Horse News From Around the World Today: 30 October 2026
British showjumpers have made an impressive start to the Nations Cup meeting in Spain, with Matt Sampson claiming victory and several riders collecting podium finishes ahead of today’s team competition. Meanwhile, Lewis Carrier has completed his opening Dressage World Cup test in Lyon, where Belgium’s Justin Verboomen continues his remarkable partnership with Zonik Plus.
Elsewhere, the Global Champions Tour reaches its final regular-season stage in Morocco, Germany’s Richard Vogel has shared a health update on United Touch S, and a new British veterinary initiative aims to support the next generation of equine specialists.
British showjumpers impress at Vejer ahead of Nations Cup challenge
Britain’s Matt Sampson led a strong day of British performances at Vejer de la Frontera on Thursday, winning the seven-year-old 1.35m competition aboard Cavintinue PS. The Yorkshire rider completed a clear round in 60.20 seconds, with compatriot Millie Allen finishing second aboard Liyanna ter Wijnen Z, just 0.60 seconds behind.
Sampson, who has enjoyed considerable success developing young horses alongside his international Grand Prix career, adds another promising result to his season. There was further British success in the senior classes, with Chloe Winchester finishing third in the CSIO3* 1.45m aboard eight-year-old Casacenta Petra PS. Winchester also took second in the CSI2* 1.35m with Tisara Quality Cruise, while Tim Gredley finished runner-up in the CSI2* 1.40m aboard Romelus de Muze.
Attention now turns to Friday’s €50,000 Nations Cup, where Great Britain faces 13 other nations over a 1.50m course. Chef d’équipe Di Lampard has selected Allen, Gredley, Winchester, Georgia Tame and Max Routledge for the meeting. With several relatively young horses in the squad, the competition offers an important opportunity to gain experience representing Britain under team conditions.
The official Sunshine Tour report confirms Thursday’s results and Friday’s programme.
Lewis Carrier finishes tenth as Verboomen wins Lyon Dressage World Cup Grand Prix
Britain’s Lewis Carrier finished tenth in Thursday’s FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix at Lyon, scoring 68.913% aboard his long-standing partner Diego V. The combination faced a strong international field headed by Belgium’s Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, who claimed victory on 79.065%, ahead of Germany’s Isabell Werth and Viva Gold OLD on 77.587%.
Carrier’s result comes during an encouraging season for the British partnership. Diego V, an 18-year-old KWPN gelding by Spielberg, has been competing internationally with Carrier for several years. The pair enjoyed particular success at Deauville in September, winning both the Grand Prix and Freestyle, with scores of 71.522% and 75.470% respectively.
For Verboomen, Lyon offers another opportunity to demonstrate the quality of his partnership with the ten-year-old stallion Zonik Plus. The pair secured double individual gold at the 2025 European Dressage Championships and have established themselves among the leading combinations in international dressage. Thursday’s victory puts them in a strong position ahead of Friday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, which carries €50,000 in prize money and valuable points towards the 2027 World Cup Final.
Global Champions Tour reaches Rabat with championship podium still undecided
The Longines Global Champions Tour arrives in Rabat, Morocco, for its final regular-season competition of 2026, with several leading international showjumpers still fighting for championship podium positions.
Belgium’s Abdel Saïd secured the overall individual title in Cairo last weekend, building an unassailable total of 245 points following a season of consistent performances. However, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann remains second on 224 points, with Austria’s Max Kühner third on 208. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts and France’s Simon Delestre are also among those hoping to improve their final standings.
The championship finale brings considerable interest for riders who have spent the season competing at some of the world’s most demanding five-star venues. Although the title has been decided, a strong result in Rabat could still make a significant difference to the remaining podium positions.
There will also be home support for Moroccan international Abdelkebir Ouaddar, who has represented his country at Olympic level. Ireland’s Denis Lynch, Michael Pender and Harry Allen are among the other riders expected to compete.
Sunday’s CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix carries €612,100 in prize money, with another qualification opportunity available for November’s Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Verona. The competition also marks the final opportunity for teams to improve their overall Global Champions League standings before the season-ending Playoffs.
Richard Vogel’s champion stallion United Touch S receiving veterinary treatment
Germany’s Richard Vogel has confirmed that his championship-winning stallion United Touch S is receiving veterinary treatment for an infection, with no timetable currently available for his return to competition.
The 14-year-old Westphalian stallion, born in 2012 and by Untouched, has become one of international showjumping’s most recognisable horses. His exceptional scope and enormous stride have helped Vogel achieve some of the biggest victories of his career, including individual gold at the 2025 European Championships and team gold at this year’s World Championships in Aachen.
British showjumping followers will remember the partnership’s European Championship performance particularly well. Vogel and United Touch S secured individual gold in A Coruña, finishing ahead of Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Folie, who claimed silver.
The German combination has also enjoyed major five-star victories at venues including Aachen and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, contributing to Vogel’s rise to the top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Rankings.
Vogel confirmed that United Touch S is receiving ongoing treatment and close veterinary monitoring. The rider has emphasised that the stallion’s health and wellbeing remain the priority, with a further update expected when there is meaningful progress.
For a horse who has played such an important role in Vogel’s international success, his absence will be felt across the showjumping circuit.
New BEVA awards aim to support future equine veterinary specialists
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has launched a new awards programme offering financial support to veterinary students and recently qualified equine vets, helping them access specialist training and international research opportunities.
The Paddy Dixon Award Programme, announced on Thursday, will provide individual grants of up to £1,500 towards attending recognised veterinary conferences. With an annual budget of £10,000, the initiative will support both students and qualified equine vets within their first four years after graduation.
The programme has been established through funding from Professor Padraic Dixon, an internationally recognised equine veterinary specialist whose work has helped advance equine dentistry, upper airway surgery and related clinical research.
Priority will be given to applicants presenting research, particularly in fields including equine dentistry, sinus surgery and upper airway conditions. These are areas of considerable importance to horse owners, with advances in diagnosis and treatment helping improve welfare, comfort and performance.
Alongside the awards, BEVA will introduce a dedicated Paddy Dixon Session at its 2027 Congress, creating another opportunity for veterinary professionals to share research and clinical experience.
The first application deadline is 4 December 2026, with the awards open to eligible BEVA members in Britain and internationally.