by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 28, 2025
Germany did Thursday what it usually does, taking team gold for the twenty-sixth time at the European Dressage Championships. That nation has won a total of 26 golds in European championship competition, though at the last Euro title meet two year ago, it settled for silver while Britain took gold.
This time, the placings were reversed, with Britain less than three points behind the Germans, 229.644 to 226.785.
“It’s very sweet to get it back,” said German Chef d’equipe Klaus Roeser, who works with coach Monica Theodorescu.
“We are very happy once again to bring the title back to Germany.”
The German dressage team: Chef d’equipe Klaus Roeser, Ingrid Klimke, Isabell Werth, Frederic Wandres, Katherina Hemmer and Monica Theodorescu.
As has been the case since she was suspended in 2024 for whipping a horse during a lesson several years ago, Britain’s former superstar, Charlotte Dujardin, was absent from the team, although she has been competing in England since her punishment ended in July. But the mare on whom she won an individual bronze at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, Mount St. John Freestyle, performed in great style with Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St. John Freestyle.
Cathrine was the only competitor at the title meet in Crozet, France, on the border with Switzerland, to break the 80 percent mark with her test, earning 80.823 percent. Freestyle did not compete in Aachen last month, which proved to be a wise decision by Cathrine, who as a result enjoyed a fresh horse in France. She led the Danish team to bronze on 223.385. It was the third time in that medal position for Denmark.
“We came here with quite a green team, and maybe weren’t yet in a position to chase the Germans and Brits, but we made it to the podium,” Catherine said. She was just ahead of Germany’s top rider, Isabell Werth on Wendy de Fontaine, with 79.224 percent. The mare was consistent, though her lower lip was often in motion and her mouth opened at times, showing some tension.
Britain missed a chance to overtake Germany when anchor rider Lottie Fry’s performance with Glamourdale wasn’t up to her usual level. She got a 4.5 for her collected canter, and her left pirouette was disheveled, scoring 4.4. The ride was saved, as always, by the stallion’s ground-eating canter. Team stalwart Carl Hester, the architect of Britain’s rise to the top of the dressage world, had a bravura performance with Fame on 76.098 percent to stand fifth, ahead of Lottie.
“I am just thrilled,” said Carl.
“He is such a genuine horse. He’s nice to ride, he’s fun to ride and he’s fun to ride around the Grand Prix because he doesn’t run out of energy – and he’s like that every day, whether you’re at home or in an arena.
“I’ve had some great rides this year. Of course, there’s always something that can be better. I probably went better in my extended trots today than I’ve gone before, but I just thought, ‘go for it – we’re behind anyway, so I need to ride a little bit stronger.”
Jagerbomb, who made his Olympic debut in Paris last year with owner Becky Moody, was marked at 74.829 and would have been higher if not for an unscripted flying change in the extended canter. Britain had only a three-person team after pathfinder Andrew Gould’s Indigro was blown out by a judge during his test for being uneven on the first day of Grand Prix..
Everyone was looking forward to the appearance of Aachen sensation Justin Verboomen and the rivetingl Zonik Plus for Belgium. He started off with 8s for his entrance, but hit the boards during his reinback (5.2) and his power presentation of the one-tempis led to a costly error ,resulting in a mark of 4.6 for that movement. Justin didn’t quite hit 80 percent, winding up in third place with a score of 79.084 percent, which put the Belgian team fourth with 220.062.
The top 30 return for the Grand Prix Special on Friday.
Click here for individual results. Click here for team results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 25, 2025
Not only is she a wonderful rider and trainer, three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle also is a top class coach, whose many strengths were on display at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions over the weekend with victory after victory.
She won the Developing Prix St. Georges title with Hussman’s Topgun, a dynamic son of the late, great Totilas, earning 72.549 and 73.425 percent in her classes. Adrienne feels the need to log another year of developing work for this big, talented horse before he’s a CDI championship candidate.
“He’s definitely not one that you will put any external time constraints on, because he’s ready when he’s ready,” she explained.
Adrienne and a be-ribboned Topgun. (USA Equestrian photo)
Her students also dominated their competition at the show in Illinois. Christian Simonson became the youngest person (he’ll be 23 on Tuesday) ever to win the national Grand Prix Championship with a sweep of all three classes.
