Jelmer Hoekstra and Jalanne Are Unbeatable in the $125,000 Mane ‘n Tail National Grand Prix
The $125,000 Mane ‘n Tail National Grand Prix during the penultimate week of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series offered a change of scenery. The WEC Stadium served as the feature arena of the week, welcoming thirty-five top horse-and-rider combinations to compete for top honors under the lights on Saturday night. In a nail-biting five-horse jump-off, it was Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) who proved too quick to catch aboard November Hill’s Jalanne (Dynamo x Alanne).
The 1.50m track was designed by Eric Hasbrouck and proved challenging, featuring winding bending lines and a tight time allowed. In the end, five combinations representing the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, and Ireland advanced to battle it out for the win.
Hoekstra was the first to return for the jump-off aboard the speedy Jalanne, who scored a National Grand Prix victory during last year’s Winter Spectacular Show Series with Daniel Geitner. Saturday night marked Hoekstra and Jalanne’s first Grand Prix under the lights together.
“Jalanne, I just started riding her during the circuit here. Daniel Geitner rode her before me,” shared Hoekstra. “She’s an amazing mare, such a fighter, like you could see tonight, she always wants to do the best she can. It’s an amazing horse, and I’m lucky that I can ride her. The owner, Rebecca Galbraith, is fantastic, and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
Returning first for the jump-off with a strong field behind him, Hoekstra knew he had to take risks. “With riders behind me like Tracy Fenney and Daniel Coyle, they’re really fast, so I knew I had to do something,” he explained.
“In the first line, I did one more than the others and went and did eight so I could keep flowing to the oxer. I made a short turn and did nine, then bent really tight to the double. I think I did one less than most people there, and she jumped it fantastic. To the last line, I think Daniel and I were the only ones who did eight, and we landed running to the finish.”
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