Rising equitation stars took to the International Arena at Wellington International on Thursday evening for the coveted WEF Equitation Championship, presented by Arion Sellier, during the KASK-sponsored Week 11 of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). As Wellington International gears up for Rolex Finale week of the winter season, kicking off on March 26, all eyes were on junior riders as 40 qualified rising stars took to the big ring.
The win was earned by 16-year-old Wellington-based Olivia Sweetnam, who opened competition with a high-score of 95 in the first round. She coupled it with a 91.5 in the second round aboard Efendi for owner Ashland Farms. Following in the footsteps of her sister’s 2024 runner-up finish, Baylee Rowan, 15, of Little Compton, RI, took second on Quantum, owned by Missy Clark. Adriana Forte of Water Mill, NY, rounded out the top three riding Heritage Farm’s Candescent.
“I am so proud of myself and my horse, and a bit relieved to be honest. I was very nervous going into this,” said Sweetnam, who is trained by Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms, and Danny Arendt of her family’s Sweet Oak Farm. “I've been working on staying focused during important finals and championships, and I hope I can produce more results similar to this.”
Andy Christiansen (USA) designed the equitation track, over which the top 12 were called back in reverse order for a second round. Four riders returned—without stirrups—for further testing: Sweetnam, Rowan, Forte and J.J. Torano, 14, of Wellington, FL, on Favorite Edition Z. Their test included showing off at a hand gallop, a trot fence, counter canter on both leads and halt after the last fence.
“I was nervous going into the final test because I felt like there was a lot of pressure on me,” said Sweetnam, who returned last in the test. “I'm not weak without stirrups, but I’m not the strongest either. I tried to focus on what was best for my horse and my plan and it all worked out.”
After the three rounds, Olivia—daughter of Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam—was crowned winner from two judging panels made up of Panel 1: Michael Tokaruk and Karen Healy and Panel 2: Tammy Provost and Caitlin White.
The unique format of the WEF Equitation Championship removes trainers and all outside help from the equation. Riders must walk the course, make their plan and warm up without the assistance of a trainer. Riders hand in their cell phones at the start and can only be assisted by one groom in the schooling area.
“I definitely relied on some of my peers throughout this class,” admitted Olivia whose trainers were spectators on Thursday night. “It's a nice group of riders who are super positive and friendly. It's nice to have them in my corner, and I try my best to be in their corners.”
Diane Landreville and Jean Bonsall observed the warm-up for the first two rounds and awarded riders a score ranging from minus two to plus two points based on their time management, horsemanship and effectiveness in the schooling area. Those points were either added or subtracted from their overall score. Sweetnam earned both available points from the schooling ring judges.
Of her horse, Olivia concluded, “Efendi is super seasoned in the ring, which makes me feel like I can step into any class and win it. He definitely stepped up to the occasion tonight. He's been under the lights a number of times, so I wasn't too worried about it. He jumped amazing, felt amazing and his quietness level was perfect; he gave me everything and more tonight.”
Wellington International expresses thanks to Arion Sellier, who presented gifts to all participants, a saddle to the winner, and bridles for second through fourth place.
To cap the evening, Castlefield Spartacus—owned by West Hill and piloted to ninth place by Rylynn Conway—was presented with the “Class Action” Best Equitation Horse honor. Additionally, Cent 15 earned the Best Turned Out Horse Award, which was presented to groom Lolo Godoy after Cent 15 carried Paige Walkenbach to a seventh-place finish.
Grace Carucci Finds Mr. Right in $10,000 Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby, Sponsored by Ethel M Chocolates
Grace Carucci experienced the highlight of a lifetime Thursday of Week 11 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), shortly after coming out of the ring on top in the $10,000 Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Ethel M Chocolates. She not only won the class, but she found out that she now owned the horse she sat on.
“He’s a horse that has been for sale in the barn and is the sweetest guy,” she said about her winning partner, Mr. Right. “When I came out of the ring today, my mom told me that she bought him for me, which is absolutely mind-blowing.”
