Wellington, Fla. – January 1, 2026—Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal christened the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) by winning the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round aboard Ribery on Thursday of opening week at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Ribery are joined by (left to right) groom Laura Pampalon, Josee Charbonneau and owner Sabrina Lefebvre after winning the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round. Photo ©Sportfot
Over courses designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA), Larrazabal was pleasantly surprised by the development of his up-and-coming 9-year-old Belgian-bred mare (Aganix du Seigneur X Diamant de Semilly). Ribery, owned by Sabrina Lefebvre, is a success story of the young horse divisions at Wellington International. As a 7-year-old, Ribery won the final qualifier and finished second in the Lövsta Future Challenge 7-Year-Old Jumper Final.
“Today was more than I expected, so I’ll take it,” said Larrazabal, who calls Wellington, FL, home and was one of 10 to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off in the opening round of the Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup. “Last year as an 8-year-old, we took our time to bring her up to the level. Now, we are pushing to see how we’re doing. It’s a good start for the season.
“We have such a nice series of national grands prix on the grass derby field here in Wellington during the summer, and she was in the spotlight there,” continued Larrazabal, who stepped Ribery up to the FEI two-star level this fall. “She was jumping very well—making some mistakes as a young horse does while stepping into a new level—but she learned a lot from those experiences, because today she was right on.”
Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Ribery won the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round during opening week of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo ©Sportfot
Lefebvre purchased Ribery at the Youhorse online auction in 2021 as a 4-year-old and is now focused on moving the mare up to the top level of the sport with Larrazabal. “They bought her on a dream, and let’s hope that the dream comes true,” he said.
Tony Stormanns, 17, finished second for Germany in the irons of Cassius Clay, owned by HS Sportpferde GmbH. A second slower than Larrazabal’s winning time of 39.830 seconds, Stormanns stopped the clock at 40.758. Clocking in at 40.900 seconds, USA’s Heather Caristo-Williams was third riding Contino-Quick MVF for owner Sephanie Bulger.
Watch The Winning Round
For complete results from the $35,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Premiere Round, click HERE.
Competition continues during the long-awaited opening week of WEF 2026 with the fan-favorite Battle of the Sexes, presented by LeMieux, during Saturday Night Lights at 7 p.m. ET ahead of the $75,000 Dodd Technologies Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
Victoria Colvin and Odette Start Partnership in Winning Form
Odette, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, staked her claim as champion of the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’9” Green Hunter division with Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, aboard on Thursday of Premiere Week at the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Victoria Colvin riding Odette, champion of the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’9” Green Hunter division during opening week of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo ©Sportfot
Despite a chilly start to the new year, Odette and Colvin proved to be a duo to watch out for during the competitive winter season. “She’s a solid mare. I’ve shown her a little, but I don’t know her extremely well,” Colvin said of the nine-year-old Oldenburg by Casallco. “She’s easy, has an amazing, light, nice jump and such a cool mare. She got a 94 and it was easy for her.”
Their 94 to win the stake was coupled with another first and second over fences and second under saddle to take the top tricolor.
Watch The Winning Stake Round
While new to each other, Colvin and Odette are making what seems to be a competitive partnership. Colvin said that when getting to know a new horse she listens to her trainer, Tom Wright, and trusts the animal below her. “Luckily she’s pretty simple—I let her do her job and she does it well.”
Of her upcoming season, Colvin noted “I have a couple of the Ingram’s hunters, some babies of my own, and then some jumpers which will be fun.”
Reserve Champion honors in the 3’9” Green Hunter division were awarded to Jack, owned by Cate Urquhart, and ridden by Hunter Kay of Charlotte, NC, after wins under saddle and in the handy round.
For complete results from the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’9” Green Hunter, click HERE.
Jennifer Hannan riding Verity, champion of the Equine Tack & Nutritionals 3’6” Green Hunter division during opening week of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo ©Sportfot
Earlier in the day, Verity was crowned champion of the 3’6” Green Hunter division, also sponsored by Equine Tack & Nutritionals. Owned by Jane Fisher and ridden by Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI, they won the handy round on a score of 86. Reserve honors at the 3’6” height were presented to Lisonas Gold, ridden by Hannah Isop of Pawling, NY, and owned by Maarten Huygens
Full results from WEF Premiere are available HERE.
