Stay up to date on the action from the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Find information about the event, including a recap from each day of the competition below, and follow links to the full stories.

2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: World #1 Harry Meade and #2 Boyd Martin Head Impressive List of 5* Entries

Photo by Mary Cage

World #1 Harry Meade (GBR) and #2 Boyd Martin (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the CCI5*-L division at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN (K3DE). Meade, who finished third last year aboard Et Hop Du Matz and fourth aboard Grafennacht, and Martin, who placed second with Commando 3, sixth with Fedarman B, and seventh with Luke 140, will head the field that features 37 total athletes from five nations vying for top honors at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 23-26.

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Thanks to CareCredit for our 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

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Lexington, KY – World #1 Harry Meade (GBR) and #2 Boyd Martin (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the CCI5*-L division at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN (K3DE). Meade, who finished third last year aboard Et Hop Du Matz and fourth aboard Grafennacht, and Martin, who placed second with Commando 3, sixth with Fedarman B, and seventh with Luke 140, will head the field that features 37 total athletes from five nations vying for top honors at the Kentucky Horse Park, April 23-26.

View the full list of entries here.

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 during their second-place finish at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Mary Cage

The Event is produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level. EEI is dedicated to creating opportunities for riders, horses, and equine organizations while advancing the United States’ strength and competitiveness on the international stage.

K3DE  features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas, and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN for the U.S. athletes. Expanding its world-class offerings, the event also features the Cosequin^® Lexington CCI4*-S, a U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series qualifier, alongside the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Co-organized with Major League Show Jumping, the CSI5* brings an exciting team-based format to the week, culminating in a highlight Grand Prix. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” K3DE draws more than 90,000 attendees annually.

Meade, whose accolades include the team Silver medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, has four horses entered in the 2026 K3DE, including his 2025 podium partner, Et Hop Du Matz, and fourth-place finisher, Grafennacht. Et Hop Du Matz was the only horse to finish on his dressage score last year, but Meade and his mounts will still have their work cut out for them as they compete against the likes of World #2 Boyd Martin (USA), World #4 Tim Price (NZL), World #6 Tom McEwen (GBR), World #11 Tom Jackson (GBR), World #15 Austin O’Connor (IRL) and World #20 Will Coleman (USA).

Harry Meade and Et Hop Du Matz, third-place finishers at last year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Mary Cage

One of the American favorites, Martin, has extensive championship experience under his belt, having competed in four Olympic Games and three World Equestrian Games. He helped the U.S. earn team Silver at the 2022 World Championships and is a three-time Pan American Games Gold medalist. In Kentucky, he placed second in 2019 and 2025 and fourth in 2021. He also placed second in the Cosequin^® Lexington CCI4*-S in 2024.

Coleman, Martin’s 2022 World Championship teammate, has also competed in the Olympic Games (2012), World Equestrian Games (2018), and podiumed on multiple occasions at the K3DE. He won the Cosequin^® Lexington CCI4*-S in 2024 and 2025 and took third place in 2024.

Additionally, World #36 Caroline Pamukcu (USA), Martin’s 2024 Olympic teammate, will be looking for her first podium at the K3DE. Her résumé includes individual Gold and team Silver at the 2023 Pan American Games. Other familiar faces from the U.S. include Jennie Brannigan, Mia Farley, and Buck Davidson, who placed third in Kentucky in 2014 and was the Highest-Placed Sole Owner/Rider in 2023 and 2024.

Leading the international contingent alongside Meade are Price, O’Connor, and Meade’s fellow Brits, McEwen and Jackson. Alongside his double-Bronze appearance at the 2022 World Championships, Price has competed in three Olympic Games, two World Equestrian Games, and multiple K3DE – earning second place in Kentucky in 2015 and 2021 and third in 2019. Four-time Olympian O’Connor is entered in the 2026 K3DE with his 2022 World Championship mount, Colorado Blue.

McEwen, a three-time Olympic medalist and 2018 World Equestrian Games team Gold medalist, finished in second place at the K3DE in 2023 and 2024. Jackson helped Team Great Britain earn medals in three of his four European Championship appearances.

With so many world-class combinations entered in this year’s Event, Kentucky will celebrate one of its highest-rated fields on record. There are four 5*-winning riders in the lineup: Martin, McEwen, O’Connor and Price, who will be looking for his seventh victory at this level. Price also has the highest-rated horse, Vitali, on the entry list, with both Vitali and Colorado Blue ranked among the world’s top 10 eventing horses.

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The German Team in the victory gallop after the 2026 Longines League of Nations Ocala competition: Richard Vogel; Christian Kukuk; Rene Dittmer, and Andre Thieme. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

Nations with teams competing there were Belgium, Brazil, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, USA, and reigning champions Great Britain, who secured their place by winning a dramatic jump-off at the Longines League of Nations Final 2025 last October in Barcelona, Spain. The course designer for LLN Ocala was Irishman Alan Wade, who will also design the courses for the 2028 LA Olympic Games. 

In LLN competition, teams of four horse-and-rider pairs from the ten qualified nations jump two rounds, with each team being allowed one of the four as a drop score. Everyone jumps in the first round, then based on the scores from that round, three riders from each of the top eight teams return to jump the same course again with scores from the two rounds combined to determine the overall winner. The ten teams’ accumulated points are tracked over four qualifying competitions to determine the series rankings going into the finals.  

