At The Dutch Masters, Rolex invited five media representatives for a conversation with Rolex Testimonee Kent Farrington, offering insight into the brand’s enduring partnership with equestrianism, a relationship defined by excellence, precision and the pursuit of achievement at the highest level.

How does it feel to be back at The Dutch Masters in front of such passionate Dutch crowds, and can you describe what you experience here as a rider?

Kent: "It feels great. I love competing here and I love these stages. This is where the best competitions are held, and that is where I want to be. The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors have become one of the most important parts of the sport throughout the year. They bring together the best riders and the best horses. I am excited to be here and looking forward to Sunday."

Greya has established herself among the sport's most accomplished and celebrated horses. What makes your partnership so special, and how do her unique qualities enable you to perform consistently at the highest level?

Kent: "All horses competing at the highest level are exceptional athletes with special personalities that allow them to perform consistently. Ultimately, the bond between horse and rider is what makes the difference.

Greya, in particular, is a horse I have worked with since she was six turning seven, so that partnership has been developing for almost six years. Toulayna is another horse I began riding when she was seven, a partnership which is now five years in the making. These partnerships take time. Success at this level is not only about having an exceptional horse. It is also about the bond that develops between horse and rider over years of training and competition."

You have been part of the Rolex family for over a decade. What does this relationship mean to you?

Kent: "I am very proud of that relationship. For any athlete, representing Rolex is something you dream of. It is truly a mark of excellence. Excellence is what I strive for, and excellence is what Rolex represents, so I am honoured to be associated with the brand."

With the World Championships coming up later this year, what are your plans and which horses might you take?

Kent: "With horses, you can make plans in advance and then everything changes. My approach is always to keep an open mind and have multiple options. As the competition approaches, I will choose the horse that is in the best form and at the right stage of their career for that particular venue.

Ultimately, I only want to attend competitions where I feel I truly have a chance to win. If I do not believe a horse is in peak condition to compete at that level, I would rather wait."

Will you spend most of the season in the United States or in Europe?

Kent: "I will come to Europe in the spring. TSCHIO Aachen takes place earlier this year because of the World Equestrian Championships, so I will be here for that. I will also compete at Royal Windsor Horse Show and spend some time in Europe during the summer."

Many athletes say the process is more important than the result. How do you balance pursuing
results while remaining focused on your process?

Kent: "That is an excellent question. It is something many athletes talk about today, enjoying the process and remaining committed to their routine. In reality, the result is something you do not completely control. I can only control what I do, and I am working with a horse that brings many variables. As a team, we try to do our best, but where that leads in the competition is ultimately out of my hands.

My goal is always to produce the best possible round with my horse. If someone is better on the day, then we will not win. The goal in sport is always to win, but staying committed to the process is essential. As you gain experience, you become better at maintaining that mindset. I have been doing this a long time and I am still working on it, but I am certainly better at it than I used to be."

When evaluating a young horse, what qualities indicate that it may reach the highest level?

Kent: "The first qualities I look for are natural athleticism and carefulness. A horse must be light and athletic in its body, what I would call a natural athlete, and at the same time extremely careful.

Young horses always raise questions. A horse that jumps easily over big fences may make you wonder whether it will be quick and careful enough. A very careful horse may raise questions about whether it will have the power to jump the biggest fences. You are always balancing those qualities. Personally, as I am not a tall rider, I tend to favour horses that are lighter, quicker and very careful. I hope that with training they will develop the power to jump the biggest tracks."

What advice would you give to the next generation of riders?

Kent: "Always be learning. To reach the top you must remain open to learning at any age. A lot of information is available if you are willing to observe. When I was younger I did not have access to many high-level competitions, so I learned by watching videos or television broadcasts of riders I admired.

Even today I still watch my competitors closely. I ask myself what I can learn from them. For example, Daniel Deusser is an incredible rider and built very differently to me, but I still study how he rides. There may always be something I can learn and apply to my own system."

Do you remember your first experience with Rolex?

Kent: "Yes, I remember watching Spruce Meadows when I was young. Rolex was one of the sponsors and it was a major Grand Prix. Nick Skelton, one of my heroes growing up, may even have won that class. I remember thinking that one day I wanted to compete there. Later in my career, when I won my first Rolex watch, I actually gave it to my sister because she had always wanted a beautiful watch. So that was really my first meaningful experience with Rolex."

You have won several Rolex watches. Do you keep them all?

Kent: "Not always. I often give them to members of my team who have helped me achieve success. My grooms and staff play an enormous role in what we accomplish together. If someone has been part of the journey with a particular horse and we win a major event, I sometimes give the watch to them. Of course, I keep a few myself, but many of those moments are shared with my team."

How important is the mental aspect of show jumping?

Kent: "At the highest level it becomes just as much a mental game as anything else. Even if you are the number one rider in the world riding the best horse, your probability of winning on any given day is actually quite low, perhaps around ten percent or less. In sports like tennis the best players win most of their matches, but in show jumping even the best riders lose far more often than they win. That can be mentally demanding.

Over time you learn to accept the realities of the sport. There will be highs and lows, and you must stay balanced through both."

Do you have any routines before entering the arena?

Kent: "My routine is to stay calm. That is the most important thing, especially when working with an animal that naturally has a flight instinct. The calmer and more present I can be, the better it is for the horse. Each horse is slightly different in how they jump or prepare, but the one constant in my routine is that I remain calm and focused entirely on that moment with my horse."

What has Greya taught you as a rider?

Kent: "Greya is an exceptional athlete. Sometimes a horse of that quality can lift the rider in difficult moments. If I did not ride my best round, she was often capable of compensating for that. Having a horse like that builds confidence. And confidence builds further confidence. When you experience success with a horse like Greya, it carries through to the rest of your horses and strengthens you as both a rider and a competitor."