June 29, 2025 
Jad Dana is manifesting his dreams six thousand miles away from where they began.
The 30-year-old Lebanese rider scored his biggest victory to date with Itchcock Des Dames in the CSI4* Florida Gulf Coast Equipment Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. .
“I kept kicking on,” Dana reflected on the final moments of his jump-off, as he galloped down the last line. “I said, ‘I really want this today’.”
That dream came true, in 39.56 seconds.
But it began decades ago and 6,500 miles away for Dana, who grew up training at his father’s riding school in Lebanon. As a young rider, he wanted a higher level of sport than his home nation could offer and found himself in North America, soon to be connected with some of the greats in the sport.
After a brief training trip to Leslie Howard’s home base in Florida, Dana took his fate into his own hands and approached Howard about another visit. That request changed the course of his career and his permanent address.
Jada moved stateside three years ago, and is now a regular on podiums in Florida and beyond. But the win in Ocala was something special for Dana.
“I can’t believe it,” he said following his victory. “It feels great; it really does. I don’t want to say I didn’t expect it, but I didn’t think I was going to win, so now that I won, I’m extremely happy.”
Dana has been one to beat across the United States on his other mounts—Caro W, Leondidas, Fleur-De-Lis’ Cherie, Diamant, among them—but 11-year-old Itchcock Des Dames is moving right up into top contender position as well.
“At first, he was different from what I am used to,” Dana said of the Belgian Sporthorse gelding (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.). “I usually ride smaller, quicker horses, and he’s a bit bigger and slower, but he’s learned to be really fast. He’s come into his own and tries so hard.”
The win almost slipped out of sight as the horse stumbled slightly after fence one.
“He recovered quickly, and we kept going, but I had to change my plan,” Dana shared. “I thought I lost time there, so I knew I had to make it up. Coming into the last line, it was a tight turn to a vertical. Most would do nine strides, but there was an option to do eight if you had a big stride.”
Dana edged out second place finishers Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109, and Gabriel Matos Machado finished third as the only other double-clear effort with Legaland Sandro.
