Horse News From Around the World Today: 14 November 2026

Today’s Horse News From Around the World brings strong British performances from Stuttgart, where Susan Pape and Annabella Pidgley have finished inside the top ten of the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix. In showjumping, Sweden’s Peder Fredricson has secured a major victory ahead of Germany’s leading riders, while American Kent Farrington has claimed an important win in Toronto.

Away from competition, new British-led research has produced international recommendations aimed at improving the welfare of horses and donkeys at the end of their lives.

Susan Pape fourth as Isabell Werth wins Stuttgart Dressage World Cup Grand Prix

Britain’s Susan Pape delivered an impressive performance at Stuttgart on Friday, finishing fourth in the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix aboard Harmony’s Giulilanta.

The British combination scored 72.130%, securing a place among the leading riders in a strong international field headed by Germany’s Isabell Werth.

Pape’s partner, Harmony’s Giulilanta, is a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Jazz out of a Flemmingh mare. The experienced combination finished ahead of several established international competitors, including Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Germany’s Frederic Wandres.

Fellow British rider Annabella Pidgley also achieved a top-ten result, finishing ninth aboard Gio with 69.935%. The 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, previously ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, continues to provide Pidgley with valuable experience at senior World Cup level.

Werth claimed victory aboard ten-year-old Oldenburg stallion Viva Gold OLD, achieving a personal-best Grand Prix score of 77.826%. The result continues the partnership’s impressive progress, with ten victories from 13 international starts since moving into Big Tour competition earlier this year.

The Netherlands’ Marieke van der Putten finished second aboard Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P. on 75.348%, while Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis and Flambeau completed the podium with 73.587%.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, which carries €50,000 in prize money and offers valuable qualification points towards the 2027 FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Gothenburg.

For British supporters, both Pape and Pidgley have an opportunity to build on their Grand Prix performances in one of the season’s important indoor qualifiers.

The Stuttgart German Masters official results provide the competition details and full placings.

Peder Fredricson wins Stuttgart German Master ahead of Ehning and Vogel

Sweden’s Peder Fredricson secured a major victory at Stuttgart on Friday evening, winning the prestigious Stuttgart German Master aboard 12-year-old gelding SV Vroom de la Pomme Z.

The Olympic gold medallist produced the fastest clear round in an eight-horse jump-off, stopping the clock in 34.70 seconds to claim the €32,705 first prize.

Germany’s Marcus Ehning finished second aboard Askala NRW in 35.56 seconds, earning €21,100, while world number one Richard Vogel completed the podium with Gangster Montdesir in 36.18 seconds.

Vogel’s third-place finish follows his victory in last Sunday’s Verona World Cup qualifier with the same horse, demonstrating the consistency of a partnership that has quickly become one of the most competitive on the international indoor circuit.

The Stuttgart German Master is traditionally one of the meeting’s most prestigious competitions, second only to Sunday’s World Cup qualifier. Friday’s class attracted a capacity crowd of 8,000 spectators at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle.

Fredricson, now 54, has enjoyed a distinguished international career, including Olympic team gold with Sweden at Tokyo 2020 and individual silver medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

British riders Scott Brash, Robert Whitaker and Chloe Aston are also competing at Stuttgart this week, although their individual Friday placings have not been independently confirmed.

Sunday’s €200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier will provide the next major opportunity for riders to strengthen their position in the Western European League standings.

Kent Farrington and Rexton win Toronto’s Big Ben International Challenge

World number two Kent Farrington has added another major international victory to his record, winning Thursday evening’s US$116,500 Mad Barn Big Ben International Challenge at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show.

The American rider partnered nine-year-old gelding Rexton to victory in a competitive ten-horse jump-off, completing Bernardo Costa Cabral’s 1.55m course in 32.96 seconds.

Fellow American Alex Matz finished second aboard Ikigai in 33.06 seconds, just one-tenth of a second behind Farrington. McKayla Langmeier completed an all-American podium with Gangster WW in 34.84 seconds.

The result is particularly encouraging for Farrington, who acquired Rexton earlier this year after following the horse’s development in Europe.

The grey gelding had previously been produced by German riders Christoph Zimmermann and Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Farrington had ridden the horse briefly during his younger years before deciding to bring him into his competition string.

Thursday’s performance suggests the partnership is developing quickly, with Farrington demonstrating confidence in Rexton’s speed and ability through the final stages of the jump-off.

The competition is named in honour of Big Ben, the legendary Canadian showjumper ridden by Ian Millar. Together, they won consecutive FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in 1988 and 1989, becoming one of the sport’s most celebrated partnerships.

Farrington now turns his attention towards Saturday’s US$200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier, where riders will compete for valuable North American League points towards the 2027 Final.

British researchers publish new international guidance on equine end-of-life welfare

New research led by the Royal Veterinary College has resulted in practical recommendations designed to improve the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules during commercial slaughter.

The guidance, reported this week, was developed in partnership with World Horse Welfare and the Humane Slaughter Association, following research into equine welfare practices across the United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico and Ghana.

Led by Dr Kate Fletcher, the research examined how different handling practices, environments and slaughter methods can affect equine welfare.

Researchers assessed behaviour, brainstem reflexes, electroencephalography and pathological findings to identify risks that may not have been adequately addressed by previous welfare guidance.

The resulting recommendations emphasise the importance of calm handling, suitable facilities, non-slip flooring and properly trained personnel capable of recognising pain, fear and distress.

They also address the need for effective stunning methods that prevent animals from experiencing avoidable suffering.

The research is significant because horses and donkeys have behavioural and physiological needs that differ from other livestock species. Facilities and handling procedures developed primarily for cattle or other farm animals may not always be appropriate for equines.

The guidance also considers the challenges faced by countries where resources, infrastructure and welfare enforcement may be limited.

For the British equestrian industry, the recommendations provide further evidence of the importance of species-specific welfare standards, while offering practical information that could help improve practices internationally.

The full 2026 document, Practical Recommendations for Equid Welfare at Slaughter, is available through the Humane Slaughter Association.