by Nancy Jaffer | May 29, 2026
The standing room-only crowd was totally engaged with its perpetual favorite, McLain Ward, revving up the cheers when he rode First Lady into the Dixon Oval for the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon. The announcer didn’t exaggerate when he called McLain, “The king of Devon.”
But as the Devon Horse Show’s featured competition unfolded on Thursday night, the spectators wound up with another competitor to salute. Charlotte Jacobs, a new face for the winner’s circle at the Devon Horse Show’s featured attraction, took the crown with the stunning gray Dutchbred, Korbach van de Renger.
Charlotte Jacobson her way to victory.
The evening held several surprises. It had seemed as if McKayla Langmeier was set for an amazing three-peat, as she produced a stellar jump-off time of 33.490 seconds with Riesling Van De Gaathoeve. McKayla won the first two evenings of FEI jumping (and became the Rolex/USEF Rankings Rider of the Week) with her other horse, Pepita VD Rollebeek, having saved Riesling for the $210,000 grand prix.
Riding with McKayla’s leading time in his sights, McLain put in a strong effort with First Lady. He just wasn’t able to beat the clocking set by McKayla, whom he has been mentoring, and finished in 33.530 seconds.
McLain Ward and First Lady.
The competition was far from being decided at that point, however.
Two horses later, Charlotte’s determined effort on her 11-year-old Dutchbred topped both McKayla and McLain on the scoreboard with a beautifully produced trip in 32.770 seconds.
“I just tried to stick with my plan and tried do the least amount of strides as I could around the turns,” said the 31-year-old rider, who is ranked sixty-ninth in the world and has been on several U.S. teams. In fact, the week after her victory, she was named to the U.S. Icon Global squad for the St. Gallen, Switzerland, show.
She had the advantage of watching the efforts of McKayla and McLain, who “looked very fast to me.”
The New York resident brought horses to the show that “I thought would suit this ring. I’m thrilled with the result,” she said.
The new face In the winner’s circle.
“The atmosphere at Devon is like nothing else. It’s incredible,” observed Charlotte, who showed at Devon as a junior but returned last year for the first time since 2013.
After posting her time, McKayla knew she wasn’t home-free for a sweep, even after McLain had a slower trip.
“I thought for sure I was beatable; maybe on a few of those turns I did one extra stride,” McKayla mused as she recounted her round in the eight-horse tiebreaker.
McKayla Langmeier and Riesling Van De Gaathoeve.
So why was McLain smiling despite missing one more victory in a class where he has been a major player since 2002. The grand prix is named after his most famous mount, Sapphire, with whom he won in 2007 and 2009.
“I always love to come to Devon,” explained McLain, who makes a point of it, no matter where else in the world he has been the week before. This time, he had just returned from the Aachen, Germany, show.
“Devon and Toronto (the Royal Winter Fair) are kind of my two busman’s holidays every year. The atmosphere here is as good as anywhere in the world,” he said, citing the enthusiasm of the fans, comparing it to Aachen.
A fixture on Philadelphia’s Main Line since 1896, Devon attracts people who make it a point to attend annually, even with a parking fee of $80 on Grand Prix day. Many of them will not visit another horse show all year, but the blend of tradition and sporting excitement is a lure that gives it a permanent place on their calendars.
McLain described First Lady as “a longtime partner of mine. She moves up and down from competing in second classes at the biggest events and moving in and out of 4-star level grands prix. I thought she performed great.
“I don’t have the stride that the two girls have, and I knew that. I felt like it was kind of mid-course getting a bit away from me and I just checked up a little bit.”
Despite that, he conceded, “I don’t think I could have gotten seven (strides) to the last like they did, but I’m thrilled with the horse.”
He saluted the next generation of riders who bested him in the class.
“I’m very involved with McKayla and this exciting horse, and unbelievably impressed with Charlotte over the last few years. They’ve really come up the grand prix levels in the proper way and riding great and a great team behind her. It’s a great win.”
