Exactly one year ago, Cydello claimed his first grand prix victory with Richard Vogel (GER) on the derby field at Wellington International, and the duo repeated history, taking the win again Sunday in the $140,000 WeatherTech CSI3* Grand Prix to wrap up Week 2 of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
Out of a field of stellar combinations, some new and some incredibly seasoned, Vogel and Cydello were among 14 clear pairs over a track set by Olaf Petersen, Jr. Vogel was nearly last to go, with just Jessica Mendoza (GBR) behind him aboard In The Air, but ultimately his jump-off strategy prevailed.
“Cydello is an amazing horse,” Vogel said of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Cascadello x Forsyth FRH). “He’s had some great success since we’ve had him. We thought ‘let’s try to repeat here. We’re thrilled and mega happy that we succeeded.”
Mimi Gochman (USA) had taken the lead early on and held it for some time with a time of 38.1 seconds before Vogel stepped in and pipped her in 37.66. She ended up second with Inclen BH, owned by DG Sport Horse LLC. Cian O’Connor (IRL) claimed third aboard Bentley du Sury, owned by Karlswood Partners, on a time of 38.51 seconds.
Vogel knew where he could be quick around the short course, but it wasn’t in the same spots that most riders tried to shave off time. “Some people did seven strides from [fence] one to two,” he elaborated on his plan. “He has a big enough stride, but I still decided to shape the eight [strides] and jump in the right direction over number two. I might’ve not been the fastest from one to two but I think I made the time up in the rollback. I knew there [could be] eight strides to the last, but I decided to do the nine because I felt I was quick enough and luckily it paid off.”
Cydello’s progression is evidence that a circuit like WEF can be an excellent opportunity to grow a horse’s confidence and step it up into the higher levels. Vogel used WEF 2024 as an upward ramp for the horse to jump more demanding tracks, and he’s been jumping almost exclusively at the CSI5* level—and staying competitive—ever since.
“He got more experience,” Vogel said of how Cydello has developed over the past year. “When we had him here last year it was his seventh or eighth FEI show so he was fairly green at that level. But he loves the grass and throughout the year he saw some great arenas like Aachen and Barcelona, some really good results, got more mature, more experienced, and we’re lucky that we can win classes.”
Ranked number nine in the world, Vogel is among the top international athletes that attend WEF annually now, and he is grateful for an environment that not only provides a high level of competition but also continues to challenge him to improve.
“I think that’s why we are all here,” he remarked of the level of competition at WEF. “Whether it’s a three-, four- or five-star week there’s always some of the best riders in the world here competing with their best horses. Even in this three-star Grand Prix we saw some Olympic combinations—not just riders but also horses—so that just shows you how tough the level here is. You have to measure yourself with better competitors in order to improve. It’s not easy here but that keeps us working and improving and we really enjoy it.”
With his top horse, United Touch S, staying back home to prioritize the FEI World Cup Finals in April, Vogel has brought a less experienced but incredibly talented group of horses to hope for a similar trajectory that Cydello saw over the past year.
“I have greener and newer horses here that are supposed to step up,” he said of his string for WEF. “I find it hard to have a planned schedule throughout the whole circuit. It’s more about feeling when they’re ready for the next step and when is the time to keep them at the level or take a step down. We take it as we go.”
To complete the day, Cydello’s groom Anna Halasz was honored with the Double H Farm Grooms Award and was presented with a $500 check. The Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award designation went to Jessica Mendoza (GBR) after a brilliantly consistent week.
For complete results from the WeatherTech CSI3* Grand prix, click HERE. Full results from WEF 2 are available HERE.
Vogel and other international athletes now eye WEF 3, which will offer CSI4* and CSI2* competition, presented by NetJets, back in the International Ring.
Nina Mallevaey and My Clementine Master BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix
Among an extremely impressive roster of young riders at the Winter Equestrian Festival, it was Nina Mallevaey (FRA) who topped the week’s premiere BrainJuice Under 25 Grand Prix Series event in the $31,020 BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix, on the derby field Sunday morning.
