by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 19, 2025
You may know her best as an interviewer and analyst on the live stream, but Jessica Kürten has just been appointed Horse Sport Ireland’s new High Performance Jumping Manager, succeeding Michael Blake.
One of Ireland’s most accomplished, and influential figures in international show jumping, Jessica brings an exceptional blend of elite competitive pedigree, advanced coaching expertise, leadership experience, and global governance insight to the role.
Jessica Kürten
A former world number two in the FEI rankings, Jessica is a dual Olympian who represented Ireland at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and at Athens in 2004. She was a key member of Ireland’s historic European Championship gold-medal winning team in 2001. She is also an Aga Khan Trophy winner for Ireland (at the Dublin Horse Show) and was a regular representative at World Cups and major championship events, earning her place as one of Ireland’s most successful and respected international riders of her generation.
Jessica said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Ireland’s new High Performance Jumping Manager. Ireland has a strong track record in jumping and I look forward to working closely with all members of the team, with HSI and with all the other stakeholders to ensure that we put ourselves in the best possible position.
“I am hugely excited about our prospects for the World Championships next year and for the European Championships (2027) and Olympics in 2028.
“I have been involved in equestrian sport for 40 years, and I will bring all of my experience to fostering a collaborative and successful culture within the Irish team.”
HSI Chief Executive Denis Duggan,said: “Jessica Kürten is one of the most iconic figures in Irish jumping, and her record speaks for itself. A former world number two, dual Olympian, European champion and Aga Khan winner, she brings unrivaled experience as an elite athlete who understands exactly what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
“Her combination of competitive excellence, coaching expertise, leadership experience and international governance knowledge will further strengthen Ireland’s position on the world stage.”
Since stepping away from competing, Kürten has remained deeply connected to elite sport. A HSI Level 3 Coach, she is widely recognized for her technical expertise, performance insight and ability to develop riders across youth, development and senior levels. Her advanced coaching qualifications, combined with her first-hand experience of championship environments, position her uniquely to lead Ireland’s High Performance Jumping program through the next World Championship cycle and forward to the Olympic Games in 2028.
Jessica served as team manager of the Prague Lions in the Global Champions League for three years, overseeing high-performance athletes and support teams in high-pressure international environments. In addition, she currently acts as Athlete Representative on the FEI Board, contributing to international governance, athlete welfare and high-performance policy, giving her an exceptional understanding of the global jumping landscape.
Highly regarded worldwide as a broadcaster and expert analyst, Jessica has also built a respected media career, offering insightful commentary at major international events. Her communication skills, tactical understanding and ability to articulate complex performance concepts will add further strength to the role when representing Irish jumping on the world stage.
In her new position, Jessica will be responsible for the planning, delivery and performance of Ireland’s senior jumping program, working closely with athletes, coaches and support teams to build on Ireland’s recent international success, while strengthening the pathway from youth and development squads through to senior Nations Cups and championships.
Duggan noted: “On behalf of Horse Sport Ireland, I would like to thank Michael (Blake) for his dedication, commitment and passion for Irish sport, and to wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”
Horse Sport Ireland expressed confidence that Jessica’s experience, insight, international standing and leadership will provide continuity and momentum, while also bringing a fresh, forward-looking perspective to the High Performance Jumping program at a pivotal point in the Olympic and championship cycle.
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 21, 2025
It has been an incredible year for the low-key world number one Justin Verboomen of Belgium and his fabulous Hanoverian stallion Zonik Plus, with victories at Aachen and the European Championships. On Sunday, the duo finished their year in the same style, with a personal best score in the freestyle at Frankfurt to edge Danish powerhouse Mount St. John Freestyle with world number three Catherine Laudrup-Dufour riding.
Both horses were graded at more than 90 percent, but Zonik’s splendid mark was just a touch better at 91.195 percent, versus the Hanoverian mare’s 91.085 percent. The crowd went crazy applauding for Justin’s one-handed passage down centerline to his final halt.
Third place went to Germany’s eternal Isabell Werth, the world number two, on Wendy de Fontaine, further back at 87.165 percent. That normally would be a spectacular score and a winning one, but the two powerhouses at the top of the class are in a category that belongs to them.
