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Monday, November 10, 2025
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FEI Approves Major Jumping Rule Overhaul
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The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) announced that a restructured set of Jumping Rules received an overwhelming 96% approval during its General Assembly in Hong Kong and will officially take effect on January 1, 2026.
The changes mark a concerted effort to enhance horse welfare and improve governance across the global sport.
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibanez thanked the National Federations for their constructive dialogue, stating the discussions "clearly reflected a shared commitment to finding solutions." She noted that despite not being unanimous, the approval signals a strong consensus. The FEI committed to looking into a request from several federations for a more harmonized approach to rule changes across all disciplines.
Bermuda was represented by delegate Erin Smith, who highlighted the significance of the assembly for the island’s equestrian community.
Smith remarked that it was "an honour to represent Bermuda at the FEI General Assembly in Hong Kong," which focused on meaningful rule updates, strengthened governance, and welfare initiatives. She stressed the importance of her side meetings: "Throughout the week, I also had the opportunity to participate in multiple individual meetings—including valuable discussions with the FEI Solidarity team and partners involved in the Hong Kong Jockey Club initiative—which provided important insights and support for Bermuda’s continued development."
The proposed Article 259 on Jumping Recorded Warnings was a major point of discussion and was approved by the National Federations as a meaningful advancement for horse welfare. The approved measures enhance safeguards and consistency, notably:
Mandatory Fitness Checks: New mandatory fitness-to-compete checks by the ground jury, in consultation with the veterinary delegate, will be enforced in all cases of blood.
Continuation Contingent: Horses are now only permitted to continue competing if passed fit-to-compete following the new veterinary check.
Increased Consistency: The new rules offer clearer guidance for FEI Officials, removing the 'minor' distinction and ensuring greater consistency and objectivity in application.
Transparency and Accountability: All Jumping Recorded Warnings will now be published by the FEI, ensuring increased transparency.
Federation Notification: National Federations will receive automatic notification of all Jumping Recorded Warnings concerning their athletes, enabling them to better monitor cases and decide on imposing additional welfare checks or measures.
Crucially, existing protections remain unchanged, including mandatory disqualification for excessive use of spurs, the Abuse of Horse provisions, and the ability to open separate disciplinary proceedings for additional sanctions.
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Saturday, November 08, 2025
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Waldron Secures Top-Four Finish in Indiana
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Bermudian harness driver Kiwon Waldron was back in action for a single-race performance at Harrah's Hoosier Park in Indiana, securing a top-four finish in the Trot Class.
Waldron's focus was solely on Race 9 for the evening. In the sulky of the trotter Gold Paige, the pair delivered a competitive drive against a strong field. They crossed the line in fourth place with a solid time of 1 minute, 56 and four-fifths seconds ($1:56&4).
The result adds another consistent finish to Waldron's resume as he continues his demanding schedule on the highly competitive North American harness racing circuit.
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Friday, November 07, 2025
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Waldron Secures Victory in Hoosier Park Six-Race Card
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Bermudian harness driver Kiwon Waldron had another demanding but rewarding night at Harrah's Hoosier Park in Indiana, competing in six separate races across both the Trot and Pace classes, culminating in a well-earned trip to the winner's circle.
Waldron secured the top prize in Race 10, the Pace Class event. Driving Fox Valley Jasper, the pair crossed the line first with a strong time of 1 minute, 52 and two-fifths seconds ($1:52&2), marking a significant win for the Bermudian driver on the competitive US circuit.
He also secured another top-five finish in the Pace events when he drove Out To Get Lucky in Race 6, finishing fourth with a time of $1:53&3. Waldron's other Pace results included an eighth-place finish in Race 9 with Zendayacougarbeach ($1:58 flat) and a fifth-place finish in Race 13 aboard All A Blur ($1:58 flat).
In the Trot Class, Waldron was consistent across his two drives, securing two top-five placings:
Race 5: Waldron and Wiggy Hill finished in fourth place with a time of $1:58$ flat.
Race 2: He started his night with a fifth-place finish aboard Momsshowgirl, clocking $1:59&2.
Waldron’s busy schedule and ability to secure a victory underscore his ongoing competitive spirit and form against elite North American harness racing talent.
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Thursday, November 06, 2025
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Waldron Keeps Busy at Hoosier Park with Five Races
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 Photo by Dean Gillette IslandStats.com
While the wins proved elusive, Waldron and his horses were consistently in the thick of the action across the competitive card, gaining vital experience.
Waldron's busiest class was the Pace, where he drove four horses throughout the night. His strongest finish came in Race 8 aboard Ponda Lambo, where they secured a solid fourth place with a time of 1 minute, 57 seconds (1:57 flat).
In the other Pace events:
Race 3: Waldron and Six Sticks Of Gum crossed the line 9th, clocking $1:53&2.
Race 4: He finished 6th with Seven Hundred, recording a time of $1:53&4.
Race 11: Waldron and Rockin The Jackpot finished 7th with a time of $1:57&3.
Waldron's single entry in the Trot Class came in Race 2. Driving Fashion Baby, the pair finished 7th with a time of $1:58&2.
The demanding schedule saw Waldron face tough competition across the night, maintaining his active presence on the highly competitive US harness racing circuit.
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Tuesday, November 04, 2025
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Bardgett & SCAD Finishes Fall Quarter with Perfect Score
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The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Equestrian team has concluded its Fall quarter in phenomenal fashion, achieving an incredible feat of back-to-back perfect scores in their home Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) events.
SCAD was again crowned Champions after accumulating the maximum possible 49 points, underlining their complete dominance in the ring. The perfect tally left their closest rivals far behind, with the University of Central Florida named the Reserve Champions with 37 points.
Bermudian senior rider Kayla Bardgett was instrumental in the team’s perfect showing, claiming the win in the prestigious Open Flat Class for the second consecutive day. Her consistent excellence at the highest level of competition was a crucial factor in SCAD’s flawless result.
The consecutive perfect scores solidify SCAD’s status as the regional powerhouse heading into the Spring semester. They are the current Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Region 5 Zone 5 leaders with a commanding total of 221 points.
This gives SCAD a formidable 59-point lead over second-placed University of Central Florida (162 points), with the University of North Florida sitting in third with 141 points. The massive advantage puts the Bees in an extremely strong position to secure the Regional Championship as the 2025-26 season continues.
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