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Pacific Saddlery will be back in Temecula, its last week this season, for the Temecula Valley National Fall III, National J5, and if this past week’s showjumping is any preview, we’re ready for an atmosphere charged with brilliance and heart.
Some weeks deliver sport that’s just beautiful to watch. From the ancient grandeur of Rome’s Circus Maximus to the electric energy of San Miguel de Allende and the debut of the Highlands Cup, this one was packed with moments that stirred something deeper: grit, grace, and joy shared between horse and rider.
This week’s standout winners:
There are certain settings where sport feels almost cinematic, and the Circus Maximus in Rome was exactly that. Under the golden Italian light, Harrie Smolders (NED) and his evergreen partner Monaco delivered a round of breathtaking control to claim their third LGCT Grand Prix of 2025. Yet it was Gilles Thomas (BEL), finishing just behind, who stole the championship spotlight, clinching the season title as the youngest rider ever to do so. The crowd’s applause rolled like thunder between the ancient walls, blending history with horsepower. What struck me most was how Monaco’s composure seemed to quiet the arena before erupting into cheers, a testament to partnership perfected over years. Moments like this remind me why Rome is such sacred ground for our sport: timeless setting, champions rising, and emotion so palpable it hums in the air.
Official Results
Few wins radiate as much national pride as Federico Fernandez (MEX) taking the CSI5 GNP Grand Prix* on home soil with the brilliant Romeo. In a field that whittled down to only two clears, the pair’s icy precision under pressure transformed tension into triumph as Fernandez crossed the line double-clear, the crowd at Club Hípico Otomí erupted, flags waving, mariachis blaring, families in tears. For a rider who’s long carried the Mexican flag across continents, this was a moment of pure return: a hometown victory, hard-earned and deeply felt. What I loved was the combination of technical perfection and emotional release, proof that mastery and heart can share the same stride. The atmosphere in San Miguel reminded everyone why this stop on the circuit feels so alive: art, culture, and equestrian excellence fused in one unforgettable evening.
Official Results
The inaugural Highlands Cup Grand Prix delivered drama worthy of its debut. Rene Dittmer (GER) and the striking Corsica X carved out victory by less than two-tenths of a second over Gregory Wathelet (BEL) in a heart-pounding finish that had everyone on their feet in New York’s Hudson Valley. What impressed me wasn’t just Dittmer’s precision, it was his composure. On a brand-new stage, with the crowd hungry for a name to remember, he rode like a man who’d been here a hundred times before. The Highlands Cup has quickly set a tone of prestige: elegant venue, championship-level sport, and a feeling that a new American classic might just have been born. Watching Dittmer lift that inaugural trophy felt symbolic of a bridge between Europe’s seasoned circuit and a bold new chapter of North American showjumping.
Official Results
Back in the U.S., youth had its moment when Skylar Wireman (USA) kept her dazzling run alive at the Highlands Cup Festival, piloting King’s Ruby to another top-flight win. Still early in her senior career, Wireman is showing a poise that belies her age, outpacing a field that included Olympians and seasoned pros. What stood out most was her ease in the saddle: forward, fluid, and fearless. The crowd sensed it too, cheering as she sealed a jump-off victory over Daniel Bluman (ISR) by the slimmest of margins. There was a spark of generational change in the air, an unmistakable feeling that we’re witnessing a star stepping fully into her stride. I loved the contrast of energy: a young Californian smile lighting up the crisp Hudson Valley autumn, proof that fresh faces can make even veteran fans believe all over again.
Official Results
Not far behind in excitement was the GCL of Rome, where the Cannes Stars, powered by Iron Dames, Sophie Hinners (GER) and Katrin Eckermann (GER) executed four immaculate rounds that electrified the Roman crowd. Under the watchful gaze of the Colosseum, precision and power intertwined; each clear round felt like a statement for women in sport, teamwork, and total trust. Their poise in pink jackets turned the arena into a sea of admiration, and by the final salute, even rival teams were clapping. The GCL always brings drama, but this one carried purpose: a showcase of quiet dominance and shared joy that transcended scoreboards. Watching the Iron Dames celebrate in the heart of Rome felt like a victory for every rider who’s ever dreamed of rewriting the script.
Official Results
What stayed with me this week was the sense of motion that never stopped. Each class felt like it tipped something forward: a championship sealed, a debut remembered, a young rider stepping into her own. You could almost feel the current running through it all, from the rhythm of hooves on Rome’s ancient ground to the heartbeat of the crowd at the Highlands. The week wasn’t about any single triumph, but about how momentum itself became its own kind of victory each round, feeding the next, each rider part of something still moving, still growing, long after the final round was done.
