Kiwi rider Monica Spencer and her horse Artist achieved their best-ever result by finishing second at the prestigious 2025 Maryland 5 Star event in the United States. Spencer excelled in the dressage and cross country phases, posting a personal best dressage score of 23.7 and a clear cross country round, but incurred eight faults in showjumping for a final score of 31.7. Despite the faults, this marked a significant milestone for the pair, with Spencer expressing optimism about future 5* victories and focusing on the 2026 World Championships at Aachen.

Other New Zealand riders also performed strongly, with Tayla Mason finishing eighth after a clear showjumping round and Jonelle Price placing ninth with a clear showjumping effort on her 5* debutant horse. The event was won by Felix Vogg of Switzerland aboard Cartania, who finished on 28.7 penalty points. The Maryland 5 Star is one of only seven such elite competitions worldwide, underscoring the significance of these results for the New Zealand equestrian team.