI level, and Katherine Bateson Chandler on Haute Couture third with 68.391%.

Vaughn is based in Elk Grove, Calif., and she and the 15-year-old Gino are familiar faces in the winner’s circle on the West Coast, but this was their first East Coast victory.

“It was wild winter in there!” said Vaughn, who is spending the season in Wellington to try to secure a starting spot at the FEI World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, in April. “For him to stay with me like he did shows me that he’s in tune with me. He’s the greatest. He’s a super freak with strengths in the piaffe, passage, and changes, everywhere really. His gaits are incredible, and everything keeps getting better; we’re starting to tap into showing everyone what we can do at home.”

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Rodrigo Pessoa won at WEF and James Chawke won at Thermal

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February 5, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Corrie 9 won the $32,000, 1.45m Two Phase at the Winter Equestrian Festival while James Chawke of Ireland on Nacara van Berkenbroeck Z won the $10,000, 1.35m Welcome Speed for the second week in a row at Desert Circuit 5 on Wednesday,  Feb. 4.

Rodrigo Pessoa on Corrie 9 (Photo by SEL Photography)Pessoa, who was late to go in the class of 37, was clean in 22.22 to just edge out Erynn Ballard of Canada on Chatedel PS, clean in 22.66. 

There were 28 of the 37 that went on to the second phase in the class, and of those, 16 were clean in the second phase, with just eight seconds separating first from 16th, so a very competitive class.

Marilyn Little on Narado was third in 23.47, followed by Nicola Philippaerts of Belgium on Que Sera, fourth in 23.66, Nicole Walker of Canada on Atout des Trambles, fifth in 24.11, and Daniel Bluman of Israel on Rebelline de Kwakenbeek, sixth in 24.39.

At Thermal, Designer Peter Holmes set the speed course on the grass field, and Amanda Gomez on Charly-Ann quickly established the time to beat at a competitive 56.915 seconds.

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Maryland five star Eventing questionable for this fall

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February 4, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--The drama at Fair Hill continues.

Boyd Martin on Commando 3 at the 2025 Md. 5* (Photo by Allen Macmillan for Macmillan Photogaphy)For five years, the fate of the turf track hung in the balance as holding the Maryland five star dressage and show jumping on the infield meant trucks crossing the turf track rendered the track unusable for months.

There was no training on the turf track and no hope of holding the annual Memorial Day racing there.

Finally, that was resolved, and the track was opened for training last year. 

The turf track is now  covered with snow and ice, but trainers say they expect training 0n it to resume this spring, and the Memorial Day races are tentatively scheduled for this spring with hopes of holding many more races there.

But now the future of the Maryland five star is in danger.

The five star has been losing money, and employees missed paychecks until the state recently authorized $94,000 for the Sport & Entertainment Cor[oration.

There has also been a turnover in leadership, with Joanie Morris, the longtime competition director, having left in November to go to the Aiken Horse Park Foundation in South Carolina.

Sports & Entertainment Corporation President Terry Hasseltime and CEO Jeff Newman left in December.

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, "in a 990 tax form from 2023, the most recent available, the Maryland 5 Star reported $7.6 million in expenses and $1.4 million in sponsorship revenue."

Despite the problems, officials are determined to hold a competition this year, and meetings are being held to ensure that the five star goes on.

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Charlotte Osborne won the Freestyle at WEC

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February 3, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla,--Charlotte Osborne of Great Britain on Fruhlingszauber won Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, the highlight of the WEC January Dressage CDI3*,  on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the  World Equestrian Center. 

Charlotte Osborne on Fruhlingszauger (Photo by Andrew Ryback)With a freestyle choreographed by Karen Robinson and music chosen by Osborne, she had a personal best score of 70.775%, including a 72.575% from judge at C, Kristi Wysocki.

"The chosen house music style fit perfectly for “Ozzie,” who “really dances to it,” said Osborne. “The judges said they really liked it too. It’s got a strong beat to it. It’s very clear for the changes, so he can really feel it. I think he enjoys it.”

Osborne increased the difficulty in her choreography, which included two-tempis on a circle into one-tempis, then dropping into passage movement, followed by a piaffe pirouette.

“It’s very ambitious,” said Osborne, “But he’s such a good boy. I’m super grateful for him and lucky to be on a horse like him.”

Osborne's friends and family had flown in to watch.

“It all came at the right time,” she said. “Usually, it’s just me and my groom Eliza Sanders. I finished my test and looked to see them cheering. It was my favorite part of the night, getting to share it with everyone.”

