by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 22, 2025
Although the favored British lost half their team to falls at the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships on Saturday, they came back strong on Sunday, earning first and third individually, with German star Michael between them in second place.
That was the way they stood before the final show jumping phase, with Laura Collett on London 52 in the lead, Michi close behind and Tom McEwen with JL Dublin third. Laura added 0.4 time penalties to her score, but stayed ahead of Michi and Tom, who both were double clear.
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted this, mainly for the horse,” said Laura, “because every time I made the team, I let him down, so to finally pull it off and give him the championship he deserves – the words aren’t really there. At my first five-star win in Pau in 2020, I said if he never does anything more, he’s done more than I could have ever dreamed of. To think what he’s done in those five years since is more than I could have ever dreamed. I can’t really say it’s a dream come true because I don’t think I could have even dreamed it!
“This [medal] tops everything! I was so close in Paris last year, and to come back and have another head-to-head with Michiis what make this sport so special and these horses so unbelievably special. To keep coming back and producing the results they do, come out and perform time and time again, is unreal.
“It’s so special just to be at a home championship, and it’s quite a local event for me as well. Just that in itself felt special this week, but to be sat on a horse like him and come up with the goods is crazy,” she commented. Laura now has won nine European Championship gold medals over a 20-year period – at Pony, Junior, Young Rider and Senior level – making her part of a very small, select club of athletes.
Tom summed up his feelings this way; “Dubs has gone phenomenally well and I couldn’t be happier with him. We’ve been beaten by possibly two of the greatest horses that have been around in our sport. You do your best, and that’s where we’re at.
“After a week that hasn’t possibly been our own [the British], to come home with two medals is absolutely fantastic. We came as a six and we leave as a six (a team of four and two individuals), and it’s been team spirit throughout. I’m absolutely delighted for Laura and my own performance with Dubs. He’s a pretty chilled character and strangely, he’s never been to Blenheim, so I couldn’t be happier with how he’s come out and performed in every aspect. On the day, he was beaten by two better horses and I’m still very happy with him.”
Click here for individual final results and here for team championship results.
Recapping cross-country, a fall by pathfinder and world champion Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ), then a tumble from Halo into the water by Piggy March, means their nation would not come near the podium for team medals on home ground at Blenheim Palace.
Following dressage, the British –who had been favored to take the title — were second as a team to the Germans, whose Michael Jung was leading the individual standings on fischerChipmunk FRH. But after her team was eliminated from contention Saturday, Laura Collett shone a light for Britain individually on cross-country, overtaking Michi to lead the individual standings with London 52 (26.6). She had only 6 time penalties on the Mark Phillips-designed route. No one made the 10:01 optimum time.
Laura Collett and London 52 lead the way at the championships. (FEI Photo by Benjamin Clark)
The score is now 28.3 for Michi, who had 10 time penalties with fischerChipmunk FRH, so he switched places with Laura and stands second. Another British bright light was Tom McEwen, third with JL Dublin on 33 penalties, 6.8 of which involved time penalties.
The course designer observed, “The rounds from Collett, Jung, and McEwen were world-class. The time was always going to be tough because of the water and the terrain. And I added a few extra speed bumps.”
While Mark knew it would have been possible to make the time, he commented, “There weren’t many horses capable of it. What you saw was that the best-trained horses, those three, were simply in another league.”
Tom McEwen agreed, “The time is doable, but you have to be as quick as you are smooth, which is quite a tough combination.”
Laura was full of praise for her horse, saying, “I can’t quite believe it. He just dug so deep. He owes me nothing, but he keeps on giving. The crowd was amazing, and you can see from the dressage he loves all that and it really got us going and kept us going all the way to the end.”
Discussing Sunday’s show jumping finale, Laura thought about what happened when she faced Michi in the 2024 Olympics.
“I let him beat me in Paris last year after a fence down. Let’s hope I don’t do it two years on the trot,” she said.
Michi said of his 17-year-old campaigner’s cross-country performance, ““He galloped really well; fast, strong, and responsive. He gave me a super feeling everywhere. My plan was to go as fast as possible without pushing him too much.”
Meanwhile, Bubby Upton, riding as an individual for Britain, continued her country’s bad luck streak when she was eliminated for a fall from Its Cooley Time. Another British individual rider, Caroline Harris (D.Day), also had a fall.
Germany continues to lead the team standings, as Calvin Bockmann is in fourth place with the fastest time of the day, a mere 5.6 time penalties on Phantom of the Opera (36.5). He is tied with Austria’s Lea Siegl (Van Helsing P), who had 9.6 time penalties added to her total, but was better in dressage.
The Irish team is second with 150.7 penalties, giving Germany a more than comfortable margin of 37 penalties for its 150.7 total. Switzerland is third on 161.3.
Click here for the individual cross-country standings Click this link for team cross-country standings
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 10, 2025
Storms that caused massive destruction when they swept through Montgomery Township, N.J., last weekend have prompted the cancellation of the Princeton Show Jumping fall series scheduled for September 17–21 and September 24–28.