The League of Nations is the FEI’s newest “Nations Cup” competition. It all began in 2024 with teams from ten countries competing in a series of four events throughout the year leading to a final to determine the overall series winner. The WEC has hosted the North American stop of this series in mid-March each year thus far. The other legs are: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in mid-February; Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in mid-June; Gassin-St. Tropez, France, in mid-September, and the finals in Barcelona, Spain, October 1-4, 2026. Find out more about the FEI Longines League of Nations here. 

Horse-and-rider combinations for the German Team were Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria, Christian Kukuk and his Olympic gold-medal mount Checker 47, Richard Vogel and Cloudio, and Rene Dittmer and Corsica X, with Olympic rider Otto Becker serving as their Chef d’Equipe. The Irish Team, all male riders as well, was a close second with 8 faults total. The Belgian Team, composed of two male and two female riders, was also in the hunt, finishing third on 12 faults.  

2024 Olympic gold medalists from Germany Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 clear the last fence in the 2026 LLN Ocala. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

All three German riders went clear in the second round, with Vogel and Cloudio as their anchor pair. “I have great teammates here. They did a really good job. I went in almost in a bit of a comfortable situation, having one rail to give. In this format, it makes it very exciting; anything could happen, as we saw in the second round. I’m very proud of my horse, Cloudio. He came over from Europe for the Nations Cup; I just met him here, and he delivered double clear. I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Vogel, who lived for a time in the USA training with McLain Ward.  

Richard Vogel and Cloudio of the winning German Team sky the water jump during the 2026 Longines League of Nations Ocala. Photo by Kim MacMillan

Chef d’Equipe Becker was beaming in the press conference following Germany’s win, “What a week, what a team. I have no words. We had a great week and to win the Nations Cup today means a lot to me. I’m very proud. A big ‘thank you’ to the Roberts family [owners of the World Equestrian Center], to the organizers, to Longines, to the sponsors. Special words for the course builder; it was a fantastic course. I appreciate what we saw today and thought it was great advertising for the sport.” 

The U.S. Team, which was victorious in the LLN in Ocala last year, had a rough go in this year’s League of Nations Ocala. Originally the team was to have been a repeat of last year with Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut, Aaron Vale and McLain Ward all tapped to ride by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. However, a last-minute substitution was necessary when Ward injured his hand in a fall with a horse the week before, so Natalie Dean stepped up to fill in. In the end Dean, who jumped second in the order for the USA and was the Team’s best in this LLN Ocala, put in a fault-free ride in the first round with Marigold Sporthorses LLC’s Pedro van de Barlebuis.  

Best scoring rider for the U.S. Team in the 2026 Longines League of Nations Ocala, Natalie Dean on Pedro van de Barlebuis. Photo by Kim MacMillan

In a cruel twist of fate, the other seasoned and decorated U.S. riders all encountered just plain bad luck no one could have foreseen. First out for the U.S. Team was Lillie Keenan and her long-time partner Argan de Beliard, a horse that had an impressive four double-cleans in Nations Cup competitions last year. After pulling only one rail over the challenging course to that point, Argan stunned everyone by stopping at the final fence which caused Keenan to fall off. Horse and rider were both alright, but the rider fall resulted in mandatory elimination.  

“The biggest mystery was Lillie’s horse stopping,” said Chef d’ Equipe Ridland. “We’re not sure why he did that. The last fence was right towards the crowd. Maybe he saw something.” 

This left the U.S. Team with only three riders (and no other drop score) to try to qualify for the second round since only the top eight teams of the ten returned for the second class. After Kraut’s horse Tres Bien Z (who won the Washington International Horse Show Grand Prix last fall) also refused on the first attempt at the water jump and had an additional three rails down plus time faults, things began to look very bleak.  

Anchor U.S. rider Vale on Carissimo 25, a horse with a history of clean rounds and big wins, also grabbed an uncharacteristic four rails for 16 faults. This left the USA with 49 total faults so they failed to qualify for the second round in Ocala. They plan to move on to compete in the next two legs of the LLN, however, so they have the potential to improve in the LLN standings. Switzerland also had a difficult first round and did not return for round two.  

View the complete results and a list of competitors from the 2026 LLN Ocala here.

A drone show lit up the sky over the WEC main arena before the 2026 LLN Ocala awards. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

France won the first round of the LLN in Abu Dhabi in February, with Germany second there and Brazil third. After two of four legs have been completed, the Longines League of Nations preliminary overall standings thus far are: Germany, first; France, second; Ireland, third; Brazil, fourth; Great Britain, fifth; Belgium, sixth; Switzerland, seventh; the Netherlands, eighth, Italy, ninth, and USA tenth. Track the 2026 League of Nations standings here.

Fans of the sport can relive the excitement of the Longines League of Nations Ocala on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, March 28, at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, with an encore presentation on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. ET. 

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The format of the competition is simple: the first two days, four Wild Card competitors compete for a spot in the Championship Competition. These competitors choose a colt from the Remuda provided by the Pitchfork Ranch. They are then given two days to work with their respective colts, each session awarding points based on twenty different categories, including Catching & Haltering, Overall Horsemanship – Reading of Colt, and Colt’s Demeanor at End of Session. Once a Wild Card winner is crowned, they move on to the Championship Competition to compete against the other three chosen trainers.  

The Championship Competition is set up very similarly; the scoring system is the same, but they get more time with their filly, split up into three days.   

The Wild Card Competition

This year’s Wild Card lineup featured two American trainers, Sadie Fisher and Tiffany McLaury, Canadian Jason Irwin, and Australian Rob Leach. This proved to be an extremely competitive lineup, making for an exciting beginning to Road to the Horse 2026.

