by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2025
Anna Marek, who topped the series of qualifiers for this weekend’s debut of the US Dressage Open, also was first with Fayvel in the Grand Prix at California’s Desert International Horse Park Friday night.
Now she’s looking forward to Saturday night’s ride to music.
“Fayvel’s freestyle is just so fun, and it always seems to get the crowd excited. I already, clearly, have a very excited Fayvel here for the crowd, so I think the music, as long as long as I can keep a lid on the energy, is going to be a great dance,” said Anna, who is from Donellon, Fla.
Fayvel, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Zizi Top x Houston) owned by Cynthia Davila, had to dampen Fayvel’s enthusiasm a bit in the Grand Prix.
“After the first extended trot, I was like, ‘Hey buddy, we need to get it together before this next movement,’ and after that, the rest of the test just flowed so well. What I loved about it was the energy I had, and he was so rideable at the same time, which is the goal.”
Anna noted the energy Fayvel brought into the arena for the Grand Prix fits perfectly into their energetic and modern choreography and musical selection, and the setting will only boost his performance.
“My first impression of the venue, when I checked out the show arena, which wasn’t even completely set up yet, I looked around and just thought it was just one of the most incredible and beautiful venues I’ve ever been to,” she said.
“Then when the ring was set up with all of the banners and the red, white, and blue flowers – it’s just so incredibly well done.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2025
| Cashew CR, the reliable mount of U.S. rider Alex Matz, delivered one final win Friday night at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as he took his last bow before retirement.
The 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cassini II x Quinar Z) is owned by Alex’s mother, D.D. Matz, who was on hand with Alex’s father, U.S. Olympic medalist Michael Matz, to watch their son top the field in the $90,000 Winning Round class at the 5-star show in Toronto.
Cashew’s nine-year partnership with Alex included 47 international podium finishes, including two wins at last year’s Royal.
“To have him go out on such a high note is really special; he’s a champion and he should go out with a win,” said Alex.
Alex Matz and Cashew CR at the Royal. (Ben Radvanyi Photography) “We decided a couple of months ago that at the end of this year, he would be retired. He’s given so much to me, the best that we can do for him is to give him a happy retirement where he’s sound and healthy. I’m sure he would do more for us, but he doesn’t owe me anything.”
The 10 top entries from the starting field returned in reverse order of standing for the jump-off. Continuing his Royal streak and staying true to his goal of finishing in the top five in every event, Colombia’s Mark Bluman set a pace of 39.37 seconds as the penultimate rider aboard Phelina de Septon. Alex, however, beat Mark’s clocking by nearly three seconds.
Almost a decade together means Alex and Cashew CR have the advantage of a close partnership.
“He knows all my moves; he knows when I’m going to lean too much one way or the other way, and he figures it out,” Alex said.
“It’s a credit to how smart a horse he is.”
Cashew will spend his retirement on the Matz family farm in Pennsylvania.
$90,000 Royal Winning Round
Friday, November 14, 2025
Rider / Nation / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Alex Matz / USA / Cashew CR / 0 / 36.96
2. Mark Bluman / COL / Phelina de Septon / 0 / 39.37
3. Rene Dittmer / GER / Echo vh Gerendal Z / 0 / 41.06
4. Skylar Wireman / USA / Citoki / 0 / 41.26
5. Vaclav Stanek / CZE / Calippo 57 / 0 / 41.99
6. Adrienne Sternlicht / USA / Los Angeles de la Cense / 0 / 43.15
7. Aaron Vale / USA / Helios du Moulin / 0 / 43.20
8.Kaitlin Campbell / USA / Cosm Hesed / 4 / 39.96
9. Daniel Coyle / IRL / Farrel / 4 / 39.97
10. Daniel Bluman / ISR / Gemma W / withdrawn |
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2025
The president of the Austrian Equestrian Federation (OEPS) called the change in the blood rule for show jumping enacted by the FEI last week “a clear step backwards.
Elisabeth Max-Theurer, who won Olympic dressage gold in 1980, stated that “blood — especially in the area of mouth or flanks — must never be considered acceptable in equestrian sport. If a horse is bleeding through the influence of a rider, it is a sign that something is wrong. Then the protection of the horse must take precedence — and not the continuation of the competition.”
