by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 18, 2025
During both dressage days at the MARS Maryland 5-star event, the riders seemed more apprehensive than usual about Saturday’s cross-country test, walking the course over and over, describing it as challenging, massive and technical.
Not only was it the first time Pierre Le Goupil had designed a 5-star, it also was his inaugural effort at Fair Hill, known for its hilly terrain (hence the name) that requires a very fit horse to handle the task.
Monica Spencer and Artist at the giant crab, holding the right on red flag in his claw.
Putting that all together added up to multiple cases of nerves, and in some cases, full-scale apprehension.
But as is often the case, the anticipation was much worse than the outcome for the majority in the starting field of 22, which had 13 competitors who made it through the finish line.
Seven had no jumping faults, and the top three all finished within the 11-minute optimum time, as New Zealand’s Monica Spencer held her lead from dressage on 23.7 penalties with the 14-year-old thoroughbred, Artist.
The leader after dressage, Monica Spencer with Artist.
“He definitely was ready to run,” said Monica, who finished with 24 seconds to spare.
While the route dotted with obstacles bearing intimidating names such as Pierre’s Puzzle and the Chesapeake Beasts was as difficult as some had feared, it definitely wasn’t easy.
“I think it was tough out there. You really had to fight for it the whole way, be ready to act on your feet and have a brave and generous horse,” Monica said.
“It was as hard as we thought it would be, but we did it, so we’re very happy.” She noted that the ground, irrigated by a storm last Monday, was perfect and that her horse “was a machine” on that surface.
Felix Vogg of Switzerland, second with Cartania on 28.3 penalties, said because the design was by Pierre, who is “really into details… it mostly rides better than you expect.” Even so, he noted, echoing Monica, “it was tough.”
Felix Vogg and Cartania.
Mia Farley, third on another thoroughbred, Phelps, was just one second under the optimum time, moving up from ninth after dressage with 32.2 penalties.
“I think it walked kind of how it rode,” said the only U.S. representative in the top three.
“He made it feel easy,” she added, noting she felt bad about her caution in taking two long routes. But even so, she came closest to the optimum time with the son of the noted stallion Tiznow. Phelps’ original name was Tiz Special, and that certainly sums up his character.
Mia Farley and Phelps gallop away from the giant crab at MARS Sustainability Bay.
Sophia Hill’s thoroughbred, Humble Glory by Bernardini (another renowned stallion), was the only other horse to finish under the optimum time. In fact, Hughey, as he is known, was four seconds quicker than Artist. He moved up from twentieth after a disastrous dressage test to seventh place on 46.2 penalties. He only came from Australia a week before Fair Hill, and his rider noted he really hadn’t had time to settle in. He’s going to remain in the U.S. with Monica, and Sophia will travel back and forth from Down Under to compete him.
Chessie, the sea monster who lives in Chesapeake Bay, tried to swallow Sophia Hill, but her horse, Humble Glory, was too fast for him.
Thoroughbreds used to dominate eventing in the days of the long format that included steeplechase and roads and tracks. Elimination of those segments opened the door to warmbloods, whose way of moving generally earns better marks in dressage. But the performances of Artist (known as Max) and Phelps show the value of thoroughbreds in the sport when speed and endurance are a factor. And it should be mentioned that although Cartania is a Holsteiner, she is 45 percent thoroughbred.
So I asked Monica and Mia what they think their thoroughbreds’ performances at the 5-star have done for the reputation of the breed in eventing.
“They keep answering. Every 5 star, there’s at least one I feel like that just goes for it and gets everything done,” said Mia.
As Monica noted, “We love our thoroughbreds. Max and Phelps are doing it for those average brown thoroughbreds out there. It’s nice that they can find a second career. I love that I can let him go on the straights…I don’t have to feel rushed, I can make up time after the jumps, so it allows me to be more accurate.”
Boyd Martin, the highest-ranked rider internationally at the event who stands fifth in the world, ran into trouble at Pierre’s Puzzle, falling at the third element after a refusal from Luke 140. He came back later in the day to ride Commando 3, but was understandably cautious with him, taking long routes at the Chesapeake Beasts, fanciful monsters made from evergreens, and at the MARS Sustainability Bay. He is fifth on 38.3 penalties. Jennie Brannigan, still recovering from an injury suffered in a fall at Morven Park last weekend, is fourth on FE Lifestyle (36.4).
Boyd Martin on Commando 3 over the Bay Bridge, one of the Maryland-themed fences in the 5-star.
In addition to Boyd on Luke, Will Faudree on Mama’s Magic Way was eliminated for a fall, while Caroline Pamukcu’s mount, She’s the One, fell at the Fox Catcher Flyer.
