Draw complete at FEI World Cup Final

The United States will lead the way in front of a home crowd Thursday as competition kicks off at the FEI World Cup™ Finals, with the draw complete, it's almost go time in in Fort Worth, Texas. 

All 54 horses - 36 slated for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and 16 for the Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final - passed inspection at the spectacular Dickies Arena Tuesday, with no one needing to appear for re-inspection.

At Wednesday evening’s draw in downtown Fort Worth, Aaron Vale (USA) and Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) were selected as the leadoff athletes in their respective jumping and dressage competitions.

A different kind of touchdown will be scored this week in Texas, one of the most popular states in the country for the sport of American football.

Patrik Kittel (SWE) and the 14-year-old gelding Touchdown will look to capture their second Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final victory after taking the title at Riyadh in 2024. The experienced Touchdown will be competing in his fourth global championship, having also contested the 2024 Paris Olympics (FRA) and 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN). He will trot down centerline 13th in the order in Thursday’s FEI Grand Prix test.

Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb also boast championship experience, having brought home a team bronze medal from the Paris Olympics (FRA), but the pair will make their first World Cup Finals appearance in Fort Worth. They drew the 14th position in the order.

The American contingent received mostly early draws, with Kevin Kohmann and Ben Ebeling set to come forward third and fourth with Duenensee and Ballena, respectively. This will mark Kohmann and Duenensee’s third consecutive appearance at these Finals.

But it’s 23-year-old Christian Simonson that may hold the greatest hope for the home nation. He and the 13-year-old stallion Indian Rock were victorious in three qualifiers on the North American League and have won six straight events leading up to their Fort Worth venture; the partnership drew ninth in the order in their championship debut.

Mendoza Loor will complete the first test of the evening with Jewel’s Goldstrike after earning a place at the Finals based off his FEI Dressage World Ranking, while Raphael Netz (GER) and DSP Dieudonne will finalise the standings as the final and 18th combination to compete. 

With 13 nations represented, dressage action will take place as Thursday’s primetime event, with at 7pm CST start. Becky Moody rides her Grand Prix test at 21.13pm local time, and 3.13am British time. 

The FEI World Cup Finals run 8-12 April at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

TIMES AND RESULTS