Austria joins Britain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and other strong equestrian countries inI rejecting the rule change for their national shows.
(Click here to read the story about the change).
The jumping blood rule applies only to that discipline, although there will be future consideration of standardizing the blood rule among the disciplines.
The dressage rule, meanwhile, was broadened somewhat to mandate that the steward shall inform the judge at C if fresh blood is found in the area of the mouth as well as the area of the spurs at the end of the test. Meanwhile, if the judge at C suspects fresh blood from the moment the horse enters the area around the arena until the end of the test, they can stop the test to check for blood. If there is blood, the horse is eliminated; if there is none, the horse may continued.
“The welfare of the horse is above everything,” said Elisabeth, a prominent dressage judge. who is looking at the big picture of the sport beyond her own discipline.
“And we will communicate that way. I think it is our duty to make a mark here. Equestrian sport must not move away from its ethical basis. We must show that sporting success and animal welfare are not a contradiction. Only in this way can we remain credible — to the public, the sponsors and, above all, to the horses themselves.”
She believes, “This regulation puts an additional burden on all parties involved – for the ground jury, for the stewards, for the organizers and the riders. It does not create clarity, but grey areas. Instead of an immediate exclusion, there will be warnings, entries in the “FEI Warning Register” and suspensions and fines for repetition.
“This sounds strict, but is hardly controllable in practice and distracts from the actual question: Why is a horse even seen with blood on the body in the competition? It’s a bad signal to the outside world. Equestrian sport is constantly in the public eye. If the impression arises that blood is tolerated `to a certain extent,’ this massively jeopardizes the confidence in our sport.”
The fact that the change was decided by 56 votes, with 20 nations against it, is “a clear sign that the democratic balance within the FEI has been out of balance. In the FEI today, every member country – whether France with 11,204 registered tournament horses and 5,391 registered athletes or, for example, Angola or Ethiopia with zero registered horses and athletes – has exactly one vote. That’s absurd. Countries without significant equestrian activity decide on regulations that affect the core of our sport,” Elisabeth pointed out.
“We urgently need reform of the voting system,” she emphasized.
“The international ski association (FIS) has demonstrated this: There, the voices are weighted according to the size and importance of the associations. The European equestrian nations bear the responsibility, finance large parts of the system: The entire EEF has 59,096 registered horses and 28,136 athletes but only 42 votes. All other groups in the world have a total of 18,541 registered horses and 13,785 athletes. That is a third of all active people and a quarter of all horses, but they come together to 92 votes.”
As long as the system remains skewed, she said, “one cannot speak of `democratic decisions’ in the true sense. This puts the credibility of the FEI at a lasting risk. Moreover, in Europe, animal welfare is a very important factor. In many voting countries, human rights are not of high importance – and animal welfare is unlikely to be important at all or all the less so.”
She maintains the situation “endangers the acceptance of our sport in the long term — and thus also its Olympic future. If the World Federation takes decisions that weaken animal welfare, it provides all those arguments that want to push equestrian sport out of the Olympic program anyway. We must be aware that equestrian sport can only survive if society sees that the horse is our partner — not a means to an end. Any rule that dilutes this principle is dangerous.”
She is concerned that “if the FEI continues like this, we will eventually lose the Olympic status for show jumping, dressage and eventing — and at the Paralympics for the Para-dressage. The pressure on the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is growing to critically examine sports with animal participation. That is why any weakening of animal welfare is a step in the wrong direction.”
Show jumping is no longer a part of modern pentathlon in the Olympics after headlines screamed about a horse who refused being punched at the 2020 Games.
Elisabeth stated that “One cannot, on the one hand, preach in every sentence ‘Horse Welfare,’ and at the same time, adopt rules that do just the opposite. We call for a uniform, cross-disciplinary regulation that applies in all FEI sports and which generally does not tolerate blood on the mouth and flank.
“In addition, a fairer weighting of votes must be seriously discussed. Only in this way can the professional competence regain weight. Europe is the center of equestrian sport…organizational and ethical. If our voice no longer counts, then something is fundamentally wrong.”
