Boyd Martin Earns USEA Rider of the Year Award and a Place at the Top

It's been a busy, brilliant year for Australian-born Boyd Martin, who rides for the U.S.

Following a dominant performance at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, where he finished second overall and claimed the USEF CCI5-L National Championship with the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3, Martin ascended to the No. 1 spot in the FEI Eventing World Rankings. This milestone marked the first time an American rider has held the world number-one position in more than two decades.

Martin’s efforts at Kentucky at the end of April not only put him on the podium in second place, but he finished in the top 10 with two other horses. He was sixth with Fedarman B, a beloved 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, and seventh aboard Luke 140, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding.

The next highest-placing U.S. rider was Emily Hamel who, with Corvett, finished 12th. Germany's Michel Jung won the Kentucky Three-Day Event with FischerChipmunk FRH.

About six months later, in October, Martin and Commando 3 finished in third place at the 2025 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.

In addition, Martin, a four-time Olympian who lives in Cochranville, Pennsylvania (site of his training facility Windurra USA), won the inaugural US Equestrian Open Eventing Final with Miks Master C at Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia, and their names are the first-ever champions to be added to the perpetual US Equestrian Open trophy.

Recognition at USEA Annual Meeting

Boyd Martin's noteworthy 2025 culminated in his recognition as the Rider of the Year by the World Equestrian Brands United States Eventing Association (USEA) during their Year-End Awards Ceremony, which was held earlier in December. Martin received this accolade for the ninth time, having accrued an impressive 510 points, more than 200 points ahead of other competitors.

A commanding Commando 3

Commando 3 received the Standlee USEA Horse of the Year award, thanks to his strong performances, including the second-place finish at Defender Kentucky and a podium finish in France, at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau, with Cooley Nutcracker. He also contributed to the USA's team silver at CHIO Aachen. Martin called 2025 a monumental year for Commando 3, known as Connor.

You're a legend, mate

Martin, in addition to his success as a 5* eventer, is known for his affability and sense of humor. Plus, he continually credits his family, team, and syndicates/horse owners for being integral to his eventing accomplishments.

And if you've been around Boyd Martin, or in one of his clinics, it's highly likely you've heard him say to someone, "You're a legend, mate." And now, on his Facebook page, not surprisingly, he describes the year as "legendary." In addition to the aforementioned achievements, Martin finishes 2025 with a podium finish at every 5* entered; 14 dressage tests with sub-30 scores at the 4* and 5* levels; and more than 100 clear show jumping rounds at the national and FEI levels. Looks like Boyd Martin is the legend now, mate.

The loss of a potential 5* horse

Martin has a strong string of horses at various levels. He lost one of his up-and-coming horses to a sudden fatality. Barney Rubble, the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by the Barney Rubble Syndicate, passed away unexpectedly in September. The horse, who had moved up to the CCI4* level just last year, collapsed during a light cross-country schooling session at home. A saddened Martin thought Barney Rubble was destined for the 5* level.

The fragility of Rankings

As of December 29, 2025, Boyd Martin is No. 2 in the FEI Eventing World Athlete rankings, with 537 points. Britain's Harry Meade holds the No. 1 spot heading into 2026, with 588 points.

As Boyd Martin closes out a record year, the eventing community awaits what he'll pull off in 2026.

Photo: Boyd Martin and Commando 3 at CHIO Aachen, July 2025

Photo credit: www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Stefan Lafrentz