Jumping around the “hunt and go” style course on the derby field designed by Ken Krome, Carucci, who hails from Sheldon, SC, earned scores of 86 and 87 for the respective phases, earning a total of 173. With 68 entries in the order, she had to wait a while to find out she was the winner, but in her mind, she’d already won in a much bigger way.
“I started crying when I walked out of the ring because I sometimes cry when I'm proud of my horses,” Carucci said of her emotions when walking out of the ring, before the news was broken. “I've mostly had a lot of young horses, so I get to experience so many new accomplishments for them. I looked at my trainer [Lisa Rex] and said, ‘I'm crying and he's not even mine.’ And then my mom walked over and said, ‘Surprise!’”
Mr. Right, formerly owned by Fait Accompli, LLC, is the horse of Carucci’s dreams, and with an eventing background, the horse was a natural on the Wellington International grass derby field.
“He's so amenable and up for anything,” she said of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “He is willing to do whatever and his canter is like a rocking horse. He just gives me so much confidence.”
Having the opportunity to jump on the derby field is a privilege Carucci is very grateful for, adding to the joy of the day.
“This is such an amazing field,” she said. “You see pictures of grand prix riders here, and it's nice to go out there and do the same.”
Sharing the joy Thursday Grace’s mother, Claudia, who made it possible for Mr. Right to join the Carucci family.
“It’s a gift to be able to give somebody something that makes them so happy,” Claudia shared. “I'm beyond thrilled to be able to do it. It was hard for me, her trainer and our vet to keep it a secret.”
Second-place honors went to Cassico and Rebekah Warren with a score of 168. Bauer and Melissa Jacobs took third place with a score of 167.5.
To see full results from the $10,000 Amateur USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Ethel M Chocolates, click HERE.
Philippa Amman and Balousock B.B.S. Are Best in $10,000 Junior USHJA National Hunter Derby, Sponsored by Ethel M Chocolates
While Grace Carucci won the Amateur section on a horse that is only now officially hers, Philippa Amman of Wellington, FL, took top honors on a horse she’s owned for quite some time in the $10,000 Junior USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Ethel M Chocolates. With Balousock B.B.S., she took scores of 90 and 88 for the win against other top junior competitors.
“We've had him forever,” she said of Balousock B.B.S. “He was the first horse our family ever bought. He's part of the family, for sure. I train with Nick Pongracz and Jacob Pope at Hickory Ridge, and Jacob used to ride him. Now he's almost 16 and he had so much fun out there today.”
Balou, as the horse is called in the barn, has been partnered with Amman since he was only 8 years old, so the two know each other quite well. That helped as they navigated the expansive derby field, a change in environment for many of the hunters.
“He really loves the field,” she went on. “He's very brave, so he didn't look at any of the jumps. I think he jumps better over some of the bigger, spookier ones, so he was awesome. He handled it like a pro.”
The Swedish Warmblood gelding has a history competition in the jumpers, but switched gears quite nicely for Amman. The jumper mindset helps the pair to be able to show off in a field setting.
“Because he's getting older, we have only done him in a couple weeks of junior hunters at the 3’6” height earlier in the season,” Amman reflected on Balou’s schedule this year at WEF. “He's had a couple weeks off since WCHR during week six, and he hasn't been showing, so we had this as one of the goals to do this season.
“I think it's such a cool opportunity for juniors to get to use fields that are usually reserved for grand prix riders,” Amman, 17, concluded. “This atmosphere and bigger jumps will prepare you for bigger shows.”
Kenzie Smith took second place with Sundown, owned by Charlotte Rossettter and Pamela Wright, and Ashley McCaslin was third with MTM Animated, owned by Kimberly McCaslin.
To see full results from the $10,000 Junior USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Ethel M. Chocolates, click HERE.
To conclude the day on the grass, it was Jennifer Hannan and Swing Easy, owned by Kate Ellis, who took the win in the $10,000 Open USHJA National Hunter Derby with a score of 181. In second place was Sugarman, piloted by Jennifer Bliss for Harris Hill Farm, LLC. Goodfella, owned by Maya Grove, took third place.