His freestyle with Indian Rock, the 2024 Olympic mount of Emmelie Scholtens from the Netherlands, was close to the 80 percent stratosphere on 79.430 percent.
Looking ahead to the highlight of 2026, the FEI World Championships at Aachen, Adrienne said about Christian and Indian Rock, “We’re definitely not ruling that out. The reason we came to this (the championship) was that he needs to go step by step up the ladder. I’ve always been very careful about not letting him jump into things too soon; making sure he did all the proper steps.
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock. (California Dressage Society photo)
“I thought doing his first national Grand Prix championship was a very important step. He handled it all amazingly, as he always does. The goal for next year is to do the Grand Prix CDIs and see where that takes him.”
Christian also rode Fleau de Bain, a stallion who is the former mount of another Dutch rider, Adelinde Cornelissen, to win the U25 Brentina Cup with a 72.820 percent freestyle. That competition has special meaning for Adrienne because it is named after the favorite mount of Debbie McDonald, who was her mentor. Needless to say, Christian was the first person to take the Grand Prix and Brentina Cup titles at the same show.
“Anything that he is interested in, he is like a sponge. He wants to learn everything and absorb everything,” said Adrienne, who won the Brentina Cup when she was starting on her career path.
“We are not trying to prove anything to anyone. We are all very humble students of the craft, and if you enter with that kind of mindset, your mind is open to absorb and learn. Christian always comes with such great insights and great questions. You could tell his brain is constantly working to unlock every little bit of knowledge he can about this sport.”
Christian Simonson had several victory laps. (USA Equestrian Photo)
Both his horses and Topgun are owned by Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center.
Adrienne described Heidi as “the engine that drives the machine. She is so incredibly supportive” even of horses she doesn’t own that are trained by Adrienne.
“For Heidi, they are all in the family, the barn family,” Adrienne observed.
“She has contagious enthusiasm. She has such a die-hard belief in her riders and horses through good times and bad times. Heidi’s done a fantastic job of allowing us to develop a pipeline. We’re not just looking six months or a year ahead and trying to scramble into a spot.”
Adrienne just got the ride on Zen’s newest horse, My Vitality, who is only eight. She doesn’t know if he’ll be ready for the championships, but she described him as “incredibly smart, an incredibly rideable horse.”
She appreciates the decision by the U.S. Equestrian Federation to hold the 2026 Grand Prix championship as part of the selection process for the world championships as a stand-alone at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center in May, rather than during the Dressage Festival of Champions, which has so many other divisions.
Adrienne noted the USA’s top Grand Prix horses often don’t appear at the Festival because they have just come off a European tour. Running their competition as a standalone is important, in her view.
“I think this will make it that the top horses are going head-to-head in the national Grand Prix championships,” she suggested.
In addition to everything she does with the horses, Adrienne also keeps busy as a mother with her daughter, Bailey Da Silva, who is about to turn two and already is sitting bareback on horses when she isn’t hugging or kissing them.
But Adrienne never loses focus on her work. Among others she coached to the top of the rankings at the Festival was Katie Duerrhammer, who won the Seven-Year-Old Championships at the Festival with Kylie Lourie’s Rosebank VH, who took both classes.
When Katie clinched the title, Adrienne said, “That was really a special moment. She made me cry, which is very few and far between. I’m not a crier. But she has been working so hard with that stallion and had two of her most beautiful tests. She rode so soft and so harmonious. You could have heard a pin drop.”
Katie Duerrhammer and Rosebank VH. (USA Equestrian Photo)
She was proud that in the heat of the moment, Katie was “giving him still the same soft ride he needed. It’s hard not to push a little harder when you’re under that kind of pressure.”
And then there’s Quinn Iverson, who won the Developing Grand Prix with longtime supporter Billie Davidson’s Oldenburg gelding, Gremlin 41. She earned 72.03 percent.
Quinn Iverson and Gremlin 41. (USA Equestrian Photo)
Quinn, who started as a working student for Debbie and Adrienne, has trained Gremlin for several years.
