Patricia Griffith and Divine Romance Win Big during WCHR Week at WEF

Patricia Griffith & Divine Romance. Photo © Sportfot

Patricia Griffith opened World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week at the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a champion tricolor in Section A of the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter division on Thursday. An impressive hunter lineup took to the International Arena at Wellington International in hopes to qualify for Saturday night’s $150,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, a highlight of the week dubbed “Hunter Week” at WEF.

Griffith put in the work to add Divine Romance, owned by Hallowell Lane Farm, to her string of horses, but her efforts have paid in spades.

“I was sent the video of this horse in Europe from Meredith-Michaels Beerbaum,” Griffith explained of the first time she laid eyes on Divine Romance, an 8-year-old Oldenburg mare by Casallco. “Kate Conover was supposed to go ride her for us, but she had gotten sold to the Beerbaums right away and I followed her from the second she got sold to Nick [Haness]. I stalked him a little, and when she was finally for sale, we bought her.”

The duo won the handy round on Thursday with a score of 90, which matched another blue-ribbon score of 90 from Wednesday. Griffith was thrilled with the horse’s performance and felt the mare peaked this week, just in time for hunters to take up the spotlight in the main stadium at Wellington International.

“She’s a big horse so last year we decided with her owner Callie Seaman — a very good amateur rider — that we’d give her more time to develop,” Griffith continued. “Last year, she did a lot of the work with the horse in the amateurs and I did a little 3’3” performance hunters, and it was worth the wait. The horse has come into her own and is a spectacular mover and jumper. We’re very excited about the future for her.”

Nick Haness and Queen Celeste Reign in 3’6” Performance Hunters

Back on the East Coast for WCHR Week at Wellington International, Nick Haness of Temecula, CA topped the 3’6” Performance Hunter division on Thursday, taking championship honors with a longtime mount, Queen Celeste. Haness is looking to defend his title in the $150,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular after winning during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ in 2024. 

“There’s not much to say other than ‘wow’ about this mare,” he said of the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare by Cassini I. “She is so smart and knows when it’s time to shine. She knew that this was a week with pressure and excitement, and she really rose to the top.”

With winning scores of 92 and 93, plus a win in the under saddle, the mare owned by Glade Run Farm stood out in a very impressive crowd.

“Good horses are just exceptional and hard to find, especially when they have the will and the desire to win like she does,” Haness continued about why Queen Celeste excels year after year. “I don’t think anything changed in our preparation or the way we went with Queen Celeste this week. I didn’t really ask much of her last week knowing that this was going to be our week to shine. It comes down to the fact that she is just a smart horse.”

As the winner of last year’s WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, Haness always brings forth top talent across divisions and is already pre-qualified for this year’s featured evening under the lights.

Wellington International
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