Tag Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

After Eight Isn’t Too Late in CaptiveOne Advisors CSI5* 1.50m Classic

Jad Dana & After Eight. Photo © Sportfot.

Lebanon’s Jad Dana and After Eight brought Week 9 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) to an end by reaching a milestone win in the $78,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI5* 1.50m Classic on Sunday. The penultimate qualifier before the CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship during WEF 11 christened the first CSI5* win for both Dana and his mount.

Returning second to last in a 15-horse jump-off, Dana crossed the timers one hundredths of a second faster than Darragh Kenny (IRL) who took over the lead early in the second round.

Dana was almost speechless after his victory and still wore the smile that beamed as he crossed the final timers. “I went late in the jump-off, which is definitely an advantage because I got to see how fast they went. Honestly, when I saw Nayel, who ended up fourth, I didn’t think I could beat him, and I thought it would be impossible to beat Darragh.

“Even though my mare is very fast, the riders today had so much experience and they are incredibly talented,” continued Dana. “I truly thought I had no chance. I was happy to just be in the jump-off to start with. This mare tried her heart out for me today.”

Kate Hagerty and Kapatero Big Win in Voltaire Design Large Junior Hunter 3’6″ 16-17

Kate Hagerty and Kapatero sailed around the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Sunday afternoon, claiming the championship ribbon during WEF 9 in the Voltaire Design Large Junior Hunter 3’6” 16-17 division.

Despite their young age, each hunter rider masterfully showcased their horse’s natural ability and movement. Hagerty and her 10-year-old gelding, Kapatero, impressed the judges with consistency. They scored two second-place finishes in a competitive field, posting both a 90 in the handy and an 87 in the stake for the runner-up ribbons. They also picked up a victory over fences on a score of 83.

Hagerty, thrilled with the results over two days of competition on a new mount, said, “We just imported him two months ago, so this circuit has been his first show in the U.S. He was a jumper in Europe before coming here and is making his hunter debut. He came out strong yesterday and he’s starting to become more consistent as he learns the job, so I wanted to go in and be smooth yesterday and he went right in and was amazing. So, I wanted to keep up that momentum heading into today.”

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Competitions, Show Jumping

Bertram Allen Brings His Best in Adequan CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 9

Forty-four elite show jumping combinations contested the $78,000 CSI5* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 on Thursday at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The battle for the win pitted riders representing the nation of Ireland against one another, but it was young professional Bertram Allen who raced to the lead with his experienced partner, Pacino Amiro.

Heavy-hitting course designer Alan Wade (IRL) produced another worthy challenge in the third of four five-star rated competitions during the Wellington Equestrian Realty-sponsored WEF 9 at Wellington International. After the completion of the first round, only three riders advanced to the jump-off. Darragh Kenny (IRL) produced the first successful effort early in round one and fellow countryman, Allen, quickly followed suit to ensure a jump-off. The two Irishmen would remain as the only successful contenders on the course until the USA’s Schuyler Riley piloted Robin De Ponthual into contention.

“I’ve never seen a WEF Challenge here where only three were clear in the first round, so it was a much more tactical jump-off than normal,” stated Allen. “It was a huge advantage going after Darragh because I saw one or two places in his jump-off where I could get the better of him if I left the rails up.”

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Competitions, Show Jumping

Irish Flag Flies for Daniel Coyle on Final Day of CSIO4* Competition at WEF

Daniel Coyle & Ivory TCS. Photo © Sportfot.

A blink would have missed Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Ivory TCS in the $226,000 JTWG, Inc. CSIO4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon during the IDA Development sponsored Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Week 8 at Wellington International. The 28-year-old stole the win mounted on Dutch-bred Ivory TCS, a 10-year-old mare (Falaise de Muze x Ukato) Coyle owns together with Ariel Grange’s Canadian-based Lothlorien Farm.