“She’s done an incredible job with him. I think he’s a super talented horse,” observed Adrienne, adding, “I think he could be on the radar to be a contender for next year (the championships shortlist) possibly too.
“It might be a little bit too soon, but our goal for next year is to get him into the Grand Prix CDIs. I’d love for him to go to Europe.”
Adrienne called Quinn, “an incredible rider. She’s one of those naturally gifted people with a super feel of the horses and the way to read horses. She can ride anything, she can get along with anything. She’s a very gifted trainer.
“I trust her to make the right decisions. That’s really exciting for me, because my goal is to bring up people who are not just good competition riders but who first and foremost are good trainers and can produce horses. We’re trying to pass Debbie’s system and knowledge to the next generation.”
It’s quite a team effort.
Christian describes his success as a reflection of the “incredible support from Adrienne and Zen,” as well as grooms Hugo Saldivar and Marina Lemay.
“Whatever Adrienne tells me to do is where I go,” Christian emphasized.
His horses have “almost the same type of character, “they’ll go through fire for you and try their hearts out.”
Each, of course, is different to ride.
Felix, as Fleau de Bain is known, is smaller than Rocky and has been Christian’s mount for 18 months. He “is like a piaffe passage machine.”
Rocky, who Christian has ridden for eight months, is “so incredibly elastic…he has incredible lateral scope and capability.”
Will we see Christian at the FEI World Cup finals and FEI World Championships next year? Could be.
When he was 13, Christian disclosed, “I wrote all of my biggest goals in a notebook. One was a Pan Ams (he already has ridden on the gold medal team in the Pan American Games), one was a WEG (World Equestrian Games, now world championships), one was an Olympics. That would be just unbelievable if it happened, Let’s keep our hooves crossed and see how it all goes.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 22, 2025
Ron Turcotte, who in 1972 rode Secretariat to racing’s first Triple Crown in a quarter-century, died Friday. He was 84.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame stated: “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat–culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes – Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins.
“As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
The Belmont victory was historic, and I am still grateful I was present to witness it and write about the moment of a lifetime. Secretariat’s solo run to the finish line (he left the rest of the field behind in another dimension) was something I will never forget, a moment out of time.
That famous run.
“With 70 yards to go, I chirped to him to make sure he did not lose focus,” Turcotte told Tom Pedulla when remembering that magnificent airborne gallop.
“He responded by finding still another gear. Sure that the race was won, that Secretariat would be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, I was able to soak in everything. The crowd that was going wild. The teletimer. track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable race call. ‘Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” Turcotte wanted to make sure the big red horse to set a record, and he did.
The jockey’s career was cut short in 1978 when a fall at Belmont Park left him a paraplegic. He made appearances at racetracks to celebrate his career and raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. He moved back to his home town of Grand Falls in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was honored with a life-sized statue of himself riding Secretariat.
Turcotte was the last survivor of the triumvirate who oversaw Secretariat’s history-making career. Trainer Lucien Laurin died in 2000 and the horse’s owner, Penny Tweedy, passed away in 2017.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2025
It’s four months and a bit until Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival gets under way again, but the improvements at Wellington International have been in the process since last year. The break from showing in July and the first half of August enabled more work to be completed at the showgrounds.
Prize money for the WEF finale, the the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, is being increased to $1 million from $750,000 in 2025, while all 4* WEF Grand Prix qualifier prize money has been boosted from $62,500 to $116,100. There will be 68 FEI jumping world ranking classes, while prize money has increased in all 1.25m and higher Junior and Amateur Jumper Classics from $10,000 to $15,000.
When the showgrounds were bought back by the former owners in 2024, that marked a new beginning. Very little had been done to improve the facility during the two-year tenure of the former owners, Global Equestrian Group. The new ownership began work immediately under the supervision of former U.S. Equestrian Federation President Murray Kessler, now CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.
The efforts under the auspices of Equestrian Lifestyle Partners has included installing state-of-the-art lighting for the main arena, four additional rings — including a grass field that will be ready for showing in 2027 — and adding acreage from adjoining “Pod F” to transition the old venue from cramped to spacious.
