Diablo Z Brings Nolte to Winner’s Circle

Kinsley Nolte and Diablo Z won by almost two seconds in the $10,000 NAL 1.15m Junior Jumper Final.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Diablo Z is no stranger to winning at Capital Challenge, having taken the top spot in last year’s NAL 1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Final with Loretta-Jean Devening. In 2026, he returned with new rider Kinsley Nolte of Downingtown, PA, to lead the $10,000 NAL 1.15m Junior Jumper Final sponsored by HorseFlight. Nolte was also named Best 1.10m/1.15m Junior Jumper Rider Award sponsored by Memorial Park Hunters.

Nolte and Diablo Z were one of nine to clear the first-round course out of 30 entries. They returned third in the jump-off order and set an unbeatable time of 30.590 seconds with zero faults. Isabelle Castellanos and ESI Lucius, owned by Castellrock LLC, finished second in 32.350 seconds, while Samantha Teller and Calcite des Baillons, owned by McLain Ward, were just behind in third with a time of 32.367 seconds.

Nolte has been riding Diablo Z since June 2026, and they were able to build a partnership quickly in order to qualify for the NAL final. “He’s been the most amazing horse ever,” she said of the 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Diarado. “He's so game for anything, and he loves his job so much. I've never met a horse that loves to do their job as much as he does.”

As Nolte and her trainer Troy Hendricks prepared for the jump-off, they planned a tight inside turn after the first jump, but Nolte was unsure until she landed from the jump.

“I was not feeling super confident about it, but I just landed was like, ‘Okay, here we go!’ He turned inside and was super quick,” she recalled. “I had watched the first one go, and they were so fast. I was like, ‘Wow, I don't know if I can top this,’ and then I went and had it by two seconds. He's just so incredibly fast.”

This was Nolte’s third time competing at Capital Challenge, but her first in the jumpers.

“Getting into the jumper ring has been super exciting, and it's nice to try something different and have that freedom to go in and have fun,” she remarked. “It's been super awesome to have this opportunity with him.

“Winning this class means a lot to me,” she continued. “Just being able to qualify for these finals in such a short amount of time with him has been so incredible, and I'm so thankful.”

Kinsley Nolte was all smiles as she stood for presentation.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Hear from Kinsley Nolte about starting the jumpers with Diablo Z