When show jumper Christian Kukuk said he had quite an “incredible” time on Saturday, he wasn’t exaggerating.
It started with the birth of his first child, a daughter named Lila. Then in the evening, the 2024 Olympic individual gold medalist faced and conquered a field of superstars at Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival in the debut of the $750,000 Rolex U.S. Equestrian Grand Prix, as more than 10,000 enthusiastic spectators took it all in at the Wellington International showgrounds.
Both Christian Kukuk and the crowd at the Rolex Grand Prix enjoyed his victory gallop. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
The class, the WEF finale, was part of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s new U.S. Open series across the Olympic disciplines, and it catered to spectators in an effort to popularize the sport. Fans loved the updated intro on the jumbotron featuring videos of the top riders, and they flocked into the ring when invited at the end of the class so they could get autographs from their heroes.
“To have the quality of riders we have now: Olympic champions, world champions world number one, and to draw the crowds we have, it just shows this sport is a spectator sport and there are fans that want to be a part of this,” said Michael Stone, president of Wellington International.
“To see the kids get so excited to get autographs and photographs with athletes… is special. It’s so important that we bring the sport to everyone. We want to help in growing the sport and this event has set an incredible mark for how we can do that and the kind of people and passion we can get behind it.”
The 40 starters in the first round who tested themselves over Guillherme Jorge’s brilliant course was whittled to eight. How tough was the route set at 1.60 meters (with one fence an inch higher than that)? Those who didn’t qualify for the tiebreaker included world number one Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden with King Edward, world number two Kent Farrington with Greya and McLain Ward on his Olympic partner, Ilex. And there were plenty of other noteworthy competitors who missed the jump-off, among them Britain’s 2021 Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly.
Course designer Guilherme Jorge. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
The USA’s Laura Kraut, though, was right in the thick of things, demonstrating how her eager mount, Bisquetta, has come along since last year with a bravura blazing trip in 39.49 seconds over the eight fences of the shortened course.
“She has gotten more experience and I’ve taken her to a lot of good venues. Now she sort of understands what her job is,” commented Laura, 59.
She said the Zangersheide mare has moved up to first string status with her Olympic team silver medal mount, Baloutinue, who is sidelined with a small injury. That caused him to miss this coming week’s FEI World Cup Finals in Switzerland. Laura said she is being extra careful with Baloutinue because he is 15.
Her thought process is the same as Christian’s, who said he is conserving his Paris Games mount, Checker 47, because that horse also is 15, and is pointing him toward grands prix and next year’s world championships at Aachen. For this summer’s European Championships, he plans on using Just Be Gentle, winner of the Longines Grand Prix in Ocala earlier this month.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Laura noted she had been a bit cautious in the jump-off and left the door open by adding strides in two places during her ride, and Christian took advantage of that when he and Checker followed her trip.
“I knew that Laura was really fast and I had to try everything,” he explained after his second triumph of the 2025 WEF season.
“There is something special between him and this arena here. He has an extra gear,” Christian observed about the son of Comme Il Faut 5.
The German rider did just enough with the agile grey Westfalen gelding to cut 0.29 seconds from Laura’s time, and there was his victory in 39.20 seconds. He also won the class on his first visit to WEF last year, when it wasn’t part of the Rolex series, and offered less money. But it was still impressive, and I will never forget his 2024 victory gallop with the ribbon clutched in his teeth!
Third place went to Ashlee Bond, 39, representing Israel on her always steady Donatello 141, clocked in 40.41 seconds. The Westfalen won the USA’s only $1 million grand prix last December in Thermal, Calif.
Ashlee Bond was overjoyed to turn in the first clean round (Photo © and2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ashlee and Donny have been together for nine years and move as a unit, honed by a depth of experience. Although Donny is only 15..3 hands, smaller than most of his rivals, he makes up for it with determination and a desire to do well for his rider.
“He turned himself inside-out for me,” said Ashlee, and this despite the fact that he wasn’t as energetic as usual after an infection in his throat from an allergy. He won’t do any more championships, but she plans to prolong his career for as long as he wants to do it. After that, “he can give my daughter pony rides because he likes to do that, too.”
Christian packed a lot into the hours of March 29, and after his victory he still seemed stunned–but thrilled–about how it all turned out.
He explained everything with a big smile on his face.
Christian Kukuk was mobbed by spectators as he signed autographs after his victory. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My wife, Veronica was pregnant and the due date was actually next week,” the 35-year-old rider recounted.
“Perfect, right after week12 (the last week of WEF). I was hoping she’d at least wait until Sunday (the day after the Rolex Grand Prix).”
However, they had to go to the hospital Friday night as the baby was on her way.
“Everything went really well. Both are healthy. I honestly can’t wait to see them again,,” said Christian.
“It’s a story you cannot really imagine,” he continued, adding he looks forward to telling the tale to Lila when she is older.
And for his part, he said, “I will always have very, very special memories of her birthday.”
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