by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 15, 2025
In case you’re wondering what swung the choice of Santa Anita Park racetrack over Galway Downs to host the 2028 Olympic equestrian competitions, comments from LA 28 Project Director Reynold Hoover may make the decision easier to understand.
As reported by Inside the Games, the retired Army lieutenant general explained the thought pattern behind where all competitions for 2028 sports will be held.
“Some zones are compact, others quite spread out,” Hoover noted.
“We’ve deliberately avoided a single-venue mindset.”
“This departure from Olympic gigantism is rooted not only in International Olympic Committee policy, which favors sustainability, but also in the practical need to deliver the Games within a private funding model,” Inside the Games pointed out.
Hoover observed that the Paris 2024 Games “served as a live testing ground for the concept of temporary, high-impact venues. Paris leaned into the spectacular, staging competitions in iconic settings like the Eiffel Tower and the Alexandre III Bridge.”
Visually stunning, yes, but, as Hoover observed in Inside the Games, logistically complex. Many of these pop-up sites required not just seating, but entire support ecosystems: catering facilities, broadcast zones, warm-up areas and secure perimeters.
“There’s a heavy price to pay for that kind of visual romance,” Hoover admitted, acknowledging that “replicating such magnificence in Los Angeles would come with significant cost. In keeping with its renewed sustainability doctrine, the IOC encourages host cities to prioritize existing venues. The real challenge involved selecting the right spaces and striking deals with their owners.”
In that context, it’s easier to understand why the proposed equestrian site of Galway Downs in Temecula, which is nearly 85 miles from LA, was dropped and replaced with Santa Anita, about 18 more convenient miles from Los Angeles.
So Santa Anita will be the venue, just as it was for the 1984 Games. Well, almost just as it was; eventing’s cross-country phase was held off-site on a golf course 41 years ago, but the current Olympic regulations call for every part of a sport to be held at the same venue.
The choice was announced April 15, days after Galway Downs was dropped from consideration. Click here to read our story that stated Santa Anita was the likely choice.
Other issues also prompted the switch. Galway Downs would have needed millions of dollars in improvements to host the Games. Also, there were concerns that inland Temecula in July would be extremely hot, a worry with horse welfare at the forefront.
“Santa Anita Park will be a spectacular venue for the LA28 Olympic equestrian events,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
Joe Fargis, the 1984 Olympic double gold medalist, with Touch of Class center stage at Santa Anita 41 years ago. (Tish Quirk photo)
“The FEI has very fond memories of Santa Anita, which had hosted the equestrian events at the 1984 Olympic Games. The venue is set to offer a breathtaking stage for all the Olympic equestrian competitions and the proximity to LA City will undoubtedly attract many spectators to Santa Anita. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with LA28 to deliver spectacular equestrian events at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.”
Derek Braun, who runs the Split Rock Jumping Tour, put on a very successful 5-star grand prix and national competition at Santa Anita in November 2024.
“Obviously, having the 5-star there last year, I would think contributed to greatly to everybody’s confidence in that Santa Anita was absolutely more than capable of producing the Olympics again there,” Derek said.
He called the 1/ST Racing team at Santa Anita, “One of the most professional, largest, accomplished event companies in existence already. I think they’re the right team for the job. Hopefully, I can be a part of it in some way.”
This November, Split Rock is ramping up what it does at Santa Anita, Derek said. His tour will be putting on 3-star and then 5-star show jumping two weeks in a row, which will give him even more familiarity with the facility
U.S. Equestrian Federation CEO Bill Moroney said, “We have the utmost confidence in the LA28 Organizing Committee, and we anticipate exceptional equestrian sport will take place at this special legacy venue from the 1984 Olympic Games. We are also extremely pleased that the IOC has confirmed the athlete quotas across the disciplines for 2028 and they remain unchanged from 2024.”
The crowd that packed the stands at Santa Anita in 1984 watched such legendary athletes as eventing Olympic gold medalist Mark Todd of New Zealand on Charisma.
Santa Anita, which has hosted racing’s Breeders Cup, is the track where the great racehorse Seabiscuit won his last race in 1940. The facility also hosts a CSI3* as well as a FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier CSI5*-W, which this year will take place in November.
Santa Anita covers 320 acres and has a grandstand seating 26,000. The track infield area, which resembles a park with picnic tables and large trees, can accommodate a crowd of 50,000. The Park has 61 barns that can house more than 2,000 horses.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 11, 2025
The rumbling and the grumbling have been going on for some time.
While Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., seemed likely to be selected as the host venue for the 2028 Olympic equestrian events, there always was conversation when it was proposed about whether that location was suitable, even after the Los Angeles City Council approved it March 28.
Now Galway Downs announced it learned late Wednesday from the LA28 organizers that it will not serve as the venue, as another site has been chosen. It’s a good bet that Santa Anita Park racetrack, which hosted the 1984 Olympic equestrian events, will be the choice. The Arcadia facility was the scene of a very successful grand prix last year that had people talking about how it would be an ideal showcase for the Games. It’s also closer to Los Angeles than Temecula.
The International Olympic Committee’s requirement that all the equestrian events, including cross-country, be held at the same site played in Galway Downs’ favor. When Santa Anita hosted Olympic equestrian 41 years ago, cross-country was held at a golf course, while every other competition was at the track. Does Santa Anita have enough room to include cross-country with the other equestrian segments in 2028? Those familiar with the property speculate that cross-country could go in the track’s infield and parking areas.
Santa Anita Park racetrack.
The buzz had been that Galway wasn’t ideal in terms of weather, because Temecula is very hot in July, when the equestrian competition will be held. The word also was that a lot of money would have to be spent on the property to upgrade it to Olympic standards.
“We are extremely surprised that we were suddenly removed from consideration. We don’t understand how, based on the March 28 City Council’s vote of approval, that this could happen,” Galway stated on social media.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and the many organizations that rallied behind this effort. This moment is one chapter in a much larger vision. Our work to elevate equestrian sport and bring world-class events to Galway Downs continues.
“I’m deeply disappointed to learn that Galway Downs is reportedly no longer LA28’s proposed host site for equestrian events at the 2028 Olympic Games,” said U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Temecula).
“At this time, a satisfactory reason has yet to be offered.”
Galway Downs owner Ken Smith said, “When we started this process more than four years ago, we understood the equestrian venue selection for LA28 would be a highly competitive, evolving process. Being selected as the proposed equestrian venue put Galway Downs and Temecula Valley on the world stage. We’re very proud of that, and we’re just getting started. Galway Downs will continue to host elite national and international competitions as well as additional sporting events.”
Rob Burk, CEO of the U.S. Eventing Association, stated he is “incredibly disappointed by this news. While we will support our sport at the Olympics wherever it is run, the U.S. and equestrian sport seem to have lost an incredible opportunity to build on the amazing infrastructure already at Galway Downs and bolster its legacy into the future.
“Generations of equestrians would benefit from the support that would have been provided to the venue. The economic impact for California and our nation would have been extended long past 2028. It is unclear to me that any other site will benefit our sport, the nation, and the entire equestrian community as much.”
Eventing at Galway Downs. (Tina Fitch Photography)
Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington said, “This process has led to international recognition of something we’ve known for a long time – that the beautiful Temecula Valley Wine Country offers world-class venues and hospitality. We look forward to the many top-tier events coming to our region in the future.”
According to Temecula Mayor Brenden Kalfus, “Galway Downs has showcased its equestrian center in Temecula Valley as the superior venue capable of hosting all Olympic equestrian games. While the city is disheartened to learn of this abrupt change, particularly in light of LA28’s venue approval granted by the Los Angeles City Council just two weeks ago, we remain confident that Galway Downs will continue its legacy and mission uninterrupted as a vibrant, world-class Olympic-caliber equestrian presence in Temecula Valley.”
Opened in 1968 as the Rancho California Track and Training Center, the 242-acre Galway Downs is now home to equestrian competitions across multiple disciplines. Galway Downs has 242 acre that includes pastures and trails, with a one-mile track, 14 arenas and 400 stalls.
In the heart of Southern California wine country, the Temecula Valley is a destination known for its beauty, award-winning wineries, luxury resorts, spas, golf courses, and outdoor recreation. An all-season tourism destination, the drive to Temecula Valley is less than two hours from every major metro area in Southern California including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs.
by Nancy Jaffer | Mar 27, 2025
As he drove his golf cart around the Wellington International showgrounds this week, Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Murray Kessler spotted a piece of rubbish in the stabling area. He stopped the cart, retrieved the stray plastic bottle and some crumpled pieces of paper, carrying them away for later deposit in a trash can.
