by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 14, 2025
He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
The world’s number one-ranked show jumper, Kent Farrington, was a brilliant combination of determination and precision aboard Greya to win the 1.2 million Euro ($1.4 million U.S.) Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday and start on the road to the elusive Rolex Grand Slam.
Kent was very distressed Friday when he finished second on Toulayna to Britain’s Scott Brash in the International Jumper Riders Club top 10 competition, and blamed himself for the loss while noting how beautifully his mare had handled the challenge.
“Today was better riding. Thank God,” said Kent.
“I was so upset the other day. I thought my horse jumped incredible, so I was out for revenge today. Super happy with the results. Greya is an incredible horse,” he said of the 11-year-old daughter of Colestus, who is his match for ability and fortitude.
Kent and Greya, the mare who was victorious in seven 5-star grands prix this year, were determined to win in Geneva.
In the eight-horse tiebreaker, the American was fighting to beat the time of U.S.-based Irishman Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, clocked in 41.39 seconds. Kent claimed the 400,000 Euro ($469,000 U.S.) top prize with tight turns and brilliant foot speed, staying ahead of his rival all the way to finish in 40.04 seconds. Thibeau Spits of Belgium was third with the Zangersheide stallion Impress-k Van’t Kattenheye Z in 42.21 seconds.
Rolex Geneva Grand Prix winner Kent Farrington with second-place Shane Sweetnam, left, and third-place Thibeau Spits.
“I was worried about this one,” Kent admitted, but he played it perfectly.
“A great finish for my year. I’m super proud of my horse and my team,” he said.
Shane, who noted he keeps finishing behind Kent, realized that even if he had put in his ideal round, he couldn’t have beaten the winner. But the Irishman was pleased that after having been third and fourth in the class in previous years, he was pleased to have moved up to second on his Irish-bred mount.
Swiss designer Gérard Lachat and Olympic course designer Gregory Bodo of France laid out the route in the Palexpo Arena.The view was a winter wonderland, with Christimas trees on course, decorative gift-wrapped presents next to one jump and even a reindeer along a side of the arena.
The clock was a factor in how the course rode, with the first three of the 40 contenders having penalties for failing to make the 74-second time allowed. A total of 12 riders accumulated time faults. Slowest of the clear jumping rounds belonged to the USA’s Lille Keenan on Fasther, who had two time penalties to finish thirteenth. The only other American in the class, Kyle King, was thirty-eighth on Kayenne Z.
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz.
Next up on the Grand Slam circuit is the Dutch Masters in March, followed by Aachen and Spruce Meadows. Only one rider, Scott Brash, has ever won the Grand Slam by taking all four. He was the Geneva Grand Prix winner in 2014 to start his streak. As the winner of the Spruce Meadows grand prix in September, he would have been halfway to another grand slam had he won Sunday. But he didn’t even make the jump-off after having two fences down in the first round with Hello Folie and finishing thirtieth.
This was the second time that Kent has won the Geneva grand prix. He also was victorious in 2017 on Gazelle. Only two other Americans have won the class; McLain Ward on HH Azur in 2022 and Katie Monahan Prudent on Belladonna in 1999.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Judy Hennessy was the salt of the earth, an amazing person; an inspiration, a dedicated teacher, all that and more, as expressed by hundreds of people whose lives she touched, and hundreds more who simply held her in their hearts.
They all mourned her passing on Saturday at age 89, sharing their sorrow with her son, Kevin, and daughter, Stacy, on — perhaps fittingly — the National Day of the Horse. A visitation will be held Dec. 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen, N.J.
Judy Hennessy
A dedicated 4-H leader in Somerset County, N.J., for 45 years, Judy passed on her knowledge of horse care to so many children who, as a result, grew up learning the right way to do the best for their animals .In 2016, she was named New Jersey Horseperson of the Year, a well-deserved honor.
Judy had a varied work life. She was the first female groom to go overseas with the U.S. Equestrian Team (her favorite team horse was the tall and impressive San Lucas, Frank Chapot’s Pan Am Games medal mount).
The Bridgewater resident helped Jim Wiebe when his saddlery business was in Oldwick, assisted veterinarian Dr. John Walsh and until earlier this year, worked alongside her dog, Mollie, at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Hunterdon County.
“Mom loved horses and loved teaching others about them. She has helped and taught so many through the years. Too many to name,” Kevin said on Facebook.
Stacy recalled, “She taught me to chase my dreams, no matter how far they took me. She taught me to embrace adventures. To go with the flow when it serves me well and to speak up when needed.
“She taught me to encourage others to ride and to get from this sport the many things that it can teach and the incredible experiences it affords us. She taught me to read often, to celebrate the holidays, to appreciate those that do the right thing. Always. She made sure we had the opportunities that were the good ones and pointed us in the right direction.”