Four horses battled for blue in a jump-off speed duel over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). Returning second, Coyle watched Beth Underhill (CAN) pull two rails and was conscious of fellow Americans Lacey Gilbertson and McLain Ward packing a double punch of speed behind him.

“I had to leave very little room, give them something to chase, but not leave very much,” he said before stopping the jump-off clock at 38.06 seconds over the short course. “I think I was beatable but there wasn’t much of a gap, which was my plan. Ivory is a very fast horse in every jump-off. She might take two extra strides than a big horse, but that doesn’t mean she’s necessarily slower because she does it so fast.”

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Daniel Deusser Closes Out WEF 7 with CSI5* Victory

Daniel Deusser & Kiana Van Het Herdershof. Photo © Sportfot.

The final five-star class of international competition during Week 7 of the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a close on Sunday afternoon with a win for German Olympian Daniel Deusser and Kiana Van Het Herdershof.

Fifty-three combinations readied themselves to contest Steve Stephens’ (USA) final test of the Lugano Diamonds-sponsored week as finishing touches were put on the first round of the $78,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI5* 1.50m Classic.

Deusser, ranked number nine in the world, produced a fault-free first round on both his winning mount and his second entry, Loui LN, with whom he finished in sixth place at the class’s completion.

Deusser and the Stephex Stables’ 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Toulon x Lys De Darmen) are no strangers to the winner’s circle at Wellington International, having won a handful of five-star events in the arena during 2021 and 2022.

“Kiana is a horse I’ve had for many years, and she is naturally very fast, so classes like this are her specialty,” explained Deusser. “If I am clear in the jump-off with her, I am normally always in the top five placings.”

Saratoga Steals Win in CSI2* Grand Prix

Alise Oken, representing the host country, and Saratoga flew around the $50,000 by Ethel M. Chocolates CSI2* Grand Prix in the International Arena to close out WEF 7. Oken, and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Chin Champ x Casall) owned by Hi Hopes Farm LLC, were unstoppable, finishing the speed portion of the course in a time of 38.86 seconds. They were the only partnership to post a time sub-40 seconds.

Oken and Saratoga have a relatively new partnership but growing stronger every day. “I’ve had Sara for about a year and a half now. Last year we started doing some of the bigger classes and some 1.50-meters and she’s really excelled at that level. When I first sat on her I thought she had all the scope in the world and I’ve taken my time with her and I think she will jump some of the biggest tracks, but today we also went fast which was great so I’m really happy with the results.”

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut Notches CSI5* Victory in Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix at WEF

Laura Kraut & Baloutinue. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington International was brimming with horse sport fans on the edge of their seats Saturday night as top show jumping talent from across the globe jumped for the $425,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* Grand Prix title. The Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) Week 7, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, saw U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Laura Kraut and her Tokyo Games partner Baloutinue take the top spot.

From a seven-horse jump-off, the stage was set for a U.S. battle as Kraut, Brian Moggre, and McLain Ward were the final three to jump off. Course designer Steve Stephens (USA) tested them in true five-star fashion, which got the best of Moggre and longtime partner MTM Vivre le Reve as the pulled a brick from the wall to eventually finish fifth. Kraut’s winning time of 40.26 seconds stood after Ward gave his best aboard Contagious, but finished just three-tenths shy of the winner’s mark.

Kraut beamed as she clinched a five-star victory in Wellington after knocking on the door several times recently. “I’ve not had many successful jump-offs and I’ve not jumped very many with him,” said Kraut of Baloutinue, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Balou du Rouet x Landor S) owned by St. Bride’s Farm. “I always try to go faster than I probably should, but he’s fast enough on his own, and tonight I just let him go his speed and that seemed to work better.

“He’s a trier, he’s elastic, and he’s very careful,” she continued. “It was a fantastic crowd; the atmosphere here at night is as good as it gets. We feel like the crowd is really behind us; when I was clear it was an explosion.”

