by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 26, 2026
It’s no surprise to see Laura Kraut and McLain Ward named Friday to the Icon Global squad for August’s world championships at Aachen. The veteran competitors both are, after all, Olympic team gold and silver medalists. Laura, 60, will be up on Bisquetta and McLain, 50, is set to ride one of his newer mounts, High Star Hero.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta.
At the same time, it’s refreshing to learn that some different and younger faces will be filling out the squad.
Marilyn Little, 45, a former show jumper who became an eventer and then a show jumper again, was named with La Contessa, a speedy mare who has made a mark in Nations Cup and the Longines League of Nations competition.
Marilyn Little and Contessa
Lillie Keenan, 29, representing the under-30 set, also has a quick mount, appropriately named Fasther. And Katie Dinan, 32, third in the FEI World Cup Finals during the spring, will be riding the reliable Out of the Blue SCF.
Katie Dinan and out of the Blue SCF
The U.S. did not medal in show jumping at the last world championships four years ago in Denmark, so the goal obviously is to correct that oversight.
McLain Ward and High Star Hero.
Missing from the squad is world number one Kent Farrington, who was shortlisted for the team. He always does what he thinks will suit his horses, as evidenced by the way he won April’s World Cup. He used Toulayna in the first leg, then the marvelous Greya in the next two segments, making sure not to overdo with the sensitive mare.
He explained on social media, “After giving a great deal of thought to this season and what I believe is the best long-term management for my horses, I have decided to withdraw from consideration for the World Equestrian Games. (it’s actually the World Championships not the WEG).
“Greya has already contested a championship on home soil this year, and we were fortunate enough to come away with the victory,” the rider wrote.
He has another promising horse in Descartes SR, but noted that while that Mexican-bred mount “has delivered some outstanding performances this season, I believe he is still developing and that a championship of this magnitude comes a bit too soon in his career.”
As usual, Kent is astute in planning and looking toward the future.
“With the Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles in 2028, I believe the right decision is to prioritize that goal and continue developing both horses with their long-term future in mind. This approach gives them the best opportunity for sustained success while allowing each horse to progress at the right pace,” he said.
Germany has announced its team, and there are a few surprises. As expected, European Champion Richard Vogel and United Touch S are part of the squad, along with Richie’s partner, Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) and World Cup Finals runner-up Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom).
The first reserve is Marcus Ehning with Coolio, while Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk and Checker have been relegated to second reserve.
Meanwhile, Brazil has a powerful squad lined up for the championships, and hired as its coach Franke Sloothaak. Franke hasn’t competed internationally since 2017, but the native of the Netherlands was on two Olympic gold medal teams when he rode for Germany.
So add Brazil to the list of nations with medal potential for the championships. Riding for that country will be a former world champion, Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom/Prins van’t Eigenio), Marion Modelo Zanotelli with McLain Ward’s 2024 Olympic silver medal ride, Ilex, or Dorette Old; Lucinia Diniz (Vergio du Deser); Yuri Mansur (QH Alfons San Antonio) and Stephan de Freitas Barcha (Dinozo Imperio Egipcio or Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio).
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2026
The new FEI Horse Condition Task Force met Monday to discuss horse welfare issues, particularly the subject of blood on competition horses, for which rules differ according to discipline.
“There was broad consensus across the stakeholders that Horse Welfare sits at the center of the rules under discussion and that, while complex in some circumstances, current existing rules regarding serious cases of abuse are strong,” noted a statement from the FEI.
Participants included a broad range of representatives from across the international equestrian community, among them the FEI Board, technical committees, regional groups, the veterinary and athletes’ committees and national federations, among others. They are seeking a more harmonized approach to horse condition protocols, regulations and sanctions across all FEI disciplines.
FEI President Ingmar de Vos said he was encouraged “by the constructive approach in the lead-up to this meeting and confident that we are on the right path towards developing a sustainable, harmonized framework that serves both our horses and our sport.
“By working together in this way, we demonstrate that the FEI is capable of addressing complex issues through dialogue and consensus. That unity will further strengthen our sport and reinforce its place within the Olympic Movement.”
Let’s see what they come up with next…
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2026
The new version of Wellington International will be as much a showcase as it is a showgrounds.
The finishing touches are being put on the expanded and upgraded host of the 2027 Winter Equestrian Festival, the world’s longest horse show. Dressage competition will share the revamped location with the centerpiece hunters and jumpers, who have occupied it mostly on their own for the last 14 years.
