Classic Eventing Nation

O’Neal, Duda and Sykes Lead FEI Divisions at Galway Downs Ahead of Saturday Finale

By on Nov 1, 2025 12:57 pm -

International cross-country sent horses and riders racing across nearly every inch of Galway Downs’ beautiful 242 acres today. Spectators at a community event tent ooh-ed and aah-ed as pairs splashed through a mid-course water complex. Pairs were tested by creative terrain, twists, turns, obstacles and combinations, all run under beautiful blue skies, warm temperatures and gentle breezes rustling through the property’s lush landscape.

Happily, there were no major frights on this Halloween day. Challenging as the courses were, they did not shake up the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs’ standings very much.

CCI4*-L – Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

With only time faults over Clayton Fredericks’ course, Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 moved into the lead. It’s a big step in their quest to qualify for next year’s Kentucky 5* and, more importantly, proof that they’re ready for it.

“I’m in awe of how good he was,” said the professional who travelled from Washington. “We’ve had a few issues with steering and corners in the past, but I think we are fixing them.” The 11-year-old Westphalian “is understanding it all,” she explained. In between several long gallops stretches, the course required horse and rider to clearly understand corner combinations and angled lines. “Clooney is taking more initiative to sight the jumps,” said O’Neal, who had high praise for the course.

Jumping clean was O’Neal’s priority. The pair incurred 14.8 time penalties for exceeding the 10:06 optimum time, finishing on a 46. Speed and fitness are priorities for the near future, she said. “The jumps themselves feel great. It feels like this is where we should be and that we can go higher.”

Overnight leader Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 had a run-out at #19, the first of two angled brushes set in a shady pond. Even with the re-approach, the pair added only 2 time faults and are well within striking distance of the title. “I’m kicking myself,” said Smith, who wished she’d taken the longer, straighter approach to that fence. Beyond that, the 9-year-old Holsteiner was “world class all around the track,” Smith said. “She was literally foot perfect.”

Megan McIver and her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood Igor B, moved into third even with 23.2 time penalties. That was in part due to Molly Duda having a tough day at the 4* office with her two horses, Disco Traveler and Carlingsford Hes a Clover.

Duda was also kicking herself for a drive-by with Disco at 16D, another combination in the water – and this one in front of a full spectator tent. Asked if she was distracted by that, Duda said it was the opposite problem. “I thought it was one of the easier combinations, and I rode it too soft and easy and he just didn’t see it.”

It was an otherwise excellent round, said Duda of the rest her course with last year’s CCI4*-L champion. The error ended hopes of defending that title, but the young rider described the day as an educational experience.

CCI4*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.

CCI3*-L — Molly Duda and Jutopia – Tina Fitch Photo

Molly Duda and Jutopia. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Duda had a much better day on Jutopia, maintaining their lead with double clear cross-country to stay on their 26.7 dressage. “She is a cross-country machine,” said Duda of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood. “She’s always in front of me, she comes back really softly and she’s always looking for the flags. And she’s honest even if I don’t get it quite right.”

Duda’s coach Tamie Smith sits 2nd on Jump To Day D, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Jeanne Shigo. They were also double clear to stay on their 28.6 dressage effort. “He’s an easy, rideable horse and the course felt easy for him,” Smith said.

Taren Hoffos and her homebred mare, Regalla, were the third of six pairs to go double clear in this division. “She was amazing,” said Hoffos. “She’s really learned how to gallop. Her step has gotten so big and I really feel that she is running with me, rather than from me.”

Hoffos and the 14-year-old Oldenburg mare are third on their 29.2 and thrilled to have finished strong over a course that saw one elimination, two rider falls and a retirement. They had a hairy moment themselves going from the angled brushes at 19-20. “She grew a fifth leg and made it happen,” Hoffos explained. “She really showed her bravery and grit and her willingness to do anything for me.”

“We’ve probably done 20 courses at this level and Regalla has seen pretty much everything, but this was a tough course!”

The retirement in this division was Hoffos on her second mount, Master Class. They had a freak trip in the water at 15 ABC. Lacking a snorkel, her veteran Advanced partner was rattled by water in his ears as they galloped toward the next fence and Hoffos chose to retire there.

Fredericks was pleased with the outcome for both the 3* and 4* courses he designed. “I like to create situations where the rider has to think about what’s going on underneath them at the time.” The angled brushes at 19 and 20 posed exactly that question, he said. The horses had done a lot of jumping at that point, around the 8-minute mark, and if the horse came down to that not as responsive as you might have wanted, you’re not going to get them to lock on. We saw some backwards riding to that as a result.”

On balance, however, Fredericks described the course as educational, an observation echoed by many who tackled the track today.

CCI3*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2:15 p.m.

CCI2*-L – Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata – Tina Fitch Photo

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The 7-year-old Argentine Sport Horse Solaguayre Cantata came to Smith’s Next Level Eventing program as a 3-year-old. “She’s been an absolute nightmare until this year,” Smith laughed. “This year, she came into her own and has been great. She’s really grown up.” Double clear on their 27.3 dressage outing moved them into the lead before Saturday’s show jumping. “She’s such a quality horse. Good brain, she loves to jump and she’s really fun!”

Gabriella Ringer and her own Get Wild were also double clear to stay on their 28.1 and move into second. “He was fit and full of run and I’m really happy with everything,” Ringer said of 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood.

Also moving up a rung, into 3rd, was Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Cooley Calling, a relatively new ride owned by Molly Duda. The 9-year-old Irish Warmblood is “is awesome and super brave,” Smith-Cook said. “He’s straight forward to jump and a real businessman.” So far, this outing has helped solidify a partnership that Smith-Cook anticipates moving up to the 3* level next year.

CCI2*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12:15 p.m.

CCI1*-L – Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine – Tina Fitch Photo

Megan Skykes and HSH Tangerine. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine kept their lead and their 28.2 dressage score with fault-free cross-country. Sykes is riding the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse for her injured client, Nancy Emsley, who brought him along to Training level. “He hasn’t done terribly much and this level and course was great for gaining confidence and keeping him going in the right direction.”