Pitchfork Ranch was back again as the Official Remuda Partner and brought a stunning selection of 3-year-old geldings for the Wild Card. Sadie Fisher decided to go with Crack Eyed John, a gorgeous palomino by Metallic Masterpiece. Tiffany McLaury chose Nasty Metallic, a sorrel gelding by Nasty CD with plenty of personality. Rob Leach also jumped on the sorrel train with his pick, Nastys Bamacat by Bamacat. Finally, Jason Irwin selected the beautiful red roan Its Payday Cowboy. 

After two rounds of competition on Day 1, Fisher had a score of 376.0, Irwin had a score of 494.0, Leach had a score of 506.0, and McLaury had a narrow lead with a score of 508.5. 

Friday morning brought the Wild Card Finale, where competitors were given 20 minutes in the round pen and 15 minutes on the rail to show off their training. There was also a bonus obstacle, a bridge that had themed décor around it. 

Every single rider had a lovely ride in the finale, but there was one who shone above them all. Maintaining a lead with a score of 912, and the only rider to get their horse over the bridge, was Tiffany McLaury. She earned herself a spot in the Championship, following in her father Buster’s footsteps from last year’s competition. 

Leach finished with 863, Irwin finished with 846, and Fisher ended with a 707.5. 

The Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies at Road to the Horse are nothing short of spectacular – and this year did not disappoint. Boasting performances from The Wranglers Drill Team, Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship, Whispery Pines Percherons, Fleur de Lis Vaulters, Jake Durancik, E Imaginations, and Elliot Holtzman of Versatile Horsemanship, each day was an impressive display of horsemanship and showmanship. From liberty routines, to jousting, to full harness teams, Road to the Horse allowed a wide display of different disciplines to come together in celebration horses. 

The Championship Competitors

With the addition of Tiffany McLaury to the lineup, this year’s championship consisted entirely of American trainers. Elisa Wallace, Nick Dowers, and Ryan Rose were three horsemen chosen ahead of the event.

Elisa Wallace is a five-star eventer who is known for her work with Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds, with wins at both the Extreme Mustang Makeover and Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. Operating in Reddick, Fla., Wallace blends technical excellence with thoughtful communication, and enjoys sharing her training journey through online platforms. 

Nick Dowers is a two-time Road to the Horse Champion based in Nevada. In 2013, Dowers won the National Reined Cow Horse Association Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship aboard Time for the Diamond, his family’s stallion. He believes strongly in developing horses capable of excelling on the ranch and in the arena. Dowers is also a Jack Brainard Horsemanship Award recipient. 

Ryan Rose is a familiar face for our Horse Illustrated crowd, as we were honored to feature him in our September 2025 Webinar. With more than 20 years of experience, and thousands of horses trained, Rose is a respected horsemanship specialist, trainer, and clinician known for his connection-focused approach. With his wife, Dr. Emily Rose, he founded the Rose Horsemanship Center in Wisconsin and Florida. His strong online presence allows him to educate riders worldwide. 

Finally, but certainly not least, is our Wild Card Champion, Tiffany McLaury. Tiffany is a lifelong equestrian from Paducah, Texas who inherited her love of horses from her parents, Buster and Sheryl McLaury. McLaury is very active in the show ring with her horses Wicked and Calf Rope, showing in the ARHA, PRCHA, AWHA, NRCHA, and RHAA, earning multiple world titles. She maintains devotion to the horse in every aspect of her life and training, grounding herself in tradition, respect, and continual improvement. 

The Remuda

Pitchfork Ranch brought 11 stunning fillies for the Championship Remuda. These incredible American Quarter Horses come from royal bloodlines that include Metallic Masterpiece, Nasty CD, and Bet Hesa Cat, tracing back to legendary sires such as Doc Bar, Freckles Playboy, High Brow Cat, and Peppy San Badger. 

Elisa Wallace ended up choosing #10, Tuff Twister, a lovely sorrel by Brother Tuff Wood out of the Bet Hesa Cat mare, Bet Shesa Twister. With a big blaze and friendly eyes, she was definitely a standout. Nick Dowers went with #2, Nasty Tea Pot, another gorgeous sorrel, by Nasty CD out of Shiney Tea Pot Doc. Nasty Tea Pot’s dam produced two Road to the Horse Wild Card Champions, C.D. Wilcox’s 2024 mount Tightfittinblujeans and Buster McLaury’s 2025 mount Playful Tea Pot. 

Tiffany McLaury also joined the sorrel club by choosing #8, Sunny Lucky Cat, by Goodluck Catt out of Ms Becaco Sunny CD. This is another familiar family to the Road to the Horse, as Sunny Lucky Cat’s full sibling, Goodluck Suncat, won last year’s Championship with Tik Maynard. Ryan Rose decided to go against the grain and choose a gray filly, #7 Desire Some Cash. This gorgeous girl is by Cat and Cash out of the Sixes Pick mare, Sixes Desire. 

Now that each competitor had their horse, it was time for the Championship to begin. 

The Championship Competition

Round 1 was filled with the trainers and horses getting to know each other. Tiffany McLaury led this round with a score of 267.5, with Ryan Rose close behind with a 259. Nick Dowers pulled a 250 and Elisa Wallace followed behind with a 231. 

Round 2 shook the scores up, with Dowers pulling ahead with a monster score of 283.5. Rose held steady in second with a 247, followed by McLaury with a 243.5 and Wallace with a 239. 