Many of the U25 athletes in Wellington are already jumping the highest levels, Mallevaey herself included, but the developing riders appreciate having the opportunity to step into their own division separate from the senior FEI division for the week. Mallevaey was one of 12 to navigate the course, designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr., fault free with My Clementine, owned by the Rein Family, and she returned to take the win over the short course.
“It means a lot,” Mallevaey said of her victory Sunday. “It’s my last U25 year so I really want to enjoy the circuit at WEF. I hope to qualify for the final so [today] is going to give me some points. It’s the beginning of the season and the Rein family is here watching so I’m really happy.”
In her third season at Wellington International, Mallevaey has enjoyed what the U25 division has taught her, hoping to squeeze as much out of her final year as she can.
“It’s the second year I’ve done the U25 here, and it’s super nice,” she continued. “We compete with really good riders even in the U25. Some of them already do the top events. They have nice horses, and it’s 1.45m so it’s big enough. It’s a good challenging circuit.”
Mallevaey is still developing her partnership with My Clementine, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality 004 x Kashmir van Schuttershof), but they’re progressing into new heights together. The mare recently jumped and placed in her first CSI3* Grand Prix and even won a CSI5* class in the fall.
“She’s super fun to ride,” she said of My Clementine. “She’s super careful and competitive, always wants to do well. She loves to go fast so I always enjoy the jump-off with her.”
With support from the Rein family, Mallevaey is hoping to accomplish big things this season, especially considering she recently took over the ride aboard Canadian Erynn Ballard’s Olympic mount Nikka VD Bisschop, a mare she’s begun to campaign lightly in Wellington.
“I would like to try to win the big stuff, try to win a five-star and maybe start to think about championships,” Mallevaey said of her goals heading into this season. “I would really like to do some Nations Cups and to try to do the European Championships.”
With eyes on more BrainJuice U25 competition leading up to the final, which takes place Sunday of WEF 10, Mallevaey also plans to compete in the CSI5* weeks, beginning with WEF 5 aboard Dynastie de Beaufour.
Rounding out the top three in the BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix, Ireland’s Tim Brennan took second with Diadema Della Caccia and Ariana Marnell rounded out the top three for the U.S. After the top placing with Jikke-Cara, Marnell currently leads the BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix Series standings at WEF.
Tracy Stewart and Bonbon Take Sweet Victory in Marshall & Sterling/Great American Adult Amateur Hunter
Tracy Stewart has been riding for the majority of her life, but she knows she has something special in her current ride, Bonbon. The 9-year-old Westphalian mare, owned by Legacy Equine, LLC, helped carry Stewart to championship honors Sunday of WEF 2 in the Marshall & Sterling/Great American Adult Amateur Older Hunter Section B division.
“Bonbon is a mare I got when she was six, and we've been working pretty hard to get her to where she is now,” Stewart, of Delray Beach, FL, said of their partnership so far. “She's a super partner. and my trainers Keri Kampsen and Lexy Reed have helped me bring her to the next level. We expect to have a lot of fun with her in the future, and I hope to continue.”
Though horses and showing have been part of her entire life, Stewart still approaches every day with the same attitude, grateful for the moments spent in the saddle.
“I just wanted to ride; I loved horses when I was a kid,” she said of her beginnings in the sport. ”I started riding when I was seven. I've ridden my whole life. I rode collegiately, and now I get to do it as an adult, which is a treat. I've been competing in Wellington for over 10 years and I love it. and when it works out, it's great, but I'm here for fun.”
Since her horse is still young, she has no expectation for the season, so they’ll take it week by week and decide what’s best for the mare. Regardless of the division, Bonbon definitely stands out in a crowd. The mare’s scores were all consistently above an 85 during WEF 2, including a win over fences with an 88.
‘She's just willing, she's brave, she wants to do it, she likes to show, and she's just game,” Stewart said of what makes Bonbon a star. “She loves it, and she's a super partner.”
With her hometown just down the road, Stewart appreciates having the highest level of competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival and being a part of it every year.
“You come here with the right attitude, some days you're gonna win and some days you're gonna lose,” she said of her approach to competing at WEF. “It's the hardest competition I've ever seen but it is fun. There's a really good group of adults in the amateurs who support each other and that's what it's all about.”
