WHILE high-level show jumping is beginning to wind down in Europe with very little indoor shows happening this winter due to Covid-19, competition is starting to heat up in America and especially in Wellington, where many riders will flock to for the Winter Equestrian Festival with plenty of four and five-star classes from January to March.

Last Sunday, Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre hosted the four-star $214,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix, where victory went to 21-year-old Lucy Deslauriers and the brilliant gelding Hester. There were seven Irish riders on the start-list but they all proved out of luck on this occasion with none proceeding to the jump-off.