Competitions

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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Erynn Ballard won the 1.50m Classic at WEF

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January 27, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard on Chatadel PS won the $62,500, CSI4* 1.50m Classic on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Erynn Ballard on Chatadel PS (Photo by Sportfot)Ballard won in a huge jump-off of 17 of the 35 in the Classic, with 10 of those going clean again in the jump-off.

Ballard, who went halfway through the jump-off, finished in 35.35 to win over second placed Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH, who finished in 35.54, and McLain Ward on Lestro VD Valckenborg, third in 36.30.

Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Corrie 9 was fourth in 36.33, with Mark Bluman of Columbia on Haquinsa fifth in 36.35, and Elena Haas on Ogue BT Special sixth in 36.98.

With this win, Ballard has won at least once every week since November. 

Ballard said she and her team have been patiently waiting for Chatadel PS to turn 9, which he finally did this year. 

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Marcus Orlob won the Grand Prix Special at the Festival

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January 26, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Marcus Orlob on Jane scored a personal best of 75.979% to win the CDI5* Grand Prix Special on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Global Dressage Festival..

Marcus Orlob on Jane (Photo by Centre Line Media)The top four riders in the class all had personal bests.

Canadian Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo scored 74.575%. to place second.

Jaccardo has been at international grand prix level for less than a year, and this was his first Special.

The score was just 1% shy of the Canadian record in this test, which was set by Belinda Trussell on Anton at the Festival in 2016.

California-based Geñay Vaughan on Gino scored 71.681% to place third.

This CDI proved that Orlob is finally figuring out a routine and test riding style that suits Jane; there was no hint of the tensions that dogged her in the ring in previous years.

“I was really happy that she behaved and controlled her nerves in the Grand Prix on Thursday, and again today she had a good performance,” said Orlob, who was unfortunately eliminated just seconds into his test on Jane at the Paris 2024 Olympics thanks to a speck of blood on her leg. “I always talk about how she needs to relax, and finally, I think we’re getting there, and we can start to show what we can do."

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Lillie Keenan on Fasther won the $215,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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January 25, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Lillie Keenan on Fasther won the $215,000, CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, Jan. 24 during Saturday Night Lights at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Lillie Keenan on Fasther (Photo by Sportfot)With her sights set firmly on the 2026 World Championships, Keenan, 29, beat a field that included two Olympic champions and five of the world’s top 10 over a course set by Canadian Peter Grant.

A daring rollback to the third fence and a leave-out in the final line gave Keenan the eventual win by three-tenths of a second.

Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam on Rural Juror SCF came the closest to Keenan’s time of 40.56 seconds, finishing second in 40.87 seconds ahead of Australian Olympian Thaisa Erwin on Hialita B, third in 41.28.

“That final line was a risky moment, but I think it made the biggest difference,” said Keenan, who trains with six-time U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward.

“Fasther was the first horse that Mclain selected for me (seven years ago) and represents the important mentorship I have with him,” said Keenan. “He’s my heart horse. He has a fire inside of him; loves to jump, but he really loves to run. We struggled a lot at first with rideability, but I have grown up with him; I trust him so much, and he tries so hard for me.”

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Netherlands' Mathjis Van Asten won the $340,000 Grand Prix in Thermal

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January 25, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Mathijs Van Asten of Netherlands on Hotspot won the $340,000, CSI5* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, Jan. 24 at Desert International Horse Park.

Mathijs Van Asten on Hotspot (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Van Asten was one of eight to qualify for the jump off over the course  designed by Colm Quinn and Alan Wade.

When Van Asten returned as the penultimate rider to jump, the time to beat had been set at 38.71 seconds by Callie Schott on Uricas v/d Kattenvennen.

“I know my horse’s nature is very fast, but I have to keep it smooth,” said Van Asten. “I know I have to take some risks because when Kent Farrington is behind you, then you know that it’s very hard because he’s very hard to beat. So, I tried to ride my own route and took some risks from the double to the vertical in the corner. I did one stride less than the rest, and I got a really forward distance to the last one. I think there I made my time.”

Van Asten was clean in 36.64 seconds, two seconds faster than Schott and enough to really put the pressure on Farrington riding Toulayna.

