Wellington, Fla. – March 6, 2026—U.S. show jumper Marilyn Little landed her eighth international podium at the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Friday afternoon, riding 8-year-old Narado to win the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Speed. Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
“In January, a 1.50m seemed like a dream,” admitted Little of the plan for Narado, a talented but still young Dutch Warmblood gelding (Grandorado TN N.O.P. x Purioso) owned by the Morcombe Lempera Family’s Ten Carrot, LLC. “Today was a big step up, and to see him be that quick over a big track from a difficult designer like Alan Wade is fantastic and proves how smart the horse is.”
Marilyn Little & Narado. Photo © Sportfot
Over Wade’s (IRL) one-round speed test, Little and Narado were fastest by half a second to best Charlotte Jacobs on an all-American podium. Narado crossed the timers in 67.98 seconds, and settled Jacobs in second riding Rincoola Milsean, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Aldatus Z x Cruising) owned by North Star, in a time of 68.62. Jonathan McCrea rounded out the top three in 70.88 seconds aboard Jannan S, a 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding (Kannan x Numero Uno) owned by Windsor Show Stables.
In the gelding’s first five-star outing, Narado added a second podium finish in as many days after finishing third in Wednesday’s opening CSI5* 1.45m. The pair is also coming off a win in the Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix during WEF 7.
Watch The Winning Round
“I’ve had him since June, so I know him very well, and he had a great start from a lot of good riders, but this week was still a big ask,” said Little of Narado, piloted as a young horse by Dutch rider Sanne Thisjssen, Giavanna Rinaldi (USA) and then Germany’s Jana Wargers before joining Little’s string. “He will head straight to the paddock now for a rest, and I’d love to be able to use him as a second horse later in the summer.
“He came into himself at the beginning of the circuit and grew up in January—every time he goes in the ring, he tries his heart out,” continued Little. “He doesn’t know what he can’t jump, and he jumps it all incredibly.”
Marilyn Little & Narado, presented as winners of the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies 1.50m Speed by Richard Schechter and family. Photo © Sportfot
With the support of the Morcombe Lempera Family, Little will one day turn over the reins to 17-year-old Victoria Morcombe Lempera. “They have been fantastic supporters of mine, and this was always meant to be Victoria’s horse,” said Little of the long-term plan for Narado.
Coming off a team win as a member of the U.S squad in WEF 8’s FEI Nations Cup a week earlier, Little is basking in the success of a season that seems to be going her way. “This season is like a dream for me,” she concluded.
For the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix, which takes center stage during Saturday Night Lights, Little will be mounted on La Contessa—the horse that jumped two clear rounds for her in the Wellington Nations Cup. Visit WellingtonInternational.com for results, schedules and wall-to-wall streaming.
For full results from the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Speed, click HERE.
Closing the day in the International Arena, another top three from U.S. riders saw Philippa Ammann win the $10,000 Coastal Steel Structures CSI2* Speed riding Zarina De Vidau for Ammann Equestrian. Trent McGee was second aboard Plain Bay Farm’s In The Stars, and Jacqueline Ruyle rounded out the podium on her own Fini L’amour.
Philippa Ammann & Zarina De Vidau. Photo © Sportfot
For full results from the $10,000 Coastal Steel Structures CSI2* 1.45m, click HERE.
Pony Power on the Derby Field
It was Grace Stenbeck-Werner, of Los Angeles, CA, who took home the blue ribbon with her mount Clovermeade Heartthrob, a 10-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding, in the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, presented by Mars Equestrian, during Week 9 of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on the derby field at Equestrian Village.
63 ponies took to the classic round, set according to their respective large, medium, and small heights. 12 returned for the shorter handy round, where Werner moved up two spots to take the win.
Grace Stenbeck-Werner & Clovermeade Heartthrob. Photo © Sportfot
With it being only her third time on the derby field, Stenbeck, 12, made the callback for the Handy round after making use of her pony’s ability to easily course through tricky lines. In the end, it was her identical classic and handy round scores of 84 that put her on top with a combined score of a 168-point total.
“In the first round, there were a lot of twists and turns and we’re really good at turning. I think that really helps with our track and helps me find the jumps better, so it all worked out today,” stated Stenbeck, training under David Belford at New Hope.
Grace Stenbeck-Werner & Clovermeade Heartthrob, presented as the winnners of $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby by Pamela Wright. Photo © Sportfot
“This is my second year with her [Harper]. She’s a princess; very opinionated, but in the best way. She always wants to win, tries so hard, and really loves it,” Stenbeck said of her partnership with the mare owned by Swede Ventures LLC.
Lexie Tucci & Why Not?. Photo © Sportfot
Sienna Rossano & Higher Love. Photo © Sportfot.
Second place was awarded to Lexie Tucci, of New York, NY, and Why Not?, a 10-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Oceans Edge Farm, with a total score of 167. Sienna Rossano, of Fishers, IN, took home third place with Pamela Wright’s Higher Love, a 12-year-old Welsh Pony Cross gelding, with a score of 165.
For full results of the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, presented by Mars Equestrian, click HERE.
For full results of WEF 9, click HERE.
