by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 31, 2025
The $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix had only three riders in the jump-off for the feature of the fiftieth anniversary show, but the trio provided plenty of excitement as they raced over the Nick Granat-designed course.
British rider Jessica Mendoza guided In the Air to her first 5-star victory with a time of 37.34 seconds. Right behind was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz, in 37.90. The American in the tie-breaker, Kristen Vanderveen, toppled a rail at the third fence to finish third with four faults in 38.05 seconds.
“It’s a pretty amazing win,” Jessica said.
Jessica Mendoza and In the Air (Kind Media Photo)
“This is one of the best American shows. It’s truly amazing to be here and to win the grand prix. It’s always fun to go into the jump-off with the top three; you don’t have much to lose. I knew there was a bit of room where Shane could catch me, but my mare was perfect across the ground. She’s an incredible horse and had an incredible summer. She really found herself this year.”
Shane commented, “I was very happy with my horse. He’s a very different horse (from Jessica’s). He spends a bit of time in the air and is a bit of a slower horse, so I did my plan close enough to what I thought would be enough to challenge. He jumped great. In hindsight, I could have taken a few more gambles.”
McLain Ward, the winner of Friday’s qualifier on High Star Hero, was going for his eighth grand prix victory in his years at the Hampton Classic. He failed to make the tie-breaker on Imperial HBF with a rail at the triple bar and a foot in the water to finish fifteenth.
Jessica’s win brought her the $20,000 Longines Rider Challenge as the top rider in the 5-star division over the course of the show.
A highlight of the afternoon was a retirement ceremony for the 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Ladriano Z, a two-time former winner of the class with Daniel Bluman.
Click here for grand prix results
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 28, 2025
Germany did Thursday what it usually does, taking team gold for the twenty-sixth time at the European Dressage Championships. That nation has won a total of 26 golds in European championship competition, though at the last Euro title meet two year ago, it settled for silver while Britain took gold.
This time, the placings were reversed, with Britain less than three points behind the Germans, 229.644 to 226.785.
“It’s very sweet to get it back,” said German Chef d’equipe Klaus Roeser, who works with coach Monica Theodorescu.
“We are very happy once again to bring the title back to Germany.”
The German dressage team: Chef d’equipe Klaus Roeser, Ingrid Klimke, Isabell Werth, Frederic Wandres, Katherina Hemmer and Monica Theodorescu.
As has been the case since she was suspended in 2024 for whipping a horse during a lesson several years ago, Britain’s former superstar, Charlotte Dujardin, was absent from the team, although she has been competing in England since her punishment ended in July. But the mare on whom she won an individual bronze at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, Mount St. John Freestyle, performed in great style with Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St. John Freestyle.
Cathrine was the only competitor at the title meet in Crozet, France, on the border with Switzerland, to break the 80 percent mark with her test, earning 80.823 percent. Freestyle did not compete in Aachen last month, which proved to be a wise decision by Cathrine, who as a result enjoyed a fresh horse in France. She led the Danish team to bronze on 223.385. It was the third time in that medal position for Denmark.
“We came here with quite a green team, and maybe weren’t yet in a position to chase the Germans and Brits, but we made it to the podium,” Catherine said. She was just ahead of Germany’s top rider, Isabell Werth on Wendy de Fontaine, with 79.224 percent. The mare was consistent, though her lower lip was often in motion and her mouth opened at times, showing some tension.
Britain missed a chance to overtake Germany when anchor rider Lottie Fry’s performance with Glamourdale wasn’t up to her usual level. She got a 4.5 for her collected canter, and her left pirouette was disheveled, scoring 4.4. The ride was saved, as always, by the stallion’s ground-eating canter. Team stalwart Carl Hester, the architect of Britain’s rise to the top of the dressage world, had a bravura performance with Fame on 76.098 percent to stand fifth, ahead of Lottie.
“I am just thrilled,” said Carl.
