Will Coleman and Box Como en route to the winner’s circle at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
Will Coleman (USA) demonstrated why he is the world’s third-ranked eventing rider Saturday night in the Coca-Cola Coliseum, confidently cruising to victory in the Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
After topping Friday’s first round with 8-year-old Box Como, Coleman returned Saturday night with the utmost pressure, as athletes came forward in reverse order of standing based on their first round scores. He and “Eddie” produced another swift clear effort over Jay Hambly’s (CAN) 17-element course. After cumulative scores and times were tallied across the two rounds, Coleman was named a decisive winner with a faultless score and total time of 179.21 seconds.
Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and ESI Nixon also completed the two rounds over two days without fault, securing runner-up honors with a cumulative time of 191.68 seconds. Colleen Loach (CAN) finished third with Clover (0/197.06s).
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Coleman said. “I think Eddie enjoyed his Royal experience as much as I am. We had a blast in there tonight.“
Coleman first attended the Royal Horse Show for the inaugural Indoor Eventing Challenge in 2006, but he had not been back since. A guest rider invitation was an added incentive for him to return in 2026, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Hambly’s winding second round course gave riders options in track; a longer route allowed for a more open gallop, while a shorter path allowed riders to shave time off the clock with a tight rollback turn. Coleman opted for the more expedient route, making the more technical track look effortless.
“I thought I had a pretty good plan for what I wanted to do,” Coleman shared. “My whole goal was just to go in there and have fun and give the lines a go—try to be quick, because that’s what it’s all about [and] give the crowd a good show.”
Hank, Meg, and Molly Pellegrini’s Box Como was ready for the assignment, shining in his indoor debut and competing like a seasoned veteran.
“It’s nice to see that he’s not bothered by much!” Coleman said. “It is a very different experience being indoors with Clydesdales and different carriages—there’s lot going on up in those stables. But he’s a pretty cool customer. I think he grew up a little bit here and he’s got a lot of career left in front of him I think.”
Coleman is maximizing his time in Toronto, taking in the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair with his family—beaver tails, butter tarts, and all—as well as teaching some clinics in the area.
“It’s been amazing. This really is one of the most wonderful horse shows in the world,” Coleman said. “There are not many horse shows still like this, where there is something for everyone. It has a national agricultural feel to it, and I really appreciate that. It’s been a lot of fun for us and our family.”
The winning pair crossed the timers of Jay Hambly’s (CAN) 15-element course in an unbeatable 79.76 seconds. Leading Canadian event rider Jessica Phoenix finished second with ESI Nixon (84.32 seconds), followed by leadoff pair Holly Jacks (CAN) and Josephine (84.61s).
“It’s an awesome spectacle [at the Royal], one of Canada’s proudest horse shows, and I’m just very, very grateful that I’m here this year,” said Coleman, returning to the Royal for the first time in 10 years.
Opening day of the 2026 Royal Horse Show once again featured one of the event’s most unique competitions, challenging athletes to a compact indoor course comprised of both show jumping and cross-country fences, from corners and tabletops to oxers and a delicate final vertical to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.
Jacks and Josephine, last year’s runners-up, set the tone early, executing a sharp clear effort that held up for more than half the class. Phoenix and ESI Nixon—also on the overall podium last year in third—narrowly inched ahead with a bold inside turn to the 10th fence before Coleman broke things open with Box Como. Setting off with purpose, the pair built upon their forward momentum from the first fence, ultimately coming home more than four seconds ahead.
It was an impressive indoor debut for Box Como. Coleman has developed the 8-year-old Swedish bred gelding for the last four years for the Pellegrini family.
“He’s turning into a pretty nice horse. This was his first time doing anything like this, and I was really proud of him,” Coleman said. “It requires him to think a little bit quicker than he naturally wants to, but this is a perfect thing to do to help develop that.”
The Mad Barn Indoor Eventing Challenge concludes with a final round Saturday night, after which cumulative scores and times tallied across the two rounds will determine the overall Champion.
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.
For Coleman, he’ll look for more of the same, while in the interim enjoying all that the Royal has to offer with his wife Katie, an Ontario native, and their two children.
“Katie and I have two young kids, and to be able to bring them here and enjoy the whole Fair side of the horse show has just been amazing,” Coleman said. “It’s a magical place.”
Here are the final top five from the Indoor Eventing Challenge (full results can be viewed here):