“Lead by example,” Murray explained, heading for said can and dusting it off with a rag before throwing away the litter he had picked up.
What he was doing could be compared to the foreman walking the shop floor. At any company, the foreman is engaged in coordinating the efforts of multiple workers, ensuring productivity and maintaining quality standards. That’s just what Murray aims to do.
He recalled when the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival got under way 12 weeks ago, people were still throwing trash out of the car windows as they drove off. Since then, there’s been a culture change at the landmark Florida facility 40 minutes from Palm Beach.
Wellington Lifestyle Partners, the new owner of the showgrounds, is committed to its long-term viability. The partnership took over just five weeks before the start of the circuit, with maintenance revving up as much as possible in a short time frame.
“We made a lot of substantive change, but there will be a lot more next year,” Murray promised.
“We’re keeping it clean and people are noticing it. Now you go there at the end of the day, and there’s nothing,” he observed about the absence of debris, aside from the few strays he found. But there are plenty of other issues at the showgrounds, as the original venue is being melded into new territory, “Pod F,” to expand the facility to 100 acres.
The new showgrounds at Pod F, with the grass ring in green to the right at the bottom of the photo, and the new main stadium to the lelft.
Four rings built on Pod F are used for schooling at the moment, which gives horses and riders room to spread out. The merger of the properties, which is going to take several years to complete, will not only alleviate crowded conditions, but means a big refresh for a venue that hosts 28 weeks of shows in addition to WEF, and frankly, was rundown.
“The bones of this place are old, it’s time for a makeover,” said trainer Lauren Hough.
“I want there to be a world class faciilty here. I think they have a limited space to do it, so they’re going to have to be quite clever about it,” the Olympic rider continued.
“I want the best for this, of course, because this is our home. My family is here. I do have the utmost faith in Murray. He’s taken on much bigger things than this. So we’ll hold our breath and hope for the best.”
Great Britain’s Ben Maher, the 2021 individual Olympic show jumping gold medalist, noted when he won the season’s final WEF Challenge Cup on Thursday, that “bigger prize money and updating the facilities here are making a difference.”
The International Arena is the focal point of the current showgrounds. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Murray understands the difficulties inherent in the showgrounds equation.
“I knew the problems because of years of showing here, and I knew exactly what I was getting into,” he said, explaining he was realistic when he took the job. His presence was what gave immediate credibility to the project.
Challenges don’t daunt the former president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, who also had CEO credentials at three major corporations before retiring.
However, he noted about the showgrounds situation, “I didn’t know the reasons behind a lot of the problems.”
Expectations for shows are higher today in every way than they were in the era decades ago when WEF emerged on the scene as a new concept. In recent years, improvements didn’t proceed as they should have. Murray pointed out the previous owner of the facility, Global Equestrian Group, was a private equity firm, and he maintained the entity based in Denmark only cared about making money.
“They had to think of every dollar of return they could get out of it,” he said.
To get the full picture of what was needed, Murray talked to 100 trainers, riders and other influences in the community, along with ESP’s leadership team, headed by president Michael Stone and competitions manager and chief operating officer David Burton Jr.
“They knew everything that needed to be done but they weren’t allowed to do it,” under the previous regime.
“I said, `Well, go do it,” Murray recalled.
With such sparkling facilities as the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and TerraNova near Sarasota emerging in the last few years, Wellington is not the only game in the state. Though the number of horses showing in Florida can easily support several show complexes, since exhibitors have real choices now, Wellington International needs to meet their expectations. That underlines the importance of a massive showgrounds re-do.
Stands are filled at Wellington International for such major competitions as the Nations Cup. (Sportfot photo)
WLP will build The Wellington golf community at Equestrian Village, the home of dressage half a mile from the main showgrounds. Serious work on that project cannot begin until the newly configured showgrounds is up and running, with dressage moved down the street, presenting a big incentive to get things done.
Dressage, which at the moment is offered only during WEF, will be rehomed at what is now the main showgrounds. It is going to have its own rings, while sharing that area with the hunters. Jumpers will be located on Pod F.
Dressage, which is in its own enclave at Equestrian Village, will be held in what is now the Grand Hunter Ring when it moves to Wellington International in a few years. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
After WEF wraps up on Sunday, more extensive efforts can begin. It’s tough to get everything done during circuit because, “you have to deal with the reality you have 2,800 horses,” said Murray, citing statistics from week 11 of the show. With lighter entries during the spring, summer and fall shows, the entire property does not need to be used, offering flexibility that enables work to continue on other areas of the facility.