Laura Chapot Captures Ethel M. Chocolates CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier

Sixty-eight horse-and-rider duos took to the International Arena on Friday, all vying for a spot in Sunday’s $50,000 Ethel M. Chocolates CSI2* Grand Prix. The $39,000 CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier was the gateway to grand prix glory and saw Laura Chapot (USA) take top call riding Chandon Blue.

Seven riders representing seven unique nations battled it out over the tie-breaking jump-off track, but Chapot and her longtime partner Chandon Blue could not be caught.

“He really likes it down here in Florida; this is probably the one time of year he works the hardest, but he doesn’t need a lot of practice,” explained Chapot of her and Mary Chapot’s 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Landcapitol). “He loves to compete. He gets bored when he is at home, and I wonder sometimes if something is wrong, but then he gets to the show ring and just grows.”

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Competitions, Show Jumping

Ashlee Bond Is Best with Donatello 141 in CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 7

Ashlee Bond & Donatello 141. Photo © Sportfot.

Israel’s Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141 were lightning fast during the $78,000 CSI5* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena on Thursday during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) Week 7, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds.

Fifty contenders tackled the Steve Stephens (USA) track where some of the easy favorites fell victim to a testing course. Fourteen advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off, including Bond and her trusted partner, “Donnie.”

Small in stature and stride but massive in heart, Donatello 141, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding (Diarado x Lamoureux I) stopped the short course timers at 32.62 seconds. The seasoned partnership between Bond and Donatello 141 was obvious as they pipped Jessica Mendoza’s more than respectable time of 33.39 seconds. Mendoza (GBR) and her own Play settled for second while Belgium’s Jos Verlooy and Igor finished third on a time of 33.89 seconds for owners Eurohorse BVBA.

Catoki Takes Over WEF 7

Two-time Olympic team gold medalist for the U.S. McLain Ward kicked off WEF 7 with a win in the $39,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI5* 1.45m aboard the pint-sized superstar Catoki on Wednesday.

Ward took to Steve Stephens and Nick Granat’s (USA) two-round track against 55 competitors with Catoki, a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding (Catoki x Caretello B). The pair put in the fastest time of the day, finishing in 24.18 seconds over the speed portion of the course.

When cantering towards 1.45m oxer on a 15.2 hand horse, perspectives can change, but Ward says Catoki’s size is nothing but a positive. “He’s basically a pony, and everything happens so fast, but he has the heart of a lion and he’s jumped some massive classes. He’s very brave and matches that with speed and quality which makes for a great partner.”

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Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

Bertram Allen and Emmylou Storm to Victory in KASK CSI3* Grand Prix

Bertram Allen & Emmylou. Photo © Sportfot.

The Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) Week 6, sponsored by KASK, came to a close on Sunday with the final classics of World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week in the International Ring and the KASK CHF140,000 CSI3* Grand Prix on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village. Irish Olympian Bertram Allen and the speedy Emmylou topped a 10-horse jump-off in the day’s featured international class.

Coming off a win earlier in the season in the Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI4* 1.45m with Emmylou, a 10-year-old Irish-bred mare (Cabachon x San Patrignano Mister) owned by Ballywalter Stables, Allen bested runner-up Cathleen Driscoll (USA) by nearly two seconds on Sunday. She rode Arome for owner Plain Bay Farm, and Canada’s Amy Millar rounded out the top three riding Truman for Millar Brooke Farm & Overlund.

“The jump-off went to plan,” said Allen of his blistering pace. “My horse is naturally very fast so I just tried to keep it as smooth as I could. Obviously, the jump-off was still big and there were quite a few faults in it, so I tried to get the right medium between going fast enough and keeping all the jumps up.”

Tom Wachman Takes Birthday Week Win in Hermès U25 Grand Prix

The final morning of WEF 6 kicked off with just over 70 of the sport’s top up-and-coming young riders taking to the grass derby field at Equestrian Village. The CHF25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix launched a full day of top sport to cap the week with Ireland’s Tom Wachman claiming a win just two days after his 18th birthday.