Sykes praised designer Alessandra Allen-Shinn’s track as a perfect progression of challenges for the level.

Lauren Bebb and Crafty Don, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, had just .4 time penalty to stay in 2nd on a 31.8. When Bebb’s own horse required surgery, she began leasing Crafty, who’d gained solid FEI mileage with Tamie Smith. “I wasn’t going to say no to an opportunity like that,” she shared. Helping her become more forward thinking is one of the lessons he’s taught her. “He makes me work, but it’s been great and I have grown so much riding him.”

Double clear cross-country moved 18-year-old Olivia Baca and Casskinero from 5th to 3rd on a 34.3. It’s their second FEI and first Long format and the fruits of working with Tamie Smith daily during Baca’s gap year are reflected in today’s success. “Sometimes he can be a little bit wild and try to take over, but for the most part, he’s just super confident. When he needs to show up, he definitely does.”

CCI1*-L show jumping starts Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11:10 a.m.

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Nov 1, 2025 12:01 am -

Have you been window shopping this year’s Goresbridge ‘Go For Gold’ sale like us? Not that we’re in the business of enabling (or ARE we…?), but if you want a peek at our favorite horses from this year’s catalog, you can check it out here. And of course, there are loads more horses available if our tastes don’t fit yours. You can check out the full online catalog here and prep those bids!

U.S. Weekend Events

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

Links & Reading

The USEA Classic Series Continues at the Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event

Meet The Headless Horse(wo)man Of Sleepy Hollow

Time for an End-of-Season Review

How Did No One Know? The Haunting Questions Behind the Pure Gold Stables Investigation

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Take a load off your horse’s back — literally — with E.A. Mattes’ SPINEFREE design, giving withers and spine some relief from pressure points that can come from the wrong pad. Mattes is available via World Equestrian Brands and offers fully-customizable fit and color options. You can get to shopping for your own Mattes here.

Video Break

Would you use an automated arena drag like this one?

Ema Klugman & Bronte Beach Z Are Back in Home Court at VHC Eventing, Presented by Capital Square

By on Oct 31, 2025 9:01 pm -

Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach Z. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.

In 2014, Ema Klugman arrived at the Virginia Horse Center to compete in her first three-day event aboard the iconic Bendigo. Together, they finished on the podium. Today, she set herself up for history to repeat itself at VHC Eventing, presented by Capital Square. She and Bronte Beach Z are currently leading the CCI3*-S division with a 24.7.

“I actually did my very first three day event here in 2014,” Klugman said. “We were reminiscing in the car on the way here. So it’s been 11 years. It’s crazy, but I did my first CCI2* on Bendigo here back in the day. We’ve been coming here probably almost every year since then.”

“Bronte,” who is used to the intensity of the five-star level, enjoyed strutting her stuff at the CCI3*-S level, according to Klugman. “She’s a really fun horse to ride,” Klugman said. “She knows her job, certainly three star dressage is a test she’s very confirmed at. I really don’t have to do a lot. I just get her in front of my leg and sit and look nice. She’s super reliable in the ring, she’s pretty relaxed. She needs 20 minutes of warm up, and you can kind of go in. She jumped well, so I’m hoping to give her a good spin [around cross country] tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to the cross country, Klugman is looking forward to giving “Bronte” one last fitness run before heading south to compete at Terranova. “The terrain is really the big question here,” she said. “It’s really nice for them to run up that big hill, but also there’s terrain all through the course. My horses are all really different, so I think I go second on Bronte, so I’ll have been around it once before on another horse. It should be well within her capabilities.”

There was a last-minute shake-up in the CCI2*-L division today. Initially Phillip Dutton was on the leaderboard as winning the division, but a clerical error meant dark horse Megan Edwards jumped into the lead with a 22.4 aboard Legende De Mies. A true underdog pair, Edwards just started eventing “Legend” last year. Prior to that, Legend was a pure show jumper and had no dressage or eventing experience.

“So last April, we signed her up for one of our first events, and then she went to the Novice American Eventing Championships last year, and here we are,” Edwards said. “So she keeps trying to surprise us, even though it wasn’t our original plan. But yeah, we’re growing a beautiful partnership. She’s just a trier.”

At the end of the day, what made Edwards dressage test shine for the judges was the harmony between horse and rider. “I was coming out of my dressage test and one of the judges was talking to me. She was like, ‘That was a pleasure to watch.’ I was giggling and laughing because I did a flying change in my counter canter. Both judges gave me a 10 at some point, but also both gave me a four. That sounds about right for [Legend]. She can be pretty excellent, but then we can have an oopsie moment.”

Edwards’ plan for cross country is to focus on giving Legend a good round, not maintaining her hold on first place.

“She loves the job. She is still a little bit green to it, like I said, she just hasn’t been doing it for very long,” Edwards said. “We’ll see how the hills and everything go. I want to just give her a good round and try not to be greedy. I know I’m in first, but I don’t want to be too greedy, because I want a bigger picture with her. I’m excited, but I also want to take care of her, and I want to give her a nice, solid round, and not go chasing the time. I want to give her a good go for her first two-star long.”

It’s not every day that a horse who was competing at Novice level just last year beats two Olympic riders (Phillip Dutton and Caroline Pamukcu) to claim the lead in an FEI event.

“It feels pretty good, but I also want to take care of her,” Edwards said. “This could be a really fun future if I do this right, and I really want to do it right for her, because she deserves it. So yeah, it feels good [to lead the division]. But I also want to be a grown up about it and be good to her.”

Tim Bourke and DHI Kevin G. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.

Tim Bourke first took ahold of DHI Kevin G’s reins just a few weeks ago, yet the pair are leading the CCI2*-S at the end of day one at VHC Eventing. Coming to Bourke via Lucia Strini, this weekend marks “Kevin” and Bourke’s second event together. Despite the brand new partnership, the pair scored a 25.5 in the dressage, followed by a double clear show jumping round.

