Winter Equestrian Festival 2025 Bainbridge $500,000 Grand Prix
Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc ‘Talking Horses,’ was onsite for the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival CSI5* Grand Prix, sponsored by Bainbridge. Check out the full recap below.
By Dr. Gregory Beroza
Wellington entrance. Photo by GBeroza.
The 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival CSI5* Grand Prix, sponsored by Bainbridge, took place on Saturday, March 8th at the Wellington International Show Grounds. It was a spectacular event with 40 top international show-jumpers competing for $500,000 of prize money and points toward their world-class rankings and future Olympic competition selection potential. They had to navigate a challenging course designed by internationally recognized expert course designer Alan Wade (IRL).
Many of the world’s top 20 international athletes competed in the first round of competition. There were several Olympians present, including Germany’s current Paris Gold Medalist Christian Kukuk, Sweden’s 1st world ranked Henrik Von Eckermann, US Silver Medal Olympian and 3rd world ranked Kent Farrington, US multi-medal Olympian and Hall of Famer Laura Kraut, and US six-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist McClain Ward.
The stands were packed, the action in and outside the arena was exceptional, and the environment was electric. Wellington International President Michael Stone shared his thoughts on the success of the night’s impending contest. “We’re going to have an amazing night, with half-a-million dollars in prize money. We have the best riders in the world. The world (ranked) #1 is here. It’s going to be spectacular, and the crowds are streaming in.”
Packed stands. Photo by GPBeroza.
Prior to the competition, we walked the course and gained insight into the evening’s event by interviewing a few prominent experts. Halfway through the first round, we interviewed Dani Waldman, a former Tokyo Olympian and host of the Horse Bytes Podcast by Flying Feather. She confirmed that, “It’s clearly a very challenging course” and “some of the best horse and rider combinations in the world have not been clean (eliminated).”
Pre-event course walk. Photo by GBeroza.
Some jumps were taller than the riders. Photo by GBeroza.
Tall verticals and wide oxers, with short lines between. Photo by GBeroza.
Of the original 40 riders, only seven were faultless and made it to the final Jump-Off Round. Emilie Conter from Belgium was the third jump-off rider on her mount Portobella van de Fruitkorf. She was one of the lower world ranked riders (#79) remaining. Emilie rode faultlessly and with the fastest time, making her the 2025 winner. Her ride was spectacular in every way.
Conter over final Bainbridge jump. Photo by Sportfot.
Harry Charles (#32), a 2024 Paris Olympic Gold Medal team member, came in second, riding Sherlock. Henrik von Eckermann, the world ranked #1 rider from Sweden, got a third place finish aboard his 2024 Olympic horse King Edward. Tom Wachman (IRL), aboard Tobasco de Toscandria Z, finished fourth, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) aboard Zero K finished fifth.
Select fans (mostly children) were selected to enter the arena as Emilie Conter and Portobella took their traditional winner’s lap. She subsequently joined second place Harry Charles and third place Henrik von Eckermann atop the ceremonial winners’ podium to be given their competition sashes, to listen to the Belgium national anthem, and to then douse each other with celebratory champaign.
Photo by GBeroza.
The in-arena celebration was followed by a press conference with the top three finishing riders. It was hosted by Wellington International Press Officer Lindsay Brock. Both Harry and Henrik congratulated Emilie on a great ride. All three hope to compete in WEF’s final $750,000 5* Rolex Grand Prix on March 29.
The 2025 Bainbridge Grand Prix at Wellington International was a spectacular event and a great time was had by all in attendance. Many fans and late visiting partygoers arrived to participate in the celebratory night-club atmosphere after-event festivities.
It was International Women’s Day and underdog Emilie Conter rose to the occasion to steal the show. Watch and enjoy the night’s excitement via out WuzUpDoc’s ‘Talking Horses’ 13-minute live action full-video coverage:
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.
Thanks to ‘HorseDoc’ Sponsors: Alex Nichols Agency; BMB IT Solutions, Chestnut Vale Feed, Cosequin Joint Health Supplement, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Great American Insurance-Equine Division; Hopscotch Air Taxi; Jaguar; JSR Farriers-Equine Transport; Land Rover; Nutrena; Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate; Ramard Nutraceuticals; Range Rover; Supporting Strategies; Ultravet Medical Devices
