Team PracIt was two days of back-to-back wins for Kent Farrington (USA) at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final. After winning the Competition I speed class with Toulayna on Thursday, Farrington called up Greya for the next phase of competition on Friday. Competition II was Table A format with a first round followed by a jump-off for the combinations who went clear.
Farrington showed why he is world No. 2 with seemingly effortless clear rounds over Anderson Lima’s courses from him and 12-year-old Oldenburg mare Greya. As the final pair to go in the jump-off, the stage was set for Farrington and Greya to make their bid at winning Competition II. The duo did what they do best and delivered a speedy, clear round to stop the timers at 34.36 seconds. They clinched the win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd as they cleared the final fence. With overall World Cup Final title being decided on Sunday, Farrington made the necessary effort to set himself up for success on the final day.
“I think I came with a faster horse so that made it much easier. I just did her normal round, and I thought her normal round tonight would be fast enough for the class,” Farrington said in the press conference after the win. “I’m really thinking about the final here on Sunday, so I’m trying to measure her efforts and my speed and put myself in the best position possible. And hopefully we have some luck on Sunday.”
Despite the big occasion to come to close out the weekend, Farrington doesn’t plan on doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare Greya for Competition III. “I’m just going to let her have an easy day [on Saturday], stretch her legs, save her energy, and come out on Sunday,” he said. “It’s a new day, and it’s a new challenge.”
Over the years, Farrington carefully produced Greya from a young horse, and she has matured into a top competitor. The time developing the talented Oldenburg mare and getting her experience has certainly paid off.
“I think they have to do the sport to really learn how to do the sport. They have to do jump-offs. They have to see all the different courses, all the different combinations and all of the different fences,” Farrington said. “I think that that’s why you see at the highest level that most of the horses are not 8 or 9 years old. They’re older horses in that regard because they need that experience in order to be competitive at the highest level with consistency.”
Eiken Sato and Chadellano JRA Clinch Second
Eiken Sato (JPN) was thrilled with his performance in Competition II with 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chadellano JRA. From going clear in the first round and jump-off to his time of 34.90 seconds almost being good enough for the win, he was pleased with his World Cup Final debut so far.
“I’m very happy about the second prize, and next to me is the one of the [top] riders in the world,” Sato said. “My horse is jumping really, really well in there. I cannot say anything bad. I’m very, very happy.”
Sato trains with fellow World Cup Finals competitor Yuri Mansur (BRA) and followed his advice on the plan for navigating the course. “He told me before going into the ring to try this or try this, and then naturally my horse has a quick canter,” Sato said. “I just followed my plan, then it worked out, so I’m very happy about it.”
Kevin Staut and Visconti du Telman Earn a Podium Spot
Kevin Staut (FRA) and 17-year-old Selle Français mare Visconti du Telman went clear in the jump-off with a time of 35.79 seconds to finish in third place. While Staut admitted his mare isn’t the fastest in jump-offs, they had a bit of luck on their side.
“Honestly, it was some riders who made some faults in the jump-off, so I just went in trying to do a normal round,” Staut said. “As Kent was so clear when he was speaking about it, he was the fastest and he’s the winner. I think Eiken and I can be glad to be here.”
When asked about why he made the decision to travel to Texas, Staut said he knew it was going to be a well-run event worth the trip. “Sometimes it’s difficult to bring the best riders from Europe at this month here, but I have to say that the organization is perfect,” he said. “The stables are wonderful, the horses are great and the grooms are happy. It’s also important to say because it’s not so easy to find the energy to organize this type of final. As riders, we are sometimes complaining because we want the best, but we have also to say thank you and to recognize when it’s a really great event.”
Lyngvaer and Dinan’s Mighty Mares Deliver in Competition II
Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer (NOR) and 12-year-old Zangersheide mare Carabella vd Neyen Z celebrated a precise, clear first round in Friday’s Competition II to make it to the jump-off and then produced another all-star performance to take fourth place on a time of 35.95 seconds.
“I am so proud of this mare. She gives me everything. I could start crying just talking about it,” she told reporters in the Mixed Zone, wiping a tear from her cheek. “The way that mare fights for me and the partnership we’ve developed. Yesterday, I was a bit in her way. I knew it straight away and that was my fault. Today, I really focused on sticking to my plan to try and make her job as easy as possible.”
Going into Friday evening’s competition, Lyngvaer found it helpful to visualize the course and focus on her plan for the lines and how to remain quiet but efficient through the turns. “I’ve been working on being more efficient, and I think my mare is also very game on that,” she said. “I took a little bit of a risk on the last line, but I didn’t want to get stuck in the turn and lose time.”
While success in the show ring is always sweet, Lyngvaer’s passion for the sport is rooted in her lifelong passion for the horses. “I was asked earlier what I would do if I didn’t do the jumping. If someone said here is a dressage horse, you need to dressage, I would do it because I just love the riding no matter what it is,” the former eventer said. “But I hope for people who follow our story that it’s inspiring for young girls who want to do this sport. And to build a partnership with a horse like this mare and show off that we can play on the highest level like this is extremely cool and tastes maybe even better because of how we got here.”
Steve Guerdat (SUI) and 12-year-old gelding Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte finished in fifth place on four penalties with a time of 35.49 seconds following the jump-off, and Rene Dittmer (GER) and 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Cody 139 took sixth on four penalties and a time of 36.06 seconds.
Katie Dinan (USA) and 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Out of the Blue SCF delivered a solid clear round during the second day of show jumping competition and were the only other U.S. combination to make Friday night’s nail-biting jump off. The pair landed in seventh place with eight penalties on a time of 46.57 seconds.
Dinan and “Bridie,” who was born at Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky and is the only U.S.-bred horse in contention at this year’s World Cup Final, have been partners for two-and-a-half years, and this year marks their second time vying for a World Cup Final title.
“I feel very grateful to be her partner. She’s an unbelievable horse. She’s a big mare with a lot of blood, a lot of personality, a big jump and she just gives me everything. I try to do my best job, kind of like her,” Dinan said. “She was spectacular tonight. I knew as soon as we jumped the first fence, she was on it, and all I had to do was be there for her and show her where the jumps here. And she didn’t let me down. She gave everything she had, and it was a great feeling as soon as we crossed the finish line.”
Despite Bridie’s massive size and power, the petite Dinan said managing the ride wasn’t as challenging as expected. Instead of relying on brute strength, she says it’s all about connecting with her mare.
“She has her own motor and really carries herself, so she’s not a big horse that I have to carry around. I just have to guide her. I’m very grateful to my coach Beat Mändli for helping me so much in general with her. We do a lot of dressage work together and really work on rideability, because for me, it’s never going to be a matter of strength,” Dinan noted. “It’s just about connection and communication and allowing her most positive aspects to shine. I want her to be able to shine and flourish and not for me to restrict her in any way. So, I work to find the right balance and listen to her so we can shine over the jumps.”
The Standings Heading Into Sunday’s Competition III
Based on the points system for the Competitions I and II, Farrington heads into Sunday’s final day on a score of 0 faults. Guerdat sits in second on 4 faults, while Staut sits in third on 6 faults. Sato and Daniel Deusser (GER) are tied in fourth on 7 faults.
Click here for the overall standings.
For More:
- To check out the event website, click here.
- To view the event schedule, click here.
- To buy tickets for the event, click here.
- To check results, click here.
- Watch the 2026 FEI World Cup™ Finals live stream on FEI.TV.
Read more about our coverage of the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, here.
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!