An additional 98 acres added to the once-crowded facility offers space for construction of the site’s first covered arena, new stabling, installation of the grass field, and addition of more rings both for competition and exercise, as well as facilities geared to spectators for dining, shopping and viewing the competition. Permanent restrooms, including those located by the barns, in the show office and the VIP area, will be another welcome improvement, along with shade structures offering shelter from the bright sun.
The new covered arena.
There will be an international dressage arena measuring 250 by 350 feet, with covered seating for 3,000, as well as two dressage rings for national dressage competition. While the jumpers “will be close,” they won’t be on top of the dressage horses, as they were at the showgrounds in the days before nearby Equestrian Village became a venue for the discipline.
Having a total of 215 acres will afford much more parking than there has been at the main grounds, with institution of a golf cart shuttle system for those seeking to skip a long walk between the North and South sections of the property. There also will be dedicated rider shuttles between the barns and the rings.
Wellington International President Michael Stone by the new grass field.
Meanwhile, having three entrances and exits, to the showgrounds, instead of one bottleneck access route, also should ease the traffic jams that have become a standard frustration as cars leave after a major competition. While the current Pierson Road entrance will remain, two other entrances will be available from Gracida Street on the other side of the property.
The enlarged facility was required to be open by 2028 as part of a deal to enable construction of Wellington Lifestyle Partners’ luxury housing development on what was the former Adequan Global Dressage Festival grounds, which have been in operation during the winter months at Equestrian Village since 2012.
Michael Stone and Mark Bellissimo when the Adequan Global Showgrounds was under construction in 2011.
The work on the expanded main showgrounds is being finished early, however, and will be ready for a soft opening later this year.
“We’re really excited to get going,” said Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, noting the expansion “means we have way more space.
Plantings will beautify the showgrounds as they grow.
“One of the criticisms we’ve always had is that we don’t have enough space; too many horses on a small footprint.
“But now we’re doubling the footprint. Even though we’re bringing over dressage, it only takes up a relatively small amount (of acreage). We have all these new rings and bridle paths and parking to enhance the experience,” he observed.
The abundant parking is particularly important for dressage, since many of those who compete are in “show and go mode,” heading back to their farms after competing, rather than stabling on the grounds, as most of the hunters and jumpers do.
The lack of space and parking made for a situation “that people have been justifiably critical of over the years,” as Michael pointed out. The first year the expanded grounds is in operation, he acknowledged, will be a bit of a learning experience, as competition manager and chief operating officer David Burton works on coordinating everything, a project which already is under way. The idea is a schedule that insures someone won’t be showing on the South grounds and then five minutes later have to appear with another horse on the North grounds.
One of the large exercise rings.
“We’ll refine it as we go along for the hunter/jumper side. The dressage side is pretty straightforward, with a lot more room for warm-ups. It’s a much better venue for dressage,” Michael contended.
Although WEF and other shows at the site draw riders from all over the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, the facility is no longer one of a kind, as it was in its early days.
Florida has become the epicenter of showing in the U.S. during the winter. Not only has the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, four hours to the north gotten a share of the spotlight with its 5-star hotel, restaurants and shopping, but TerraNova, another newer development three hours west of Wellington, also has a modern facility that is an attraction.
Crowds jammed the stands for the featured 2026 Rolex US Open $1 million grand prix at Wellington International.
“We clearly have a lot of competition,” Michael observed.
But he quickly added, “We welcome competition, because the better the competition, the better we will become.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2026
At the Devon Horse Show, all the attention is on the champions of the moment; those who win the hunter derby, the division titles, the leading rider honors.
But for one evening each year, after the hunter classes at the show have ended, there is a gathering to offer accolades and share memories. Those who have made a lasting impression on the sport over the decades are honored at the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame’s annual dinner. Since 1995, the names added to the Hall’s roster have included scores of legends.
Among them are riders, trainers, breeders and organizers who are well-known today, such as Rodney Jenkins, Leo Conroy, Sallie Wheeler and Diana Dodge. Less contemporary, but equally respected, are the likes of Peggy Augustus, Junie Kulp, Hope Montgomery Scott and Gordon Wright, as well as so many others who made their mark over the generations. Induction into the Hall ensures a place in a pantheon of greats who will never be forgotten because of their contributions to the sport.
As master of ceremonies Scot Evans observed, the hunters are “where it all begins” for so many international riders.
“That’s the American system.”
The Hall, founded by Carol Maloney, is chaired by trainer Jimmy Lee, who is assisted in running the organization by Kathy Gilbertson. As Scot noted they are “the two people who are keeping this together.”
Nina Bonnie, one of the 2026 inductees, is an achiever in multiple ways. They include a winning record in the show ring on horses she bought young and made herself. Beyond that, she has served horse sport and the Kentucky Horse Park.
