The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has long been more than just a winter circuit. For over a decade, Wellington International has been the proving ground where legends are reinforced, careers are launched, and the sport’s biggest names return year after year to prepare themselves for the season ahead. The five-star Grand Prix and World Cup qualifiers held at WEF offer a unique lens on consistency, longevity, and peak performance, not just across a season, but across generations of horses and riders.

The McLain Ward Era: Consistency at the Very Top

No rider is more synonymous with five-star success in Wellington than McLain Ward. From Sapphire’s victories in the late 2000s, through Rothchild, HH Azur, and Callas, Ward’s name appears repeatedly across the WEF honours list. His wins span nearly two decades, an extraordinary marker of both personal longevity and elite horse management.

What stands out is not just the volume of victories, but the range of horses with which Ward has succeeded. From championship mares to developing stars, Wellington has consistently been the place where his top partnerships announce themselves as global contenders. Across 16 years of jumping at WEF, McLain Ward has won 11 five-star Grands Prix at the Wellington International, a notably higher number than any other rider.

The WEF Specialists

Beyond McLain Ward, a select group of riders have repeatedly demonstrated a particular affinity for five-star success in Wellington. Daniel Bluman leads this cohort with four CSI5* Grand Prix victories at WEF, underlining his consistency and precision on some of the circuit’s most influential tracks. Close behind, Ben Maher, Dani Waldman, and Kent Farrington each sit on three five-star WEF wins, a testament to their ability to peak early in the season and deliver under the sustained pressure that defines Wellington’s top-level competition. 

Farrington & Greya: Where History Began

For Kent Farrington, Wellington has often been a starting point, but WEF 2025 marked the beginning of something unprecedented. Victories with Greya in the CSI5* Grand Prix during WEF 5 and WEF 7 were more than early-season highlights; they were the opening chapters of a record-breaking campaign that would redefine what was thought possible at five-star level. 

That Wellington momentum carried through the year, culminating at CHI Geneva 2025, where Farrington secured his ninth five-star Grand Prix or World Cup win of the season, surpassing the record he himself set in 2017. For Greya, Geneva confirmed her place in history as well, her seventh five-star win of the year making her the most successful horse ever recorded in a single calendar season. 

What began in Wellington did not merely continue; it accelerated into one of the most dominant partnerships the sport has ever seen.

What the History Tells Us

Looking back at every CSI5* Grand Prix winner at the Winter Equestrian Festival reveals clear patterns: riders who return year after year with carefully planned campaigns, horses developed patiently into five-star performers, and a venue that rewards both bravery and precision.

As the WEF season continues to evolve, this history provides valuable context. Past winners don’t just reflect what has been, they offer clues about what it takes to win in Wellington, and who may be poised to add their name to this prestigious list next.