“After careful evaluation of our options and several municipal inspections, it was apparent our showgrounds sustained significant damage—damage so extensive that it will take weeks of cleanup and rebuilding to restore the property to a safe condition,” a statement from the show advised, following an assessment of the situation in the wake of the Sept. 6 storms.
“After two days of careful evaluation and several municipal inspections, we concluded that we cannot responsibly welcome horses, riders, or spectators back to Hunter Farms North until it is safe to do so,” the statement continued.
“We know how important these shows are for our riders, trainers, owners, and the entire equestrian community. Canceling is the last thing we wanted—but safety must come first. This challenging moment will also become an opportunity: the rebuilding process will allow us to make lasting improvements to the facility and return in 2026 with an even better show experience for everyone.”
Competitors who have already entered should contact princetonshowjumping@gmail.com for processing, or contact Nicole at nicole@princetonshowjumping.com with any questions.
Last year, Princeton also cancelled its final shows of the season, but for a different reason, involving a lack of entries.
At the time, Andrew Philbrick, who runs the Princeton series, contended three international shows in New York and Connecticut that are geographically close to his competitions drew entries that otherwise might have come to his shows.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 19, 2025
Even on their home ground at Blenheim, eventers from Great Britain couldn’t top The Terminator.
Although the Brits made their mark in the top 10 to stand second as a team when the dressage phase wrapped up Friday at the FEI Agria European Championships, Germany’s Michael Jung went to the top of the leaderboard as usual, with fischerChipmunk FRH on a sparkling mark of 18.3 penalties. He also led Germany to the top of the team standings.
Judge Sandy Phillips characterized the dressage over which she officiated as “the gold standard.”
She explained, “We had some very high-class competitors, and they put on an amazing show, showing the balance and suppleness that are essential for achieving top marks in this phase.”
Michael Jung and Fischerchipmunk FRH (FEI photo/Benjamin Clark)
The home team’s Laura Collett on the irrepressible London 52 settled for second, earning a mere 20.6 penalties. Another Brit, Tom McEwen, is third with the reliable JL Dublin on 26.2 penalties, just 0.7 penalties ahead of Austria’s Lea Siegl (Van Helsing P), while Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier slipped into fifth guiding Hooney D’Arvile (27.7). But Britain’s Bubby Upton aboard Its Cooley Time (28.9) stands eighth and her country’s world champion, Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ), is ninth (29).
The Germans, while leading in the team standings, also are in hot pursuit individually behind Michi. The overnight leader from Thursday, Malin Hansen-Hotopp, a member of her nation’s silver medal team at the last Europeans, is sixth with 27.8 on Carlitos Quidditch K. Her countrywoman, Libessa Lubeke (Caramia 47), ranks seventh with Caramia 34.
Michi reported on his first visit to Blenheim Palace, “I am really excited and very proud of FischerChipmunk, he’s just an amazing horse. A big thank you to his owners, my friends at the Fischer Group. It’s such a joy to ride this horse every day. He was really good in front of me; I could always ride him forward from my legs. Of course, there are always little things to improve, but that’s normal.”
For her part, Laura Collett noted about her mount, ““He is a total showman. He goes in there and just loves showing off to a crowd. I was shaking when I came out, he owes me absolutely nothing, but he just keeps delivering.
“He’s done this test so many times now that he’s got a bit wise to it; he thought he should have halted at X, which was a shame, but otherwise he was completely with me,” she added.
Laura admitted her build-up to the event hadn’t been entirely smooth.
“I had a lesson on Tuesday and missed every single flying change. I had a complete meltdown; it was a disaster. Then today, just as I was about to ride into the arena, he grabbed the bit and tried to run off,” she confided.
“But once inside, it’s as if butter wouldn’t melt. He knows everyone’s watching and he’s ready. He tests my nerves that way, but I just have to trust the system, and trust that he knows when it matters. To get that real wow factor, he apparently needs a palace and a big crowd. He just knows when it really counts.”
There probably is little doubt that the 1.4-penalty difference between the leading German squad and the Brits will change dramatically in one direction or another after Saturday’s cross-country, but we have to wait and see how the course designed by Mark Phillips (Sandy Phillips’ ex-husband) will ride.
Click here for individual results Click here for team standings
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 11, 2025
Mary Alice Malone’s dedication to sport horse breeding and showing was passed down to her daughter, Catherine Malone, who is taking over management of Iron Spring Farm in wake of her mother’s death this summer.
Catherine will remain true to her mother’s vision with the same commitment to excellence, soundness, and temperament that has always defined the program, a statement from the farm said.
Catherine, who grew up on the farm, worked with her mother for several years, bringing in new stallions such as Kaiman, and the highest quality mares, including Noblewood Tarpania,
“Mom and I spent so much time talking about horses and bloodlines and the kind of horses we want to have in the barn,” said Catherine, an FEI rider and successful breeder in her own right.