“Kevin’s a good boy,” Bourke said. “He was the last one to go into the ring and not a whole lot phases him. He doesn’t take much in the warm-up. You just want to do a lot of canter work, get him a little bit in front of you, and then he’s really after it. You can get in the ring and go for it. I think Lucia has done a fantastic job training the horse, so it makes my job a little bit easier.”

While Bourke and Kevin had an excellent dressage test, Bourke did earn himself a talking to from his “coach” and young son, Senan, prior to entering the show jumping ring with the grey gelding. “As you can tell [Senan] has a big personality,” Bourke laughed. “Everyone at the show knows him. He definitely gives you his opinion. I had a pole down— alright, two poles down— on Melody earlier in the day, and I heard about it. I went in on Kevin knowing that my biggest critic was watching.”

Looking ahead to the cross country course, designed by Jay Hambly, Bourke echoes Ema Klugman when he describes the course as a “good fitness test.”

“I think it looks great, I think they do a fantastic job here,” Bourke said. “He’s done a really good job of the layout, of getting the horses on course. You got fence four, five and six up the top there. Then you start to start to go down the hill a little bit into the coffin, which is pretty tricky. I think it’ll catch a couple of people out a little bit on the hard stuff down the bottom, and then a good fitness test coming back up the hill. I think he’s done a really, really good job with the layout of the course, and it should be a good day of sport.”

Kenta Hiranaga and Promised Land TH. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.

In the CCI1*-L, Kenta Hiranaga is making the most of his first time at the Virginia Horse Center and is leading the division aboard Promised Land TH with a score of 24.9. One of three horses Hiranaga rode in the division, the Holsteiner gelding is just 6 years old and is owned by Takashi Hotta.

“Dressage [he had a] very good performance. Cross country, too, very good performance,” Hiranaga said. “[It’s my] first time at Virginia Horse Center. It’s very up and down here, [it’s a] good location. Very hard, very good.”

“So number four is a combination,” Hiranaga continued. “Promised Land is a baby girl, right? The correct stride [when] course walking is four strides. But Promised Land is so brave and [it was] downhill so the big girl [did it in] three strides.”

Heading into show jumping tomorrow, Hiranaga is confident in Promised Land’s ability to produce a solid, clear round. “She is a very good jumper. I have confidence. [She is] so, so reliable. So [I’ll] try my best.”

Senan Bourke shows off his Halloween spirit. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott.

Upper level National competition also began today with the results as follows.

Advanced/Intermediate
First – Lynn Symansky & Bounce 6 – 37.3
Second – Katie Lichten & Hickstead Musterd – 44.7
Third – Leslie Lamb & Banjo – 45.2

Open Intermediate
First – Sharon White & Quizas – 30.4
Second – Hannah Sue Hollberg & Hachi – 32.8
Third – Morgan Booth & Cold Red Rum – 33.0

Open Preliminary A
First – Megan Edwards & Global Dynasty – 27.6
First – Lucia Strini & Excel Cool Quality – 27.6
Third – Hannah Sue Hollberg & Superstition – 28.7

Open Preliminary B
First – Carinne Wancowicz & Deichkind 10 – 27.4
Second – Caitlin Romeo & Fernhill B Good – 29.5
Third – Lucia Strini & Shirsheen Ice – 29.7

Preliminary Rider
First – Reese Dellangelo & Carlson 119 – 28.4
Second – Reese Dellangelo & Figaro Des Premices – 30.5
Third – Logan Harris & Terry Jade – 30.5

Modified Rider
First – Elisabeth Tansey & Night Moves – 31.8
Second – Addie Cant & Fiftyshadesofcharm – 37.4
Third – Laura Hilliard & Ballarin Shanado – 38.3

Open Modified
First – Emery Reagan & Allure – 27.0
Second – Kaitlin Clasing & TGS Lions Sunshine – 27.3
Third – Emeline Gilbert & MS Spirit – 28.5

Looking ahead to tomorrow, the majority of FEI divisions will wrap up competition with just the CCI2*-L finishing on Sunday morning. The day begins with the National divisions in the dressage ring. FEI competition starts at 10 a.m. with the CCI1*-L tackling the show jumping course. Soon afterwards, at 10:40 a.m., the remaining FEI divisions will hit the cross country course with the CCI2*-S first out of the start box.

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs: Smith, Duda, Vedder and Sykes Lead International Divisions

By on Oct 31, 2025 12:40 am -

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The future of West Coast eventing looks bright based on today’s opening dressage phase of the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs. Veteran Team USA rider Tamie Smith leads the CCI4*-L with Lillet 3, continuing a streak of eye-popping performances in their year-long partnership. The mare is owned by Smith’s student, Molly Duda, who topped the CCI3*-L dressage with another equine starlet, Jutopia.

Southern California delivered its trademark warm weather – even on the eve of Halloween – for the Oct. 30-Nov. 2 close of Galway Downs’ 2025 eventing season. No tricks, only treats on display for several pairs debuting at new levels as the Championships’ four international divisions unfurled in the Grand Prix Arena.

Meanwhile in the shade of the Eucalyptus arena, the USEA Area VI Championships for Preliminary and Open divisions danced their way through opening day. Horse Trials competition starts Friday.

CCI4*-L – Tamie Smith and Lillet 3

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 compete at Rebecca Farm en route to winning the CCI4*-L in July 2025. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Smith and Lillet 3’s one-year partnership is filled with wins, and the biggest may be crossing that line from work to fun. “As a rider, I am always trying to learn how to take the horse’s energy and make it expressive in a more supple, harmonious picture,” Smith said of the test’s best characteristic. “When you get that feeling that you can move their energy in the right direction, it’s fun!” Oodles of patience, education and conditioning go into getting there and the reward is a test like today’s, Smith said.

