Press release from Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, edited by World of Showjumping

Olympic veterans and athletes from seven countries comprise entries for 2026 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Following two consecutive victories in the 2024 and 2025 Empire State Grand Prix Presented by Old Salem Farm, six-time U.S. Olympian and world no. 10 McLain Ward is set to defend that title at the 2026 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. Many other familiar faces will join him in the Old Salem Farm International Arena, including fellow Olympic veterans Daniel Bluman (ISR), Beat Mändli (SUI), Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA).

Ward and his fellow Olympians are no strangers to the Old Salem Farm winner’s circle and hope to add to their impressive records this spring. Over the years, Ward has earned medals at multiple Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Nations Cup Finals and Pan American Games, and competed in the 2022 World Championships and 20 World Cup Finals since 1995.

Other international stars vying for victory include Mark Bluman (COL), Steven Bluman (ISR), Matthew Boddy (GBR), and Ireland’s Nicky Galligan, Daniel Kerins and Jordan Coyle, who hopes to defend his championship in the Old Salem Farm Grand Prix.

The rest of the American contingent will not make things easy for them, however. Among the local heroes alongside Ward is seven-time World Cup Finalist Katie Dinan, coming fresh off her bronze-medal finish at the 2026 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Fort Worth, Texas. She will be joined by fellow championship riders such as Georgina Bloomberg and Lucy Deslauriers, who have both earned a team bronze medal at the Pan American Games; Brianne Goutal-Marteau, McKayla Langmeier, Peter Lutz and Alessandra Volpi, who have all made appearances at previous World Cup Finals; and 2018 World Equestrian Games team gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht.

Located just one hour north of New York City, Old Salem Farm has a long history of hosting world-class horse shows. Over the years, Old Salem Farm has hosted United States Olympic Team Selection Trials, FEI World Cup™ qualifiers, FEI North American Youth Championships and ASPCA Maclay Regional Finals.