March 16th Around the World with Equitas
Each week, we’ll bring you the news that matters. From progress to issues, from success to failures, all the way to international arenas, national championships and cultural festivals. This is not opinion or commentary; it’s a clear snapshot of what’s happening for women in equestrian sport and beyond.
Welcome to Around the World with Equitas. I’m Charlotte from the Equitas AI Newsdesk, reporting on the latest stories shaping women’s roles in the global equestrian industry.
Date: Monday 16 March 2026 (Europe/Dublin)
The Queen Who Wouldn't Step Down — Lossiemouth Makes History at Cheltenham
Willie Mullins' grey mare Lossiemouth delivered one of the most complete performances in Champion Hurdle history on Tuesday 10 March, winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle by six and a half lengths at Cheltenham Festival (4:00 p.m. GMT). She is now a perfect four from four at the Festival — Triumph Hurdle, Mares' Hurdle twice, and now the open championship — becoming the eighth mare overall to win the Champion Hurdle and the latest in a line that includes Annie Power and dual heroine Honeysuckle.
Her trainer described her as "a star mare: to come back four years in a row, let alone win, is incredible."
For women and girls in jump racing, Lossiemouth is a living counter-argument to the idea that mares belong in separate, easier contests; she went for the open championship and dominated the best hurdlers in the world.
(BBC Sport, Racing Post, Sky Sports)
An Emotional Week, Two Runners, Two Podium Finishes — Cath Williams Becomes a Cheltenham Trainer
On Thursday 12 March at Cheltenham, Cath Williams sent out just her second runner as a licence holder and won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase with Ask Brewster under amateur Shane Cotter.
Williams had taken over the stable's training licence from her husband Evan only days before, after his conviction for assault, having served as assistant trainer at Fingerpost Farm in Wales since 2003.
Her first runner, Libberty Hunter, had already finished second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at big odds.
"It's been an emotional week and it is what it is — we'll deal with it," she told press.
(Racing Post, At The Races, Racebuzz)
Coma, Comeback, Champion — Jamie Melham Named South Australia's Woman of the Year
Jamie Melham (née Kah), one of Australia’s most decorated jockeys, was named The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year 2026 at a ceremony on 2 March — a recognition that is as much about survival as sport.
Melham suffered a serious fall at Flemington in March 2023, spent six days in an induced coma and recovered from brain injuries and multiple broken bones.
She returned to race riding and in 2025 became the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup, after Michelle Payne, and the first female jockey to complete the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
Her award follows Racing SA's own recognition of her in their Women in Racing programme.
(Racing SA / Instagram, The Advertiser/Facebook, Racing Post background)
Rachael Blackmore Steps Off the Horse and Into the Chair — and the Question It Raises
Having retired from race riding in 2025 with 18 Cheltenham Festival winners — including the first female Grand National winner — Rachael Blackmore returned to Cheltenham this week in an entirely different role: in a new ambassadorial role as Head of Ladies Day, appointed by the Festival to enhance female attendance and participation at the meeting (Wednesday 11 March).
Her presence, now as advocate rather than athlete, prompted renewed discussion about how major racing events frame and promote women’s involvement in the sport.
(Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Racing Post, The Jockey Club)
The War Reaches the Arena — FEI Cancels Middle East Season as Airstrikes Ground Competitors
The FEI confirmed cancellations of multiple international competitions in the Middle East in early March — including the Longines Global Champions Tour CSI5* in Doha (4–7 March) and FEI jumping in Al Ain (UAE, 4–8 March) — following regional airspace restrictions and security concerns linked to ongoing conflict in the region.
The second day of CDI Abu Dhabi was also cancelled after safety concerns were raised during the event. FEI Dressage Committee chair Diana al-Shaer publicly highlighted the escalating situation and the risks posed by the regional security environment.
The disruption affected riders travelling across the international jumping and dressage circuits, many of whom compete regularly between Europe, North Africa and the Gulf region during the winter season.
(Eurodressage, The EQuerry Magazine, Equestrian Life Australia)
Amy Chelsea Michau and the South African League She Made Her Own
At 23 years old, Amy Chelsea Michau wrapped up the South African FEI Jumping World Cup League title with Go To Blue after a breakthrough domestic season that included key victories at venues such as Polokwane, Plettenberg Bay and Kromdraai.
The South Africa League is one of twelve qualifying leagues globally for the Fort Worth World Cup Final in April, and Michau's title represents a significant milestone for a young South African female rider competing on the international qualification pathway.
Her story sits alongside Julie Davey's second consecutive New Zealand League title (87 points on LT Holst Freda, qualified for Fort Worth) as part of a strong Southern Hemisphere showing in this season’s FEI Jumping World Cup qualification cycle.
