How Kent Farrington Reclaimed the World's No. 1 Ranking in Show Jumping

Farrington’s career is defined by various developmental stages and victories. No two feel the same. “CHI Geneva has an incredible crowd and atmosphere, and it feels like the culmination of the season,” he says. “The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final feels like our all-star game. It’s a celebration of the best riders in the world. Simply qualifying is already an accomplishment. Winning it was very meaningful because it represents being among the very best at that moment.” 

Critical to Farrington’s success are the relationships with his horses—including Greya, Diakatisa, Descartes SR, and Toulayna—which are built upon trust. “Early in my career, most of the horses I had had come off the racetrack. They had never jumped before, so I introduced them to their first fences and gradually developed them up to the highest levels,” he says. “That process taught me patience and gave me a deep understanding of how to build a horse, step by step.”  

“Later, that evolved into identifying talented young horses and producing them to championship level,” he continues. This was a process of commitment and collaboration. “Show jumping is the ultimate team sport. The better you know your teammate, the better you can perform together. That understanding only comes from time, consistency and building trust over years.” 

Though he acknowledges that the horse is the ultimate athlete, Farrington credits the efforts of his team behind the scenes for achieving peak condition. “Each person who takes care of the horses is critical,” he says. “Grooms, vets, farriers, and nutrition specialists all play essential roles. Every horse is different, so understanding their physical needs, their mental well-being and keeping them motivated is a constant process. The people who care for them every day are fundamental.” 

Throughout his extensive career, Farrington has competed internationally on dozens of different horses, including nine during his record-breaking 2024 season. The gray Oldenburg mare Greya was an ideal partner for the Rolex Grand Prix at La Baule. “That was a big win for me for a couple of reasons,” he says. “Firstly, it was my first international win with Greya, and secondly, it was her first Rolex Grand Prix win too. It was also the first year of the Rolex Series, so we started it off right and I’m proud to have been part of that.” 

Farrington officially took over the reins of Greya in 2021. “Greya is an exceptional athlete,” he adds. “Sometimes a horse of that quality can lift the rider in difficult moments. If I do not ride my best round, she is often capable of compensating for that. Having a horse like that builds confidence. And confidence builds further confidence. When you experience success with a horse like Greya, it carries through to the rest of your horses and strengthens you, as both a rider and a competitor.” 

Top Left and Right Courtesy of Rolex/Ashley Neuhof, Bottom Courtesy of Rolex/Thomas Lovelock

In 2014, the same year Farrington took a Team Bronze medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games, he became a Rolex Testimonee. Ten years later, the Crown launched the Rolex Series, a unification of seven of the most prestigious, historic equestrian competitions in the world. “Rolex elevates any sport and ours is no exception,” Farrington says. “The Rolex Series is something that brings together iconic venues and great competition, with the world’s best riders and horses. All of those shows are difficult to win, as the level of competition is extremely high.” 

In June of the inaugural Rolex Series year, Farrington and Greya won the CSIO Jumping International de la Baule. “I am happy to have my name on that wall,” he says. “Show jumping is a global sport, and we really travel the world with these horses—different settings suit different horses, but we have an enthusiastic crowd wherever we go. The crowd at Jumping International de La Baule – Officiel de France is one of the best, and being there on the beach in early summer is a great start to the season.”  

When Farrington won the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,000 people, he altered the history of the sport. Prior to his victory, an American had not ascended to the top spot in seven years. It was particularly meaningful that it happened at home. Farrington, who has won more five-star grands prix than any other rider in the past decade, acknowledges that Rolex elevates the equestrian world. “Being included among riders who have shaped the sport historically and those who are defining it today is something we all take pride in,” he concludes. “It’s an achievement and adds a sense of responsibility to represent the sport at the highest level.”  

With more than 2,667 starts, 292 wins, and a reputation as one of the fastest riders on the international circuit with remarkable precision, Farrington has cemented his position not only as one of the sport’s most decorated show jumpers, but also as one of its most influential equestrian athletes worldwide. And yet, his most obvious pursuit is one of even further refinement.