By 2027, dressage will move over from the Equestrian Village down the street. Plans also call for a construction of a stadium, new FEI stabling for the jumpers, an indoor arena and refurbished FEI stabling for dressage, among many other improvements that include a more elegant VIP area and an indoor arena.
For 2026, three dressage FEI World Cup qualifiers will be offered.The stands for dressage will be covered for the first time.
New footing is set for the International Arena and its schooling area, while renovations have been completed in the Grand Hunter Ring, which will be used for dressage when that discipline arrives at the main showgrounds.
Wi-Fi around the showgrounds is being improved and roads between the barns are being resurfaced to reduce dust and improve drainage,
Food and beverage enhancements will include food service to the box seats, new Tiki Hut furniture, new self-contained buffet bars and additional action stations for more variety.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2025
After a long battle with cancer, respected horsewoman Linda Andrisani passed away in her sleep Sunday night.
She set a high bar, both as a trainer and a widely admired judge, whose contributions to the horse industry were always appreciated by her peers and exhibitors alike.
Linda Andrisani
“She set the standard for all of us to emulate, said National Show Hunter Hall of Fame President Jimmy Lee.
“Linda was one of a kind…and of course, the right kind. On a personal note, she was a great friend for over 40 years. I am deeply saddened, but blessed to have had her friendship.”
Linda and her partner, the late Jack Stedding, produced wonderful horses and riders. She also was nearlyas well-known for her fashion sense as she was for her horse sense and freely offered advice.
The winner of the U.S.Hunter Jumper Association’s lifetime achievement award in 2023, Linda “epitomized the definition of achievement; doing a thing successfully, typically with skill, effort and most importantly, with courage, and that’s 100 percent Linda,” as Jimmy put it.
Streett Moore, who rode with her for 50 years and became an admired trainer himself, said she was like a second mother to him.
“If I didn’t have a great day, she would reach out to me and make sure I was okay and say, `Son, don’t worry about it. It will be okay, there’s always tomorrow.’
“She taught me about things that went beyond just learning how to ride.”
Charlie Dennehy recalled that he “always enjoyed showing in front of Linda, because I knew I would get a fair and honest opinion of how well my horse and I executed the `plan.’
“Dad’s last words when I walked in the ring in front of Linda were always along the lines of `Don’t give her any reasons; because she WILL catch them’.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2025
Victoria Colvin became the only rider ever to win the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship four times on four different horses, as she rode through pain to take the title Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Tori and the Ingram family’s Dicoblue PS, winner of the Classic round the previous day, were able to top the event’s finale, the Handy round to earn the tri-color. Jennifer Hannan and Cellestino finished second, ahead of John French and Milagro.
Tori Colvin and Dicoblue PS (USHJA photo)
Tori had a fall in the warm-up early in the class on another horse. She scratched that mount, but although her ribs were hurting as a result, she persevered to define what makes a champion.
“It was a bit of a fluke accident,” she observed after the class.
“Everything is all right – it was a little painful at first, but it’s okay now. Dicoblue PS took me around beautifully and he’s an incredible horse, so I give it all to him.”
She called the horse, “super-special. I’ve been riding him for a couple of years, and I’ve done mainly derbies with him, but he’s still a little green,” said Colvin, though you couldn’t tell it from watching his style of floating over the fences.
“He has shown once under lights, but he’s not quite used to this atmosphere. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but he went out there and was amazing. He didn’t even bat an eye.”
On the challenging 14-obstacle course set by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, there were four high options, with the tallest fence set at 4 feet, 6 inches, while other highlights included a bounce double and a multi-faceted horseshoe, where riders could jump the three sections in any order and any direction.
“It was a difficult course – I felt like I was back to my equitation days,” Tori said.
“There were a lot of unique options, which was super fun and everybody could take their own route.”
Dicoblue earned scores of 92, 95 and 96. Adding in all four high options as well as their leading score from the Classic round, he and Tori had a two-round total of 608. Jennifer’s total was 597, while John finished on 583.5.
Two favorites ran into trouble along the route. Amanda Steege, who was on track to win last year until applause startled Lafitte de Muze at the end of his round, this time lost out when he ticked one of the tiny pieces of wood perched on top of the straw bale jump.
