by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 25, 2026
Monica Spencer’s lead in the Defender Kentucky 5-Star Three-Day Event increased to a more comfortable level after the cross-country phase, not only because of her perfect trip Saturday within the 11:05 optimum time, but also because her closest rivals simply couldn’t match the caliber of her performance with the swift thoroughbred, Artist.
The New Zealander and her mount were a picture of fluent speed and agility over the route designed by Derek di Grazia at the Kentucky Horse Park.
After Friday’s dressage, she had an edge of only 0.3 penalties over her countryman, Tim Price on Vitali. But he dropped down to fifth place with 9.2 time penalties.
Thus her main worry going into Sunday’s stadium jumping finale is the USA’s Will Coleman with Diabolo, a fancy horse making his 5-star debut. He was also within the time, so he heads into show jumping on his mark from dressage, which is 27.3 penalties. That gives Monica, with 22.3 penalties, the luxury of being able to have one 4-fault knockdown over the painted rails. But will that be enough?
She is not going to take no for an answer in her Kentucky quest. Not after having moved across the globe to the U.S. with her family to pursue her sport at the highest level. Winning the $400,000 event would go a long way to making the mighty effort worthwhile
“You’re always questioning; everybody sacrificed; I face a lot of pressure to make it work,” she revealed.
And she can almost see the rainbow, with only a show jumping course between her and the view. But she thinks she is on track for what has to be done.
“We’re doing positive reinforcement. The podium is the dream, so we’ll try to stay there,” said Monica, who was second last autumn in the Maryland 5-star.
Monica Spencer and Artist simply took flight in a dramatic leap. (Equestrian Sports NZ/Shannon Brinkman Photography)
Will, the highest ranked U.S. rider so far in the competition, praised the efforts of his mount — who is fueled by a half-pint supplement of blueberries daily.
“I felt pretty good about where the horse was coming into the event,” he noted, and Diabolo didn’t disappoint.
“I adore the horse,” Will said. “I’m just thankful to be here. It’s an awesome event. A lot of the world’s best are here and it was a fantastic day of competition.”
Will Coleman and Diabolo. (U.S. Eventing Association Photo)
In third place is 2024 U.S. Olympian Caroline Pamukcu with HSH Blake, her Paris Games mount , a horse she loves so much that she named her daughter after him.
She had just two time penalties, so standing on a score of 28.6, Caroline is also a threat to the two riders in front of her.
click here for 5-star results
And if you want the blow-by-blow about every horse on cross-country, click here to get it from the U.S. Eventing Association.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 24, 2026
The Kiwis dominated the second day of dressage at the Defender Kentucky 5-Star Three-Day Event on Friday, holding the first two places going into Saturday’s cross-country test.
Monica Spencer and the elegant, expressive thoroughbred, Artist, wound up with a personal best mark of 22.3 penalties to be on top of the 29-horse field. They are just 0.3 penalties ahead of her compatriot, Tim Price, and the powerful Vitali, a horse who has eight top 10 finishes but no 5-star victories.
Leading the way in the 5-Star are Monica Spencer and Artist.
Monica, based in Virginia far from her native New Zealand, was the runner-up last autumn in the Maryland 5-Star with the horse she fondly refers to as Max. But there’s a long way to go before she can enjoy a win at what is now the only 5-star in North America. (Maryland won’t be held this year).
With Derek di Grazia’s demanding cross-country course looming as a challenge, she isn’t counting her chickens before they hatch.
Keeping the poultry analogy, “With eventing, you can be a rooster one day and a feather duster the next,” Monica advised cheerfully.
Monica Spencer and Artist.
“Max was super today and gave me good energy in the test and I’m really pleased with him,” she continued, noting he is not only “a beautiful mover” but also “trainable.”
Tim noted Vitali was “a little bit on edge,” mentioning that his dressage is usually better in the autumn than the spring.
“I’ve been through a lot with him, a lot of disappointments, really, in terms of final results of the competitions. But equally, he’s an incredible horse in so many ways. I’d never give up on him.