Nina Bonnie with her sons, Shelby and Robert.
Always gracious and personable, she came by her sense of duty not only as a personal obligation, but also as a heritage. This spring, she followed her late mother, Mrs. A.C. Randolph, into the Hall. Mrs. Randolph bred and trained show horses, as well as race horses and field hunters. She served as master of the Piedmont Fox Hounds for more than 40 years, and her grandsons also became masters of foxhounds.
Nina, who was married to the late Ned Bonnie, was introduced by her sons Shelby and Robert at the dinner. In addition to being a top amateur rider, she served as chairperson of the Kentucky Horse Park and started its foundation.
“I’ve had a wonderful time. I love what I’ve done at the horse shows and I hope all of you all continue to do it for a long time. It’s a great sport,” she told those at the dinner.
Nina continues to ride, currently enjoying a former steeplechaser who has become a pleasure mount.
Humor always has a place at the dinner if the speaker handling an induction lets their wit shine through. When Don Stewart is doing the honors, it’s really a roast, and you know it always will be good for more than a few laughs.
Don said that because Archie’s father and stepmother would be on hand at the dinner, the honoree wisely suggested “don’t be too rude.”
Archie is originally from Long Island in the Locust Valley area, where he trained with Cynthia Williams (who was on hand at the dinner) and was “surrounded by upper crust, entitled, wealthy snobby neighbors,” Don related with a smile, noting he did “dodge the `Locust Valley Lockjaw’ accent.”
Mentioning that Archie graduated from Drew University with a degree in political science, Don suggested that had he chosen that line of country for a career, he probably would have been a success in it because “he can argue like no other.”
After a stint training in New Jersey, Archie moved to California for a job with Karen Healey and wound up staying. After opening his own Brookway Stable, he went on to train the winners of 53 national high score awards. Some of his most notable students, as cited by Don, were Olympian Lucy Davis and Stephanie Danhakl “winner of everything.”
Archie chuckled as Don stepped away and he took the microphone, “I think that went pretty darn well compared to how it might have gone…”.
Archie Cos with Scot Evans and Jimmy Lee.
Of his philosophy toward horses, he said, “Let them be as good as they can. I’ve had great horses and great owners and I look forward to quite a few more years doing this.”
The most emotional speech came from Andre Dignelli, best known for his equitation training success. His brother and business partner in Heritage Farm, Michael Dignelli, introduced him at the dinner. The two have always been a team.
Michael and Andre Dignelli.
Andre, who was near tears several times during his speech, told of getting started with no money but with an abundance of determination.
“We had a lot of love and not a lot of anything else,” he recounted about growing up with very caring parents.
“We had a makeshift little barn in the backyard, a couple of off-the-track thoroughbreds we got out of a local Pennysaver. We’d go to local horse shows. We would take in all the free lessons.” That meant watching their “heroes,” such as Rodney, Leslie Burr and Katie Monahan and picking up on what they saw.
“We would go home and jump garbage cans and learn how to braid,” he remembered.
While many doors were closed to Andre, Hall of Fame member Judy Richter opened her door.
She was generous but also no-nonsense, and he worked hard at her Coker Farm.
“I was terrified of her.” he admitted. She was the key to his future, and they grew to understand each other.
“If you want to keep a horse out back in the tractor shed, there’s a place for you here,” she advised, before giving him his biggest breaks. He went on to ride a junior jumper owned by her son in the 1985 USET finals.
“Winning that class changed my life, It was the first time I actually felt `seen,’ ” he told his audience. Andre went on to ride another of her horses to a team bronze medal at the Pan Am Games in 1991.
The trainer, who survived kidney cancer with a transplant from his husband, noted, “The most rewarding part of my job has been the hundreds of students I have taught and mentored. They have stood on the podiums as my students and my alumni from Pony Finals to the Olympics Games and everywhere in between.” (His former student, Tori Colvin — who won the USET class in 2015 — was honored at the Hall dinner as Lady Rider of the Year. And another former student, Kent Farrington, was ranked number one internationally in June).
The McKinney family was recognized for its long history in the horse world. Rigan McKinney, a famed steeplechase jockey and trainer, owned and operated the Stony Point horse farm in Lexington, Ky. One of his daughters, Tamara McKinney, a star U.S. skier, was also an accomplished rider as a junior.
The McKinney family reviewing their photos at the dinner.
Her step-sister, Laura, became the owner of Stony Point, and in between working with her race horses, rode hunters, as did her mother, Frances McKinney. Laura’s sister, Ouisha, an equine artist specializing in wool and earthenware, also is involved with the farm.
