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A Badminton Bobble Won’t Keep McEwen From the Top of the Leaderboard 8 May 2025, 4:35 pm

Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning eventers, they’re just like us!

Okay, maybe not just like us. But British rider Tom McEwen and his Paris Olympic mount JL Dublin did make very relatable mistake when they broke from the extended trot during Dressage Day 1 on Thursday, May 8 at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials. No matter.

McEwen and “Dubs” ended their first day of competition on a high score of 22.4, a lead of more than five penalties ahead of second-place finisher Emily King and Valmy Biats on 27.3. First-timer Tom Woodard, the field’s youngest rider at age 23, sits in third on 27.9 with Low Moor Lucky.

Meanwhile, another Badminton rookie—not to mention the reigning World Champion—Yasmin Ingham will sit in fourth overnight with Rehy DJ on 29.1. The morning’s leader, Oliver Townend, is fifth with yet another Olympic team gold medal-winning partner: his 18-year-old Tokyo mount, Ballaghmor Class (29.1).

“Dubs is a great personality and, thanks to my groom, Adam, he was so relaxed today,” Tom McEwen said after the class. “I was going for it and made that one mistake [when the horse broke in the extended trot], but I have done as much as I can today to stay ahead of Ros [Canter] tomorrow.

“He is an unbelievably talented horse and has pulled out performance after performance.”

McEwen isn’t wrong to have an eye on his Olympic teammate and 2023 European Champion Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo. After calling the 2025 startlist “the strongest Badminton field since [their] records began in 2015,” Equiratings has further named Canter and Lordships Graffalo the pair most likely to take the overall title.

But they’re far from the only contenders still to enter the dressage arena.

The startlist on Day 2 includes not only Canter but highly ranked Equiratings picks including Gemma Stevens (GBR) and Jalapeno (Stevens sits in sixth place with her first mount, Chilli Knight), and Tim Price (NZL) with Vitali. 

Still, if the top of the dressage leaderboard has proved anything so far at MARS Badminton, it’s that age is just a number. Not only are the morning’s leaders Townend and his senior Irish Sport Horse Ballaghmor Class well positioned going into cross country on Saturday, but the competition’s current third-place rider, Woodward, is also mounted on a ‘senior citizen’—and a sassy one at that.

Fellow 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky was Woodward’s first horse after the pony divisions, and the bay gelding wasn’t backed until he was nine. “Basically, he was in the last-chance saloon—he was pretty feral,” joked Woodward, adding that Low Moor Lucky didn’t compete his first event until he was 11.

“He doesn’t get wound up,” the British rider added, “and he goes back to his stable for a nap.”

The MARS Badminton Horse Trials returns on Friday for the second half of Dressage competition. You can stream live beginning at 4 a.m. EST on ClipMyHorse.TV or Badminton TV.

The post A Badminton Bobble Won’t Keep McEwen From the Top of the Leaderboard appeared first on Horse Network.

Farrington, Howard, & Martin Make History as Triple U.S. World No. 1s 7 May 2025, 3:07 pm

They say when it rains, it pours, and this month, it’s certainly pouring U.S. World No. 1s on multiple FEI Rankings Lists. For the first time ever, three U.S. riders occupy the top spots in their respective disciplines thanks to two recent ascensions.

In May, Kent Farrington took over the No. 1 spot on the Longines Rankings in show jumping, while Boyd Martin scaled the heights of the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings. Finally, U.S. rider Fiona Howard still holds her position as the world’s top athlete in the FEI Para Dressage World Individual Rankings.

Olympic silver medalist Farrington is back on top after unseating Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann after a record-setting 32 months as the World No. 1. Farrington, for his part, previously wore the white armband in 2018.

“I’m excited to return to world number one—Henrik’s three-year reign has been incredibly impressive; it sets a high bar and deserves to be celebrated,” said the American rider, who also holds the title for the most prize money won so far in 2025 with over €917,400 in earnings (Jumpr). 

“This is an honor not only for me, but also for my team and everyone who helps support me in this sport. Reflecting on 2018, when I last held the world number one, I had an incredible group of horses. Today I’m very proud to be back with a totally different, but equally talented group. 

“I’ve been riding most of my current horses since they were seven years old or younger, and I really enjoy the process of developing them,” he continued. “It’s a rewarding journey and I’m excited to see where we can go from here.”

Martin, meanwhile, is setting impressive records of his own. Not only is this the first time the three-time Pan American gold medalist has taken over the World No. 1 spot in his 25-year career, it’s also the first time an American rider has held the position in more than two decades (Kim Severson last took the title in 2004). 

“It’s a goal I’ve been chasing for decades now. Many of my idols, who are champions in the sport and riders I’ve always tried to emulate, have accomplished this honor at some point in their careers,” said Martin, who’s amassed more than 71 starts at the CCI5*-level throughout his career and a total of 56 international wins. 

What’s more, the Pennsylvania-based rider boasts 48 clear cross-country rounds, with an impressive 73% completion rate at the CCI5* level. His top 10 finishes with all three of his horses at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event last month helped to push Martin over the top.

“It’s really a humbling moment, and even though it’s my name on the list, I would not have been able to do it without the incredible horses and owners, as well as my dedicated team working day in and out in the stable. Lastly, to share this with my wife and kids, who have been with me on this journey every single day from the very beginning, is really special,” Martin added. 

Howard, for her part, is still cresting the wave that began after her breakout 2024 season. In addition to her triple gold medals at the Paris Olympic Games, the British-born, 2021 Northeastern College grad has helped the U.S. Para Dressage Team earn multiple victories so far in CPEDI3* competition in the United States this year.

The post Farrington, Howard, & Martin Make History as Triple U.S. World No. 1s appeared first on Horse Network.

Barn Rats & Blurred Lines: Setting Appropriate Coach-Athlete Boundaries 6 May 2025, 3:31 pm

Horse people often joke that the barn is a vortex, where “a couple of hours” can easily turn into an entire afternoon and evening. That’s because time at the barn doesn’t end when you get off the horse. 

When you’re a kid, this is often referred to as ‘being a barn rat,’ a badge of honor that can range from simply getting dropped off by your parents to hang out at the stable to earning extra rides (and trainer brownie points) by grooming or turning out horses, or even taking shifts mucking stalls in exchange for lessons. 

In addition to more time in the tack, most of us loved what being a barn rat gave us: Extra coaching from our trainer, a person who, in many cases, loomed larger than life in our eyes. 

However, there can be a darker side to this experience. Unchecked hours spent one-on-one with a trainer or coach can blur boundaries in the relationship, setting the stage for an unhealthy dynamic that can have serious and long-reaching consequences.

‘Family’ Ties

At the core of every coach-student relationship is an innate power imbalance. The coach holds significantly more influence, control, or decision-making authority over the student. In healthy coaching relationships, this imbalance serves to guide the athlete and develop their skills. In unhealthy ones, it can manifest in various forms of emotional abuse, and even escalate to grooming behaviors via a dynamic known as “the family structure.”

“The dynamics at play in the family structure can mirror grooming stages and tactics in terms of how trust, allegiance, and emotional reliance and dependence are leveraged,” explained #WeRideTogether Programs & Partnerships Director Kathryn McClain. 

“A coach or mentor may use their authority, similar to that of a parent figure, to blur boundaries under the guise of care or special attention. Their approval becomes something the athlete relies on, making it more challenging to identify harmful behavior. Because this dynamic feels like family, the invasiveness is normalized, and speaking out can feel like betrayal.”

In a barn situation, this might include the use of secrecy and leveraging things a rider cares about—such as desirable horses and extra ride time—to gain compliance for inappropriate behaviors. A well-known example of this structure in equestrian sport is late trainer Jimmy Williams, according to  #WeRideTogether Program Manager Annelise Ware.

“[Williams] leveraged his power and prestige to gain the unquestioned authority over athletes and parents alike,” she said. “He created a win-at-all-costs culture that fostered misconduct and abuse, and essentially forced compliance from his riders through threats and emotional manipulation.”

As the family structure progresses, athletes have little to no autonomy or room to self-advocate. The coach-athlete pair becomes so emotionally codependent that their dynamic can sometimes resemble a parent-child relationship. 

At the same time, athletes are often isolated within their barns or sporting communities, away from family, friends, and other peers. Coaches are sometimes given unlimited access to monitor and critique their athletes on some of the most intimate details of their lives (think: mental health, weight, sleep, menstrual cycle data, personal relationships, etc.).

In addition, in family-structure relationships, it is not unusual for a coach or trainer to adopt an authoritarian leadership style. Especially in barns, where—given the element of “safety” required when working with 1,200-pound flight animals—this kind of attitude is often already commonplace. 

For riders in their barn, and in many cases, their parents, the trainer’s word is the last word, creating a kind of blind loyalty dynamic between coaches and their students. And doesn’t end there. 

In some cases, bad actors will use their absolute authority to pit one student against another. According to Ware, this kind of structure can be seen in one of #WeRideTogether’s recent survivor stories, where a skier recounted how five out of 10 of her teammates, including herself, were abused by their coach.  