She’s grateful that the judging emphasis on harmony rewards the effortless-looking picture on display today. “It’s easy to get on, clamp on and make the horse do it. But that’s not really the goal.”

Smith and the 9-year-old Holsteiner earned a 27.6 from the Ground Jury of Bea DiGrazia (USA), Wiebke Hennig (GER) and Marilyn Payne (USA).

Tied for 2nd on a 31.2 are Molly Duda and her own Disco Traveler and Karen O’Neal and her longtime partner Clooney 14, an 11-year-old Westphalian owned by Annika Asling.

Duda is thrilled with Disco’s test. At 16, the Swedish Warmblood is “getting up there in age,” said Duda. Today’s fluid effort reflected the benefits of careful management, she added.

O’Neal praised Clooney’s obedience, wished he’d had a bit more spark and that she had ridden a bit more accurately.

Accuracy will be crucial over Clayton Fredericks’ cross-country track tomorrow. O’Neal echoed her fellow competitors in describing the route as a test of endurance and focus. New segments and obstacles up the degree of difficulty. “I need to walk it a few more times,” O’Neal said. “It feels quite different.”

Megan McIver and Igor B, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood, earned a 33 to slot into 4th, followed by Duda on Carlingsford Hes A Clover on a 36. Duda was pleased with her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse in their move up to this level. “He’s a horse that comes out and is different every day,” Duda shared. “In the past, he has been very hot and tense in the court. Today he was the very opposite. He was so relaxed I could hardly get the impulsion needed!”

CCI3*-L — Molly Duda and Jutopia

Molly Duda and Jutopia. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Duda continues her ascent in the sport with a 26.7 on her own Jutopia to lead with seasoned professionals hot on their heels.

Ground Jury members Sukhdeve Rathhore (IND) Wiebke Hennig (GER),) and Marilyn Payne (USA) gave Molly’s coach, Tamie Smith, and Jump To Day D, a 28.6 to sit second. Taren Hoffos and her own Regalla and Stephanie Goodman and Elwenda DP are tied for 3rd on a 29.2 in this 19-horse division.

Ties in the 5th, 9th and 11th rungs, too, reflect like-minded judging and more young riders showcasing bright futures. Professional Audrey Sanborn and her own Lex D and Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz are tied for 5th on a 31.5. Megan Sykes and Andrea Baxter are tied in 9th on a 33. And there’s a three-way tie for 11th, among professionals Tamie Smith, Gina Economou and Megan McIver.

Duda said today’s test displayed “new pieces that really came together,” with Jutopia, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood. “She’s deceptively tricky. She has a lot of flash and elegance, but sometimes there are small things – like not being fully true in the contact – that don’t show on the surface, but that you can feel. Today, everything felt very harmonious.”

The University of California Los Angeles junior has not ridden the mare very much during their one-year partnership, due to competing in Europe with Disco Traveler and studying abroad.

Duda describes Tamie Smith as huge in their progress – both in training Jutopia when she was away and in having first-hand feel for those small things Duda described when coaching the young rider.

Smith, meanwhile, was as pleased about Duda’s rides as she was about her division debut with Jump To Day D, owned by Jeanne Shigo. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood came Smith’s way a year ago with 3* mileage, and they’ve competed at Preliminary together. “The amount of confidence he’s gained is so great,” Smith explained. “He has a really fun personality and he’s also a bit of a worrier. But he went into that test so relaxed and with me. It’s been really fun to see the progression of his confidence.”

CCI3*-L cross-country starts at 8:30 a.m. Friday, October 31.

CCI2*-L – Asia Vedder and Litmanen Z

Asia Vedder and Litmanen Z. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Consistency and relaxation helped Asia Vedder’s big 7-year-old, Litmanen Z, earn a little score – a division-leading 25.3. The performance follows a national-best 17.1 Open Preliminary score two weeks prior at Ram Tap and continues an upward trajectory.

From their beginning two years ago, Litmanen had “a great brain,” Vedder reports of the 17.2-hander. Today that manifested as steady rhythm and contact, creating a consistent frame throughout the test. Keeping him in front of the leg has been a productive focus. So has conditioning on the hills of her home farm in Central California. “I can really feel him getting that swing in his trot.”

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre Cantata, a 7-year-old Argentine Sporthorse, are two points behind on a 27.3. Young rider Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild are on their heels, in third, on a 27.7.

Ringer was targeting the CCI3*-L, but learned she lacked the MERs needed. “I hadn’t practiced this test a lot, but I was excited that he was able to keep a level head in that big arena and put his best food forward.” Especially after he bolted during the short trip from the warm-up to the Grand Prix Arena.

The 26-horse division was evaluated by Ground Jurors Marilyn Payne, Sukhdev Rathhore and Wiebke Hennig and several ties again emerged – two pairs tied for 10th and three tied for 21st.

Ringer and Vedder said they’re excited for tomorrow’s cross-country, designed by Alessandra Allen-Shinn. Both described the track as having plenty of running room, making best use of the property and requiring control and focus in key spots.

CCI2*-L cross-country starts at 11:30 am Friday, October 31.

CCI1*-L – Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine

Megan Sykes and HSH Tangerine. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

Catch riding for broken-footed client Nancy Emsley, Megan Sykes piloted HSH Tangerine to a 28.2 from the Ground Jury of Christel Carlson (USA), Marilyn Payne and Wiebke Hennig. “Nancy is an amazing client and I’m happy that, if she can’t ride, at least she can watch him do well. He’s a very balanced, steady-Eddy, correct horse that consistently scores in the 20s,” Sykes explained. The 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse “just keeps getting better every time out.”

Lauren Bebb and Crafty Don, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, are 2nd on a 31.4 and Amanda Boyce and Cool Tonic, a 6-year-old Westphalian, are 3rd on a 32.1.

CCI1*-L cross-country starts at 1:40 pm Friday, October 31.

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Oct 31, 2025 12:34 am -

Photo via Mollie Summerland on Facebook.