Round 3, the finale, was where each horse and trainer got put to the test. They got to start in the round pen, but then had to move to rail work and finish with the obstacles. The obstacles were daunting – a medieval-themed course complete with a castle, dragons, and a moat filled with alligators – and would be a challenge to even the most broke horses. 

Elisa Wallace started us off, and though she had an unfortunate unplanned dismount, she absolutely sailed through the obstacle course. Not only did she get through every single obstacle, but she and Tuff Twister made it look effortless. She finished the obstacles with over 15 minutes to spare – a feat that was not matched by any other competitor. 

“She smoked it,” Elisa said in an interview with Horse Illustrated. “I’m totally blessed to have that horse and she was a very good girl.” 

Up next was Ryan Rose with his filly Desire Some Cash. She was clearly a bit overwhelmed with the rail work, but showed great bravery with the obstacles. They ended up crossing the final obstacle, a bridge where the rider had to pull a sword from a rock, with mere seconds remaining. 

Tiffany McLaury was up next with her hunk of a filly, Sunny Lucky Cat. She was the perfect example of true horsewoman, taking the time to work her filly through the overwhelming environment and opting to tackle some of the obstacles in-hand instead. 

Finally, Nick Dowers and his filly Nasty Tea Pot took the stage. Dowers also had a wonderful ride, getting through almost every single obstacle – there were a few sticky points where he opted to go around. But he did attempt every obstacle and made it over the last bridge with plenty of time to spare. 

The 2026 Road to the Horse Champion

The entire weekend had come down to this one moment – who will be crowned the 2026 Road to the Horse Champion? Would it be Wild Card Champion Tiffany McLaury, who held first in the first round? Or Nick Dowers, who won the second? Ryan Rose had the most consistent scoring, but Elisa Wallace had a flawless run through the obstacles. 

In the end, with a score of 1099, Nick Dowers took the title, winning the Road to the Horse for the third time. He was a strong competitor the entire weekend and it paid off big time by the finale. 

Elisa made up a huge number of points in round 3, earning herself a Reserve Champion title. Wallace also chose to bring her filly, affectionately named Windy, home with her to Florida – we’re looking forward to seeing this pair continue in their training together! 

Another Road to the Horse has come and gone. This event never fails to be the most emotional, nerve-wracking, and entertaining event of the year. We’re looking forward to the 2027 event and seeing who will be invited to compete for the chance to be the next Road to the Horse World Champion. 

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Attendees are invited to visit the Horse Illustrated booth in the concourse to participate in giveaways, shop exclusive merchandise, and take advantage of special subscription offers. There will also be an opportunity to pre-order Best of Horse Illustrated, the special collector’s issue celebrating the magazine’s 50th anniversary.

“Horse Illustrated is proud to continue its partnership with Road to the Horse,” said Digital Manager Mary Cage. “Our audience is passionate about this event and the relationship-building that takes place between the competing horsemen and their colts.”

With world-class horsemen and colts from the legendary Pitchfork Ranch, Road to the Horse 2026 is sure to delight spectators. Horse Illustrated is thrilled to be a part of the excitement and looks forward to connecting with fellow equine enthusiasts.

If you’re unable to attend Road to the Horse, stay tuned to Horse Illustrated socials (@horseillustrated) for live updates and horseillustrated.com for a recap of the event.

— Press Release

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Photo courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

A 20-day, tournament-style competition crowns champions in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, women’s barrel racing and more. While you’re waiting for the evening’s festivities to begin, be sure to check out some of the other livestock-focused options, including a barn with a plethora of miniature livestock breeds, a birthing center that lets attendees welcome baby animals into the world, a breed row barn, a petting zoo, and a milking parlor.

The equine-specific events include a cutting horse show, a Paint Horse show, a Quarter Horse show, ranch horse competition, ranch rodeo, and youth horse show. Whatever you do, don’t forget to come hungry—there’s a barbecue contest and food vendors galore, featuring the best Texas has to offer!

Don’t forget to check out who will be onstage each night once the rodeo chutes close. Past entertainers include greats like Elvis Presley, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and George Strait.

Plan your visit at rodeohouston.com.

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Over the last five decades, Horse Illustrated has evolved with the times, adapting to the digital era with digital issues of the magazine, e-books, its Barn Banter podcast, a monthly webinar series, and an active social media presence. While expanding into these digital spaces, Horse Illustrated has stayed true to its roots, proudly producing a bimonthly print magazine in an era when so many magazines have disappeared or gone all-digital.

“We care deeply about each and every subscriber’s experience, and strive to put out an engaging magazine for horse lovers that is also beautiful to look at,” said Editor in Chief Holly Caccamise. “We listen to reader feedback and favorite topics in order to keep the publication educational and entertaining – something we’d want to read ourselves!”

Horse Illustrated continues to delight readers with expert horse care and health advice, training tips, breed profiles, and stories of fellow equestrians. Along the way, the magazine has earned respect and accolades throughout the equine publication industry, including various honors at the annual American Horse Publications conference. Among those awards include a 1st place in the General Excellence category in 2018 and 2025, as well as recognition in the same category in 2015 and 2021.

To mark this milestone, Horse Illustrated has launched a fresh new look to its website, horseillustrated.com, with a design reflecting the publication’s 50th year. There, readers can enjoy the equine-centric content the magazine is known for.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Horse Illustrated will be releasing a special issue as a collector’s edition, with a limited quantity available (newsstand and online orders only). A walk down memory lane, the issue will feature the magazine’s iconic moments in print—including Horse Illustrated’s hallmark breed profiles, legendary covers, and more. Pre-order sales of the special issue will be announced soon, and the magazine will first be available in person at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

A limited number of advertising opportunities are available; interested parties can contact Rima Dorsey at rdorsey@egmediamags.com.