Horses have their own place in the Hall, and two were inducted for 2026. They are Becky Gochman’s Catch Me, ridden by Scott Stewart (a boxed Breyer model of the memorable Holsteiner was on every table) and Betsee Parker’s Lone Star, ridden by Hunt Tosh, who spoke about how much that special horse meant to him.
Aside from the inductees, many other awards (such as the one that went to Tori) are presented at the Hall dinner. Betsee, whose California Love was Regular Conformation Hunter of the Year and Horse of the Year, got the Owner of the Year trophy and Scott Stewart, California Love’s rider, took the tricolor as Gentleman Rider of the Year. John French was Trainer of the Year.
Betsee Parker plants a kiss on Scott Stewart.
Wunderkind J.J. Torano was named Hunter Seat Equitation Rider of the Year. But that title is an understatement when looking at his achievements. He rode in the hunter derby at Devon, where he was a winner in the jumpers, and he also won a jumper class at Upperville the following week.
JJ Torano in the hunter derby at Devon.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 16, 2026
Ronnie Beard, who trained some of the USA’s greatest hunters and show jumpers, died Tuesday.
Jet Run, Southside and Springdale were among the many horses with which Ronnie was associated over his decades in the industry. The riders he worked with included Katie Monahan, Bernie Traurig, Buddy Brown, Robert Ridland and Melanie Smith, among others.
Ronnie “knew how to do all the right things,” said Robert, who rode Southside in the 1976 Olympics.
At the Caine family’s lavish Winter Place Stables in Maryland during the 1970s, Ronnie assembled a group of horses and riders who became legends. That talent was so impressive it could have made up two Olympic Nations Cup teams, reminisced Robert, now the U.S. show jumping coach.
Ronnie trained both the first and second place winners in the 1981 Volvo World Cup Finals, Michael Matz with Jet Run and Donald Cheska on Southside. He started with both those horses from the age of four.
“Ronnie was a great ambassador for our sport. He was a wonderful horseman, a guiding light for Winter Place Farm in their heyday. An all-around good guy,” said Jimmy Lee, chairman of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, into which Ronnie was inducted last year.
Jimmy recalled that at the beginning of his career, Ronnie was in the Reston, Va., area and rode locally. But he always had an eye for a fine animal.
“He knew nice horses,” said Jimmy, who hired Ronnie to work at his Belcort Farm in Virginia.
“He drove the van, he took care of the horses; we all did everything, and he did too. There wasn’t anything Ronnie couldn’t do.”
Although Ronnie was a skilled rider, he felt his future belonged more to training than time in the saddle. When he won the hunter championship at the Keswick, Va., show with Gozzi, he decided to end his riding career on that high note and turned to bringing along horses and riders. Jimmy arranged for Ronnie to get the trainer’s job at Winter Place.
While that facility was known for its decor, Ronnie always emphasized, “it was a lot more than chandeliers,” referring to the massive, glittering light fixtures in the indoor ring, for which the stable became famous.
Ronnie Beard with Robert Ridland and Kathy Kusner.
“He set the gold standard for hunters and jumpers there,” Robert observed.
“He was the heart and soul of Winter Place.”
Melanie came to Winter Place when the Caines bought her mount, Mississippi Mud.
Although she would go on to win team gold at the 1984 Olympics with Calypso, Melanie recalled that in the early 1970s, “I was kind of a nobody then. Ronnie really gave me a wonderful opportunity.”
He sent some lovely horses her way, including Jet Run, a budding superstar she took from Preliminary/Intermediate to Grand Prix.
“The Winter Place era was such a magical time,” she recalled. “Ronnie had a tremendous eye for a good horse. Horses are the best teachers, and he allowed me to do what I felt was right. We stayed friends through the years after that.”
Sue Ashe often judged shows with Ronnie, who had been suffering heart issues. As she talked about her friend, she mentioned his great sense of humor. Sue recounted the time that he and U.S. Olympic show jumper Kathy Kusner went to the National Horse Show ball in Manhattan. Ronnie was in a tuxedo; Kathy wore a dress he made for her out of the curtains that had been hanging her hotel room, a la Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.
“He was a great horseman and a wonderful, wonderful person,” Sue said.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 19, 2026
Just 0.07 seconds made the difference between first and second place in the Dutch leg of the Longines League of Nations Friday, as Great Britain’s Harry Charles carried victory for his team with a 31.18-second trip on LT Holst Freda. That put him narrowly ahead of a 31.25-second effort by the USA’s Marilyn Little on the speedy La Contessa in a three-way jump-off.