We’re seeing in triples today after British 5* winner Mollie Summerland announced the arrival of three clones of her partner of a lifetime, Charly van ter Heiden, with whom she won Luhmühlen in 2021 (and was the subject of Tilly Berendt’s notoriously deranged Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, which you can revisit here).

Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Charly was sold to the U.S. to Ecuador’s Ronald Zabala Goestchel. “Charly” now lives his best life in Florida, and Mollie visits regularly and stays in touch with Ronald, who is a big fan of cloning himself and facilitated the arrival of these three new babies.

U.S. Weekend Events

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

News & Reading

U.S. Jumping athlete Laura Kraut continues to prove that longevity and excellence can ride side by side at the very top of international jumping. “It’s been a really strong year,” Laura said in a new interview with US Equestrian. “I think confidence has been the biggest thing for me. When you have a horse like Baloutinue, it gives you that trust and belief that carries into all the others. Confidence is everything, especially when you can have that in the horses you’re riding.” You can read more on Laura’s epic season here.

As part of an ongoing commitment to supporting horse welfare, US Equestrian has announced the funding of the first two equine research projects through the newly created Chromatic Fund. One study, to be conducted at UC Davis in California, will explore the effects of vitamin E supplementation on vitamin K status in healthy horses, working to definitively determine if this common supplement poses a risk of promoting bleeding in horses. The second will look into the safety of single high vs. repeated low-dose steroid use to provide equine veterinarians with critical, evidence-based guidance on the safest administration protocols for steroid joint injections. You can read more about these studies here.

Ah, the half-halt: our best tool and our worst enemy when we’re trying to wrap our brains around the concept of it. This helpful explainer from Practical Horseman and dressage rider/coach Ashley Donadt helps break down the half-halt and how you can fine-tune it. Read it here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

It’s championship season at Stable View! Next month, the Stable View Eventing Academy Championship makes its debut, with $20,000 worth of prizes on offer for the top finishers! You can see if you’ve qualified and register for the November 16 competition here. Entries close on November 7, but we recommend getting them in soon, as entries will be limited to 150.

Video Break

Tyson Rementer, course builder for major events and hometown events alike all over the country and the world, stopped by The Jon and Rick Show for a chat:

How to Follow The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs CCI4*-L & More

By on Oct 30, 2025 9:00 am -

Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

It’s time to kick off with our penultimate CCI4*-L of the U.S. season, taking place this week at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA. The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs also serve as Area VI Championships, so we’ve got plenty of action and you’ll be able to follow along live for all FEI divisions via USEF Network on ClipMyHorse.TV.

We’ll focus on the 4*-L division for the schedule below, but Galway Downs is hosting CCI1*-L through CCI3*-L as well, and you can see the full live stream schedule here.

Thursday, October 30

2:20 p.m. ET / 11:20 a.m. PT: CCI4*-L Dressage

Friday, October 31

1:20 p.m. ET / 10:20 a.m. PT: CCI4*-L Cross Country

Saturday, November 1

7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT: CCI4*-L Show Jumping

We’ll see just five horses in the 4*-L division, with many West coast horses either already done with their seasons or coming back from one setback or another. It’s an exciting one, nonetheless, with some exciting rising talent in both horse and human form featuring on the list.

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

We’ve got Tamie Smith with one of her newer rides, Lillet 3, who will be a hot favorite to capture the win after doing so in her first 4*-L at Rebecca Farm this summer. This is a horse owned by Molly Duda, who trains with Tamie and is a star in the making in her own right, bringing forward both the experienced Disco Traveler as well as Carlingfords Hes a Clover, a 13-year-old who will be doing his first 4*-L this weekend.

Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott/USEA.

We’ll also see Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14, who’ve also enjoyed some success at the Advanced and 4* level and will be looking to build off the two 4*-Ls they’ve done to this point, as well as Bay Area-based Megan McIver, who brings forward Igor B for his first 4*-L; he was second in the 3*-L here at Galway Downs last year.

The other FEI divisions are also bursting with some ones to watch, and you can get a full view of the entries here. We’ll have more for you throughout the week here on EN, so stay tuned!

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Thursday News & Notes from Virginia Horse Center Foundation

By on Oct 30, 2025 12:01 am -

A big shout-out this week to Laine Ashker, who now splits her time between eventing and dressage. Laine recently got her first big shot in the dressage world with a coveted invitation to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final in Thermal, CA next month. She’ll take her longtime partner, Ann Wilson’s Zeppelin, west for the competition, which will take place as a part of Desert Dressage II November 13-16.

U.S. Weekend Events

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer] [Live Stream]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Maps]

News & Reading

Area VI has a special treasure in this month’s USEA VIP Volunteer, Suzy Edwards, who’s been helping out at events in California (and even headed up the warm-up as a ring steward at AEC this summer) to help her daughter as she grew her own eventing career for over a decade. She’s made friends from all over the country through her friendly chit-chat and organization in the warm-up, and now she’s found a community for life. You can read more on Suzy and find some inspiration to get out and volunteer yourself here.

Tom McEwen’s Tokyo Olympic horse, Toledo de Kerser, has been out and about enjoying himself after rehabbing from an injury at Burghley two years ago. Most recently, Tom and Toledo were seen out show jumping, coming on the back of their visit to Burghley in September for a dressage demo. As he’s 18 this year, Toledo’s living his best life and Tom is happy to let him seek out his fun. You can read more of an update on this fan-favorite pair here.

Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri are back on a roll after spending this second part of the season rebuilding confidence. Dyri stepped back up to the CCI4*-S level last weekend at Bouckaert International in Georgia, winning the first qualifier of the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing. By the way: this marks five FEI wins in a row for Dyri, who’s clearly responding well to Lucienne’s horse-first call to step back instead of keep pushing. You can read more on this big finish at Bouckaert and the US Open implications here.

