March 15, 2026 – Myakka City, Florida. Taylor St. Jacques (CAN) and Gama Cassius closed out the 2026 TerraNova Winter Series in style, winning the final feature class of the circuit with a standout jump-off performance in the $20,000 Arion Sellier 1.35m TerraNova Prix.
The pair delivered a well-ridden, clear round within the time allowed to qualify for the jump-off. However, it was their second round that truly set them apart from the competition.
After the first few fences, St. Jacques opened up her horse’s pace and his stride, producing an impressively fast and careful round. Making efficient use of the track, the pair left out strides and executed tight inside turns to stop the clock in 33.986 seconds, securing the victory.
St. Jacques has only partnered with the 13-year-old gelding for a relatively short time, but the pair has quickly developed a strong connection.
“We call him Cass in the barn,” St. Jacques says. “He actually came to me in August as a sale horse, so I’ve had him for roughly six months. He’s a little bit sensitive and has a lot of blood, and honestly, I love that about him. He’s such a fighter and such a competitor.”
At home, however, Cass is a completely different personality.
“At home, he’s so chill and quiet, the sweetest guy in the barn,” she adds. “But when he walks into the ring, he’s out there to win. He’s either going to win or he’s going to hit a jump trying to win. I’ve never ridden a horse that wants to be that fast and that competitive every single time he goes in the ring, it’s a really cool feeling.”
Despite their successful performance in the class, St. Jacques admits the pair had experienced a challenging round earlier in the week, and she briefly questioned whether competing in the Prix would be the right decision.
“I rode him earlier this week, and we just weren’t on the same page,” she explains. “It didn’t really go as planned, and I wasn’t even sure if doing today’s class was the right call. So yesterday we went back to basics, just very simple flatwork. I actually put him in the same bit that I flat him in, and we just rolled with it. That reset yesterday really helped because today he felt like he was right back to 100 percent and ready to win again.”
One of Cass’s greatest strengths came into play in the jump-off, where his stride and natural speed made the difference.
“When I walked the jump-off, I wasn’t planning to do the inside turn from fence two to three because it looked like a funny angle,” St. Jacques says. “But the first two riders both did it, so I figured I had to now. He waited for me in the first line so I could be a little slower at the second jump to make that inside turn. But once he realized we were going for the win, he took over, and I just tried to steer around the rest of the course.”
But it was the final line that ultimately secured the win, as the pair left out multiple strides and gained valuable ground to finish just over a second faster than the rest of the field.
“I walked about nine and a half strides there, but we came in on a slice and got down the line in seven, I just let him do what he wanted there,” she says. “That horse can take out two or three strides on everyone else, and it doesn’t even look like he did it. He has such a big canter and covers the ground so well, but he’s also so good at coming back to the jump and still jumping in great form. I’ve never ridden a horse that thinks that quickly in the moment.”
St. Jacques says TerraNova has become a regular stop on her winter schedule thanks to the welcoming atmosphere and world-class facility.
“I love this horse show,” she says. “They do an amazing job accommodating everyone who comes here. There’s truly a class for every level, which not many horse shows can offer. It’s hands down one of the best facilities and properties I’ve ever been to for a horse show. The staff and management are incredibly friendly and accommodating, and even after five weeks of showing, everyone is still just as upbeat and welcoming as they were on the first day.”
This season, St. Jacques brought multiple horses to TerraNova throughout the circuit.
“This season I came for four of the five weeks and even brought a young FEI horse to jump the two-star classes,” she says. “Cass just came up for a little field trip out of Wellington, and it worked out well. My horses love it here, my staff loves it here, and it’s always a great experience.”
Samuel Parot (CHI) also delivered another standout performance today and throughout the TerraNova Winter Series. He finished second aboard Top Gun Z and third with Gradje O in the $20,000 Arion Sellier 1.35m TerraNova Prix, continuing a pattern of frequent wins and top leaderboard feature class finishes throughout the entire circuit.
$20,000 Arion Sellier 1.35m TerraNova Prix: Order of Finish
| Place | Rider | Horse | Round 1 | Jump-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor St. Jacques (CAN) | Gama Cassius | 0 | 70.077 | 0 | 33.986 |
| 2 | Samuel Parot (CHI) | Top Gun Z | 0 | 71.614 | 0 | 35.075 |
| 3 | Samuel Parot (CHI) | Gradje O | 0 | 73.354 | 0 | 35.365 |
| 4 | Clara Vidal | Lufrieda VDL | 0 | 71.458 | 0 | 36.148 |
| 5 | Porter Tobin | Arielle Race | 0 | 69.867 | 0 | 36.786 |
| 6 | Kiersten Sudlow | Sangris Boy | 0 | 77.954 | 0 | 40.622 |
| 7 | Reese Merna | Havanna C2 | 0 | 72.440 | 4 | 33.895 |
| 8 | Samuel Parot (CHI) | Contigo Z | 0 | 72.884 | 4 | 36.056 |
| 9 | Kelly Soleau (USA) | Bit O’ Luck | 0 | 74.479 | 4 | 37.649 |
| 10 | Mario Garcia | Blake | 4 | 69.405 | — |
| 11 | Michael Pollard (USA) | Noctrolensky | 4 | 72.678 | — |
| 12 | Kelly Soleau (USA) | Rhumba JW-Van De Moerhoeve | 4 | 72.780 | — |
| 13 | Michael Pollard (USA) | Saint Estephe | 4 | 77.053 | — |
| 14 | Rachel Wilks | Courtwood Tinky | 8 | 77.426 | — |
| 15 | Christine Carlsen (CAN) | Qilaja Van De Helle | 8 | 77.615 | — |
| 16 | Taylor Morris | Caera Top | 8 | 78.672 | — |
New Partnership: Sydney Wright and Byzance De Menge Capture the $3,500 Marsh & McLennan NAL/WIHS 1.10m Jr/Am Jumper Classic
Sydney Wright piloted Byzance De Menge to victory in the $3,500 Marsh & McLennan NAL/WIHS 1.10 Jr/Am Jumper Classic, delivering two clear rounds and a fast jump-off time of 37.290 seconds.