Hunt Tosh, another four-time winner of the class (but not on four different horses!) had a block at the stone wall and chipped in at the out of the in-and-out with Cannon Creek.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2025
During his long-running career, show jumper Eddie Blue probably is best known for a surprise second-place finish in the 2018 FEI World Cup finals, before going on to be part of the U.S. gold medal team at the FEI World Equestrian Games later that year.
He was a presence at the top of the sport for years, until his final FEI competition last September at HITS in Saugerties, N.Y., with his regular rider, Devin Ryan.
The 16-year-old Dutch-bred son of Zirocco Blue is still winning this year, but now he’s at the national level with a new rider.
“He doesn’t need to jump at the 5-star level anymore, but he’s really enjoying having a job and still having a purpose,” said his new rider, 27-year-old Lizzy Traband.
This month, Eddie took the $25,000 VFC Grand Prix at the Virginia Horse Center under Lizzy’s guidance, while achieving the only clear round in the jump-off.
Lizzy started working with Lori Larrabee’s horse after the Florida circuit, getting pointers from Devin.To keep Eddie tuned up, it’s poles, flat work and cavaletti, all helping the horse mesh with his new rider. Eddie obviously knows how to jump when the time comes.
“He doesn’t need to jump any extra jumps,” Lizzy observed.
“Eddie is an incredibly smart horse. He kind of takes care of me and teaches me quite a lot. He taught me trust,” she said.
“He has all the scope and power in the world. It’s so easy for him, you certainly don’t get that feeling on every horse,” she said.
Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue on the gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lizzy faces an unusual challenge, because she doesn’t have a left hand, a situation that could be daunting — but not for this rider.
“In a weird way, I think being born without a left hand has helped me, because my horses have to ride out of a really impeccable balance. They have to have the basics down pat.
“They have to go straight, they have to be equal on both sides, they have to be well-broke on flat, adjustable and ridable.”
While those qualities are important for every rider, “because I’m missing a hand, there’s emphasis put on it,” she pointed out.
Her horses “have to maintain a good quality balance, because I can’t manufacture it without a left hand,” Lizzy explained.
She uses a manual prosthetic that has a strap around her right shoulder.
Lizzy wears a prosthetic when she rides.
“I am able to hold both reins equally and can adjust the reins, but not while I’m on course,” she said, because to do that “I have to stop to adjust the rein.”
That’s obviously not practical during a competition.
“I train in all situations, having reins too long or too short,” Lizzy noted, saying she has “the reins pretty well marked-up on each horse, so I know on each horse what number I need to be in.”
It’s not easy, but Lizzy is good-natured about the effort it takes.
“It definitely adds some complexity to it,” she said, in a masterpiece of understatement.
Her victory in Virginia marked the second year in a row that she won the class. In 2024, she did it on a horse she produced from the ground up.
“I generally don’t win things,” she confessed, saying she often tends to finish third or fourth in a competition.
“I don’t always like to go fast enough,” she confessed.
Lizzy Traband and Eddie Blue at the Virginia Horse Center. (MK Photos)
Last year’s win was on Ocho Cinco BC, owned and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, which is Tom Grossman’s business.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the owner of McLain Ward’s sensational ride, Sapphire. The great mare died 11 years ago, but Ocho carries on her legacy, since he is out of one of Sapphire’s clones, as is another of Lizzy’s mounts, Pura Vida.
Lizzy is based for six months of the year at Newstead Farm in Virginia, formerly owned by the Firestone family. The rest of the team she’s at her family’s Carousel Farm in Ocala, Fla.
She is stepping up to FEI level for the first time at the Hampton Classic, which begins next weekend on Long Island. Riding Regina Liu’s Rublin VD Berghoeve, Lizzy will be competing in the 2-star classes.
Lizzy rode early in her career with the late Elizabeth Solter, and has worked with a variety of trainers. They range from Olympic double gold medalist Joe Fargis, to Will Simpson (an Olympic team gold medalist), german trainer Karl Beyer and Australia’s Thaisa Irwin.