A grass field at Wellington International to replace the one at Equestrian Village is ready for planting. Although the new grass ring will be a little smaller by the numbers, Murray thinks it may well have more usable space because it lacks the berm and water jump complex of its predecessor. It will serve as a stadium with a VIP section.
The grass field is ready for planting. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Next door will be another stadium, with artificial footing, more VIP and skyboxes. The open area in the middle will be reserved for vendors and food concessions. Parking for 3,000 or 4,000 cars will be around the perimeter of the property. If necessary, overflow parking can go in the rings that are not being used on grand prix night. Also in the plans are a covered arena and new FEI stabling for the jumpers.
There’s a different spirit in the air on the eve of this weekend’s featured $750,000 Rolex grand prix, the WEF finale that has attracted six of the top 10-ranked jumpers in the world. Production values for the grand prix have been raised for maximum drama, with 40 lasers around the ring and video rider intros produced by the team that does the Indy 500.
Murray gave 500 employees a pep talk before the circuit began, using a slide show on the jumbotron in the international arena.
He told them that “we had changed the place, that this is the prominent horse show in America. We have a unique position, different than any horse show in the world. A lot of people rely on us, people have their homes here and there are blacksmiths and vets and they all depend on us. This place is going to get cleaned up and we’re going to have the best service.”
Since then, he found, “I’ve never worked with a group of people who worked harder than this. They’re incredible.”
Former Fortune 500 CEO Murray Kessler doesn’t have a fancy office at the showgrounds, but he’s always on the move anyway and never far from a trash can. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Expanding on his guiding philosophy, Murray observed, “We are the premier horse sport destination in the world. We are not the best horse show in the world. I am not going to say we are Aachen, but there’s nowhere else in the world that has what Wellington has. You go to Aachen, it’s six days long, with the best pros (professionals). You come here and it’s three months long and it’s from short stirrup to the Olympic Games riders.”
Noting that while Devon is where champions meet, as the sign over the Pennsylvania show’s main ring states, “Wellington is where champions are made and grow up,” Murray emphasized. He cited the example of his daughter, Reed, who started in short stirrup at the showgrounds and went on to the 2012 Olympic team. Lillie Keenan, he mentioned, began on ponies in Wellington and last week was part of the winning U.S. Longines League of Nations squad in Ocala.
Murray added “75 percent of the Olympic team either lives here full-time or has a home here. What makes us special and what makes Wellington, Wellington, is that we service all levels and they all matter.”
He cited the “virtuous circle” theory that he often used when he headed USEF.
“The best experience attracts the best riders in world,” he stated, and it follows that if a facility has “the best infrastructure and the best customer service, everything else will take care of itself.”
He added, “WLP’s business interests are aligned with the sport being fantastic because this is the anchor of the community. It needs to be the best it can be to inspire kids to ride and (families to) buy houses in the area. That’s how the business model works.”
World number seven-ranked show jumper McLain Ward, never shy about bringing issues to Murray’s attention, said he’s a big fan of the CEO.
“I think he’s made a commitment not only to the facility and the ownership group, but also to a lot of long-term relationships that he has within the sport and within business. There were some improvements that were made quickly that were noticed,” said McLain. Those included LED lighting in the International Arena and attention to footing.
“Obviously, the place was in a pretty big hole, so like anything, it’s scratching the surface. I’m optimistic it’s going in a positive direction,” McLain added.
Footing samples are taken every day and sent to the FEI, “which sends back a report with where we are on density. On grand prix day, I do it three times,” said Murray, who noted samples, which also track moisture content, are taken from 35 locations in the main ring,
Murray Kessler at the international arena. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Murray’s wife, Sarah Davis Kessler, is part of the showgrounds team. Her affinity for hospitality and design is reflected in the VIP area, where the settings have been upgraded. Crystal glasses, bottles of wine and a charcuterie board are on the tables.
“I’m getting rid of all the plastic,” Murray promised.
He also has plans for dealing with the dust that has been omnipresent in the stable area by putting down rubber on some paths, asphalt millings elsewhere and footing on the pathway that ends at Pony Island, so horses don’t get muddy as they make their way up from the stables.