About Our Publications

Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Western Life Today, HorseIllustrated.com, YoungRider.com, and WesternLifeToday.com are part of the EG Media stable. Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers. Young Rider educates horse-loving kids ages 8-15 with a combination of English and western riding lessons, horse-care hints, and stories about real-life young riders, plus fun, interactive elements. Western Life Today is the premier publication for all things western, from fashion and entertainment to destinations and more. Visit www.horseillustrated.com, www.youngrider.com, and www.westernlifetoday.com to learn more. Contact us at 844-330-6373 or horseillustrated@egmediamags.com.

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This spring, however, a different kind of boots and saddles will move into “Cowtown” when the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final come to the Dickies Arena, April 8-12, 2026. It all started when the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sport) accepted Fort Worth’s bid to host this year’s Finals back in 2022.  

A front view of Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, where the 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final will be held. Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Worth

The Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT, based out of Lexington, Ky.) will host this prestigious international competition in partnership with the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Sports Commission. SRJT Founder and President Derek Braun shared his thoughts on bringing the Finals to Texas, “This is a testament to what the Split Rock team and the City of Fort Worth have accomplished over the last several years. I am truly honored to bring a welcoming, world-class experience. There is no better way to showcase the best in show jumping and dressage and celebrate the sport as a whole.” 

Braun and World Cup Finals Event Director Sami McDermott promise not only exciting international sport, but also educational events, daily entertainment with a decidedly Texas flair, an impressive laser light show, and lots of dining, shopping and tourism options. 

Find more information and tickets here.

Competition Synopsis of the FEI World Cup Finals

Created to cap the fall and winter season of international competition, the World Cup Jumping Final was first held in 1979 and the Dressage Final in 1986. While riders are listed by the country they represent, the World Cup Finals are not team competitions. Horse and rider combinations compete in designated qualifier competitions throughout the year in order to earn a berth in the Final.  

Dressage horse and rider combos compete in two classes, the first day in an FEI Grand Prix test, followed by a rest day, then on day three in an FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class. World Cup Final jumping competition comprises three days of classes with a rest day in between the second and third competition days. They jump two rounds on the final day. All horses in both sports are inspected by the ground jury for fitness to compete before official training and arena familiarization the next day, then competition starts the day after that.  

This is the first time that the FEI World Cup Finals will be held in Texas. The USA has previously hosted the FEI World Cup Jumping Final 11 times (Baltimore, 1980; Tampa, 1989; Del Mar, Calif., 1992; Las Vegas, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, and Omaha, 2017 and 2023), and the FEI Dressage Final seven times (Los Angeles, 1995; Las Vegas, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, and Omaha, 2017 and 2023).  

Find the 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final schedule here. 

Past World Cup Winners

The reigning World Cup Dressage Final top three from last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, are Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale of Great Britain, first; Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz of Germany, second; and Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD of Norway, third. In the 2025 Longines World Cup Jumping Final the top three were Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge of France, first; Ben Maher and Point Break of Great Britain, second; and Kevin Staut and Visconti du Telman of France, third.  

Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale were the 2025 World Cup Dressage Final winners in Basel, Switzerland. Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Best World Cup Dressage Final placings for U.S. riders include Steffen Peters and the outstanding gelding Ravel, winners in the 2009 Final in Las Vegas; Debbie McDonald and the super mare Brentina, victors in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2003 (they also placed third in 2005); and two second-place finishes in 2017 and 2018 by Laura Graves with her former world-number one partner Verdades. Guenter Seidel riding Nikolaus placed third in 2003 and Peters took third on Floriano in 2007 in Las Vegas.  

In World Cup Jumping Finals, the USA has accrued a long list of accomplishments, headlined most recently by Beezie Madden’s win on the athletic stallion Breitling LS in 2018; McLain Ward’s win on the impressive mare HH Azur in Omaha in 2017; Devin Ryan’s second with Eddie Blue in 2018; and Hunter Holloway’s third-place finish in 2023 with Pepita con Spita. Madden also won with Simon in 2013. The uber-talented, U.S.-based stallion Flexible flew to victory in 2012 after taking second in 2008. Further back in World Cup Final history, U.S. jumper riders Katherine Burdsall, Leslie Burr Leneghan, Donald Cheska, Norman Dello Joio, Conrad Homfeld, Lisa Jacquin, Michael Matz, Katie Monahan, and Melanie Smith all had top-three finishes, several of those first-place titles.  

U.S. rider Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita jumped their way to third place in the 2023 FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Omaha. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

The Venue

Dickies Arena will host the competition, entertainment, educational programs and a shopping village. The horses will be stabled in barns located on the adjacent Will Rogers Memorial Center Campus. Due to FEI rules and United States Department of Agriculture quarantine regulations, stabling will be secure and the general public will not have access. A warm-up ring will be constructed next to Dickies Arena.  

The Arena, which is owned by the city, is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility with a capacity of up to 14,000 seats. Opened on Oct. 26, 2019, it is ranked as Billboard’s number one in the world in that size class. The arena’s namesake is the Texas-based clothing company Dickies. 

The neighboring 120-acre Will Rogers Campus is a major hub for equestrian and livestock shows. It is named for the famous cowboy actor and humorist Will Rogers, who was of Native American descent. A botanical garden, a number of art and history museums, and a planetarium, are also located on or near the campus.  

Venue Info

Dickies Arena
1911 Montgomery Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107  

There is a fee for parking. Directions and parking information can be found here.