“I think he’s got a big win in him…hopefully, it’s got to come around at some point soon. It’s just a matter of tinkering away to try to find something that’s going to help us be truly successful at this level,” added Tim, who lives in England.
Tim Price and Vitali (Equestrian Sports NZ/Shannon Brinkman)
Great Britain’s Tom McEwen is not much further back from the leaders with 25.1 penalties on the reliable Brookfield Quality. The horse, known around the barn as Nervous Norris, in contrast to that nickname looked very steady, aside from a less-than-perfect reinback.
But Tom noted he “pulled out the same test that he can do every time and laid everything down.”
U.S. rider Will Coleman’s lead with Diabolo on a mark of 27.3 penalties from day one of the dressage phase Thursday was eclipsed by the 26.6 penalty performance of Caroline Pamukcu and her 2024 Olympic mount, HSH Blake. She became the leading American, in fourth place, leaving Will fifth.
Caroline thinks so much of her horse that she named her daughter after him.
Caroline Pamukcu and daughter Blake.
“He’s just such a special partner. He’s my best friend,” observed Caroline.
“He was fabulous, wasn’t he?” she asked. And we knew the right answer.
Caroline hopes she will be able to rate him the same for cross-country.
“There is a lot to do out there,” she commented.
“The good thing is the ground is fast and they’re doing everything they can to water it and make it soft. It’s going to very competitive.”
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. (USEA/Lindsay Berreth Photo)
Caroline is the busiest rider in the 5-star, with three mounts, all of whom she brought along since they were young horses. She stands fifteenth with HSH Tolan King and seventeenth with She’s the One.
“There’s a lot of work for me,” she pointed out, then added, “they all deserve to shine, so hopefully I can give them the ride they deserve.”
It’s very cool that there are two 19-year-old horses in the field. Appropriately, perhaps, both are grey. Corvett, who has competed in every 5-star in the Northern Hemisphere, is making his final appearance at the level for owner Emily Hamel. He is in twenty-first place.
Sunday Times, meanwhile, is twenty-ninth.
“We all know he’s not a dressage horse,” said his owner, amateur rider Arden Wildasin. The horse had a top 10 finish in the Maryland 5-star last year.
Click here for 5-star results
In the 4–Star Short that runs with the 5-star, Tamie Smith kept her lead from Thursday with Danito on 27 penalties. Sharon White is second with Claus 63 (28.1), who did not complete the 5-Star in Kentucky last year.
Tamie also tied for third on Lillet 3 (29.7), while Great Britain’s Elizabeth Barratt has the same score on Ride for Thais Chamon Dumontceau.
Click here for 4-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 23, 2026
Will Coleman is going for the Defender Kentucky eventing double.
Two years ago, he won the 4-Star Short at the Kentucky Horse Park with Diabolo, a Holsteiner by Diarado who was imported from Australia. The partnership was on track for the U.S. team at the 2024 Olympics when the horse came up with a hoof problem and couldn’t compete in Paris.
This year, Will is back with Diabolo at the USA’s top competition in his discipline, but in the 5-Star section, where he led the field on Thursday after the first day of dressage.
Will and his slick black gelding were marked at 27.3 penalties, equivalent to a dressage score of 72.69 percent.
An understandably upbeat Will noted, “The first time you do a 5-Star test in that arena with any horse, there’s a certain amount of, `What am I going to get today?’
“He’s a really eager horse, he wants to always do the right thing. But sometimes, his nerves can get the better of him. I’m just so proud of him. He came up here and he was a little bit on edge, even in these final warm-ups, I didn’t feel like I totally had him. But he went in there and he just did it for me and tried his absolute best. That’s all you can ask for.”
Saturday’s cross-country course, laid out as usual by Tokyo Olympic designer Derek Di Grazia, is a “completely different” level than the route Diabolo handled in the 4-Star.
That, Will pointed out, was “nothing compared to what Diabolo has to do this weekend.