Sponsor Corner

If you’re competing at Virginia Horse Center this weekend, don’t miss out on a Friday full of fun! This Friday, the festivities will kick off with a reception with warm cider, snacks and drinks during show jumping (3-5 p.m.) at the Stave Mill Pavillon, sponsored by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Straight out of that, we’ll shift into a Dog Costume Contest, sponsored by Brant Gamma Photography and Dover Saddlery (which, honestly, might be what we’re looking forward to the most). From there, anyone who’d like to can go and trick or treat in the barns, supported by Blue Ridge Equine.

Adding to the fun, Triple Crown, Blue Ridge Equine and VTO Saddlery, will host a Competitor and Volunteer Dinner at 6 p.m. There’s plenty of fun for everyone! And if you have some spare time, or know someone who does, volunteers are still much appreciated — you can see open positions and sign up here.

Video Break

Enjoy Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser’s fun out in the show jumping ring!

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Oct 29, 2025 12:01 am -

Five years ago, Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) set out to make the equestrian world more inclusive, accessible, and representative, and thanks to countless advocates, allies, and riders who’ve shown up and spoken out, that vision continues to grow stronger every year. As SEE marks this milestone, they’re celebrating the movement’s momentum with the launch of their newest Leg Up Scholarship, presented in partnership with Flight Line Dressage Shows.

The Flight Line Dressage Leg Up Scholarship will fund entry for one rider at the Scenic Flight Through the Bluegrass Dressage Show V on December 13, 2025, in Nicholasville, Ky. Applications are open through November 17, with the recipient announced by November 25.

SEE’s mission—to create equitable opportunities for BIPOC equestrians and build a more inclusive equestrian culture—remains at the heart of this initiative. Here’s to five years of representation in motion, and to the many riders, organizers, and allies continuing to carry that work forward. 💫

Learn more and apply via Strides for Equality Equestrians here

U.S. Weekend Events

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (CA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (VA): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX): [Website] [Entries/Times] [Scores]

News & Reading

US Equestrian is now accepting letters of interest from athletes wishing to serve on its Athletes’ Advisory Committee for a two-year term beginning in January 2026. The committee—made up of representatives from each FEI discipline and para equestrian—acts as a vital link between the Federation and USEF 10-Year Athletes, offering input on policies and improvements that impact elite competitors. Interested athletes must submit a Letter of Interest and current resume to [email protected]
by November 10, 2025, 5 p.m. ET. Full eligibility details and the position description are available here. Voting will take place November 17–21, 2025.

More than 200 members joined Monday’s 3.5-hour USHJA virtual town hall, where 58 proposed rule changes—many focused on hunter and jumper divisions—sparked lively discussion on welfare and progress in the sport. Topics ranged from limiting daily class numbers and allowing bitless bridles to qualifying changes for Junior Hunter Finals and protocols for collapsed horses. Members have until Oct. 31 to comment on the proposals before they’re reviewed at the USHJA Annual Meeting, Dec. 8–11 in Orlando. It may be a conversation surrounding different disciplines other than eventing, but it’s good to keep tabs on what is front of mind across the broader spectrum of equestrian sports as a whole, and you can read more here.

In an excerpt from 25 Ways to Make Your Horse Happy, trainer and horsewoman Anne Krüger-Degener shares how true communication begins with quiet observation. Her “objective reading” method encourages riders to watch their horses without judgment—studying everything from blinking and breathing to tail movement—to better understand how horses express comfort, tension, and emotion. “Anyone can learn to be fully present with a horse carefully and mindfully,” she writes. Read the full piece on Horse Sport here to learn how to truly listen to your horse with all your senses.

Video Break

What do boundaries really mean to horses? Find out:

Twin Rivers Crowns YEH Champions Bred in America and Imported from Overseas

By on Oct 28, 2025 9:00 am -

O’Malley Van Het Pannehof Z and Nick Cwick win the 2025 USEA YEH West Coast 5-Year-Old Championship. Photo: Tina Fitch Photography

The 4-year-old and 5-year-old that won the 2025 USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships came to Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, Calif., with very different backgrounds. Their successes highlighted the scope of horses that take part in the YEH program that has become a stepping stone to the upper levels of eventing.

Nick Cwick sourced O’Malley Van Het Pannehof Z from Belgium. He and the chestnut Zangersheide gelding with proven show jumping breeding lines won the 5-year-old championship with the highest score on either the West or East Coast. That marks the third time in the last four years that the top-scoring 5-year-old in the country has come out of the West Coast championships, and it puts “Z” first in line to be awarded the prestigious Holekamp/Turner YEH Lion d’Angers Grant to travel to Le Lion D’Angers, France, should the horse qualify for the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships in 2027 when he is 7 years old.

“I try every once in a while to buy one that I think could potentially be a five-star prospect, but it’s hard at 4 and 5 years old to pick that,” Cwick said. “I saw this one and knew he was special. So, I purchased him. He was a bit quirky when he first came over, but he’s really come into himself in the last six months. From the second he got here, I thought he had the ability to be a really special horse.”

On the other hand, 4-year-old champion Earned Effort would have a “Made in America” stamp. Anna Collier has competed his dam, Katie D, up to the three-star level and bred her to the young Hanoverian stallion Escher, who stands in America, to produce an eventing prospect.

Earned Effort and Anna Collier win the 2025 USEA YEH West Coast 4-Year-Old Championship. Photo: Tina Fitch Photography

“Owning your own farm and breeding your own horses, it’s a challenge for everyone,” Collier said. “So, I’m just so grateful and surprised. He’s such a joy in the barn, and I’m absolutely thrilled.”

The YEH program is described by the USEA as “an eventing talent search” with the goal “to identify young horses that possess the talent and disposition necessary to excel at the four-star and five-star eventing levels.” Following the East Coast championships held at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, the West Coast championships at Twin Rivers Ranch attracted eventing prospects that came from overseas and that were bred in America. There were seven different breeds represented among the 13 4-year-olds and 12 5-year-olds. Twin Rivers Ranch has hosted the West Coast championships as a standalone event since 2020.