“None of the other athletes knew that abuse was happening to anyone other than themselves,” Ware explained. “The coach’s mental isolation tactics would keep the teammates from speaking with one another, therefore maintaining control over them.” 

In both the family structure and grooming, athletes are often left feeling like they can’t say no to the person who’s not only in charge of their competitive success but also acting, in many cases, as a stand-in parent. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way… 

A Healthier Model

Proper boundary setting from the start can help prevent a family structure from forming in our barns and sporting arenas. Instead of a toxic dynamic, coaches, athletes, and parents can leverage awareness to work toward a healthier “mentor model.”  

The mentor model encourages emotional support between coaches and students, but within the standards of appropriate behavior, seeking out external support when necessary. It also helps to foster a culture of accountability, relying on best practices for things like one-on-one interactions and travel to competitions. 

Among these are codes of conduct and organized oversight. Codes of conduct help establish and encourage healthy boundaries, while parental oversight and supervision—established through a system of checks and balances within the sporting organization—can further help to prevent abuse. 

And while that may sound straightforward on paper, in real time, these dynamics can be tricky to navigate. Since parents are often the ones trying to decipher the subtle distinctions between increased athletic opportunities for their child and proper boundary-setting, McClain has put together a few tips to help parents understand the basics: 

1. Refer to and talk about the coach/trainer as a professional, not a parent, not a friend, not a confidant. 
2. Ensure your child or athlete has a safe adult they can talk to. This person may not be you, and that’s ok. What matters is that they have someone they can go to regularly and speak openly and honestly about their relationship with their trainer. 
3. Get involved and increase your awareness by learning about your child’s or athlete’s coach. Does the coach implement a Code of Conduct? Do their actions fall in line with healthy coach-athlete relationship dynamics?
4. Educate your child on safety and preventive best practices, as well as healthy boundaries. 
5. Guide conversations with your child or athlete to help them build their intuition and awareness. “How do you feel about your trainer? Did anything weird happen at the horse show/barn? How does your trainer react if you make a mistake? How does your trainer treat you and your friends/other students?”
6. Listen and observe—is your athlete or their friends referring to the coach as a parent or friend? Does the coach try to keep you and other parents at arm’s length? Does the coach try to seek out 1:1 time with your kid/athlete that isn’t safe or warranted?

“Many of these practices are things parents may already be monitoring—their child’s social media or messaging, interactions with teammates/adults in the sporting space—so it’s just taking it one step further: educating yourself on what is appropriate vs. inappropriate conduct, and monitoring for red flag behaviors,” added Ware. 

“Teaching children to self-advocate and having open dialogues about abuse and their sporting environment is helpful in ensuring that athletes feel comfortable saying ‘no,’ and that their voices matter.” 

Another simple-yet-key point, according to Ware? Make sure your kid has a life outside of sports.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the rat race, and dedicate all your time to the sport, especially if your child is in elite environments,” she said. “But if they have hobbies or even do anything outside of athletics, it can foster healthy social support outside of sport, which counteracts the codependence and isolation of the family structure.”

In addition, parents and their children are encouraged to check out #WeRideTogether’s recent Boundaries Series, which lays out four, tangible tools that can help young athletes set and keep healthy, mindful boundaries with their coaches, peers, and more. 

While a lack of boundaries can be a red flag for abuse, establishing clear expectations from the start can help coaches, students, and parents foster training environments that safeguard a young athlete’s best interests, including the barn rat time that they love.

Want to learn more? Read the complete Boundaries Series on weridetogether.today: 

• Boundaries Series: The Basics
• Boundaries Series, Tool 1: The “Let Them” Theory
• Boundaries Series, Tool 2: How Do You Take Your Coffee?
• Boundaries Series, Tool 3: Boundary Circles
• Boundaries Series, Tool 4: The Mentor Model
• Boundaries Series: Conclusion

The post Barn Rats & Blurred Lines: Setting Appropriate Coach-Athlete Boundaries appeared first on Horse Network.

Why Bitting Isn’t Just a Performance Issue—It’s a Welfare One 6 May 2025, 2:30 pm

This episode of Horse Person is made possible by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 at checkout for 15% off. 

When we talk about bits, the conversation often centers around control, feel, and performance. But according to bitting expert Mette Larsen, there’s a much deeper—and more critical—angle to consider: welfare.

She estimates that 80–90% of riders are using a bit that doesn’t truly fit their horse, and the consequences can range from mild discomfort to chronic pain that affects the horse’s entire body.

The most common mistake? A bit that’s simply too big.

Add in a mouthpiece that doesn’t suit the horse’s anatomy, and you have a setup that’s not only ineffective, but potentially harmful.

“Choosing a bit isn’t just about discipline or rider preference,” Mette explained to me when preparing for our latest Horse Person Podcast recording. “It’s a huge responsibility. Horses’ mouths weren’t made for bits—they were made for eating and drinking. If we’re going to put a piece of metal there, we have to know what we’re doing.”

And it doesn’t stop with the bit.

Bridle fit plays a critical role, too. A crownpiece that’s too tight can put painful pressure behind the ears. A bit placed too high in the mouth can apply leverage at the poll or pinch the sensitive corners of the lips. Even more significantly, the tongue—where the bit often rests—is connected via fascia to the hyoid apparatus, which links to the sternum, shoulders, and pelvis. In other words, what’s happening in the mouth has the potential to influence the entire body.

Horses are constantly giving us information: tension in the poll, resistance to contact, fussiness with the bit, even behavioral issues under saddle. These aren’t “naughty” moments—they’re messages. And when we ignore them, we not only risk poor performance, we risk their well-being.

This episode of Horse Person takes a closer look at how to interpret those signals and what to check in your own tack setup the next time you’re at the barn. With insight from Mette Larsen, who is also a dressage rider and president of Neue Schule USA, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of the horse’s mouth, the science of bitting, and how to make more compassionate, informed choices that support both performance and welfare.

Because doing right by your horse starts with listening—and that includes what’s going on in their mouth.

This episode is supported by #WeRideTogether. To learn more about the CARD diagrams mentioned in today’s episode, go to WeRideTogether.today or click here.

The post Why Bitting Isn’t Just a Performance Issue—It’s a Welfare One appeared first on Horse Network.

Roman Cavalry Horse Cemetery Discovered in Germany  5 May 2025, 4:07 pm

“Roma victa!” If you’re a fan of the Academy Award-winning movie Gladiator, you’ll no doubt recognize Maximus Decimus Meridius’s famous battle cry (‘Rome victorious!’) in the opening scene as he leads his cavalry unit in a charge down a wooded hill somewhere in Germania. 

On screen and off, when it comes to cavalry battle sequences, it’s the soldiers, not their horses, that tend to steal the scene. But this spring, the Roman mounts of ancient Germania are taking center stage thanks to a recent excavation in Bad Cannstatt, a borough of Stuttgart, in southwest Germany.  

There, the Stuttgart Housing and Urban Development Company has completed an archeological excavation project of more than 100 horse skeletons. The dig, which began last July, is the culmination of a near-century’s worth of study which was initiated after skeletons were discovered in the area during the construction of residential blocks in the 1920s.

Located some 400 meters from the ancient Roman cavalry fort and 200 meters from the civilian settlement at Bad Cannstatt, the skeletons were found in a horse cemetery, or schindanger, and were radiocarbon dated to the 2^nd century AD.  

“Based on the archaeological and historical knowledge of the Roman Bad Cannstatt, the horses can be assigned to the cavalry unit—a so-called ‘ala‘—that was stationed at Hallschlag from approximately 100 to 150 AD,” says Sarah Roth, the archaeologist in charge at the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) in the Stuttgart Regional Council. 

“The troop, with almost 500 riders, is likely to have had a total horse population of at least 700 animals, and losses had to be constantly replaced.” 

Most of the horses found were buried on their sides in shallow pits, with their legs stretched out or bent, having been dragged there or, in some cases, led. “The horses do not all appear to have died at the same time in a major event such as a battle or epidemic. 

“Rather, the animals buried here either died of illness, injury, or other reasons during the ala’s presence in Bad Cannstatt, or were no longer able to fulfill their role as military horses,” Roth explains.  “If the horse could still walk on its own, it would have been brought to the horse cemetery and killed on site to avoid having to transport [its body].”

In addition to equines, the bones of an adult human man were found lying prone among the horse skeletons. His likely status as an “outsider” of ancient society is suggested by both his lack of grave goods and his location; there was a human burial ground for the Roman settlement of Bad Cannstatt nearby.

And though we will likely never know what brought that poor man to his unceremonious end, scientists hope that archeozoological studies of the equine skeletons in the mound will continue to answer important questions about the horses of the ala.

In addition to learning more about their age, sex, and physical stature, scientists hope to discover how the horses were fed and kept, and where they originated from. For local residents, the answers may hold the keys to their own historical identity: ‘Stuttgart’ derives from the German word Stutengarten, which translates to ‘mare garden,’ or stud farm.