“The 5-star is the ultimate test in all equestrian sports. I’m going to have to ride my best and Diabolo is going to have to be at his best for us to do it well, but I think he can. And that’s what we are going to try to do.”
Very veteran Phillip Dutton, who won the 5-Star in 2008, is aboard Possante for that horse’s 5-Star debut. He’s less than one penalty back of Will on a mount produced by Great Britain’s Emily King.
In turn, New Zealander Tim Price — always a threat at the highest level — is third with Global Quest, another 5-star debutante. The horse was brought along by the late Georgie Campbell, a British eventer who died after a fall while riding that mount at the Bicton International Horse Trials two years ago.
World Number One Harry Meade of Great Britain is fourth with his veteran, Superstition, marked at 30.2 penalties.
“I would have hoped to be scored better than that,” said Harry, who seeks to make up the difference on cross-country where there is “going to be plenty to do.”
When Boyd Martin rode into the arena on Cooley Nutcracker, it was an emotional moment for those who spotted the horse’s former rider, Liz Halliday, watching intently from the grandstand. Liz competed on the horse in the 2024 Olympics, only to suffer a traumatic brain injury in a fall a month later at the American Eventing Championships.
Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker.
Boyd took over the ride as Liz, his Olympic teammate, went through hospitalization and rehabilitation (she now hopes to compete in Para Dressage). Nutcracker earned 30.7 penalties to stand fifth as Liz cheered him on.
“I finished the test and looked up in the stands and she was there with her team,” Boyd recounted after his ride.
“It was cool, I haven’t seen her for a good bit.”
After the competition, Liz got on social media to say, “There really aren’t words to express what today meant to me. To finally be back at an event for the first time since my accident … to watch my gorgeous Cooley Nutcracker go down centerline with Boyd Martin… to hug friends I haven’t seen in so long and catch up about everything I’ve missed … I am overjoyed and so grateful to finally be back in the sport I love.”
She added, “Things are a bit different now, of course. I’m now here as an owner supporting Boyd and Bali alongside the rest of the Liz’s Nutcrackers crew. And yes, I did give Boyd a hard time for flubbing that first flying change. But in all seriousness, I am so grateful to Boyd for everything he has done with the horse who made my Olympic dreams come true and am so excited to cheer them on this weekend.”
Liz Halliday was thrilled about being able to watch in person as Boyd Martin rode her Olympic horse, Cooley Nutcracker.
Of his test, Boyd assessed that it was “not too bad; it’s pretty intimidating to try to follow Liz’s performances, but I’m starting to get the hang of it. It’s still not the finished product yet. He’s a legend. He’s a champion horse.”
Discussing the “juicy” course, he noted, “it starts off a little nicer than usual, then he sticks it to you.”
Ever the entrepreneur, Boyd suggested that after the competition, spectators should “go to my merch shop and get a T-shirt.”
The world number two-ranked rider also will be on last year’s 5-Star runner-up, Commando 3, but he had to leave another of Liz’s horses, Miks Master C. at home after the gelding pulled up sore from an outing at the Fair Hill 4-Star Short last weekend.
Boyd’s hair was looking rather shaggy, because the Pennsylvanian is waiting to cut it in a show of support for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team as it seeks the Stanley Cup.
Boyd Martin looking a little shaggy as he grows his hair to keep his favorite hockey team in the Stanley Cup game.
In the 4-Star Short, which ran during the morning, Californian Tamie Smith came East to take the lead with Danito, who at age 17 is back in the big time after recovering from some injuries.
Tamie has the distinction of being the last U.S. rider to win the 5-star at Kentucky, having done it with the now-retired Mai Baum in 2023.
click here for 5-star results
click on this link for 4-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 12, 2026
After victories in the first and second legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, it seemed practically inevitable that the USA’s Kent Farrington would win the annual indoor championship for the first time.
He had planned carefully, using Toulayna in the initial speed leg, then switching to a very ready Greya for the last two days.
