by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 22, 2025
With stars such as Karl Cook and Laura Kraut competing, the $25,000 National Welcome Grand Prix at Santa Anita took on importance greater than the amount of prize money it offered Friday night.
So topping a 62-horse field was a thrill for Della White, who guided Gucci to the win in 31.967 seconds. The runner-up in the class at the Split Rock 5-star show was U.S. team veteran Natalie Dean with Mr. Bombastic in 32.108.
“I was super nervous coming in, because obviously it was against some of best riders here,” said Della.
Della White and Gucci
“My goal was always to go fast, and I had a super smooth round,” she said of her trip on the 11-year-old Holsteiner by Casall.
“Gucci is truly a unicorn – she’s the best horse ever and she tries her heart out every time,” observed Della.
“I love that Split Rock makes every class so special, especially with the victory gallops, and they do an amazing job, especially here at Santa Anita.”
Laura had three horses in the class; her best finish was sixth on Una Mariposa. Karl did not ride in the tiebreaker despite a clean round with Foxy de la Roque because his time did not qualify him for the top 15 format.
The big excitement at the show will be Saturday night in the $400,000 Longines FEI World Cup qualifier that has attracted European Champion Richie Vogel and world number one Kent Farrington and Mclain Ward of the U.S., as well as Ireland’s Conor Swail, who won the World Cup qualifier at Toronto last weekend.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 16, 2025
Conor Swail added more than a touch of drama to the finale of Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as he won the $200,000 Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier on Casturano with his trademark flair.
Conor Swail and Casturano. (Ben Radvanyi Photo)
In the first round Saturday night, he lost his right stirrup partway through the course but kept on going without attempting to get it back, laser focusing on the fences.
In the three-horse jump-off, the 53-year-old Irishman took off a heart-stopping stride early from the second fence, but sailed over the oxer and kept right on going. His opponents in the tie-breaker were two 21-year-olds from the U.S., Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH, who went off-course after her horse slipped, and Skyler Wireman with Barclino B. Skylar was timed in 42.08 seconds, but her opponent bettered that with a mark of 41.24 seconds.
“If I do my job correctly and give him a good opportunity to do well, he generally does,” said Conor of his mount.
Referring to his competition in the jump-off, he noted, “Both these kids are very good riders and they are great horsewomen. They’re tough to beat, so when I went in last and saw an opportunity there for me to win, I gave it my best shot.”
The tight time allowed of 70 seconds in the first round over the route set by Olaf Petersen Jr. put pressure on the riders. Rene Dittmer (Cody139) and Canadian favorite Nicole Walker (Panter JVH) each logged a time fault. New Canadian champion Kyle Timm (Casino Calvin) was just within the time but had the last fence down.
Conor now heads the list of North American qualifiers for April’s Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Ft. Worth, Texas, which is a coveted destination for most top riders.
“I really wanted to win this one,” said Conor.
“For me, there was a great opportunity there tonight to do it. I tried to grab it with both hands. I produced this horse, he’s my top horse. He’s an incredible athlete. As much as it’s a great win for me, he really deserves it more than me. He’s been knocking on the door.
“Today we got it all right together,” he observed. It was a relief, as he noted this hasn’t been a great season for him.
“A lot of weight lifted off of me just getting that win tonight. The horse deserves it. I really thought he did a lot for me there today.”
Conor wants to go to the World Cup Final, and believes his Holsteiner gelding is in a position to do well there.
“I feel he’s ready to do it. I think he can give it a good run. He’s an incredible athlete and he jumps an awful lot of clear rounds.”
Conor may well meet Skylar again at the Cup finals.
“This horse is only nine, so I’m very proud of him jumping double clear tonight,” said Skylar, who has ridden the Holsteiner for the last year after she and her mother, Shayne Wireman, bought him with a group of investors. During the summer, she rode him to double gold in the Young Rider section of the North American Youth Championships.
“I know that he’s fast,” said Skylar, “but I also knew Conor was behind me, so at that point my goal was to do a solid round and hope that it would be fast enough. He’s always right there with me waiting for me to tell him what to do. It is a real treat to be able to ride a horse like that.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2025
| Cashew CR, the reliable mount of U.S. rider Alex Matz, delivered one final win Friday night at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as he took his last bow before retirement.
The 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cassini II x Quinar Z) is owned by Alex’s mother, D.D. Matz, who was on hand with Alex’s father, U.S. Olympic medalist Michael Matz, to watch their son top the field in the $90,000 Winning Round class at the 5-star show in Toronto.
Cashew’s nine-year partnership with Alex included 47 international podium finishes, including two wins at last year’s Royal.
“To have him go out on such a high note is really special; he’s a champion and he should go out with a win,” said Alex.
Alex Matz and Cashew CR at the Royal. (Ben Radvanyi Photography) “We decided a couple of months ago that at the end of this year, he would be retired. He’s given so much to me, the best that we can do for him is to give him a happy retirement where he’s sound and healthy. I’m sure he would do more for us, but he doesn’t owe me anything.”
The 10 top entries from the starting field returned in reverse order of standing for the jump-off. Continuing his Royal streak and staying true to his goal of finishing in the top five in every event, Colombia’s Mark Bluman set a pace of 39.37 seconds as the penultimate rider aboard Phelina de Septon. Alex, however, beat Mark’s clocking by nearly three seconds.
Almost a decade together means Alex and Cashew CR have the advantage of a close partnership.
“He knows all my moves; he knows when I’m going to lean too much one way or the other way, and he figures it out,” Alex said.
“It’s a credit to how smart a horse he is.”
Cashew will spend his retirement on the Matz family farm in Pennsylvania.
$90,000 Royal Winning Round
Friday, November 14, 2025
Rider / Nation / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Alex Matz / USA / Cashew CR / 0 / 36.96
2. Mark Bluman / COL / Phelina de Septon / 0 / 39.37
3. Rene Dittmer / GER / Echo vh Gerendal Z / 0 / 41.06
4. Skylar Wireman / USA / Citoki / 0 / 41.26
5. Vaclav Stanek / CZE / Calippo 57 / 0 / 41.99
6. Adrienne Sternlicht / USA / Los Angeles de la Cense / 0 / 43.15
7. Aaron Vale / USA / Helios du Moulin / 0 / 43.20
8.Kaitlin Campbell / USA / Cosm Hesed / 4 / 39.96
9. Daniel Coyle / IRL / Farrel / 4 / 39.97
10. Daniel Bluman / ISR / Gemma W / withdrawn |
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 10, 2025
The president of the Austrian Equestrian Federation (OEPS) called the change in the blood rule for show jumping enacted by the FEI last week “a clear step backwards.
Elisabeth Max-Theurer, who won Olympic dressage gold in 1980, stated that “blood — especially in the area of mouth or flanks — must never be considered acceptable in equestrian sport. If a horse is bleeding through the influence of a rider, it is a sign that something is wrong. Then the protection of the horse must take precedence — and not the continuation of the competition.”
Austria joins Britain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and other strong equestrian countries inI rejecting the rule change for their national shows.
(Click here to read the story about the change).
The jumping blood rule applies only to that discipline, although there will be future consideration of standardizing the blood rule among the disciplines.
The dressage rule, meanwhile, was broadened somewhat to mandate that the steward shall inform the judge at C if fresh blood is found in the area of the mouth as well as the area of the spurs at the end of the test. Meanwhile, if the judge at C suspects fresh blood from the moment the horse enters the area around the arena until the end of the test, they can stop the test to check for blood. If there is blood, the horse is eliminated; if there is none, the horse may continued.
“The welfare of the horse is above everything,” said Elisabeth, a prominent dressage judge. who is looking at the big picture of the sport beyond her own discipline.
“And we will communicate that way. I think it is our duty to make a mark here. Equestrian sport must not move away from its ethical basis. We must show that sporting success and animal welfare are not a contradiction. Only in this way can we remain credible — to the public, the sponsors and, above all, to the horses themselves.”
She believes, “This regulation puts an additional burden on all parties involved – for the ground jury, for the stewards, for the organizers and the riders. It does not create clarity, but grey areas. Instead of an immediate exclusion, there will be warnings, entries in the “FEI Warning Register” and suspensions and fines for repetition.
“This sounds strict, but is hardly controllable in practice and distracts from the actual question: Why is a horse even seen with blood on the body in the competition? It’s a bad signal to the outside world. Equestrian sport is constantly in the public eye. If the impression arises that blood is tolerated `to a certain extent,’ this massively jeopardizes the confidence in our sport.”
The fact that the change was decided by 56 votes, with 20 nations against it, is “a clear sign that the democratic balance within the FEI has been out of balance. In the FEI today, every member country – whether France with 11,204 registered tournament horses and 5,391 registered athletes or, for example, Angola or Ethiopia with zero registered horses and athletes – has exactly one vote. That’s absurd. Countries without significant equestrian activity decide on regulations that affect the core of our sport,” Elisabeth pointed out.
“We urgently need reform of the voting system,” she emphasized.
“The international ski association (FIS) has demonstrated this: There, the voices are weighted according to the size and importance of the associations. The European equestrian nations bear the responsibility, finance large parts of the system: The entire EEF has 59,096 registered horses and 28,136 athletes but only 42 votes. All other groups in the world have a total of 18,541 registered horses and 13,785 athletes. That is a third of all active people and a quarter of all horses, but they come together to 92 votes.”
As long as the system remains skewed, she said, “one cannot speak of `democratic decisions’ in the true sense. This puts the credibility of the FEI at a lasting risk. Moreover, in Europe, animal welfare is a very important factor. In many voting countries, human rights are not of high importance – and animal welfare is unlikely to be important at all or all the less so.”
She maintains the situation “endangers the acceptance of our sport in the long term — and thus also its Olympic future. If the World Federation takes decisions that weaken animal welfare, it provides all those arguments that want to push equestrian sport out of the Olympic program anyway. We must be aware that equestrian sport can only survive if society sees that the horse is our partner — not a means to an end. Any rule that dilutes this principle is dangerous.”
She is concerned that “if the FEI continues like this, we will eventually lose the Olympic status for show jumping, dressage and eventing — and at the Paralympics for the Para-dressage. The pressure on the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is growing to critically examine sports with animal participation. That is why any weakening of animal welfare is a step in the wrong direction.”
Show jumping is no longer a part of modern pentathlon in the Olympics after headlines screamed about a horse who refused being punched at the 2020 Games.
Elisabeth stated that “One cannot, on the one hand, preach in every sentence ‘Horse Welfare,’ and at the same time, adopt rules that do just the opposite. We call for a uniform, cross-disciplinary regulation that applies in all FEI sports and which generally does not tolerate blood on the mouth and flank.
“In addition, a fairer weighting of votes must be seriously discussed. Only in this way can the professional competence regain weight. Europe is the center of equestrian sport…organizational and ethical. If our voice no longer counts, then something is fundamentally wrong.”
She feels “the foundation is crumbling. Without clear ethical guidelines, the best systems are of no use to us.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 6, 2025
Going beyond equine microchips for horse ID, Equipass addresses the need for accurate health records, regulatory compliance and improved disease control with a streamlined approach. Its first phase will roll out beginning Jan. 26, 2026, according to the FEI (the international equestrian federation),.
It is designed to handle documentation and facilitate smooth international movement of horses, reducing administrative complexities while strengthening biosecurity across borders. The FEI views Equipass as a complement to horses’ physical passports by providing a single platform for a horse’s identification, medical history, vaccination records, location and travel documentation.
The system enables owners, athletes, grooms, veterinarians, officials and authorities to access all essential data in one app. The idea is to make it easier and faster to manage multiple horses, track vaccinations and handle cross-border travel, while keeping the information secure and readily available.
“This is the first platform of its kind to integrate horse identification, health records, vaccination tracking, travel documentation and microchip scanning in a single, unified system, for lifetime traceability,” FEI Director of Technology Operations Gaspard Dufour said.
Thermal microchip scanning enables simultaneous verification of horse’s identity, location and body temperature. That is an innovation in equestrian sport. Dufour points out the potential for automated biosecurity monitoring and real-time welfare oversight.
“This project is a perfect example of technical expertise meeting the real-world demands of the equestrian industry, all in the service of improving the welfare of horses worldwide. With multi-device access and real-time updates, Equipass is both practical and scalable. This is a tool that we believe will make a genuine difference for everyone who works with horses,” according to Dufour.
By the end of 2027, or in early 2028, Equipass will expand to involve horses at the national level, if national federations are interested. The third phase, for which no potential start date was given, will open the system to studbooks and other potential partners.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 8, 2025
The world number one dressage rider Justin Verboomen of Belgium received the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award at the FEI General Assembly Friday for his training and competition success with the lovely Zonik Plus.
As the rider from Belgium pointed out, it’s amazing to think that “exactly one year ago, I was only dreaming of us taking part in our first international show together. I never imagined how far this journey would take us. Mechelen was unforgettable especially because it was the last show my mother saw, and that memory makes every moment since even more meaningful.”
Raised in a family of riding instructors, Justin’s lifelong connection with horses has shaped a grounded and classical approach to his craft. From the time Justin met Zonik Plus as a two-and-a-half year-old in Portugal, their partnership has grown through patience, trust, and quiet determination, forming the foundation for their success at the highest levels of the sport.
The FEI Awards Gala 2025 presented by Longines In Hong Kong. Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete 2025 – Justin Verboomen (BEL). Photograph taken by Liz Gregg. Copyright of Liz Gregg / FEI.
Their achievements during the 2025 season brought Belgium unprecedented international recognition, including the nation’s first-ever FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ victory and an individual triumph at CHIO Aachen. Beyond the results, Justin has demonstrated consistency, composure, and deep respect for his horses, embodying the qualities celebrated by the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award.
“Winning the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award wasn’t something I expected; I just wanted to share the connection I feel with Zonik, to let people see his spirit and our story.
“To feel that others were moved, too, is incredibly touching. I’m endlessly grateful to have met a horse like him. He’s not just a partner in sport, but truly part of my family. This award isn’t just ours; it belongs to everyone who believed in us and felt our emotion through the arena.”
The Longines Rising Star Award went to Irish show jumper Tom Wachman.
At just 20, Tom is already making his mark on the international stage. A three-time European Champion, he has won team gold in the Pony (2019), Junior (2023), and Young Rider (2024) categories, and helped Ireland secure team silver at the FEI Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, Juniors & Children 2025 in Riesenbeck. This year has been particularly remarkable for Tom. He realized his childhood dream of representing Ireland at multiple CSIO5* events, contributing to team victories.
From his early days on the Irish pony circuit to the highest levels of international competition, his journey is a testament to talent, dedication, and remarkable consistency.
“I’ve been lucky to work with great horses and an incredible team behind me,” Tom.
“From the very start, I’ve had the support of amazing grooms, coaches, and everyone in the yard, and that makes all the difference. It’s been an amazing year — a lucky year with great horses, strong partnerships, and opportunities I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. Awards like this are just the icing on the cake. They recognize not just individual results, but the effort of everyone involved, and hopefully, they inspire young people to stay focused, work hard, and enjoy the journey as much as I have.”