And that’s not the only reason the horses of the Bad Cannstatt schindanger are resonating with modern audiences. 

While the majority of the ala’s horses seem to have been buried—even disposed of—without much ceremony, there was one significant exception. That particular horse skeleton (see featured image) was found with a small oil lamp and two jugs in the crook between its legs—typical Roman grave goods reserved for the human dead to assist them in the afterlife.

“Here, we see a particularly close bond between the owner and his horse,” Roth says. “Even after some 1,800 years, the grief over the death of this one animal is still evident.”

The post Roman Cavalry Horse Cemetery Discovered in Germany  appeared first on Horse Network.

Hazel Shannon & 19-Year-Old Willingapark Clifford Land Historic Fourth Win at Adelaide CCI5*-L 4 May 2025, 2:27 pm

After Michael Jung’s unbelievable fifth win at Kentucky, shattering dressage scores and leading margins, this week’s Adelaide Equestrian Festival, the second CCI5*-L competition of the year, had much to live up to—and it delivered.

Hazel Shannon (AUS) and Willingapark Clifford joined Jung in breaking records with a historic fourth win by the same horse and rider combination. It’s a feat that puts them on par with the likes of Oliver Townend (GBR) and Ballaghmore Class and Michael Jung (GER) and La Biosthetique Sam and further cements their position in Australian eventing history.

But it didn’t start out as a likely outcome. Equiratings Prediction Centre has Shannon and Clifford on a 2% win chance coming into competition and a 10% podium chance. At 19 years old, no doubt there were questions about Clifford at a five star.

The chestnut Thoroughbred started the week as he meant to go. A score of 30.2 was good enough to put them in second after an electric atmosphere in dressage proved to be the undoing of a couple of other competitors. Steady and consistent, the partnership drew on their experience representing Australia in the 2022 Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, a Nation’s Cup team appearance at Le Pin du Haras, and 5* events in Kentucky, Pau, and Badminton.

On cross country day, traveling reserve for the Paris Olympic team and overnight leaders Shenae Lowings (AUS) and her off-the-track-Thoroughbred Bold Venture came to grief at a late combination of huge open corners.

Clifford was ready to take the challenge.

“He’s just like a bit of a freak,” Shannon laughed after their cross country round, adding 11.6 time penalties to drop into third. “Every time you ride him, he gives you 110%. I am really watchful about how much work I do and what surfaces I ride on. But he’s just an incredible horse.”

Cross country at Adelaide isn’t a handout. Statistically, less than 1 in 10 riders will make the time, according to Equiratings. With 31 elements, 47 jumping efforts, three types of terrain, multiple elevation changes, and a tight time of 11 minutes flat, the 2025 edition designed by Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) was par for the course.

But two riders out of 20 starters achieved double clear rounds: three-time Olympic team member Shane Rose (AUS) and The Bandit and young gun Sophia Hill (AUS) and Humble Glory coming back from overseas and a top 25 finish at Burghley, both on OTTBs. Both were ahead of Shannon and Clifford, another off the tracker, coming into the final day.

“He doesn’t love dressage,” Rose said of Bandit after cross country. “That’s not his strong suit. But he’s such a lovely jumper. He gallops and jumps really well. I thought if I could get a good dressage test out, he’d be pretty competitive down here.”

Adding nothing to a 36.3 score, Rose and Bandit moved up the leaderboard from ninth to first, while Hill and “Hughie” rocketed from 17th on 41.2 to hold second place overnight.

“He’s always been a phenomenal jumping horse. He’s pretty much always jumped double clear,” Hill said of her partner. “But I think just us getting to know each other as a partnership, and me becoming more experienced as a rider [has helped] because he was my first proper four-star horse, and now my first five-star horse. He absolutely ate up the cross country out there today.”

After one more restless night’s sleep for the competitors, the final phase proved to be every inch the challenge that was cross country.

Rails dropped all over David Sheppard’s course. With an average of 9.03 penalties per round, a single rail didn’t prove too costly. Two rails down still claimed a celebration of success.

Shannon went into the ring in the final podium position, Clifford in fighting fit form. One rail down at a natural oxer on the rail right up against the crowd put them on a total score over the three days of 45.9.

Hill went into the ring in second position. With fastest man in eventing and Paris Olympics individual silver medalist Christ Burton (AUS) coaching from the sidelines, she and Hughie were making easy work of the course, but heartbreakingly skipped fence 9. She was eliminated to the groans of the captive audience.

Shannon moved into second.

Final to go and with 9.6 penalties in hand, Rose and The Bandit let the win slip through their reins when they dropped three poles to slot into second. Five-star rookie Samuel Jeffree and Wimborne Conjuror rounded out the podium on 50.4.

As Shannon’s support team ran screaming to her, cheering and celebrating, records were being quietly made. Ten years of competing with Clifford at Adelaide has produced five star wins in 2016, 2018, 2019, and now 2025.

“I don’t really know what more to say,” Shannon said, stunned. “I try to do the best job I can, but even when I don’t do a great job, Clifford makes up for it. He really is special, and he’s a complete legend. I’m so glad that he’s made history again.”

All that’s left to say? Well done.

With the first two five stars of the year complete, all eyes now turn to Badminton in the UK next week and what records will be over turned there…

The post Hazel Shannon & 19-Year-Old Willingapark Clifford Land Historic Fourth Win at Adelaide CCI5*-L appeared first on Horse Network.

Well Hello, Chadora Lady 4 May 2025, 12:59 pm

Scott Brash knew he had a star in Hello Chadora Lady, it was just a matter of proving to the world what he saw. 

That evidence materialized in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix of Shanghai, besting a 16-horse jump-off with the 12-year-old mare (Chacco-Blue x Nintender).

Brash has been chasing his first victory aboard his newest partner, coming up short recently with second placings in Hong Kong and at the Dutch Masters. They’d proven to be fierce competitors, but Brash knew a win was bubbling at the surface.

Last to go over the short course in Shanghai, he had a tall order after watching Gilles Thomas, last year’s winner, put in a quick round aboard Luna van het Dennehof. With agility and footspeed, the pair managed to shave off two-tenths of a second off the time, taking the win. Thomas took second, and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar was third with Legend.

“I managed to watch Gilles’ round because I knew he was one of the favorites in the jump-off,” Brash said post win. “I knew he’d done a fantastic round, and I knew I was probably going to do one more stride than him to the last jump, maybe one more stride somewhere else. But I’m very confident how fast my mare is, so I knew if I could keep the rest smooth it would be close.”

It’s a victory all-but destined for Brash and Hello Chadora Lady after less than a year together. Her stats are impressive, but her jumping form and natural quickness even more so. The Gestut Lewitz-bred mare has jumped five clears out of seven attempts at 1.60m for a 71% clear round rate, scoring a top-10 finish on all those occasions (Jumpr stats). 

Brash, the only winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, has had some serious horsepower in the past, and thinks the little mare will be right up there with his past champions.

“She gives her heart for you,” Brash said of the mare, previously piloted by the USA’s Natalie Dean and Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli. “She’s such a beautiful mare to work with. Even outside the ring she’s such a lovely character and one of the nicest mares I’ve ever worked with, really. She wants to win as much as me.”

As for that winning feeling, Brash intends to keep chasing it.

“It’s like a drug,” he elaborated. “You want to keep winning. And I love the feeling of bringing a top horse to show the world how good they are. Horses are amazing animals and what they do for us, it’s just great to get the results they deserve.”

Three legs into the 2025 season, the twice LGCT Champion earned enough points in Shanghai to take over third in the overall LGCT rankings, behind Edwina Tops-Alexander and Gilles Thomas. Brash also punched his golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague in November.

The post Well Hello, Chadora Lady appeared first on Horse Network.

A Home Win for Shanghai Swans 2 May 2025, 1:05 pm

Don’t hold out for a swan song just yet—the Shanghai Swans are just getting started.

Just three legs into the 2025 Global Champions League, the Swans have jumped to the top of the overall leaderboard with a “home” victory in the Global Champions League of Shanghai, thanks to team members Ben Maher and Max Kühner. The team didn’t lead wire to wire, but the two Olympians did what they do best, keeping their cool and delivering fast rounds to come from behind, securing the win.

On their side was plenty of horsepower; they both switched horses between rounds to utilize the depth of their strings. Maher piloted Enjeu de Grisien in round one, swapping to Dallas Vegas Batilly for round two, and Kühner brought out EIC Julius Caesar and EIC Up Too Jacco Blue for the respective rounds. They finished on just one rail throughout four jumping rounds, ultimately the best score on the fastest time.

Both of the team’s second-round horses have surpassed the €1 million mark in earnings, jumping major championships and proving themselves on world stages. Their first round horses are both newer to the scene, but consistent rounds at major events like these are helping develop them into true competitors. The riders followed the same strategy, allowing the newbies to set the stage and their more established mounts to deliver under pressure.