“He is such a genuine horse. He’s nice to ride, he’s fun to ride and he’s fun to ride around the Grand Prix because he doesn’t run out of energy – and he’s like that every day, whether you’re at home or in an arena.
“I’ve had some great rides this year. Of course, there’s always something that can be better. I probably went better in my extended trots today than I’ve gone before, but I just thought, ‘go for it – we’re behind anyway, so I need to ride a little bit stronger.”
Jagerbomb, who made his Olympic debut in Paris last year with owner Becky Moody, was marked at 74.829 and would have been higher if not for an unscripted flying change in the extended canter. Britain had only a three-person team after pathfinder Andrew Gould’s Indigro was blown out by a judge during his test for being uneven on the first day of Grand Prix..
Everyone was looking forward to the appearance of Aachen sensation Justin Verboomen and the rivetingl Zonik Plus for Belgium. He started off with 8s for his entrance, but hit the boards during his reinback (5.2) and his power presentation of the one-tempis led to a costly error ,resulting in a mark of 4.6 for that movement. Justin didn’t quite hit 80 percent, winding up in third place with a score of 79.084 percent, which put the Belgian team fourth with 220.062.
The top 30 return for the Grand Prix Special on Friday.
Click here for individual results. Click here for team results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 22, 2025
Ron Turcotte, who in 1972 rode Secretariat to racing’s first Triple Crown in a quarter-century, died Friday. He was 84.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame stated: “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat–culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes – Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins.
“As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
The Belmont victory was historic, and I am still grateful I was present to witness it and write about the moment of a lifetime. Secretariat’s solo run to the finish line (he left the rest of the field behind in another dimension) was something I will never forget, a moment out of time.
That famous run.
“With 70 yards to go, I chirped to him to make sure he did not lose focus,” Turcotte told Tom Pedulla when remembering that magnificent airborne gallop.
“He responded by finding still another gear. Sure that the race was won, that Secretariat would be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, I was able to soak in everything. The crowd that was going wild. The teletimer. track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable race call. ‘Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” Turcotte wanted to make sure the big red horse to set a record, and he did.
The jockey’s career was cut short in 1978 when a fall at Belmont Park left him a paraplegic. He made appearances at racetracks to celebrate his career and raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. He moved back to his home town of Grand Falls in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was honored with a life-sized statue of himself riding Secretariat.
Turcotte was the last survivor of the triumvirate who oversaw Secretariat’s history-making career. Trainer Lucien Laurin died in 2000 and the horse’s owner, Penny Tweedy, passed away in 2017.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2025
It’s four months and a bit until Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival gets under way again, but the improvements at Wellington International have been in the process since last year. The break from showing in July and the first half of August enabled more work to be completed at the showgrounds.
Prize money for the WEF finale, the the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, is being increased to $1 million from $750,000 in 2025, while all 4* WEF Grand Prix qualifier prize money has been boosted from $62,500 to $116,100. There will be 68 FEI jumping world ranking classes, while prize money has increased in all 1.25m and higher Junior and Amateur Jumper Classics from $10,000 to $15,000.
When the showgrounds were bought back by the former owners in 2024, that marked a new beginning. Very little had been done to improve the facility during the two-year tenure of the former owners, Global Equestrian Group. The new ownership began work immediately under the supervision of former U.S. Equestrian Federation President Murray Kessler, now CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.
The efforts under the auspices of Equestrian Lifestyle Partners has included installing state-of-the-art lighting for the main arena, four additional rings — including a grass field that will be ready for showing in 2027 — and adding acreage from adjoining “Pod F” to transition the old venue from cramped to spacious.
By 2027, dressage will move over from the Equestrian Village down the street. Plans also call for a construction of a stadium, new FEI stabling for the jumpers, an indoor arena and refurbished FEI stabling for dressage, among many other improvements that include a more elegant VIP area and an indoor arena.
For 2026, three dressage FEI World Cup qualifiers will be offered.The stands for dressage will be covered for the first time.