His approach gave him a four-penalty lead over Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, who was going for a record fourth Cup victory,. Naturally, the crowd in Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena was cheering Kent on. But nothing is ever for sure in show jumping until the last finish line is crossed, and Kent suffered that truth again.
Kent and Greya at the Longines triple.
In the first leg of Sunday’s two-round finale competition, a delicate plank on the Longines oxer slid off the cups after a mere brush from the hooves of magical mare Greya. But while Steve had a rail down with Albfuehrens Iashin Sitte, Daniel Deusser of Germany, the 2014 Cup champ, was fault-free on the 12-year-old stallion, Otello de Guldenboom, bringing his final total to seven penalties.. That development gave Kent only a three-penalty lead. He knew all too well it was not enough. If he had another four-fault rail in the second round ,and Daniel was penalty-free again, the world number two-ranked rider would lose the prize he had dreamed of since his childhood.
Meanwhile, another U.S. stalwart, Katie Dinan, was climbing up the ranks. She produced two clean rounds on Out of the Blue SCF, the only American-bred horse in the competition, having come from Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky. Katie was the highest-placed U.S. rider last year at the Cup final in Basel, and was close to reaching the same distinction this time.
Daniel noted his horse “really tried his heart out. The last couple of months, I had very consistent results. Of course, my expectations were high, that’s why I’m coming here.”
However, he added, “I didn’t really think about winning because I know everything was very close together and we had very strong combinations here. But you always dream a little bit, of course.”
Katie, who finished on 9 penalties, also had praise for her mare.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF
“I’m in awe of my horse. She was spectacular every day I owe everything to her,” said Kate, whose trainer, Beat Maendli, won the Cup himself in 2007.
But neither rival was able to deny Kent realization of his lifelong dream.
“From a little kid, I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself, and at a certain point, there’s no more pressure to put on,” Kent noted, explaining how he stays cool in situations that would rattle others.
So he turned in a perfect trip over a second course, beautifully designed by Anderson Lima. As soon as Greya cleared the last fence, Kent collapsed with relief and gratitude onto her neck as the crowd erupted in cheers. Then he took off his helmet, raised his arm in triumph and smiled very wide indeed, acknowledging the fans who saluted him.
After clinching the Cup title, Kent put his head on Greya’s neck in relief and gratifude.
Daniel was second and Katie third, but Kent was the one who got to hold up the iconic trophy, which has been awarded since 1979.
“These guys made me work very hard today,” said Kent with a smile for his former competitors at the post-competition press conference.
Kent triumphantly holds the World Cup trophy aloft while on the podium with second-place Daniel Deusser and third-place Katie Dinan.
Despite the pressure, he was not shaken and just did what he does best.
“I’m very confident in my horse. I was hoping she would perform like she did, and she delivered.,” he pointed out.
“She’s really a super-star athlete.”
He also praised Toulayna, noting she was a big part of his victory also.
Although Kent has had a career studded with meaningful victories — from an Olympic team silver to the $1 million Rolex US Open grand prix last month, the Cup has special significance for the rider.
While he wasn’t able to attend high-end equestrian competition in person, his family had cassette tapes of the World Cup Finals, and that was what he watched; over and over — until the tapes were destroyed from being used so much.
“I would study all the riders and pretend I could ride like them,” said the first U.S. winner wince 2018.
“To be winning today is really special for me, and I’m really proud to have my name on the trophy.”
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 12, 2026
That wasn’t “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” that they were playing during the award ceremonies of the Zen Elite FEI World Cup Dressage Finals Saturday night.
Same tune, different song.
It was God Save the King, Britain’s anthem in honor of winner Becky Moody at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, after she earned a Personal Best on her homebred Jaegerbomb to top the standings with 88.330 percent. The judge at H even had her at a whopping 90.325.
“This is pretty crazy,” Becky observed with delight, bubbling after the victory pass on her homebred star, who danced to a medley of Beatles tunes.
“Such a cool competition. The crowd in there were absolutely flipping out,” Becky observed.
