Richard Vogel and Cydello Repeat in $140,000 Grand Prix at WEF

Exactly one year ago, Cydello claimed his first grand prix victory with Richard Vogel (GER) on the derby field at Wellington International, and the duo repeated history, taking the win again Sunday in the $140,000 WeatherTech CSI3* Grand Prix to wrap up Week 2 of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.

Out of a field of stellar combinations, some new and some incredibly seasoned, Vogel and Cydello were among 14 clear pairs over a track set by Olaf Petersen, Jr. Vogel was nearly last to go, with just Jessica Mendoza (GBR) behind him aboard In The Air, but ultimately his jump-off strategy prevailed.

“Cydello is an amazing horse,” Vogel said of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Cascadello x Forsyth FRH). “He’s had some great success since we’ve had him. We thought ‘let’s try to repeat here. We’re thrilled and mega happy that we succeeded.”

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Mimi Gochman (USA) had taken the lead early on and held it for some time with a time of 38.1 seconds before Vogel stepped in and pipped her in 37.66. She ended up second with Inclen BH, owned by DG Sport Horse LLC. Cian O’Connor (IRL) claimed third aboard Bentley du Sury, owned by Karlswood Partners, on a time of 38.51 seconds. (Top Canadian was Erynn Ballard riding Ilan Ferder’s Ezarka de Belheme, who placed 12th.)

Vogel knew where he could be quick around the short course, but it wasn’t in the same spots that most riders tried to shave off time. “Some people did seven strides from [fence] one to two,” he elaborated on his plan. “He has a big enough stride, but I still decided to shape the eight [strides] and jump in the right direction over number two. I might’ve not been the fastest from one to two but I think I made the time up in the rollback. I knew there [could be] eight strides to the last, but I decided to do the nine because I felt I was quick enough and luckily it paid off.”

Cydello’s progression is evidence that a circuit like WEF can be an excellent opportunity to grow a horse’s confidence and step it up into the higher levels. Vogel used WEF 2024 as an upward ramp for the horse to jump more demanding tracks, and he’s been jumping almost exclusively at the CSI5* level—and staying competitive—ever since.

“He got more experience,” Vogel said of how Cydello has developed over the past year. “When we had him here last year it was his seventh or eighth FEI show so he was fairly green at that level. But he loves the grass and throughout the year he saw some great arenas like Aachen and Barcelona, some really good results, got more mature, more experienced, and we’re lucky that we can win classes.”

Ranked number nine in the world, Vogel is among the top international athletes that attend WEF annually now, and he is grateful for an environment that not only provides a high level of competition but also continues to challenge him to improve.

“I think that’s why we are all here,” he remarked of the level of competition at WEF. “Whether it’s a three-, four- or five-star week there’s always some of the best riders in the world here competing with their best horses. Even in this three-star Grand Prix we saw some Olympic combinations—not just riders but also horses—so that just shows you how tough the level here is. You have to measure yourself with better competitors in order to improve. It’s not easy here but that keeps us working and improving and we really enjoy it.”

With his top horse, United Touch S, staying back home to prioritize the FEI World Cup Finals in April, Vogel has brought a less experienced but incredibly talented group of horses to hope for a similar trajectory that Cydello saw over the past year.

“I have greener and newer horses here that are supposed to step up,” he said of his string for WEF. “I find it hard to have a planned schedule throughout the whole circuit. It’s more about feeling when they’re ready for the next step and when is the time to keep them at the level or take a step down. We take it as we go.”

To complete the day, Cydello’s groom Anna Halasz was honored with the Double H Farm Grooms Award and was presented with a $500 check. The Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award designation went to Jessica Mendoza (GBR) after a brilliantly consistent week.

Vogel and other international athletes now eye WEF 3, which will offer CSI4* and CSI2* competition, presented by NetJets, back in the International Ring.

For complete results from the WeatherTech CSI3* Grand prix, click HERE.