The Royal Windsor Horse Show premieres today Wednesday, May the 9th on the grounds of Windsor Castle in Great Britain. This event, which plays host to a multitude of equestrian disciplines, is widely known for its thrilling CSI5* show jumping competition and this year’s rider list does not disappoint.
The weekend offers a variety of classes for show jumpers of all levels, leading up to the big prize money classes on Sunday. Early in the day is the CSI5* Palm Speed Stakes, followed by the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix later that afternoon. We’ve got the details on who will be representing their country in this battle royale.
Equestrian legend and Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa is stepping up to the plate for his home country of Brazil. Pessoa is bringing two of his incredible athletes to England with him, Chaganus and Jordan II. Pessoa guided Chaganus to the win earlier this year in one of the CSI2* Grands Prix in Florida. Will the duo be able to replicate those results on royal ground?
Canada is sending two of its top players, Tiffany Foster and Eric Lamaze. Foster has spent the year traveling between Wellington, Florida and Eschweiler, Germany, while Lamaze, her teacher, has seen a handful of podium finishes all over the globe so far in 2018. Lamaze is no stranger to success, with a collection of Olympic and World Championship medals under his belt.
Ben Maher and his student Emily Moffit are another student/teacher team that will be competing on the Windsor Castle grounds. Both Maher and Moffit have had an immense amount of success while traveling with the Longines Global Champions Tour. Maher currently holds the number two spot for the LGCT circuit and he and Moffit’s team, the London Knights, is ranked number one in the Global Champions League. Will their superstar mounts owned by Poden Farms rise to the occasion yet again?
Representing the United States is a trio of riders with impressive resumes including Longines world number two rider Kent Farrington, who has been recovering from an injury. Farrington recently shared this video on Instagram to help pump his fans up for his performance at Windsor.
Joining Farrington on the international stage are Lauren Hough and Laura Kraut. Hough and Kraut are ranked 37th and 31st, respectively, on the Longines world rankings and have both seen finishes in the money for season 2018. Ironically enough, one of Kraut’s mounts for Windsor shows under the name “Hello Guv’nor.” Will the festively appropriate name bring Kraut some good luck in the British arena?
A full list of riders can be found below:
Bahrain
Khalid Hital Al Khatri
Belgium
Francois Mathy JR
Wilm Vermeier
Brazil
Yuri Mansur
Rodrigo Pessoa
Canada
Tiffany Foster
Eric Lamaze
France
Olivier Robert
Kevin Staut
Germany
Daniel Deusser
Great Britain
Scott Brash
William Funnell
Ben Maher
Emily Moffitt
Laura Renwick
Robert Smith
John Whitaker
Robert Whitaker
William Whitaker
Guy Williams
Ireland
Bertram Allen
Denis Lynch
Peter Moloney
Cian O’Conner
Israel
Daniel Bluman
Italy
Lorenzo De Luca
Emanuele Guidiano
Alberto Zorzi
Sweden
Peder Fredricson
Switzerland
Steve Guerdat
Janika Sprunger
United States of America
Kent Farrington
Lauren Hough
Lara Kraut
Go Jumping!