She feels “the foundation is crumbling. Without clear ethical guidelines, the best systems are of no use to us.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 7, 2025
Right after the FEI General Assembly voted to revise some restrictions included in the blood rule for show jumping, the reaction started rolling in.
The changes approved at the gathering in Hong Kong on Friday authorize issuance of warnings for the presence of blood on a horse in some instances, as opposed to just straight-out elimination. It was so controversial that it was voted on separately at the meeting from the discipline’s general rules revision, and received a “no” from some very powerful national federations. A petition to preserve the “no blood” rule was signed by 65,581 people.
The tally on the general rules at the meeting was 73 in favor, three against and three abstentions. But on the controversial changes, called Article 259, there was a much greater margin against: 56 countries voted yes, 20 voted no and two abstained.
FEI Secretary-General Sabrina Ibañez conceded, “We acknowledge that the approval was not unanimous and have taken note of the request from several national federations for a more harmonized approach to the topic across disciplines and we are committed to looking into this.
“We will take a structured, evidence‑based approach grounded in thorough consultation and driven by data. Our ongoing projects at the FEI will play a key role in supporting accurate data recording, and we will continue to advance safety and welfare through evidence‑based measures that are both rigorous and robust to further demonstrate our unwavering support to horse welfare.”
Yet Jim Eyre, chief executive of British Equestrian, said: “We support the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare, but based on the evidence and expert opinion, we could not support this rule. The vote was far from unanimous, and we welcome the FEI’s pledge to ongoing review and dialogue.
“If horses are to have a future in sport, we must demonstrate unwavering respect for their welfare. That means clear, ethical rules that put the horse first. We remain committed to working with the FEI and fellow federations to ensure fairness, clarity, and the highest standards of care in equestrian sport.”
British Showjumping Chief Executive Iain Graham said, “As leaders in equestrian sport, our duty is clear: protect our athletes, human and equine, and put horse welfare at the heart of every decision.
“While we recognize the riders’ concerns and welcome elements like enhanced veterinary checks and tougher penalties for repeat offenses, removing automatic elimination for visible blood is a step backwards. It risks eroding public trust and undermines the very progress these changes aim to achieve.
“We’re also disappointed that the FEI chose not to advance the use of padded batons over traditional whips in international jumping — a missed opportunity for meaningful reform.
“British Showjumping will not be changing our national rules in response (to the change on the blood provision). We remain committed to evidence-based decisions and stand firmly behind the British Equestrian Charter for the Horse, built on empathy, care, respect, consideration, ethics and learning.”
Explaining why the German Equestrian Federation (FN) was against the revision, its president, Dr. Martin Richenhagen, said “the welfare of the horse is at the heart of all action. This rule change does not fit with this principle.”
It is the horse welfare aspect that also prompted a post-vote statement of regret from the international think tank, Equestrian Action Group, which had called for standardized blood rules for all disciplines and a differentiation of the causes of any bleeding, with stronger penalties when the bleeding can be attributed to the action of the rider.
The EAG expressed concern “about the future of social acceptance of our activities (social license to operate) and regrets that a majority of the national federation delegates have clearly failed to take into account the interests of horses and equestrian sports.”
The International Jumping Riders Club had sought the changes. That organization explained it has never advocated for lesser sanctions for blood, and believes the new rule is actually stricter, with more serious consequences.
IJRC regrets that critics have read Article 259 in isolation, instead of in conjunction with the complementary rules that mandate disqualification for spur marks (even when blood is not visible) and for abuse of the horse that can be referred to the FEI Tribunal for more serious sanctions.
“From the outset, the IJRC sought a more proportionate response; a micro lesion on one horse resulted in the elimination of the entire Brazilian team from the Paris Olympic Games last year, which we believe was excessive, on the other hand an elimination after a round with faults has nearly no consequences.
“As a result of the new rule,” IJRC stated, “careless riding or blood (even if minimal) caused by tack or equipment repeatedly by the same athlete will be sanctioned more strongly than it was in the existing rules.”
- Before, blood cases were not followed up by a vet check; now a fitness to compete assessment is mandatory.