The idea of the competition was to face off the discipline’s top 12 against each other, but among the missing were British riders Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) the world number five, and Becky Moody (Jagerbomb), world number five, were otherwise engaged at their home competition, the London International. They finished 1-2 there, but Lottie did not make it into the 90 percent range, though she came close. Read about it at this link
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by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 22, 2025
Show jumping often is called a lifetime sport. No one takes that more seriously than John Whitaker, who spent decades as a mainstay of the British team and is still going at age 70.
When the London International Horse Show drew to a close Sunday, John found himself in the five-horse jump-off of the Turkish Airlines Grand Prix, trying to beat the fault-free, 32.59-second mark of Ireland’s 20-year-old Tom Wachman, half-a century his junior and winner of the FEI’s 2025 Rising Star award.
John couldn’t quite manage it, dropping a rail with Equine America Unick de Francport, to finish fourth in 35.39 seconds. Although Tom took the top prize, John did collect a gigantic silver trophy as the top-placed British rider, which certainly was some consolation.
John Whitaker got a trophy as the highest-placed British rider in the Turkish Airlines Grand Prix.
Tom, who dominated the Young Rider ranks before moving on to the open competition, was clocked in 32.59 second for his clean round on the well-named Do It Easy, a 12-year-old Selle Francais who had been his second-string horse.
Tom Wachman and Do It Easy.
The gelding, by Vigo Cece, is owned by Coolmore Show Jumping, an offshoot of Coolmore Stud, the world’s largest thoroughbred racing breeding operation. Tom’s great-grandfather, trainer Vincent O’Brien, guided the likes of racing icons Sir Ivor and Nijinsky. His grandparents are billionaire John Magnier and his wife, Sue, while Tom’s father, David, also trained racehorses and his mother, Kate, was an eventer.
Do It Easy is “a very versatile horse. You can do a grand prix or a speed class. Any day you want him, he’s so reliable, said his rider.
Canada’s Kara Chad had the unenviable task of going first in the original 35-horse field, but she had the comfort of riding her special mount, Igor GPH, over yet another clever course designed by Alan Wade. The 2028 Olympic course designer is a master of using the time allowed to help determine the outcome even with a route that has challenges of distance, height and width.
In the first round, the eleventh of 13 jumping efforts was topped by a plank. Rush there to make the time, and the plank would come down, as several riders found to their regret. Three riders collected time penalties and five elected to retire.
Kara was undeterred by being the pathfinder in both rounds, explaining she and her horse, “know each other inside and out.”
Her 33.64 mark in the tiebreaker was good enough for second, edging ahead of Austria’s Max Kühner, winner of the FEI World Cup qualifier the previous night with EIC Cooley Jump the Q, Max was on a different horse for the Turkish Airlines class, Greece 5, clocked in 34.14 seconds. The class was worth 110,000 Euros ($129,442).
Turkish Airlines Grand Prix winner Tom Wachman, center; runner-up Kara Chad, left and Max Kuhner.
While on the podium, Tom commented about his mount, “He’s a brilliant horse. We thought this class would suit him, he’s been in great form the last couple of weeks.” The rider, trained by Irish Olympic medalist Cian O’Connor, thanked his team for their help in his success.
Cian described Tom this way, “Grit, determination, belief and an outstanding work ethic are all qualities that he has in abundance. I feel privileged to work so closely with him.”
No U.S. riders competed at the London show, which a delightful holiday fixture, featuring a traditional appearance of Santa with his team of white ponies. There were exhibitions that included a Hungarian military drill team, Shetland pony races and dog agility among a host of classes.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 22, 2025
Explosion W got a salute worthy of a remarkable show jumper who had won 16 5-stars and individual Olympic gold. as he retired with Ben Maher aboard at the London International Horse Show on Sunday night.
A final gallop around the arena for the retiring Explosion W. (MARS photo)
A sold-out arena cheered him and 6,000 glow sticks were waved in tribute to the Dutch-bred equine hero. Escorted by a troupe of Santa’s elves, Explosion was garlanded with a wreath of carrots and apples. A reward close to the horse’s heart was the tub of carrots he got center ring, and the elegant chestnut didn’t hesitate to grab some.