The CEO is keeping tabs on everyone and everything, pointing out, “I crack the whip.”
He warned a restaurant owner, whose eatery in a vendor area had a messy appearance, “if I ever walk in here again and it looks like this, you’re out the next day. He’s like, `It will never look like that again,’ and it never has.”
Before WLP took over, street sweepers came in once a week. Now they come five days a week at night. Lack of bathroom cleanliness was “always a pet peeve of everybody,”
The remedy for that is in high gear, with cleaning going on at night Wednesdays through Sundays. “Cleaning during the day couldn’t keep up,” Murray pointed out.
Hunter judges Robin Rost Brown and her husband, Otis “Brownie” Brown, took note that the judges’ booths were clean and the air conditioning worked.
“The whole place is pumped up,” said Brownie, while his wife observed, “Everyone seems still happy on Week 12.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 6, 2025
From start to finish, over three days of competition in Basel, Switzerland, Jullien Epaillard took the lead in the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup and never let it go.
Over four rounds of jumping, he and his homebred Donatello D’Auge dropped only a single rail in the electric atmosphere of the St. Jakobshalle arena, giving France its first victory in the indoor championship since 2004. It was doubly sweet for the French because their Kevin Staut on Visconti du Telman also earned a place on the podium, finishing third behind Great Britain’s Ben Maher, the runner-up with Point Break. Ben did a great job competing despite a broken foot after a non-horse related accident last month.
Ben Maher, Julien Epaillard and Kevin Staut.
“My horse was amazing this week,” said Julien, who competed Donny in a hackamore, but brought him back in a bridle for the prize-giving.
“He jumped everything super today. I feel him already the first round a little bit tired. He always wants to help me. He was maybe more fresh for the second round. The round was very difficult. I was maybe a little bit lucky,” Julien said, his accent adding to the charm of his broad smile.
Julien Epaillard and Donatello D’Auge on the way to victory. (Photo French Equestrian Federation)
The winner admitted losing his concentration as he headed for the last line of three fences. He thought, “I’m close, I’m close,” which distracted him.
“I come too deep to the double,” and down went a pole at the first element of the shamrock combination.
“I think if I helped him a little bit more, I can (could have) jump a clear but it’s okay. In any case, it’s okay like this. It’s a dream for the staff and the family. We work every day for this. A lot of people are around this performance and thanks to everybody.”
Sunday’s course B.
Julien took a chance by declining to compete in the jump-off on in the second segment on Friday. He hoped the math of the complicated World Cup standings formula would keep him in first place without having to tire his horse in another round, and he was right.
Gerard Lechat, the course designer, said he started working on his plans for the routes six weeks ago.
Then “I change every day,” he said, admitting to some nervousness in laying out his first championship. But he despite his worries, he did a fabulous job.
The jumps were interesting and eye-catching, including a triple combination featuring cherry blossoms and a “cheese” wall (naturally, it was Switzerland).
A jubiliant Julien wins the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals.
The best American, in eighth place overall, was Katie Dinan, appropriately riding a horse bred in the U.S, Out of the Blue SCF.
“You don’t see that so often. It makes it a really special way to be representing the country, and showing U.S. breeding,” observed Katie, the star of the final day, as the only rider to go fault-free over both rounds. That made her the winner of phase three and moved her up from fifteenth place after Friday’s second segment of the competition.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF. (Shannon Brinkman photo/courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Her Belgian warmblood by Verdi TN was bred by Lisa Lourie of Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky and developed until she was nine by Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, who works with Spy Coast. Katie bought the beautiful grey at the end of her 9-year-old year.
“I can’t believe it, I’m so happy,” said the rider, who is trained by 2007 Cup winner, Beat Mändli of Switzerland.
“Bridie is just amazing,” Katie said, using the mare’s nickname.
“I’m totally obsessed with her. I hope she knows that. She has a lot of personality. She’s actually a warm and fuzzy sweet horse. She definitely sets her own schedule and does whatever she wants.”
Katie noted the mare, “loves going out in the field. I take her on a lot of trail rides. That’s probably her favorite thing. She’s super brave and has so much range.”
Bridie can jump in a grass field or a small indoor arena like Basel, Katie noted.
“She’s so smart. She just gets it and adapts.You realize the more you do this, sport horses and partnerships like this don’t come around every day.”
