Ocala, FL – A packed crowd gathered to witness 75 of the nation’s top junior athletes compete in the 2025 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship powered by Gary Yeomans Ford. The prestigious competition featured a traditional three-phase equitation format, with the possibility of a work-off. Courses were designed by 12-time Maclay Finals course designer Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky.
Fourteen-year-old JJ Torano of Wellington, Florida, secured the championship title aboard last year’s winning mount, Favorite Edition Z, owned by The Northjet Group. Torano showcased skill well beyond his years, climbing the ranks to claim the coveted Premier Cup title, and the keys to a brand-new Ford Explorer XLT SUV. His trainers, John Brennan, Missy Clark and Maggie Gampfer, also took home the majority share of the $100,000 trainer bonus.
The WEC Grand Arena set the stage with stunning topiaries, a meticulously designed hedge wall, and the iconic ‘WEC Eq’ fence. Course designer Bobby Murphy reflected on the evening, stating, “To be the best, you have to beat the best and tonight, the nation’s top junior riders rose to the challenge. They tackled two rounds, each showcasing some of the most difficult and impressive courses they will face in their junior careers. Once again, World Equestrian Center has set the bar for championship events. We are committed to excellence, and tonight, we witnessed nothing short of the very best.”
A Test of Skill and Precision
The championship began on Saturday afternoon with the over-fences phase, which featured a challenging track designed to test each rider’s precision and style. After many impressive performances, only 20 riders advanced to the flat phase and the second round of jumping under the lights.
The flat phase demanded exceptional horsemanship, as riders were tested on their ability to counter-canter, extend the trot, and collect the trot—all without stirrups. Afterward, the top 20 riders returned in reverse order of standing for the second round, which presented an even more technical test. From this elite group, the judges selected four standout athletes for a final work-off to determine the ultimate champion.
The Final Four
Violet Tatum, initially ranked 12th after the first round, made a strong impression in the flat phase, moving up to ninth. She then delivered a standout second-round performance aboard Tanzanite De Semilly, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Olille Fomia) owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc., earning a spot in the work-off.
Kaitlyn Linck also advanced, having started in 12th place after the flat phase with her own Don Touch De Tiji Z (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero x Viva La Vida Hero Z). A polished second-round performance secured her work-off position.
Olivia Sweetnam led the first round with a score of 87 aboard the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Class Act (Vigaro x Leonalda), owned by Ashland Farms. She continued to impress in the flat phase and entered the work-off ranked second.
JJ Torano, who earned an 86 in the first round, dominated the flat phase and headed into the second round in the top position.
The Work-Off Decides the Champion
Judges Susie Schoellkopf and Danny Robertshaw challenged the finalists with a horse swap before tackling the second-round course once more. Tatum and Linck exchanged horses, while Sweetnam and Torano did the same.
In the end, Tatum delivered a strong ride to claim third place, while Sweetnam maintained her ranking to secure the red ribbon. Torano, however, sealed his victory with a flawless round aboard Sweetnam’s Class Act.
Reflecting on his win, Torano shared, “I went in looking to have a solid round and be in the top of the group. My favorite part about the first round was the triple combination, it caused a lot of problems throughout the class, but I know my horse well. He’s not spooky and handled it like a pro.”
Determined to move up in the flat phase, Torano explained, “Going into the flat phase, I was focused on moving up. No stirrups is a big theme indoors, so I’ve had a lot of practice this past year.” His second-round performance felt familiar, as he recalled, “At Medal Finals, I was in the same position—on top going into the second round—so there was a lot of pressure and nerves. But landing after the last jump, knowing I laid it down, was a huge relief.”
Torano was also familiar with the horse swap challenge, having previously exchanged mounts with Sweetnam at USET Finals. “This past year, Olivia and I swapped each other’s horses at USET Finals, so I knew the horse a little bit. This was like our round two. I gave it another go, and it worked out.”
Missy Clark, who trains Torano alongside John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer at North Run, praised the event, stating, “Both of the courses were fabulous. They asked a lot of good questions about lengthening and shortening. Our team was very happy with JJ and Violet. They answered everything well, and they know their horses well. Violet has formed a great partnership with Tanzer, and JJ’s partnership with Favorite Edition is something really special.”
She also applauded the championship’s setting, noting, “It’s one of the best championships. The venue is unparalleled. The atmosphere and the jumps are like nothing else. We really love being here and appreciate the effort that everybody puts in when we’re here.”
A Proud Partnership
Krissy Chalk, Regional Marketing Director at Gary Yeomans Ford, expressed her enthusiasm for supporting the event, stating, “At Gary Yeomans Ford, part of who we are is our commitment to ‘TCOC’—Taking Care of Our Community. And a key part of that community is the equestrian community. We are incredibly proud and honored to support each of you in your endeavors. A special congratulations goes to one gentleman who will be driving away in a brand-new 2025 Ford Explorer. Enjoy every moment of the journey ahead!”
Premier Equitation Cup Championship Results:
1. JJ Torano, Favorite Edition Z
2. Olivia Sweetnam, Class Act
3. Violet Tatum, Tanzanite De Semilly’
4. Kaitlyn Linck, Don Touch De Tiji Z
5. Emi Richard, Kingsroad
6. Brooke Hagerty, Astro De Ravel
7. Taylor Cawley, Oki D ‘Eclipse
8. Schuyler Dayner, Talk
9. Paige Walkenbach, Cent 15
10. Eleanor Pieters, Tibri’s Cedarwood Road
11. Izzy Beisel, Triskel De Kerliven
12. Gabriella Curry, Quintago
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! Plan your stay at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.