Explosion W gets a welcome retirement present–carrots. (MARS photo)
Ben, who owns the horse with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, said about the son of Chacco-Blue, “Explosion has been the horse of a lifetime. I always knew he had something special, an incredible will to win and a presence that captured everyone’s attention.
“We have shared some unforgettable moments together and it feels right to celebrate his retirement in front of a home crowd at the London International Horse Show.”
Explosion’s last competition was La Baule, France, in June 2023, when he was injured and did not finish his round. But before that, there were so many triumphs that he truly deserved the accolades rolling out for him as he left the spotlight.
Ben emphasized, “There are no words to explain him. He touched so many lives, in so many ways. He helped me achieve my goals and dreams.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 17, 2025
The survival of struggling national-level jumping show circuits, the places where riders can improve their skills at less cost than on the international level, is a global concern.
It was a topic last week at both the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in Florida and the International Jumper Riders Club general assembly in Geneva.
Jessica Kurten, an FEI board member and chair of the IJRC athletes committee, pointed out there is an advantage for riders to save money by competing in national classes until they are ready to move up to FEI.
She mentioned that while the national circuits have declined in some countries — it has been a real cause for concern in the U.S. — in others, they are still highly regarded. In Switzerland, for instance, most elite riders support national circuits.
Those in attendance at the IJRC session agreed, however, it would be difficult to find organizers for new or revived national shows when there already are waiting lists for the increasing number of international 2- and 3-star circuits, which are more lucrative to run.
“It’s seen as ‘cool’ to be competing alongside you guys,” Irene Verheul, secretary general of Equestrian Organisers and director of Jumping Amsterdam, told the elite riders in attendance at the IJRC session.
“Everyone wants to compete 2- star and 3-star. People like to be able to say they are going to an international show.”
The U.S. has seen a proliferation of what some at the USHJA meeting referred to as the “big box shows,” which run for weeks at a time. That means riders don’t have to travel as often to compete.
Several of the multi-week show locations, such as TerraNova and the World Equestrian Center, both in Florida have housing available that is adjacent. In Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, there long has been a real estate play, with many riders owning second (or first) homes and farms in the village.
Years ago, the major shows in the U.S. offered only major classes. The main trainer would go there with the stable’s more experienced competitors, while an assistant would take the barn’s lower-level riders to smaller, or local, shows.
The big shows now offer divisions that may go down to itty-bitty level, meaning every rider in the barn can compete there, even those who are just starting out.
As 5-star shows proliferate — often on the dates of the smaller shows — the latter often experience difficulty bringing in enough exhibitors to keep going. The situation also affects the USA’s historic boutique shows, even those with a well-known profile and FEI classes, because they run for only a week or two on the crowded calendar.
At the USHJA meeting, Louise Serio, a prominent figure in the hunter community who was involved with the former Brandywine show in Pennsylvania, noted the boutique shows “may struggle with footing. Some of them struggle with all the expenses of the horse shows. It’s amazing how much it costs to put on a horse show.”
USHJA President Britt McCormick wondered, “Are we our own worst enemy? Now we insist on having engineered footing in every single ring, from short stirrup all the way to the international derby ring, and the jumper ring. We have created a culture where if it’s not good enough, we don’t go.”
He pointed out, “Not that long ago, jumping on sand, jumping on grass, was the foundation of the sport. Have we created an unsustainable system? Once those boutique horse shows are gone, they don’t come back. And what does that do to us? This is a discussion we need to have on what does quality really mean, and what’s acceptable and what’s not.”
There has been a suggestion at the meeting that perhaps the USHJA Foundation could help boutique shows with items they need; a tractor for instance.
Britt responded, “Part of the thing we struggle with is, are we responsible (as an organization) for making sure horse shows stay in business? I don’t think so; that’s not our job.”
