Wellington, Fla. – September 23, 2026—Faith Schuttemeyer, 17, of Boynton Beach, Fla., topped the Maclay Regional Championship for Region X at Wellington International on Sunday, capturing the final regional title before the ASPCA Maclay National Championship next month at the National Horse Show in North Carolina.
Faith Schuttemeyer & Status Quo. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
Status Quo, owned by Daniel Michan Halbinger, carried Schuttemeyer to the win. “This is only my second show on Status, so I was trying to give him a good experience and play it on the safer side,” said Schuttemeyer, who used the opportunity to prepare for the national final since her qualification was secured prior to the Region X Championship. “He handled everything really well.
“I think the technical course, and all the questions being asked, helped me to feel really confident about the final,” concluded Schuttemeyer about the Andy Christiansen-designed track.
Schuttemeyer is trained by her mother, Kristin, alongside Michael DelFiandra of Grafton Ridge, based in Bedford, N.Y., and Wellington, Fla.
Faith Schuttemeyer & Status Quo, winners of the Maclay Regional Championship for Region X. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
Continuing the equitation results on Sunday, Shea Fennelly, 20, of Boynton Beach, Fla., topped the THIS/NHS Adult Equitation Area Championship riding her own Carcharodon.
“It’s been a really long journey with this horse,” said Fennelly, a third-year University of Florida student studying journalism, sports, and media online while also focusing on her riding. “We got him when he was young, and I was still a junior. We had to learn all of this together, and spending the last two years in the adult equitation I think has been the best thing for us.”
Shea Fennelly & Carcharodon. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
Coming off an equitation championship at The Big E, Fennelly said, “Today, I wanted to show my consistency. This was a great preparation for the final, and I planned to ride it like the first round would be at Tryon. I rode the track, stuck to our plan and let the rest handle itself.”
Fennelly trains with Jane Fennessy at Carriage Hill and hopes to ride and train professionally after finishing her education.
Shea Fennelly & Carcharodon, winners of the THIS/NHS Adult Equitation Area Championship. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
Closing out the day on Sunday, Naomi Selleck, 15, of Jupiter, Fla., won the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Area Championship in the irons of her own Mastermind. From a field of 20, Selleck used the momentum of a fourth-place finish in the Maclay Regional Championship earlier in the day to top the list.
Naomi Selleck & Mastermind. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
“I was very determined to put in the work to improve on my round from the Maclay,” said Selleck, who is a student at the online SCL Academy. In the saddle, Selleck trains with Alan Korotkin at Castlewood Farm in Wellington, Fla.
Naomi Selleck & Mastermind, winners of the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3″ Area Championship. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
The National Horse Show Regional and Area Championships will return to Wellington, Fla., in 2027 to be hosted in the all-new covered arena at the newly minted Wellington International South.
For complete results, click HERE.
Don’t miss it! The Wellington International Fall Prize List is now available HERE.
Cormac Hanley Back on Top With Santiago vh Negehof
After heavy rains fell throughout the weekend, the $24,999 IDA Development Grand Prix was moved inside the Van Kampen Covered Arena at Equestrian Village and won by Ireland’s Cormac Hanley on Santiago vh Netehof for owner Heathman Farm on Sunday.
Cormac Hanley & Santiago vh Netehof. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
After a grand prix victory on the derby field a few weeks earlier, Hanley, now based in Wellington, Fla., and Santiago vh Netehof, an 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Untouchable 27 x Diamant de Semilly), took the change of scenery handily in stride. The duo also opened the week by topping the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m.
From a 9-horse jump-off, Santiago vh Netehof crossed the final timers in 34.660 seconds to deliver Hanley the win over Canada’s Kyle Roderick Dewar riding his own Charoons Gia Blue Z, who stopped the clock at 36.380 seconds. Ryan Genn of Wellington, Fla., capped the podium in third with Vanesia d’Austral Z in 36.433 seconds for owner Bridlebourne Stables.
Cormac Hanley & Santiago vh Netehof, presented as winners of the $24,999 IDA Development Grand Prix. Photo © Cassidy Klein/Wellington International
For complete results of the $24,999 IDA Development Grand Prix, click HERE.
To view complete results from Florida State Fall, click HERE. For champion and reserve titles, click HERE. Visit WellingtonInternational.com to view results, schedules and streaming schedules for the Wellington International Annual Series.
What’s Coming Up at Equestrian Village
RITA & Irish Flynn Memorial: 9/25 – 9/27
October Show: 10/1 – 10/4
Fall Circuit I: 10/8 – 10/11
Fall Circuit II: 10/15 – 10/18
Fall Circuit III: 10/22 – 10/25
Holiday Series at Wellington International
Competition returns to the main Wellington International showgrounds, home of the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Here’s how you can prepare for WEF 2027!
Fall Circuit Finale: 10/28 – 11/1
November I: 11/6 – 11/8
Pre-Charity CSl3*: 11/11 – 11/15
South Florida Hunter Jumper Association: Charity Show 11/18 – 11/22
Holiday & Horses CSl4*: 11/25 – 11/29
Year End Awards Show: 12/4 – 12/6
Holiday Festival II: 12/9 – 12/13
Holiday Festival III: 12/16 – 12/20
Holiday Circuit Finale: 12/31- 1/3/27
Learn more about the Annual Series HERE.