Noting his mother hated the cold, Kevin stated, “to respect her love of warmer weather,” a celebration of her life will be held in the spring. Kevin suggested that to honor his mother, those who were so fond of her should “pass along anything she taught you to someone else.”
Margie Margentino, Judy’s friend for 43 years, called her “a true horseman. Not just somebody who got on a horse and rode. She knew the insides and outsides of a horse, as far as care, nutrition, lameness. She could braid a horse and not a hair out of place.”
What she learned from Judy “made me a better horseman, made me really think about the horse and what the horse’s needs are. There’s a lot more to horsemanship than riding.”
Margie added, “The word `quit’ was not in her vocabulary. Her big thing was education. She wanted the kids to learn. She taught me you’re never going to bond with your horse unless you’re there on the ground with that horse doing all the grooming, the mucking, the feeding. She instilled that in me and hundreds and hundreds of 4-H kids.”
Comments on Kevin’s social media post included one from Barbara Navatto calling Judy “an inspiration to all of us. A wonderful woman of incredible strength (and humor).”
Said Lisa Allocco, “She is a legend. Thank you to her for teaching all of us at very early age. There’s probably not one person on the East Coast she didn’t have an influence on.”
Lisas Nolte Salakian told Kevin and Stacy, “Your mom was ahead of her time and (a) trailblazer. Your mom was kind enough to braid my horse for the Maclay finals way back when. I sat on the trunk and we chatted while she braided. Her kind words eased some of the nerves and it is a memory I will always cherish.”
Ralph and Holly Caristo told Judy’s children, “Your mother was such a great person inside and out.”
Offering her condolences, Amy Butewicz said “Judy was a legendary horsewoman and touched the lives of so many. Her joyful, fun spirit was contagious. It was an honor to be part of her national 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology teams many moons ago. We had some epic adventures on our trips to nationals in Louisville, Ky. I was so proud to be coached by her. She gave so much back to youth. Her heart was larger than life.”
Michelle Kirsch recalled that “Judy was one of my 4-H leaders, and later became one of my children’s leaders, as well — a rare and special full-circle gift. Mrs. Hennessey was truly a pillar of our local equine community and a true horsewoman in every sense of the word. She taught generations that the horse always comes first, and that lesson will live on through all of us she guided. Her impact, wisdom, and love for horses will never be forgotten.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
The winning Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Christian Simonson and Indian Rock Friday night at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala was performed to music with a double significance.
The tunes were from the Rocky movies, obviously appropriate since the 12-year-old Dutchbred stallion’s nickname is Rocky. But also, the Rocky story — of an underdog boxer who fights his way to the top — strikes a special chord with Christian.
He sees the series of movies as unreeling “a cool journey of a person that commits all their time and effort into one thing, and then they deal with the trials and tribulations and they end up successful.”
The 23-year-old rider certainly is committing his time and effort to dressage, on horses owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center with training provided by three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle.
The class at WEC was an FEI World Cup qualifier, and Christian is hoping to ride in the Cup finals next April in Ft. Worth, Texas. After that, there is the goal of the World Championships during the summer in Aachen, Germany, and beyond the Worlds? Well, the U.S. will be hosting the Olympics in 2028.
Christian and Rocky doing their freestyle at Wec. (Andrew Ryback Photography)
The class at WEC was Christian’s second Cup qualifier victory with the Dutchbred son of Apache, putting him third in the standings for the finals. North America gets three representatives in the competition, the first U.S. location for the finals since Omaha in 2023.
Christian was more than three percentage points ahead of his closest competition. He scored 78.840 (with one judge giving him a remarkable 83.525), while second place went to Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo (75.115).
The USA’s Ben Ebeling, who is second in the Cup qualifier rankings with Dressage at Devon winner Bellena, finished fifth in the class (71.790). Kevin Kohmann, who leads the rankings on Dünensee, did not compete at WEC.
Rocky was ridden in the 2024 Olympics by Emmilie Scholtens of the Netherlands, who placed eleventh in the Paris freestyle with a score of 81.750. Christian came close to that in October at TerraNova with a total of 81.405. Christian keeps in touch with Emmilie, and they have shared many conversations about her former mount.
Adapting to a famous horse is no small task, but in typical Christian style, the rider was totally focused on becoming a partner with the stallion.
“I probably spent more time with Rocky than most of my family. We pushed things forward in that way. He’s truly an amazing horse,” Christian said good-naturedly.