Riding Coolmore Showjumping‘s 10-year-old KWPN mare I’m Here (Carambole x Numero Uno), Wachman produced two fault-free efforts throughout the first round and eleven-horse jump-off. The short-course contenders represented six individual countries.

Coming off a win in the Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI3* 1.45m earlier in the week aboard Lazzaro Delle Schiave, Wachman was at it again with a new mount. “I just started riding her at the beginning of WEF, but she’s had a great start to the season and won two classes here during WEF 4,” said Wachman.

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Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

French Dazzles in $100k WCHR Peter Weatherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

John French & Milagro. Photo © Sportfot.

World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week, sponsored by KASK, at the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a peak on Saturday night. The country’s best hunter combinations went head-to-head in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. For John French, it was a night of firsts as he finally captured the Spectacular win, one that has been eluding him throughout his career.

From a 42-horse field at 3’6”, 3’9”, and 4’ heights, 12 returned for a handy round. French guided Milagro, a 2015 Hanoverian gelding owned by Kent Farrington, LLC, to a high score of 94 in the opening round and returned for the handy with a few points in his pocket. They impressed the judges again and scored 93.5, finishing with a score of 187.5 and the victory.

“I think riding in this kind of atmosphere brings out the best in all horses,” said French of the impressive International Ring environment at WEF. “They were all jumping so well tonight, and I think the lights, the crowds, and the jumps really showcased the hunters. There aren’t a lot of these classes left, so we get excited for nights like this and so do our horses.”

Kenny Comes Back in CaptiveOne Advisors CIS3* 1.50m Classic

After a win in the CSi3* 1.45m slipped from his grasp on the opening day of WEF 6, Darragh Kenny (IRL) was determined to check the win column in Saturday’s CHF37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI3* 1.50m Classic. He and Vancouver Dreams did just that from a stacked 15-horse jump-off over courses designed by Ana Catalina Cruz Harris (MEX) on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village.

Kenny is making quick work of finding success with a new partnership after recently acquiring Vancouver Dreams from Austria’s Max Kühner.

“I’ve actually never done a jump-off on her before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Kenny of the 13-year-old Hanoverian mare (Valentino 240 x Stakkato). “She’s unbelievably careful, so I knew I could take a bit of a risk at the double, and I did and it paid off and she was brilliant.”

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Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation

Haness and Stewart Dominate Rein Family 3’6″ Performance Hunter Division at WEF

Nick Haness & Queen Celeste. Photo © Sportfot.

From across North America, the top horses and riders in the hunter discipline flocked to Wellington, FL this week for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week at the Winter Equestrian Festival. The sixth week of competition shines a spotlight on all divisions of the discipline and gives amateurs, juniors, and professionals alike the chance to qualify for Saturday night’s $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.

Over one hundred of the country’s best performance hunter horses took center stage in Wellington International’s International Ring. Two champions were crowned in the California Split Rein Family 3’6” Performance Hunter division. The two tricolor awards were presented to Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL and Nick Haness of Temecula, CA for their top placings.

Mitchell and Stewart Claim Tricolors in Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter Division

Canada’s Brady Mitchell riding Epic Style and Scott Stewart aboard Spirit D’Intro Z shared the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter title in the International Ring. Thirty-six entries stepped into the ring, but it was Mitchell and Epic Style, a Warmblood gelding by Cloney owned by Rein Family LLC, as well as Stewart and Spirit D’Intro Z, a Zangersheide gelding by Stakkato owned by Gochman Sporthorses, who were crowned champions of the division.

Mitchell was thrilled after his winning round and said, “My horse was very good yesterday; he was Section A winner of the jumping class yesterday and he won the hack. In one way the pressure was off because I knew I would probably have the tricolor, but of course you want him to keep winning. He’s a horse that really seems to rise to the occasion, so I feel really lucky to be able to ride him.”