McKayla revealed she was so nervous that it took her a week of thinking about what to say to McLain when she approached him to ask that he work with her. Since then, their relationship has boosted her performance.
“Any question I have, he has an answer. Any difficulty with a horse, he has an answer. It’s really been wonderful to work with him,” she said.
And speaking of great wins, McLain’s 11-year-old daughter, Lilly, won the pony grand championship last weekend with Celebration, then earned the title of Best Child Rider on a Pony.
This week, “Somebody asked me, `How many times were you Best Child Rider on a pony at Devon?’ ” McLain mentioned.
“I said, `I never got a ribbon on a pony at Devon.’ She’s ahead of me already, although I will argue her pony was a little better than mine.
“But it’s great, she’s pursuing her goals and her dreams. She loves this. It’s wonderful to see her grow and learn, starting her journey.” Noting that his younger daughter is also involved, he said, “Hopefully we’ll get to come back to Devon for many years to come.”
Another surprise in the class that drew 23 entries to compete over designer Colm Quinn’s course was the twentieth-place finish by world number one Kent Farrington, first to go on Casynna. He collected 12 penalties with the 9-year-old Hanoverian mare. Kent only began showing her in February, when she won a 1.45-meter class in a 4-star competition in Ocala, Fla.
But Kent did get a share of some wins, as he has been helping Charlotte – who also took the Richard McDevitt style of riding award.
As McLain noted, having riders mentored by more experienced professionals, such as Kent and himself, is “a dynamic that is a key to success for our (the USA’s) future. Where experienced riders and those of us who kind of put the whole package together, not just to win grands prix, but to win championship battles, it’s important that’s the relationship we have at the highest end of the sport.
“It’s not training per se…but just understanding how to put it all together. You’ve had these experiences and you share how you dealt with them. For me, I’m privileged to get the opportunity to do that. I think Kent feels the same. I love the idea of mentoring the next generation; at the same time.”
It goes “from being able to teach and coach, toward (becoming) a sounding board and then a colleague.”
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2026
As we explained in yesterday’s story (click here for a link) Lafitte de Muze loves the Devon Horse Show.
And it loves him back. After winning the High Performance Hunter Championship (for the second year in a row) on Wednesday, he and his partner of nine years, Amanda Steege, returned Thursday to triumph in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
Lafitte was the first to test the arrangement of artful fences set by designer Meghan Rawlins in the initial Classic round of 31 competitors, where he came up with a score of 194. The only entry close to that, Jennifer Hannan with Celestino, was five points behind.
The top 12 came back for the Handy round, which included a bounce (two low fences with no stride between them) rather than the trot fence that is usual for this test.
Lafitte’s first round score gave the 15-year-old Belgian warmblood the advantage of going last, which meant Amanda had a chance to study the ways riders chose to travel the route for the best possible Handy score, with clever turns gaining points. But going first in the Classic round and last in the Handy meant she had a lot of time on her hands, so she passed it by going to the riders’ lounge and having some iced tea and lemonade. When her clients spotted her, they naturally asked, “What are you drinking?”
Said Amanda, “It looked a little bit like I was calming my nerves.” No, she was just thirsty.
Her Handy score of 198.5, when added to her first round mark, gave her a total of 392. 5 that would put her on top after the final test.
Celestino’s second-round mark was just 0.5 points behind Amanda’s, but the totals added up after the Handy told the tale. That horse had a cumulative score of 387, which wound up 5.5 behind the leader.
Jennifer Hannan and Celestino.
Actually ,the best effort in the Handy belonged to another Jennifer, Jennifer Jones on Levi VDL. Devon is only their fifth show together, but she quickly came to appreciate him.
“My horse is so scopey and so great. He can jump a house,” she said of the 10-year-old Dutchbred stallion, a former jumper who won the Derby at Canada’s Royal Winter Fair. Jennifer explained that taking advantage of Levi’s ability enabled her to gain points by making impressive inside turns before both the second and the last jump. Her Handy score was an impressive 204, though together with 182.5 from the first round, it was only enough to put her third on 386.5.