However, the win was even more impressive since Wright had only recently begun riding the mare.
“This was actually my first weekend really riding her,” Wright says. “My usual horse is off while he heals from a small injury, so we were looking for something for me to show here. I’d ridden her once about a month ago when I tried her for a show at WEC, but we ended up using a different horse then. For this show, she was available, so we decided to take her for the week. I honestly didn’t know much about her going in, but she was amazing, super sweet and just game for everything. I want to thank my aunt Susan and Courtney for helping find the mare, and her owner, Alicia, for letting me ride her this weekend.”
Wright said the course provided a fun but technical track, asking riders to balance accuracy and pace throughout the round.
“Today’s course was a lot of fun, I really liked it. It walked pretty much exactly how I expected it to ride,” Wright says. “It was definitely a little technical in places, but it rode beautifully. She has a bit of a smaller stride than my usual horse, so instead of having to slow down in the lines, everything actually rode up quite nicely. And because she’s so compact, the turns were incredibly smooth. Once she knows you want her to turn, she’s right there, she can turn on a dime.”
Since it was her first time competing at TerraNova, Wright said the experience left a strong impression, particularly the venue’s welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful layout.
“This was actually my first time here, and it’s been great,” Wright says. “I really liked it. Everything is within walking distance if you don’t have a golf cart, or you can easily get a cart if you need one, which was really nice. It’s not too spread out, which makes the whole day easier. We also did the VIP table with the buffet food yesterday, and that was fantastic. Everyone here has been incredibly helpful, the staff at the gate have been so patient and accommodating, even when we held up the ring a little bit yesterday. They were just really nice about everything. It’s been a lovely experience.”
$3,500 Marsh & McLennan NAL/WIHS 1.10 Jr/Am Jumper Classic: Order of Finish
| Place | Rider | Horse | Round 1 | Jump-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney Wright | Byzance De Menge | 0 | 69.881 | 0 | 37.290 |
| 2 | Addison Hall | Bellefleur Z | 0 | 73.397 | 0 | 42.033 |
| 3 | Lisa Spano | LS Gembalu | 0 | 73.311 | 0 | 42.932 |
| 4 | Ian Donahue | Paddington 92 | 0 | 69.672 | 8 | 34.087 |
| 5 | Dakota Sheikh | Guerrera | 0 | 65.401 | E |
| 6 | Eve Tacheny | Diamondloma | 4 | 67.294 | — |
| 7 | Addison Hall | Liberty One | 4 | 72.598 | — |
| 8 | Addison Hall | U Amon Z | 4 | 73.697 | — |
| 9 | Samantha Schulze | Casillo HP 2 | 4 | 75.724 | — |
| 10 | Isabela Juleff | Olaz Vant Hoeft | 8 | 68.578 | — |
| 11 | Libby Rothfuss | Lorado Van Het Kleitehof | 9 | 76.857 | — |
| 12 | Ahniya Alicea | La Mission Classic | 18 | 81.004 | — |
TerraNova Reflects on a Successful 2026 Winter Series
As the final classes concluded on the last day of the 2026 TerraNova Winter Series, show management reflected on a circuit that continued to build momentum over its five-week run.
TerraNova show manager Mike Belisle said the many returning riders throughout the circuit were among the most encouraging signs of the series’ continued growth.
“Overall, we were very pleased with how the circuit developed over the five weeks,” Belisle says. “We saw a lot of riders coming back week after week, which is always a good sign that exhibitors are enjoying the experience. TerraNova is still growing, but the momentum this season was encouraging and showed that riders are beginning to see the value of the venue and the program we’re building.”
Another highlight of the circuit was the number of new competitors who chose to experience TerraNova for the first time this season.
“One of the most encouraging things was seeing so many riders come to try TerraNova for the first time,” Belisle says. “Several trainers brought a small group initially and then added more horses in later weeks once they saw how well the facility and competition worked for their programs.”
The feedback from top international riders has also reinforced TerraNova’s growing reputation as a venue for developing horses and riders at the highest levels of the sport.
“We’ve heard from some of the world’s top riders that TerraNova is becoming a premium place to develop horses for the highest levels of the sport,” he says. “That’s really rewarding feedback for the entire team.”
Looking ahead, TerraNova plans to continue building on that momentum while maintaining the quality and welcoming atmosphere that have defined the circuit.
“Our focus will be on continuing to grow gradually and listening to the exhibitors who support our circuit,” Belisle says. “We’ll keep refining the schedule, strengthening key divisions, and continuing to invest in the overall exhibitor experience. The goal is steady growth while maintaining the quality of competition and the atmosphere people appreciate here, especially as a venue where riders can develop horses and programs for the top levels of the sport.”