Rego Shines in Wellington with Clear Round Success
IslandStats.com
Bermudian equestrian standout Cody Rego continued his impressive development on the world stage this week, producing a composed performance at the prestigious 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida.
Competing during Week 5—the CSI5*/2* Fidelity Investments week—Rego showcased the technical precision that has made him one of Bermuda’s most exciting young prospects in the sport.
Partnered with Vico G, Rego lined up in a competitive field for the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper II Class. Navigating a course that demanded both speed and accuracy, the pair delivered a clinical Clear Round, stopping the clock in a time of 65.704 seconds.
The performance was enough to secure a respectable 4th place overall, adding to what has been a busy month for the young rider. Rego has been a consistent presence at the Wellington International arena this season, notably representing team Oakland 12 in the Under 25 Grand Prix series earlier this month.
The result in the 1.30m class underscores Rego's versatility as he balances high-stakes team events with individual developmental classes. Having already tasted success on the European circuit and in major US equitation finals, his partnership with Vico G appears to be flourishing under the Florida sun.
Monday, February 09, 2026
SCAD gallop to victory as Bardgett shines in Florida
IslandStats.com
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) equestrian team continued their relentless pursuit of silverware, delivering a masterclass in precision and poise to claim the team title at the IHSA Region 5 Zone 5 event.
Competing at the state-of-the-art Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center, the Bees produced a flawless display to secure a perfect score of 49 points. The result further solidifies SCAD's position at the summit of the regional standings, where they have consistently outpaced their closest rivals throughout the 2025-2026 campaign.
The dominance of the SCAD squad was evident from the outset, as they finished a comfortable ten points ahead of Reserve Champions, the University of Central Florida. The University of Florida completed the podium, finishing third with 33 points.
The victory marks another significant milestone for the program, which secured three consecutive IHSA regular season event wins earlier in the season.
While the team victory was a collective effort, senior rider Kayla Bardgett stole the individual headlines with a commanding performance in the Open Flat Class.
Bardgett, a seasoned competitor for the Bees, expertly navigated her mount to secure first place. The win adds to an impressive season for the senior, who previously claimed back-to-back Open Flat victories in November. Her consistency has been a cornerstone of SCAD's regional dominance, helping the team maintain a 59-point lead over UCF heading into the final stages of the season.
Friday, February 06, 2026
James Ignites 2026 Campaign with Podium Surge
IslandStats.com
Bermudian equestrian Tyler James has signaled his intent for the new season with a string of impressive performances at the World Equestrian Center’s Winter Spectacular Series in Ocala, Florida.
Under the continued guidance of coach Wendy Arndt and the Team I.E.C. banner, James is building on a breakthrough 2025 campaign that saw him establish himself as a rising threat on the competitive United States circuit.
The highlight of the opening weeks came in the Young Jumpers division, where James partnered with Zero to Sixty. The pair demonstrated exceptional pace and technical precision to claim a prestigious first-place finish, followed by a solid fourth place in a deep field of emerging equine talent.
James’ success extended into the Junior/Amateur Classic, where he guided Vino Blanco to a podium finish, securing third place. The result reinforces the consistency of a partnership that flourished during his first full year of U.S. competition last season.
The veteran mount Cruise Control proved to be a versatile asset across the equitation and medal classes. James secured a notable third-place finish in the USHJA Amateur Jumping Seat Medal, an event for which he successfully qualified for the national finals in 2025.
Further points were banked with a seventh-place finish in the Ariat Adult Medal and an eighth-place result in the THIS Adult Medal, showcasing James' ability to maintain form across multiple high-stakes rounds.
The strong start in Ocala provides a perfect platform for the rest of the month. James is scheduled to remain at the World Equestrian Center throughout February, continuing his partnership with Team I.E.C. as he looks to climb further up the regional rankings.
With all three horses performing at a high level, the Bermudian contingent in Florida appears well-positioned for a landmark year on the North American stage.