So the class belonged to Lafitte, and it seemed like destiny.
“He is amazing, but even with amazing as he normally is , I think to have six rounds go the way it did this week was nerve-wracking but also exciting,” said Amanda after enjoying her victory pass, stopping the joyful gallop only long enough to let a delighted spectator pat Lafitte.
Lafitte loves his fans.
The showgrounds have particular meaning for Amanda because family on her mother’s side comes from the area near Devon, and there’s even a photo of her great grandfather competing at Devon 103 years ago.
So it’s understandable when she explained, “There are a few bucket list classes left that I want him to win, and this was one of them.
“This derby has never completely gone our way. We came here with a goal and a plan and tried to make the right decisions for him (Lafitte)during the week to get the best result that I could today. It’s always nice when a plan comes together.”
She and Jennifer Hannan discussed the course before they rode, deciding together on a few approaches and checking in with the course designer to learn what she intended.
“It’s nice to have friends out there and feel like you have support,” said Amanda.
Celestino was imported three years ago and sold at the World Sport Horse Sales to a trainer in Ocala.
During the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Jennifer Hannan revealed, “I was sitting in my hotel room with my computer, just watching rounds looking for horses and I saw him (in the First Year Greens) and right away called the Riggios” (her clients).
She told them, “I think I found a horse we have to try.” And they bought the gelding by Cornet Obolensky. He had competed in the seven-year-old jumpers in Europe.
Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Hannan and Amanda Steege.
“Last year really took off. He was second at Derby finals. He’s really a consistent partner,” said Jennifer.
“His jump stood out to me. He just does it so easy. You can count on him to do anything. He is ultra-careful, which is such an incredible attribute.”
It was really nice to hear the riders at the top of the Derby standings speak so fondly of their mounts.
“I can’t imagine ever having as special of a bond with another horse as I have with Lafitte,” said Amanda.
“I’m the only person who’s ever shown him in a hunter class. For me, he’s the most perfect horse and most perfect partner I could have ever imagined. He never lets me down. He’s always out there trying to do his best.”
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 27, 2026
There’s an old British saying about “horses for courses,” meaning certain situations suit certain horses well.
That could well be applied to Lafitte de Muze at the Devon Horse Show, where he put his name on the George S. Hasbrouk Jr. Memorial High Performance Working Hunter trophy for four of the last five years, including three times in a row, as of Tuesday.
Since it’s a perpetual trophy, the silver cup can’t take up residence at the home of Lafite’s owner, Cheryl Olsten, or his rider, Amanda Steege.
But that’s okay.
“He’s been champion at every show in the country,” said Amanda.
Lafitte already has amassed quite a collection of sterling. He even added to it on Wednesday, winning the William C. Hunneman Jr. perpetual trophy for the High Performance Working Hunter Stake, also for the third time in four years. With a heady score of 95, no less.
After that, it was time for more awards – the High Performance Working Hunter Championship, which he also won last year, and for the third time in five years, the Leading Lady Rider in the Working Hunter division for his rider. At the Show Hunter Hall of Fame dinner Wednesday night, Cheryl and Amanda accepted Lafitte’s Regular Working Hunter “Trainers Choice” Horse of the Year award.
Cheryl and Amanda with more prizes for Lafitte at the awards dinner.
The haul at Devon isn’t really unusual for Lafite, whose prize money — more than $400,000 worth — under a unique arrangement went to the EQUUS Foundation, which helps horses who have suffered abuse or neglect.
“He’s been champion at every show in the country,” said Amanda of her partner of nine years, noting “he performs well at most of the shows.”
Lafitte de Muze and Amanda Steege.
However, she added, “He does really love Devon. From the second he gets off the truck at Devon, he’s very excited. Our preparation has to be a little different here because he can get a little overly excited.”
