Rising American-Born Hunter Oslo MK and Owner Elizabeth DeGolian Look Ahead To Incentive Finals

By LIZ FOSTER

Five-year-old warmblood Oslo MK looks ahead to an exciting showing at the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park on August 12. Oslo MK, known simply as “Oslo” in the barn, began his career in the training jumpers, winning classes at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show as well as the Tryon Summer Finale in 2024. 

Oslo finished off his jumper career at the Young Jumper Championships in Traverse City before making his debut in the hunter ring at the 2024 Atlanta Fall Classic. Competing in both the Young Hunters and the 2’6” Hunters, the horse, ridden by Matthew LeMaster, placed well. This promising showing marked a turning point in Oslo’s career as he transitioned into the hunter discipline. 

Breeders LeMaster and Kristina Photakis, the owners of MK Sport Horses, purchased Oslo’s dam, Eloise Z–the offspring of famed jumper LaBelle–while she was pregnant. He was sired by Erco Van’t Roosakker, another higher-performing jumper. While LeMaster and Photakis intended to produce a young jumper, Oslo’s calm temperament lent itself to his becoming a hunter. 

“The transition was easy for him,” said Photakis. 

Owner and rider Elizabeth DeGolian explained that “nothing about [Oslo] wants to be fast-footed. He had no inclination of wanting to be quick.” However, even as a four-year-old, his “instincts to the jumps were really, really, really good.” 

She continued, saying that Oslo took to the hunter ring “really, really naturally.” She emphasized his courage over the jumps, noting that his bravery is her favorite trait of his. 

Outside of the ring, Oslo is described as “a pleasure to have in the barn.” 

“He’s kind of like a giant dog, honestly,” said De Golian, “He’s mischievous and funny.” 

DeGolian received Oslo as a part of a trade with Photakis and LeMaster. The two originally approached DeGolian with the intent for her to sell Oslo, describing him as a four-year-old with “potential” who “really wants to do the job.” Now, she owns the young warmblood. 

After the Atlanta Fall Classic, Oslo placed in competitions in South Carolina, Florida, and his home state of Georgia. He moved up steadily, beginning by jumping in the 2’6” division and now showing at the 3’0” level. A watershed moment in the young horse’s career came at the Aiken Spring Classic Finale in April, where Oslo competed in his first USHJA Hunter Derby. At only five years old, Oslo placed sixth out of 14 competitors.

DeGolian explained that Oslo has been an important part of her journey as a professional. She has long hoped to compete at the Incentive Finals, so attending the upcoming competition completes a major goal for the pair. 

“This time last year, I didn’t have any horses to show. So, this horse has been really special to me. So far, he’s kind of helped me reach a career goal. He’s exceeded every question we’ve asked of him, he’s exceeded our expectations,” DeGolian continued. 

Oslo stands apart from many of his fellow warmblood horses in the hunter discipline because he was born in the United States. The hunter divisions are typically filled with horses born, trained, and imported from Europe. A report from May 2025 by the Observatory of Economic Complexity revealed that the majority of horses imported to the United States came from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Ireland. Between June 2024 and May 2025, roughly $240 million worth of horses were imported from Germany. 

“Everybody’s used to purchasing hunter prospects that are developed in Europe through the young jumpers. But, there are people in the U.S. doing the exact same thing, and Oslo is a perfect example of that,” said Photakis. She elaborated that farms like MK Sport Horses, which is based out of Locust Grove, Georgia, are giving horses “a lot of the same start” as European breeders and developers. 

“There are plenty of hunters out there hiding in the jumper ring,” remarked Photakis. 

In August, DeGolian and Oslo will compete at the Incentive Finals at the 3’0” level. The horse show highlights green horses enrolled in the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program, which is “designed to encourage the development of green horses.” The competition consists of three rounds: two Preliminary Rounds and one Championship Round. Ultimately, 30 horses will advance to the final Championship Round.

“I just want [DeGolian and Oslo] to have some good, confident rounds,” said Photakis of the upcoming competition.

“Just getting to go jump around is a victory in itself,” concluded DeGolian.