- Before, the decision whether to eliminate or not was subjective; now the sanction system is objective.
- Before, elimination only happened after the class and the horse could continue in the Event and the rider did not incur any suspension (except in serious cases of abuse of horse). Now for cases where the blood is rider induced/caused by tack or equipment there is a Jumping Recorded Warning, with a second one within 12 months resulting in an immediate one-month suspension and a 1,000 Swiss Franc fine.
Explaining the alterations to the jumping rule, the FEI notes the blood rule used prior to the revision lacked differentiation between horse abuse, accidental injuries and minor lesions, leading to inconsistencies in penalties.The rule does not apply to dressage, and it’s easy to understand why EAG called for standardized rules in all the equestrian disciplines.
Remember that the USA’s dressage team member Marcus Orlob was eliminated from the Grand Prix at the Paris Olympics partway through his test. A judge spotted a superficial scratch on the white hind leg of his mount, Jane, who had nicked herself when spooking from a horse that was exiting the arena in the wrong direction as she entered. When the leg was wiped off, the blood disappeared and did not reappear, but Orlob’s chance was over without having a veterinarian weigh in on the judge’s decision.
The FEI maintains that for jumping, the revised Equine Assessment Rule ensures a fair and proportionate penalty system while maintaining horse welfare as a top priority. It aligns the Jumping Rules with ethical sportsmanship and public perception while upholding the principles of equine welfare and fairness, the organization states.
Putting the blood issues in perspective, Todd Hinde, the FEI’s director of show jumping, noted there were 340,000 starts in FEI show jumping this year, with 101 blood-related eliminations, most of which were due to blood on the flanks (which may not be caused by spurs), representing 0.029 percent of all starts. Of these, only four athletes were eliminated twice during that period. He highlighted that this significantly reduced number of cases reflects the impact of the rules on spurs, which clarified what is permitted and what is not.
There include new mandatory fitness-to-compete checks by the Ground Jury, in consultation with the veterinary delegate, in all cases of blood as well as:
- Horses now are only permitted to continue competing if they have passed a fit-to-compete decision following the veterinary check for blood.
- Clearer rules for FEI officials, removing the “minor” categorization of some blood, which is a judgment call, and ensuring greater consistency and objectivity.
- Increased transparency and accountability for athletes, with all Jumping Recorded Warnings published by the FEI.
- Automatic notification to National Federations of all Jumping Recorded Warnings concerning their athletes, enabling them to better monitor cases and decide whether to impose additional welfare checks or measures.
The rules that are still in place and remain unchanged are:
- mandatory disqualification for excessive use of spurs.
- the Abuse of Horse provisions.
- the possibility of opening separate disciplinary proceedings to impose additional sanctions.
New FEI rules involving welfare aren’t just for those competing internationally. They will be coming soon to a show near you. National Federations have been requested to incorporate provisions on Abuse of Horses and Safeguarding Policy against Harassment and Abuse that are generally consistent with the FEI provisions into their own rules and regulations by January 1, 2027.
The Equine Assessment Rule aims to harmonize penalties with the principles of fairness and horse welfare by allowing veterinarians to assess severity: veterinary delegates will evaluate lesions before penalties are enforced to ensure proportionality.
A Three-Strike System means gradual consequences will be applied based on the frequency and severity of violations. Proportionality will offer a standard, so a small superficial mark does not get penalized as severely as a significant lesion or an abuse-related injury.
Violations will be tracked across an athlete’s career to ensure accountability.
Here is Article 259:
259.1. Any blood on the Horse caused by tack or equipment or any Athlete induced blood detected during a competition (from warm up until completion of any post-Competition controls/testing) will result in the following consequences for the Person Responsible, issued by the President of the Ground Jury:
First Offense: Jumping Recorded Warning
Second Offense: Jumping Recorded Warning
Should the same Person Responsible receive two or more Jumping Recorded Warnings at the same or any other event within 12 months of the delivery of the first Jumping Recorded Warning, the Person Responsible shall be issued a fine of CHF 1,000 (Swiss Francs/ $1,242 U.S.) and be automatically suspended for a period of one month.
