Richard Vogel is making a statement! After victory in Lyon last October on Gangster Montdesir, the 27-year-old German showed up to Wellington's first CSI5* week of 2026 with the 10-year-old Selle Français stallion and promptly dismantled a field that included five of the world's top ten riders. His weapon of choice? Gangster Montdesir and Voegl are now 2-for-2 in CSI5* Grand Prix starts and showing absolutely zero signs of slowing down.

Gregory Bodo's $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix on Saturday night was a masterclass in precision course design. The Paris 2024 Olympic course designer brought his "French touch" to Wellington with lightweight planks, airy verticals, and distances that demanded adjustability over raw galloping power. He designed a course that separated the merely fast from the genuinely elite. The final fence of the jump off became the ultimate test of concentration, catching even Kent Farrington, who delivered the fastest round of the night at 40.43 seconds but paid the price with a heartbreaking rail at the last obstacle.

Eight combinations made it to the jump-off. Vogel went third from last, trusting his stallion's natural ground speed and maintaining rhythm throughout rather than risking tight turns. "I could stay on the gallop, and I think that's what saved me," Vogel explained. "I didn't have the tightest turns but kept the flow everywhere to stay in rhythm." His time of 42.65 seconds set the target. Ben Maher, the reigning Olympic Champion, executed technical turns with his characteristic precision on Enjeu de Grisien, but his 42.95 seconds fell just three-tenths short.

For a horse acquired by Karlswood Partners only five months ago, Gangster Montdesir's instant chemistry with Vogel is remarkable. "He always wanted to do a good job from the very first show," Vogel said. "I couldn't wish for anything more than how he jumped tonight and how he was fighting for us."

$500,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5 Grand Prix Podium:

Third place went to France's Nina Mallevaey aboard Dynastie de Beaufour, extending her remarkable streak to 11 consecutive clear rounds at the CSI5* 1.60m level. Now firmly established in the World Top 10, Mallevaey's consistency is becoming a defining characteristic of the 2025/2026 season.

Before Saturday's Grand Prix fireworks, Thursday's $116,100 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 showcased the depth of American female talent. Mimi Gochman, just 21 years old, secured the biggest 5* win of her career aboard the 11-year-old Inclen BH.

Gochman's jump-off time of 43.99 seconds came from a daring rollback to a vertical and a bold six-stride line that many competitors avoided. "My rollback to the vertical and the six put me in a really good flow," she explained. The podium was an American sweep, with Marilyn Little taking second on La Contessa (44.74s) and Lillie Keenan claiming third on Highway TN (44.88s).

Highway TN's appearance with Keenan is worth noting—the horse was previously ridden by Willem Greve, and their immediate success suggests a potent new combination for upcoming Nations Cups.

Friday's $62,500 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* 1.50m Speed class delivered exactly what the title promised. Jordan Coyle lived up to his reputation as one of the fastest riders in the world, piloting King Kannan GP to victory in 58.00 seconds flat—nearly a full second faster than runner-up Mark Bluman (58.91s). This marked the third Florida CSI5* victory in the past year for this partnership, cementing their dominance in the speed division.

Sunday's $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic provided the final opportunity for ranking points, and Canada's Erynn Ballard made it count. Riding De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa, Ballard delivered a jump-off performance that was clinically devastating—45.90 seconds, a massive 4.5 seconds faster than runner-up Rene Dittmer on Cody 139 (50.43s). Margins like this are rare at the 5* level and highlight Ballard's ability to maintain pace while others opt for safe clears.

Ireland's Jessica Burke carved her name into the record books Saturday night, becoming the first female rider ever to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Grand Prix of Bordeaux.

French course designer Yann Royant set a trap disguised as a technical challenge. His 1.60m track featured 13 obstacles with a relentless 75-second time allowed that forced riders to cut corners and approach fences with pace. The result was brutal attrition. High-profile casualties included league leader Julien Epaillard, who suffered an uncharacteristic 8 faults on Donatello d'Auge, and a heartbreaking "one-time-fault club" of riders who jumped clear but finished fractions too slow.

Max Kühner (AUT) on Count on Me 19 finished in 75.14 seconds. Jodie Hall McAteer (GBR) on La Gupardie clocked 75.20s. Jordy van Massenhove (BEL) on Verdiamo Z posted 75.45s. Perfect jumping technique, but the efficiency test claimed them all.

Only four combinations cracked Royant's code within the time. Tom Schewe (GER) opened the jump-off on Congress Blue PS but caught a rail at the second fence, finishing on 4 faults in 38.00 seconds. Daniel Deusser (GER), the 2019 Bordeaux winner, attacked the course on Otello de Guldenboom and clocked the fastest time of the night—35.72 seconds—but a rail at the final fence left him with 4 faults. Yuri Mansur (BRA) attempted a hairpin turn on Vitiki that proved too acute, resulting in 4 faults in 38.93s.