The USA’s Lillie Keenan, tied for third going into the last day, wound up eleventh overall. She was fault-free aboard Kick On in Sunday’s first round, but dropped three rails in the second round.
The other U.S. riders on the last day also had problems. Kristen Vanderveen was clear in the first round with Bull Run’s Jireh, but toppled three fences in the second to end the show in nineteenth place. Caitlin Campbell and Castlefield Cornelious were clean in the first round but she fell off at the third fence to wind up twentieth overall.
Alessandra Volpi was the other U.S. rider to qualify for the top 25, but she withdrew Gipsy Love after she was a bit sore Sunday morning following a heel grab earlier in the week. She was third on the second day of competition.
“I’m so proud of her amazing effort in Basel,” said Alessandra.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland observed, “We had some really great results this week in Basel, and a few of our younger combinations really stepped up and showed off some class riding.
“I was really impressed today in the first round when all four of our combinations laid down clear rounds. For Katie to finish the way she did with Out of the Blue SCF was very impressive, considering none of the other combinations in the whole class delivered two consecutive clear rounds today.”
Click on this link for overall results from the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final
Click here for results from Sunday’s final round
click here for results from Sunday’s first round
click this link for standings after Sunday’s first round
click here for standings after Friday’s round
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 5, 2025
You can’t always count on a foregone conclusion in dressage, but victory in the Longines FEI World Cup Final for Lottie Fry and the appropriately named Glamourdale had all the earmarks of a sure thing.
And that’s the way it turned out on Saturday night in Basel, Switzerland, where the British combination topped a field of 17 to take the title. Lottie’s freestyle earned the first marks of 10 seen in the competition, and she was in full control of her stallion all the way through. He made his entrance to the notes of “God Save the King,” with precise steps of passage, and demonstrated spectacular moments with a flamboyant extended canter
His winning percentage of 88.195 was not a personal best, but still reflected great suppleness bordering on awesome. The ride got 10s across the board for the music and its interpretation.
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. (MD Asadul Islam photo)
“This is very special. To win here today is absolutely amazing, and it felt like Glammie loved every second of it,” said Lottie.
“Yesterday (Friday), Glammie was definitely a little intimidated by the hall, but today he knew his job. He loves to have all eyes on him, and when the crowd joined in, he seemed to love it even more,” said Lottie.
“This is all a team effort, with everyone at home at Van Olst Horses and all our supporters. Everything came together tonight, this is such a special feeling,” she said,
Germany’s Isabell Werth, riding in her twenty-sixth Cup finals, missed taking the title for the sixth time, but made the most of her horse, DSP Quantaz to come in second on 84.365 percent. Third with a percentage of 81.850 went to Norway’s Isabel Freese with Total Hope OLD, a son of the great Totilas, who won the Cup finals, out of Isabell Werth’s World Cup winner, Weiheigold. Norway has never before been on the podium for a dressage championshps;.
Two of the three Americans competing improved their standing from Friday’s Grand Prix, but that was not the case for Adrienne Lyle, the most experienced and decorated rider of the trio. The Olympic medalist had to deal with a mount who was overly impressed by the atmosphere. That led to some expensive mistakes, including a break into the canter from the extended trot early in her performance.
” He’s a hot and feisty horse,” she said after her ride.
“Yesterday in the Grand Prix, I was really happy with the relaxation we were able to show. Today, he felt super in warmup He just got so excited going down that tunnel into that big stadium. the music and the people. You could feel the energy… and incredible environment. and that just pushed him over the edge.”
A mistake in the flying changes every two strides proved expensive, with four marks of 4 and one 5.
When Adrienne tried to soften her hands, “he lost balance a little, and I had to hold him a bit more. By the end of the test, I was able to at least soften a little and try to lengthen the neck and all those things we work every day on. He is a hot, sensitive horse. That’s part of what I love about him. It’s also part of what makes him challenging.”
She wound up sixteenth, a big drop from placing ninth in the Grand Prix.
Adrienne Lyle and Helix. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Even so, she noted, “Any time you get to represent your country, it’s such a huge honor. And there’s such a big support team behind you. You’re riding for your owners, your federation and everyone who’s there who helped you get down centerline. I never take it for granted.”
Adrienne always shows her class, win or lose. She’s a terrific representative for her sport.
As she noted, “Such is life with horses and we will continue to learn from each experience, try to improve our riding and our relationship, and hopefully come out as better horse people on the other side of every situation that doesn’t go as planned.”
