World no. 2 Kent Farrington (USA) could not be caught in the $62,500 Arthramid Vet CSI3* Qualifier on Friday. He and Myla, owned by Haity McNerney, topped a stacked field of 73 to pocket a victory on the grass derby field during the second week of the Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment. The Wellington International Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, continues for five weeks through May 11 and is highlighted by two CSI3* competitions.
“This is a nice experience for these horses before going into the summer,” said Farrington of the courses on the field designed by Mexico’s Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz. “Myla has stepped up to the top level and this is her first win this season. She’s a strong part of my team that I’ll take to jump some nations cups this summer for Team USA.”
The track suited Myla’s cat-like speed and agility. “It's a big field and they used a lot of it in the jump-off. That's really about carrying a continuous rate of consistent speed for the course, which she has being that she’s a smaller thoroughbred type horse. She naturally covers the ground quite quickly.”
Farrington and Myla, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Crunch 3 x Quadros), stopped the second-round timers at 44.76 seconds for the win. Fellow U.S. athlete Marilyn Little did her best to chase down the two-time Olympian but came up short in 45.45 seconds riding La Contessa. Third place was presented to Ireland’s Robert Blanchette riding Chardonnay for owner Ridersmith, LLC.
Farrington had a banner season during the winter months in Wellington with back-to-back five-star grand prix victories to his credit. The success has him knocking on the door of the world no. 1 title, an honor he also held for almost a year in 2017/2018.
“It would be nice to do it again with a new group of horses,” he admitted. “That would be exciting for my whole team to get back there again, but it's not something that we chase. I think that's when you make poor decisions in management. We set out our calendar, and if we do end up getting world no. 1, it's a consequence of great results.”
The Wellington International Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, has attracted a high level of both horse and rider talent to remain in Florida after the conclusion of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The level is a record-setting one for the series.
“I think that's the evolution of what South Florida has become; you have multiple venues which I think helps strengthen all of the venues because it gives people a reason to come to Florida and multiple places where they can base and show, run a business, have a great lifestyle and have high level sport,” said Farrington. “That leads to having a longer season that people are more interested in staying for. When you have great weather and conditions like today, I think it's an easy choice for people to stay.”
For complete results from the $62,500 Arthramid Vet CSI3* Qualifier, click HERE.
Kicking off the day on the derby field, Argentina’s Luis Pedro Biraben won the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Speed riding Georgina de Carles, owned by La Cuadra Stables. Winning by two tenths of a second, Biraben pipped Ireland’s Robert Blanchette aboard Carnlea Premier Balou to second for owner Ridersmith, LLC. Mia Albelo (USA) was third in the irons of her own MHS Cardenta.
Victoria Colvin, Emma Brody Rise to the Top in USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, Presented by Perfect Products
Hunters took to the International Arena at Wellington International during the second week of the Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, and were showcased in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Perfect Products, on Friday. The derby was split into professional and junior/amateur sections with Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, winning aboard Gabriel for the professionals, and 17-year-old Emma Brody of New York, NY, taking top call among juniors and amateurs on her own Corzico Melloni Z.
Colvin and her seasoned partner Gabriel, owned by JT Farm, scored the high point of the day on a 94 in the handy phase of the hunt & go style derby course. It was coupled with a 92 from the classic round from judges Joseph Heidgen and Robin Swinderman. Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, took second on scores of 90 and 92 riding Hardrock Harmonie SIH, owned by Eva Kennedy. Rounding out the top three, Canada’s Brady Mitchell piloted Carter to an 89 and 91 for The Rein Family.
“He is a very seasoned horse and is really fun,” said Colvin of the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Azteca VDL. “He's done this for a long time and we know each other really well. He was very handy and did his turns really tight.”
Of the opportunity to get into the International Arena, Colvin said, “He loves it out there; we’ve been in this ring for five years together, so he knows it very well.”
After derby glory, Gabriel will now compete with JJ Torano in the junior hunter ranks over the weekend.
Brody scored 86 and 90 over the courses designed by Thomas Carlson to earn the win by a single point.
“I’ve had him for two years now so I know him very well,” said Brody of Corzico Melloni Z, an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cornet Obolensky. “We got him when he was very young and just started him in the hunters this year. He loved the atmosphere and was great in the handy.”
Brody is balancing her riding with studies at The Hewitt School in New York City, where she will graduate from next year.
Isabelle Castellanos of Wellington, FL, paired an 87 with an 88 to finish second riding Remington, owned by Castellrock, LLC. In third, Chrysopylae Locke of Darien, CT, scored an 89 and 85.5 in the irons of Call Me Cool for owner Macquarie Simon.
For complete results from the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Perfect Products, click HERE for the professional section and HERE for the junior/amateur section.
The International Arena at Wellington International was also host to the 3rd Annual Junior and 2nd Annual Adult Amateur Spring Equitation Championships, presented by Arion Sellier, on Friday during the second week of the Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment.
The Spring Equitation Championships consist of two rounds and a test of the top-four riders. Four judging panels threw scores that deemed Adriana Forte of Water Mill, NY, the winner of the Junior Championship riding Heritage Farm’s Candescent. Taylor Cawley took second and Vivian Golden third.
The Adult Championship crowned Caroline Olsen of Sherborn, MA, the winner in the irons of Armigo 5, owned by Stonehenge Stables. Kaitlyn Sheerahamed finished second with Lindsay Swedenburg following in third.
Both Forte and Olsen won custom saddles from Arion for their victories.
Competition at the Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, continues through May 11 at Wellington International. To view complete results, click HERE.