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Kent Farrington won at Thermal while Susan Pape won again in Wellington

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January 25, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

THERMAL, Calif. – Kent Farrington on Orafino won the $117,000, CSI5* 1.50m Welcome at the Desert International Horse Park on Thursday, Jan.22.

Kent Farrington on Orafino. High Destert Spor Photo)Farrington was one of 12 entries to advance to jump-off in the Thursday afternoon class, and he finished clean in 33.88 seconds to take the lead.

“With Orafina, if you’re going to bring her out here and put her in the class, then you’re going to put her in to win,” said Farrington. “After me was Karl Cook riding Caracole de la Roque, maybe the best horse in the world and certainly one of the fastest, so if I don’t make him work hard enough, I’m going to give him the class. So, we tried to make him work hard enough!”

Cook ultimately crossed the finish line in 34.84 seconds to take place second, with Skylar Wireman on Tornado third, also clean in 36.02

“Orafina has been an incredible horse from the beginning,” said Farrington of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare that he has owned since 2020. “She’s ultra careful, very fast and a hyper-competitive horse. She’s been a winner since the day I brought her into the stable. I don’t use her for the biggest classes anymore, but for these classes, she’s a great contributor to the team and still a real winner today.”

In addition to Orafina, Farrington has brought another of his top mounts, Toulayna, to California for the two weeks of CSI5* competition at the Desert Circuit, including Desert Circuit 4’s $340,000 CSI5* FEI Jumping World Cup.

“Rabbit Root Stables, based in California, has been an owner of Toulayna together with me since she was 8 years old, so I’m always happy to bring her out here on the West Coast so that they get to see her firsthand,” said Farrington. “Coming here is a change of pace, some place new, some new faces. I have some great people out here in Rabbit Root Stables that have supported my career, and I love to come out and see them and the other people on the West Coast.”

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Susan Pape won the dressage Grand Prix while Bertram Allen won the WEF Challenge

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January 23, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Great Britain's Susan Pape on Harmony’s Giulilanta won the CDI5* FEI Grand Prix at the Global Dressage Festival while Ireland's Bertram Allen on Eddy Blue won the 116,100 WEF Challenge Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Thursday, Jan. 22.

Susan Pape on Harmonys Giulilanta (Photo by Centre Line Media)In a special evening session under lights at the only CDI5* show of the Festival, Pape on Harmony’s Giulilanta won with a new combination career high of 73.63%, beating U.S. Olympian Marcus Orlob on Jane by just 0.043 percentage points.

Canada's Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo was third.

“It’s very exciting to be honored with a score like that, we keep climbing up,” said Pape. “There’s a lot of commotion, so she was a little tense, but I know how to cope with that. She’s still hot, but she’s focused. I think the high points tonight were the collected work, like the passage, transitions and pirouettes. Giulilanta does a lot of things very well.”

Orlob may well have scored above Pape if not for a spook at the end of the extended canter that muddied the flying change.

Still, Jane appears to have conquered much of the nerves and tension that marred some of her performances in previous years.

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Karl Cook won in Thermal while Richie Vogel and Daniel Bluman won at WEF

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January 22, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Karl Cook on Candy began his 2026 season with a win in the $32,000, CSI5* 1.45m Speed Stake held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Desert Circuit 3.

Karl Cook on Candy (High Desert Sport Photo)Meanwhile, at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., Richie Vogel of Germany had two wins and a second whle Daniel B luman of israel won one.

Cook's win on Candy was the first FEI victory for the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare that Cook has been riding for two yeas.

Cook finished clean in 61.66 seconds with Canada’s Tiffany Foster on Anton second in 63.05 and Mathijs van Asten of the Netherlands third in 70.30 seconds on Vedet DK Z.

“She felt great; it was a good course for her,” said Cook. “We left out a few strides, and we could go that speed without having to run too hard,  just doing really good, quick work. It was nice and educational.”

“It took some time to get to know her, but she traveled with Caracole de la Roque all year throughout Europe and really kind of grew in that experience,” said Cook. “Last year, she came up leaps and bounds, and starting off this year like this is just a progression from last year. It’s great that we didn’t lose anything after last year.”

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Skylar Wireman won the $75,000 Grand Prix in Thermal

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January 21, 2026

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Skylar Wireman on Tornado had three consecutive wins, culminating with a victory in the $75,000 Grand Prix at Desert Circuit 2 on Jan. 17.

