Vogel Records Final FEI Win During World Cup Week at World Equestrian Center – Ocala

February 15, 2026 - Ocala, FL

Richard Vogel and the friendly stallion Cardentos sped their way to the win in the $65,000 Wild Horse Refuge Grand Prix CSI2*.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
“Cardentos is a very exciting addition to our string of horses.” – Richard Vogel
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Richard Vogel and Cardentos were joined in their winning presentation by Jim Wolf and Karla Campbell of World Equestrian Center.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Second-place finishers Vaclav Stanek (CZE) and Langley found the key to a fast round.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Mark Bluman (COL) and Hastella were bumped into third place by just two one-hundredths of a second.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Fifteen-year-old Sophia Segesman (USA) and her 17-year-old mount Opium du Souffle, owned by Rocking D Ranch, beat the professionals to win her first grand prix in the $40,000 Emma’s Patisserie Grand Prix. “I couldn’t believe it. So many times now I’ve jumped these grand prix classes, and I’d jump clean but be a little too slow and get beaten. To finally see I won was so emotional to me.”
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

While five-star competition has concluded for the week, top show jumping continued on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). Richard Vogel (GER) piloted his brand-new partner Cardentos, owned by Witt Pferdezucht GBR, to lead a very fast jump-off in the $65,000 Wild Horse Refuge Grand Prix CSI2*.

Riding over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR), the 37 horse-and-rider combinations produced 11 that moved on to the jump-off, seven of which ended up double clear.

It was a very tight jump-off, with the top five times all within one second. Vogel led the way in 32.44 seconds. Second place went to Vaclav Stanek (CZE) and Langley, a 12-year-old homebred Canadian Sport Horse gelding by Lansdowne x Andiamo owned by Ariel Grange, who finished in 32.52 seconds. They squeaked in front of third-place finishers, Mark Bluman (COL) and Hastella, by two one-hundredths of a second. Hastella is a nine-year-old Selle Francais mare by Quamikase des Forets x Vigo d’Arsouilles owned by Aram Ampagoumian LLC.

This was the first FEI competition together for Vogel and Cardentos. They started three weeks ago in a national competition. “Cardentos is a very exciting addition to our string of horses,” said Vogel of the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Cardento x Quo Vados that was bred by its owners. “He felt very good today. I think with him, it's just about giving him confidence. He has a lot of quality, and I'm super happy with the result today.

“He wants to be very, very careful, so I don't have to protect too much,” he continued about his jump-off. “I can really focus on having good foot speed and almost, in a way, attack the jumps. I think that was a good advantage today that I could keep going everywhere.”

Vogel acknowledged the opportunity that WEC – Ocala provides for top riders to bring along younger or less experienced mounts in the same arena where top sport happens. “That's very rare that you can bring so many horses to gain that much experience in such a great facility with perfect conditions, the environment, and the ambience like we find here,” he noted. “It's probably one of the very few places in the world, so we're very glad we can come here and take this opportunity.”

Out of the 12 horses that Vogel has recorded results on in FEI competition, eight of them are stallions. Vogel noted that he doesn’t specifically seek out stallions, but that “they seem to find us.” His team has devised a good system to keep them all happy, knowing they require more specific care to keep them relaxed and settled. For Cardentos, that means twice-daily “strolls” around the show between riding and competing to greet everyone he encounters.

“He's very happy to talk also,” said Vogel of the handsome grey horse. “Every time he comes out of the stable, he says hello to everyone; every time he enters the arena, he also says hello to everyone. He’s easy to handle, and he’s a very kind horse. I think that’s what makes him so great. He's a very positive horse and always likes to give his best.”

Grand Prix CSI2* Results

SHOW SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Five-star competition returns to WEC – Ocala on March 18-22, 2026, for the Longines League of Nations™ CSIO5*. Information on that event can be found HERE.

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.