A variety of nationalities shared in the major show jumping victories around the world.
In the U.S., Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam took the $215,000 MARS 4-star aboard Coriaan van Klapscheut Z on the grass field at Wellington International’s Equestrian Village.
“His first week here last year, he’d never done an FEI class and was second in the WEF (Challenge Cup),” said the Wellington-based rider.
Shane Sweetan and Coriaan van Klapscheut Z (Photo ©Sportfot)
“He took to it like a duck to water and was very competitive from the start—even though he was green. He really wants to leave the jumps up.”
The Zangersheide by Comme Il Faut 5 was timed in 41.40 seconds. The win involved a showdown with Shane’s countrymen Bertram Allen, just a half-second too slow on Conquest de Rigo, a 10-year-old Belgian-bred son of Fantomas de Muze.. The pair stopped the clock at 41.95 seconds to settle as runners-up.
Shane noted about this mount, “With horses, they’ll tell you what the plan is, especially at this level, but he’s comfortable already, and now we can smooth it out.”
Click here for MARS grand prix results
Meanwhile another of Shane’s countrymen, Daniel Coyle, was victorious with Farrel in the $200,000 Gary Yeomans Ford 4-star at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
Daniel mentioned the 16-year-old Dutchbred gelding is his most successful horse “on paper.”
“We’ve had Farrel since he just turned seven. He’s been amazing,” Daniel marveled.
“In the last 10 years of my career, he’s won the most. From ranking classes to National Grands Prix, Nations Cups, he’s been my most successful horse ever. Everybody’s getting a bit older, including him, and I really wanted to win tonight, just for Farrel.”
Click here for WEC results
The new Qatar show jumping tour, worth nearly $4 million, wrapped up its inaugural run with yet another big win from Great Britain’s Scott Brash, who had three major triumphs in the Middle Eastern country. He rode the reliable Hello Jefferson, but attributed his record to something besides his skill and Jefferson’s talent.
“I’m unbelievably lucky,” said Scott, the winner of December’s International Jumping Riders Club Top 10 grand prix.
“I have four unbelievable horses here. It makes my life easier to manage them well and try to pick the right classes for them,” said Scott, who had two other major victories during the tour. He was ranked number two in the world, very close to number one Kent Farrington last month, so he could have a shot at passing him in the February ratings when they come out this week.
On the USA’s West Coast, 50-year-old Kyle King won his first 5-star by taking the Longines World Cup Qualifier at Desert International Horse Park Riding Kayenne Z, the mare on whom he was second last September in 2025’s most difficult grand prix, held at Spruce Meadows (Brash won that class, in which no rider was fault-free throughout).
The mare originally was for sale, but she and Kyle developed a relationship that earned her a permanent place in his stable.
“She has done amazing things, things I’ve wanted to do my whole career. I’ve been waiting for a horse like this,” said Kyle, who deftly handled the Alan Wade-designed course with the 11-year-old Zangerheide by Kannan. Kyle’s time of 36.46 seconds in the seven-horse tiebreaker just edged the clever Foxy de la Roque and 2024 Olympic team silver medalist Karl Cook, who crossed the finish line in 36.60 seconds.
Karl, who has been working with Foxy for about a year, said of his effort, “We’ve been kind of knocking on the door, but we haven’t really found the right key yet. We’ve been working on some things and trying to find the right way to go together. The way she felt in the first round today was what we’ve been trying to get. So, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Click here for DIHP World Cup Qualifer results