Ocala, FL – The final week of the 2025 Summer Series is underway at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC), and the $32,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* kicked off feature class action with a strong international field. Thirty-five horse-and-rider combinations representing 17 nations took to the ring, but it was Brazil’s Celso Ariani who rose to the top aboard Jip Van T&L Z (James Vd Kornelishoeve x Toulon), owned by San Marino Stables and The Maya Group, after a competitive seven-horse jump-off.
FEI Level IV course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) set a challenging track that demanded accuracy and pace. “Leopoldo doesn’t give anything to us easily,” said Ariani. “He built a very technical track—I don’t think it could be more technical. The time was really short, and it made you focus on just about every aspect of the track.”
Seven riders managed to answer the questions of the first round and returned for the jump-off, representing Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, the United States, Israel, and Colombia.
Argentina’s Luis Pedro Biraben was first to return and continued his streak of strong performances. He and La Cuadra Stables, LLC’s Georgina De Carles, a nine-year-old Selle Français mare, posted a clear and fast time of 43.58 seconds to put pressure on the rest of the field.
Ariani matched the pace aboard Jip Van T&L Z, executing a calculated plan. “It was a long way from one to two, so I tried to gallop as much as I could,” he explained. “Then it was a good inside turn to the wall. I was careful to the combination, since I knew it was short in the middle, then got my rhythm again. Then, I just tried to be as fast as I could in the last line.” His time of 43.41 seconds snagged the win by just one tenth of a second.
“[Jip Van T&L Z] is amazing—so careful and competitive,” Ariani said of the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding. “I’ve had him for a year and a half now, and it is going very well. He was already placing in the four-star grands prix, and I’m very happy with him.”
Ariani has spent much of the summer season at WEC – Ocala and has been impressed by the facility. “I don’t think there is another place like this on the planet,” he shared. “The stalls at this time of year in Florida are so fresh, the horses are so happy. Having this indoor arena with the air-conditioning is just incredible, you don’t see things like this anywhere else in the world.”
Rounding out the podium was Colombia’s Fernando Cardenas, who delivered an efficient, clear round aboard B&C, LLC’s Cool Ray Na (Quincy Car x Kannan). The 11-year-old North American Warmblood stallion crossed the timers in 46.17 seconds to secure third.
$32,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* 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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