With consistent top ribbons, Stewart was similarly pleased after taking home the tricolor with Spirit D’Intro Z. “Spirit is actually a new ride for me. He’s a really talented jumper, and before circuit we decided to play with him in the hunters because he’s a lovely mover,” said Stewart. “We are all very pleased. It’s always great riding in the International Arena here at WEF. He was brave and it rode great out there today.”

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

McLain Ward Two-for-Two at Wellington International

McLain Ward & Alanine De Vains. Photo © Sportfot.

As Week 5 of the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) came to a close on Sunday, McLain Ward (USA) continued his winning streak from the previous night into the final five-star event of the week. Ward topped a field of 67 in the CHF75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI5* 1.50m Classic to be the first rider to win the grand prix and 1.50m classic back-to-back at WEF since 2014. Frank Rothenburger (GER) built a track worthy of its contestants which included some of the world’s best from 13 individual nations. Fifteen of the original starting lineup advanced to the short track, while heartbreaking time faults kept an additional six riders out of contention.

Hot off his win in Saturday night’s CHF406,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix, Ward delivered again, this time aboard Alanine De Vains. Germany’s Richard Vogel appeared to have the win in the bag as he took the early lead, but Ward knocked a little over a second off his posted time with Sportpferde Herbert’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Codex 28 (Contendros 2 x Espri).

“I didn’t think Richie went full out today,” explained Ward. “He took a notch off, and I was aware of that. It allowed me to take a breath and ride my round, and it was just good enough.”

The ride on the 13-year-old Selle Français mare (Allegreto x Adelfos) is a recent acquisition for Ward, who has a long-standing relationship with the mare’s owners. Lindemann Barnett Sporthorses asked for his help in campaigning the horse for sale – a task that Ward has kicked off to a good start.

Parker Peacock’s Jumper Turned Hunter Takes Tricolor in Small Junior Hunter 3’6” 15 and Under

Parker Peacock checked off a milestone in her young hunter career this weekend as the 14-year-old North Carolina native was awarded the champion honors in the Kask Small Junior Hunter 3’6” 15 and Under division.

The win marked a career milestone for Peacock’s mount, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Acclaim (Heartbreaker x Calanda Z) as he transitions into the hunter ring after a successful upper-level jumping career.

“Acclaim was originally being shown by Luiz Francisco de Azevedo in the jumper ring when we found him,” Peacock detailed. “My trainer – Victoria Colvin – saw him competing one day and convinced me that I needed to try him for the hunter ring. I fell in love with him the moment I sat on him.”

With the help of the Colvin family, Peacock has spent the past few years guiding Acclaim in his transition and feels they have found a firm footing in their partnership.

Jacqueline Ruyle Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop in CHF50,000 Griffis Residential CSI2* Grand Prix

After winning the qualifier on Friday, Texas native Jacqueline Ruyle raced to the top of the leaderboard in the CHF50,000 Griffis Residential CSI2* Grand Prix. With a first-round field of 44, the lucky number of the day seemed to be 15 as again 15 competitors advanced to the jump-off. Of those that advanced to the next course, nine exhibitors produced double-clear efforts. The lap of honor, however, was dominated by American female athletes as Ruyle led the charge, followed by Mimi Gochman, and rounded out by Molly Ashe Cawley.

The phrase ‘tiny but mighty’ was practically made for Ruyle’s partner, the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare Cyramo Z (Clarimo x Vigo D Arsouilles Stx). Standing not significantly taller than a pony, and looking even smaller with the backdrop of large fences in Wellington International’s expansive International Arena, the mare proved that heart counts more than size.

“She is by far the smallest, hottest, fastest horse I have,” Ruyle laughed. Her time of 34.93 seconds, a full two seconds ahead of runner-up Mimi Gochman, proved as testament to the statement. “I bought her as a seven-year-old and she was competing in the 1.20m classes and we thought she would be an awesome Medium Amateur horse.”

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