Another item of interest for the industry involves a new listing of maximum fees FEI organizers can charge show jumpers for services and utilities. It will be implemented in April. Eleonora Ottaviana, executive director of the IJRC described some of those charges as “fantasy costs.”
“We understand the situation is different indoors and outdoors and that times are changing,” she said, but even so, “the riders can contribute to, but not pay the full bill.”
She added there is confidence that having caps on those charges “will not cause any problems for shows that already operate in a professional and responsible manner.”
However, it was noted that a separate discussion on the subject is still needed in the U.S., “where costs are notably higher.”
Eleanora pointed out young riders cannot be asked to spend 6,000-8,000 Euros, or even more in dollars, on entry fees. Riders at 2- and 3-stars are hardest hit, with lower prize money but increasing costs.
She said it is “not fair to use the maximum cost allowed and the minimum prize money request.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Dec 12, 2025
At a non-competition gathering of equestrians — case in point, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting — the array of issues feels daunting. Even days starting with 7 a.m. sessions hardly seem long enough to tackle them.
From horse welfare and a new hunter division, to safety issues and allowing mules in hunter classes, the abundance and range of topics was overwhelming.
But conventions like USHJA’s in Orlando, Fla., this week are designed to deal by making everyone aware of the challenges while considering solutions in an effort to move the sport forward.
“We are a participation-based organization,” said USHJA President Britt McCormick, who believes that even in the age of Zoom video conferencing, there’s a benefit for getting industry representatives together in person for discussion, debate and rewriting rules as necessary.
The range of USHJA’s responsibilities is far-reaching.
“We touch everything from the affiliate level to the Outreach level to the high performance hunters, high performance jumpers and equitation,” Britt outlined, then mentioned education safety, and horse and human welfare.
The meeting format encouraged conversation and “is getting more inclusivity, more people are stepping up, more people are speaking. The community is coming together. This is why we don’t go virtual. We are a lobbyist, but as the national affiliate, we are also an advocate for each group.”
The mission of USHJA, according to Britt, is “anything we can do, from membership to licensed officials to competition to try to make things better for the members. That’s been the driving force.”
USHJA President Britt McCormick.
He told the more than 177 members attending that his goal was “to get feedback from you on where we’re going, how we’re getting there and why we’re doing what we’re doing. ”
The Texan added, “Trying to make everybody happy is almost impossible, but I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”
Those who made the trip to Orlando certainly were not shy about having their say; lining up at the microphones to express their concerns, as opposed to sending an email or making a phone call.
A big project for USHJA involves revamping and reforming hunter and equitation judging.
By the end of April, it is expected task forces will come up with a plan for education “so we can have a clean start and best practices in place by December 2026,” Britt said. The concept is to “get training consistent across every part of the judging, from applicant to Big R.”
USHJA is the largest affiliate of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The Federation’s CEO, Bill Moroney, and president, Tom O’Mara, were on hand to address a concern that has become a frequent topic on social media: Whether show horses are being overused. That’s important for many reasons, with animal welfare and social license to operate at the top of the list. This is an ongoing project for USEF, as it digs deeper into the subject and gets more relevant numbers.
At this point, the USEF defines overuse as a noticeably observable decline in performance, physical capability, movement or mental well-being that can be combined with resistance, exhaustion and decline in jumping style, among other factors.
The Federation honchos came equipped with charts and diagrams, as well as an explanation of why it will take a while to come up with both an answer to the question of whether overuse is widespread and then, if necessary, what to do about it. Bill cautioned that the public might believe horses are competing in shows more than the statistics demonstrate their actual level of activity .
The USHJA board disapproved a rule proposal that would have limited the number of over-fences classes in which a horse is allowed to participate during the course of one day.
The Federation CEO cited the dark side of social media, which means it’s necessary to deal with “a lot of assumptions that get made out there that become urban legends and actually are chipping away at our ability to enjoy equestrian sport.”
USEF statisticians dealt only with numbers from USEF shows, not unrecognized fixtures. Bill also cautioned, “We have no information on what your warm-up routines are,” or what activities the horses is involved in on non-competition days.
