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Conor Swail has officially retired one of his most trusted and beloved partners, Vital Chance de La Roque. Affectionately known as “Vinny,” the 2009 Selle Français gelding by Diamant de Semilly out of a Rivage du Poncel dam line has delivered countless unforgettable performances on the international show jumping stage.

Ocala Winter Spectacular Show Series II – CSI3*The 2026 Ocala Winter Spectacular Show Series II continues at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, offering another week of top-tier hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. Riders from across the U.S. return to showcase early-season form in a professional and smoothly run show environment.

Kent Farrington was the last to go in the jump-off and, as the rain began, won the $75,000 WEC Grand Prix under the lights Saturday evening with his new partner, a 9-year-old Mexican Sport Horse gelding - Descartes.“He’s a new ride for me,” said Farrington. “Francisco Pasquel called me and said he has an unbelievable horse in Mexico for me and said I had to come and ride it.

It's been a busy, brilliant year for Australian-born Boyd Martin, who rides for the U.S.Following a dominant performance at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, where he finished second overall and claimed the USEF CCI5*-L National Championship with the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3, Martin ascended to the No. 1 spot in the FEI Eventing World Rankings.

At the very least, with their victory in the Grand Prix of Aachen—the Grand Prix Freestyle at the 5* level—they made it clear to the dressage elite: WE ARE HERE! What followed was the title of Double European Champion in dressage. We are talking, of course, about Justin Verboomen and his Zonik Plus, the black stallion who shook up the world of dressage at just 9 years old.

There’s no doubt that 23-year-old Christian Simonson and his performances on Indian Rock was the outstanding dressage partnership of 2025 for all of the Americas with six victories in six Grand Prix starts. And posting the highest Grand Prix score, 81.405%, by a rebuilding American elite program in almost two years.

As the season draws to a close, it offers a moment to reflect on the performances that helped define the hunter discipline over the past year. From championship evenings under the lights to pivotal wins at cornerstone events, the 2025 season delivered a collection of moments that highlighted both the depth and evolution of the hunter sport.

The 2025 U.S. showjumping season has been a year of transition and triumph, defined by the dominance of established legends and the emergence of a fearless new generation. From historic individual rankings to grit-filled team performances, American riders have kept the U.S. flag at the forefront of the global stage.Here are just a few of the highlights that helped shaped U.S. show jumping in 2025.

Ireland's Tom Wachman closed out the final CSI5* jumper class of the London International Horse Show Monday evening with a victory aboard the 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Do It Easy. This marked the 20-year-old rider's first time competing at the five-day London show, and he's leaving not only with this win, but decent placings in some of the show's other FEI jumper classes.

FEI Longines World No. 23 Max Kühner conquered the 1.60m course and the clock, with EIC Cooley Jump the Q, to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ presented by Agria at the London International Horse Show. The first-place finish awards Kühner 20 points, putting him into first place in the FEI Longines Western European League standings after six of 13 legs.