At the end of two rounds, three teams were equal on 8 penalties, necessitating the tie-breaker. Switzerland’s Jason Smith, who did not ride in the first round because his three teammates were clear and he could not improve the Swiss score, appeared in the second round and had a rail over the course laid out by designers led by Bart Vonck. Despite the knockdown by Jason and Picobello van’t Roosakker, the number 254 ranked rider in the world, was selected by chef d’equipe Peter van der Waaij to be the flag-carrier for the finale. His horse, after all, was relatively fresh, having jumped only one round. His time of 31.64 for a clear trip proved just off the mark, putting his squad third.
Harry only has had Freda for six weeks, and this was the mare’s first major competition with him. Even so, he led off strongly on the 12-year-old New Zealand Warmblood. Like Marilyn, he was triple-clear under pressure.
“To walk into an atmosphere like that is so impressive. I’m very proud of her and so lucky to have her,” Harry said of his “incredible” mare.
“She finds everything so easy.”
As quick as she always is, Icon Global U.S. team anchor rider Marilyn just couldn’t catch Harry. But she has been a valuable member of the team each time she rides for the U.S., and could well be looking at a slot on the American squad for August’s world championships at Aachen.
She was double clear in the first two rounds, as was teammate Karl Cook with Caracole de la Roque. Karl was first to go in the competition because the U.S. was ranked last in the overall LLN standings, and countries go in reverse order of rank. Since he couldn’t see anyone go before he started, Karl had no idea of how tight the time allowed would be. But U.S. Coach Robert Ridland knew Karl and his mare could be clear and speedy, as they were.
Katie Dinan finished 8/0 with Out of the Blue SCF for the U.S., while Callie Schott had 8 penalties with Garant and did not appear in the second round.
The U.S. was sixth after the first round and Britain seventh, but that all “changed in a hurry” as Coach Robert put it, after the second round, when first-round leader Netherlands sank to fifth.
“It almost looked like we weren’t going to make the second round at one point,” Robert recalled.
“We really needed Marilyn’s clear in the first round and all of sudden, we’re in the second round, and that’s when that format gets great. It’s so dynamic without a drop score in the second round (where only three of four team members can compete). You can really move up the standings if you’re good and somebody ahead of you can plummet if they have a bad round.”
He also pointed out that for spectators, the second round is easy to watch, because there is no math to do in regard to a discard score.
“We started the day at the absolute bottom of the standings, and kept climbing up the ladder. It was kind of fun,” mused Robert.
The runner-up spot in Rotterdam was meaningful for the U.S. in terms of the LLN series, because it boosted the country from last place to seventh overall of the 10 teams that contest the series. In the previous LLN outing in Ocala during March, the U.S. did not even qualify for the second round, when it fielded a completely different team.
The U.S. team in Rotterdam: Coach Robert Ridland, Callie Schott, Marilyn Little, Katie Dinan, Karl Cook.
The top countries qualify for October’s LLN final in Barcelona, and there is only one more preliminary match for accumulating points, St. Tropez in September.
Harry rode with Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher, also on a new horse (Catelly). Ben was a member of the 2012 gold medal London Olympic team with Peter Charles, the father of Harry, and Harry’s sister and teammate, Sienna Charles. Harry bred Sienna’s mount, Chawton.
The fourth member of the British team in Rotterdam, Jessica Mendoza, had 8 penalties in the first round with Summerhouse and did not advance, as only three riders from each squad are allowed to compete in the second round.
The runner-up spot in Rotterdam was meaningful for the U.S. in terms of the LLN series, because it boosted the country from last place to seventh overall of the 10 teams that contest the series. In the previous LLN outing in Ocala during March, the U.S. did not even qualify for the second round, when it fielded a completely different group of horses and riders.
The top countries qualify for October’s LLN final in Barcelona, and there is only one more preliminary match to go, in St. Tropez in September, where points can be accumulated.
Click here for class results. Click here for team standings overall.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 19, 2026
Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon’s Capital Square Masterclass Sept. 24 offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of the world’s greatest – and most popular – trainers in the discipline, bringing Carl Hester from Great Britain for a special evening at the showgrounds on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
Carl is fun and entertaining while offering an education with his characteristic showmanship that shines. Even those who have no more equestrian ambition than taking a trail ride will get something out of his presentation, and enjoy themselves in the process. He is, after all, the man behind legends Valegro and Uthopia, among other equine stars, having proved many times over that he is a master at what he does.