Claire Darnell on Harrold S placed second place with 70.560%, and Sylvia Gugler on VulkanoA was third with a score of 66.600%.

Jessica Howington on Finesse Langholt DWB won the Intermediate 1 CDI1* with 68.970%.

Daniel Coyle won the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEC

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February 3, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.---World ranked number 11 Daniel Coyle of Ireland on Farrel won the $200,000 Grand Prix CSI4* on a very chilly Saturday evening, Jan. 31 at the World Equestrian Center.

Daniel Coyle on Farrel (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Thirty athletes representing 15 countries competed over the course set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela assisted by Peter Grant of Canada, with nine going clean to advance to the jump-off.

Coyle finished clean in 39.24 to win, with Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on In The Air placing second n 39.70 and Nina Mallevaey of France on Nikka vd Bisschop third in 40.11.

“This year I’ve been very fast but have had a fence down," said Coyle. "I could be two or three seconds faster, but with a fence down. So I decided to go a little slower and be second or third. So I went in with that in mind, but that also doesn’t always work, sometimes we kinda just go.” 

“The jump-off was quite straightforward,” Coyle said. “One to two, there were no real numbers. Then the double. When I walked, it was five strides across the center, and I didn’t think I was going to do that, but we did it, and that’s where I got an extra half a second on everybody, and he’s very good at turning no matter what the speed is.”

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Kyle King won the $340,000 World Cup qualifier in Thermal

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February 1, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Kyle King on Kayenne Z, "A horse that has been delivering dreams one after another here recently” won the $340,000 CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup – Thermal, on Saturday night, Jan. 31, at Desert International Horse Park.

Kyle King on Kayenne Z (Photo by High Desert Sport Phot)This was King's first CSI5* grand prix victory.

Alan Wade set the course for the field of 28, of which seven went clean to make the jump-off.

Karl Cook set the early time to beat at 36.60 seconds on Foxy de la Roque, and King was fifth to go, with Gregory Wathelet of Belgium on Ace of Heats and Kent Farrington on Toulayna still to go.

King's initial jump-off plan didn't quite come to fruition, but despite that it became the winning move when he finished clean in 36.46 seconds, 

"I almost made a mistake on the rollback to the purple jump, but it worked out, and I think that's where I was able to be competitive," King said. "Sometimes mistakes work out. I turned up wrong, but the stride showed up."

"I knew Kent could catch me, obviously, if he was clear. But sometimes it's just meant to be," King said. "I really was going to be satisfied with a double-clear tonight. .I just figured, 'Let's go for it!'"

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Shane Sweetnam won the $215,000 Grand Prix at WEF in freezing temperatures

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February 1, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam on Coriaan van Klapscheut Z won the $215,000, CSI4* Grand Prix on the grass derby field at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Shane Sweetnam on Coriaan van Klapscheut Z (Photo by Sportfot)Freezing evening temperatures of around 30 degrees in Florida caused the Grand Prix to be moved from 7 p.m. Saturday evening to the derby field in the afternoon.

From a field of 19, six advanced to the jump-off over the course set by Anderson Lima of Brazil, with five of those going clean again,

Third to go in the jump-off, Sweetnam shaved three seconds off the then leading time, finishing clean in 41.40 seconds to eventually win.

“I thought it would take more time to get this horse to this level, but I didn’t have many horses when he stepped up to FEI last year,” said Sweetnam, who has ridden the 10-year-old gelding since the middle of 2024. “His first week here last year, he’d never done an FEI class and was second in the WEF Challenge Cup. He took to it like a duck to water and was very competitive from the start, even though he was green. He really wants to leave the jumps up.”

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Jennifer Hannan and Daniel Geitner win Hunter Derbies

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January 31, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, R.I., on Cellestino won the $25,000 USHJA International Hunt & Go Derby at the Winter Equestrian Festival while Daniel Geitneron Walk the Tides won the inaugural $75,000 USHJA WCHR East Coast Hunter Spectacular at  the World Equestrian Center in Ocala on Friday, Jan. 30.

Jennnifer Hanan on Cellestino (Photo by Sportfot)Hannan won on a final score of 188.

“I’ve only had him for about a year now, and everything we’ve ever asked him to do, he steps up,” said Hannan. “He’s super brave, careful, very athletic and he has a massive stride. He’s everything you could ask for in a hunter.”

With a score of 92 in the classic and a 96 in the handy, Hannan won by a single point over runner-up Laena Romond of Brookefield, Conn.

