Parker Peacock Claims WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship Presented by Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Sponsored by J.P. Morgan and Powered by Gary Yeomans Ford
08 FEB 26 Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL – A beautiful, sun-soaked Florida day set the stage at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) as nearly 90 of the nation’s top junior athletes contested the 2026 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship, presented by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, sponsored by J.P.Morgan, and powered by Gary Yeomans Ford. The evening delivered a true championship atmosphere, highlighted by appearances from the Parris Island Marine Corps Band and Cpl. Opha Mae II, the official mascot of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The prestigious competition followed a traditional three-phase equitation format, with the possibility of a work-off.
Parker Peacock of Wellington, Florida, secured the championship title aboard Ashland Farms’ Montverdi (Verdi x Nebresse M), a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding, after steadily moving up through the ranks throughout the competition. Her consistent performances earned her the keys to a brand-new Ford Explorer SUV, while her trainers, Ken and Emily Smith, took home the majority share of the $100,000 trainer bonus.
The championship course was designed by 12-time Maclay Finals course designer Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky. The track featured green topiaries, a wave hedge wall with orca elements, and fences previously used during last year’s Longines League of Nations™ Ocala. Working alongside the WEC team, Murphy’s design was complemented by extensive floral elements that framed each fence and enhanced the overall presentation.
“This is an important date on the riders’ schedules,” Murphy said. “The future of the sport is riding here tonight, and this championship is designed to test everything they’ve worked toward. Under the lights, this setting adds a whole new level of pressure. It was exciting to see who rose to the occasion.”
A Test of Skill and Precision
The championship began Saturday afternoon with the over-fences phase, featuring a technical track designed to test each rider’s precision, position, and style. After a series of impressive rounds, only 20 athletes advanced to the flat phase and a second round of jumping under the lights.
The flat phase challenged riders to demonstrate polished equitation skills, including extensions, counter canter, collection, and adjustability. Following the flat, the top 20 returned in reverse order of standing for a second, even more technical round. From this elite group, judges selected four standout athletes to return for a final work-off to determine the champion.
The Final Four
Last year’s reserve champion, Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, Florida, returned to the WEC Grand Arena with hopes of another podium finish. Sweetnam piloted her longtime partner Class Act (Vigaro x Leonalda), a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ashland Farms, to a first-round score of 87. The pair impressed in the flat phase, earning a score of 88.5.
Parker Peacock delivered a strong first-round effort for a score of 90 and followed with a solid flat, earning an 88 to sit fourth heading into round two.
Elizabeth Rinehart initially ranked second after the first round with a score of 91 aboard Charlotte Rossetter’s Charlie Brown. She maintained her momentum in the flat phase, scoring an 89.5 to move into third place heading into the second jumping phase.
Adriana Forte of Water Mill, New York, piloted Heritage Farm, Inc.’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Diaceur (Diarado x Perle VIII), to a score of 89 before coming back even stronger in the flat phase with a 92, moving into second place. With Diaceur still relatively new to the equitation ring, Forte was thrilled with his performance.
“I think for my horse, who is fairly new to the equitation, a lot of it was just putting in a solid round,” Forte said. “We didn’t really know how he was going to be under the lights. At that time, it was during the day, but in this atmosphere, in the big ring, it was just about keeping him straight and getting down the lines. I think both rounds, but especially the first, were about having the right track and the right pace. He was incredible, and I am so proud of him.”
The Work-Off Decides the Champion
Judges Tammy Provost and Sissy Wickes challenged the finalists with a highly technical work-off, requiring riders to jump without stirrups. Athletes were asked to canter directly from the ingate to fence eight, canter fence four, counter canter the blue orca hedge, counter canter fence nine, and hand gallop fence 14.
Rinehart was first to return and delivered a solid effort with Charlie Brown, ultimately finishing fourth overall.
Sweetnam followed and impressed in the work-off with Class Act, executing each question with confidence. Still, her favorite round came earlier in the night. “The second round is probably my favorite,” Sweetnam said. “I’ve made it two or three times. It’s been 14 jumps each time, and there’s usually an impressive last jump under the lights. Class Act is a bit of an exuberant jumper, and he’s impressed by these jumps, so it’s really a fun feeling to go out there and do what I love on him.”
Peacock returned third in the work-off and made the counter canter look effortless aboard Montverdi, laying down a foot-perfect, textbook round.
“I was excited,” Peacock said. “I wanted to go into the work-off, giving it all I had. If it didn’t work out, it didn’t work out, but if I went out there and did my best, I couldn’t have asked more from my horse.”
Forte was the final athlete to return and put in a strong effort to finish third overall.
In the end, it came down to Sweetnam and Peacock, with Peacock ultimately driving away with the brand-new car and the prestigious Premier Cup title.
“I was very excited, I wasn’t expecting to win,” Peacock said. “I’m just so happy I did, and I couldn’t have asked more from my team, my horse, and everyone who supports us.” She also praised her partner, adding, “He’s a true winner. I don’t even have enough words for him. He gives me his all every time we go into the ring, whether it’s a normal class or a championship. He gives me 100 percent every time.”
Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms capped off the evening with an impressive trainer bonus, earning the purse for both first- and second-place finishes.
Ken Smith shared his thoughts on the championship and its impact on young athletes. “I liked how they questioned the kids a little bit,” Smith said. “We do a lot of that in lessons. I also liked letting the kids watch the others in the final four. I think they earned that right. They all tried their best to move up or win it, and that’s great to see.”
WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship Results:
1. Parker Peacock, Montverdi
2. Olivia Sweetnam, Class Act
3. Adriana Forte, Diaceur
4. Elizabeth Rinehart, Charlie Brown
5. Taylor Cawley, Sharuk Khan Van de Bucxtale
6. Rylynn Conway, Castlefield Spartacus
7. Madison Ramsey, Leonardo
8. Faith Schuttemeyer, Corochino Z
9. Brooke Hagerty, The Original
10. Wyatt Rofey, Dayton De Semilly
11. Katelyn Martin, Relevé
12. Violet Tatum, Tanzanite De Semilly
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
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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.