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Richie Vogel won the $181,150 Qualifier at Tryon (2)

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October 17, 2026

By Staff Writers

TRYON, N.C.--Richie Vogel of Germany on Diatasio won the CSI5* $181,170 1.55m Qualifier on Friday, Oct. 16 during Major League Show Jumping at Tryon.

Richie Vogel on Diatasia Vogel already has a very strong string of horse, and Diatasio, at only 8 years old, adds another top youngster to that impressive group of horses.

Over the course set by Nick Granat of Canada, 13 of the  37 competitors had clear first rounds to qualify for the jump-off.

Laura Kraut on her Tokyo Olympic mount, Baloutinue was the first to go clean in round one, but she elected not to return for the jump-off, leaving 12 to jump-off.

Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on Pia Maria was the first to go clean in the jump-off, finishing in 38.09 seconds, establishing the early time to beat and ultimately placing third.

Nicholas Dello Joio on Cornet’s Cambridge finished clean in 37.62 seconds to place second.

 Bit it was Vogel on Diatasio who was the fastest clean, finishing in 36.82 seconds, more than almost a second quicker, to win.

The only other clean round, Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on Ascadina PP Z, was fourth in 44.88.

DESPITE Diatasio's young age, Vogel emphasized the importance of understanding his horse and carefully managing each performance.

"I think it's very important with Diatasio only being 8 years old to really listen to your horse in each of those rounds and try to do as much as you can without doing too much," Vogel said.

Reflecting on Diatasio’s performance, Vogel highlighted the gelding’s confidence and natural ability.

"He felt very confident today. He has a lot of quality, so confidence is very important to him," Vogel said. "He's an outstanding horse. We are very lucky to have him."

Diatasio now joins Vogel's stable that includes such stars as Gangster Montdesir and United Touch S.

Caitlin Boyle won the 1.30m Grand Prix in Harrisburg (2)

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October 17, 2026

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Caitlin Boyle on Tahiti van’t Klavertje Vier won the $30,000, 1.30m Grand Prix on Friday evening, Oct. 16 at the 80th Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Caitlin Boyle on Tahiti van t Klavertje ((Photo by Andrew Ryback)In a huge jump-off 18 from a starting field of 41, over a course set by Bernardo Costa Cabral, seven of the 18 were clean again to became a tightly contested race against the clock.

The third to go in the jump-off, Samantha Schaefer on Emely van de Pluimert Z, had been competitive all week, and that was true again on Friday night, as Schaefer set the time to beat with a time of 33.515 seconds.

That time would hold up for the lead until Boyle six trips later.

With some carefully ridden tight turns Boyle  cut two-tenths of a second off Schaefer's time to ultimately win in 33.279 seconds.

Schaefer held on to second place, while Augusta Iwasaki on Fee Des Hermines was third in 34.057.

HANNAH MATTS on Maltic Dream was fourth in 34.282, with Ashley Worthington on Diadora fifth in 37.658, Kianna Luscher on Hollywood Rock H sixth in 38.167 and Marylisa Leffter on Oopsala seventh in 39.174.

“Tahiti is a lovely, lovely mare,” said Boyle of the 7-year-old. “She just gave me everything she had all week. I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s been nothing but perfect this whole time, and she’s just the most game little mare and tries her heart out all the time. We purchased her out of the Youngsters Auction last October, just about a year ago. She jumped a couple 1.30m prior to the auction. So, we took a little bit of a risk on her, and clearly that’s paying off for us!”

“Right now I would like to keep her a little longer," said Boyle. "Everything I ride is always for sale, but she’s just been amazing. I’m in a little bit of a transition period with some horses. My last two that I had that were excellent, excellent partners for me did get sold. So, she’s one that’s a little bit more up and coming. I hope that she’s going to be a nice ranking horse for me to show in some international competition.”

In addition to winning Friday night, Tahiti finished as the 1.30m Jumper division reserve champion.

With a very narrow margin separating Boyle and Schaefer, Emely van de Pluimert Z won the championship.

Schaefer won the Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award and the 1.30m Leading Jumper Rider Award. 

It had been several years since Schaefer last competed at the PNHS, but now, she plans to be back.

“They do an amazing job, and I love this opportunity with the way the 1.30m division’s laid out," said Schaefer. "I think it’s a really unique show, and the atmosphere was awesome tonight. I mean, it was a 1.30m grand prix, and how often do you get to do that? It was awesome. So, we’ll definitely be back. We loved it.”