Carl Hester
It is an incredible coup to get Carl for the Masterclass. Dressage at Devon’s new president, Nicole Del Giorno, explained it happened because Christina Morin-Graham, Anne Gribbons and George Williams “worked their Masterclass committee magic” to bring the respected trainer to Pennsylvania.
“We are ecstatic,” said Nicole, a trainer and competitor from New Jersey.
“The team literally hit it out of the park.”
Carl is the mastermind who guided Britain to Olympic dressage gold in 2012, at the Games in London, taking the country from nowhere in the international pecking order to the top of the standings.
Dressage at Devon’s Masterclass concept over the years has included U.S. Tokyo Olympic star Sabine Schut-Kery and Catherine Laudrup-Dufour, no stranger to being ranked as world number one. Having yet another outstanding clinician demonstrates the importance of this series at the six-day show, offering another golden opportunity for improvement and understanding of dressage.
The British gold medal team on the podium at the London 2012 Olympics: Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Charlotte Dujardin.
The riders participating (click here if you want to apply for a ride in the Masterclass) will be from a variety of levels, with horses representing a variety of breeds. It will all be interesting, but it’s not about just the elites. Carl will make the most of how he works with the participants. He is happy to help younger riders or even someone who is struggling with a particular issue. There may be many in the audience who have had to deal with something similar and who will welcome insights on how to cope.
Carl on Hawtins Delicato as Britain won team bronze in the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.
To buy a ticket for the Masterclass, which is good for admission to the show all day, click on this link. Bargain early bird pricing is in effect only until July 15.
Carl saluting the crowd at the 2012 Olympics in London, where he rode Uthopia as part of the gold medal team.
Dressage at Devon runs Sept. 22-27. It includes a breed show as well as a wide variety of performance classes. The competition is a World Cup qualifier, and offers the Grand Prix, Special and Freestyle at the highest level. For more information about the show and to buy tickets for other days, click here.
In addition to the competition and the Masterclass, Dressage at Devon has extensive shopping opportunities, and not only for equine-related items. There are chances to investigate intriguing jewelry, clothing and decorative pieces, in addition to the latest in horse clothing and tack.
The show, which marked its fiftieth anniversary last year, started 2026 with its new president and impressive additions to the board.
They include Ellin Dixon Miller, a past president of the U.S. Dressage Federation; Cara Kettenbach, a breeder who has played several key roles with the New England Dressage Association; Marie Kohles, an audit partner at Pricewatershouse Cooper who works with Seven Stars Equine Arts, dedicated to developing riders and horses for top sport, and James Peterson, a breeder of Friesian sport horses who is a former CEO of Mercury Financial.
Teresa Uddo and Lori Kaminski are co-show managers.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 22, 2026
Aside from a well-earned second place finish in the Longines League of Nations (click here to read that story), it wasn’t the best of weekends overseas for U.S. equestrian competition efforts.
Boyd Martin did manage to come in third at the Luhmuehlen, Germany, 5-star horse trials with Shanroe Cooley. (Click here for results).
Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley.
He moved up from eleventh place in dressage. Great Britain’s Caroline Harris won with D.Day, a son of show jumping stallion Billy Mexico. The winner hasn’t had a rail down in the stadium jumping phase of any event for three years.
Caroline Harris and D. Day (Hannah Cole Photography)
Only 16 horses finished the event, which had just 20 starters and raised the question again about the future of 5-star eventing. Ypu’ll remember that entries also were thin at the Maryland 5-Star, the USA’s second competition at that level, which will not be held this year. For some insight into the 5-Star situation, read this analysis by competitor Sam Watson of EquiRatings.
In show jumping, the Rotterdam grand prix went to Britain’s Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher with Point Break. The best-placed U.S. rider was Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF with a double clear in seventh place. There was an 11-horse tie-breaker, with Marilyn Little and the normally quick La Contessa missing out of the jump-off with one time fault in the first round to finish twelfth. Click here for results.
At the same time as Rotterdam, the Global Champions Tour held its Grand Prix of Paris fixture. Taking his victory gallop past the Eiffel Tower was Austria’s Max Kuhner on EIC Up Too Jacco Blue. The honor of the U.S. was represented by Lillie Keenan on Fasther, fifth in the six-horse jump-off with a rail down. Click here for results
At home, of course, it was a different story. Last month’s Devon grand prix winner, Charlotte Jacobs, scored another victory, winning the $116,500 Molon 3-star Grand Prix at Traverse City, Mich., with Rincoola Milsean.
The Irish Sport Horse resumed his winning streak after time out for injury, beating Charlotte’s mentor, world number one Kent Farrington. Charlotte was timed in the jump-off at 36.75 seconds. Kent and Nikki Angel crossed the finish line in 36.98.
