The 2026 FEI World Cup™ Finals got underway Tuesday afternoon with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final first horse inspection before the combinations start competing in the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. A total of 38 horses from 18 nations presented in front of the Ground Jury of Carsten Andre Soerlie (NOR), Andrew Pollard (GBR), Neil O’Connor (USA), David Distler (USA) and Leslie Brown (USA). Matts V.G., the mount of Uzbekistan’s Bekzod Kurbanov, was sent to the holding box but passed upon re-inspection.

This is the first time that Fort Worth is hosting the FEI World Cup™ Finals. The competition runs from April 8-12, and in addition to the jumping final, there will be the Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.

The stage is set at Dickies Arena for the 2026 FEI World Cup™ Finals. ©Amy K. Dragoo

An All-Star Field in the Lone Star State

It is a star-studded field of competitors in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final. Three-time World Cup Final champion Steve Guerdat (SUI) brings Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte, and the talented duo won World Cup qualifiers in Leipzig and Helsinki. Daniel Deusser (GER) and Martin Fuchs (SUI) are also past World Cup Final champions who are strong contenders in Fort Worth.

The U.S. contingent is a solid group of horses and riders who aim to win on U.S. soil. Leading the charge is Kent Farrington fresh off his win in the $1,000,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5* with the thrilling Greya. Farrington will ride Greya as well as Toulayna in Fort Worth. Experienced World Cup Finals competitors Katie Dinan, Kaitlin Campbell, Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut, Aaron Vale and Skylar Wireman will add to the U.S. effort while first-timers Mimi Gochman and Team Prac trainer Jacob Pope will test their skills at this major championship.

View the photo gallery below for images of those horses and more during the first horse inspection.

Steve Guerdat (SUI) jogs Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Kent Farrington’s groom Denise Moriarty presents Greya. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer (NOR) dressed to impress in Texas while jogging Carabella vd Neyen Z. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Event organizer Derek Braun helps prepare the jog strip. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Skylar Wireman and Tornado head down the jog strip. ©Amy K. Dragoo
The U.S. support team watches as Laura Kraut’s groom Margo Thomas jogs Tres Bien Z. ©Amy K. Dragoo
The railbirds wait for the next set of horses to come down the jog strip. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Daniel Deusser (GER) presents Otello de Guldenboom. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Mimi Gochman’s Inclen BH was feeling frisky while jogging with groom Juan Hernandez. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Aaron Vale’s Carissimo 25 eyes the photographers along the jog strip. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Martin Fuchs (SUI) shows a bit of Western flair while jogging Lorde. ©Amy K. Dragoo

The Competition Continues in Fort Worth

The jumpers will have the training session in the Dickies Arena tomorrow at 2 p.m. CDT. The dressage horses will be in the arena for their ring familiarization at 9 a.m. CDT tomorrow.

For More:

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!