Thursday, February 05, 2026
Rego & Oakland 12 Navigate Challenging WEF U25 Grand Prix
IslandStats.com
Bermudian equestrian standout Cody Rego continued his development on the world stage as he featured in the prestigious twenty-five thousand dollar BrainJuice Under 25 Grand Prix Series Team Event.
The competition, a centerpiece of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, saw some of the finest young riders in the sport convene for a high-stakes evening under the lights at the Wellington International arena.
Rego was part of a four-rider contingent competing under the banner of Oakland 12. In a field characterized by technical complexity and tight time allowed, the team faced a stern test of their partnership with their mounts. Despite a spirited collective effort, Oakland 12 concluded the evening in ninth place overall, finishing with a combined total of twelve penalty fault points once the drop score was applied.
The Bermudian rider, partnered with the experienced Mendoza VDL, produced a performance that balanced speed with careful jumping. The pair navigated the intricate course with precision but were unfortunate to see a single rail fall, resulting in four penalty fault points. They stopped the clock in 68.37 seconds, contributing a solid score to the team’s tally.
The theme of four-fault rounds became a recurring story for the Oakland 12 squad as they struggled to find the elusive clear. Livia Martin, riding Pick Wick Van De Kruishoeve, matched Rego's jumping performance by also picking up four penalty fault points, though she managed a slightly faster time of 65.60 seconds. Her consistency mirrored that of Elena Haas, who guided Ogue BT Special through the course in 66.35 seconds, but she too was unable to keep all the fences up and finished with four faults.
Completing the team’s effort was Mimi Gochman, a highly decorated competitor on the American youth circuit. Partnering with Tage BH, Gochman mirrored her teammates' frustrations by finishing on four penalty fault points with a time of 65.96 seconds. While the individual times were competitive, the cumulative faults kept the podium out of reach for the Oakland 12 side on this occasion.
For Rego, the experience in Wellington remains a vital part of his transition into the upper echelons of the sport. Competing in a team format at the Winter Equestrian Festival provides a unique pressure that serves as ideal preparation for future international representative duties. The Bermudian will now look to build on this performance as the Wellington circuit moves into its final months of competition.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026
Bardgett & SCAD Equestrian Makes History with Perfect Score
IslandStats.com
Equestrian history was rewritten this weekend at the Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center as the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) delivered a masterclass performance, securing the first perfect score in the 35-year history of the Tournament of Champions (TOC).
In an event that was nearly derailed by a significant snowstorm, the resilience of the SCAD program was on full display. After weather forced a rescheduling of the original competition dates, the Winter Tournament of Champions finally got underway, pitting the nation's top collegiate riders against one another in a test of technical precision and grit.
SCAD, as the defending Series Champions, fielded two elite squads: Team BEE-Lieve and Team BEE Strong. In a remarkable display of internal depth, both teams dominated the field from the opening classes, eventually finishing the day in a dead heat.
For the first time in the tournament's three-decade history, two teams from the same school finished with a perfect total of 50 points apiece. The achievement was so unprecedented that officials were forced to dig deep into the tie-breaker system. After four tie-breakers—including blue ribbons and jumping points—failed to separate the teams, a fifth tie-breaker involving the highest placing in Intermediate Fences finally saw Team BEE-Lieve crowned Champions, with Team BEE Strong taking the Reserve Champion title.
Bermudian senior Kayla Bardgett was instrumental in the historic result, anchoring the SCAD efforts with a string of flawless rides. Competing for Team BEE Strong, Bardgett showcased the form that has made her a crucial point-scorer throughout the 2025/26 season.
Her individual haul was nothing short of exceptional: Open Over Fences: 1st Place Open Flat: 1st Place TOC High Medal: 2nd Place (Reserve Champion)
The High Medal class provided some of the day's most compelling action. Riders were initially split into three flat sections, with the judge calling back the top eight picks for a decisive round over fences.
Bardgett navigated the flat phase with poise before delivering a clinical performance over the hurdles. While she narrowly missed out on the top spot, her crowning as Reserve Champion in the High Medal class added another significant accolade to her collegiate resume.