Maher’s positive attitude kept both riders strong headed after round one, despite having one rail down as several teams remained on fault-free scores.

“There were a lot of teams on four faults and you never quite know what is going to happen with the teams on zero,” Maher said of the regroup between rounds. “I said to Max before I went in, ‘Start with a positive attitude and try to ride it a little bit quick.’”

When an Olympic gold medalist tells you what to do, you listen. It helped that Kühner never doubted the team’s abilities either.

“We have both great horses and naturally fast horses,” the Austrian rider said. “We also have a lot of trust in them so we could concentrate a bit more on the speed, trusting them to jump clear. I had a feeling it would be enough.”

With plenty of horsepower to spare, Maher, who recently finished second at FEI World Cup Finals on a different mount, was very pleased with the result.

“My round all went to plan,” he continued. “Dallas jumped incredible today, and I think it also set Max off in a good stead and he emulated my round, just a little bit quicker than me, putting enough pressure on the teams to come. It worked in our favor having to come from behind today.”

With strong team camaraderie and the support of generous team owners, the Swans are riding a confidence high. 

“I always say even when it doesn’t work that well we have a great team of riders, horses, and owners,” Kühner said of the Shanghai Swans. “We should be somewhere in front. Being here in Shanghai and taking the lead is something special. It’s an outstanding place they’ve built here in Shanghai and it’s a special honor to be in front here.”

Teammate Daniel Deusser wasn’t selected to represent the Swans in Shanghai, but he ended up as an individual winner in the class, proving the depth of the Swans’ bench. 

“Daniel jumped two clear rounds, so we would have won with a bigger margin if he were on the team,” Maher shared. “It’s great to have him as backup. Difficult choices for the team managers to make between us all. We’re a great team on paper and we just have to keep the momentum going.”

Overall, the Shanghai Swans have moved into first place in the Global Champions League standings, followed by the Cannes Stars and Valkenswaard United. At the next leg in Madrid, May 16–18, the Swans will pull from their large pool of talent that also includes Christian Ahlmann, Antoine Ermann and Katharina Rhomberg to keep their win streak alive.

The post A Home Win for Shanghai Swans appeared first on Horse Network.

Parental ‘Sting’ Operation Breaks Up Underground Hobby Horse Ring 2 May 2025, 9:13 am

WELLINGTON, FL—It was all sun and games this winter at South Florida’s biggest winter horse show venue. But as the pony mothers adjusted their sun hats and clapped politely through gritted teeth for the winning combinations in the Large Pony Hunter Classic, a darker form was taking shape in the chat logs of the daughters’ phones. 

By the end of the weekend, at least three riders in that division would be accused, judged, and sentenced to a month’s ban on Sephora trips of any kind. 

The charge? Participation in a cut-throat, underground hobby horse ring where the cost of admittance was high, the product was scarce, and mercy was in short supply.  

“On Wednesday, while you were ticketing in the schooling ring, I went to the [hobby horse] jump course and tried out Peter,” the 12-year-old participant, ‘K,’ texted her friend ‘W’, including an image of the pinto model stick horse her friend had left behind at the ring while she schooled.

“I like him, and I want him—and all his tack. Name your price, or I’ll pay you $350 for all of it. Or my Mom will once I tell her what’s going on,” K’s message continued.

Unfortunately, subsequent exchanges between the two girls quickly soured when Peter’s owner W admitted her reluctance to do the deal. After appeals such as, “it’s my sister’s favorite horse,” and, “his paint job’s really not all that pretty up close,” failed to dissuade K’s interest, W ghosted her.

It didn’t work.

“I know you read my messages. Please reply. The price I’ve offered is a fair one. I’ve seen the horse you’re currently trotting around on, and its stick is so long you have rails all the time,” K wrote.

“I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. I’ll throw in a fly bonnet that doesn’t fit my other horse, and you can compete Peter in the [Hobby Horse jumping] class this weekend. After that, he comes home with ME.” 

When ignoring her frenemy proved futile, W recruited a third party, ‘P’, to rattle K’s cage. 

“I hear you’ve been giving W a hard time,” ‘P’ DM-ed K. “You need to give her a break and let her think things over. I mean it.

“You know the lake at Pony Island? It’s deeper than it looks,” P continued. “A whole stick horse—maybe your favorite one, Nino—could go missing in there, and no one would ever find it. From now on, they’ll just say, ‘Nino is sleeping with the gators.’ 

“Leave W alone,” P added, “or you’ll be hearing from me again.”

W believed her hired muscle might have done the trick. For two days, there was no response from K. It turned out, the pint-sized hobby horse enthusiast was just biding her time.

After dinner one evening, W returned to her Wellington condo to find her oldest hobby horse with its stick cracked clean in half, buried under the sheets at the foot of her bed. Almost simultaneously, she received a DM from K. 

“Don’t make an enemy out of me [W],” K’s message said. “You and Quintessa may win the Large Pony Hack on Sunday, but in the hobby horse arena, I call the shots.” 

W burst into tears, attracting the attention of her mother in next room. It was then she confessed everything, setting in motion a meeting of the moms. 

W, K, and P’s moms agreed to ground their daughters and confiscate their phones and hobby horses, leading to an especially weepy lineup in the (actual) Large Hunter Pony Hack the next day.

(At press time, neither the phones nor the stick horses had been returned.)

More satire from Nina Fedrizzi:

• After Resurrecting the ‘Dawn Horse’, USEF Plans Eohippus In-Hand Classes For 2028
• Public Library Bans Beloved Children’s Horse Classics for Being “Too Godless”
• Missouri Woman Opens World’s First Equine Bootcamp/Wellness Spa
• Three Things E.R. Doctors Wish You’d Avoid: “Horses, Horses & Smallish Horses”
• Olympic Rider Dispels the Myth of Wearing a Hairnet: “It’s a Personal Choice”

Sign up and get more satire by Nina Fedrizzi delivered straight to your inbox.

The post Parental ‘Sting’ Operation Breaks Up Underground Hobby Horse Ring appeared first on Horse Network.

And Now Henrik von Eckermann’s Watch Is Ended 1 May 2025, 6:15 am

Were he a solider on the Night’s Watch, today, Henrik von Eckermann would receive a proper, albeit solemn send-off from his sable-clad peers.

On May 1, after 32 months at the top of the Longines Rankings, the Swedish rider will officially pass along that white, World No. 1 armband to the USA’s Kent Farrington. Farrington, who officially closed the rankings gap to within 50 points of von Eckermann in April, will once again take over the top spot for the first time in seven years.

Thankfully, when it comes to the Longines Rankings, neither life terms nor results are determined by White Walker battles. But if you’re still left feeling a little misty eyed by the transition, we can’t blame you.

“I wanted to be number one,” von Eckermann told I Am An Equestrian Le Podcast. “When that day came, I felt like, Okay, I achieved that. I for sure didn’t think, Okay, now I’m going to be [No. 1] for 30 months. 

“It’s just, at that time, everything came together with my horses. The group of horses came up to an age and a time in their career where they were all ready to go to the shows and try to win.” 

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who maintained her World No. 1 ranking for 24, non-consecutive months in the early aughts, echos the importance of having a string that peaks at just the right time. 

“To reach World No. 1, you need to have a number of talented horses,” Michaels-Beerbaum told Glorious. “I had three excellent horses—Shutterfly, Checkmate, and Le Mans—which got me ‘round the global circuit. But to make it to the top of the world rankings, I really think you need more than three.” 

For von Eckermann, who took over the top spot from Martin Fuchs (SUI) in August of 2022, those horses included Iliana, Glamour Girl, and of course, the indomitable King Edward—the best horse in a quarter century—who might as well have done the winning for two.

In August of 2022, in fact, the same month as his official World No. 1 ascension, von Eckermann and King Edward won double gold at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark (pictured). Those wins came on the heels of their Olympic team gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021. 

They kept on pace, and by November of the following year, the Swedish rider and King Edward had taken home three, CSI5* wins in Samorin, Slovakia (October 2021), St. Tropez – Grimaud, France (April 2022), and Verona, Italy (November 2022). 

In the years since, von Eckermann and “the King” have added a total of six, 5* Grand Prix wins to their resume—putting them among the top 10 winners of all time. They’ve also amassed more than €4.2 million in prize money and finished on more than 30, 5* podiums (Jumpr).

What’s more, their back-to-back FEI World Cup Finals wins in 2023/2024 added their name to an elite list of historic champions that includes the likes of the aforementioned Shutterfly, Milton, and E.T.

All of it has helped to cement von Eckermann—who also earned a career-first 5* win with Iliana in the Longines Grand Prix of Basel, Switzerland in January—as not only the longest but most dominant World No. 1 in FEI history. 

Take the ranking list back in May of 2023, when von Eckermann’s 593-point lead over then-World No. 2 Julien Epaillard (FRA) was the widest gap registered in the last 14 years. Only two previous World No. 1s—Scott Brash (GBR) and Harrie Smolders (NED)—have ever achieved a 500+ point lead. Von Eckermann’s was nearly 600. 