Reflecting on his freestyle, Christian emphasized, “I’m really proud of his performance. It was kind of a little bit of a different environment for him and I. It was obviously an indoor (arena) with some modern music and a crowd. Adrienne constantly has me working on new things and giving me pieces of guidance and ways that we can improve what we’re doing. For me, the most fun is learning a lot all the time. It makes me just the happiest person ever.”
Continuing to discuss his ride, Christian said of his horse, “He felt amazing. He was with me every step of the way, I could use lighter and lighter aids. The piaffe/passage tour at the end, I could hear Adrienne’s voice in my head about where to put each step. She was really happy with that and if she’s happy, I’m happy.”
Since Christian began showing Rocky at FEI competitions in May, he has won five classes in a row.
He earned individual silver earlier this year aboard Son of a Lady in the Young Rider team competition in Hagen, Germany, where the U.S. squad claimed bronze in the Nations Cup.
Click here for freestyle results
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 13, 2025
Adrienne Ann Cotter, a former executive vice president of the American Horse Shows Association, died Friday.
She is survived by her husband, Martin, and two children, Ian and Rhea. For decades Adrienne was a staple in the horse community on Long Island and internationally with the AHSA, now the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
A funeral mass will be held at St Anthony of Padua in East Northport, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) The preservation of the National Seashore has always been an important cause for Adrienne.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
The Evening of Equestrian is always a highlight of the USHJA’s annual meeting. The stories of those being honored are interesting and often quite inspirational.
Trainer Fran Dotoli, whose husband, Joe, is a regular award recipient (he got another honor when the President’s Distinguished Service Awards were announced during the evening), had her moment in the spotlight as one of the winners of the Jane Marshall Dillon Award.
The trophy goes to those dedicated to teaching and helping riders beginning their education with horses. It is named for the mentor of Olympic medalists Joe Fargis and Kathy Kusner. Her book “School for Young Riders” has been required reading for horse-crazy kids since 1958.
Fran researched Mrs. Dillon, learning she was “quite a character and a consummate instructor.”
Fran Dotoli and USHJA President Britt McCormick.
Working with beginners, juniors and amateurs as well as young professionals, Fran herself is “a consummate instructor,” who teaches life lessons as well as horsemanship.
The other recipient of the award was Nancy Unger-Fink, who actually rode with Mrs. Dillon and even lived in her house.
Nancy Unger-Fink.
Fran’s reference to Mrs. Dillon as a character was illustrated by Nancy’s recollection of being awakened at 11:30 p.m. to hear, “Get up, we’re going for a midnight ride.” Nancy learned how to braid a mane and wrap legs, among many other things that would serve her well as a professional.
“She taught us to be very dedicated and work harder,” Nancy emphasized.
The J. Arthur “Bucky” Reynolds Award of Merit went posthumously to Rodney Jenkins, the legendary hunter and jumper rider who died a year ago. The trophy was presented by his fellow Virginians, Bucky’s sister, Betty Oare, and her husband, Ernie Oare.
Betty and Ernie Oare.
Oliver Brown, the respected judge, breeder and handler, who received the Volunteer of the Year award, remembered as a kid in 1959 or ’60 riding in his first recognized show at Upperville, Va., where Rodney also was a competitor.
“I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t win at Upperville,” chuckled Oliver, who had collected ribbons at the county fair in Michigan. During his youth, he said, “one of my biggest competitors was Rodney. Then fast-forward a long way, I competed with Rodney a lot at the racetrack, and for those of you who don’t know, he had a heck of a career as a racehorse trainer.”
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to show jumping medalist, World Cup competitor and U.S. team member Debbie Stephens of Florida and Lloyd Longenecker. Saluted for his 50 years in the industry, Lloyd was a pioneer in horse show software with his Ryegate Show Services. The award was accepted by his daughter, Annette, since he couldn’t attend.
From his home in Pennsylvania, Lloyd appeared on video saying, “In all the years that I worked around the horse business, I never realized I was doing anything earth-shattering. I thought I was just doing things to make it better for the industry, better for the horses.”
He recounted a fascinating multi-dimensional history that included working in various jobs, including announcing, until he got his first set of timers and was involved with computers. A request from Linda Allen to help her write software that would help with team selection became the template for the computer list that continues to be used today.
Debbie, who was well-known for starting the great jumper Abdullah and also associated with such successful mounts as Volan and VIP, was on hand to accept her trophy, accompanied by her husband, Olympic course designer Steve Stephens. Her friend, Sherry Robertson, told everyone at the dinner about Debbie.
Debbie and Steve Stephens.
“She’s a great girl, she loves the sport, she has done amazing things. She was one of the ones who brought commercial sponsorship.”
In the process, Sherry recounted, Debbie won three cars and two motorcycles.”
Others recognized during the evening were
In addition to Joe Dotoli, Michele Hollis, Hugh Kincannon, Faith McKay-Alicea, Berry Porter, Megan Thiel, and Julie Williams won the Distinguished Service Award.
