Ocala, Florida – July 18, 2025 – The $40,000 The White Willow National Grand Prix capped feature competition during Week III of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations contested the class, but it was Summer Justus (USA) and Simpson-Justus Show Jumping’s La Belle SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Belle Blue S) who ultimately claimed the victory.

Anderson Lima’s (BRA) tracks proved challenging once again, with only six combinations managing to produce clear first-round efforts. The true test came in the jump-off, where just two athletes were able to keep all the rails intact.

Lizzy Traband (USA) was the first to deliver a double-clear effort, guiding the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood KWPN gelding Eddie Blue (VDL Zirocco Blue x Silvana) to a smooth and efficient jump-off round in 39.492 seconds.

Last to return for the short course, Summer Justus adjusted her strategy with her longtime partner La Belle SCF, after seeing only one clear round ahead of her. “I knew there was only one clear, so I did my plan from one to two in the jump-off and started putting numbers in where there shouldn’t have been. Be safe, be neat, get to the last jump and see where that leaves us,” she explained.

Her plan proved effective, as she stopped the clock in a clean 37.673 seconds to take over the top spot on the leaderboard.

Canada’s Erynn Ballard (CAN) posted the fastest time in the jump-off, piloting Ilan Ferder’s 10-year-old Selle Français mare Greta de La Dinais (Ebel x Islander) in 34.847 seconds, but an unlucky rail relegated the pair to third place.

Justus also reflected on her partnership with the 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare. “She’s something special. I’ve had her for a lot of years now. I’d say we’re going on year five. We’ve been all over the world; she’s done a lot of great things for me. She is me in horse form, so we butt heads a little; we’re very opinionated, but when we work together, we really are unstoppable. She’s quite special to me.”

Final Results – $40,000 The White Willow National Grand Prix

1) Summer Justus (USA) & La Belle SCF – 0 / 0 – 37.673

2) Lizzy Traband (USA) & Eddie Blue – 0 / 0 – 39.492

3) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Greta de La Dinais – 0 / 4 – 34.847

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

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