“The [Longines World No. 1 armband] doesn’t bring extra pressure. I try to enjoy the moment—I know this moment will not last forever,” von Eckermann told the FEI in 2023. 

“I always put pressure on myself when I go in the ring. I want to do the best ride that I can for the horse, to be able to be satisfied when I go out, knowing that I did everything that I could.”

It would be hard to argue that, after 32 record-breaking months at the top, von Eckermann could be anything but satisfied.  

The post And Now Henrik von Eckermann’s Watch Is Ended appeared first on Horse Network.

Meet Robin Howie, the Intern Turned Double Adopter 30 Apr 2025, 4:46 pm

Robin Howie always wanted to rescue a horse. When her internship at Days End Farm Horse Rescue wrapped up, she ended up with two. As told to Alice Collins/Jump Media.

I started volunteering with horses when I was 13 and began working on farms in college at 18, when I started riding.

I’ve always been interested in the rescue and rehabilitation side of things, and I knew Days End Farm Horse Rescue, located in Woodbine, MD, would be a great place to get this experience. I was accepted into their internship program right after college, but COVID-19 upturned those plans. I was so excited to finally get the chance to intern there in the fall of 2023.

I lived on the property, which enabled me to have a very immersive experience. I absolutely loved it, and it solidified that this was the career I wanted to pursue.

I had so much fun and really appreciated helping with some of the impounds—even though they could be quite sad—where law enforcement works with Days End Farm when a horse needs to be removed from its current situation. Almost all the Days End Farm horses come in from these types of seizure cases.

Because horses are legally considered more like property than companion animals like cats and dogs, removing them from bad situations can involve many more steps. I had recently graduated with a degree in animal science and completed a course in equine law. I was fortunate that my time with Days End Farm included experiencing the impoundment process and then getting to see the first court session for that case. This was really lucky because the court case rarely happens in the same internship timeframe as the seizure.

I also did a lot of hands-on medical stuff, spent time with the horses, and had the opportunity to tour other facilities. In fact, I got my current job after we toured a nearby equine veterinary hospital in Leesburg, VA. After the visit, they invited me to apply for an available position. I give a lot of credit to Days End Farm for my current role as a clinical veterinary assistant at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center—I wouldn’t have applied if we hadn’t gone on that tour.

During my Days End Farm internship, one of the horses I helped care for was an off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding named Trevor, who raced until he was nine. About a month into the internship, I really fell for him. He needed daily medical treatment for mud rot, so I spent time with him nearly every day to treat his legs.

He had a lot of opinions, so he was not for everyone.

For example, if he didn’t like the grooming tool you were using, he’d take it out of your hand. He was very communicative and when he was happy, he’d nuzzle your chest and ask for ear rubs, making it clear he was having the best day. He even began running up to me in the field or waiting at the gate for an extra head scratch before heading to his buddies.

Toward the end of my internship, I talked to one of the trainers, Sara Strauss, about how Thoroughbreds are totally my vibe. I’d been planning to lease a riding horse after my internship, but I began to realize that adopting Trevor felt inevitable.

After my internship wrapped up, I continued to visit Trevor, who had entered their training program by then. When I started my job, I was on call every other night and every other weekend for three months. Whenever I was up past midnight, I’d get the next day off, so I’d use that time to visit Trevor and the team at Days End Farm.

In the summer of 2024, trainer Leigha Schrader began riding him, and I started working with Trevor, too. At first, we did groundwork lessons, and then she began inviting me to ride him. I had been doing small things in his stall, like asking him to back up, turn different ways, and stretch, but getting the chance to work with Leigha in the arena was eye-opening.

Everything was going really well, and I started searching for barns where I could board him. But, in October 2024, with an adoption date all set, Leigha and I each got on Trevor during one of our riding sessions, and something felt off.

He had chronically bad feet due to his neglect, but there were no visible issues. A few days later, he became noticeably lame at the walk, limping up to his feed station. The vet examined him, but couldn’t find a cause. We paused the adoption and his training while Days End Farm investigated and tried treatments.

I knew I still wanted to adopt Trevor, whether he was rideable or not. I didn’t know if it was a question of retirement, stall rest, or six months in a field followed by euthanasia. Nobody knew at that point.

Given all the uncertainty, my love for Trevor, and my access to medical diagnostics at work, Days End Farm offered him to me as part of their Guardian Program—where the organization retains ownership—rather than an outright adoption. I jumped at the chance, and on December 20, 2024, Trevor came to his new home.

Around the same time, Hobbit, another goofy chestnut Thoroughbred, came back from an adoption that didn’t work out. He had first arrived at Days End Farm as a foal with his dam, and returned from the initial adoption when he was around two years old through no fault of his own. During my internship, I remembered seeing Trevor and Hobbit together in the field, and Trevor had taken him under his wing and taught him how to be a horse. He’d been his babysitter.

I knew Trevor might never be ridden again, so I thought Hobbit could be my project horse and, eventually, my riding horse.

At the beginning of 2025, I decided to adopt Hobbit. Before he left Days End Farm, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the World Horse Expo in Pennsylvania with him and the Days End Farm team. Hobbit is a very social horse, and the trip was a great opportunity for him to experience lots of new things.

Getting two horses within three months of each other was not initially in the cards, but seeing how good Hobbit was at the Expo solidified it all for me. I officially adopted him on March 10, 2025.

Trevor has continued to show big improvements thanks to careful shoeing by an excellent farrier, support from coworkers, and a great vet team. We are slowly putting him back into work, building muscle, and I have even begun riding him at the walk.

I love my goofy chestnuts—they’re my babies. Trevor, now 12 years old, took a minute to remind Hobbit who is in charge, but is once again helping him integrate into the herd at their barn in Purcellville, VA, by following him around and making sure he stays safe. They really enjoy the place, and they both still run up to greet me.

I’m so excited for the future with them. I’m not committed to needing to show, but I want to ride, connect with the horses, and be around them. I enjoy reading them and learning from them, especially given that Trevor is so expressive. The whole experience of adopting them has allowed me to meet new people and grow my knowledge base.

I’d like to train them both for low-level eventing, which involves a bit of everything.  Hobbit is learning the basics now, like bathing and standing on cross-ties. Hopefully, I’ll be able to start him under saddle in the fall with a trainer—I’m in no hurry.

My end goal is to have my own farm and rescue center. I’m so grateful to everyone at Days End Farm for the insights they have given me. Their community outreach also really touched me—some kids that come out to Days End Farm on school trips have never seen a farm, let alone a horse, and then they get to see a mule or hear a donkey bray, and they’re in awe.

Days End Farm works with all their equines to get them to the point where they can be adopted. They aim to make sure every horse that comes through their gates can find a loving forever home, and that’s huge. I’ve been able to ask a ton of questions and learn how to make decisions that keep each horse’s long-term welfare at the forefront, even when those decisions aren’t easy.

The whole experience has made me very happy. I have my two cats and my two horses, and I feel like I have a very full family.

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Greya vs. Gazelle: Who’s the Biggest  Boss Mare of Them All?  28 Apr 2025, 5:44 pm

The number 13 may be unlucky, but it’s been a good omen for newly announced World No. 1 Kent Farrington’s top horse of all time, Gazelle.

That’s because the now-19-year-old Belgian mare, who retired in 2022, won a total of 13 5* Grands Prix in her career—more than any other horse in the last decade. 

Among them are the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in 2019, the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in 2017, and back-to-back wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows 2016-2017, just to name a few.

And while it’s fair to say that Gazelle is, to date, the best Grand Prix horse that Farrington has ever had (not to mention a legend in her own right), the bay #bossmare may not hold on to that former title forever. 

Now in her 11-year-old season, Farrington’s OS mare, Greya, has won a total of five, 5* Grands Prix—two more than any other 11-year-old currently competing. These include the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier in Traverse City (pictured), and two 5* Grands Prix at Wellington International this February.

In yet another standout performance this weekend, Greya and Farrington took home the Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. They did so by more than two full seconds.

First to return for the nine-horse jump-off, Farrington dared the night’s definitive inside turn back to the liverpool, keeping the throttle down from start to finish. Greya answered in kind, making the night’s toughest questions appear all but ho-hum. 

“She’s a very special horse in terms of talent, probably on another level than even many of the great horses I’ve had,” Farrington said after the class. “But her character is very strong—it’s what makes her great, but it took time to build her up. She’s a boss mare—she runs the stable and is in charge and very confident in herself.” 

That’s a description that’s not unlike another sharp, careful Farrington mare with footspeed to burn. But how do Greya and Gazelle stack up side-by-side? 

For that, we need to go back to Gazelle’s own 11-year-old season in 2017, when she finished on nearly a dozen podiums, earning six, 5* Grand Prix wins—including the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva—and pocketed more than €1,080,00 million in prize money. By that point in her career, Gazelle had already won eight 5* Grands Prix, and according to Jumpr, her stats were in the stratosphere. 