The Mrs. A.C. Randolph Legacy Owners Award when to Caroline Moran, who has been a backer of top riders and trainers in both the hunter/jumper and eventing disciplines, and has also been involved with much appreciated grooms awards.
The Amateur Sportsmanship Award was given to Isabel Baker, founder of the Kindness Movement that promotes sportsmanship and combats bullying at shows. Also receiving the award was Sheila Murphy, who has devoted her life to equestrian sport through organizing and sponsoring competitions and served on many committees and boards.
The Vital Horse Show Staff Award was shared by announcer Kenn Marash and Pat Duncan, known for his organization and problem-solving skills.
The Youth Leadership Award went to Carlota Padron, who has competed interscholastically and represented Florida in the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships.
Maddie Shoop-Gardner, a Californian who is an IEA Zone 10 Youth Board Representative, is the USHJA’s nominee for the USEF National Youth Sportsman’s Award. She has contributed more than 350 volunteer hours at Stanford University’s Red Barn and founded her high school’s equestrian club. She also volunteers at a therapeutic riding center.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
World number one-ranked show jumper Kent Farrington of the USA was concise in commenting on his performance after losing the Rolex International Jumping Riders Top 10 Final by 0.16 seconds to Great Britain’s Scott Brash on Friday night.
“The horse jumped to win tonight and the rider rode to lose, so that was not good,” Kent said ruefully of his second-round trip in Geneva, Switzerland’s Palexpo arena aboard Toulayna.
Continuing to beat himself up, he commented, “That was stupid riding.”
It cost him a third victory in the class that always attracts the sport’s stars and this time included two Olympic individual gold medalists and the European champion.
Kent Farrington, wearing the world number one armband, and Toulayna.
Last to go, Kent had the advantage of watching Scott’s 45.63-second effort on Hello Chadora Lady, a 14-year-old daughter of the famous Chacco Blue.
“I thought I matched his round early,” mused Kent, noting Scott’s horse “is a bit quicker across the ground. I saw everybody knocking down the second-to-last vertical (the black and blue IJRC fence) so I tried to play it a little easy there.
“I probably needed one less (stride) to the last,” which was the Rolex oxer.
Of Scott’s effort, Kent observed, “He just caught me by a whisker.” The American was clocked in 45.79 seconds on his intrepid 11-year-old Zangersheide mare.
Scott Brash and Hello Chadora Lady on their way to victory.
Scott, who collected 170,000 Euros (nearly $200,000 U.S.) after his precision trip, said, “I’m absolutely delighted, and delighted for the mare. I always had this class in mind for her.”
In 2014, Scott took the IJRC title and then became the only rider ever to win the Rolex Grand Slam.
It also bears mentioning that the Olympic team double gold medalist won the world’s richest grand prix, another Rolex feature, at Spruce Meadows in September over a course that was remarkable for its difficulty.
He noted Chadora is the type of alert contender who “just wants to get on with it.” So “it’s a balance, letting her get on with it but still listening to me. She was absolutely incredible. She was amazing.”
The podium in Geneva: winner Scott Brash, center; runner-up Kent Farrington, left and third-place Richie Vogel.
European Champion Richie Vogel of Germany was third on the aptly named gray stallion, Cloudio, despite being faster than the top two, finishing in 44.24 seconds. That was because he carried over 4 faults from his first trip, but was able to rise from eighth place in the initial round to reach the podium in the second, after those who had been ahead of him either had rails or a slower time.
“I’m very happy with Cloudio’s performance tonight,” Richie commented.
“It’s his first time in Geneva. The way he felt home in the arena tonight was absolutely amazing. I was very disappointed after the result in the first round, where I had a clear misunderstanding while approaching fence 10 ending up with a pole down”.
The course, put together by Swiss designer Gérard Lachat and Olympic course designer Gregory Bodo of France, featured several fences higher than 1.60 meters. But the real demand of the second round was in its twists and turns, particularly at the sixth of 10 fences, a vertical flanked by Christmas trees that demanded a sweeping approach which could not be cut too close. Ben Maher, Britain’s 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist, fell off there when Dalls Vegas Batilly stopped on the angle.
The Top Ten class has unique appeal.
“I think it’s just great to be here and to be part of the Top 10 class. And I think if you run this class 10 times, you’ll probably get 10 different results. It’s just amazing,” Scott said.
Kent was the only American in the line-up. Although Laura Kraut and McLain Ward qualified for the class, both instead stayed in the U.S. to win at Desert International Horse Park in California..
