Pablo Mejia Villa on Caramia wins Hermes 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic
First of 13 weeks at Wellington's Winter Equestrian Festival
January 3, 2026 at 1:46 PMBy k.braddick
Pablo Mejia Villa on the nine-year-old mare Caramia won the first of 13 weeks of Hermes 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic at Wellington's Winter Equestrian Festival Saturday.
The Colombian rider and the horse he took over in the summer was double clear in a jump off time of 30.591 secs. for the pair's first victory.
Marie Hecart of France, competing in Wellington in 2026 as she has for many years, was the previous rider of the Caramia.
Germany's Richard Vogel, one of six combinations to return for the jump off, placed second on the 10-year-old gelding Quizas Van 'T Hulsbos in a time of 31.626 secs.
This was the first Florida outing for the partnership. The horse had previously been competed in Europe.
Diego Perez Bilbao of Spain on CMD Scarlet, 10-year-old mare, was third on 31.698 secs.
Lillie Keenan of USA on Alicia Santa Rosa, 10-year-old Mexican-bred mare, was also double clear to place fourth on 31.912 secs.
Results:
$25,000 Hermes 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Place Horse/Rider Nation JO Faults Time
1. CARAMIA/PABLO MEJIA VILLA COL 0 30.591
2. QUIZAS VAN ‘T HULSBOS/RICHARD VOGEL GER 0 31.626
3. CMD SCARLET/DIEGO PEREZ BILBAO ESP 0 31.698
4. ALICIA SANTA ROSA/LILLIE KEENAN USA 0 31.912
5. DANCE DU BUISSON Z/CAROLINE MAWHINNEY USA 4 34.139
6. HALLILEA/CAROLINE MAWHINNEY USA 8 32.153
Photo: Pablo Mejia Villa of Colombia on Caramia, winner of Hermes 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic at Wellington's Winter Equestrian Festival. © 2026 Ken Braddick/Jumper-News.US
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