Kent Farrington and Toulayna: A Power Duo Dominates the $200,000 UF Health Grand Prix CSI4*

Kent Farrington and Toulayna receiving their first place accolades from Mason Jordan on behalf of the Roberts Family, Tedd Comerford, Assoc. VP of Supply Chain Services of UF Health Shands, Bob Thornton, Sr. VP & CFO of UF Health Shands, and Jim Wolf of World Equestrian Center. Image © Andrew Ryback Photography.

Press announcement from World Equestrian Center

A star-filled assembly of elite riders drew a crowd for the $200,000 UF Health Grand Prix CSI4* during Week III of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as some of the sport’s fastest competitors and most lauded Olympians geared up for the contest. In an exhilarating three-horse jump-off, Kent Farrington (USA) concluded a remarkable week of triumphs, clinching the victory aboard the outstanding Toulayna (Toulon x Parco), belonging to Rabbit Root Stables, LLC.

FEI Level IV course architect Anderson Lima (MEX) crafted a demanding layout that kept both riders and spectators alert. Rails fell at virtually every corner, yet three adept pairs discovered the route to a clear round, setting the scene for a thrilling clash among Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Kraut (USA), World No. 4 Kent Farrington, and top Irish contender Jonathan Corrigan.

Reflecting on the initial round course, Jonathan Corrigan, who rode Darius De Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago Hn x Diamant De Semilly) to a clear round, remarked, “When I walked it, I thought it was less challenging than it turned out to be. I believe it was a touch more meticulous than it was extensive. The course designer did a fantastic job, and it caught many riders off guard in several areas. Everything just worked out nicely for me.”

The jump-off had the audience on the edge of their seats. Laura Kraut was the first to return with her longtime partner, Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi Van Berkenbroek), and adopted a straightforward approach. “When you have these two behind you, I knew I had to make my move. There were only three clear rounds, so you just give it your all,” she elaborated. Kraut and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare sped through the course, finishing in a remarkable 39.01 seconds to set the pace.

Kent Farrington, coming off a win in Geneva, Switzerland with Toulayna, entered the arena with a clear aim. “My strategy was to surpass Laura,” he chuckled. “Laura’s horse is exceptionally fast, and so is Laura, so I never take their speed lightly. We conversed a bit about our approach for the jump-off. She planned to do eight strides to the liverpool fence, which I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a large-strided horse.’ Then I saw her execute it effortlessly, and I realized, okay, that was a rapid round. I knew I needed to make up time. I couldn’t do eight strides there because my horse has a shorter stride, and I didn’t want her to get flat. So I took the outside line, but at a very high speed. That allowed me to shorten up to the next fence while maintaining the same pace to catch her by small margins.”

Farrington and Toulayna secured the win with a time of 38.62 seconds, narrowly beating Kraut for the victory. Speaking about his remarkable 11-year-old Zangersheide mare, Farrington remarked, “I’ve had Toulayna since she was seven, thanks to Rabbit Root Stables in California. They entrusted her to me without having ever seen her, and they’ve become an incredible partner. We’ve achieved a considerable amount of success, and she’s been a fantastic winner practically from the beginning. She has risen to the highest levels and performed admirably. This is her first competition back since Geneva, where she excelled, and she clearly showed she was in outstanding form tonight.”

Jonathan Corrigan and Darius De Kerglenn, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Twin Oaks Ventures LLC, gave it their all in the jump-off, finishing just six-tenths of a second behind Kraut with a time of 39.68 seconds to complete the podium.

Farrington celebrated a commanding two weeks at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala, achieving three international victories. “This venue is remarkable. The Roberts Family has accomplished something phenomenal; this is one of the premier locations globally,” he stated. Laura Kraut, who visited WEC for the second time, mirrored his feelings. “I truly appreciated it. After [Longines League of Nations™], I made a personal vow that I would return for more competitions. Tonight was a fantastic event, and we want to keep it a mystery,” she laughed. Farrington added, ‘I don’t believe it’s going to remain a secret for long.’”