Stan walked into the ring with calm, and left as the fastest of the day.
Karrie Rufer (USA) claimed the $32,000 Heavy Metal Equipment CSI3* 1.50m at the Summer Fort Welcome at Thunderbird Show Park, designed by Peter Holmes, with 23 combinations on course and 9 qualifiers for the jump-off. Rufer clocked 40.74 seconds, the only combination to break the 41-second barrier, to take the win with her longtime partner Stern dei Folletti, affectionately known as Stan. “He’s just naturally a fast horse. Once I pick up the canter, he’s great.”
Strategy proved decisive; François Mathy Jr., coaching Rufer this week, advised eight strides from the second to third fence and eight again from the third to fourth. “Those were super easy, and he’s so quick. He’s so good in the combinations.” Rufer chose to mount directly in the ring to keep Stan calm before his round, a decision that paid off perfectly.
Stern dei Folletti is a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Toulon x Berlin), owned by Morning Star Sporthorses LLC, with nine years of partnership since Rufer received him as a six-year-old; his winning spirit has never been in question. “Even though he’s got a little bit of age on him now and some grey hairs, he’s very happy to go in and do what he does.”
Bryna Closson (USA) finished second with Meteoric Rise, a 9-year-old bay KWPN gelding (Hotspot x Diarado) owned by Closson herself, in 41.09 seconds. Tiffany Foster (CAN), Olympic medallist, completed the podium with Steadfast, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Cascadello) owned by Artisan Farms LLC, in 41.35 seconds.
Rufer completed a remarkable double finish in fourth with Shanroe Peeters, a 12-year-old bay ISH gelding (Dallas VDL x Condios) owned by Morning Star Sporthorses LLC, in 42.17 seconds. Reagan Tomb (USA) rounded out the Top 5 with Nijinsky 10, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Numero Uno x Cartani 4) owned by Greg Tomb, in 43.84 seconds.
Latin & Pan American Presence
An all-Pan American Top 5, Karrie Rufer, Bryna Closson and Reagan Tomb for the United States and Tiffany Foster for Canada. Among Latin riders, Jesús Francisco Orante (MEX) finished fifteenth with 4 faults in 77.19 seconds.
Top 5 Results — $32,000 Heavy Metal Equipment CSI3* 1.50m | Thunderbird Show Park Summer Fort Welcome 2026
| Pos. | Athlete | Horse | R1 | Jump-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karrie Rufer (USA) 🇺🇸 | Stern dei Folletti | 0 | 0 / 40.74 |
| 2 | Bryna Closson (USA) 🇺🇸 | Meteoric Rise | 0 | 0 / 41.09 |
| 3 | Tiffany Foster (CAN) 🇨🇦 | Steadfast | 0 | 0 / 41.35 |
| 4 | Karrie Rufer (USA) 🇺🇸 | Shanroe Peeters | 0 | 0 / 42.17 |
| 5 | Reagan Tomb (USA) 🇺🇸 | Nijinsky 10 | 0 | 0 / 43.84 |