259.2 In other cases of blood on the horse detected during a competition (for example where a horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip or in cases where a horse is bleeding from the nose), the officials may authorize the rinsing or wiping of the blood and allow the Athlete/Horse Combination to continue the competition, provided the horse is deemed fit to compete in accordance with Article 259.3. The athlete will not receive a Jumping Recorded Warning if this article applies.
259.3. In all cases of blood on the horse under JRs Art 259, the horse may only be permitted to continue in a competition or participate in any subsequent competition(s) at the event if the ground jury, in consultation with the veterinary delegate, has deemed the horse to be fit to compete.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation this year passed a blood rule of its own, scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1. It states that blood caused by the rider/handler or equipment requires the horse to be eliminated from the relevant class. Presence of blood on horses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a licensed judge or ground jury.
USEF recognizes that horses may sometimes bite their tongue or lips in the normal course of work. If minor blood is spotted in a horse’s mouth, the new rule allows the licensed judge or ground jury to rinse or wipe the horse’s mouth and permits the horse to continue if there is no further evidence of blood. If bleeding continues, the horse will be eliminated.
If a horse is eliminated during a class that is a qualifier for a championship or another class, they may compete in the championship if the bleeding issue is resolved. If a horse is eliminated in the work-off, a championship, or in a jump-off due to blood, they will be eliminated from that phase of the class and placed based on the score they had at the start of the work-off or jump-off round.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 6, 2025
Going beyond equine microchips for horse ID, Equipass addresses the need for accurate health records, regulatory compliance and improved disease control with a streamlined approach. Its first phase will roll out beginning Jan. 26, 2026, according to the FEI (the international equestrian federation),.
It is designed to handle documentation and facilitate smooth international movement of horses, reducing administrative complexities while strengthening biosecurity across borders. The FEI views Equipass as a complement to horses’ physical passports by providing a single platform for a horse’s identification, medical history, vaccination records, location and travel documentation.
The system enables owners, athletes, grooms, veterinarians, officials and authorities to access all essential data in one app. The idea is to make it easier and faster to manage multiple horses, track vaccinations and handle cross-border travel, while keeping the information secure and readily available.
“This is the first platform of its kind to integrate horse identification, health records, vaccination tracking, travel documentation and microchip scanning in a single, unified system, for lifetime traceability,” FEI Director of Technology Operations Gaspard Dufour said.
Thermal microchip scanning enables simultaneous verification of horse’s identity, location and body temperature. That is an innovation in equestrian sport. Dufour points out the potential for automated biosecurity monitoring and real-time welfare oversight.
“This project is a perfect example of technical expertise meeting the real-world demands of the equestrian industry, all in the service of improving the welfare of horses worldwide. With multi-device access and real-time updates, Equipass is both practical and scalable. This is a tool that we believe will make a genuine difference for everyone who works with horses,” according to Dufour.
By the end of 2027, or in early 2028, Equipass will expand to involve horses at the national level, if national federations are interested. The third phase, for which no potential start date was given, will open the system to studbooks and other potential partners.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 8, 2025
The world number one dressage rider Justin Verboomen of Belgium received the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award at the FEI General Assembly Friday for his training and competition success with the lovely Zonik Plus.
As the rider from Belgium pointed out, it’s amazing to think that “exactly one year ago, I was only dreaming of us taking part in our first international show together. I never imagined how far this journey would take us. Mechelen was unforgettable especially because it was the last show my mother saw, and that memory makes every moment since even more meaningful.”
Raised in a family of riding instructors, Justin’s lifelong connection with horses has shaped a grounded and classical approach to his craft. From the time Justin met Zonik Plus as a two-and-a-half year-old in Portugal, their partnership has grown through patience, trust, and quiet determination, forming the foundation for their success at the highest levels of the sport.
The FEI Awards Gala 2025 presented by Longines In Hong Kong. Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete 2025 – Justin Verboomen (BEL). Photograph taken by Liz Gregg. Copyright of Liz Gregg / FEI.
