Top Rider Spotlight: Helios

Richard Vogel is no stranger to the sport’s biggest stages.

Published

11 FEB 2026

Est. reading time

1 min

The reigning European Champion and current World No. 6 has made an immediate impact in Major League Show Jumping, bringing both experience and results to Season 5.

Vogel made his Season 5 debut at Leg 2 in Toronto, helping Helios advance to round two of the $437,500 5* Cabana Coast Team Competition. Partnered with Michael Jackson W, he quickly became a reliable piece of the team lineup. Leg 3 in Greenwich marked his first podium of Season 5 with Helios, and the momentum carried into Leg 5 in Tryon where the team secured its second win of the season.

At Leg 6, Vogel introduced a newer mount, Gangster Montdesir. The young stallion by Kannan jumped clear in both the 5* Qualifier and the 5* Grand Prix, producing top-10 finishes in the week’s headline classes. The partnership has continued to progress, highlighted by their first 5* Grand Prix victory together in Wellington, Florida on February 7, 2026.

Richard Vogel - Fast Facts

$6.4M in Lifetime Earnings

Olympic debut in Paris 2024

44 Lifetime FEI Grand Prix Victories including 10 at the 5* Level

39% Clear Round Rate at 1.60m

Competed with 28 horses at the FEI level in 2025

Winner of a Rolex Grand Slam Grand Prix (Geneva, 2023)

Stay tuned as we spotlight the remaining teams’ top-ranked riders.