In 18 rounds that year at 1.60m+, Gazelle jumped clear at 61%. But she finished in the top 10 in nearly as many rounds at that height at 75%.

Compare that to Greya, who, only a quarter of the way into her 11-year-old season, has already notched three, 5* Grand Prix wins to add to the two she earned as a 10-year-old in 2024. To match Gazelle’s record as an 11-year-old, Greya would need to win three more 5* Grands Prix this year, or one a quarter. She’d also need to double her podium count (currently at seven). 

That’s not unheard of, especially given Greya’s track record so far. And she’s got the numbers needed to back it up. 

In three classes this year at 1.60m+ Greya jumps clear at 67%, finishing in the top 10 in the same percentile. Not quite Gazelle’s jaw-dropping 75%, but good enough in most company to more than hold her own (Jumpr). 

She’s also earned more grands prix in a shorter span in her 11-year-old year than Gazelle had by this point in the season (the latter mare earned her second victory toward the end of May, 2017). 

Still a veritable, boss-mare toss-up? Maybe. But it sure will be a fun one to watch unfold. 

The post Greya vs. Gazelle: Who’s the Biggest  Boss Mare of Them All?  appeared first on Horse Network.

Adrienne Grasso Is Paving Way for New Opportunities 28 Apr 2025, 12:04 pm

In an industry growing more out of reach for Americans every year, trainer Adrienne Grasso is trying to spark change. The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) coach is using her platform as a professional to not only educate the next generation but to also open doors for those with fewer opportunities.

It’s a cause close to her heart. Growing up, riding lessons were a financial stretch for Grasso’s parents. The Northern Californian said she was fortunate to meet Irene Lorimer, a trainer who recognized her passion for riding and offered her a working student position.

“I basically lived at the barn,” she said. “I would have never gotten to do everything that I got to do without her help. My parents simply couldn’t afford it.“

Now, Grasso is the one paying it forward.

As owner and head trainer of Sterling Farms in Livermore, CA, she takes pride that her program, specializing in hunters, jumpers, and equitation, offers a more affordable price point than most in the area. 

“I think we’re pricing out most people out of the horse industry entirely,” Grasso continued. “I think horses make us better people, they teach us so many skills, and I think people should have access to them.”

One way she’s doing that is through her involvement with the IEA. Grasso currently captains two teams, comprised of about 32 middle and high schoolers and four adults. What began as a way to find new opportunities for her clients became an educational tool that is opening doors to compete on the national stage.

“From a riding standpoint, I would say the best skill that they get from IEA is learning to control their emotions. Learning to manage their energy, being able to adapt their riding style to fit their draw the best. That’s the kind of stuff in IEA that kids don’t really have opportunity to develop necessarily through other avenues of riding. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to essentially practice their catch-riding skills. So that’s the big thing.

“Plus it’s great to offer kids that maybe don’t have the financial backing to be successful at a national level,” Grasso continued. “IEA opens an avenue for kids to still compete nationally, and I think that’s really important.”

Beyond the riding skills, she said IEA participation also teaches work ethic, teamwork and collaboration—both within the riders and the community of trainers.

“The kids have to work all day,” she shared. “They’ve got to get horses ready and hold horses. It helps with work ethic. I think that’s kind of disappearing a little bit as the generations go on, especially because our sport is becoming so elitist that the hard work has gotten lost.

“What I’ve noticed, especially in my region, is that the trainers have been very helpful as well. We all come together, and that’s not something that’s typical. You don’t necessarily get a lot of collaboration in the industry between professionals. What I really enjoy about IEA is that we’re all on the same team.”

For Grasso, it’s an extension of an already rewarding career path. “I just love my horses and I love watching the kids ride the horses and learn from the horses.”

But lately she’s been inspired to take her work a step further, laying the framework for a nonprofit that will offer IEA scholarships to those without the means to ride.

“I’m still in the very, very early stages. I have to resources—horse-wise, equipment-wise, facility-wise. We’re working on getting our non-profit set up. We want to offer scholarships to kids that maybe could not afford to ride or, if they do ride, could not afford to ride on an IEA team. So basically we would cover the expenses for them to take lessons and be able to show the IEA season with us.”

The next immediate step in making her nonprofit goal a reality is finding a team member to help manage the logistics so she can focus on the resources and identifying riders who would benefit from the scholarship opportunity. 

“I just want to make horse sport more accessible.”

This story is brought to you by Three Mares, a company committed to creating a cultural shift in sport by funding nonprofits that give back to athletes. Three Mares collaborated with Show Trunk II and Eq Team Apparel during the IEA Nationals weekend to donate $500 and a portion of all sales from Dreamers & Schemers, ManeJane, and The TackHack to the IEA Scholarship Fund. To learn more, visit TheThreeMares.com.

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Everyone Agrees: Michael Jung Is a Legend 27 Apr 2025, 7:29 pm

“I was thinking this morning: I have two chances of winning here,” Boyd Martin (USA) mused. “Maybe Michael went to the strip club last night or maybe he goes off course. But other than that, I was just hoping for second place.”

With all the records Michael Jung (GER) broke during the competition, it was hard to imagine a scenario in which he did not win. With two poles and 3.8 time faults in hand, he could afford to take his time on the course and still bring home the win with fischerChipmunk FRH.

“I really believe in my horse,” Jung said. “[At Kentucky], I always have a lot of luck. Warm up was nice. He was soft and jumping [well]. I started with a nice forward rhythm. We had a long way and many jumps to do.”

Jung used one of those rails at the Cosequin liverpool oxer but the rest of the course came up smooth and rhythmic. The cheers from the crowd as he passed the finish line and the feet stomping in the stadium were just as exuberant as every rider before.

“I really like this place, this stadium. The people support you galloping around and cheering for you on every jump. [They are] going with you through all the emotions, the ups and downs.”

The only rider to receive more cheers than Jung in the stadium today was the U.S. favorite in Boyd Martin. Adding only 0.4 total time faults across all three of his riders, the explosion of cheers when he went double clear on Commando 3 was deafening. He left the stadium to a standing ovation.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was in for this weekend,” Martin laughed about ‘Connor’.

“Last year, he was my backup horse for the Olympics, and he didn’t do a long format, three day event. I questioned if he had the guts and the heart to get through an epic competition like this. [But now], I think he could be a career changing horse. He’s got such quality. He’s beautifully bred with plenty of Thoroughbred, and he’s strong in all places.”

Third place was taken by Harry Meade (GBR), well deserving of a podium finish with his incredible cross country rounds of the day before. While cross country does not earn points for style, his FOD (finish on dressage) score on Et Hop Du Matz proved to be the most influential of the competition.

“Going into that stadium for show jumping, you always want to have a plan about how to execute the round and how you want to ride your horse,” Meade remarked. “But you can’t help but have a smile on your face and enjoy it. The freedom of expression and enjoyment, which is made up from the atmosphere and the architecture of the place, but also the people that fill it and the noise and the ambience. It’s hard not to rise to that.”

While Martin and Meade ride the high of their top finishes, both equally were in awe of the leader. Jung’s commanding lead, records, and beautifully sensitive and consistent riding inspire respect in his fellow competitors.

“I’m honored to be sitting next to Michael,” Martin said. “He’s inspiration to my riding. I often watch videos of him and try and copy him. I’ve never seen a rider that’s so good in all three phases. I think we will remember him as one of the greatest ever eventing riders.”

Meade echoed the sentiment.

“[Michael] will be remembers as one of the greats. I’ve followed the sport from the 50s, 60s, 70s—before I was even born, and I think Michi is hands down, without a doubt, the greatest event rider there’s ever been. I don’t think there will ever be anyone better. We are living in a moment with an extraordinary thing. I think often, when it’s happening, people don’t appreciate it. But in 50 years time? He will be remembered as the best there ever was.”

So there you have it: a living legend in the incredible athlete that is Michael Jung. While he may not have beaten his own record finishing score, for everyone watching the joy of witnessing his rounds and the joy of celebrating his incredible talents, training, and horsemanship feels like a record of its own.

The post Everyone Agrees: Michael Jung Is a Legend appeared first on Horse Network.

Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm Is the Stuff of Yuri Mansur’s Dreams 27 Apr 2025, 7:00 pm

Yuri Mansur, at 45 years old, has found his dream horse. 

Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm, a 12-year-old mare (Chacco-Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue) has guided Mansur to some of the most memorable victories of his life.

“I knew the first time I rode this mare that she is amazingly talented,” Mansur said of Miss Blue. “I think this is the sixth five-star grand prix she has won. I know I got something special in her. She is the best horse I ever rode.”

Another major victory was added to their resume on Sunday, topping 49 of the world’s best in Fontainebleau, France. The duo won the CSI5* GL Events Grand Prix, which was designed by the Paris Olympics course designer Gregory Bodo and included several few nods to the 2024 Games.

The jump-off was star studded, featuring Henrik von Eckermann (world number one), Simon Delestre (who won two five-star grand prixs in March alone) and nine other heavy hitters. Mansur went early in the order and laid it down.