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by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2025
A firm from the United Arab Emirates will be joining investors in Wellington Lifestyle Partners with a strategic investment as WLP builds a “landmark ultra-luxury real estate development of homes,” a hotel, commercial marketplace properties and a championship golf course.
Modon Holding PSC of Abu Dhabi also will support the long-term development of Wellington International showgrounds, already well under way at the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The portfolio includes The Wanderers Club, a private family-oriented country club offering golf, tennis, swimming and dining; The Wellington, a new private residential club community comprising 253 best-in-class residences set to open in 2028 and featuring a championship-level golf course designed by David McLay Kidd. According to a statement from WLP, “these assets form a long-term master plan to strengthen Wellington’s position as the global home of equestrian sport and luxury living.”
The investment includes a strategic license agreement enabling Modon to use Wellington International’s brand and intellectual property across several key strategic markets to support the development of future lifestyle and community destinations. As part of the agreement, Modon will also become a premier sponsor of the Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) – the world’s largest and longest-running hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, attracting over 250,000 spectators and exhibitors each year.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of Modon Holding, said: “This strategic investment reflects Modon’s ambition to invest alongside world-class partners that share our vision for excellence in destination development. Wellington Lifestyle Partners represents a unique collaboration that brings together expertise in real estate, equestrian, hospitality and sports-led communities. By extending our reach to the United States, we are furthering Modon’s role in delivering sustainable destinations that embody quality, innovation and cultural connection.”
Bill O’Regan, group CEO of Modon Holding, added: “Our partnership with Wellington Lifestyle Partners aligns with Modon’s strategy to develop integrated lifestyle destinations that combine community, sport and hospitality. Wellington International is recognized globally for its equestrian excellence, and this collaboration provides a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise in operations, master planning and design.
Mark Bellissimo, founder of Wellington Lifestyle Partners, said: “The addition of Modon Holding to Wellington Lifestyle Partners brings together an exceptional blend of expertise. With Modon’s world-class destination development experience, Doug McMahon and NEXUS’ leadership in luxury community development, and equestrian Murray Kessler as CEO of Wellington International, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate our vision to set a new standard of quality for an equestrian lifestyle destination here in Wellington.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 7, 2025
The 25-year-old rider, who just won individual gold at the FEI Asian Jumping Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, is hardly a household name.
Although Egor now represents Palestine, he competed for Russia until 2022. So did his wife, Aleksandra Maksakova, a dressage rider who also has switched from Russia to Palestine after riding for her homeland in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The two run a stable in the Netherlands.
Egor has quite a competition record. In the last 15 years, he logged 2,329 starts and 101 victories. He has competed in multiple European Championships in junior and young rider categories, coming in fifth in the individual competition at the 2021 European Under 25 Championships. He is ranked number 445 in the Longines Rankings and number 70 in the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking. Egor attended the Young Riders Academy and has trained with German coach Johannes Rueben.
At the championships in Thailand, he rode Crack HV, a son of Cornet Obolensky, to faultless performances across all five-rounds to finish on a total of 2.93 penalties and take the title.
Egor Shchibrik, new Asian show jumping champion. (FEI photo)
“I don’t have the words,” Egor said after his win.
“This is my first (senior) championship. I came here wanting to learn, to gain experience. Crack HV jumped his heart out from the very first day. He felt like a lion today.”
Kuwait’s Ali Al Khorafi and impressive I delivered the only other clear in round two to rise from fourth to second place and claim the individual silver with a final score of 5.50 penalties. Yun-Chi Lin of Chinese Taipei, riding Driss de Kerglenn took bronze on 6.04 penalties.
Long-time championship leader Taizo Sugitani of Japan began the day carrying a total of zero penalties that kept him in the lead. He was the reigning Individual Asian Champion from Pattaya 2019, and a seven-time Olympian.But as Sugitani cantered into the sunlit arena for round two, the shadows cast by the afternoon light stretched across the opening line.
His mount, Quincy 194 clipped the back bar of the oxer at fence one on the course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr., and dislodged the top rail of fence two within seconds of entering the arena. Within a matter of moments, the favorite’s medal hopes evaporated.
“I’m still trying to understand what happened there,” Taizo said.
“The shadows were definitely playing a part today, and Quincy hesitated for a fraction of a second. That’s all it takes at this level. I’m proud of my team and my horse, but today wasn’t our day.”
His eight penalties in the final round saw him finish in fifth place on eight faults.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 26, 2025
The FEI (international equestrian federation) on Wednesday released details of a hearing involving U.S. eventer Andrew McConnon, who was suspended for 20 months after a three-member tribunal found he had committed horse abuse. The suspension started on the date of his provisional suspension, Jan. 8, 2025, and continues until Sept. 8, 2026.