Going into Sunday’s show jumping at the event presented by Brown Advisory, things are still close, though Monica has a rail in hand over Felix, whose mare was bred for jumping. He pointed out “she can jump high,” as illustrated by her cross-country performance.
Felix Vogg, Monica Spencer and Mia Farley
Monica is glad to have that rail in hand, and would have liked two.
“I came to this event hoping to get on the podium after swinging and missing for many top 10s,” she noted.
Mia concedes “show jumping is not our strong suit, we have Phelps for cross-country and he gives me a great experience on Saturdays” but added, “I will do my best on Sunday for him and he will do his best for me.”
click here for the 5-star results. Click this link for 3-star results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 17, 2025
The top six competitors from the first day of the Mars Maryland 5-star event were re-directed down the leaderboard Friday, after the full field had completed the dressage phase.
On Thursday, no one was able to score less than 30 penalties, but the second day brought New Zealand’s Monica Spencer to the top on a sparkling personal best of 23.7 penalties aboard Artist, a 14-year-old thoroughbred she has worked with for 10 years. In terms of non-eventing dressage, the equivalent would have been a more than respectable 76.35 percent for the U.S.-based rider.
Monica Spencer and Artist, the leaders after dressage.
But she is well aware the real work has only just begun, with cross-country scheduled for Saturday.
“I think dressage will be long-forgotten tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how the day unfolds. It’s a serious track out there I’ve walked it three time so far and it hasn’t gotten any smaller each time,” Monica reported.
Contemplating her success and her beloved mount, known as Max, the rider became overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears at the post-competition press conference.
“He has been such a great horse for me. He has taken me all over the world,” Monica reflected and began crying.
“He just tries so hard,” she said.
“It’s really special to be in a 5-star and be back at Maryland where our American adventure began.”
In the midst of her tears, she got a comfort hug from Caroline Pamukcu, who rode HSH Blake, her 2024 U.S. Olympic team mount to second place with 28.2 penalties.
Caroline had a baby (named Blake!) in February. As a result, even though she began riding again a week after the birth, she got a late start not only on her fitness for this year, but also on that of her Irish sport horse, who wasn’t looking so sporty after his layoff.
“He was like a balloon,” she recalled with a smile.
“We thought he was sick, because he was so fat.”
But she worked at getting in shape and praised the U.S. Equestrian Federation for the help it offered, and the training sessions held at Boyd Martin’s farm in Pennsylvania.
She did it! Caroline Pamukcu was thrilled with her dressage score on HSH Blake.
Standing third is Swiss rider Felix Vogg, who forsook next week’s 5-star at Pau in France, right next door to his homeland. He decided to fly his Holsteiner, Cartania, to the U.S. because he thought Maryland’s hilly terrain would suit her better that the flat layout at Pau. His mare’s score of 28.3 penalties was a personal best for her.
Cartania floated to her personal best dressage test under the guidance of Felix Vogg.
But with dressage in the rear view for the field of 22, the real work has only just begun. Cross-country likely is another game-changer.
The course is designed by Pierre Le Goupil, a Frenchman whose routes are unfamiliar to most American riders, except those who competed in the 2023 Pan American Games and the 2024 Olympics, neither of which were at 5-star level. But Caroline, who rode Blake in both, cited the logical progression for her horse to compete in the first 5-star designed by Pierre.
Thursday’s leader, Boyd Martin, was Caroline’s teammate in Paris, so he also is no stranger to Pierre’s style.
He noted, “it’s an unusual course, it’s very creative. It should be an exciting day.”
Boyd Martin and Commando 3.
While Boyd slipped to seventh place on his Thursday leader, Luke 140, he tied for fourth Friday on Commando 3 with New Zealander Jonelle Price aboard Chili’s Midnight Star, who is by William Fox Pitt’s great stallion, Chilli Morning. Both riders were scored at 30.3 penalties.
Another threat from the Southern Hemisphere, Tayla Mason of New Zealand on Centennial, is sixth, just 0.1 penalty behind.
Will the top three stay in place after cross-country? We’ll have to see if cross-country is as tough as everyone says it is.
The top three after dressage: Caroline Pamukcu, Monica Spencer, Felix Vogg.
Click here for 5-star results. Click this link for 3-star results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 16, 2025
The first half of dressage competition was featured Thursday at the Mars Maryland 5-star Three-Day Event, as the USA’s Boyd Martin topped the scoreboard with Luke 140, but much more than the placings were on everybody’s mind.
Boyd Martin and Luke 140.
Topic A was the cross-country course, a medley of question marks, with Pierre Le Goupil taking over from Ian Stark as the designer in the fifth year of the event, presented by Brown Advisory.