Burke entered last with perfect information: every previous rider had faulted. The equation was simple. Clear equals win. Speed was irrelevant.

Riding Good Star du Bary, a 10-year-old Selle Français gelding by Rock'n Roll Semilly, Burke demonstrated extraordinary mental fortitude. She rode a rhythmic, contained round, ignoring the crowd's urge for speed and focusing solely on centering every fence. She crossed the line in 42.40 seconds—slow by jump-off standards, but the only zero score on the board.

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Bordeaux Podium:

Burke's background adds depth to the achievement. A former mathematics teacher from Galway who turned professional later in life, her analytical approach and composure under pressure likely stem from life experience rather than the "groomed from childhood" trajectory of many rivals. Before Bordeaux, the pair had six World Cup starts, often finishing with one rail down. Bordeaux was their breakthrough double-clear.

The victory vaulted Burke from the World Cup qualification bubble to the safe zone with 46 points—historically sufficient to book a ticket to Fort Worth. More importantly, it shattered a ceiling that had stood for decades at one of Europe's most prestigious indoor events.

Sunday's €165,000 Audi Grand Prix offered a different flavor—Royant maintained the 1.60m height but relaxed the time allowed slightly, resulting in seven clear rounds and a traditional jump-off where speed mattered.

The jump-off became a duel between Victor Bettendorf (LUX) on Encore Toi du Linon, who posted 34.47 seconds, and Switzerland's Martin Fuchs on Conner Jei. Fuchs, who had struggled in Saturday's World Cup, executed a turn between fences two and three that defied geometry, pivoting the massive Holsteiner gelding almost on his haunches. The result: 34.32 seconds, snatching victory by just 0.15 seconds.

"Victor had an incredible round," Fuchs said. "I knew I had to go in there and give as much speed as I could. I really turned really short from fence two to fence three. Conner Jei can speed up very easily for a big horse and also jump from anywhere."

Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. delivered a tactical masterclass in Mexico's penultimate World Cup qualifier. Course designer Anderson Lima—who'll design the World Cup Finals in Fort Worth—set a stout, technical track at altitude that resulted in just two clear rounds. Plascencia entered the jump-off second, watched compatriot Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia fault on Con-Cor (4/48.24s), then rode conservatively to secure the only double-clear of the day on Huberth B in 47.36 seconds. The victory vaulted Plascencia into prime position as the highest-ranked Mexican in the North American League standings heading into the Ocala finale.

CSI4-W Puebla World Cup Podium:

Great Britain's Jessica Mendoza found redemption in the $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala after finishing second the previous week. Riding the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare In The Air, Mendoza made a split-second decision to attempt a risky inside turn she hadn't originally walked. The gamble paid off—45.87 seconds with a clear round, one of only two double-clears on the day. Ashley Vogel (USA) on Otis Blue took second (0/0/49.57s), while Daniel Coyle (IRL) posted the fastest 4-fault round on Farrel (4/45.70s), proving speed alone wasn't enough against Mendoza's precision.

WEC Ocala $200,000 Grand Prix Podium:

Argentina's José María Larocca Jr. claimed the €105,500 Big Tour Grand Prix at Spain's Sunshine Tour aboard the 11-year-old DSP gelding Chris. Larocca's jump-off performance—42.18 seconds—was nearly two seconds faster than runner-up Finn Boerekamp (NED) on Just Penelope Jw van de Moerhoeve (43.94s). The breeding combination of Contendro I and Argentinus continues to prove its worth in technical 1.55m classes.

Vejer CSI4 Grand Prix Podium:

Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Alsharbatly continued his dominance across Gulf venues, winning the World Cup Qualifier aboard Skorphults Baloutendro with 4 total faults. His consistency across Riyadh, Doha, and now Kuwait suggests he's successfully rebuilt his string for the 2026 World Cup Finals. The Contendros 2 x Balou du Rouet offspring combines the scope of Balou with the rideability of the Contender line—a potent combination for technical indoor tracks.

Kuwait CSI3-W Podium:

UAE's Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi delivered a home victory in the Grand Prix presented by Longines, riding Chacco Bay to a clear jump-off in 47.48 seconds. The Olympic finalist's win validated the Al Shira'aa Stables program, which is moving beyond simply importing top horses to breeding and producing them domestically—a critical step in becoming a sustainable showjumping power. Earlier in the week, Al Shira'aa won the 6-year-old finals with homebred SS Pina Colada.