She had fulfilled her ambition in the Lone Star State. When an interviewer earlier in the week had asked about her goal for the show, Becky replied, “I would like a PB in my freestyle.”
Becky and Jaegerbomb stepping out.
The fans were enthusiastic not only about the victor, but also the other riders on the podium, and frankly, everyone in the 16-horse competition who entertained the approximately 8,000 spectators with their routines. You might not have expected that reaction from people living in a city nicknamed Cowtown, but they were really into what they were seeing.
Near and dear to most of those in the seats was, of course, the American, Christian Simonson, also scoring a PB with his beloved Indian Rock, marked at 83.810. The stallion, known as Rocky, appropriately performed to music from the Rocky movies, with the crowd going wild as soon as they heard the first famous “da-da dum, da-dadum” notes of the music.
The crowd stood to salute Christian Simonson and Rocky.
“This whole week has been a childhood dream come true” said Christian. It happened sooner rather than later; he’s only 23 and still eligible for U25 competition, even as he’s moved forward to become the highest-ranked American on the international roster, in twelfth place.
He got a standing ovation as he rode out of the ring..
“Seeing this wall of people standing up and applauding Rocky” he said, was something “I’ll never forget.”
He was overcome with emotion while recounting his Texas experience, calling it “surreal.”
Christian and Rocky.
Third place went to Sandra Sysojeva of Poland on her precocious 10-year-old black Oldenburg mare, Maxima Bella, of the metronome piaffe and “can-do” attitude. She rode to the same music that accompanied her freestyle at the Paris Olympics, with a mention of Texas slipped in for the occasion.
“I’m really very proud of her, she’s still young really really getting a lot of experience doing shows like this. And I’m really proud to be here,” Sandra said, noting it was her first time in the U.S.
Sandra Sysojeva and Maxima Bella.
Impressed by the talent that had surrounded her on the podium, Becky said firmly, “I think all our horses are complete and utter diamonds.”
A fourth horse also was awarded more than 80 percent. That was 2024 Cup winner Touchdown, ridden by Patrick Kittel of Sweden to a mark of 80.260.
Several other starters were especially worthy of note. Pan American Games individual gold medalist Julio Mendoza Loor was sixth with 78.645 percent on Jewel’s Goldstrike, the Dutchbred he purchased for $20 because he wasn’t a good match for the horse’s previous owner. The rider, representing Ecuador, is based in North Carolina.
And Morgan Barbancon of France got a standing ovation for her 20-year-old mount, Sir Donnerhall II, because it was the last show for the Oldenburg stallion before he retires to stud duty and a life of pleasure riding. He was marked at 72.460 to finish thirteenth.
The podium group with organizer Derek Braun of Split Rock, Zen Elite’s Heidi Humphries, FEI President Ingmar DeVos and Christof Umbach, president of the ground jury.
click here for freestyle results
The show draws to a close Sunday with the two-round finale of the jumping. Horses were inspected Saturday afternoon to insure their fitness to compete. After two rounds, the lead is held by Kent Farrington, who will be aboard the sensational Greya.
Greya at the trot-up with groom Denise Moriarty.
by Nancy Jaffer | Apr 1, 2026
We already have the Global Champions Tour (GCT), Major League Show Jumping and now, as announced this week, the Premier Jumping League. It’s yet another enterprise adding high-end fixtures to an already-crowded elite scene in the sport.
This ambitious entity, however, plans to start with a gilt-edged flourish, offering a whopping $300 million in prize money. Approval is awaited from the FEI (international equestrian federation) and national federations, so the competition format and specific schedule haven’t been revealed yet.
However, the basic plans call for 16 teams competing between March and October 2027 at 14 venues across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East (provided it’s safe to operate in that area then.) Most fixtures will be at established venues rather than pop-ups, as GCT often tends to do.
Thirteen big name riders, including world number 10 Laura Kraut of the USA, world number one Scott Brash of Great Britain and France’s fast-rising star, world number six Nina Mallevaey, have endorsed the concept as its “ambassadors.”