“With this kind of horses and riders, there was no doubt: you just had to go,” he said of his approach to the short course. “I did my best and my horse delivered, but given the level of riders we were up against, I had to take every risk.”

In second was Gregory Wathelet with Bond Jamesbond de Hay, and Gilles Thomas took third with Ermitage Kalone.

This victory goes down as one of the more memorable, right up there with his emotional win in Aachen in 2023—his second international win with Miss Blue and first time back at the venue since his horse Vitiki broke its leg in the very same class. 

“That was a very emotional moment, which showed me how important it is to keep on going and carry on fighting,” Mansur reflected. “That victory is the proof for me that if you don’t give up you can achieve all of your dreams.”

His dreams are coming true, thanks to Miss Blue. 

The mare jumps clear 59% of the time, still adding more challenging rounds as she gets more familiar with the CSI5* level (Jumpr stats). The bigger the challenge, the better the result it seems.

But even more special to Mansur’s heart is the fact that the mare was bred in his homeland of Brazil.

“I was one of the first people to import horses from Europe to Brazil at the beginning of my career,” he shared. “I am now the one promoting Brazilian-bred horses, and my mare is the best example of how talented they are!”

No matter how you shake it, Miss Blue is Mansur’s heart horse—and they’re just getting started.

The post Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm Is the Stuff of Yuri Mansur’s Dreams appeared first on Horse Network.

There’s a New Number One in Town 27 Apr 2025, 9:11 am

Kent Farrington did it again. He won another five-star Grand Prix . 

Farrington and his superstar mare Greya have an incredible strike rate in five-star action in 2025, jumping to three 1.60m Grand Prix wins in less than three months. But what really wowed the crowd on Saturday evening was the style in which he got it done.

In the Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix, in its inaugural year with a five-star designation, Farrington was the first to jump clear, meaning he’d have the first say over the short course.

As he came in the ring, Olympic show jumper Lauren Hough, in the commentary booth, pointed out what she thought could be an inside turn to a liverpool vertical, but she wasn’t certain it was even possible. 

Farrington made it so, laying down a jump-off that left Hough at a loss for words. He took risks, kept the gas pedal down, and made the challenging track look all but effortless with Greya. It was a round almost expected from the pair, but what happened with the next few riders showed just how gutsy their ride really was.

“I think that’s what it takes to win in today’s sport,” Farrington reflected on his winning round. “The rounds are all hyper-competitive. You have some of the greatest riders in the world here competing tonight with tough horses, so it’s going to be tough to win.”

Both Conor Swail and Charlotte Jacobs attempted the same inside turn but ended up with refusals. Darragh Kenny had a refusal around another turn. A few riders simply tried riding for second. It was clear almost from the get go that the class was Farrington’s.

The only one not convinced he’d already won? Himself.

“[I was] not that confident,” Farrington said about how he felt coming out of the ring. “There were a lot of people coming after me that are good riders with their top horses, so I was waiting until the very end.”

Shane Sweetnam ended up second with James Kann Cruz, over two seconds off the pace but producing a double-clear effort. Mimi Gochman, also double clear, took third with Inclen BH. Their rounds could have won most other classes, but Farrington is in a league of his own lately.

Greya has now won three five-star Grand Prixs since February. Three 5* grand prix victories over a career puts a horse among the top 10 rankings, and Greya is only 11. She’s already far surpassed the €1 million mark in earnings. Fun fact: the winningest 5* Grand Prix horse of the past decade was also a Farrington mount—Gazelle won 13 5* Grand Prix titles with the American Olympian in the tack (Jumpr stats).

“She’s incredibly fast, she’s super careful, and she’s a fighter,” said Farrington of the Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender). “She’s a real winner in her heart. She’s an incredible horse and I’m very proud of her tonight.”

Farrington’s hot streak has also brought down a dynasty; world-ranked number one Henrik Von Eckermann, who held the top spot worldwide for 33 consecutive months, will pass the crown to Farrington come May. It’s not the American Olympian’s first time ranked the best in the world. He previously held the top spot from April 2017 to March 2018.

Before Farrington’s win, Von Eckermann posted a photo of his armband, which he wears in international competition to show he’s the world number one, honoring his final weekend of competition (for now) donning it.

Now he’ll pass the baton, and the armband, to Farrington as he continues what could become his most dominating to date.

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Michael Jung Set ANOTHER New Record at K3DE After Cross Country 26 Apr 2025, 7:36 pm

Anything above 50% odds are definitely in your favor in equestrian sports, but what about a 97% win chance?

Your name must be Michael Jung.

After an enormously successful day of sport out on the cross country field at the KY3DE, Jung held onto the top spot, adding 2.4 time penalties to his dressage score on fischerChipmunk FRH for a total of 21.0.

His newest record of the week? The largest margin after cross country in any CCI5*-L with 11.8 penalties in hand going into the final phase.

“[I’m] very thankful and very happy,” Jung said. “I had a great day. He’s an amazing horse. The dressage is super calm, but if you go to the cross country, he’s full of energy. He has very big strides. He’s very honest with me. I really can trust him. I still get better and better with him, together, still learning, but I think we have a great partnership, and that’s very important for the cross country.”

When asked what these record-breaking performances mean to him, he kept an even keel. “I’m more thinking about the competition, and I was really happy how I went through the course. So for me, I just want to have a good round. I really love riding the horses. I do it every day, riding the horses, training the horses, going to many, many competitions. I know it can go wrong all the time. So I try to go out, do the best [I can], take care of your horse if it went wrong, and be prepared for the next day.”

Luckily the day went well for the closest U.S. challenger to Jung’s domination.

Boyd Martin (USA) held onto second place with the Holsteiner gelding, Commando 3. He added 6.8 time penalties to his dressage score but it was enough.

“[Eventing] is an emotional roller coaster. You’ve got to become a good loser in the sport, because you’ll lose a lot more times than you win,” he remarked about the mental toughness to compete at the CCI5*-L level and eventing in general.

“I was lucky to get through the fast way at the head of the lake [on Federman B] so I changed my plan for my other two horses to go the long way since the ground gets chopped up as the day goes on. They’re three very different horses [and] they’re three individuals. I was probably a little bit cautious on [Luke 140]. I thought, Come on, Boyd-y, toughen up a bit. I went pretty quick on [Commando 3]. He’s young and fit and gave me a great round. It was a challenging course and the ground, I thought was a bit tiring. [But] very pleased with the day!”

Of the rest of the field, the rider with the highest win chance after Jung’s whooping 97% is Martin with 1% on Commando 3.

The award to the highest climber through the ranks goes to the third ranked rider in Harry Meade (GBR) on Et Hop Du Matz. After a self-confessed disappointing dressage, Meade rocketed up 14 places from seventeenth to third on his first ride and eighteenth to fourth on his second ride.

On both of his horses, Et Hop Du Matz and the former William Fox-Pitt ride Grafennacht, Meade was the only rider in both the CCI4*-S and the CCI5*-L divisions to make the time.

“I was confident they were fit,” he explained about the success of adding no time penalties to his scores. “I thought I’d just get out there and see how they felt.

“I’ve always felt [Et Hop Du Matz] would be a really good cross country horse, and I hoped he’d be a really good five star horse. He was great, very adjustable. He’s got a long stride, but he can shorten and adjust as well. To be honest, he gave me an absolute peach of a ride!”

Meade and Grafennacht only began their partnership following Fox-Pitt’s retirement from upper level eventing last fall. But now they occupy fourth place on the leaderboard.

“I was actually questioning whether I run her at about 11:30 this morning. Then I thought I’d just start out and see how she felt,” he said of the new ride. “We had a run in Italy to qualify [together]. I wasn’t even thinking about coming here. I thought I’d go out, do that event, and reflect afterwards. She won it by quite a big margin; about 24 penalties. I thought, well, it’s a bit of a no brainer to bring her here, but I hadn’t had a cross country school before I took her to Italy because we were so wet. When we came back from Italy, she had a couple of quiet weeks, and it hadn’t rained at all so it had gone from being soft to rock hard. She came here without a school so I thought I’d just have to just learn as much as I could about her on the way round.”

We can only aspire to be the kind of rider Meade is.

The 2025 edition of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event concludes tomorrow with the show jumping phase, beginning at 2:00 pm EST.

Will it be Germany, USA, or Great Britain at the top of the podium? We know which one the safe bet is but as the riders said, this is a roller coaster of a sport and it’s still anyone’s game.

The post Michael Jung Set ANOTHER New Record at K3DE After Cross Country appeared first on Horse Network.

The Gap Is Closing on Day 2 of K3DE, But Just 25 Apr 2025, 7:10 pm

“This is the best group of five-star horses I’ve had,” said Boyd Martin (USA) at the start of the press conference after the second dressage day of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event (K3DE) in Lexington.

“We’re working very, very hard with their dressage. They’re quality horses. To have three horses in the 20s; it’s been a huge amount of work, not just from me, but my wife [Silva Martin], who rides them when I’m away a lot. It’s just a relief to deliver good tests. You always stay up late at night wondering if something’s going to go wrong.”