Catherine Malone and Uno Don Diego. (Terri Miller photo)
“It all starts with falling in love with horses. Their beauty and spirit. That’s why we do this.”
While this is a time of change, it is also a time of renewal, according to information from the farm.
“Catherine is committed to honoring her mother’s legacy while embracing opportunities to evolve and grow. The heart of Iron Spring Farm–a dedication to producing horses that inspire, perform, and connect deeply with their riders–will remain steadfast.
“We are grateful to the breeders, riders, and friends who have been part of our story for nearly 50 years. Your support has made Iron Spring Farm what it is today and we invite you to join us in shaping its future. Follow along with us, through our newsletter, website, and social media, as we share beautiful foals and world-class mares, exciting new stallions and exceptional sales horses, and the continuation of our story.
“Mary Alice believed in building something that would last. Today, with Catherine holding the reins, Iron Spring Farm moves forward–strong, inspired and ready as this next chapter unfolds.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 20, 2025
Britain lost half its team relatively early in the cross-country phase of the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships, as a fall by pathfinder and world champion Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ), then a tumble from Halo into the water by Piggy March, means their nation will not come near the podium for team medals on home ground at Blenheim Palace. But individual medals are still well in sight for the Brits.
Following dressage, the British –who had been favored to take the title — were second as a team to the Germans, whose Michael Jung was leading the individual standings on fischerChipmunk FRH. But after her team was eliminated from contention Saturday, Laura Collett shone a light for Britain individually on cross-country, overtaking Michi to lead the individual standings with London 52 (26.6). She had only 6 time penalties on the Mark Phillips-designed route. No one made the 10:01 optimum time.
Laura Collett and London 52 lead the way at the championships. (FEI Photo by Benjamin Clark)
The score is now 28.3 for Michi, who had 10 time penalties with fischerChipmunk FRH, so he switched places with Laura and stands second. Another British bright light was Tom McEwen, third with JL Dublin on 33 penalties, 6.8 of which involved time penalties.
The course designer observed, “The rounds from Collett, Jung, and McEwen were world-class. The time was always going to be tough because of the water and the terrain. And I added a few extra speed bumps.”
While Mark knew it would have been possible to make the time, he commented, “There weren’t many horses capable of it. What you saw was that the best-trained horses, those three, were simply in another league.”
Tom McEwen agreed, “The time is doable, but you have to be as quick as you are smooth, which is quite a tough combination.”
Laura was full of praise for her horse, saying, “I can’t quite believe it. He just dug so deep. He owes me nothing, but he keeps on giving. The crowd was amazing, and you can see from the dressage he loves all that and it really got us going and kept us going all the way to the end.”
Discussing Sunday’s show jumping finale, Laura thought about what happened when she faced Michi in the 2024 Olympics.
“I let him beat me in Paris last year after a fence down. Let’s hope I don’t do it two years on the trot,” she said.
Michi said of his 17-year-old campaigner’s cross-country performance, ““He galloped really well; fast, strong, and responsive. He gave me a super feeling everywhere. My plan was to go as fast as possible without pushing him too much.”
Meanwhile, Bubby Upton, riding as an individual for Britain, continued her country’s bad luck streak when she was eliminated for a fall from Its Cooley Time. Another British individual rider, Caroline Harris (D.Day), also had a fall.
Germany continues to lead the team standings, as Calvin Bockmann is in fourth place with the fastest time of the day, a mere 5.6 time penalties on Phantom of the Opera (36.5). He is tied with Austria’s Lea Siegl (Van Helsing P), who had 9.6 time penalties added to her total, but was better in dressage.
The Irish team is second with 150.7 penalties, giving Germany a more than comfortable margin of 37 penalties for its 150.7 total. Switzerland is third on 161.3.
Click here for the individual standings Click this link for team standings
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 17, 2025
The world’s number eight-ranked show jumper, Steve Guerdat, has undergone another back surgery for a recurring problem with a herniated disc, less than two weeks after finishing third in the world’s richest (and most demanding) grand prix at the Spruce Meadows Masters.
In February, the Swiss rider was operated on for a herniated disc and was able to compete in May at the European Championships, where he finished twelfth individually and was part of his country’s fifth-placed team. His problem recurred, but he was able to persevere and compete at Spruce Meadows in the Sept. 7 $5 million (Canadian) grand prix, part of the Rolex Grand Slam. However, on Sept. 11, an operation was required.
“I consulted many specialists worldwide, and they all came to the same conclusion: there were no alternatives to surgery.
“I asked my entire team, both at the stables and those who take care of my health, to do everything possible so that I could participate in the Spruce Meadows Rolex Grand Slam, which I didn’t want to miss for anything,” Steve said.
“Thanks to them and my fantastic horses, we succeeded. It was amazing.”
Facing a long recovery that was passing slowly, he said, “I am eager to start my rehabilitation and look forward to riding my horses again and seeing all of you at competitions. In the meantime, a big thank you to everyone. It is a privilege to count on such a team, such horses, and your unconditional support.”