Laura Kraut on her way to an Olympic team gold medal on Cedric in Hong Kong 2008.
It’s a venture spearheaded by McCourt Global, which is involved not only with sport, but also technology and real estate. A familiar name in the equestrian world, Frank McCourt is a former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. He co-founded GCT with Jan Tops before the two went their separate ways.
“For far too long,” McCourt believes, “many of the world’s best riders have been forced to choose between pursuing their talent and passion and building a sustainable career.
“The PJL is changing that by creating a clear and viable path for athletes to earn a great living by competing at the highest level, without compromising the traditions and values that define jumping.”
Frank Mccourt
He sees the league as “reshaping the future of the sport and empowering its most talented athletes to devote themselves fully to excellence.”
McCourt is a Wellington, Fla., landowner whose name was in the news last month when plans to develop his property with a country club feature were turned down by the Village Council.
The new league’s CEO is Neil Moffitt, well-known for being a big player in the hospitality and nightlife businesses, whose daughter, Emily, has show jumped for the British team. Moffitt described PGL’s mission as one designed to bring “a new level of engagement, energy and excitement to the sport.”
The chief equestrian advisor is Lisa Lazarus, an attorney who is CEO of HISA (Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority) and has worked for the FEI. Horse welfare is foremost in her role with the PGL, saying “it will reflect uncompromising standards of care, rest and responsible decision-making.”
She emphasized that with the Los Angeles Olympics on tap for 2028, care will be taken in 2027 not to ask too much of horses being prepped for the Games.
Efforts also are being made to see that PGL fixtures do not infringe on well-established “seminal marquee events,” but she acknowledged there might be some clashes with other competitions. However, she added, “pushing boundaries and bringing in more competition is a positive thing for the sport.”
Kraut noted that, “An Olympic gold medal is the greatest thing you can achieve in the sport.” And yes, she has one, from the team competition in Hong Kong at the 2008 Games.
“Yet for jumping athletes like me, the commercial opportunities often don’t follow,” Kraut continued.
“The gap between what athletes achieve and what they’re able to build tells you everything about the sport’s limited infrastructure to convert elite achievement into recognition and reward. I welcome the PJL’s values to reform this model in a way that drives revenue opportunities for all involved.”
The competitions in the U.S. will be overseen by Jon Garner, whose resume includes Spruce Meadows and the World Equestrian Center, and Dale Harvey, a West Coast show manager.
Nick McCabe, president of the PGL, has been involved with Moffitt in global entertainment and hospitality management. He noted that McCourt sees show jumping as sport “in which there is incredible athleticism, an incredible level of determination and focus required to get to the top…and yet it’s a sport perceived on the outside as really a hobby of the rich.”
He concedes there is a “pay-to-play element in the sport currently, there is a way to buy your way into it, arguably at the very top levels. “
McCabe explained, “We want the sport to be taken seriously, to be regarded in the same manner as other professional sports out there, and we want the athletes within it to be rewarded for that great determination, that focus, in a way that shows they could have a glittering career where they don’t have to worry about side hustles if they don’t want to.”
Most show jumpers are involved with training others or selling horses.
McCabe added, “The idea it’s necessary to support themselves in this world seems kind of asinine when you think about the level of skill required to get to the top.”
He considers the teams a serious “viable” investment and they will be sold on a permanent basis.
New leagues have popped up in many sports over the years. One of the most recent enterprises in that regard is LIV golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, shifting golf’s demeanor in a way that challenges the establishment PGA.
Showcasing jumping for the public is another goal of the PJL. It is acknowledged that live TV is no longer enough today; neither is free-to-air content. The key concept that drives success is learning who the audience is and what they want.
A partnership with Emmy award-winning production company Box to Box Films will showcase the sport by implementing “cutting-edge technology, radical transparency, and innovative team formats.”
The idea is to “enhance the drama, intensity, and rivalry that defines elite sport — unlocking the full potential of jumping, demanded by today’s global sports and entertainment marketplace, without compromising its core values.”
