Wellington, Fla. – April 10, 2026—Equitation riders took over the International Arena on Friday for the Annual Spring Junior and Adult Amateur Equitation Championships, sponsored by Karina Brez Jewelry, Vogel and Kask, during the Wellington International Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment.
Emi Richard & Chancellor. Photo © Sportfot
The Spring Series spans five weeks and runs through May 10, featuring hunter, jumper and equitation competition at Wellington International, home of the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Learn more about the Spring Series HERE.
Twenty-seven junior riders took to the main ring for the 4th annual junior offering, with Emi Richard and her mount Chancellor walking away victorious. Taking place in three phases, riders coursed through Thomas Carlson’s (USA) thoughtfully designed equitation track with the top twelve returning in reverse order for a second round. Four riders returned for a work-off to determine a final winner—Elizabeth Rinehart of Carmel, IN; Faith Schuttemeyer of Boynton Beach, FL; Lilly Herzog of Pepper Pike, OH; and Richard. The junior rider based in Middlefield, CT, boasted scores of 180 and 183 coming into the final test riding Chancellor, a 9-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Heritage Farm.
“I had already been in the International Arena for the derby, and he was perfect. So, I knew he wouldn’t spook and would jump around,” said Richard of the gelding who brought home his first major equitation victory. “He’s new to the equitation, so the expectations weren’t super high, but I knew that he could do well, and I’m super proud of him.”
Emi Richard & Chancellor are presented as winners of the 4th Annual Spring Junior Equitation Championship, sponsored by Karina Brez Jewelry, Vogel and Kask. Photo © Sportfot
In the end, Richard took the blue ribbon with a total score of 363 from the judging panel made up of Jennifer Bauersachs (USA) and Geoff Teall (USA). Earning second place was Rinehart riding Charlie Brown, owned by Charlotte Rossetter, with a final score of 347.
“I think this is his third time doing the equitation,” explained Richard, who has been training under Andre Dignelli at Heritage Farm for the past three years. “I’ve been riding him since the beginning of the circuit, and we are taking our time developing him, but he really wants to win.”
For complete results of the 4th Annual Spring Junior Equitation Championship, click HERE.
Later in the day, adult amateur riders took their turn in the International Arena and were put to the test in the 3rd Annual Spring Adult Amateur Equitation Championship, also sponsored by Karina Brez Jewelry, Vogel and Kask. Lindsay Swedenburg and Konfessions took home the winner’s trophy after three rounds.
Lindsay Swedenburg & Konfessions. Photo © Sportfot
Four riders returned for a work-off to determine a final winner—Brooke Taylor of Ogunquit, ME; Ella Bostwick of Wellington, FL; Kaitlyn Sheerahamed of Lake Worth, FL; and Swedenburg. Based in Scarsdale, NY, Swedenburg and her mount of two years took home the win with scores of 152 and 168.5 points.
“He is the absolute best in the barn, I have had him for two years now, and he comes out the same every single day,” said Swedenburg of the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Brookside Pine Farms. “He is down to do whatever, and I have taken him everywhere, so he’s really been amazing.”
Bauersachs and Teall awarded Swedenburg a final score of 320.5 points, crowning her the winner. Right behind her, earning the reserve title was Taylor, riding Corso, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Abigail Taylor, with a final score of 293 points.
Lindsay Swedenburg & Konfessions are presented as winners of the 3rd Annual Spring Adult Amateur Equitation Championship, sponsored by Karina Brez Jewelry, Vogel and Kask. Photo © Sportfot
Swedenburg spoke on the difficulty of the test—including a halt to counter canter question—and the challenges she and other riders faced, saying, “I thought the biggest issue that people were having was the halt. I made sure that I had set him up well going into it, so we were able to get that done efficiently and then get the counter canter.”
For complete results of the 3rd Annual Spring Adult Amateur Equitation Championship, click HERE.
To view complete results from Spring 2, click HERE. For champion and reserve titles, click HERE.
Visit WellingtonInternational.com to view results, schedules and streaming schedules for the Wellington International Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment.