Earned Effort and Anna Collier. Tina Fitch Photography

“Whatever they’re going to do in life, I feel like this is such a great experience for them,” said Amber Birtcil, a YEH West Coast veteran who competed two 4-year-olds and two 5-year-olds in 2025. “It’s so nice because the atmosphere is that of an FEI event, but it’s so calm and quiet. We joke all weekend that this is the best show all year. You get to just come and bring a couple horses and focus on these young horses. You really take your time with them, and you put all your energy and effort into them.”

The horses were scored on their gaits and rideability on the flat in a dressage test judged by Debbie Adams. Then, they were evaluated for conformation by Christel Carlson. The championships ultimately came down to a jumping and galloping test on a course of five show jumps and 10 cross-country fences designed by Adri Doyal that was judged by Adams and Derek di Grazia.

“This was my first year doing it, and I truly enjoyed being on the judging panel for this year’s Young Event Horse finals,” di Grazia said. “It’s always exciting seeing the group of 4- and 5-year-olds that are presented and hopefully one day will be the future stars of the sport. That’s really what it’s about to me—seeing who is going to come through. You see them now, and then you try to follow them along and see where they end up. That’s the exciting part.”

The 4-year-old championship went first.

“The 4-year-olds out here were so well-prepared, so schooled” Adams said. “I was impressed that 4-year-olds could do that much that well. That deserves a definite nod to the quality of the 4-year-olds’ education.”

Earned Effort and Collier moved up from eighth after dressage and conformation to finish first with a score of 83.84, the second-best 4-year-old score in the country behind the 84.31 of MBF Mirror Image and Arielle Aharoni from winning the East Coast championship.

“He got off the ground really quickly and efficiently and landed so soft,” Collier said of the jumping. “He’s never jumped a keyhole or anything like that before. He looked and put his head down a little bit. He’s so smart.”

Earned Effort, who is registered Oldenburg, had the highest marks in the “Jumping Overall Evaluation” for rideability, between fences, and the open gallop at the end of the test. His “General Impression” score as a potential four- or five-star event horse was the highest in the field with a 9.2 out of 10.

“Everybody at the barn absolutely adores him,” Collier said. “The joke is if he lets you measure his ears, you can measure them. They’re over eight and a half inches long, and I think they’ve gotten bigger. I have to have a special bonnet and tie it on. The Germans always say the larger the ears, the smarter the horse.”

Collier has developed a successful eventing breeding program based in Washington, with her current four-star horse, Blue Time, being a homebred. Blue Time is out of three-star eventer Savoy Six, whom she bred to Persiflage, an Anglo-Arab with Thoroughbred and Arabian racing lines. Collier credits Joshua Lacey with starting and John Camlin with helping produce Earned Effort. She said she looks forward to bringing his 10-year-old dam, Katie D, back to competition after she delivers her next foal next year.

MBF Rafelindo and Andrea Baxter. Tina Fitch Photography

MBF Rafeldino, a bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by El Salvador out of Cisijgje V, and Andrea Baxter were 4-year-old West Coast reserve champions with a score of 81.99. The was the third-highest 4-year-old championship score in the country. They had the best dressage evaluation of 17.02 out of 20 for both championships.

“He is a beautiful type; he’s a nice package,” Baxter said. “He’s your classic 16.2 elegant really well-rounded package, and he’s a beautiful mover with great balance. He’s a very talented and scopey jumper. His name is ‘Jamaica’ because he’s very laidback. Hence why I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to show off the jump because he’s just like, ‘Yeah, yeah, been there, done that.’ So, I was really happy with how we went.”

Jamaica was purchased through the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale in Ireland, and Goresbridge was a prize sponsor for the YEH championships for the first time this year, as was the MBF operations of Meabh Bolger and Brian Flynn in Ireland for the West Coast championships.

Baxter placed three in the top-six with Beachfield Vivaldi, a bay Irish Sport Horse Gelding by Vivant Van De Heffinck out of Cloonacauneen Black Beauty, in fifth and DOS MBF Endeavour, a bay Irish Sport Horse gelding by HHS Cornet out of DOS Kono, in sixth.

“I had three very different horses in the 4-year-olds,” Baxter said. “If you asked me any given day leading up to the championships, every day was throwing darts at a dart board for which one was better or struggling or exceeding. The process of watching them all come along was hilarious, actually. All of them rose to the occasion and put their best foot forward.”

Baxter, who is passionate about the YEH program as a member of USEA’s YEH Committee, won the 4-year-old championship in 2024 with MBF Dig Deep. In 2025, the bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by Golddigger out of Amber, took eighth and has also performed consistently well in horse trials at the Training level this year.

“The 5-year-olds was really stiff competition,” Baxter said. “He was a little flatter across the jumps because he’s so trained.”

O’Malley Van Het Pannehof Z and Nick Cwick. Tina Fitch Photography

For the 5-year-olds, judge Adams said, “I would say the top horses we had in the 5-year-olds on the West Coast, they’re all agile and clever enough that they could handle terrain.”

Ultimately, the 5-year-old West Coast championship went to O’Malley Van Het Pannehof Z, with a nearly foot-perfect jumping and galloping test moving them up from eighth to first on a finishing score of 88.44. That topped the 87.70 of Pine Top Penny Belline and Kylie Cahoon from the East Coast championship. Their “Jumping Overall Evaluation” of 14.15 out of 15 and their “General Impression” of 9.8 out of 10 were highest in the country.

“He gives me that feeling,” Cwick said. “I saw it in him when I bought him in Europe. When he showed up and I sat on him the first time and jumped him, I knew right away. He felt like he had all the right parts to be a top horse. The way he goes, the way he reads the jumps, he’s brave but he’s careful and smart. He feels to me like he would fight for you if you needed him to down the road once he’s more educated. He’s just a cool type, and I feel like he enjoys it. He wants to be out there, and he wants to do the job.”