“We were able to show off quite a bit in the classic round,” said Hannan. “The first round gave us a lot of opportunity to gallop, and this horse in particular really shows a good gallop.”

With less than two points separating the top three finishers, Romond was second on Oslo on a total score of 187, and she was also third on Fellow Z with a score of 185.75.

“We started Cellestino here last year in the 3’6” Performance Hunters and spent time figuring out what was best for him,” said Hannan. “We went right out and did a national derby on the grass, and he went nicely. Naturally, he stepped into the international derbies and had a wonderful summer last year.”

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Mark Bluman won the WEF Challenge Cup

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January 30, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Colombia’s Mark Bluman on Landon de Nyze won the $116,100 WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 on the grass derby field on Thursday during Week 4 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Mark Bluman on Landon (Photo by Sportfot)In six international starts together over two competitions, Bluman and Landon have won twice.

The Challenge Cup was competed over Anderson Lima’s  two-round grand prix qualifier course, with the top 12 returning with their faults carrying over to the jump-off.

“I’m very thankful for him, I’ve never ridden a horse of such caliber; he’s careful, tries hard, and we were well-suited from the first moment,” said Bluman of Landon, a horse previously ridden by his cousin Daniel Bluman and World No. 1 Kent Farrington before that.

With Farrington, Landon won a team gold medal and an individual silver medal for the USA at the 2023 Pan American Games.

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Kent Farrington won again at Thermal

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January 30, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Kent Farrington on Orafino dominated the $117,000, CSI5*-W Qualifier, winning by over two seconds on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Desert Circuit 4.

Kent Farrington on Orafino (High Desert Sport Photo)It was the second week in a row that Farrington won the Welcome Stake.

This time, Farrington was the first of 30 entries to compete over the course designed by Alan Wade and Colm Quinn, and, while 24 other competitors had faults, Orafina made the track look easy.

The same was true when it came time for the jump-off.

As the first to go in the jump-off, Farrington finished clean in 34.83 seconds, a time that would prove far from catchable.

Gregory Wathelet of Belgium on Argentina de la Marchette finished second as the only other to finish clean, stopping the clock on 36.95 seconds.

Callie Schott on Uricas v/d Kattenvennen finished third with four faults in 41.05 seconds.

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James Chawke of Ireland won the Welcome Speed in Thermal

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January 29, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Ireland’s James Chawke on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z won the $32,000, CSI5*-W 1.45m Welcome Speed on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Desert Circuit 4.

James Chawke on Daido vant Ruytershof Z (High Desert Sport Photo)That was the first CSI5* win of his career.

A field of 36 competed over the one round speed course set by Alan Wade and Colm Quinn. with 13 going clean.

Chawke went in the middle of the order, and he easily shaved more than a second and a half off the previously leading time to take over the top spot in 61.78 seconds.

Canada’s Tiffany Foster on Battlecry finished second in 63.43, and Skylar Wireman on Cielo was third in 64.50 seconds.

Wireman, who has had a very successful circuit so far, used the class on Tornado as a school for the up-coming World Cup class, and was clean in 74.31 to place 11th.

Wireman is one of the four chosen to represent the U.S. in the first League of Nations competition in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 13 along with Natalie Dean, Callie Schott and Sarah Segal.

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All girl U.S. team for first League of Nations

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January 28, 2026

By Staff Writers

The U.S. is the top qualifying nation for this year's League of nations 10 team competition of four events, with the top eight teams then qualifying for the Final in Barcelona.

Skylar Wireman on Tornado winning in Thermal in January (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)The first of the four events is in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Feb. 13.

Team USA leans on girl power to pack a punch in its opening campaign, as chef d'equipe Robert Ridland’s transatlantic-bound quartet has been named as Natalie Dean, Callie Schott, Sarah Segal and Skylar Wireman.

Belgium is buoyed by their sensational Team Gold Medal at the 2025 FEI Jumping European Championship in A Coruña, Spain last July.

Chef d'equipe Peter Weinberg's team includes seasoned competitors Rik Hemeryck, Jos Verlooy, Wilm Vermeir and Annelies Vorsselmans.

Team Ireland returns to defend the title they won here 12 months ago, now under the guidance of newly appointed chef d’equipe Jessica Kürten.

Trevor Breen and Michael Pender proved instrumental in last year’s victory, completing both rounds of the 2025 edition without incurring a single penalty.

They return this year eager to repeat the feat alongside Longines League of Nations debutants Shane Breen and Niamh McEvoy.

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