World no. 6 Richard Vogel left his mark on opening week of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with back-to-back wins at Wellington International in Wellington, FL. After topping the Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round riding Levi Noesar on Thursday, he returned Sunday afternoon to win the $75,000 WEF Premiere Grand Prix in the irons of Event De L’Heribus.
In their first show together, Vogel and the 10-year-old German-bred gelding (Emir De Vy x Komanche Des Fontenis) bested a 12-horse jump-off over courses designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA). A fierce competitor in any jump-off, Vogel stopped the clock at 34.086 seconds to pip current leader Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Gilona AO. Sweetnam's time of 34.24 seconds stood for second place, while Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) rounded out the podium for the home country riding Cyramo Z in 35.065 seconds.
“I'm very excited about our future with him,” said Vogel, a German Olympian who is basing in Wellington for his winter season. “It’s a super way to start the season and a spectacular way to begin our partnership.”
Vogel found “Sven”—as the horse is known around the barn—with the Berger family in Bavaria, South Germany. “More than a year ago, I bought another horse off them and I saw him in the stable. Even in the stall I could see that he was smart. I knew him from videos and followed the horse quite a bit, but they weren't ready to sell. I went back two months ago to try him and the feeling was very good.”
Event De L’Heribus was produced by Sabrina Berger and collected many notable wins in the young horse ranks. “Sabrina did a super job with him; brought him up very well so that we can take over the reins and straight away have success. That's a nice feeling and a compliment to their work also.”
When asked about his impressive record over speed tracks, Vogel responded. “Nowadays, our sport is so fast. I think it's for sure an advantage to already have a naturally fast horse and I like those types of horses. If a horse jumps a lot of clear rounds but is a little bit slow it's also a very good horse, but to win a class is obviously easier on a naturally fast horse.”
Specifically referencing Event De L’Heribus, he concluded, “In the stable, he looks heavy but under the saddle he gets quite modern. If you see him without a saddle, you almost think it's an old-fashioned type but he has so much blood and is so intelligent. I think that's what makes him special.”
For complete results from the $75,000 WEF Premiere Grand Prix, click HERE.
Competition steps up a notch during WEF 1 with international competition making a debut during the 2025 winter season, highlighted by the $140,000 Southern Arches Grand Prix during "Saturday Night Lights”. Full results from WEF Premiere are available HERE.
Stella Propp Tops Kiton 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunters 18-35
Amateur-Owner Hunters named their first set of champions for the season to round out Premiere Week. The Kiton 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35 wrapped after a weekend of action in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Stadium with the top tricolor awarded to Stella Propp of New York, NY and her seasoned partner Grand Remo.
Grand Remo, owned by Aquitane Equine, carried 22-year-old Propp to a first and second over fences and won the under saddle to take the top tri-color.
“This is my third WEF season with him and our second year in this division together,” said Propp of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He’s incredibly attentive and tries his best over any obstacle put in front of him. When I’m feeling nervous, I can really lean on him and know that he’s done this before. He has good experience and he’ll be there for me.”
Propp and Remo have made quite the name for themselves in the hunter world, claiming over five champion and reserve champion ribbons in the amateur-owner hunter divisions at WEF alone.
For the rest of the season, Propp plans to continue in the 3’6” amateur-owner ranks with Grand Remo while balancing her studies in English and Philosophy at Brown University in Providence, RI. Propp will also compete in the 3’3” hunter divisions with three other mounts and take on the jumper rings at WEF.
Reserve champion honors in the Kiton 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35 was awarded to Emma Vandenhouton of Plantation, FL, and her own Verified. They placed top three across all classes in the division.
The Lauracea 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter 36+ division welcomed another section of amateurs to the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Stadium to close out Sunday’s action. The championship was awarded to John Ingram of Nashville, TN, and Pelé, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC. The pair climbed to the top after pocketing two blue ribbons over fences.
Hunter action will resume on Wednesday, January 8, during WEF 1. Full results from WEF Premiere are available HERE.