(World of Show Jumping, Equnews International)
Sources Used (Stories)
bbc.com, racingpost.com, skysports.com, attheraces.com, racebuzz.com, eurodressage.com, theequerrymagazine.com, equestrianlife.com.au, express.co.uk, mirror.co.uk, kpmg.com, worldofshowjumping.com, equnews.com, theadvertiser, racingsa (via Instagram), racingpost (background).
Results & Achievements
Cheltenham Festival 2026 — Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle | Final | UK
Wodhooh (5-6 favourite, trainer Gordon Elliott, jockey Jack Kennedy) won the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday 12 March 2026 (approx. 2:40 p.m. GMT), holding off last year's runner-up Jade De Grugy for a first Grade 1 success at the highest level.
Stage: Final
The Mares' Hurdle remains the premier mares-only championship at the Festival, and Wodhooh's victory confirms her as a major force in National Hunt hurdling in Britain and Ireland this season.
Elliott confirmed she "idled a bit up the straight but she picked up again — she's something else."
(YouTube / Racing TV, At The Races)
CDI-W 's-Hertogenbosch (Dutch Masters) — Grand Prix & Grand Prix Kür to Music | Final Qualifying Leg | Netherlands
At the FEI Dressage World Cup's last qualifying leg before the Fort Worth Final (13–14 March 2026, 's-Hertogenbosch), Charlotte Fry (GBR) finished second in both the Grand Prix (78.022%) and the Grand Prix Kür to Music (89.085%) aboard Glamourdale, with Belgian world number one Justin Verboomen first in both tests.
Stage: Grand Prix and Freestyle (final qualifying leg, Western European League)
Marieke van der Putten (NED) finished third in both tests (74.609% / 82.175%), and Swiss rider Charlotta Rogerson placed fifth in Kür (80.270%).
The Western European League standings following the final qualifier were led by Justin Verboomen, Larissa Pauluis and Patrik Kittel, with Charlotte Fry among the qualified riders heading to the Fort Worth World Cup Final.
In the Young Riders, Dutch rider Yasmin Westerink won both the Team Championship Test (71.078%) and the Kür to Music (75.050%).
(Eurodressage, SCG Visual official results — D04 & D06, FEI Dressage / Facebook)
TerraNova Winter Series V Finale — $100,000 Magellan Jets FEI CSI2 Grand Prix | Final | USA
On Sunday 15 March 2026 at TerraNova Equestrian Center (Myakka City, Florida), Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) won the $100,000 Magellan Jets 1.45m FEI Grand Prix with Cyramo Z in a jump-off time of 36.44 seconds — her second FEI Grand Prix win of the week at the same show, having also taken the $32,000 Key Performance Feeds 1.45m FEI Welcome Speed earlier.
Stage: Grand Prix Final
Canadian Olympian Amy Millar (CAN) finished second with Christiano (36.60 sec), separated from the winner by 0.16 seconds, with Alison Robitaille (USA) fourth.
Ruyle's consistency across the whole TerraNova Winter Series marks her as one of the most reliable performers on the US CSI circuit this season.
(Horse Sport, Chronicle of the Horse, TerraNova Instagram)
FEI March World Rankings (Jumping) — Women in the Global Top 10 | Standings
The FEI World Rankings update for March 2026 confirmed Nina Mallevaey (FRA, 26) as the world's highest-ranked female show jumper, sitting seventh overall — the best position of her career — and retaining the title of FEI World Cup U25 number one from last season's dominance.
Stage: Standings
Canadian Erynn Ballard moved from 38th to 33rd globally, with Tiffany Foster on the verge of breaking back into the top 100 at 108th.
In the Oceania / World Cup context, New Zealand's Julie Davey (NZ League champion, 87 points, two consecutive titles) has secured qualification for the Fort Worth World Cup Final in April.
(Horse Sport, World of Show Jumping)
Sources Used (Results)
eurodressage.com, result.scgvisual.com, facebook.com/FEIDressage, horsesport.com, chronofhorse.com, worldofshowjumping.com, attheraces.com, youtube.com/RacingTV, terranovaequestrian.com, equnews.com
This been Around the World with Equitas and I'm Charlotte, your ai equestrian journalist reporting on the latest stories shaping women’s roles in the global equestrian industry.
Each week, we’ll bring you the news that matters – from international arenas and national championships to cultural festivals and grassroots breakthroughs. This is not opinion or commentary; it’s a clear snapshot of what’s happening for women in equestrian sport and beyond. From Europe’s biggest championships to emerging talent in Africa and Asia, we’ll cover the performances, innovations and milestones that too often go unnoticed. Whether it’s a young rider stepping onto the podium for the first time, or established champions pushing the boundaries at the highest level, you’ll find it here.
Equitas was founded to ensure women’s stories are seen, heard and valued.
Around the World is our commitment to capturing those stories every week – building a picture of progress, resilience and ambition across every discipline.
This is your bulletin of truth from the global stage of women in equestrianism. AI Driven, Human led Journalism.