Jordan Coyle won the $100,000 Grand Prix in Harrisburg (2)

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October 18, 2026

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Jordan Coyle of Ireland on Cordiamo won in the $100,000, 1.40m Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday evening, Oct. 17 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Jordan Coyle on Cordiamo (Photo by Andrews Ryback)Coyle had previously won Thursday’s $30,000 1.40m Welcome.

This time, Coyle on Cordiamo was one of eight from the starting field of 29 to go clean and advance to the jump-off over a course set by Bernardo Costa.

The time to beat was set by Filip de Wandel on Strongbeau, who finished clean in 38.725, but next to go was Coyle, who finished in 31.758, and that time would ultimately hold up to give him the win by nearly four seconds.

Gustavo Xavier Cortez on Action T was clean in 35.602 to place second, and de Wandel held on to place third.

Laura Chapot on Ginola was the fastest of those with four faultsinntehjumo-off, finishing in 32.713 for fourth, and JJ Torano onQuincy Quality was fifth withfour faults in 33.403.

“I KNOW he’s a fast horse,” said Coyle of Cordiamo, who Coyle has had since the gelding was 3 years old. “I was actually very tight back to the second jump. He’s not going to touch them. I did get lucky at the second to last. It was a little bit hairy there, but he was quite good again tonight.”

“I think there is a big future with him for sure," Coyle said. "He’s very careful; he’s very competitive. If I do a good job, I think he’ll jump five-star grand prix competitively.”

Coyle was the busiest rider in the class with five horses, and he also finished eighth on Arisos, ninth on For Gold and 10th on Ballyv Blake.

Coyle suffered a badly broken leg early in the season and had a number of plates put in, and this was his final show of the year as he will now have another operation to remove those plates.

This year marked Coyle’s second year competing at the PNHS, and he also was Leading 1.40m Open Jumper Rider.

“Tonight, the atmosphere was unbelievable,” said Coyle. “It felt like a real class. The course builder did a good job. The jumps weren’t too big, but there weren’t so many clear. It was just difficult enough.”

 Cordiamo was the 1.40m Jumper Champion.

The Wissie Brede Memorial Challenge Trophy for the 1.40m Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award went to Laura Chapot.

Western Fold won the American Grand National over Fil Dor (2)

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October 18, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAR HILLS, N.J.--In a thrilling finish, the Irish invader Western Fold (Ire) just nipped Fil Dor (Fr) at the wire to win the $300,000, G1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Far Hills steeplechase meet.  

Western Fold nips Fil Dor in the Grand National. You can just see Fil Dor's grey nose behind Western Fold (Photo by Tod Marks)Western Fold, owned by Weldspec Glascow, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, won the 2 5/8 miles Stakes by a scant nose over Del Rio Racing's Fil Dor, trained by Ricky Hendriks and ridden by Conor Tierney, with Zanahiyr (Ire), also trained by Elliott, third.

Irish champion trainer Elliott again dominated Far Hills, as he did last year, this year saddling the winners of the two biggest stakes on the card.

But Hendriks had an extremely good day, with the horses he saddled placing second in the two biggest stakes and winning the third biggest stakes.

"We had a big day," said Hendriks. "It almost was a huge day."

Elliott also saddled Del Rio Racing's Lizzie Twigg (Ire) to win the $150,000 Foxbrook Champion Novice Hurdle Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths over Lynches Knock (Ire), trained by Hendriks, with Vae Patron (Fr), trained by Keri Brion, third.

ALONG WITH the two stakes seconds, Hendriks also saddled Del Rio Racing's Blue Waters (Ire) to win the $100,000 Peacock Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths over Timetoshine (Fr), trained by Mark Beecher, and Path to Victory, trained by Lillith Bpucher.

Not only did Hendriks win a Stakes and place second in two other Stakes, three of the most financially rewarding stakes on the steeplechase calendar. he also is now the new trainer of three of the horses Elliott brought over from Ireland to race at Far Hills.

The three, owned by Del Rio Racing, are Lizzy Twigg, the winner of the Mare Stakes, Porcupine, who, because his saddle slipped in race one didn't finish, and San Hilario (Fr), second in the Maiden Hurdle Stakes.

"It was a really exciting day," said Hendriks. "I rode in pony races here, and I rode here as a jockey, and now I'm here as a trainer, so I've been coming to this meet for a long time."

"Blue Waters was enjoying the softer ground," said Hendriks of the going after a night of rain right before the races."We knew if Blue Waters liked it that Fil Dor would really love it."

"Fil Dor ran a super race," Hendriks said. "He'd been training really well. I didn't think there'd be much pace in the race so Conor and I discussed it, and we decided to put him in the lead and see what happened."

Fil Dor led throughout the race and was just nipped in literally the very last stride by Western Fold at the wire.

Fil Dor has now placed twice second and once third and once fourth in stakes this year.

"He'll go to the Colonial Cup next," said Hendriks.

"We knew Lynches Knock was in tough against Lizzie Twigg," he said. "We were pleased with his effort. We'll run him right back at the Gold Cup in an allowance."

Keri Brion saddled July Cavalry Racing and AJ Suited Racing Stable's Noble Factor, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, to win the $150,000, 2 mile turf flat race by 6 1/2 lengths over Kiamba (Ire), trained by Miguel Clemant, and Without (Ire), trained by Tom Garner. 

Even though this was a steeplechase meet, the $150,000 purse drew a number of top flat trainers, including Graham Motion and Michael Matz.

"We did think our lad would do well with the soft ground," said Mulqueen. "Plus, the flat horses were stepping up a half mile in distance."

Todd McKenna saddled two winners, both owned by Keystone Thoroughbreds.

Max Attack, ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Four-Year-Old Hurdle Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths over Pudding Lane, trained by Kate Dalton, and Pleasant Fantasy, also trained by Dalton, and I Found My Jet (Ire), ridden by Graham Watters, won the $64,000 Maiden Hurdle Stakes by 3 lengths over San Hilario (Fr), trained by Elliott, and Lost In the Dream, trained by Mark Beecher.

"Max Attack made his first start just a few weeks ago, and he did it so easily we thought to just step him up," said McKenna, :He's young. He made one start in Ireland before I bought him, so this is just his third start."   

McLain Ward won the $340,000 Grand Prix in Tryon (2)

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October 19, 2026

By Staff Writers

TRYON, N.C.--McLain Ward on High Star Hero celebrated his 51st birthday by winning the $340,000, CSI5* Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix on Saturday evening, Oct.17.

McLain Ward on High Star HeroSix of the 37 competitors went clean over the course set by Nick Granat of Canada to advance to the jump-off.

Ward's round was a clinic in how to ride a jump-off course.

He finished clean in 42.68, almost two seconds faster than second placed Christian Kukuk of Germany on Akarod Tivoli Z, who finished in 44.30, while Mark Bluman of Israel on Genial De B'Neville was third in 49.52,

Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on James Kann Cruz was the fastest of those with four faults, finishing in 44.07 to place fourth with Daniel Bluman on Corbie V.V. fifth in 45.30 and Gabriel De Matos Machado on Legaland Sandro sixth in 49.62.

"I thought it was a proper five-star Grand Prix anywhere in the world," said Ward. "You have a very top heavy group here. You have six of the top 10 in the world. Number one, two and three in the world."

"When I walked the course, I thought it was a pretty tough one today," Kukuk said.

"I have a lot of hope in this horse, Kukuk said. "I think he's going to be my best horse in the next years, so I'm happy with what he's doing here." 

"I knew that by going clear I was guaranteed a podium, and I was listening to my horse and what he needs, so I didn't want to take a risk. I wanted to play it safe and get a nice result for the horse and myself," Mark Bluman said.

"IT'S A PLEASURE to be sitting next to two Olympic champions. It's a dream come true," Bluman said on sharing the podium with Ward and Kukuk.

"For some reason, I've had a lot of seconds and thirds in this class at Major League Show Jumping. I've aimed at them but have come up short," Ward said.

"Hero has been great all year," said Ward. "I made a mistake at the last fence last week."

"For me, James Kann Cruz is the greatest horse, and he was going after me, so I had nothing to lose," said Ward of his jump-off plan.

"This was a great birthday, and thank you to his owner Mike Smith and all the fans here."  said Ward as the fans in the stands were singing Happy Birthday during the awards ceremony. 

For Ward, the victory delivered a milestone result on his birthday against a field featuring some of the world's highest ranked riders.

Paige Busby won the Junior Medal Final in Harrisburg (2)

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October 20, 2026

By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Paige Buzby won the USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East on Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Paige Busby on Kathmandu WV (Photo by Andrew Ryback)One day earlier, on Saturday, Busbt had won the inaugural PNHS Children’s Medal Final.

