Feeling Great, Feeling Greatfull: Julie Welles Wins the $40,000 Yellow Pony Pub & Garden National Grand Prix

08 MAR 26 Ocala, FL

A rider in equestrian attire guides a gray horse over a green and yellow jump during a show jumping competition in an outdoor arena.

Ocala, FL – The final featured event of the week took place in the WEC Grand Arena at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) early in the afternoon. Twenty-three horse-and-rider combinations closed out the week in the $40,000 Yellow Pony Pub & Garden National Grand Prix over a demanding track designed by Catsy Cruz (USA) and Joe Carnicom (USA) that only saw three pairs move onto the jump-off: Sharn Wordley (NZL), Julie Welles (USA) and Jelmer Hoekstra (NED). 

Equestrian rider and horse jump over a blue obstacle decorated with painted elephants during a show jumping competition.
Julie Welles & Greatfull flying to the win in the $40,000 Yellow Pony Pub & Garden National Grand Prix. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Though just three contested the short course, each rider battled for the win, with times separated by mere tenths of a second.

A rider in formal equestrian attire jumps a white horse over a green obstacle in Arena 4 during a show jumping event.
Sharn Wordley & Mick Jagger rounding out the top three. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Wordley led the way aboard Della Wordley’s experienced 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Mick Jagger (Chacco-Blue x Acentora). The duo put the pressure on with an efficient clear effort in 37.327 seconds.

Welles followed with Greatfull (Congress 4 x Polly), a 15-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Cherry Knoll Farm Inc., to deliver the second double-clear effort of the class. Before the award ceremony, Welles noted how proud she was of the mighty mare.

Equestrian rider wearing a helmet and jacket sits on a gray horse draped in a World Equestrian Center blanket, with buildings and flowers in the background.
Julie Welles & Greatfull. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

“We’ve had her at Laura Kraut’s stables since she was six. She came from Stal Hendrix, and she’s just been a big personality in our barn for the past nine years,” Welles reflected. “Her owner, Margaret Dupray of Cherry Knoll Farm, along with Laura Kraut, have been very generous to let me keep riding her in her later years. If you put in 100%, she puts in 110%, and she’s just the most rewarding horse when everything goes to plan.”

The duo crossed the timers in 37.049 seconds to slide into the lead and move Wordley out of the top spot. 

A rider on a brown horse jumps over a blue and white obstacle decorated with elephant images at an outdoor equestrian arena.
Jelmer Hoekstra & Bellissima Dh Z jumping to second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Final to contest, Hoekstra and his own eight-year-old Warmblood mare, Bellissima Dh Z (Bamako De Muze x Wouskarla), were just shy of the leading time in 37.081 seconds to move Wordley into third and secure the second place position. 

Additionally, Welles shared her thoughts on the technical track laid out in the WEC Grand Arena. “Catsy [Cruz] always builds great tracks. I thought it walked really nice, but it was riding a bit more difficult than it walked, and the time allowed was tight. For me, I kind of always have to ride everything like a Table A speed, and it just happened to work in our favor!”

A rider on a horse holds a large check while posing with four people at a podium labeled "Yellow Pony Pub & Garden" in an outdoor arena.
Julie Welles & Greatfull in the winner’s circle presented by the Yellow Pony Pub & Garden and Jim Wolf of World Equestrian Center. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Based in Ocala for the winter circuit, Welles reflected on her time at WEC. “We have really enjoyed our winter here and have been embracing as much as we can. Myself and Carly McCutcheon based here. We both ride and work for Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. There are so many options here. Everyone around the show is so friendly, accommodating, and tries to work with you. The place is just amazing.”

Hoekstra also snagged the Fastest Four-Faulter award riding Jalanne with a quick first round in 66.1 seconds with one rail down.

Hannah Rohrbach received the Luck of the Draw award.

$40,000 Yellow Pony Pub & Garden National Grand Prix Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes! 

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.