Juan Manuel Gallego Tops the $65,000 Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Grand Prix CSI 2*

By Jumper News on 2025-09-23

Lexington, Kentucky – September 21, 2025 – The Split Rock Jumping Tour’s (SRJT) Fall series returned for its fifth year to the Kentucky National CSI 2*, September 16-21, and culminating on Sunday with the $65,000 Grand Prix CSI 2* – 1.45m, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. After a competitive international show jumping class, it was Juan Manuel Gallego (ESP) riding Oriana Van’t Ruytershof (Vigo D’arsouilles x La Brillianthina Van’t Ruytershof) who secured the only clear ride for the pair’s first international win together.

The 16-effort first-round track, designed by Olaf Peterson Jr. (GER), proved to be a true test for the 48 horse-and-rider combinations. Four pairs had clean jumping efforts, with Emma Irwin (CAN) and her gelding Concardus leading the charge.

**Juan Manuel Gallego** (ESP) & **Oriana Van’t Ruytershof**

Though they kept all the rails up, a single time fault prevented them from advancing to the jump-off. Diego Bedoya (BOL) and Cap West also delivered a clean round, but 2 time penalties ultimately kept them out of the short course as well. Juan Manuel Gallego (ESP) and Loero Horse Sales’ Oriana Van’t Ruytershof produced a faultless performance, shooting them straight to the top of the leaderboard.

Emma Irwin (CAN) returned with her second mount, Las Vegas, and managed a clean round, but again, another time fault kept her from the jump-off. In the end, it was Gallego and Oriana who emerged as the only faultless pair, maintaining their uncatchable lead.

“This was a good class. Today in the Grand Prix, the course was big and technical. The time allowed was not impossible but tight enough. I was confident in my clear round, but you have to ride jump for jump, and we made it.” Gallego reflects on the class. The partnership, starting a year and a half ago, Gallego and Oriana have produced top results in the 1.40m/1.45m. “We have jumped several National Grand Prix and now, a bit bigger, we have had super results with her. We have been 2nd, 5 or 6 times now, and we finally got a win. This is our first international win together.” Gallego and his team look back, “We have been really happy with the results this week after a super summer, and we are now getting ready for next week.”