The USEF staffers found that the maximum number of classes in 2024 logged by hunters competing at heights of 3 feet and below was 348; for those jumping over 3 feet, it was 265. In terms of competition days, the maximum in the first category was 14 appearances in the ring, and seven in the second category.
Jumpers competing in 1.10 meter and below classes were in an average of 27 classes per year at a rate of one class per day. However, this group recorded maximums of 39 classes per competition and 258 for the year.
For 1.15 to 1.35 meters, the average jumper competed in 25 classes for the year, at the rate of one class per day. The average jumper competing at 1.40 meters and above competes in 26 classes per year, at a rate of one class per day.
While the average competing hunter may be attending between five and 10 competitions per year, there are horses appearing at double or even triple that rate. However, it was pointed out they represent less than 2 percent of all competing hunters and jumpers.
Dr. Steve Schumacher, the USEF’s chief veterinary officer, answered questions about drug testing. He told his audience that if they had problems during the testing process, they should contact USEF. The right people can be reached at 1-800-633-2472 or by email, medequestrian@usef.org.
At a meeting of the Safety Committee, it was noted that there still is no confirmed data on whether the inflatable vests that are so popular either help or harm those wearing them. The USEF has raised money for research on the subject, but Tom O’Mara explained the price is in the high six figures for an effective study on the subject.
Among the rules passed by the board was a vital one requiring every show to have an AED (automated external defibrillator) in working order. The device can restart the heart when it has stopped.
Will Haselden, the father of 14-year-old Ryan Haselden whose heart stopped while she was competing in a jumper class, was emotional telling the story of his daughter’s traumatic incident during the meeting. He praised Fox Lea Farm in Venice, Fla., where the incident occurred, for having an easily accessible AED that saved his daughter’s life, and noted the importance of providing the device at every show.
The board voted in favor of adding a 3-foot, 3-inch green hunter conformation division to the rulebook. Those speaking in favor of the addition think it boosts the horsemanship aspect of judging horses in terms of what should be looked for in competition prospects.
Rules passed by USHJA need to be voted on by the USEF board at its mid-year meeting in 2026 to become effective.
The board needs to have more discussion on a rule that would enable video review in hunter classes; the Hunter Working Group wanted it available only for major faults, and at the judge’s discretion.
Oh, and what about those mules? Having already earned the right to compete in eventing, jumpers and dressage, they will be able to add hunter classes to their resume, as the USHJA board voted in their favor. Although director Glenn Petty recalled an incident at a North Carolina show where ponies scattered when a mule approached, as director Charlotte Robson pointed out, mules already are on the showgrounds in the other divisions.
(To read about the USHJA’s Evening of Equestrians, click on this link.)
An often-expressed concern is the age of those in leadership, with many having been involved for decades. There were members of a slightly younger contingent being seated in key roles, but looking further ahead for a fresh take, Kameron Berry 15, and Isabella Pan, 20, have their eyes on becoming part of the governance scene. They attended with help from the Alvin Topping governance grant.
Kameron Berry and Isabella Pan.
“I really like seeing the point of view from all the different people,” said Kameron, who attends an online school, leaving him flexibility for barn time at Bee Cave Riding Center in Texas.
“You’ll think you’re on one side and then you’ll hear the other side and you’ll switch. It’s very fun to see where you fall at the end of it,” he pointed out.
“I think there should be a lot more young people coming into this, because we are the next generation to take this over Anyone can sit on a horse, but you also have to know the business side of it.”
Isabella, 20, a North Carolina State veterinary school student, was happy to be “part of the conversations” at the meeting, “learning how policies are made as well as being able to ask questions. The community in USHJA and USEF is so welcoming and so open. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to sit in and listen.”
Three friends in their 20s also made an appearance. Judging from their enthusiasm, they may well find themselves on USHJA’s board of directors at some point. They are Johanna Moseley, 27, a professional from Louisiana who came up through the USHJA ranks and is the mother of two; Emily Goodman, a 22-year-old amateur and Caroline Ritter, 27, who runs a stable in Naples, Fla. Caroline nicknamed herself “the sponge,” because she soaks up knowledge at opportunities like the USHJA meeting.