New footing is set for the International Arena and its schooling area, while renovations have been completed in the Grand Hunter Ring, which will be used for dressage when that discipline arrives at the main showgrounds.
Wi-Fi around the showgrounds is being improved and roads between the barns are being resurfaced to reduce dust and improve drainage,
Food and beverage enhancements will include food service to the box seats, new Tiki Hut furniture, new self-contained buffet bars and additional action stations for more variety.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2025
After a long battle with cancer, respected horsewoman Linda Andrisani passed away in her sleep Sunday night.
She set a high bar, both as a trainer and a widely admired judge, whose contributions to the horse industry were always appreciated by her peers and exhibitors alike.
Linda Andrisani
“She set the standard for all of us to emulate, said National Show Hunter Hall of Fame President Jimmy Lee.
“Linda was one of a kind…and of course, the right kind. On a personal note, she was a great friend for over 40 years. I am deeply saddened, but blessed to have had her friendship.”
Linda and her partner, the late Jack Stedding, produced wonderful horses and riders. She also was nearlyas well-known for her fashion sense as she was for her horse sense and freely offered advice.
The winner of the U.S.Hunter Jumper Association’s lifetime achievement award in 2023, Linda “epitomized the definition of achievement; doing a thing successfully, typically with skill, effort and most importantly, with courage, and that’s 100 percent Linda,” as Jimmy put it.
Streett Moore, who rode with her for 50 years and became an admired trainer himself, said she was like a second mother to him.
“If I didn’t have a great day, she would reach out to me and make sure I was okay and say, `Son, don’t worry about it. It will be okay, there’s always tomorrow.’
“She taught me about things that went beyond just learning how to ride.”
Charlie Dennehy recalled that he “always enjoyed showing in front of Linda, because I knew I would get a fair and honest opinion of how well my horse and I executed the `plan.’
“Dad’s last words when I walked in the ring in front of Linda were always along the lines of `Don’t give her any reasons; because she WILL catch them’.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2025
Victoria Colvin became the only rider ever to win the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship four times on four different horses, as she rode through pain to take the title Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Tori and the Ingram family’s Dicoblue PS, winner of the Classic round the previous day, were able to top the event’s finale, the Handy round to earn the tri-color. Jennifer Hannan and Cellestino finished second, ahead of John French and Milagro.
Tori Colvin and Dicoblue PS (USHJA photo)
Tori had a fall in the warm-up early in the class on another horse. She scratched that mount, but although her ribs were hurting as a result, she persevered to define what makes a champion.
“It was a bit of a fluke accident,” she observed after the class.
“Everything is all right – it was a little painful at first, but it’s okay now. Dicoblue PS took me around beautifully and he’s an incredible horse, so I give it all to him.”
She called the horse, “super-special. I’ve been riding him for a couple of years, and I’ve done mainly derbies with him, but he’s still a little green,” said Colvin, though you couldn’t tell it from watching his style of floating over the fences.
“He has shown once under lights, but he’s not quite used to this atmosphere. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but he went out there and was amazing. He didn’t even bat an eye.”
On the challenging 14-obstacle course set by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, there were four high options, with the tallest fence set at 4 feet, 6 inches, while other highlights included a bounce double and a multi-faceted horseshoe, where riders could jump the three sections in any order and any direction.
“It was a difficult course – I felt like I was back to my equitation days,” Tori said.
“There were a lot of unique options, which was super fun and everybody could take their own route.”
Dicoblue earned scores of 92, 95 and 96. Adding in all four high options as well as their leading score from the Classic round, he and Tori had a two-round total of 608. Jennifer’s total was 597, while John finished on 583.5.
Two favorites ran into trouble along the route. Amanda Steege, who was on track to win last year until applause startled Lafitte de Muze at the end of his round, this time lost out when he ticked one of the tiny pieces of wood perched on top of the straw bale jump.
Hunt Tosh, another four-time winner of the class (but not on four different horses!) had a block at the stone wall and chipped in at the out of the in-and-out with Cannon Creek.