Skylar Wireman on Tornado (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)“I’m feeling fantastic right now!” said Wireman, 21. “Tornado feels like he’s just so confident. He’s feeling like he’s ready to rock and roll, and I’m just so happy to be back at the desert.”

Wireman and her 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding started the week with wins in the $1,500 1.40m Open Jumpers and the $30,000, 1.45m Open Classic before returning to the Grand Prix Stadium on Saturday night to try to make it a hat trick.

Wireman was one of nine to go in the Grand Prix the jump-off, and when she went, the time to beat had been set at 37.579 seconds by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet on Argentina de la Marchette.

“I watched Gregory go, and I knew that he was very fast,” said Wireman. “Argentina is a very fast mare. She spends no time getting right across the ground. She’s just very efficient. So, I knew that I was going to have to be very fast in order to even potentially catch that.”

“Tornado has the biggest heart in the world," she said.”

Wireman was clean in 37.435 seconds, just fast enough to ultimately clinch the win.

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Peter Lutz won the CSI3* Grand Prix at WEF

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January 20, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Peter Lutz on Katriona won the $140,000 CSI3* Grand Prix on the grass derby field on Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Peter Lutz on Katriona (Photo by Sportfot)Katriona, an 11-year-old Dutch-bred mare, was bought from Bosch Sporthorses in Holland as a 7-year-old by Lövsta Stuteri after Lutz watched the first video of the young horse. 

“She did very well in the 1.50m series last year, and we started doing the bigger classes this summer,” said Lutz, who has been campaigning the mare for four years. “We’ve been consistent but waiting for the double clear. Her owners, Antonia Ax:son Johnson and Sophie Mörner, as well as our entire team, have always believed in her and have been so patient. There was never any pressure. We took our time, and this is the result.”

Lutz was one of nine to advance to a jump-off over the course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany.

Lutz was clean in 43.69 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than second placed Philip McGuane of Ireland on Paso Doble SCF, who was clean in 45.13 seconds.

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Lillie Keenan won the $50,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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January 19, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Lillie Keenan on Highway TN won the $50,000, CSI3* Grand Prix during Saturday Night Lights on Jan. 17 at the Winter Equestrian Festival. 

Lillie Keenam on Highway TN (Photo by Sportfot)USA’s Keenan leased Highway TN, owned by Team Nijhof, for the 2026 competition season and he lived up to her expectations during their first grand prix outing.

“I’m incredibly blessed that I got this opportunity,” said Keenan of her recent lease of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, previously ridden by Dutch Olympian Willem Greve of Netherlands. “The relationship that he and Willem have, I can’t replicate that, but he educated the horse so beautifully. I know there’s nothing I’ll do that he hasn’t already done. Tonight, I wanted to get to know him and start to develop our own partnership.”

With Greve, Highway TN won the Rolex Grand Prix at the 2024 Dutch Masters and competed at the 2025 FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland.

“I’ve always admired the horse’s ferocity,” said Keenan after years of watching the stallion compete. “He’s very different than my other horses, and I think he’s going to make me a better rider. When the potential opportunity presented itself to have the ride, it was a no-brainer.”

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Aaron Vale won the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEC

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January 19, 2026

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 won the $200,000 Grand Prix CSI4* under the lights on Saturday evening, Jan. 17 at the World Equestrian Center.

Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 (Photo by Andrew Ryback)A field of 34 representing 13 nations competed over the course set by Anderson Lima of Mexico, with eight going clean to advance to the jump-off. 

Israel’s Daniel Bluman on Corbie V.V. was the first to go in the jump-off, following his win in Thursday’s $62,500 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4* with his other mare, Gemma W.

“It’s always hard when you have to go first in the jump-off, and you have several fast riders coming after you,” Bluman said. “My plan with ‘Corbie’ was to hold her in the beginning so I could let her go at the end. If I start a little bit too fast, then I would lose a bit of my control, but overall, she jumped amazing.”

Bluman set the time to beat with a clean round in 37.96 seconds and put pressure on the remaining contenders.

World No. 8 Nina Mallevaey of France on My Clementine was next to go, but despite leaving out strides in nearly every line, she finished just one-tenth of a second behind Bluman in 38.07 seconds.

“This is the first show back this year for My Clementine,” Mallevaey said, “I’ve been riding her for about two years now, and when she gets in the ring she’s a real fighter. It’s our first show of the year, and we didn’t miss anything!”