As far as Eddie goes, she said, “We just want him to be happy and enjoying his job. He’s really doing that right now.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2025
The 2026 U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage National Championship is moving to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., from May 13-17, where the atmosphere will offer a special opportunity in the run-up to the FEI World Championships at Aachen, Germany, later that year.
The Grand Arena, set against the impressive pillared backdrop of a 5-star hotel, is a special setting to test American riders at the top of their discipline. Although the Grand Prix competition is usually held among a variety of classes for national titles — from ponies on up — at the Dressage Festival of Champions in Illinois, that will not be the case next year.
“It was important for us to make our Grand Prix National Championship a stand-alone event, as it should be one of the most highlighted events for the qualified combinations. It’s also our intention to make it part of our selection process for the World Championships,” said Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig.
The atmosphere is stunning, with spectators all around the arena and seated at ringside tables so close to the action that spectators may feel they can practically reach out to touch the horses.
“It is essential we see the top combinations on the same field of play with the same panel of judges in a comparable setting to what our experience will feel like in Aachen, Germany, at the Championships. WEC provides us with everything we need to best prepare our combinations for just that, while also attracting spectators and ensuring a memorable championship,” Christine explained.
The facility hosts the only U.S. competition in the Longines League of Nations for show jumping. It has attracted top riders from Europe and the Americas.
A view of spectators with a ringside seat at the hotel during the Longines League of Nations. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
On behalf of the Robert family, which owns WEC, Roby Roberts said, “We are honored to host the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at World Equestrian Center Ocala. This prestigious event represents the pinnacle of American dressage, and we are excited to provide a stage that reflects the caliber of the athletes competing. With our world-class facilities and commitment to quality, class and distinction, WEC is uniquely positioned to deliver an unforgettable championship experience for competitors, horses, and fans alike. We look forward to welcoming the equestrian community to Ocala and celebrating the best in U.S. dressage.”
The qualification period for the championship begins Sept. 1 and combinations seeking qualification for the championship must earn required scores at FEI events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2025
Laura Kraut’s victory on Bisquetta with the only clear round in the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland Sunday was more than just a fantastic American triumph.
The fact that a 59-year-old grandmother captured the feature on the last day of the illustrious Dublin Horse Show was an accomplishment not only for a woman (just 19 females now have won the class since 1934) but more importantly, for someone who redefines statistically what it means to be a competitor in her prime.
She gives new meaning to that famous catchline from a 1971 hair color commercial, “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better!”
“I just can’t put into words how thrilling this is. This is one of the best shows in the world and to win it at my age, I’m pretty excited,” Laura enthused, as the crowd roared its approval of that thought.
The course designed by the masterful Alan Wade for the $582,000 class on the grass field at the Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds heightened the suspense minute by minute, as the best riders in the world toppled fences all around the 14-obstacle route.
A delighted Laura Kraut and Bisquetta finish their winning round. (US Equestrian photo)
The last line of a 1.55 high, 2-meter-wide triple bar five strides (or in one case, six strides) from an oxer-vertical double combination, with a big swing toward the final oxer caught 15 riders. It was a heartbreak for Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, fault free on Contago until the last, only to topple a rail at the 1.53 meter high and 1.70 wide jump.
But faults were well distributed around the route, which meant no one could take any portion of it for granted.
As the first round neared its conclusion with no clears, it appeared there might be a jump-off of 11 4-faulters. Then came Laura, next-to-last in the order, on the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare by Bisquet Balou that she had been saving for this class.
Her perfectly judged and beautifully ridden effort drew a heartfelt reaction from the fans. All that was left to end the suspense was the appearance of Ireland’s Trevor Breen, whose brother, Shane, had won the trophy in 2019. Trevor’s attempt to make a tiebreaker was over early at the first fence of the 4ABC triple combination, guaranteeing Laura the highest spot on the podium.
“I have an unbelievable horse in Bisquetta. She was just spot-on and I didn’t mess it up for her, so here we are. This definitely goes in the record books for me. To come back this year and have this happen is just thrilling,” said Laura, who was overjoyed to claim her first Rolex watch as a prize, after finishing second last month in the Rolex grand prix at Aachen, Germany.