Visit Fort Worth

Come for the World Cup Finals, but stay to tour Fort Worth too! There are intriguing and entertaining options for everyone in your family or friends group. Find information at the city’s tourism website, and a video listing top ten things to do in Fort Worth here. Find information about parking here.

Texans will proudly tell you the state is the second biggest in the USA after Alaska. Fort Worth is the fourth largest city in Texas behind Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. It is a city of contrasts, rich history and diverse cultural communities, each with their own heritage, art, music and culinary delights. Established in 1849 as a U.S. Army outpost along the Trinity River, there were several ebbs and flows in population over time, but today the city has over one million residents. When combined with neighboring Dallas, the Metroplex is the fourth most populous in the USA and the largest in Texas.

Fort Worth was a stop on the historic Chisholm Trail, a cattle drive and wagon route from south Texas up to Kansas where the cattle were sold and loaded onto rail cars to ship east. Eventually many meat packing companies established facilities in Fort Worth. With ranching, cattle drives and meat packing being big business there, the city earned its “Cowtown” moniker. The first commercial oil well in the Permian Basin was drilled in 1921. Although the Basin is four hours to the west, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is home to over 600 oil and gas company offices.  

Shopping opportunities in Fort Worth run the gamut from cowboy hats and boots to high-end luxury brands to art and antiques to treasure hunting in some really unique thrift stores. Dining options are equally diverse, ranging from premium steaks and Texas barbeque to Mexican and Tex-Mex to many other cultural cuisines from around the world.  

Dickies Arena and the Will Rogers Campus are located in the city’s Cultural District, which is home to a number of impressive art and history museums, a botanical garden and a planetarium, as well as Casa Mañana Theater. Many of the art museums offer free admission to their regular exhibits. The Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, the Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Fort Worth Zoo are all a 10-20 minute drive away from the Cultural District. Find details here. 

World Cup attendees should not miss the chance to immerse themselves in Western history in the Stockyards District, where the Fort Worth Herd conducts twice-daily cattle drives free for public viewing. Also in the Stockyards are the John Wayne Experience and the Historic Stockyards Museum. Stroll Mule Alley, where you’ll find shops and restaurants occupying what was once a large mule barn and is now home to the American Paint Horse Association headquarters, with its famed Paint Horse statues on display. Follow history markers on a walking tour around the area. In the evening visit one of the Stockyard’s many saloons or the world’s biggest honky-tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas. Find more information here.  

Fort Worth Herd features twice-daily live cattle drives in the Historic Stockyards District. Admission is free. Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Worth

One of the most impressive sites in the Fort Worth is the stunning Water Gardens located near the Fort Worth Convention Center downtown. Also in the downtown/Sundance Square area are many shops, restaurants, theaters, the Sid Richardson Western Art Museum (free admission), and the Bass Performance Hall. Sundance Square is a walkable, 37-square-block area with many fountains, outdoor gathering areas, murals and art galleries. There is a free downtown circulator bus and a bike share program to help visitors explore downtown. Discover more about the area here.

This is just scratching the surface of things to do and see in Fort Worth. Among other things, visitors can tour one of only two U.S. Government Bureau of Engraving and Printing currency production sites in the country where paper money is printed. The Fort Worth Zoo has over 500 species of animals, including over 60 endangered species, and a water park.  

If sports beyond equestrian are of interest, Fort Worth has a number of golf courses as well as the Texas Motor Speedway, where on April 11 you can try your hand at driving on the track in the NASCAR Racing Experience. A short drive away in Arlington, the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team will play home games on April 7 and 8. If you stick around a few more days, Lone Star Park begins its Thoroughbred racing meet on April 16 in nearby Grand Prairie.

Fort Worth Travel Tips

Closest Airport 

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (airport code DFW) is an easy drive to and from Dickies Arena, although depending on the time of day, allow around 35-50 minutes to make the trip.  

DFW is a large international airport offering many amenities and multiple flights landing daily from around the world. The airport ranked third in global traffic volume in 2024 behind Atlanta, Ga. (USA), and Dubai. They have a tram (Skylink) that takes passengers from terminal to terminal. There are both public and private transportation options from DFW to Fort Worth and Dickies Arena.  

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
2400 Aviation Drive
DFW Airport, Texas 75261 USA 

On the DFW website, you can find links to an airport map, driving directions, and information on public (train/tram/bus from DFW to Fort Worth) and private transportation (taxis, rental cars, for-hire airport shuttle services that will take you to Fort Worth). Ride share companies Uber and Lyft operate in the area as well.  

Another useful transportation planning tool is Rome2Rio, which provides options and price estimates. Find more info here.

Housing Options

Official World Cup partner hotels are offering discounted rates. Find out more here.

If these hotels are full, there are many other hotels and rental properties to choose from in Fort Worth. Search hotel or rental property booking sites and use these key words for housing close to the World Cup venue: Dickies Arena; Fort Worth Cultural District; Will Rogers Memorial Center; Texas Christian University (TCU); Fort Worth Medical Center.  

(Note that the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards are a bit farther away, although still within seven miles of Dickies Arena. As with any big city, keep rush hour traffic in mind when planning travel times to the venue.) 

Weather

Spring is a great time to visit Fort Worth; it is before the heat of summer yet warmer than much of Europe and North America during that time. Average daytime high temperature in April in Fort Worth is about 75°Fahrenheit (23.9 C). Average nighttime low temperature in April in Fort Worth is about 56.7°F (13.7°C). On average it rains about 13 days out of 30 in April in Fort Worth—though spring thunderstorms in North Texas can be severe. There will be about 12.5 daylight hours in Fort Worth during the World Cup Finals and a UV index of around 3 is common (moderate risk).  