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Luis Larrazabal won over Lillie Keenan at WEF

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January 18, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal on Baroness won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Friday, Jan. 16 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Luis Fernando Larrazabal on Baroness (Photo by Sportfot)After a win on Thursday in the  1.40m Two-Phase to open the week on the grass derby field, Larrazabal won the Cup in a seven-horse jump-off.

Over a course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr.  Larrazabal set the pace as the first to return and held on for the win by less than four-tenths of a second over the closest challenger, Lillie Keenan on Kick On.

Keenan was clean in 38.57 seconds behind Larrazabal’s time of 38.19 seconds, and Alexandra Worthington was third on De l’Oiseliere.

“I’ve been riding this mare since she was 6, and I know her completely,” said Larrazabal, “Today, she jumped amazingly. She’s had five weeks off, and the plan was to start this week. It’s as good as possible to start a season this way.

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Mark Bluman won the 1.45m Speed at WEF

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January 17, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Mark Bluman of Columbia on Phelina de Spton won the $32,000 CSI3* 1.45m Speed on the grass derby field at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Mark Bluman on Phelina de Septon (Photo by Sportfot)During the two months before WEF, Bluman won nine international top 10 finishes on Phelina de Septon. 

In the one-round speed over a course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr., Bluman was clean in 62.2, more than a second ahead of the nearest challenger

Ben Maher of Great Britain on Ginger-Blue was clean in 63.44 seconds to place second, and Chloe Reid on Chelsea 179 was third in 64.85. 

“This field is a beautiful place to be, and it feels great to be back,” said Bluman, who got the ride on Phelina de Septon in May of 2025. “This is my first WEF season with her, but since I started with her, it’s been unbelievable. We’ve had an unbelievable run.”

“She’s so game—you need to have a major mistake for her to have a rail,” said Bluman.

Bluman is aiming Phelin de Septon at the 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, with the goal being the $150,000 final during WEF 11.

He is aiming at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen with a new ride, Landon.

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Lillie Keenan won the Jumper Classic at WEF

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January 12, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Lillie Keenan on Chagrin D'Amour won the $32,000, 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday, Jan. 11 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Lillie Keenan on Chagrin D'Amour (Photo by Sportfot)Last to go in the jump-off of the Classic. Keenan on the 9-year-old stallion took advantage of her position and went clean in 37.99 seconds to take over the lead from Mckayla Langmeier on Pepita VD Rollebeek.

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor on Ulysses was third in a 13-horse jump-off in which six were clean over the course set by Nick Granat.

McLain Ward on Lestro VD Valckenborg was fourth, clean in 39.87, with Ireland's Max Wachman on The Kerryman fifth in 40.51 and Emily Routledge sixth in 44.58.

“He’s not the quickest galloping horse, so you have to leave out or be willing to take risks because he has extra scope,” said Keenan, whose own Chansonette Farm purchased the stallion as a 7-year-old.

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Spain’s Gonzalo Busca Roca won the $140,000 Grand Prix at WEF

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January 11, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Spain’s Gonzalo Busca Roca won for the first time at Wellington International Saturday Night Lights, going clean in 41.70 to win the $140,000, CSI3* Grand Prix during opening week of international competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Gonzalo Busca Roca Cristiano on Obolensky (Photo by Sportfot)It was a class that had some very strange results, particularly for some of the top riders in the world, over a course set by Nick Granat.

One fence, the fan fence, caused a number of horse to spook at it, resulting in a number of horse running out at it or having a rail down after almost stopping.

It caused the withdrawal of world ranked number 4 Ben Maher after one of his top horses, Ginger Blue, had a rail down at it, and the elimination of world number 9 McLain Ward on Le Louvre 5 after two stops there.

Natalie Dean on Con Calma was eliminated at the fan fence in the jump-off when Con Calma almost stopped and then fell over the fence.

Three top riders on their 5* horses had four faults in this 3* class, a competition that should have been easy for them, and two of them, Spencer Smith on Keeneland, and Ireland's Tom Wachman on Do It Easy, had their rails at the fan fence while world number 7 Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 had the last fence down.

Wachman, who won the last premiere competition of 2025, the Grand Prix in London, on Do It Easy, said he had never had Do It Easy even look at a fence before, and that he'd almost stopped at it, which caused the rail.