“I’ve been waiting to win one of these for a long, long time,” said Laura, the highest-ranked woman on the Longines FEI standings at number 18..
On a more serious note, she commented, “To win anything on an international stage like this when you’re representing your country, it just gets you. It’s what we live for, it’s what we work for. It’s just like a dream come true.”
Laura and Bisquetta at the Rolex wall.
Laura was coached by her partner, Nick Skelton, a five-time winner of the Dublin class before he retired.
“I had a good feeling this morning,” said Nick
“That mare’s been knocking on the door she’s a great mare. She’s really careful and she’s a real trier.”
That applies to Laura as well.
“She is 24/7,” Nick reported.
“If there’s a show tomorrow morning, she’ll be at it. She’s a workaholic and she deserved it.”
Asked for his opinion of the route, Nick said, “This is one of the great grands prix in the world. Alan Wade built a brilliant course; you needed scope, carefulness, rideability and he put it all in that one round and got a great result.”
As he reflected on the course he built, Alan said, ““I don’t think I’d have done anything different. The time was comfortable and you couldn’t say we were forcing them into mistakes. Maybe some will think we should have had 10 in the jump-off, but with lighter material you can get softer faults. Sometimes you get one or two go clear, or I’ve had it go all the way up to 17. It’s not an exact science and you have to be fair to the horses and the occasion.”
Nick Skelton, in the dark grey vest, and Robert Ridland, second from right, watch tensely as Laura jumps the course.
Second place went to the fastest 4-faulter, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa with the Irish-bred Major Tom, who had a rail at B of the triple. Third was Ireland’s own Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, with a knockdown at the third fence, a 1.60-meter-wide oxer over a liverpool. There was speculation that if Shane had gone later in the start list, instead of second, he might have profited more from watching others ride.
But it’s interesting to note that in addition to the American victory, all three of the top finishers are based in the U.S.
“Winning the grand prix at Dublin is on a par with winning the Aga Khan. We missed the Aga Khan,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, referring to his team’s fourth-place finish Friday in the Nations Cup.
“This is one of the great trophies in sport and for Laura to do it on a day when there was only one clean was pretty amazing.”
Someone had texted Robert near the end of the class, expressing concern about the fact that no one had gone clean and noting, “the course is winning.”
Winner Laura Kraut with runner-up Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, left, and Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, who was third.
But Ridland replied to the texter, “This is great, because it’s fewer horses for Laura to jump off against and zero horses to jump off against is as few as you can get.”
Commenting on Alan’s course, he said, “It was a rider’s course and had to be ridden correctly all the way around. No one problem was overly difficult or unfair, but there were a lot of places where you could have a rail.”
When he walked the course, he said, “I thought it was one of the best courses of the year. Alan is a master of using all the technical tests combined with his familiarity of the characteristics and slope gradients of the arena.
“Not all horses and/or riders are always on their game…Laura was. Not only did Bisquetta jump great, but Laura mastered the track to perfection. It indeed was a flawless ride.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 5, 2025
London. Vienna. Rome.
Liberty State Park?
How does a New Jersey park wind up on the same page of the Longines Global Champions Tour website with some of the world’s greatest cities that have hosted its show jumping competitions?
It’s all about the vista — because the park has a great view of the Statue of Liberty and New York skyline. A presence in the Manhattan area is important to the international jumping competition, which is why the GCT is scheduled to host a show at the park Sept. 19-21.
Among the many accomplished riders who are regulars at GCT competitions are Olympic multi-gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain; current individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk of Germany, world champion Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden and the USA’s Jessica Springsteen, who grew up in New Jersey,
The last time GCT was staged in the New York metro area, its show was a half-mile south of Manhattan at Governor’s Island, reachable only by ferry, a situation that made it inconvenient at best.
Liberty State Park and its vista.
Liberty State Park is easier to access, which means there is great demand for tickets to the competition. The Sunday, which features the grand prix, is a sellout except for some VIP opportunities, but tickets in both the covered and uncovered stands, as well as the lounge, are still available for the Friday and Saturday shows that also include 5-star jumping.
Six-person and eight-person tables in VIP for all three days are on sale at $16,633.50 and $22,178 respectively.
For tickets, click here.