Their achievements during the 2025 season brought Belgium unprecedented international recognition, including the nation’s first-ever FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ victory and an individual triumph at CHIO Aachen. Beyond the results, Justin has demonstrated consistency, composure, and deep respect for his horses, embodying the qualities celebrated by the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award.
“Winning the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award wasn’t something I expected; I just wanted to share the connection I feel with Zonik, to let people see his spirit and our story.
“To feel that others were moved, too, is incredibly touching. I’m endlessly grateful to have met a horse like him. He’s not just a partner in sport, but truly part of my family. This award isn’t just ours; it belongs to everyone who believed in us and felt our emotion through the arena.”
The Longines Rising Star Award went to Irish show jumper Tom Wachman.
At just 20, Tom is already making his mark on the international stage. A three-time European Champion, he has won team gold in the Pony (2019), Junior (2023), and Young Rider (2024) categories, and helped Ireland secure team silver at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, Juniors & Children 2025 in Riesenbeck. This year has been particularly remarkable for Tom. He realized his childhood dream of representing Ireland at multiple CSIO5* events, contributing to team victories.
From his early days on the Irish pony circuit to the highest levels of international competition, his journey is a testament to talent, dedication, and remarkable consistency.
“I’ve been lucky to work with great horses and an incredible team behind me,” Tom.
“From the very start, I’ve had the support of amazing grooms, coaches, and everyone in the yard, and that makes all the difference. It’s been an amazing year — a lucky year with great horses, strong partnerships, and opportunities I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. Awards like this are just the icing on the cake. They recognize not just individual results, but the effort of everyone involved, and hopefully, they inspire young people to stay focused, work hard, and enjoy the journey as much as I have.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 7, 2025
There will never be an opportunity like this again in the foreseeable future.
Be part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles by volunteering. The program, presented by Delta Air Lines, offers an opportunity for everyone to take a role. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was amazing, and its successor 44 years later promises to be equally as memorable. Show jumping, dressage and eventing all will be held at Santa Anita racetrack, which also hosted the 1984 Games, except for cross country, which will be on site this time. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer.
Community volunteer slots are available now. Games volunteer spots will be available beginning next year. To register, click here. While you’re on the site, check out job opportunities connected with the Games.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 30, 2025
The Hunterdon Symphony is opening its 2025-26 season with Equestrian Orchestrations, a concert keyed to a theme of horses. It’s set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Raritan Township, N.J.
The symphony’s concerts often are performed around a theme, and conductor Lawrence Kursar liked the idea for this one.
“It’s such a Hunterdon County thing,” explained orchestra manager Barbara Volkov.
“You can’t really turn around in Hunterdon County without bumping into someone who has a connection with horses. You can see horse farms everywhere here.”
She also noted it plays into next year’s celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the country’s founding.
“Back in the day, everybody had a connection to horses, because you were either plowing with one or riding on one or you had a cart and that’s how you got around. Everybody knew horses.”
Selections to be played by the excellent regional orchestra include Franz von Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, Aaron Copland’s Red Pony Suite, Eric Whitacre’s Equus and Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite (if you’re looking for a connection to the theme on that one, remember that people ride down into the canyon on mules.)
The reception after the concert, which is free and open to all, will offer treats along the horse theme. How about oatmeal cookies and carrot cake.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click on this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 2, 2025
From his first round over the jumps to his last ride in front of the judges, JJ Torano dominated the finals of the ASPCA Maclay equitation championship at the National Horse Show in Kentucky on Sunday.
The 15-year-old ranked first after all 176 contenders had completed the initial round, stayed on top in the flat phase and was the best of 24 in the second round as well, ending up with a final score 93.46. He was the only rider whose final score broke into the 90s.
After a 7 a.m. start and nearly 11 hours of competition, the judges wisely saw no need for further testing when JJ completed a classic second-round performance on Favorite Edition Z, otherwise known as Eddie.
JJ Torano led all the way in the Maclay. (National Horse Show Photo)
JJ called the mount he has ridden for three years “a very proven horse. He’s been foot-perfect from the start. I can’t say enough about him. He can shine in those tests where they ask the big questions. I’m lucky to be sitting on him in a class like this.”
Jimmy Torano and Favorite Edition Z on their way to victory in the Maclay.
