Ocala, FL – The final Grand Prix of the 2025 Spring Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala brought thrilling sport to the WEC Stadium. Forty-seven horse-and-rider combinations came forward for the $15,000 R+L Carriers Regional Grand Prix, but it was the final entry, Brianna Leone (USA), who stole the show with her new partner Qinto Vh Kouterhof (Filou De Muze x Faya Kouterhof Z), earning their first-ever grand prix victory after a nail-biting 11-horse jump-off.
Renowned course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) crafted a technical track that proved to be a true test, with only 11 combinations navigating it fault-free within the time allowed.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) set the pace in the jump-off aboard Della Wordley’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hagelin (Stolzenberg x Graefin Top), producing a blazing round in 41.240 seconds to take the early lead.
Several pairs challenged the clock, including Maleah Lang McMahon (USA), who came closest on her second mount, Apple Bee, a nine-year-old Oldenburg mare. Their time of 41.887 seconds put them just behind Wordley on the leaderboard.
Brianna Leone, last to return for the jump-off, wasn’t focused on winning. Her goal with her recently imported nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding was far more simple: “I was honestly just shooting for a double-clear round. I just got him. I’ve had him for about five months and just imported him. Last week was our first grand prix, so a double-clear was my only goal.”
But once the pair got rolling, Leone’s confidence grew. “I have so much faith in him. I’ve never jumped a wall with him before, and tonight was probably our second time jumping a triple-bar ever. He just gives you the best feeling, and to the last jump, I just felt like I could go for it.”
They crossed the timers in an impressive 41.236 seconds—just four-thousandths of a second faster than Wordley—to take the win.
Competing in her second-ever grand prix, Leone was elated. “It’s just a dream. I still feel like I am dreaming,” she laughed. “I’ve been showing here since it started and this has been my goal from day one. I wanted to jump under the lights and go double-clear. My goal at the end of the season was just to do a grand prix, but having the win, it’s just so surreal.”
$15,000 R+L Carriers Regional 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.
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