Press release from Wellington International, edited by World of Showjumping

Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal and his 11-year-old Westphalian mare Baroness won two international competitions in as many days at Wellington International, underscored by the $32,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Friday during the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs at Wellington International through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

Coming off a win on Thursday in the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Two-Phase to open the week on the grass derby field, Larrazabal and Baroness (Balous Bellini x Polydor) topped a seven-horse jump-off for owner Leeann Ablin.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) built a testing track that led to a competitive tie-breaking jump-off. Larrazabal set the pace as the first to return and held on for the win by less than four-tenths of a second over the closest challenger, Lillie Keenan (USA) riding Kick On (Warrior x Caretino Glory) for Chansonette Farm.

Keenan stopped the clock at 38.57 seconds with the 12-year-old stallion behind Larrazabal’s time of 38.19 seconds. Fellow American Alexandra Worthington was third riding De l’Oiseliere (Kapitol d'Argonne x Oberon du Moulin), owned by Turn A Blind Eye, LLC.

“I've been riding this mare since she was six, and I know her completely," said Larrazabal, who hasn’t competed Baroness since the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru, in December, where they jumped to double silver medals in team and individual jumping. “Today, she jumped amazingly. She’s had five weeks off, and the plan was to start this week. It’s as good as possible to start a season this way."

“She has a lot of energy, so we try to keep her going, happy and out [of her stall] as much as we can,” continued Larrazabal, who will next aim Baroness at Sunday’s $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix before focusing on a five-star outing later this season. “For me, that’s the main thing—keeping my horses happy. When we only focus on ourselves and results, we forget that they are animals and sensitive.”

Larrazabal has been working out of the saddle to learn to enjoy the process and credits that work for his recent string of success, which includes 11 international podium finishes in three months. He has worked with an equestrian mental coach and let his family remind him what’s truly important.

“My mindset now is to enjoy the process,” said Larrazabal. “It’s not only about the pressure of competition. That’s been a big change in my sport, and—I feel—the reason for the consistent results. I’m more relaxed and in the moment, and I try to enjoy my ride more than just thinking about winning. And of course, being a dad keeps you grounded,” concluded Larrazabal about his three-year-old twins, a five-year-old, and a new baby expected in a month.