Kent, McLain, and Laura - A Brief Review of their Year of Show Jumping

Three names are synonymous with incredible solid experience in elite show jumping - Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward.

For Kent Farrington, 2025 has been a historic year defined by a return to the world No. 1 spot and a record-breaking string of victories. He spent much of the year at the top of the Longines FEI World Rankings, holding No. 1 for eight consecutive months through December.

Here are the key highlights from his 2025 season:

Record-Breaking Victory Count

Farrington achieved 15 Grand Prix wins, with nine of these at the 5* level. This feat surpassed his own previous world record of eight 5* wins in a single season, which he set in 2017.

His dominance was fueled by a formidable string of horses, most notably, Greya - the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare who became the standout star of the season. She won seven 5* Grands Prix, including the American Gold Cup and the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva.

Then there is Toulayna - an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare who secured multiple major wins, including the CSI5* Grand Prix of Greenwich and a World Cup qualifier in Thermal, California.

Triumphs in Traverse City

Traverse City, Michgan, proved to be a stronghold for Farrington this summer. He won the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the second consecutive year. Just a week later, he returned to the same ring to capture his third career American Gold Cup victory with Greya, making him one of the few riders to win back-to-back 5* events at the venue.

Not settling for second at CHI Geneva

The season culminated in December at CHI Geneva, one of the most prestigious shows in the world.

In the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, Farrington finished with Toulayna as the runner-up to Great Britain’s Scott Brash by 0.16 seconds, and critized himself for losing as a rider when the horse was in the arena to win. He admitted that he rode the second-to-last fence in the jump-off too conservatively. Two days later, Farrington was in pure game-on mode, winning the Rolex Grand Prix with Greya. He bested a field of 40 riders and a seven-horse jump-off to claim his third career Rolex Grand Slam Major.

He enters 2026 not only as the World No. 1 but as the leader of the North American League World Cup standings.

Renowned show jumper and precisionist

In 2025, World No. 11 McLain Ward remained a central pillar of the U.S. show jumping team, with a switch to new equine partners.

Ward and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding High Star Hero secured a few top-level victories - from Los Angeles to Aachen, Germany, to Thermal, California. He was instrumental in several historic team victories for the U.S. and domination in the Nations Cup.

Rome - he served as the anchor rider in the Nations Cup of Rome, delivering a double-clear performance with Imperial HBF to secure the U.S. team’s first victory at the Piazza di Siena since 2009.

Aachen, Germany - Ward helped the U.S. hold up the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup trophy in Aachen. After a 4-fault first round, he returned to jump clear in the second, contributing to a dominant team score of just 4 faults.

Ocala - In March, he delivered a high-pressure clear round as the final rider to seal the USA's first Longines League of Nations™ victory on home soil.

The only woman in the Longines FEI Top 10

In 2025, Laura Kraut solidified her position as the leading female show jumper in the world, achieving her highest career ranking and delivering several noteworthy victories. She had begun 2025 as the only woman in the world's top 10, and closed out the season keeping that title, now having risen to No. 7 in the Longines Rankings.

A First in Dublin

In August, Kraut achieved what she described as a bucket-list victory at the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show. Riding the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare Bisquetta, Kraut was the only rider in a field of 40 to deliver a clear round. This win ended a two-year drought of 5* Grand Prix victories and marked the first time she claimed the prestigious Rolex title in Dublin.

A Très Bien victory in Washington

Kraut’s momentum continued into the indoor season. In October, she captured her second career President’s Cup trophy by winning the $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS).

She rode Tres Bien Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, and her performance at WIHS also earned her the Leading Lady Rider Award.

The U.S. Olympian rode Bisquetta to victory in the $750,000 1.60m FEI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix. It was her first Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix win during which she edged out McLain Ward and High Star Hero by 0.03 seconds.

Also an anchor of the U.S. Nations Cup Team

With fellow American McLain Ward, Laura Kraut remained an anchor for the U.S. Jumping Team, contributing to one of the strongest Nations Cup seasons in recent American history:

CHIO Aachen: She helped the U.S. squad secure a historic victory in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup.

League of Nations (Ocala): Riding Dorado 212, she helped lead the team to a home-turf victory.

Piazza di Siena (Rome): Aboard Bisquetta, she contributed to the first U.S. win in Rome since 2009.

Both individually and combined, these three elite show jumpers represent a U.S. powerhouse.

Photo: Laura Kraut and Tres Bien Z