Winning at Traverse City is nothing new for Charlotte and her mount. In 2024, they swept the FEI division there. Click here for results.
In Ocala, native son Aaron Vale and Helios du Moulin topped a field of 36 entries from 13 countries in the $150,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center. They had the advantage of being last to go in a four-horse jump-off and made the most of it.
Discussing his engaging fan-favorite mount, Aaron said, “We bought him in late summer of 2024, so it’s been about two seasons now. We jumped a couple of shows with him that year as a seven-year-old, and last year, he moved into the grand prix ranks. He’s a competitive little horse.
“He is so, so fun to watch. Apparently, everybody loves him. We love him because he wins a lot for us, and he tries so hard.”
Click here for results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 15, 2026
On the same day that Bill Moroney made a surprise announcement that he will retire as U.S. Equestrian Federation CEO after 10 years in the job, three people were nominated as candidates to succeed Ingmar DeVos in the FEI (international equestrian federation) presidency.
That paves the way for a whole new dynamic in how horse sport is led both nationally and internationally before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Moroney, 66, a founder of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, a USEF affiliate, explained in what he termed a “personal note” to the membership, “Horses have been my whole life. I spent over 30 years as a professional trainer and along the way, became involved in governance.”
He cited his start in leadership as co-chair of the Pony Committee for USA Equestrian (a USEF predecessor) before becoming the first president of USHJA and serving on USEF’s board and more than 17 of its committees. He called becoming USEF CEO in 2016 “the equestrian honor of my life.”
By offering his announcement now, the board has time to run a search for his replacement. He also pointed out that with USEF President Tom O’Mara’s term running through the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, it is best for the CEO and president not to change in the same time frame.
“Making this transition now keeps our leadership steady,” he said, adding, “I will be here and fully engaged in leading USEF through the end of the year, and we will continue to provide our programs, services, and competitions.”
While the top level of horse sports is doing well, at other levels, many have been priced out not only by the cost of horses that can be competitive, but also concerns that keeping a horse, running a barn and competing are out of reach for more and more people.
Last October, a petition calling for a vote of No Confidence in USEF leadership was filed with Change.org. It has 2,073 signatures.
It mentions a disconnect between leadership and members, stating, “USEF exists to serve its members, advance equestrian sport in the United States, and uphold integrity, fairness, and transparency. Sadly, the current leadership has failed in these duties. Under their direction, the organization has eroded member trust, alienated the equestrian community, and fallen short of the standards expected of a National Governing Body.”
The document added, “The time has come for USEF to return to its founding principle—that it exists to serve the members and the sport, not the other way around. Member participation must be central to all major decisions affecting governance, leadership, and the future of equestrian sport in America.”
The petition sought the replacement not only of Moroney, but also of Olympic eventing gold medalist David O’Connor, who serves as chief of sport; veterinarian Stephen Schumacher, director of drugs and medication, and Vicki Lowell, chief marketing and content officer.
Meanwhile, nominees for the FEI top job include Honorary Vice President Mark Samuel of Canada, chair of Regional Group IV (North America) and FEI Vice President from 2017 to 2024. Sabrina Ibáñez, of El Salvador, who would be the first person from a Latin American country to serve in the role if elected, joined the FEI in 1991 and served as FEI Director of Governance and Executive Affairs from 2011 until her appointment as FEI Secretary General in December 2014.
The other nominee is Chinese Taipei’s Jack Huang, who would be the first Asian president of the FEI if elected. He has served as chair of FEI Regional Group VIII (Asia and Oceania) since 2016 and has been FEI Vice President since 2019.
The new FEI president will be elected by the organization’s General Assembly on Dec. 5 in Jiangyin, China.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2026
Former FEI Dressage Judge General Stephen Clarke died this weekend at the age of 73 after battling cancer.
As fellow 5-Star judge Cesar Torrente commented, “It’s a very sad day for the dressage world. One of a kind. A true gentleman and an exceptional horseman. He will be missed, but hopefully his generosity and knowledge will be passed on to new generations. That’s what he would have liked.”
Olympian and judge Charlotte Bredahl noted, “He was always kind, but would always stand up for what was right and always with the highest level of integrity! He appreciated all the effort the riders put in and always wanted to encourage them and do right by them. He was always a voice of reason and always influenced our sport in the most positive manner. He had an amazing sense of humor and never took himself too seriously. He loved our sport, was a great friend and colleague to many and beloved by all.”