It’s easy to understand why, since he has fans at the show on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
“He loves a crowd, all the kids on the rail and talking to everybody. People go to Devon just to see him, so here we are,” said Amanda, based in Ocala, Fla., with summers in Hunterdon County, N.J.
The 15-year-old Belgian warmblood, a son of Darco, was born with that. charisma, according to Amanda, who said, “People always ask me, `What is it about him that makes him so special?’ ”
That’s not so easy to quantify.
“Certainly, his jumping technique is amazing and exuberant and dynamic. There’s not enough words for how he jumps. But the fact that he jumps like that over and over…I think he’s extremely intelligent. He understands the whole thing that we’re doing.”
That’s a rare quality.
While Amanda notes, “It’s fairly easy to pick out conformationally correct hoses who are good movers and good jumpers, you can’t predict which of those youngsters are going to have that star quality or X factor when they walk into the ring., where it feels like they grow a little bit. “
Lafitte “understands that when he goes out there, he is performing and doing something. He takes a lot of pride in his work. He’s a perfectionist, he likes to win the blue.”
Meanwhile, the next generation of Devon stars is coming along. Two Oldenburgs, both ridden by Victoria Colvin, (the Show Hunter Hall of Fame’s Lady Rider of the Year) tied on 46 points each for the Grand Hunter Championship.
John and Stephanie Ingram’s Odette, a 10-year-old mare, earned her points winning Devon’s High Performance Conformation Hunter title, and Lynn Olson’s In the End, a seven-year-old gelding, took the Green Conformation honors on the way to the Grand tri-color.
Devon Leading Hunter Rider Tori Colvin with co-Grand Champion Hunters Odette and In the End.
It was only Tori’s second show on In the End, but he was unfazed by the Devon excitement, and advice from trainer Shelley Campf also helped the acclimation process.
“I didn’t know him very well, he’s young but didn’t seem to care about anything and really was foot perfect,” said Tori.
“Same for Odette. I’ve been riding her for about a year now. She’s the coolest mare. She wants to win and tries to win every time. They both have big strides, they’re both very scopey, they both kind of go in a similar way, kind of like a nice rhythm.”
She added about Odette, “When you have a good mare, they mainly always try to win for you, which is nice. They really try for you.”
Tori has been a Devon regular since she was eight, for 20 years, and started off winning championships in the pony ranks, then went on to honors in the junior hunters and finally, the open ranks.
Even with that long timeline, the Devon mystique never grows old.
“Every show is special, but Devon is a very special horse show. I think it’s one of the main horse shows and big focuses of the year,” said Tori, adding that with the impressive jumps and flowers “a lot of horses shine here. It’s great experience.”
Unless, of course, they spook at the carousel in the little carnival on the grounds.
She also rides jumpers but doesn’t have any at the show this time. Maybe next year; she has a homebred seven-year-old who might be a candidate.
In the meantime, she’ll be doing the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday with Golden Road, a 10-year-old Selle Francais who didn’t compete on Wednesday, saving him for the big class.
Tori noted this year Devon has “been a little on the wetter side. When the umbrellas come out, that’s a little bit of an issue.”
Indeed, weather complicated things at Devon; there was a little flooding, while some classes were canceled last Wednesday and Friday. Then it started to drizzle again as the hunter divisions wrapped up, with the ringmaster appropriately playing a few notes of the song “Stormy Weather” on his horn.
It couldn’t put a damper on the Ladies Day Hat Contest, though, a fixture that seems wonderfully anachronistic, like so much of Devon, from the crustless tea sandwiches to the massive program listing every horse with a description, and showing photos of all the treasured trophies that have been donated by generations of avid show-goers. If the ringmaster is looking for another song to play, “Tradition” might fill the bill.
The jumpers got under way with the $32,000 Jet Run Welcome Stake, but not everyone was trying to win. Horses needed to compete in a class before the show’s feature, the $210,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, so some riders used the one-round speed competition as a way to introduce their mounts to the Dixon Oval.