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Nina Mallevaey won the WEF Challenge Cup over Olivia Sweetnam

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January 9, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Nina Mallevaey of France won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 on Thursday, Jan. 8 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Nina Mallevaey on Destine To Be ((Photo by Sportfot)Mallevaey on Destine To Be finished clean in 33.10 in the jump-off to win over 18-year-old Olivia Sweetnam on Epic, clean in 34.58

 Mallevaey, 26, in the first release of the FEI rider rankings for 2026, made her debut in the world’s top 10 at no. 8 , and she also leads in the U25 World competition,

Sweetnam just won the Medal Finals Championship  last October.

“It’s an amazing achievement and I didn’t expect it," said Mallevaey of her standing in the World Top10. "My team, my horses—I have a lot of people around me who helped me achieve this and I can’t thank The Rein Family enough. They have supported me for almost five years. There’s no better way for me to thank them than results like this."

“This now pushes me to try to stay in the top 10, while also listening to my horses and what they need,” she said. “The ranking is nice, but my horses are more important than the points.”

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McKayla Langmeier won the first WEF Grand Prix of 2026

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January 5, 2026

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Mckayla Langmeier of East Granby, Conn., rode Jiselle NS to win the $75,000 Grand Prix on Sunday, Jan. 4 and close out opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Mckayla Langmeier on Jiselle NS (Photo by Sportfot)In a three-horse jump-off, Langmeier went last over the Eric Hasbrouck designed course and knew all she had to do was go clean.

After Lillie Keenan and Jacqueline Ruyle had rails doown, Langmeier adjusted her plan.

“I definitely went a little wider to the last jump once I knew I jumped the first part clear, then I could take a moment to the last,” said Langmeier, who trains with six-time U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward. “It’s a great way to start the season. I’ve had Jiselle NS since she was 6, so I know her well. We’ve worked up to this level together, so for me, my family and North Star, it means a lot to see her perform this well.”

Jiselle NS is a 12-year-old Balou du Rouet daughter bred by the Jacobs family’s North Star Sport Horses.

Langmeier was clean in 42.459 seconds.

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Kent Farrington on Greya won the 1.2 million Euro Grand Prix in Geneva

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December 15, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

GENEVA, Switzerland--In one of the top Grand Prix in the world, Kent Farrington avenged his loss to Scott Brash in the World Top 10 competition to win in Geneva on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Kent Farrington on Greya (Photo from Geneva)Farrington on Greya won the 1,200,000 Euro Rolex Grand Prix. a part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, in a thrilling eight horse jump-off.

In a tremendous day of sport, Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on James Kann Cruz was second to go in the jump-off over the course set by Grégory Bodo and Gérard Lachat, and he set the time to beat of 41.39,

Farrington was the fifth to go in the jump-off, and with a beautifully ridden, smooth and very fast round finished in 40.04, over a second faster, but then had to wait through the three remaining riders before claiming the win.

Thibeau Spits of Belgiom on Impress-k van't Kattenheye Z then finished in 42.21 to eventually place third, followed by Sophie Hinners of Germany on Iron Dames Singclar,, who finished in 42.35 to finish fourth, and then Christian Ahlmann of Germany on Dourkhan Hero Z had eight faults to give Farrington the wi5n. 

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Callie Schott on Garant won the Grand Prix in Thermal

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December 14, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Callie Schott on Garant won the $340,000, CSI5* Grand Prix over Aaron Vale and Jessie Springsteen on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Desert Holiday CSI5* finale,

Callie Schott on Garant (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)“I told myself that I was just going to try to go and not touch the reins and see what happens,” said Schott. “This was definitely the fastest I’ve ever gone! Normally, I give him a few checks here and there. Today, I said, ‘You know what? I have nothing to lose. Let’s just go for it!’”

Schott was the fastest by more than a second in the seven-horse jump-off over the course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr.

Schott had the advantage of being the second to last to go in the jump-off, and when she went the time to beat had been set at 39.48 seconds by Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25.

Schott finished in a lightning quick time of 38.08 seconds to win, with Vale placing second and Springsteen on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve third in 40.14.

“This is the third jump off he’s made in a row at 1.60m, so hopefully we’re developing some consistency,” said Vale of Carissimo 25. “The horse has all the ability, and I feel like we’re really starting to get some consistency. I was a bit early in the jump off, so I was pretty good at the beginning. In hindsight, I’d like to take a little more chance at the second to last, but I left the ring as the leader and only one of them beat me, so we got to say it was a good night!”

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Scott Brash edged out Kent Farrington to win the Top 10 Final in Geneva

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December 13, 2025

By Staff Writers

GENEVA, Switzerland--Scott Brash of Great Britain just won over Kent Fsrriington by a tenth of a second in a thrilling Rolex Top 10 Final on Friday, Dec. 12.

Kent Farrington on Tulayna at Thermal on his way to becoming World number one (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Brash on Hello Chadora Lady finished clean in both rounds and finished on 45.63 to win over Farrington on Toulayna, clean in both rounds but in 45.79, while Richie Vogel on Cloudio was third with a total of four faults in 44.24.

"I'm absolutely delighted to win," said Brash, who had also won the Top 10 Final in 2014, "I'm delighted for my mare. She's such a quik mare,and she deserved it."

In a unique competition, the top 10 World Ranked Riders competed in a two round competition over two courses set by Gerard Lachat of Switzerland and Gregory Bobo of France. 

In round one, riders went in reverse order of their world standing, and in round two went in reverse order of their finish in round one, with their aggregate score from the two rounds determining their finish, with their time in round tie breaking any ties.

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Erynn Ballard, Kaitlin Campbell and McLain Ward won the Team competition at Thermal

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December 13, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Erynn Ballard, Kaitlin Campbell and McLain Ward of the Roadrunners won the $200,000 Major League Show Jumping CSI5* Team Competition on Friday, Dec. 12

Mclain Ward on First Lady (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)“We play to win!” said Ballard. “You have a very strong group of winners riding on this team, so there’s nothing better than a win. There’s nothing better than a win at home. I think all of us rose to the occasion tonight.”

In MLSJ format, after all eight teams with three riders each go in the first round, the top four teams advance to the first jump-off.

There, each team selects two riders to try to win a spot in the gold medal podium jump-off round.

“Our strategy was to put McLain and I in the first jump-off to get us into the winning round,” said Ballard.

Both Ballard on Her Game Ball BG and Ward on First Lady went clean, with Ballard also having the night’s fastest round.

The gold-medal showdown then was between Campbell and Maccabi United’s Daniel Bluman.

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Mark Bluman won the Qualifier in Thermal

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December 12, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Mark Bluman on Landon de Nyze, in only their second show together, won the $182,000, CSI5* Qualifier at the Desert Holiday 2 show on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Mark Bluman on Landon de Nyze Daniel Bluman had a feeling that Landon de Nyze would be well suited for his cousin, Mark, and gave him the horse.

“Daniel is going to heaven if he keeps giving me these kind of horses!” said Bluman of the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding previously competed by Daniel Bluman and to great success by Kent Farrington before him. “Landon was super successful with Kent. He got an individual silver medal in the Pan Am Games, won a couple CSI5* grand prix with him. Kent had enough horses at the time, and he wasn’t really taking Landon much to the show, so Daniel bought him for him to ride.”

“Again, same story with Daniel, he had many horses to ride at the time, and he knew the horse could be a great match," said Bluman. "Even at the beginning when Daniel first bought it, he said, ‘Listen, I think this could be a good match for you. Let me give it a go and see how it goes, but I know at the end of the day, you’re going to end up riding him.’ So, now it’s up to me!”

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Stella Wasserman on Myla won at Thermal

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December 10, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--Stella Wasserman on Myla won the $40,000, 1.45m Open Classic at Desert International Horse Park on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Stella Wasserman on Myla (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Desert Holiday 1 was only Stella Wasserman and Myla’s fourth show together.

“She’s my type of ride,” said Wasserman of the mare previously competed to great success by world number one Kent Farrington. “She’s small, typey, hot, and that’s definitely what I like in a horse. With every horse you first start off with, you have to figure them out and learn their ins and outs, but she’s a great horse to work with so figuring her out is very pleasant.”

“My goal today was to kind of just keep forming that partnership with her and figuring her out and learning what makes her tick,” she said.

“She’s obviously an amazing horse coming from a great person and program, and I’m very lucky to be able to have a horse like this,” Wasserman said. “I’m just figuring her out and forming a partnership and seeing where that takes us!”

