It isn’t always easy to find genuine “feel good” stories amid the pressure and nerves that can run wild at major equestrian competitions, such as Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon.
But James Koford’s experience at the show Friday evening was all about simply enjoying his ride in the famous Dixon Oval during the Grand Prix Special Qualifier for Saturday night’s Freestyle.
You probably remember James from his partnership with the eye-catching spotted Friesian mare Adiah HP, the U.S. Dressage Final Grand Prix Freestyle Champion in 2019, the year they won their third straight title.
But his career took a new turn in 2025 when he got together with the high-achieving Firefly.
That’s a horse with big-time name recognition; he was team gold and individual bronze with former rider Anna Marek at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile.
However, when Anna moved on, being turned out to pasture didn’t suit the 16-year-old KWPN gelding.
“He didn’t like retirement and my horse had foot problems and had to retire,” said James, explaining how he and Firefly got together.
“I was psyched to pick up the ride on him.”
Not that it was easy; Fire Fly, James revealed, to a certain extent, is “part pony in his brain,” (and we know how stubborn ponies can be!)
As James explained, “It is so hard to ride a horse that you have not trained.
“I started in November last year and I finally feel like we’re starting to speak the same language. We’re both Grand Prix old men,” said James, who is 64. It seems to me that both horse and rider are in the prime of life.
There has been quite a conversation as they coordinated.
James Koford and Fire Fly.
If James suggested, “Let’s meet in the middle,” his horse said, “Nope, this is how I do it.”
Even so, “It’s such an honor to ride such a fun horse with such good experience,” James said of the handsome bay known as Fred around the barn.
“He was so good with his other rider. He’s done all these wonderful things. He just didn’t want to retire. I’m not trying to be Anna Marek. He’s having fun. I’m having fun. It’s amazing, it’s so fun to be here,” added James, who jubilantly raised his arms in triumph as the spectators cheered after his ride.
People tend to look closely at a well-known horse with a new rider.
“It’s a hard act to follow,” James conceded, adding, “at the same time, he’s older, I’m older, and we have nothing to prove. It’s fun to play the game.”
James has no illusions of what he will achieve in a sport that he feels often seems to be “dominated by the 20-somethings and 30-somethings.”
“I can still play this sport at the top level at my age and it’s amazing just to be able to do it,” he emphasized.
After getting a score of 67.413 percent (with one judge marking him at 69.239), James finished a very respectable sixth in the 13-horse field.
The class was dominated by Canadians, with Camille Carier Bergeron winning on Finnlanderin. The 16-year-old mare by Fidertanz finished on 70.565 percent. Only one judge marked the Oldenburg below 70 percent.
Camille Carier Bergeron led Canadian dominance of the Grand Prix for Freestyle.
Camille’s compatriot, Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, was second on Jaccardo, who earned 70.174 percent. The Canadians were the only competitors to break 70 percent. The top American was Kevin Kohmann, third with Sonata MF (69.522).
As she got ready to return to the ring for the prize presentation, Camille looked around and said about Devon, “It’s such a fantastic show to compete at. Being at night; who can say they competed at almost 11 o’clock at night, ever in their lives? That makes it very special. The people are so welcoming in the stadium It’s a special vibe.”
She said her mare “loves it. The more atmosphere, the more vibe, the better. If there’s atmosphere and electricity, she’s just like `bring it on.’ I can trust her with my eyes closed. She’s the most perfect horse.”
Erin Nichols and Elian Royale, the Grand Prix Special qualifier winner.
In the qualifier for the Grand Prix Special, Erin Nichols made her Devon debut a winning one, taking the blue ribbon on Elian Royale with 67.087 percent.
A native of California, she now lives in North Carolina and Florida, working with Christoph Koschel.
“It’s been a great experience, it’s been just over two years training with him. It’s been really great learning with him; different atmospheres, different venues.There is a lot he has taught me,” Erin said.
At 23, she is one of the 20-somethings James Koford mentioned..
Erin found her horse in Germany when she was in Europe for the Young Riders tour in 2022. A 17-year-old KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN, he was “the next step into the U25.”
She explained, “We started in Young Riders. We were bronze in Aachen in Young Riders and we went to U25, did the Nations Cup in Wellington, then stepped up to the seniors.
“I have a U25 horse I still ride. I go back and forth between U25 and seniors, just to get more experience in the ring. It’s been really helpful riding different horses with different personalities. There are different things they need in the ring from me and different ways of riding a test.”
Of her winner, she said, “He’s my fireball.”
I saw that firsthand when she left the ring, as he was still ready to go and Christoph had his work cut out for him as he helped get him back to the stable.
“He’s a very hot horse,” said Erin, “so coming into a larger atmosphere, he really has to trust me. He came in with lots of energy, I was really happy he settled, trusted me and did his amazing job.”
She was enjoying Devon, observing, “It’s really cool. Very historic and traditional feeling. It’s been wonderful under the lights with all the spectators cheering.”
Chris Hickey and Wyatt Earp.
Second place went to the very veteran Chris Hickey on Stenagers Wyatt Earp (odd name for a Danish warmblood). They earned 66.826 percent.
Although the horse was purchased as a six-year-old and is now 14, “He’s only done a handful of CDI’s,” said Chris, noting, “it’s taken him a long time to get settled in the work because he’s hot. He’s maturing and things are more calm.”
Click here for Grand Prix Special Qualifier results. Click here for Grand Prix Freestyle Qualifer results.