The routes set by Paul Jewell and Nancy Wallis, with input from judges Susie Schoellkopf, Jimmy Toon, Robin Swinderman Mitchell and Tony Sgarlata, tested accuracy and adjustability, but also allowed the riders who mastered the technical questions to demonstrate their style.
“My goal this year was really to make it a rider’s test, where they want to find the track and find the path,” Paul explained.
“If they find the path, keep the pace, they’re going to be fine.”
In her comments about the winner, judge Robin said, “He was extremely smooth throughout all the rounds, very solid in his flatwork.”
Judge Jimmy noted, “JJ is quite clever in keeping everything so even, and he’s so strong. He’s solid. There’s not much else you can say about him. He’s quite the man.”
JJ is the son of Jimmy and Danielle Torano, both show ring stars. He is coached by his father and the North Run team of Missy Clark, John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer.
JJ Torano with sponsor Cindi Perez, 2024 Maclay winner Taylor Cawley, Danielle and Jimmy Torano, Missy Clark, John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer.
The teen warmed up for his class by winning Saturday night’s 1.35 meter jumper competition with Good Mood Semilly, then taking third on Vitus K in the featured $100,000 1.45-meter grand prix behind big names Alessandra Volpi (Glamour) and Sloane Coles (Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve.)
So it’s no surprise what JJ, who won the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal Finals last year, is looking forward to in the coming season.
“I have a couple of young horses, new horses I want to step up and keep going and build a relationship,” the Floridian said.
“So I’m excited for that. Maybe jump some bigger classes now that I’m old enough.”
JJ expressed gratitude for all the help he received.
“Obviously it’s been a great week. I rode a lot of different types of horses. I think almost every one of them was owned by a different person. So, first I’d like to thank the owners, my parents for all they do, and my trainers, Missy, John, and Maggie. It’s really a team behind me that can really make the success happen for me,”
It was the third time in a row that a child of a professional equestrians had taken the Maclay. Last year, I asked Jimmy Torano why the pro trainers’ kids are so good, and wondered if it was genetic.
He told me it’s because the youngsters are “around it every day, they’re living it, they’re breathing it.”
And they have the chance to ride so many different horses, Jimmy added.
The reserve champion, Parker Peacock, moved up from eleventh place to come close to the big prize.,Parker, a North Carolinian who rode Montverdi, is trained by Ken and Emily Smith. Her final score was 89.03.
Runner-up Parker Peacock. (National Horse Show Photo)
Third place went to the first person to venture out on course, Madison Ramsey, who also won the silver cup known as the Trailblazer Trophy for that achievement. The Florida resident, who is trained by Jen and Frank Madden and the Capital Hill team, as well as Bobby Braswell, rode Mac III after rising from sixth place. Her final score was 88.40.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 1, 2025
Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson and Vashti, the combination that won the Open Grand Prix Freestyle at the U.S. Dressage Finals in 2021, did it again on Saturday night during the show at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
“I could not have been happier with my ride; I didn’t care what the score was,” said Kristin, who rode to a Bugs Bunny operetta she edited herself, as well as well as designing the complex floorplan. Her efforts earned a mark of 72.25 percent.
“I wanted to use that music, and it took me years to try to get it the way I wanted it,” revealed Kristin. who was the runner-up in the Grand Prix on Saturday.
Vashti, who is by the pinto Friesian Sporthorse Nic, also sire of Jim Koford’s famous ride Adiah HP, was bred by Sherry Koella. She was at Finals to witness the cherished 17-year-old mare’s victory. Sherry likes to breed for color, and when Vashti turned out to be a bay and then became an orphan, Kristin and her mother, Dede Wasemiller took her in.
Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson and Vashti. (Susan J. Stickle Photo)
“We have been second several times in this class, so it was our goal to come back and win it,” added Kristin, who trains mostly with her mother and is based four miles away from her farm in Oklahoma City.