It’s the only 5-star layout ever produced by Pierre, though he is vastly experienced, having done the Paris Olympics in 2024 (the Olympics is at 4-star-plus level, as the designer explains) in addition to producing routes at scores of other events around the world.
Pierre Le Goupil.
The up-and-down Fair Hill terrain is daunting even without the fences; with them, it’s a real test of fitness. Last year, only eight horses of the 21 that started on cross-country came back to show jump on the final day.
This year, the middle phase of the event will be different, but it won’t be any easier.
“This course is pretty challenging, so we’ve got our work cut out for us on Saturday,” said Boyd, scored at 31 penalties with a horse who was on his toes. Boyd did a good job to stay on when the Holsteiner spooked in a big way as he left the arena.
On the much discussed topic of cross-country, “The jumping efforts are massive,” observed Canada’s Jessica Phoenix, who retired on course last year with Wabbit, but is back to try again.
“The technical questions are some of the most technical questions I’ve ever seen. All of it, start to finish, you have to be really on your game and those horses have to know really where they’re going and be willing to fight for it.”
She added, “On the plus side, the way they’ve done the roping this year and changed a little bit of the flow of the course will help the horses settle in their rhythm earlier,
What’s in her favor is that Wabbit is a thoroughbred, a rare breed in eventing these days, but when it comes to fitness and endurance, they excel. Wabbit has some ground to make up, standing eighth on 40.2 penalties with 11 more horses to compete in dressage on Friday.
Will Faudree, an American who is ninth on Mama’s Magic Way (43.5 penalties), has entered 24 or 25 5-stars in his career, so he’s seen legions of their cross-country courses. Of this one, he assessed, “It’s a plenty big enough track. It’s going to be a big job to do on Saturday.”
Although British riders have been a fixture at the event since its inception, with last year’s winner, Oliver Townend, and Harry Meade having been among the regulars from abroad, there’s only one Brit on the roster this time.
That’s Alexander Bragg, third at Badminton last year with Quindiva, the world’s highest-rated eventing mare and a stunning creature, who is coming back after having two embryo transplants.
Alexander Bragg and Quindiva.
Quindiva was standing seventh with 39.2 penalties, after getting “quite lit-up going down the chute,” her rider said, citing “extra atmosphere and the wind” making everything “very, very scary. Today, she didn’t let me get the best out of her.”
But he’s looking forward to cross-country, because “Maryland is renowned for that sort of gallopy cross-country feel, and that’s what the mare is good at.”
He’s hoping to jump up the leaderboard with his Oldenburg beauty after cross-country.
“The harder the course is and the higher they build the show jumping, the better for me. So this is why we’re at Maryland,” explained Alexander, who is making his competitive debut in the U.S. this weekend.
But I wondered, why aren’t there other Brits at Maryland? In the spring, Harry and Tom McEwen were at Kentucky, which drew 33 starters on cross-country. Bigger numbers of entries at Maryland are harder to get.
Alexander explained, “Financially, it’s a tough draw to come here. It costs a lot of money to fly and there isn’t really funding for that in the U.K. to bring horses across the water.
“I think that’s probably one of the big deciding factor. Obviously, a lot of horses get taken out in the championships and at Burghley horse trials, and Maryland is after that. The cost makes that a big decision to come.”
Boyd’s 2024 Paris Olympics teammate, Caroline Pamukcu, is poised in second place on She’s the One.
The calendar was particularly crowded this summer and fall, with the European championships, the new US Open of eventing last week and the Pau 5-star in France next week.
Click here for 5-star results. Click this link for 3-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 15, 2025
U.S.-based Irish Olympic show jumper Darragh Kenny is provisionally suspended in an anti-doping case relating to his prescribed treatment for a medical condition. The suspension is related to testing at last summer’s European Show Jumping Championships.
The FEI has indicated the substance involved is classified under class S6, which are stimulants, on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, according to a statement issued by Horse Sport Ireland.
“Substances in this category may be found in certain prescribed medications used in the treatment of medical conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], anaphylaxis and cold and flu symptoms.”
Darragh rode Eddy Blue on the Irish team that finished fourth at the Europeans, where the rider was seventh individually.
In a statement offered through Horse Sport Ireland, Darragh said, “After the European Championships earlier this year, I was notified by the FEI of a positive result for a medication prohibited under anti-doping regulations,
“The medication in question is part of a prescribed treatment I have been taking under medical supervision for ADHD. As a result, the FEI has imposed a provisional suspension while the matter is being reviewed. I am cooperating fully with the FEI and the International Testing Agency (ITA) to clarify the circumstances surrounding this case.”
