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Pacific Saddlery was out at the Oaks Finale 1, PREMIER 4 in San Juan Capistrano last week, and we’ll be back again for the Oaks Finale 2, NATIONAL J5 this week. If you’re around, come by to say hello and pick up a free Allon scrunchie. I always enjoy meeting fellow horse lovers in person. Being at the showgrounds here at home had me thinking about how much energy and emotion are carried across arenas around the world, which made this week’s international highlights feel even more special.
Some weeks in showjumping unfold like pure theater, and this was one of them. From emotional breakthroughs in Europe to repeat glory in the U.S., the sport gave us stories that linger far beyond the final results sheet. These were the five that gripped me most.
My favorite classes this week:
There’s something unforgettable about a hometown victory, and Riesenbeck delivered a goosebump moment when Gerrit Nieberg (GER) and Ping Pong van de Lentamel rose to the occasion. In the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix CSI5*, the German crowd erupted as their rider stopped the clock in 46.99s during a tense six-horse jump-off. Nieberg wasn’t just winning a class, he was capturing his first LGCT Grand Prix on home soil, under immense pressure on one of Europe’s most competitive circuits. Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Alcapone des Carmille pushed him to the wire, but Nieberg’s precision was unshakable. The atmosphere inside Ludger Beerbaum’s venue made the triumph even sweeter: national pride and disbelief colliding in one breathtaking finish.
Official Results
Not far behind in intensity came Kent Farrington (USA) with Greya, defending their crown in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Traverse City CSI5*-W. A year after winning the same class, Farrington returned with a “more mature” Greya and showed what growth looks like in this sport. The duo bested a seven-horse jump-off, proving that experience sharpened their speed and confidence without dulling their fire. There’s always something special about back-to-back wins, but in Traverse City it felt like a statement. The NAL season opener carried an atmosphere of promise, and the Michigan crowd seemed to know they were witnessing the start of another chapter. What struck me most was Farrington’s composure. He made the defense of his title look inevitable, though it was anything but.
Official Results
Of course, another highlight was Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Origa V/H Zuid-Pajottenland (BEL-bred) seizing the $200,000 Blue Diamond Cup CSI4* at Old Salem Farm. The class had already whittled itself to five in the jump-off, but Sternlicht, last to go, rode like a woman with unfinished business. Origa, returning after a year off, showed no signs of rust. Their 39.11s round was sharp, balanced, and just enough to beat a strong international field. What resonated most was the comeback element. Watching a horse return to form after a long absence and seeing a rider’s faith rewarded in front of a supportive New York crowd made this a performance that lifted the heart. Old Salem Farm’s elegance and community spirit made the moment even more poignant.
Back in the U.S., brilliance flashed in the $117,000 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI5*-W at Traverse City, where Abdel Saïd (BEL) and Quaker Brimbelles Z lit up the arena. Out of seven in the jump-off, Saïd was the only rider to crack the 40-second barrier, clocking 39.77s with daring precision. That lone sub-40 mark said everything about the intensity of his ride: committed from the first stride and bold through the final line. Katie Dinan pressed hard but could not quite match the Belgian’s lightning pace. What made this memorable for me was how it set the tone for Saïd’s week, confidence and flair in a ring that demands both. Traverse City may not have Europe’s centuries-old showgrounds, but it is quickly carving its own global reputation with performances like this.
Official Results
Finally, my week would not have been complete without Peder Fredricson (SWE) setting the early tone at Riesenbeck in the Four Seasons Private Residencies Prize CSI5*. With SV Vroom de la Pomme Z, Fredricson stopped the clock at 62.66s, a time that felt both inevitable and untouchable. The Swedish star edged out Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Simon Delestre in a field stacked with European powerhouses, proving that even in the “warm-up” classes, the stakes are sky-high at a Global Champions Tour stop. What I loved most was how Fredricson’s round seemed to send a message, poised, fast, but effortless. The ride energized the whole weekend, and the crowd, already buzzing for the LGCT main event, had an early hero to cheer.
Official Results
What stays with me most from this week are the faces: Nieberg’s tearful disbelief in Riesenbeck, Farrington’s calm smile in Traverse City, Sternlicht’s sheer relief in New York, and the gleam of determination from Saïd and Fredricson. Each moment was wrapped not only in competition, but in the very human emotions that make showjumping so endlessly captivating.