The tribunal that heard the case consisted of two Canadians and an Argentinian, who found that while McConnon breached the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse, he was a “very credible and reliable witness.”
At the same time, the panel stated in its Nov. 24 decision that the majority of the FEI’s evidence was deemed insufficient to prove its allegations, which included numerous witnesses examined during a two-day hearing. McConnon also presented witnesses on his behalf.
However, the panel “carefully considered whether the respondent (McConnon) had a motive to misrepresent any events. While he clearly has an interest in the outcome of these proceedings, his willingness to admit wrongdoing, coupled with his refusal to shift blame to others, enhanced his credibility.”
The tribunal found that McConnon in one instance that was brought forward had used a whip on a horse “more times than was appropriate,” but noted the FEI did not meet its burden of proof for determining that McConnon had engaged in “excessive beating.” In another instance, the tribunal determined his use of the reins was “firmer than necessary” and that jabbing the horse in the mouth three times constituted horse abuse. He also was found to have slapped a horse seven times on the top of its neck.
Those who wish to read the panel’s entire 120-page decision can click here.
McConnon, a 5-star rider who has represented the U.S. in competition, was fined 2,500 Swiss francs ($3,092). He is banned from taking part in any competition or event, or in any related activity under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any national federation during his suspension. The North Carolinian also is prohibited from training any FEI/national federation-registered athletes and/or FEI/national federation-registered horses.
Andrew McConnon competing in 2024. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
There are members of the equestrian community who questioned what they considered the relatively short length of McConnon’s suspension. But as for the sentiment to ban the rider for life, the tribunal noted the offenses fell in the “mid-range” category of the table provided at Article 164.13 of the General Regulations. This table provides for a suspension ranging between three months and two years.
“Accordingly, a sanction up to a lifetime ban – as requested by the FEI – is not warranted in this case,” the tribunal stated in its decision.
The tribunal did find that McConnon engaged in abuse of horse as well as in conduct that has brought the FEI and equestrian sport into disrepute, thereby violating Article 142.1 (Abuse of Horse) in conjunction with Article 164.11 (offenses) of the FEI General Regulations.
The case surfaced in September 2024, after videos appeared on social media of McConnon hitting horses.
Witness credibility was an issue with the tribunal. Of the eight witnesses testifying against McConnon, the tribunal gave four no weight, two minimal weight and one moderate weight, while deeming another witness not applicable. On the other hand, the panel gave the eight witnesses testifying on McConnon’s behalf moderate to full weight.
Testifying before the tribunal about what had transpired, McConnon said he had to “let go” a groom, who became one of the witnesses against him. However, he had already committed to clients to bring in seven horses. Without his usual support, he had difficulty managing all of the horses on his own, he stated. At the same time, his father’s health was in decline after being diagnosed with cancer. In addition, the owner of one of the horses mentioned in the case was delinquent in paying and owed him tens of thousands of dollars.
McConnon stated, “Those are just some of the things that were going on personally and inappropriately I let my personal life go over into my work life and that never should have happened.” The panel considered his personal circumstances to be a mitigating
factor.
Before viewing videos of his behavior toward the horses during the hearing, McConnon told the tribunal, ” just want to be clear that in my explanation, this isn’t justifying my actions. You’ll hear throughout my testimony and in my thoughts at the end that it’s absolutely unacceptable. I’ll make that clear. I just don’t want that to be confused with me describing what happened on the day.”
At the end of the hearing, McConnon asked to make a statement before the tribunal.
“In the beginning of last year, I acted out of character with my values as a horseman. As a professional athlete and an upper-level competitor, it is my responsibility to set an example.However, in March 2024, I was extremely thankful to [FEI Witness 1] for kindly speaking with me after a difficult ride about what she had witnessed. That conversation helped me put my then current struggles into focus. I made the necessary changes that day and I was thankful for her forgiveness for my behavior. This isn’t a case of `I’m sorry I got caught.’ I’m genuinely sorry for my actions. Being a private and independent person, I incorrectly tried to handle my struggles
alone.
“Because of the overwhelming things that were going on in my personal life, I inappropriately allowed it to carry over into my work and what I need, what I needed was help. Soon after that day, I called a fellow professional, [Respondent Witness 1],7 whom you’ve met and shared with him my shortcomings.
“In September, after the social media attacks started, I personally contacted each of my sponsors and clients, as well as the group from Rebecca Farm, who gave me the grant to compete in Europe. During my career, I’ve never received a verbal warning or a sanction in any way. My horses have been inspected and drug tested dozens of times with no positive results. While the investigation
understandably has focused on my shortcomings, I hope my years of service, volunteering and dedication is taken into consideration. I respect and understand the importance of reporting.