Darragh added he “never intended to gain any competitive advantage. My sole aim was to responsibly address a medical condition under professional guidance.
“I am deeply grateful to my national federation, my sponsors, owners, clients and the broader equestrian community for their support throughout this process.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 9, 2025
What do you think about giving horses “agency,” or choice and control in their lives?
Growing interest in the topic has prompted Cornell University’s Equine Seminar Series to present “Equine Welfare and Agency: Why Choice Matters” from 6-7 p.m. Oct.. 21 on Zoom. There is no charge for the seminar, which is open to the public.
The discussion will involve common challenges, as well as opportunities, to increase agency for horses through management, training, and everyday interactions.
Speaking will be Dr. Lindsay Goodale is a senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in equine biology and management, domestic mammalian behavior and animal welfare. Lindsay also serves as the equine extension specialist for New York State and has developed a Horse Farm Improvement Program for equine operations.
She attended veterinary school at Cornell and graduated in 2012, returning to work at Cornell in her current role in 2017. She is pursuing board certification through the American College of Animal Welfare.
This seminar is part of the Cornell Equine Seminar Series. Please register in advance at this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 12, 2025
Riders with a Florida connection dominated the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Sunday, with the top three from a field of 157 linked to the Sunshine State.
Olivia Sweetnam, the Wellington, Fla.-based daughter of Irish team stalwart Shane Sweetnam and his wife, trainer Ali Sweetnam, took the title. She is coached by Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farm in Wellington. They also trained runner-up Parker Peacock, who was on Montverdi. Third-place Lily Epstein of Coral Gables, Fla., is coached by Ken and Emily as well, and Ali Sweetnam. She rode Charlie Brown, the best horse a week ago at the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.
It took more than 10 hours to sort out the placings. A group of 25 riders, who included Olivia’s brother, Collin, were tested over a new course after the original group had finished performing in front of judges Ralph Caristo and Michael Tokaruk at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
The top four also included Emi Richard, who rides with New York trainer Andre Dignelli. The finalists were asked to handle yet another test, involving two counter-canters, a trot fence and a hand gallop.
Olivia was aboard Efendi, the horse Brian Moggre rode to the Medal win in 2018.
“For the first round, I just wanted a smooth, consistent round. I didn’t want many changes in pace,” said Olivia, who was quick to credit her horse.
“All three rounds actually were very suited to my horse, so I’m very thankful for that. Efendi is the best, and I knew that he was beyond capable of this. He’s done it before with different riders, so he’s really the talent in the pair.”
Of the 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, owned by Ashland Farms, Sweetnam continued, “I’ve been riding Efendi for I’d say almost two years…This is my second finals season on him, my second year at Medal Finals. He means so much to me. I’m so thankful to be able to ride him.
“This is my fourth time doing Medal Finals, I believe, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a really good go all three times,” continued Olivia, who finished fourth in 2023 and fifth in 2024.
“This is my third year in a row testing, and I’ve tragically messed up the test both other times. So I’m really happy to be able to pull it off today. I’ve been wanting to win this final for a really long time.”
Olivia’s family wrote on their Sweet Oak facebook page what the victory meant to them:
“There are not enough words to describe how special today has been for the Sweetnam Family. Years of dedication, the highs and lows, the endless hours of training—all for a dream. A dream of one day seeing your name alongside so many who have gone on to become the world’s best.
“You dream, you hope, you work relentlessly. You make mistakes, but you learn from every one. You cry, you doubt, and you wonder if you can keep going. And then one day, the dream becomes reality. The doubts fade, and every ounce of effort feels worthwhile.
“Today was that day for Olivia. We are beyond proud of you, Liv. May this be just the beginning of many more dreams fulfilled. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Ashland Farm and Sweet Oak Farm for being there every step of the way and for helping make this moment truly unforgettable.”
Medal winner Olivia Sweetnam. (Pennsylvania National Horse Show Photo)
In other action at the show, Clara Propp won the Turnham Green/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship on Mistral van de Vogelzang Saturday night. Second went to Avery Griffin and Oh My Star Van Strytem. JJ Torano and Lyon 50 took home the bronze.
“My horse is absolutely incredible,” Clara said about her 13-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding, owned by Aquitaine Equine.
“I’m really happy that it all came together tonight. I feel like I’ve been working on my partnership with him for almost a year now, and tonight really solidified that. Coming into tonight, I was going in fifth, so I knew I kind of didn’t really have anything to lose. I just wanted to put down a solid, clear round and hope for the best.”
JJ was presented with the William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award Perpetual Trophy, donated by Karen Healey. The award recognizes the junior jumper rider who is deemed by the judges to best exemplify the American style of equitation and the respectful, dignified, courteous and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman