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Karl Cook won the $62,000 Grand Prix in Thermal

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December 8, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.-Karl Cook on Kalinks van't Zorgvliet won the $62,000 CSI2* Grand Prix at Desert Holiday 1 on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Karl Cook on Kalinka vant Zorgvliet (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)Following about a year and a half off from an injury, Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet returned to competition this fall, and this was her second major win since returning to FEI competition in September.

Cook was one of 51 entries in the CSI2* finale class at Desert International Horse Park, and he was one of nine to advance to jump-off over the Alan Wade-designed course.

Israel’s Daniel Bluman on Rebelline de Kwakenbeek set the time to beat of 34.69 seconds.

“I saw Daniel go, and Daniel’s always fast,” said Cook. “So, my plan was just go as fast as you can! It always helps to see someone go quickly before you, even if some of the numbers were different. I think he and I did near the same numbers, it’s just Kalinka’s a little bit faster in the air which is just the way that it is.”

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The Bluman's team won the team competition in Thermal

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December 6, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--The Maccabi United team of Daniel Bluman on Hummer Z, Mark Bluman on Phelina de Septon and Uma O’Neill on Luigi d’Eclipse 

moved to the top of the Major League Show Jumping team standings following a win in the $200,000 CSI5* Team Competition on Dec. 5 during Desert Holiday 1.

Daniel Bluman on Hummer Z (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)In the MLSJ format, there are eight teams of seven riders.but only three riders from each team compete in each leg.

Then in each leg, the eight teams of three compete with the top four teams going on to a second round, then if there's a tie one member of each team is chosen.

Two identical courses are set and those two go head to head over the identical courses with the winner the one with the fastest time  under the faults-converted format, with three seconds added per knockdown.

Prior to Friday night, the Maccab team was second in the overall standings – and it was also second at the end of the night’s first round.

in round two, O’Neill and Mark Bluman were clean, but the Archer team of of Niclola Philippaerts on H&M Que Sera, Alex Matz on Junior Kannan and Callie Schott on Garan also had two clean, so there was a jump-off.

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McLain Ward won the $182,000 Qualifier at Thermal

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December 5, 2025

By Staff Writers

THERMAL, Calif.--McLain Ward on First Lady, for the second year in a row, won the $182,000 Visit Greater Palm Springs CSI5* Qualifier on Thursday, Dec. 4.

McLain Ward on First Lady (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)A field of 38 competed over the  qualifying course designed by Alan Wade, and nine advanced to the jump-off.

As the fourth to go in the jump-off, Ward was clean and set the time to beat at 36.01 seconds.

Keri Potter and the very quick Kalimera van de Nethe Z went after Ward and had the best time of 34.89 seconds, but a rail down left her fourth.

Nina Mallevaey of France on Dynastie de Beaufour placed second in 41.59 seconds, and Ireland’s Conor Swail on Clonterm Obolensky was third.

“I was lucky to get to watch a few,” said Ward, who is currently ranked 11th in the world. “First Lady’s quick, not quite as fast as Keri’s mare, but it played out in our favor today. First Lady was out for a little while this summer with an injury, but she has come back really strong and been phenomenally consistent. She won the qualifier a Washington.The biggest shows, those are the competitions that we’ve been aiming for, and she’s just delivering week after week.”

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Kent Farrington on Greya won the $200,000 Grand Prix in Wellington

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December 1, 2025

By Staff Writers

WELLINGTON, Fla.--Kent Farrington on Greya was a runaway winner of the $200,000 Holiday & Horses CSI4* Grand Prix, winning in an eight horse jump-off by six seconds.

Kent Farrington on Greya (Photo by Cassidy Klein)Anthony D’Ambrosio set the course for the starting field of 39, of which eight went clean. 

Hallie Grimes on Karoline of Ballmore went first in the jump-off, going clean in 45.78 seconds, which ultimately finished second.

Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on Coriaan van Klapscheut Z followed next, finishing with four faults in 43.46 that ultimately placed third, following his CSI3* Grand Prix win just two weeks prior.

Then Farrington delivered a masterclass in speed and precision, finishing clean in 39.34 seconds.

The remaining riders, Erynn Ballard of Canada and Jad Dana of Portugal, had four faults while Stephanie Macieira ad Daniel Bluman had eight faults.

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