Lexington, KY – July 25, 2026 – It was all about speed and accuracy on Saturday night during the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. A large crowd gathered at the Rolex Stadium during the highlight event, where a field of talented athletes was narrowed down to ten combinations for the jump-off, and only the fastest had a shot at the podium. Jodie Camberg galloped home with the winning prize aboard Hendrick Des Forets, besting the field by two seconds with her speedy partner. Meghan Kaupp came the closest to catching her with Jyrado VH Bovenhoekshof for second place, while Kris Killam and Coupanasa claimed third by just tenths of a second.
“I feel so excited and so happy – just over the moon!” expressed Camberg after her win. “I’ve had Hendrick Des Forets for about two years, and he’s made all my dreams come true. He’s just the best – really amazing! He is hot – he has a lot of blood, which I like, and he is always fighting for me, which is so nice.”
Jodie Camberg and Hendrick Des Forets. Photos by Winslow Photography
The Anderson Lima-designed course tested riders from start to finish with precise distances and carefully constructed fences. The 13-obstacle track also required stamina as horses traversed the expansive Rolex Arena. Ten riders returned for the tiebreaker, which asked new questions, including a long gallop to a new oxer, followed by two tight rollbacks before jumping an oxer-vertical double combination and galloping to the final delicate vertical.
Meghan Kaupp & Jyrado VH Bovenhoekshof
Camberg was the second return, and she did not want to leave anything to chance. She used her horse’s quick pace to her advantage as well as his huge stride to leave out to the final fence. With all the rails intact, she stopped the clock at a blazing 40.270 seconds to go straight to the top of the leaderboard. Five rounds later, Kaupp came the closest to catching Camberg with Jyrado VH Bovenhoekshof, but their fault-free effort in 42.481 seconds would only be good enough for second. One round later, Killam delivered a clear round with Coupanasa, and their time of 42.974 seconds would land right behind Kaupp to place third. Camberg returned at the end of the night to accept the winning trophy from Rood and Riddle and lead the lap of honor.
Kris Killam & Coupanasa
“During the jump-off, I was thinking that there were a lot of people, but I have a fast horse, and I was going to trust that we’re fast and leave it all on the court,” explained Camberg. “I was fast from one to two. Then I did nine strides in the first line, which I think a lot of people did 10. Then to the last jump was also nine or 10, and I galloped and did nine. He’s quick across the ground and quick through the air, so he doesn’t waste much time.”
Camberg appreciated the enthusiastic crowd that gathered for the week’s main event, saying, “It was so much fun. The more they clap, the faster my horse went. They helped propel me through the course!”
Jodie Camberg and Hendrick Des Forets. Photos by Winslow Photography
The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows are a favorite event for Camberg and the team from Golden Oaks Farm. “We love trail riding, she concluded. “We bring our ‘snackamores,’ which is what we call our hackamores, and we all ride our horses in their hackamores. We graze and go for long trail rides every day – it’s so much fun. The Rolex ring is beautiful, and we love showing here!”
Show jumping will continue next week during the Kentucky Summer Classic, which will feature Thursday’s $25,000 Kentucky Summer Classic and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday night. For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series, presented by Rood and Riddle, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.