Boyd came the closest to closing the gap between Michael Jung (GER) and fischerChipmunk FRH’s, who lead the five-star on a record breaking 18.6. On his final ride in the heaviest downpour of the day, Boyd and Commando 3 scored a 26.0 to slot into second.

He’s now the favorite U.S. rider to even the odds against German domination with all three of his rides in the top 12 after dressage.

“I think the real challenge [is] to make sure that you’ve got plenty of horse left,” Boyd commented on the course Derek di Grazia set out for the 5* cross-country. “It’s not going to be a dressage test! It’s going to be a very, very exciting contest tomorrow, and hopefully we’re all sitting up here again.”

Equiratings Prediction Centre continues to put Martin on Federman B as his highest likely win chance with 5% and Commando 3 with only a 2% win chance, despite the better starting score. Between all his rides, Boyd has a 7% total win chance and a 36% total chance to finish top 3, making him the fourth overall favorite to win and the third favorite to podium.

The next closest challenger to Jung comes from 2024 Paris Olympian Tom McEwen (GBR) on Brookfield Quality. A 26.2 from the first session of 5* dressage on Friday puts them on the podium and keeps the pressure on Boyd. Only 3.3 penalty points separates second from 10th so time faults on cross-country will be influential.

“He’s a super, super lovely little fellow,” McEwen said of ‘Norris.’ “He tried as hard as he can. I went down the centerline, and he looked at the judge at C so I was wondering what was going on there. But apart from that, he was absolutely fantastic. Nice and smooth, really listening to me, and not too far away from Miki!”

When asked about the cross-country course, McEwen said it was a typical di Grazia design.

“It’s very clear for the horses, and it’s a positive track. As we all know with Derek’s courses, they catch many people out in many different areas for many different reasons, and you will have to be right on your A game. It always walks the first time, quite twisty, and rides really flowing.”

Sitting in fourth position is Kentucky newcomer Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and her partner Caramia 34. They earned a 27.1 in their second 5* start, and while they had a pin activation and a rail in Luhmuhlen, there is a strong possibility they will add nothing to there score on Saturday.

“We were thinking about [coming to Kentucky] at the end of last year,” she said. “Maybe [Caramia] is the best partner to try the first time in Kentucky. We’re doing our best. I think she’s unique and trying her heart out for me.”

Boyd’s second ride, Luke 140, sits in sixth with a 27.9 and the rest of the top 10 is all New Zealand with Clarke Johnstone on Menlo Park, Tim Price on Falco, Jarillo and Happy Boy and Monica Spencer and Artist slotting themselves in amongst the top finishers.

Five star cross-country action begins at 1:30 pm EST. Kentucky has been absolutely drenched over the last two weeks so terrain and fitness will be very influential. Time penalties are suspected to stack up, and will no doubt impact the leaderboard tomorrow!

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Michael Jung Is Officially the Phelps of Eventing  25 Apr 2025, 6:19 pm

American swimmer Michael Phelps is widely considered to be one of the most decorated athletes of all time. In his prime, Phelps won 28 (!) Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. At the height of his career between 2001-2009, Phelps broke 29 individual World Records. 

But the GOAT of the swimming pool better watch his back. 

On Thursday at the Defender Kentucky CCI5*, German rider Michael Jung and his gold medal Paris Olympic partner fischerChipmunk FRH came, saw, and conquered dressage on Day 1 in Lexington, setting a new record of 18.6 in the process. 

Jung is one of only three riders in the event’s history to earn a 20-or-under score. The others include German rider Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo, who earned a 19.2 back in 2009. The last contender?

Jung, himself, of course, once again with fischerChipmunk FRH, who scored a 20.1 in 2022.

He went on to set another record on Saturday, heading into the final phase with the largest margin after cross country in any CCI5*-L with 11.8 penalties in hand. And on Sunday, he capped it with his fifth, and record setting win, at the historic event.

Still, it’s hardly the first record Jung has smashed during his more than 25 years competing on the international stage. Take, for example, the pinnacle of the sport… 

Olympic Records 

Jung, the reigning Olympic individual gold medalist, also won consecutive individual golds in London (2012) and Rio (2016) with La Biosthetique – Sam FBW. 

He is one of only three riders in history to do so, joining the Netherlands’ Charles Pahud de Mortanges (in 1928 and 1932), and New Zealand’s Mark Todd (in 1984 and 1988). The German rider also holds a total of four Olympic golds—two in London, one in Rio, and one in Paris—the most of any eventing athlete.

But that’s not Jung’s only Olympic feat. Last summer in the City of Light, he famously became the only rider in history to win the individual Gold medal three times. What’s more, Jung is 42 years old, an age when many equestrian athletes are only just hitting their prime. 

Is there a four-peat in Jung’s Olympic future? We’re certainly not betting against him.

World & European Championship Records

There’s only so many championships on the eventing calendar, and at one point in time, Michael Jung held them all simultaneously. 

In 2012, when he won both the team and individual Olympic medals in London with La Biosthetique Sam, Jung was already the reigning FEI World Equestrian Games individual champion from 2010 (also on Sam). But he wasn’t done yet. In 2011, he and Sam also won gold at the European Championships—a title he held in two more Europeans over the next five years with Halunke FBW (2013) and then Takinou (2015)—again, the first rider to do so.

CCI4* & CCI5* Awesomeness

Prepare to be shocked: It’s not only at the championship level the Michael Jung excels. In 2015, Jung became only the second rider in history to earn the title of Rolex Grand Slam Champion after Great Britain’s Pippa Funnell did so two years after the Grand Slam’s inception. (Great Britain’s Scott Brash also won in 2014/2015, but in show jumping). 

The Grand Slam is comprised of the legendary 5* events in Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley, which means that Sunday’s win on fischerChipmunk FRH has set the stage for a second run at the title.

Naturally, it’s yet another record for him to break. 

The post Michael Jung Is Officially the Phelps of Eventing  appeared first on Horse Network.

Michael Jung Takes a 10 Point Lead in Kentucky 24 Apr 2025, 8:21 pm

Records have been few and far between in recent years. But one man continues to break them over and over.

The Olympic individual gold medal combination of Michael Jung (GER) and fischerChipmunk FRH laid down the gauntlet to a new record dressage score at Kentucky of 18.6. It was a true masterclass in ringcraft and correct riding with accurate, clear transitions across the board and true harmony.

In a pair that needs no additional experience, Jung saved the horse until now.

“I did something different. [This is] my first competition after Paris. Normally, I had some other competitions before to prepare the horses, but there was nothing really good for me around my place, and we had a really dry spring. I really trust my horse, so I believe in him. I think he [doesn’t] really need special competitions to prepare him. He’s ready.”

Kentucky is a happy hunting ground for Jung, who has won here once already with Chipmunk in the horse’s only other 5* start in 2022 and has won on his great mare fischerRocana FST three additional times.

Equiratings Prediction Centre put them on a 31% win chance pre-competition and after their nearly 10-point lead, now rates them with a 48% win chance, and a 58% chance of top 3. This means in more than half of the simulations of competition run through the Prediction Centre, Jung finishes on the podium.

Bet against them at your peril.

New Zealand did their level best to close the gap behind Germany with Paris Olympic combination Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park sitting in second on 28.4 and Tim Price tied in equal second on Jarillo. Price also holds fourth on his second ride of the day, Happy Boy with a 29.1.

Johnstone and Menlo Park are riding the high of a top-20 individual finish in stout Paris Olympic competition and are one of the most consistent partnerships in the field.

“We’ve been all over the world together,” he laughed about his partnership with “Jacko.” “So very well-traveled! He’s just a lovely guy. He’s really friendly, happy, obviously loves traveling and people.”

Price’s rides are young to the level with Jarillo in his second 5* start and Happy Boy attempting his first 5* completion.

“A little bit unknown quantity at this level, Happy Boy, but he tried really hard and almost had a mistake free test,” said Price. “Then the same for the other guy. We really wanted to come, do their best, and deliver what they’re capable of doing. I think both of them did that for me today, so very proud of them both!”

The top U.S. rider is the favorite American to take the win, Boyd Martin on Federman B. A veteran pair by every measure with top placings all over the world at 5* and the Paris Olympics under their belt, they sit in fifth, just behind Price, on a 29.8.

“He’s a friendly horse. He’s quirky though, like he’s hard to catch, and he’s a bit hard to get on,” Martin remarked on “Bruno.” “But he’s a very laid back, kind horse. All the girls at the farm can hack him around, and he’s got a special story and he’s a kind soul.”

Equiratings gives Martin a 5% win chance and a 22% top three finish. Dare we bet against Jung on Martin?

Seventeen more riders will attempt to close the gap between Jung and the rest of the field including Price again on his third ride of Falco. It’s a stretch of the imagination to think that anyone can pass Jung, but we will cross our fingers for more records broken at 1 p.m. EST in the Rolex Stadium.

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