South African Showjumpers Continue to Make Their Mark in Europe

Photo Credit: South Africa Showjumping

Competing against elite international riders, South Africa’s showjumpers continued to build momentum on the road to Aachen 2026.

Europe (17 June 2026) – South Africa’s growing presence on the international showjumping circuit continued this month as riders flew the national flag with pride at major events in Poland and France.

Fresh from an impressive runner-up finish at the CSIO3* Nations Cup in Lisbon just weeks earlier, the South African team stepped up to the higher-level CSIO4* Nations Cup in Sopot, Poland, where they competed against some of the strongest equestrian nations in the world.

While the competition presented a tougher test, the experience gained and performances delivered highlighted the steady progress being made by South African riders on the international stage.

One of the standout moments came from Alexandra “Lexi” Ruiz Carter, who achieved a significant career milestone during the event. Competing against world-class opposition, she secured her final two Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.

The South African team in Sopot featured Lexi Carter, Ronnie Healy, Tamara Rueda, Charlie Bays and Matthew Morrison.

For Bays, the event formed part of his preparations for the 2026 FEI World Championships. Partnering Ninety Stone Pullman, he travelled from Brazil to compete in Poland as part of his ongoing international programme.

Meanwhile, Healy and Rueda made the considerable commitment of transporting their horses from South Africa to Europe, reflecting the dedication and planning required to compete at this level.

For Carter and Morrison, who are based in Europe, the event offered an opportunity to test themselves against some of the world’s leading riders and combinations.

South African showjumping also had representation at another major European event during the same period. Oliver Lazarus competed as an individual at the prestigious Rolex CSIO5* in La Baule, France, continuing to showcase South African talent at the highest level of the sport.

Together, the performances in Sopot and La Baule paint an encouraging picture for South African showjumping.

As South African Show Jumping noted.

“From Lisbon to Sopot and La Baule, South African riders continue to demonstrate that they can compete with distinction on the world’s biggest stages.”