Marilyn Little is Living a Dream at Winter Equestrian Festival
U.S. show jumper Marilyn Little landed her eighth international podium at the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Friday afternoon, riding 8-year-old Narado to win the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Speed. Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
“In January, a 1.50m seemed like a dream,” admitted Little of the plan for Narado, a talented but still young Dutch Warmblood gelding (Grandorado TN N.O.P. x Purioso) owned by the Morcombe Lempera Family’s Ten Carrot, LLC. “Today was a big step up, and to see him be that quick over a big track from a difficult designer like Alan Wade is fantastic and proves how smart the horse is.”
Over Wade’s (IRL) one-round speed test, Little and Narado were fastest by half a second to best Charlotte Jacobs on an all-American podium. Narado crossed the timers in 67.98 seconds, and settled Jacobs in second riding Rincoola Milsean, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Aldatus Z x Cruising) owned by North Star, in a time of 68.62. Jonathan McCrea rounded out the top three in 70.88 seconds aboard Jannan S, a 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding (Kannan x Numero Uno) owned by Windsor Show Stables.
In the gelding’s first five-star outing, Narado added a second podium finish in as many days after finishing third in Wednesday’s opening CSI5* 1.45m. The pair is also coming off a win in the Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* Grand Prix during WEF 7.
“I’ve had him since June, so I know him very well, and he had a great start from a lot of good riders, but this week was still a big ask,” said Little of Narado, piloted as a young horse by Dutch rider Sanne Thisjssen, Giavanna Rinaldi (USA) and then Germany’s Jana Wargers before joining Little’s string. “He will head straight to the paddock now for a rest, and I’d love to be able to use him as a second horse later in the summer.
“He came into himself at the beginning of the circuit and grew up in January—every time he goes in the ring, he tries his heart out,” continued Little. “He doesn’t know what he can’t jump, and he jumps it all incredibly.”
Read more:
Marilyn Little is Living a Dream at Winter Equestrian Festival – Wellington International