Don’t Miss the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth!

The 2026 FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals in Fort Worth are a chance to see the best horses and riders in the world here on U.S. soil and get a sneak peek of the race toward the 2028 LA Olympic equestrian competition. Combine that with all there is to see and do in the fascinating and vibrant Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and it’s a vacation and a half with a bow on top!  

This article about the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth are a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Preview of the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The Gaucho Derby—deemed the “greatest test of horsemanship on Earth”—challenges riders’ wilderness survival and navigational skills as they race through of a network of estancias in the wilds of Patagonia (not to mention the test of camping outside each night).   

And for those brave enough to attempt it, these races are life-changing.

How Jessie Dowling’s Derby Preparation Began

In 2022, 40-year-old Jessie Dowling, an industrious cheesemaker and dairy farmer in Whitefield, Maine, was listening to a podcast while milking sheep and goats—unaware that soon she would embark on her own life-changing adventure, competing in the 2023 Mongol Derby.  

As president of the Maine Cheese Guild and owner of Fuzzy Udder Creamery, Dowling’s schedule was grueling. The pandemic forced her to think about where her life was going as a farmer and her happiness. She began spending more time with her horses—riding, training, attending clinics—and listening to podcasts.  

“I had heard of the Mongol Derby but thought it was for professional riders—I’m a backyard rider” Dowling says. “But on Warwick Schiller’s podcast, Stevie Delahunt talked about signing up for her Mongol Derby boot camp in Oregon—and I decided to do it.”

Dowling applied for the Mongol Derby, trained with endurance riders in Maine, completed her first limited-distance ride in 2022, and interviewed for the Mongol Derby the following day. “I told them I completed my first distance ride, was signed up for the Mongol boot camp, and they said I was in.”  

“I had zero endurance riding experience,” Dowling says. “I arrive at boot camp in Oregon; Warwick Schiller is there training for the Gaucho Derby. I went from listening to his podcasts in my milking parlor to riding Arabians with him.”

Falling in love with Arabians in the process, Dowling immediately acquired an Arabian gelding, Jelly Bean, as her new Mongol Derby training partner. “He has taught me so much about staying present, reading a horse’s energy, and regulating my energy.” 

Jessie Dowling and Jelly Bean. Photo by Julie Maddock

Her year-long Derby preparation included running, yoga, completing farm chores wearing a hydration pack, using a balance board to strengthen muscles, and a three-day intensive riding clinic with Solange Ellis. “She totally changed how I ride with biomechanic adjustments—sitting a gallop and riding in stable positions for long periods.”

The Mongolian steppe is covered with little marmot holes. “I learned how to sit back as the horse falls into a marmot hole, picks themselves up, and keeps going,” Dowling says. She also learned to ride Western and fast over all terrain. “You’re galloping for miles at a time.”   

In addition to improving these various riding skills, Dowling took Mongolian language lessons and carefully planned her gear.

“You’re only allowed 11 pounds,” Dowling says. “I had a little saddle bag, a hydration pack, med kit, water purification tablets, snacks, two sets of clothes, rain gear, and comfortable hiking shoes.” She traveled to Mongolia and arrived at the starting line.  

The Adventure Begins

“On an average day, the topography changes a lot—mountains, lakes, rivers, rolling hills, grasslands,” Dowling says. “You pass freely roaming cows, sheep, goats, horses, a herd of camels.”  

Dowling gallops past a herd of sheep and goats. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

Riding 12 hours a day works up an appetite. There’s no Panera along the route; Dowling quickly adapted to the local food provided by host families at the urtuu—the horse stations. “The diet is one of the hardest parts,” Dowling says. “They eat parts of the sheep that we don’t normally eat—intestines or sheep face.” She often snacked on traditional meat pies throughout the day.  

The race rules are strictly enforced, prioritizing the horses’ well-being and the riders’ safety. “Race hours start at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. If you arrive at a horse station by 7 p.m., you give your horse back to the herder, enjoy some food, and sleep in a ger. But if it’s 5 p.m. and you realize you can’t make it to the next station by 7 p.m., you must find a random ger to stay in. But hospitality is huge in Mongolian culture—they usually invite you to stay and feed you if you show up at a ger.” 

Dowling and fellow riders enjoy dinner with a Mongolian family in a traditional ger. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

On day five, Dowling came off her horse while attempting to put on a rain jacket. She was unable to get back on her flighty mount. “We were walking and walking; I couldn’t find a ger,” Dowling says. “I had to stop at 7 p.m. or else get penalized. So I watched the sunset with my horse; it was beautiful.” She messaged the vet who came to complete the required check on her horse, who she helped Dowling get water and find a ger to stay in that night. Per race rules, Dowling incurred a 2-hour penalty for receiving assistance.  

You Get the Derby You Need

A network of Mongolian herders provide hundreds of horses for the race. 

“You ride 29 different horses during the race,” Dowling says. “It’s a lottery which horse you get. Each horse goes 40 km (25 miles). At each horse station, a vet checks the horse’s heart rate. It must come down to 56 bpm within a half hour. They have the highest standards of ethical welfare for a horse. The vet checks the horse’s gut sounds and gait. A rider gets penalized if there’s any problem with the horse. You can’t override your horse. The race taught me how to rate a horse—a horse will help you know its fitness if you really listen to it.”  