McKayla Langmeier and Pepita VD Rollebeek.
One who did try to win – and succeeded – was McKayla Langmeier, who rode Pepita VD Rollebeek to victory in 57.34 seconds, ahead of a Devon regular, Daniel Bluman on the reliable Gemma W (58.430).
McKayla hadn’t been back to the show for eight years, since she was a junior equitation star.
“It was really cool to have the (Devon) blue cooler on my horse,” said the 26-year-old rider. (NOTE: Devon blue is a particular shade; you’ll see it everywhere on the showgrounds, and many people – include me – glaze their fingernails with Devon blue polish for the occasion.)
McKayla will be riding her other horse, Riesling van de Gaathoeve, “a horse with a championships mindset” in the grand prix. Her objective with Pepita is simply to get ranking points for the international standings in the show’s 1.45-meter classes. She succeeded again with that goal on Wednesday, as Pepita triumphed again in the two-phase competition.
Click here for Devon results, then click on the day you want to see
by Nancy Jaffer | May 24, 2026
There hasn’t been a Rolex Grand Slam winner since Great Britain’s Scott Brash accomplished the mission in 2015. But as of Sunday, German rider Richie Vogel could be on his way with a victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, a follow-up to taking the Rolex competition at the Dutch Masters in March. Now he’s pointing toward the Rolex class in September at Spruce Meadows and a 1 million Euro bonus if he makes that his third conquest in a row.
Riding the magnificent United Touch S, Richie was among only three riders from a starting field of 40 who were clear in two rounds and the jump-off of the class worth 1.5 million Euros ($1,740,000).
“We’re still breathless, still out of words. It’s a real childhood dream coming through,” a delighted Richie said after dismounting following his brilliant performance.
“Achieving it with such a special horse and such a special story behind the horse, the breeder and owner Julius-Peter Sinnack is here today, the whole team behind United Touch that takes care of him at home and at the shows and ride him at home when I’m not there. It’s a very special story behind the horse.”
The final act, played out before a packed house on the green lawn of a show that is both respected and revered, pitted Richie against his partner, Sophie Hinners, on the Swedish warmblood gelding Iron Dames Singclair and unexpectedly, an Argentine competitor, the well-respected José Maria Larocca Jr. with the Dutchbred gelding Finn Lente.
Though José has Olympic mileage and at 57 is a true veteran of the sport, it was unexpected to see him on the podium when such big names as Scott Brash and his countryman, Olympic multi-gold medalist Ben Maher, as well as defending champion Marcus Fuchs of Switzerland, didn’t even make it into the tie-breaker.
Sophie set a conservative pace of 51.62 seconds over the jump-off route set by Frank Rothenberger, the house course designer at Aachen. Richie went on to blow the doors off aboard his Westfalen stallion with a time of 45.57. It was left to Jose to try to beat that, and his game effort got him close in 47.36 seconds. The last Argentine to win the class at Aachen, Dr. Miguel Arrambide, did it in 1965, and Jose gave a valiant try to have his country take the honors again.
There was a moment of confusion before Richie started his final round, when he asked if a certain jump was part of the route. It wasn’t, so he refocused and got under way with determination.
“I really tried to lay down a good jump-off going in there as a Rolex live contender I really wanted to make sure I had the best time. I would rather risk a rail than being too slow, and I’m just very happy at how amazing United performed,” he said.
Discussing the pressure he faced with a potential Grand Slam on the line, he remarked “It’s a nice pressure to have. The luck was on our side for sure.” But as he pointed out, “My grandpa said, `No one ever won with bad luck,’ so we’ll take it.”
His performance was also praised by the other two riders on the podium.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said José.
“Finishing second behind Richie is an honor.”
And Sophie noted that for her part, “To complete three clear rounds in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen on that hallowed turf – as a rider, one couldn’t dream for more. “My horse fought so hard for me. Standing here on the podium is a lifelong dream come true,” she said.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to beat Richie.”