“A few years ago, I was a victim of bullying and had to utilize SafeSport myself. I also understand the importance of correct reporting and allowing the organizations to conduct their investigation. While I’ve taken responsibility personally and have discussed this matter privately with my sponsors, clients, and close friends, I’ve stayed off of social media out of the respect for this investigation.
“I’ve been criticized for not making a statement online, but I did not think that it was appropriate to deal with this on social media. I still believe that I have not been hiding, and despite paying a heavy price for my silence online, I didn’t want to interfere with this investigation in any way. During these difficult times, my privacy has been violated. My reputation has been destroyed.
“My income has been halted, and my future in the sport I love has been threatened. I know that my reputation will never be restored because of the social media campaign, but I have learned from my mistakes and I still believe that I can be a valuable and contributing member of the FEI community.
“My passion is to produce horses, compete, and to give back to the sport, and help mentor junior and young riders. I believe if given the opportunity I can train and compete correctly while continuing to educate the next generation on the importance of horsemanship
and asking for help when needed.
“I can’t undo what has happened, but I wish to be a positive influence moving forward. I hope you accept my apology and admission of wrongdoing. I will never repeat these behaviors.”
Parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the full decision.
Meanwhile, U.S. singles driver Raymond Helmuth of Iowa also has been provisionally suspended by the FEI on allegations of horse abuse.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 5, 2025
Highlighting Santa Anita Park’s continued relevance for equestrian sport, the 5-star Split Rock horse show at the vintage California track glittered with a $400,000 Longines FEI World Cup qualifier last month.
The brooding multi-hued San Gabriel mountains preside over a 90-year-old facility set on 320 acres. The venue enjoys an invigorated equestrian charisma following its selection in April as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics’ venue for show jumping, dressage and eventing.
An overview of the grand prix arena for the Split Rock shows.
McLain Ward, who won the 5-star grand prix, called Santa Anita “a brilliant location; it’s busy enough but at the same time, a little bit more peaceful area than downtown LA. It’s an exciting venue for the Olympics.”
But Santa Anita’s significance also stems from history. It is where the equestrian competition (with the exception of eventing’s cross-country) was held at the last Los Angeles Olympics, in 1984.
That was an incredible moment, especially for the U.S., which decisively won show jumping team gold, as well as that discipline’s individual gold and silver, in addition to eventing team gold and individual silver. Coming four years after the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics, the ’84 LA Games were seen as a celebration of America, and its place not only in sport, but also in the world.
It was the first time since 1932 that the Olympics was staged in the U.S. Those Games, where the U.S. medaled in all three disciplines, also were in LA, with show jumping featured right before the closing ceremonies at the Memorial Coliseum, while dressage was held at a country club and eventing in LA’s Westchester neighborhood.
The athletes who competed in 1932 are long gone, but many of the riders from 1984 are still very much with us.
One of them, American show jumping team gold medalist Melanie Smith Taylor, was at the 5-star watching the action and renewing old friendships. The field of play, however, didn’t look the same as it had when she rode there in 1984.
At that time, the track’s Art Deco-esque main building in its traditional colors of Persian green and chiffon yellow was the focal point, and the jumps were on the track.
Now the arenas are set across the infield tor the Split Rock show, which has a contract to run at Santa Anita through 2027. The horses stay in temporary stalls a short hack from the action, rather than in racetrack stalls, as they did at the last Games.
Several times, Melanie was asked if being at Santa Anita brought back memories of 1984.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s definitely a different scene because the ring is in a different place, so that didn’t really ring a bell,” she replied.
“But when an American won a class and they played the national anthem, and I’m looking at the flag and out over the mountains, it definitely brought a tear to my eye and brought me back to ’84, standing on the podium and thinking about all that we had accomplished as a team.”
That was the USA’s first Olympic team gold in the discipline, a landmark.
Eric Navet, who competed for France in show jumping 41 years ago, also was back for the Split Rock show, helping U.S. rider Karl Cook, who won the Split Rock grand prix in 2024.
While he didn’t medal in LA, Eric had a wide range of memories about competing at Santa Anita.
“I was very young, I was 25 years old. What I remember is that there were very, very big temporary (grand)stands; very high, it was huge. They were full, full, full.
“This is the only Olympics where we were at the Olympic Village,” he recalled.
Since then, many nations, including the U.S., put up their equestrians in hotels. That means they don’t have the benefit of mingling with non-equestrian participants on a daily basis.
“We had this experience to share with other athletes from all the sports from all over the world. That was fantastic,” recounted Eric of his time in the athletes’ village. He went on after the Games to become world champion, European champion and also win team bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Santa Anita has been identified with glamour since its inception. The location in Arcadia, practically within cantering distance of Hollywood, meant it once was frequented by stars such as Cary Grant, Esther Williams, Lana Turner and a host of other big names for whom racing was their recreation of choice.