Sharjah CSI3 Grand Prix Podium:

Italy's Piergiorgio Bucci claimed the Grand Prix victory aboard Pallieter van de N. Ranch, following up his second-place finish the previous week on a different horse (Cortez van het Klein Asdonk Z). The performance demonstrates a stable firing on all cylinders heading into the outdoor Nations Cup season. The podium featured two Italian riders, with Roberto Turchetto taking third on Real Steel L.

Valencia CSI3 Grand Prix Podium:

The sport lost Imperial HBF on February 11 following complications from severe colic despite two surgical interventions at Rood & Riddle. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Original VDL), ridden by McLain Ward, had quickly become a cornerstone of Team USA after being acquired from Tim Gredley in early 2025. The pair were instrumental in Team USA's victories at the CSIO5* Nations Cups in Rome and Aachen last season. The loss creates a gap in Ward's depth chart as the cycle moves toward the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, putting increased pressure on his younger mounts to step up during the remaining weeks of WEF.

The Longines World Rankings updated this week, revealing Scott Brash's return to the World Number One spot with 3,459 points, overtaking Kent Farrington (3,415 points). The 2024 Olympic team gold medalist's resurgence sets a backdrop of heightened competitiveness heading into the championship season. Ben Maher moved up to third with 3,020 points following his runner-up finish in Wellington.

The Dutch Olympic Horse Foundation (NOP) intervened to secure Pretty Woman van 't Paradijs for Willem Greve, preventing the horse's sale abroad. The move highlights the increasing role of national federations acting as "market makers" to protect their medal interests against the buying power of US and Middle Eastern sponsors. The intervention ensures the mare remains available for Greve and the Dutch team heading into the 2026 World Championships.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSIO5 Longines League of Nations – Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 (UAE, February 11-15)

The pinnacle of team showjumping kicks off at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club with a revamped venue featuring new hybrid footing. The LLN restricts entry to the top 10 ranked nations, and the opener features fascinating strategic decisions. The USA has opted for a developmental approach—Sarah Segal and Callie Schott provide veteran experience while Natalie Dean and Skylar Wireman gain championship mileage, suggesting the Americans are using this leg to deepen their bench rather than deploying their primary weapons (Ward/Farrington) who are focused on the World Cup in Ocala. Germany enters as the statistical favorite with Daniel Deusser and Marco Kutscher anchoring the squad alongside in-form Sophie Hinners. The hosts UAE are the dark horse—Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi comes in winning form from Sharjah, and with home-field advantage under the lights, they have the horsepower to podium. Brazil fields a mix of veteran stability (Luciana Diniz, Pedro Junqueira Muylaert) and youth (Luiz Felipe Neto De Azevedo) in a stabilization strategy aimed at avoiding relegation zones.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5-W Ocala – North American League Finale 🇺🇸 (USA, February 10-15)

The $300,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala on Saturday determines the final list of North American delegates for Fort Worth. Kent Farrington sits second in the standings and typically uses the final qualifier to cement his horse's confidence before the Finals. But Luis Alejandro Plascencia, riding the wave of his Puebla victory on Huberth B, represents a significant threat.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI5/CSI3-W Doha, Al Shaqab 🇶🇦 (Qatar, February 11-14)

Qatar's premier indoor event features both 5* and 3* World Cup action. The compressed format and timing opposite Abu Dhabi's LLN means field strength may be impacted, but the Al Shaqab venue always delivers exceptional production values and the Middle Eastern contingent will be out in force.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ CSI4 Vejer de la Frontera 🇪🇸 (Spain, February 10-15)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Neumünster 🇩🇪 (Germany, February 12-15)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Valencia 🇪🇸 (Spain, February 10-15)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 San Giovanni in Marignano 🇮🇹 (Italy, February 11-15)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Thermal 🇺🇸 (USA, February 10-15)

⭐⭐⭐ CSI3 Wellington 🇺🇸 (USA, February 11-15)

This week gets an 8.6/10 for compelling storylines and history-making performances.

Two CSI5* Grand Prix delivered exactly what we want from elite showjumping—technical courses that separated the best from the rest, dramatic jump-offs decided by fractions of a second, and breakthrough moments that will define careers. Richard Vogel's continued excellence on Gangster Montdesir confirms this partnership as a genuine championship contender for Germany. Jessica Burke breaking Bordeaux's glass ceiling stands as one of the season's most significant achievements, both for her World Cup qualification campaign and for the sport's progress. The Mexican dominance in Puebla showcased the depth of talent in the North American League.

The stage is set for an explosive week ahead with the LLN Abu Dhabi opener and the NAL Ocala finale providing the perfect convergence of team and individual glory.

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