At horse station 2, Dowling kisses her horse goodbye, returning him to his proud owner. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

Horse’s temperaments are another challenge many riders face during the journey, but this was an area in which Dowling shined.

“Some had trouble with their horse being spicy, but my superpower is that I love every horse I come across” Dowling says. “So, I would just take a deep breath, tell them that I loved them, find the spot they liked to be scratched, and connect with them.”

Dowling lets her horse stop for a drink on day three. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

As for expectations, be prepared to be humbled. 

“People say you don’t get the Derby you want—you get the Derby you need,” Dowling says. Although she never reached her breaking point, day eight came close. “It’s mostly geldings—just a handful of stallions. On day eight, I pulled a stallion. Never riding a stallion before, I was a bit nervous. I headed out with other riders, tried to keep up, but he kept going slower. It was like he had never cantered before. Then we were down to a slow trot. Then a walk. I’m now the last rider. And if you get too far behind, you’ll get kicked out of the race.

“So I arrive at the only town on the race, and after eating boiled mutton face for a week, I had hopes of joining other riders at a café for chips and a beer… no other riders were there. Then my stallion would not walk over the bridge leaving town. An interpreter nearby helped by leading me across the bridge like I was on a pony ride. And he takes a picture. It was so embarrassing.

“At the next station, my horse checks out fine. I check the hospitality ger—all the food is gone. I just burst into tears. I took a deep breath, headed out to the horse line, and I picked number five. The herder had been waiting for someone to pick his prized horse all day. And I end up getting on the fastest horse! And that boy and I went straight out, galloping across the desert steppe, passed other riders, arrived at the next station less than two hours later, and I was back in the race.”

 Talk about getting the Derby you need.

“That day was the worst and best part of the race,” Dowling says. “I was hungry, demoralized, tired—but never gave up.” 

Leaving station 28, Jessie gallops across the Mongolian steppe towards the finish line. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

Forty-three riders started the race, only 25 finished, and Dowling placed 13th. She says the experience was life-changing. “I went from an intermediate rider to an advanced rider. Spending 12 hours a day in the saddle on difficult horses, I feel light years ahead in my riding,” Dowling says. “So I got home. The next week, our farm’s cheese wins Best in Show at the Maine Cheese Festival, but I felt hollow inside. I realized this wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore.” 

She promptly sold her business to pursue an equestrian career full-time—with zero regrets.

Dowling accepts ceremonial milk at the finish line. Photo courtesy The Equestrianists

Dowling celebrated by riding the Tevis Cup—a 100-mile, one-day race in California. She opened Iron Ledge Farm, offering lessons and endurance training. Dowling visited Argentina to start training for her next adventure—the Gaucho Derby, which runs from February 18 to 28, 2026. Because the Gaucho Derby involves camping along the route, Dowling is figuring out how to pack a tent, stove, camping gear, and riding essentials in a saddle bag weighing no more than 22 pounds. “The Mongol Derby is the longest race in the world, but the Gaucho Derby has been called the toughest.”  

 And if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s Jessie Dowling.

Learn more about Jessie Dowling and her equine adventures by visiting ironledgefarm.com and following her on Facebook.   

This article about Jessie Dowling’s Mongol Derby is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How Jessie Dowling’s Mongol Derby Adventure Paved the Way to More appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Hagyard is dedicated to providing the highest level of care through its consistent development and adoption of advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities. This commitment is exemplified by pioneering imaging techniques like the full PET scan in partnership with Churchill Downs, offering a more efficient alternative to traditional methods for precise and timely diagnoses. Hagyard also accepts referrals from equine veterinarians nationwide, ensuring broad access to its innovative treatments for horses of all types.

CareCredit’s commitment to expanding access to care, through finance solutions that help clients manage the costs associated with advanced veterinary services, has directly contributed to improved client retention for Hagyard. Hagyard clients utilize the CareCredit health and wellness credit card for critical procedures like colic surgery and advanced imaging services, notably MRI, supporting horse owners in pursuing comprehensive care. This enhanced accessibility and broader range of options are particularly impactful in retaining clients during the transition from field care to in-clinic services for advanced diagnostics and emergency/critical care.

“Hagyard is incredibly proud of its 150-year history and dedication to innovation in the equine industry,” said Ken Ford, CEO, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of veterinary medicine is deeply intertwined with the support of partners like CareCredit. Their financial solutions empower horse owners to access the cutting-edge treatments we offer, ensuring the best possible outcomes for their horses.”

Synchrony’s commitment to the equine industry extends beyond financing solutions, as it actively engages in research to inform horse owners about the true costs of care, highlighted in its Equine Lifetime of Care study. This research reveals that while many horse owners believe they are financially prepared, actual lifetime costs can significantly exceed expectations, particularly for unexpected veterinary needs such as colic or orthopedic injuries, which can range up to $10,000.

“At Synchrony, we are deeply committed to supporting innovation in the equine veterinary space,” said Boo Larsen, General Manager of Veterinary Industry, Synchrony. “Our partnership with Hagyard exemplifies this dedication, helping to enable horse owners to say ‘yes’ to innovative care. By providing flexible financing options, we empower veterinarians to deliver the highest quality of care and ensure horses receive the treatments they deserve.”

For more than 35 years, CareCredit has been a valuable financing option for all types of veterinary services, treatments, and diagnostics at locations in its network, giving animal caregivers peace of mind that they are ready to care for their animals throughout their lifetime. CareCredit is accepted at more than 27,000 veterinary practices and all public university veterinary schools in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.carecredit.com.

— Edited Press Release

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