The International Dressage Officials Club paid tribute to its former president The club statement says it all about this stellar judge and remarkable man:
“Stephen was, quite simply, one of the greatest gifts the sport of dressage has ever received. His passing leaves a stillness in our world that will take a long time to fill — and yet, if we listen carefully, we can still hear his voice: warm, measured, often wonderfully witty, and always pointing us toward what is right and good in this sport we all love.
Stephen’s journey with horses began as a boy growing up in a small Welsh village, where a neighbouring farmer’s ponies captured his imagination and never truly let go. He started judging in his early 20s, having become, as he put it, “fed up with everyone moaning about the judging” — a characteristically Stephen solution to a problem: rather than complain, step forward and be part of the answer.
He trained two winters with Ernst Bachinger at the Spanish Riding School, and with guidance from Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Ferdi Eilberg, his horse Becket went on to earn him selection as reserve combination for the British Dressage Team at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. As a rider, he won five National Championship titles and represented Great Britain in international competition throughout the 1980s. Even then, it was always, as he admitted himself, about the dressage.
The astute and respected Stephen Clarke.
Stephen Clarke was one of the most highly respected dressage judges in the world. As a 5* FEI judge, he officiated at countless international championships — including as President of the Ground Jury at the London 2012 Olympic Games and on the judging panel at the Rio Games in 2016, as well as numerous World Cup Finals, European Championships and World Equestrian Games. Athens 2004 was his first Olympic assignment, London 2012 his finest hour — presiding over a ground jury at the Games in his homeland, an honor he described as one of the proudest moments of his life.
To be on the judging panel when Totilas and Valegro broke the world records was, in his own words, “beyond exciting.” The privilege of awarding 10s for movements where you just cannot imagine how it could be better — that was the joy Stephen brought to his work every single time he sat behind the judging board.
He never shied from the difficult calls either. At the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, he made one of the toughest calls in a world championship — the disqualification of Adelinde Cornelissen when her horse bled from the mouth. It was correct, it was courageous, and it was entirely Stephen. He understood that integrity in judging is not a convenience — it is the foundation upon which the sport rests.
In 2013, Stephen was unanimously elected FEI Dressage Judge General, succeeding Ghislain Fouarge. The FEI’s own words at the time describe him perfectly: “a first-class judge and a natural communicator.”
He also sat on the FEI Dressage Committee for several years and was instrumental in putting together the FEI Judge’s Book — now considered the bible of modern judging. His efforts earned tremendous respect for dressage judges worldwide and contributed greatly to the reputation and profile of the sport. His goal, as he always said, was to ensure young judges have the opportunity to develop their education and skills. And he meant it — not as a statement of policy, but as a personal mission. He took time with every young official who crossed his path. He remembered names. He remembered horses. He remembered what it felt like to be new to this world, and he made sure no one felt alone in it.
As President of IDOC, Stephen brought the same qualities to our organization that he brought to everything: clarity of thought, generosity of spirit, and an unwavering commitment to doing things properly. He worked alongside colleagues including Maribel Alonso, Katrina Wüst and Hans-Christian Matthiesen in the Education Working Group, and his influence on the way we train and support officials across the globe cannot be overstated. IDOC is a better, stronger, more purposeful organization because Stephen Clarke led it.
Those of us lucky enough to know Stephen beyond the formal settings of competition and seminar know a different, equally wonderful dimension of the man. He ran a working pupils scheme at his Cotton Equestrian Centre near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, and many of those young trainers have gone on to build outstanding careers of their own — a fact Stephen spoke about with immense, quiet pride.
He was quick to laugh, quicker still to listen. In any discussion — whether about a single movement in a test, the future direction of FEI judging policy, or the state of the sport over a glass of wine after a long competition day — Stephen brought the same qualities: a clear mind, an open heart and exactly the right words at exactly the right moment. Many of us will carry specific things he said to us, privately, at just the right time, for the rest of our lives.
In his final years, illness slowed him physically — but never in spirit. He remained in close contact with many in his circle, generous with his time, his warmth, and his thoughts, right to the end. That, too, was entirely Stephen.
We will miss him at the arena. We will miss him in the seminar rooms. We will miss him at the table after a long day, when the best conversations always seemed to happen. We will miss his laughter, his precision, and his extraordinary ability to make everyone around him feel both valued and challenged to be better.
The sport of dressage is immeasurably richer for everything Stephen Clarke gave it over so many decades. We are immeasurably richer for having known him.
Our thoughts go to Julian Sebire, Stephen’s partner for more than 40 years.
Stephen — thank you. It was a privilege and an honour.
On behalf of the International Dressage Officials Club