It certainly was the truth, but also tactful when talking about her partner.
Richie Vogel and United Touch played to a packed stadium.
United Touch, restive during the awards ceremony, dissed the magnificent Rolex trophy by knocking into the pedestal on which it rested and sending it to the ground. The silver cup was rescued with no harm done.
Two U.S. riders made it into the top 10, but a rail down with Greya in the second round put an end to the incredible winning streak enjoyed by FEI World Cup champion Kent Farrington, who finished eighth, two ahead of Laura Kraut and Bisquetta. Lillie Keenan, winner of Saturday’s class with Kick on, wound up eleventh with a rail and a slower time than her compatriots.
McLain Ward’s mount, High Star Hero, faulted with a mark on the tape at the water jump in the first round to finish twenty-first. But he was quickly on hand to offer a heart-felt hug to his friend, Richie, after the latter left the ring triumphant. The other two Americans competing at the show, Karl Cook and Aaron Vale, did not qualify for the grand prix. Click here for results.
The May Aachen show was a one-off, since the usual Aachen multi-discipline action will be held in a wider forum during August, when the storied facility hosts the world championships for the first time since 2006. At that time, they were called the World Equestrian Games.
In addition to the Rolex competition, a highlight of this weekend was the pas de deux performed by German dressage pillar Isabel Werth and Moritz Treffinger as the Aachen symphony played for 50,000 fans. Where else but Aachen could anyone ever expect to see a performance like that?
by Nancy Jaffer | May 23, 2026
A field of 48 at Aachen Saturday was headed by Lillie Keenan and her special partner, Kick On, finishing in 38.21 seconds to capture the 12-horse tie-breaker in the second qualifier for Sunday’s featured Rolex Grand Prix. The competitors in the 75,000 Euros class included the world’s top 25 show jumpers.
As always, Lillie didn’t set off on her round until she kissed her horse on the neck. It’s a good luck ritual, and it obviously works.
“I really enjoyed the moment,” said Lillie after her victory.
“Now it is time to reset; tomorrow is a new day and I want to give my absolute best once again,” she noted, setting her sights on the Rolex Grand Prix. She will be riding the Dutch-bred gelding, Fasther, fhe horse who took her to a sixth-place finish in last year’s CHIO Aachen highlight event.
“He is a very experienced horse. In my opinion, one of the best in the world. I think we have a very good chance, provided I do my job as well as I did today.”
Lillie Keenan and Kick On. (Photo Jasmin Metzner/CHIO Aachen)
Fellow American McLain Ward, Lillie’s mentor, was tenth on a newer mount, Lestro VD Valckenborg, over the serpentine route laid out at the German show by Aachen’s resident course designer, Frank Rothenberger.
Lillie was more than a second faster than runner-up Abdel Said of Belgium with Wathnan Bonne Amie in 39.59, while Jose Maria Larocca of Argentine was third on Chris (I love a simple horse name), who was timed in 40.10 seconds on the stallion.
The other U.S. riders didn’t fare as well. as Lillie and McLain. Laura Kraut had a rail in the first round and a slow time to finish thirty-second with Una Mariposa, while Aaron Vale was two notches behind her on Gray’s Inn. Karl Cook, who had uncharacteristic rails on Friday with his beloved mare, Caracole de la Roque, wound up fortieth on Foxy de la Roque, who toppled two poles.
Most surprising was the forty-fourth-place finish of world number one, Kent Farrington, on his new star, Descartes SR, who also had two rails, but was slower than Karl.
Click here to read the Day 1 story.
Aachen is having a May show for the Rolex Grand Prix because the August show will be the World Championships in all FEI disciplines.
Click here for Saturday’s results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 17, 2026
There was a surprise winner of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, and no one was more surprised than Ellesse Gundersen to find herself holding the sterling silver trophy.
