There is a new face on the Florida event scene this winter – 27-year-old Swiss eventer, Felix Vogg, who is based in Radolfzell, Germany – just north of the German-Swiss border. Vogg is no stranger to international eventing having competed at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 2014 World Equestrian Games, and multiple European Championships, but Rocking Horse Winter II in Ocala, Florida was his first foray into U.S. eventing.
When first asked what brought him to Florida, Vogg joked that is was the weather! But it was actually Nadine Beck, his persuasive aunt who convinced him to cross the Atlantic. “My aunt is living in the states,” explained Vogg. “She is living in Minneapolis and she is based over the winter in Wellington. She is an amateur show jumping rider with three horses. She wanted every year for me to come visit her. I came last year to visit her in Wellington and she said this year that I should come with the horses and I said ‘no, no, no’. New Year’s Eve she said I had to come so we decided that I would.”
Vogg brought one event horse over, Colero, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Fire x Bonita) owned by Jürgen Vogg who just moved up to the CIC3* level last fall.
“I want to try with him for [the World Equestrian Games at] Tryon,” continued Vogg. “But he is quite green still and not experienced, so I thought this would give him a chance to start earlier in the season and get more experience. I will try [for the WEG], but if it doesn’t work then it is fine as well because he is a good future horse.”
In their first U.S. start, Vogg and Colero won the Open Intermediate-B division at Rocking Horse Winter II in Altoona, Fla. Scoring a 23.9 in the dressage and adding just 2.8 time penalties on cross-country to win the class by 6.4 points.
Watch their cross-country round thanks to the Horse Pesterer, David Frechette.
While winning was the cherry on top, Vogg said his first U.S. event was a good experience. “It is completely different, the conditions and everything – ground, weather, everything. I think it is really good because in Germany and specially not in Switzerland we don’t have so many competitors. I think it is a good system that you have so many national classes. There is always a step in between if you go from two-star to three-star you can first ride an Advanced in between so you don’t have such a big step. I am impressed of the horses – really good horses. I like it.”While Vogg traveled from Europe alone, he knew a few U.S.-based eventers already and has made several new friends. “I went first to Liz Halliday-Sharp’s for training cross-country before heading to Rocking Horse,” said Vogg. “I also met the week before Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin and did some canter work with them and watched some show jumping classes while they were training in Wellington. I knew Boyd already from Rio and Luhmuhlen. When I got to Rocking Horse I met Sharon White I knew because I sold a student of hers a horse once.”
Next week Vogg is riding some show jumping rounds on a pure show jumper he brought as well and then he is headed to the Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Vogg will then move from his current base with his Aunt in Wellington to Boyd Martin’s farm in Aiken, South Carolina. From there he will compete at the Carolina International CIC3* in Southern Pines, N.C., and WEG test event at The Fork CIC3* in Tryon, N.C. Red Hills, Carolina, and The Fork are all part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to head to Area V this Dec. 11-14 for the 2025 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana! Known for its rich history, world-class jazz, and electrifying Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans will set the stage for a lively week of discussion and education on the most important topics in the sport of eventing. Gather your fellow members and meet us to celebrate the last year of success in “The Big Easy!”
The Olympic gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin lit up the arena at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials with a stunning performance and took the lead after the first day of dressage with the excellent mark of 22.4. They have almost five penalties over second-placed Emily King and Valmy Biats on 27.3.
At some point in your riding career, you probably found yourself feeling or dealing with a little fear, failure, or frustration. We’ve all been there. Regardless of whether we’re competitive or recreational, we’ve likely found ourselves getting a bit stuck on stress or a struggle; dealing with a little defeat or disappointment, or feeling overwhelmed or underprepared.
We might still be recovering physically from the excitement of the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships, but mentally we keep playing the weekend over and over again in our heads. This is a weekend that many eventers and lovers of the sport all over the country (ourselves included) look forward to each year and this year was no exception. From teams getting to experience their first time ever at the championship to mascots swapping gear in a show of camaraderie, there were so many great moments that took place during this year's end-of-the-school-year event. Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the three day competition below!