Jennifer Roth, who had 11 rides at the show, was the reserve after making a last-minute decision to contest the class when another competitor scratched. She and Barbara Lightner’s 12-year-old Lusitano, Imperador DR, earned 71.258 percent.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be in this class,” she explained. “The horse is an absolute machine and Kathy Rizzoni made him such a fun, upbeat freestyle. I was up there just dancing and singing, and when I hit that last line of ones, I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve done 15, let’s see how many more I can fit in.’ He was right there for me. That’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had doing dressage.”
Roth partially attributed her great performance to help from long-time coach Sharon Ridge and warm-up help from Jim Koford, and partly to her brand new tailcoat bought on the day.
“It must be good luck; I’m never taking it off,” laughed Roth, who has been riding the Lusitano only since the spring of 2025. “I was given the ride to just play around, and here we are. Jim’s been convincing me that it’s okay to be fancy. I tend to go with the safe seven, and he’s helping me figure out that I can go for more. It’s pretty cool.”
Josefine Parada, who was jetting off on her honeymoon Sunday morning, filled third place with a 71.125 percent ride on her own 14-year-old Floriscount gelding, Floyd.
Heather Mason has a record to be envied at the U.S. Dressage Finals, enjoying victory after victory at the show.
That hasn’t changed with a switch in venues, from the Kentucky Horse Park. It’s not just that she’s winning in the saddle; her students also are winning. And she had 28 entries to ride or train at the show presented by Adequan.
Her four-year-old Rock It P on Saturday won the First Level Open Freestyle with 77.241 percent, with a boost from a plus-80 percent mark from the judge at C. Heather’s music was from the mystery movie Enola Holmes, put together by Kevin Whitney.
The 17.3 hand (and still growing) Rock It (Grand Galaxy Win X Everdale) made a comeback from his Friday Training Level test, where he was distracted by the camera person.
Heather Mason and Rock It P at home. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Today he put on his bravery and was fantastic. It’s a very difficult floor plan, with bold movements and combinations because he’s an honest horse, which is lucky, because being so big it would be a problem if he wasn’t. I bought him as a foal, and he was only supposed to make 16.2 hands,” said Heather, who is based in Lebanon, N.J.
Heather’s total wins at the show mounted to four by the end of Saturday’s action. She was the first to go in the Intermediate I Open Freestyle Championship on Manuskript SCF and her 73.325 percent mark on the eight-year-old Jazz gelding was good enough for the title. Then she rode Rock It P again to take the First Level Open Championship with 73.194 percent.
Next for Rock It is a rest and maybe some jumping over the winter until serious work resumes in the spring.
Heather Mason and Rock It P rock their winning freestyle. (Susan J. Stickle Photo)
“I have to let Rock It’s body catch up; everything comes so easy for him, and he’s not stressed about the work but he’s still physically immature. He’s definitely a super horse, and I look forward to many years with him,” Heather said.
A Lusitano stallion was named Grand Prix champion for rider Jorge Arauz Friday night, topping a field of 14. Jorge and the “sweetheart” of a horse, London Do Vouga, earned 65.036 percent. The stallion is an inexperienced 11-year-old that just started competing at the highest level during the summer. It was only his third show at Grand Prix.
“It has been an amazing journey with this horse,” said Jorge, who works for Dulce Borjas at her Los Encinos Equestrian Hacienda in Magnolia, Texas.
“He came to us from Brazil three or four years ago as a kind of average horse schooling Second Level for Dulce to ride,” said Jorge.
A a native of Nicaragua, Jorge now rides for the U.S. He soon realized that London Do Vouga had the quality and talent for the upper levels, and in a few short years, he learned all the Grand Prix work. The stallion’s owner also earned her U.S. Dressage Federation silver medal on the horse 18 months ago.
Grand Prix winner Jorge Arauz and London Do Vouga. (Susan J. Stickle Photo)
“Honestly, we were very happy and humble to be here,” explained Jorge.
“We are new in this, so we had no big expectations, but we tried our best and the test went really well, his best so far. Obviously, there’s always room for improvement, but from his breed, the piaffe/passage are strong exercises for him. He’s a sweetheart.”
Jorge has trained with Rafael Soto, as well as riders from the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.
“Hopefully, we will get him to some CDIs next season in Florida,” he added, “and we would like to get him qualified for the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at WEC Ocala in May.”
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