As the new year gallops toward us, let’s take a little half-halt to look back on 2025 and see where we’ve been, before we turn our attention to where we’re going.
At the high end, the wealthy who want to participate in horse sports are doing just fine, as you would expect. But it’s a different story not only for those aspiring to the highest levels of sport without a bankroll, but also for almost anyone else seeking significant equestrian involvement. Where are the backyard stables, as well as facilities that cater to beginners or trail riders? They have disappeared, or often seem to be in the process of doing so.
Concerns over the cost of showing — and indeed — even of keeping horses, have dominated thoughts in 2025 as never before. The worries rose to new levels and seem destined to continue on that course unless some answers are found. Don’t expect one solution, however. There are unique ways to handle the situation for different segments of the equestrian sports population. New groups, such as the United Dressage and Jumping Club, are putting forward alternative concepts, trimming cash outlays while avoiding the sport’s governing bodies. And now there’s even a new U.S. Equestrian Trainers Association.
Thoroughbred racing also is having well-publicized troubles. It is interesting to see how a group in Florida is trying to find a way forward in that state, where the future of the state’s largest track is under threat. Whether it’s showing, horse-keeping or racing, many need to focus and contribute their thoughts.
On the controversy front, enactment of a new international rule concerning blood on show jumpers in competition will not end the conversation about this difficult subject among other disciplines. In the era of social license to operate, horse sport has to worry about public acceptance, as well as what’s right for the horses.
In September, the U.S. Equestrian Federation released a set of horse welfare guidelines under the title, “Protecting Horses.”
Some high-profile abuse cases also were resolved in 2025. U.S. dressage rider Cesar Parra was suspended for 15 years “for violating principles of horse welfare,” resolving accusations that received massive publicity and comment. In another abuse case, it was a 20-month suspension for eventer Andrew McConnon after a public outcry.
In happier news on the competition front, dressage has a deserving new number one, modest Belgian role model Justin Verboomen, who carefully brought along Zonik Plus from an untrained two-year-old to a superstar earning scores over 90 percent. He is the European Champion and has his eye on the 2026 world championships.
Justin Verboomen enjoys a special link with Zonik Plus.
Great Britain’s Scott Brash defied the odds with Hello Jefferson to win the world’s richest (and most difficult) show jumping grand prix, the $5 million (Canadian) CPKC International, on top of gaining attention for a brilliant comeback when he lost his reins for a moment in the European Championships. He went on to win the International Jumper Riders Club top 10 competition in December.
A change of venue for the 2028 Olympic equestrian competition was announced, which meant the hosting will be done by Santa Anita racetrack, where McLain Ward won the grand prix in November against the magnificent backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains.
Santa Anita
For U.S. high performance, this was a year without major international championships — the Olympics were in 2024, the world championships are in 2026 and the Pan American Games in 2027. But jumper riders distinguished themselves anyway; Kent Farrington ended the year as world number one, Laura Kraut is the world’s highest-ranked female jumper rider at number seven and Karl Cook won the grands prix of Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Falsterbo, Sweden.
In the dressage rankings, Christian Simonson was the highest-ranked U.S. rider at number 15, making an enormous leap from number 151. Boyd Martin was world number two in eventing, while Cosby Green clinched the tenth spot.
A landmark of 2025 saw the new USEF Open competitions in the Olympic disciplines make their debut in Virginia, California and Florida.
As is often the case these days, children of professional equestrians took major equitation titles. JJ Torano, the 2024 Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal winner, added the ASPCA Maclay to his collection. He’s the son of show jumpers Jimmy and Danielle Torano. Olivia Sweetnam, the daughter of Irish show jumper Shane Sweetnam and his wife, Ali Sweetnam, won the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal.
Milestones during the year included the fiftieth anniversary of Dressage at Devon, and the hundredth of Union County, N.J.’s Watchung Stables, happily bucking the trend that has closed so many lesson facilities.
Ben Ebeling gives a thumbs up during Dressage at Devon’s 50th anniversary.
The Winter Equestrian Festival showgrounds in Wellington, Fla., got new life after a complete refurbishment, with more to come, after its former owners bought it back.
Several key people left leadership positions in 2025. Karyn Malinowski, the founding director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center took a well-deserved retirement. Desert International Horse Park made headlines at the end of July with the sudden departure of CEO Steve Hankin, whose leadership had given a new identity to the former HITS Thermal, Calif., facility. And the CEO of the Maryland 5-star event departed, as did several others connected to that competition. (Read more at this link.)
Horses who retired included Explosion W, British rider Ben Maher’s 2021 Olympic individual gold medal show jumping mount, and Tamie Smith’s ride, Kentucky 5-star winner Mai Baum.
Mai Baum.
New Jersey’s Essex Horse Trials, a competition that has had plenty of ups and downs during its long history, returned as a one-day fixture with great success. Trainer and judge Marilyn Payne was determined to keep it going, despite fears it would not be held again.
Moorland Farm is a special venue for the Essex Horse Trials.
As always, we take extra time to think about the special people and horses we lost during the year. Click this link to read a story about those who passed away over the last 12 months. If you want more detail on the year gone by, click on the “previous columns” link on the masthead of this website and scroll through our coverage. You can do the same with the On the Rail archives.