Her compatriot, Kevin Kohmann, got a big promotion, up to tenth with 75.535 percent, from fourteenth in the Grand Prix.
He heaped praise on his mount, Duenensee, a 16-year-old Hanoverian he rode in his first World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last year.
Kevin Kohmann and Duenensee. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“I’m speechless,” said Kevin, who was obviously very emotional about his horse and his performance.
“The horse was once again amazing. He gave me everything in there. We had some awesome highlights. My horse walked (in)to the piaffe, he walked out of the piaffe, it seems to be a movement that really relaxes him. Three years ago, I never would have thought I could make something like this. Our relationship has grown so much. I’m so proud of this. I’ve never ridden in an atmosphere like this.
“The people are so close. I rode this one pirouette near the short side and I was looking in the eye from the people in front of me. My horse did not even flinch an ear.”
Genay Vaughn, in her first World Cup finals, was promoted from last place on Friday when her horse got his tongue over the bit, to fourteenth with a score of 73.765.
Genay Vaughn and Gino. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“He had so much confidence compared to yesterday,” she said of Gino.
“It’s our first real indoor stadium event and also our first World Cup. So to see him start to feel more confident in there made me ecstatic,” the Californian noted.
“We both were confident. All of it was so fun. I was just so happy with him.”
Noting family and friends flew over to support her, she said, “It’s been amazing.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 4, 2025
Julien Epaillard took a chance.
The Frenchman, who led after Thursday’s opening round of the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final, decided not to compete in what would have been a six-horse jump-off for Friday’s second leg of the championship in Basel, Switzerland. He wanted to save the strength of his horse, Donatello d’Auget for Sunday’s two-round final.
Julien Epaillard
But he didn’t have the hard data to assure that he would stay in the lead without participating in the tie-breaker, because the math was too difficult to do by hand. So he could only guess.
“It’s complicated to calculate this. So we take the risk,” he explained.
“It was not an easy decision. We think a little bit with the staff of the (French) federation.”
As it happened, he guessed right.
Marcus Fuchs, riding “my incredible unicorn” Leone Jei for the host country, won the class with “two risky turns.” But because the Swiss campaigner was tenth the first day, he is four points behind Julien in the overall standings. Julien figured it would be something like that, but couldn’t be sure when he withdrew from the tiebreaker.
A former European champion, Marcus was clocked in 40.77 seconds over a challenging jump-off course. Austria’s Max Kuhner with Elektric Blue P was second in 42.32, while Alessandra Volpi became the second U.S. rider of the show to make the podium. She was third on the clever mare, Gipsy Love in 45.78 seconds.
Gerard LaChat’s course.
Rather than spending the evening celebrating after his win, Marcus planned on going back to his hotel room to study the tapes of his rides and “see what I can improve on Sunday.”
Marcus Fuchs and Leone Jei.
Alessandra had said beforehand that she wouldn’t go all-out in the tiebreaker, with a thought process similar to Julien’s, that her mare needed to have reserves of strength for Sunday’s stringent test.
“It’s hard to catch these guys.. But I wanted to make sure she was in good shape for Sunday,” commented Alessandra, who trains with Markus Beerbaum of Germany.
“I couldn’t have asked for more. That’s what you dream of here,” continued Allessandra, praising her Silesian mare.
“It’s taken us a bit of time to get to know each other, because she is tricky and she really likes things the way she wants them, but I feel like now that we’re coming together as a combination, we’ve put in a lot of solid rounds, and it’s helped us build a lot of confidence and that’s paying off,” the Californian added.
Alessandra Volpi and Gipsy Love. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“She still tried her hardest. I knew a solid clear round could get you pretty far. I didn’t expect to be in such a great position. That lack of expectation has gotten us this far. We still have a job to do on Sunday, so stay focused.”
The USA’s Lilllie Keenan, who was third on opening night, had a rail in the first round to finish ninth with Kick On and is tied for fourth overall.
The biggest U.S. show jumping names, Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, aren’t competing in Basel. But U.S. Coach Robert Ridland is proud of the riders who are.
Alessandra Volpi enjoys the victory gallop. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“We sent a group over here, a young group, but one that we’re excited about. And now we’ve been on the podium both nights. Pretty good.”
Click here for a link to Friday’s World Cup dressage story.
Click here for results of second World Cup competition
Click here for World Cup standings after second leg