An hour after she clinched the honor with her homebred Quintessential 4, she admitted that earning it hadn’t really sunk in yet. But she acknowledged, “I’m really over the moon about it, and he really deserves it, and my entire team the last couple years deserves this more than anything as well, because they’ve been a huge part of it.
“I think we’re going to enjoy it now, and then we are going to make smart decisions and look to the future for this horse.”
Elleesse Gundersen leaves the arena after her freestyle on Quintessential 4.
The title meet was a final test to determine which eight riders will be going to Europe to compete, prior to selection of a team for August’s world championships at Aachen. Ellesse isn’t a candidate for the championships, as she didn’t apply for them, feeling her horse wasn’t quite ready for a test of that magnitude.
I asked if she regretted not applying to ride in the world championships and she was firm in her answer.
“It’s very easy to for me to wish that I could go, but I think I stand behind the decision for my horse that it would have been a lot for him. I 100 percent believe in the athletes and combinations we have that are prepping for it,” she emphasized.
“I think maybe for me, even doing this is going to inspire other riders that thought they were too green, that actually this is how we could take that step towards being part of the team. I hope that I can also be that for the greener combinations coming.”
A Filipina who grew up in Malaysia and became an American three years ago, Ellesse explained why she chose the U.S. for her nationality. The 34-year-old rider said, ” I wanted to be in a team, or in a country, in a sport that really supported the riders, provided opportunities for the riders, and were excited for the riders.
“And, for example, there’s a national championship providing this opportunity and this stage and this atmosphere, it was never provided to me before. I think to become the best rider and the best team and have the best horses, these opportunities have to be part of it and that was a big factor for me when I made the switch. I knew I wanted to be better than I was, and I think the U.S. offers those opportunities.”
The evening was punctuated by thunderstorms that caused delays in the competition. Most affected was Meagan Davis and her Toronto Lightfoot, who had to be warmed up, put away warmed up, put away and finally warmed up to actually compete.
“I was not sure what was going to happen when I tacked him up the third time within a couple hours,” recounted Meagan, who finished third overall.
“But we walked to the warm-up ring, and he was like, ‘Okay, we can do this again.’ For a horse to warm up 20 minutes twice, and then to come out, warm up a third time, 20 minutes, and go in and do a test as well as he did just shows how much heart and stamina he has, and how he loves to perform. I was almost in tears at the end of my ride. It was the first time we’ve done that freestyle, so it was a lot of fun.
Everyone’s choice of music was interesting. Meagan rode to a medley of the Rolling Stones.
Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot.
Ashley Holzer, reserve national champion on Hawtins San Floriana, chose “Coming to America,” thinking of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the fact that she is an immigrant (from Canada). The 62-year-old Olympian was overjoyed with the performance of her mare. And the best part?
“That I’m still here doing it. It’s pretty special to me.”
Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana.
Ellesse rode to dramatic music put together by Dressage & Music, who also arranged Meagan’s theme.
“For my music,” she said, “they named it, ‘Never Give Up.’ All the music had something special to myself, my husband, my family, and it really reminds about not giving up, both with the horse, but also my husband’s situation (he has been ill.
“It really reminds that we can’t ever give up and we fight every day, no matter what, and we show up, and we’re here for it. So it’s very special to us.”
Defending national Grand Prix champion Christian Simonson won the freestyle with his number two mount, Fleau de Baian, but it wasn’t enough for him to retain the title. He finished fourth in the championships after scratching Indian Rock, on whom he was second last month in the Zen Elite FEI World Cup Finals.
Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian, winner of the freestyle
He and Rocky had a few mishaps, including a rider error, in the Grand Prix Special. His trainer, Adrienne Lyle, said the horse already had “done a number of freestyles this year. Our intention was that we needed to do a Special and then look forward to the future. It would have been selfish for us to say he’s got to go again because we had a little bobble here and there. He’s done enough this season.”
Click here for freestyle results Click this link for national championships results