“This is my home state,” said Buzby of Chester Springs, Pa. “I know a lot of people and have a lot of friends who come here, so it just means a lot to win where I’m from.”

The Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final is competed over three phases, which mirror the phases and format riders face in collegiate equestrian competition.

A field of 71 riders contested the opening jumping phase, set over a 3’3” course, and from there, judges Britt McCormick and Lyman Whitehead narrowed the field down to the top 15 for the flat phase.

Buzby on Kathmandu WV scored an 89 in the jumping phase,

“That horse is very, very dear to me,” said Buzby. “She’s been given to us to make up as a bit of an equitation horse, so she’s been climbing the ranks with me. We got her at the end of Florida; I’ve had her since then, and we’ve been working together.”

“I WAS SO nervous going into the first round,"said Busby. "Knowing that I came out on top meant that I could have a breath of relief, but at the same time, not. I know my flat isn’t my strongest suit, so I had to make sure I worked very hard at that. I thought it went very well.”

Following the flat phase, the field was narrowed again to only the top four riders.

In this final phase of the class, riders compete on horses they have not ridden before, again echoing the NCEA style of competition.

The fourth and first place rider compete on the same horse, while the second and third place riders also share the same horse.

The winner of those two head-to-head rounds then complete a final course on another shared mount.

“I ride a couple of the clients’ horses at home because my mom’s my trainer, and I get a lot of opportunities to ride different types of horses,” said Buzby, who trains with her mother, Kim Buzby of Windfall Farm in Chester Springs. “So, I felt confident going into the horse swap.”

Buzby’s first match-up of the final phase had her go up against Kinsley Nolte of Downington, Pa.

Riding Invictus, ridden in the first round by Stella Cross, Buzby and Nolte earned scores of 87 and 86, respectively, advancing Buzby to the final ride-off.

This time, it was Buzby and Cross, of Malvern, Pa., who faced off on Phantom van de Lindehoeve, ridden in the first round by Hadley Hoeft.

“I thought Invictus was kind of my ride,” Busby said. “He was soft. He required leg, but not too much. The second one was a lot more leg. He was tired, so I had to be stronger than on the previous ride.”

In that final ride, Buzby earned a score of 84 to clinch the win.

Cross received a score of 82 to finish as the reserve champion.

Nolte placed third, and Hoeft was fourth. 

Scott Stewart Leading Hunter Rider at Washington (2)

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October 21, 2026

By Staff Writers

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.--Scott Stewart won the Leading Hunter Rider Award on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Washington International Horse Show.

Scott Stewart on California Love (Photo by Erin Gilmore)In an amazing performance of ability and consistency, this was the 16th time that Stewart of Flemington, N.J. won the Leading Rider Award.

Stewart also rode California Love to sweep the High Performance Hunter division with five wins, leading to the division championship as well as Grand Hunter Championship.

Stewart found California Love in Germany as a 4-year-old, and people still ask Stewart if he came with his name, which is from his dam, Daytona Love, and sire, Clarimo.

"He has always been really laid back,” said Stewart of the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “I showed him a little bit as a 5-year-old, then brought him out as a Green Conformation Hunter when he was 6. He has been great ever since.”

WHEN THE first day at Capital Challenge Horse Show didn’t go their way, Stewart scratched from day two and saved “Love” for WIHS.

Although WIHS is at the same venue, there is enough change to make a difference for Love.

“The ring is quite different from Capital Challenge,” Stewart said. “There is more for horses to look at, so I think it actually perked his interest a little. The spookier the ring, the better. He’s almost too laid back sometimes, so I think in an environment like this he really excels.”

As the Leading Hunter Rider, Stewart was presented with the trophy that was named in his honor, the Scott Stewart Leading Hunter Rider Perpetual Trophy, donated by Dr. Betsee Parker.

“I’m honored that Betsee put the trophy in my name,” said Stewart. “It’s a beautiful trophy. I’ve been lucky enough to win it a bunch of times, but sooner than later, someone else will win it.”

In Green Hunter 3’3”, the Champion was Cardiff Castle, ridden by Stewart, and the Reserve Champion was O’Rockstar, ridden by John French.

The Green Hunter 3’6” Champion was First Edition, ridden by Hunt Tosh, and the Reserve Champion was A Lister, ridden by Stewart.

The Green Conformation Hunter Champion was The End, ridden by Jacob Pope, and the Reserve Champion was Velvet Elvis, also ridden by Pope.