That Hollywood aura was captured at the 5-star, where statuesque women, some adorned in show girl feathers, others in glittery cowgirl outfits, brightened the VIP area. The food there was equally awesome; everything from beef Wellington and seafood towers to abundant champagne and captivating desserts .At Santa Anita, it’s all about the guest experience, and they know how to do it well.
A touch of Hollywood in the ringside hospitality area at Santa Anita.
The innate character of the venue derives not only from its history, but also its future beyond the Games. The vision of 1/ST (pronounced First), which runs the track belonging to the Stronach Group, involves consideration of non-racing horse-related activities beyond the Split Rock series and even the Olympics. The grands prix have ratcheted up every year, and in 2026, that will mean two 5-stars (2025 had a 3-star week and a 5-star week).
The idea of having show jumping at Santa Anita was “all Nikki,” according to Derek Braun, founder of the Split Rock Jumping Tour, who was referring to Nikki Walker, a member of the Canadian show jumping team and daughter of Belinda Stronach, president and chairman of the Stronach Group.
Nikki Walker and her mother, Belinda Stronach, with 5-star grand prix winner McLain Ward.
Nikki, vice president of 1/ST, said she had “no expectations” when the concept was undertaken, but the wisdom of putting it forward was soon obvious.
“Our goal was to make it one of the biggest events on tour all year from the beginning,” commented Derek, saying it was a “natural fit” for the venue. It’s a great partnership.”
It also works well for him because Split Rock is putting on the 2026 World Cup finals in Fort Worth next April.
Nikki of course is delighted with the way show jumping clicked at the track. She began focusing toward 2026 immediately after the 2025 event, as the 1/ST team continues to “grow and elevate this event even further.”
The main arena used for the Split Rock featured classes is too small for Olympic competition, and while other areas in the infield are available, no announcement has been made as to where the Games arena will be built. Eric Navet hopes it will have a view of the mountains, noting how successful the 2024 Paris Olympics setting at Versailles was with the palace as a backdrop.
Most classes for the Split Rock shows don’t start before 10:30 a.m., giving space for thoroughbreds working out on the track. Karl took advantage of the opportunity to breeze a racehorse himself, happily calling it a “wild experience.”
Ashlyn Moore, vice president of equestrian operations for 1/ST, is a former member of the track’s racing team. Following inception of the partnership with Split Rock and hosting the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier, Ashlyn transitioned more into the equestrian sport aspect. There are 1,500 horses at the track 11 months of the year (all the horses head south to Del Mar for August), but racing goes on for 10 months annually.
“We pride ourselves on the ability to keep horses safe at this facility, and I think that shows on the equestrian side,” Ashlyn said, noting there has been a major investment in top line ESI footing that has held up, even in heavy rain.
“We’re always looking to see how we can continue to grow the sport in California. Our goal is to introduce new shows,” she said, whether that involves show jumping, dressage, saddle seat or western pleasure, just one element of including the quarter horse contingent.
“We want to continue to bring horse sport to Santa Anita. It’s part of a larger process to invigorate and make this an equestrian ecosystem,” she said.
Next year, the back-to-back Split Rock shows are the only competitions scheduled, but she noted, “We’ll see what happens in ’27 (the year of the Olympic test event.)
“We never say no. The racing ecosystem, trainers and owners, have really adopted it and been really supportive of just keeping this as a year-round facility.”
What is now an area with secondary rings with a view from the grandstand may be the place where the Olympic arena will be built, but no announcement has been made about that.
While such big names as the world’s number one-ranked show jumper Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain are in the spotlight along with the VIPs at the grands prix, Santa Anita also has an eye on the average horse lover.
World Number One-ranked Kent Farrington was among the high level competitors at Santa Anita.
“We have over 2,000 people who have signed up for general admission,” Ashlyn said before the grand prix, talking about who wanted to come to the property for the horse show. The demand was such that the section where they were located was standing room only when all the seats were quickly filled for the grand prix evening.
“We’ve done outreach to equestrian barns. Not everybody knows, because it is a new facility, what is available. So we try to make that outreach and develop those partnerships. The regional market is also very important,” she emphasized.
“We talk a lot when we look at show jumping about the international scale. But the regional circuits are a new generation of sport and they’re looking up to the Karl Cooks, the Laura Krauts. It’s important to foster those programs as well.”
The concept of non-racing competition has been on the table for awhile.
Ashlyn noted, “We started thinking about this long before LA28,” made its announcement about coming to Santa Anita.
“When we were looking at what we could do with the facility, show jumping seemed like the natural thing. It’s just a great way to relight the spark.”
