The world’s top show jumpers and dressage riders, along with their family, friends and support teams, as well as a few lucky members of the media, convened in downtown Fort Worth’s scenic Sundance Square on a beautiful Wednesday evening for cocktails, dinner—and most importantly—the infamous draw for order of go in this week’s 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.

During the festive, Texas-themed Tony Llama Draw Party, event organizer Derek Braun drew riders’ names from a bowl and invited them to the stage to select a cowboy boot—the number on the bottom of each boot designated the rider’s order in Thursday’s first jumping competition and dressage Grand Prix.

Two-time World Cup finalist and World #36 Aaron Vale (USA), who originally hails from nearby Irving, and Carissimo 25 will be the first combination to tackle Anderson de Moura Lima’s course in the €100,000 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final  – Competition 1. Laura Kraut (USA) and Tres Bien Z drew no. 32 and will be the last U.S. combination to go. Georgia’s Shalva Gachechiladze and Modest vd Vroente will be the final pair.

Click here to see the full order.

Two-time World Cup finalist and World #36 Aaron Vale (USA) was surprised to learn that he and Carissimo 25 will be the first combination to tackle Anderson de Moura Lima’s course during Thursday’s competition. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte will be the 18th combination to go. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Mimi Gochman (USA) and Inclen BH drew no. 30. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Kaitlin Campbell (USA) and COSM Castlefield Cornelious will be the 10th combination to go on Thursday. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Practical Horseman editor Kathleen Landwehr walks by the massive silver-sequined cowboy hat that decorated Fort Worth’s Sundance Square during the Tony Llama Draw Party. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Katie Dinan (USA) learned that she and Out of the Blue SCF will be no. 22 on Thursday after she selected her cowboy boot. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Event organizer Derek Braun drew riders’ numbers from a bowl and invited them to come on stage and select a cowboy boot to determine their order of go. ©Amy K. Dragoo

Watch: Live from the 2026 Tony Llama Draw Party

Watch Aaron Vale make his no. 1 draw!

Thanks to Zoetis for our coverage of the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, photos and more!

For More:

Read more about our coverage of the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Forth Worth, Texas, here.