The High Performance Working Hunter Champion was Navigator, ridden by Hunt Tosh, and the Reserve Champio was: Encore, ridden by Stewart.

The 1.15m Junior and Amateur Jumper Championships were also competed on Tuesday.

Robert Mercer on Colina SN won the $12,500 WIHS 1.15m Junior Jumper Championship, while Elizabeth Craddock on Muchachomalo vd Knuffel was  fastest in the $12,500 WIHS 1.15m Amateur Jumper Championship.

Trusting the incredibly fast 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Colina SN, Mercer left nothing to chance and effectively shut the door on the remaining competition as he clocked in at 29.794 seconds.

“She has a really fast foot speed, so she’s good at making the tight turns and getting there quickly and deep,” he said. “If you get there deep, she can just pop over it; she’s a tiny little girl, but, obviously, she knows how to get around.”

Nine went clean from a starting field of 22 over the course set by Colm Quinn of Ireland.

Mercer returned halfway in the order for the jump-off and clipped almost three seconds from previous leading rider Ellie Goodfriend’s time of 32.041 seconds.

“At the end of my round, I started crying when they told me my time and that I was winning,” said Mercer. “I’ve kind of felt like I had some pressure to win this class because my sister also won it two years ago.”

While it was Mercer’s first year competing at WIHS with horses, Colina’s winning experience in the division dates back several years.

The 2026 class win was the third of her career, having taken Robert’s older sister, Katherine Mercer, to the win in 2024 and Landstrom to the top of the podium in 2021.

“She knows what she’s doing, and she never likes to lose. She always wants to win,” said Mercer. “She’s been in our barn for three years, but I’ve been riding her for a little under a year. This is only my third jumper final with her, and we were fourth in the final at Devon and won the speed class at Capital Challenge.”

Goodfriend was third place on Claudia’s K, and Brooklyn Webb on Limerick Kws was second, just falling short of Mercer’s time in 30.829 seconds.

Craddock on Muchachomalo vd Knuffe, going last in the jump-off, finished clean in 332.577, winning by two seconds in the $12,500 1.15m Amateur Jumper Championship.

Craddock’s barnmate Samantha Hill on Hematite finished second in 34.585 seconds, and Laura Scalzi on Kaj was third in a time of 37.678 seconds.

“I really tried to focus on the plan we had talked about but with a little added competitiveness,” said Craddock. “Overall, the course rode pretty well. It was pretty technical, but it’s fun when it’s technical like that. In the first line, we did seven strides in the first round so stepping up and getting it done in six strides and keeping her super straight was our main goal. In both rounds she did it great and was so responsive to everything I was asking.”

Craddock, who is a senior at University of Kentucky, trains with Summer Justus and Andrea Simpson but is originally from Jackson, Miss..

“This is our first big win, and ending on such a high note is really special,” she said.

Sophie Gochman, Amateur-Owner Grand Champion in Washington (2)

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October 23, 2026

By Staff Writers

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.--Sophie Gochman on Daydream swept her division, winning the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter Championship with Daydream and the Reserve with Coleter, while Brittany Schutt Charming Boy was the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter Championship.

Sophie Gochman on Daydream (Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography)Gochman on Daydream won both the classic and handy in the Amateur-Owner 3’6”, 18-35 division and was second in the stake class to be champion in that division, while she was also reserve champion with her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Colter.

Daydream was champion of the same division last year with Sophie’s sister Mimi, while Mimi also was reserve champion with Colter in 2025.

“She's just really so easy,” said Gochman. “At home I said, ‘Oh, I think I can canter her with no hands, and so we’ve just been riding around with no hands and just popping around the jumps. She’s so easy on herself and so chill.”

For the first time in a long time, Gochman felt she was able to get back into her riding routine before attending a major event, having returned to the U.S. in April after getting her Masters degree in London.

“WE'VE HAD a lot of the spring and the whole summer to work toward this,” she said. “I’ve been coming to WIHS probably since I was 7 years old, maybe younger, so it means a lot to win here today, especially after the handy course because that was quite the challenge.”

 In the hunter competition in The Show Place Arena, Schutt of Hume, Va, on Charming Boy had one of her biggest milestones as she made her amateur debut at WIHS during her first indoor season.

“I've never really had the nice horses to be able to do this at this level,” Schutt said. “It’s been a privilege all year to be able to be out there and be competitive.”