Although the horse Cwick calls “Z” is first in line for the Holekamp/Turner Grant, if he were to take part in the 7-year-old world championship in France, it would most likely be with a new partner because he is for sale. He said Cwick Eventing’s business model is to import young prospects from overseas and then sell them in America. Cwick also sourced Camelot PJ, Baxter’s 2023 West Coast 5-year-old champion now competing at three-star.

In the case of Z, he is by the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Minute Man, the winner of the CSIO5* Falsterbo Nations Cup in Sweden at 1.60 meters in July with Henrik Von Eckermann. Minute Man’s pedigree combines some of the most sought-after sporthorse lines of Quidam de Revel, Contender, and Heartbreaker.

“I think he’s a big dog,” Cwick added about Z. “He’s got a great personality and is easy to be around, which is nice. When you ride him, he’s got all the right stuff to be a top horse. He gives me that feeling, and I really hope that whoever ends up with him can take him to the level that I think he can be.”

Prince of Oolde and Amber Birtcil. Tina Fitch Photography

Birtcil rode 5-year-old West Coast reserve champion Prince of Oolde to a score of 84.97, third-best in the country.

“We call him ‘Noodles’ because ‘Oolde’ looks like ‘Oodles,’” Birtcil said. “He was super. He’s really been great for me all year. The gal that works for me, Fielding [Neale], competed him at the beginning of the year and was very successful introducing him to the sport and taking him around his first couple Novices. Since then, I’ve done several Trainings with him, and he is just lovely. He’s very big, very scopey. He goes in big loose-ring snaffle and a regular cavesson. Just really, really fun to ride.”

The bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ibolensky out Aurora J is a half-brother to Magical Touch, an 8-year-old competing at the three-star level in Great Britain and Ireland with Eliza Bell.

The YEH West Coast class of 2025 will now try to follow in the footsteps of their siblings and previous years’ YEH classes that have horses rising up the levels of eventing. That’s Me Z and Tommy Greengard, the 2022 winner of the 5-year-old West Coast championship, placed 16th out of 64 in the 7-year-old world championship at Le Lion in 2024 and have three podium finishes at the four-star level in 2025. Of the 18 horses that competed in the 5-year-old West Coast championship in 2023, 10 have since gone on to complete FEI events at the one-, two-, or three-star levels as 7-year-olds in 2025.

“It is really exciting that we can continue to prove that we are sourcing nice horses here,” Baxter said. “The Young Event Horse program costs a lot of money and takes a lot of effort for us to maintain to the best to our ability equal competition on the East and the West. It’s really exciting to be able to see that it’s worth the effort and that we’ve consistently been able to produce top horses from this coast.”

YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (CA): [Website] [Scores]

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Oct 28, 2025 12:01 am -

Heads up Ocala! The Ocala Horse Alliance is hosting its Leg Up on Literacy fundraiser on November 6 from 5–8 p.m. at Conway Arabians in Micanopy, FL, benefiting the Black Stallion® Reading Project — a program that gives every Marion County fourth grader their very own copy of The Black Stallion and the chance to meet a real horse/get them properly riddled with the horse bug, naturally.

For a $50 ticket price, you’ll get live music, cocktails, and a silent auction, all supporting an initiative that brings the magic of horses and reading together. Sponsorship opportunities are also available if you’d like to help make an even bigger impact.

Learn more or snag your ticket at ocalahorsealliance.org.

U.S. Events Opening Entries Today

None this week!

U.S. Events Closing Entries Today

The Event at TerraNova (FL); Ram Tap H.T. & Classic Three-Day (CA)

News & Reading

In this month’s Pressure Proof tip for the USEA, Coach Daniel Stewart dives into the Paradox of Least Effort, also known as our brain’s sneaky tendency to seek the easiest path, even when it leaves us feeling a little hollow. Through what he calls the “IKEA Effect”, Daniel reminds us that the satisfaction we feel after struggling, sweating, and maybe even failing a few times comes from the meaning we build along the way. So whether it’s rebuilding a flat-pack cabinet or bouncing back after pulling a rail, choose hard over easy. That’s where the real growth (and joy) happens. Read the full column here.

The 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is heading to New Orleans, LA December 11–14, and it’s shaping up to be one you won’t want to miss. From deep-dive educational sessions (like course design with Chris Barnard and nutrition with Nutrena’s Alex Brannon) to panels with some of the sport’s top officials, a primer on the new 2026 dressage tests and more, this year’s Convention promises plenty to learn—and plenty to celebrate. Registration is open now via the USEA’s new HorseConnect platform. Click here for more information.

When Maryland eventer Lily Bisson was diagnosed with breast cancer, her local horse community became her greatest source of strength: inspiring her to create the Equestrian Breast Cancer Support Group and launch Gallop For Life, a nonprofit sending equestrian-themed care packages to women with cancer. What began as one rider’s journey has grown into a global network of horsewomen supporting each other through life’s toughest rides. Learn more or get involved here, and read Lily’s full story of inspiration here.

Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products

From the racetrack to the dressage arena, Sibelius continues to prove he’s all class. The $1.8 million-winning gelding, co-owned by Kentucky Performance Products’ Delia Nash, Jun Park, and trainer Jerry O’Dwyer, made his mark at this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover, finishing third in dressage and eighth in freestyle with Alison O’Dwyer in the tack.

After a bowed tendon ended his racing career, Sibelius traded speed for suppleness—and took to his new job with the same determination that once carried him to a Grade 1 victory in Dubai. “It’s a big ask for him to go from being a sprinter to dancing in the dressage ring,” Nash said. “But he did it like the true champ we know he is.”

Now officially a fan favorite, Sibelius has become a standout ambassador for the breed, proving once again that with the right care, patience, and partnership, Thoroughbreds really can do it all. Read a full recap of Sibelius’ weekend here.

Video Break

News from the jumper world! Laura Kraut and Tres Bien Z took home the top honors in this weekend’s $340,000 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W. See how they did it: