Press release from FEI, edited by World of Showjumping

The United States will lead the way in front of a home crowd on Thursday as competition kicks off at the CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, TX (USA).

All horses slated for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final passed the first horse inspection at the spectacular Dickies Arena on Tuesday.

At Wednesday evening’s draw in downtown Fort Worth, Aaron Vale (USA) was drawn as the leadoff rider in jumping. Vale, a Texas native now based in Ocala, Florida (USA), will bring his best horse forward in the 13-year-old gelding Carissimo 25 (Cascadello x Clinton) for this homecoming as the two will be the first pair through the gates in Fort Worth.

The United States is well represented in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, with nine athletes in the lineup. Nine could be the magic number, as it’s been nine years since a rider from the nation stood atop the podium in this event. Vale will give his compatriots early feedback on the opening round’s speed test set by Anderson de Moura Lima (MEX).

The highest placing American at least year’s Final in Basel (SUI), Katie Dinan is back for more with Out of the Blue SCF (Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini). The pair won the final round of competition in 2025 after producing the only double-clear effort on the day, ultimately finishing eighth overall. They will jump 22nd in the order.

The most eyes, however, are likely to be on world no. 2 Kent Farrington, who is returning to the Final after a one-year hiatus with his powerhouse duo of mares, Toulayna (Toulon x Parco) and Greya (Colestus x Contender). Farrington brought the same pair forward when he finished fourth at Riyadh (KSA) in 2024. Since then, he climbed to the world no. 1 spot for nine months between May 2025 and January 2026, recording wins at the highest level of sport with both mares. He will jump 15th on Thursday with Toulayna, the speed specialist.

Kaitlin Campbell on COSM Castlefield Cornelius (Cornet Obolensky x Contender), Lillie Keenan with Kick On (Warrior x Caretino Glory), and Skylar Wireman aboard Barclino B (Constanzehof’s Barcley x Lasino) all return with promise following strong outings at the Finals over the course of the last two years, while Mimi Gochman on Inclen BH (Stakkato Gold x Raphael) and Jacob Pope with Highway FBH (Plot Blue x Cornet Obolensky) will make their respective debuts at this event after successful seasons on the North American League. World no. 10 Laura Kraut will be the final U.S. athlete to jump, as she comes forward 32nd with her winning partner from Washington (USA), Tres Bien Z (Toulon x Nabab de Reve).

Switzerland may pose the greatest threat to a hometown victory for the U.S., as the country sends forward an incredibly strong pair of previous champions.

Steve Guerdat (SUI) has won these Finals on three previous occasions, in 2015, 2016 and 2019. Should he capture a fourth in Fort Worth, he would become the first rider in history to achieve the feat. He will bring forward Albführen’s Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy) for the task; the 12-year-old gelding carries great form to Texas, having won two qualifiers on the Western European League in Helsinki (FIN) and Leipzig (GER). Guerdat will jump just before the midway point of competition Thursday, in the 18th position.

Directly following him is his Swiss teammate, Martin Fuchs. Fuchs, who won these Finals in 2022 in Leipzig (GER), will bring forward Lorde (Clyde LVB Z x Elan de la Cour) for the 11-year-old gelding’s first championship start.

Adding further depth to the field are world no. 3 Richard Vogel (GER) and the 2014 World Cup™ Final winner Daniel Deusser (GER), who will jump 26th and 29th respectively with Gangster Montdesir (Kannan x Cornet Obolensky) and Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino). Willem Greve (NED), who won three qualifiers on the Western European League with Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs N.O.P. (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Bamako de Muze) received an early draw and will jump second.

Kevin Staut (FRA) and Visconti du Telman (Toulon x Dollar du Murier) are the highest placing pair from the 2025 Finals to return in 2026. After finishing third in Basel, they will begin their quest for a second straight podium jumping in the fifth position.

Eighteen nations will be represented as the competition kicks off at 2PM local time with the opening round, a 1.60m speed test with faults converted to time.