Schutt only competed at WIHS as a regional-qualified rider many years ago during a period when she worked as a young professional.

She said stepping away as a professional and being able to return with a horse like Charming Boy under her trainer Amanda Steege has been an incredible experience.

“I imported him as a 5-year-old from Europe and started him myself,” she said. “Amanda has helped me bring him along to what he is right now, and he’s really just the best. He goes around so beautifully, he carries his ears forward, he’s a great jumper, and he even gets you a good hack ribbon. He’s everything you look for in an amateur or a professional horse.”

Schutt and Charming Boy earned the champion ribbon in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” 36 & Over division as well as the leading rider honors for the division.

Amateur-Owner 3’6” 36 & Over, Champion was Union City ridden by Brittany Schutt, and Reserve was MTM Plus One, ridden by Katie Robinson.

The Reserve Grand Champion was Casallo, ridden by Maryann Zeira.

The Amateur-Owner 3’3” 18-35 Champion was Ocean Road, ridden by Grace Wilson, and Reserve Champion was Remedy, ridden by Stella Propp.

Daniel Coyle and Aaron Vale won at Washington (2)

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October 23, 2026

By Staff Writers

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.--Daniel Coyle and Aaron Vale won the first two five star open jumper classes on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Washington International Horse Show.

Aaron Vale on Grays Inn (Photo by Erin Gilmore)Irish Olympian Coyle on Farrel won the $63,000 Welcome Stake CSI5*-W, while Vale on Gray’s Inn was fastest in the $63,000 Stars and Stripes Speed Final CSI5*-W for the win.

Course designer Colm Quinn of Ireland) set the track for the opening five-star class of the week, the Welcome Stake, and 11 of the 20 starters went clean.

Just second to go in the jump-off, Coyle set a blazing time to beat of 35.23 seconds that was never matched.

The closest to Coyle's time was Mark Bluman of Israel on Landon de Nyze,, who finished in 36.30 seconds, and Rene Dittmer of Germany on Cody 139, was third in 37.55 seconds.

“There's only one way to attack this, and it's from the beginning and hope I get away with it,” Coyle said. “At least then it gives them something to challenge. Everything came up the way I wanted it to.”

“MOST horses are a lot harder to turn, but with an old partner like this, he already knows if I lean one way, he's away before me," said Coyle. "What makes you fast, especially in a small indoor like this is turning back to the fences. And I think tonight, from the third to the fourth jump, that was a real spot where I earned a lot of time.”

Daniel Coyle on Farrel (Photo by Erin Gilmore)Coyle started riding Farrel in 2018, and this was their 23rd FEI ranking class victory.

“Farrel is so handy in these small arenas, and we haven't done indoors in a few years like this at the top level, so it's nice to kick it off with a win,” he said. “He's a real partner of mine, and we can go anywhere together.”

 In the $63,000 Speed Final, Vale on Grey;s Inn also went early and set a time to beat of 57.04 that was uncatchable.

Sean Jobin of Canada on Grande Dame DK placed second in 58.43 seconds, over a second and a half slower, and Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W was  third in 58.50.

Most remarkable, however, was that JJ Torrano, at just 16 years old, on Dora du Valon placed fifth in 60.12.

This was Torano's first five star competition, and he rode with his signature coolness to place in the top five among 20 of the top riders in the world.

"It was a little more nerve-racking than usual because it was my first five star," said Torano. "But i have a lot of faith in Dora, and I've jumped that height before."

At 16, Torano can compete in 3, 4 and 5 star competitions but not in those grand prix classes.

He will be able to compete in all grand prix and in Nations Cup competitions on Jan. 1 2026.

“It was a course I liked for my horse tonight,” said Vale. “I didn't really take any chances that I thought he couldn't do, you know? Had I wanted to go faster, there was a place or two maybe I could have taken one less stride, but I did what I thought was pretty comfortable for him, and it was enough tonight.”

Gray’s Inn became part of Vale’s string of horses after his wife Mallory had competed the horse to the three-star level.

He has become an all-around valuable partner that can compete in grand prix classes and win in classes such as the 106,000€ five-star speed competition in St. Gallen, Switzerland, this past summer.

“He’s just an effective horse,” said Vale. “He’s a winner at lots of levels and is just nice to have in our barn.”

“Washington's been one of my favorite shows since I was a junior,” he said. “It's an important fall show in the U.S. There is great prize money and a nice ambiance to it. The red coolers are beautiful, so it's always nice to win one of those!”