<p dir="ltr">The EquiRatings Elo rating is a data-driven objective horse rating system that tracks how strong a horse&rsquo;s results are over time. Traditional ranking only focuses on who finishes at the top of the leaderboard on a particular day while the Elo analyses career competitiveness.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It measures:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">A horse&rsquo;s long-term consistency</li>
<li dir="ltr">How competitively a horse is performing</li>
<li dir="ltr">The quality of opponents it is beating</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Higher ratings reflect better performance against stronger opponents.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">How is Elo calculated?</h2>
<p dir="ltr">It works like this:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Points Exchange: </strong>Points are exchanged after each competition; you gain more points for beating higher-rated opponents and lose more for losing to lower-rated ones.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Rating Updates:</strong> A horse that consistently beats higher-rated opponents climbs steadily. One that underperforms against weaker fields gradually declines.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Focus on Quality:</strong> It rewards strong performances in tough fields, not just placings, giving a better picture of true competitive strength.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Predictive Power:</strong> Higher Elo ratings correlate with a greater probability of future success, making it a key indicator for predicting outcomes.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>The result: </strong>ratings naturally converge toward each horse's true competitive level. A young horse that strings together strong performances against quality fields rises quickly. An aging champion that starts finishing mid-division sees their rating adjust accordingly.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Elo in Eventing</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In eventing, every horse starts their international career on an EquiRatings Elo rating of 300. As the number changes throughout their career, it identifies horses who are consistently performing well against good opponents.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-current" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current top Elo-rated</a> event horse is <strong>fischerChipmunk FRH </strong>on 933. The <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all-time record</a> is an Elo of 973 reached by <strong>La Biosthetique-Sam FBW</strong> in 2017. Both horses are ridden by Germany&rsquo;s Michael Jung.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/e6071688-28d4-42d6-a282-1a0bc72a64f2.png?width=2043&amp;height=861" alt="Screenshot 2026 03 03 174552"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Elo in Jumping</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In show jumping, every horse begins their international career with a rating just over 500.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Like in eventing, the changing numbers identify horses who are performing well. However, given the frequency at which the horses compete in this discipline, and the varying competitions and series, it creates a far greater and more relevant list.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ridden by Sweden&rsquo;s<strong> Henrick von Eckermann</strong>, <strong>King Edward</strong> is <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/jumping-current" target="_blank" rel="noopener">currently the highest Elo-rated</a> jumping horse on 813. He also holds the<a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/jumping-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> all-time record</a> of 822, achieved in 2024.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/jumping-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cd02ea6c-da05-489f-ae8b-bda34652149c.png?width=2049&amp;height=1087" alt="Screenshot 2026 03 03 174519"></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Elo within the EquiRatings Ecosystem</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The Elo rating is just one of EquiRatings' metrics. Understanding how it differs from other metrics helps clarify its purpose:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Elo</strong>&nbsp;tracks long-term consistency and ranking providing an overall assessment of a horse&rsquo;s competitive level across time.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>HPR (High Performance Rating) </strong>measures the quality of one specific performance - essentially "how impressive was that particular ride?"</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>ERQI (EquiRatings Quality Index)</strong> focuses on risk management, calculating the probability of a horse completing cross-country safely based on historical data.</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">Each metric serves a distinct purpose. The Elo Rating reveals sustained excellence, HPR isolates individual brilliance, and ERQI assesses safety profiles.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Did you know?</strong></h2>
<p>At EquiRatings, we rate every single horse and every single performance in international eventing. Whether you&rsquo;re seeking a young prospect with championship potential or a proven performer ready for the next step, data-driven insights help reveal future stars long before the rest of the world catches on.</p>
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<p>Look back over the past decade and a clear pattern emerges: for most horses, victory in the Week 9 Grand Prix is not the final chapter, it is the first big line on the r&eacute;sum&eacute;. &nbsp;Eight of the last ten winning horses were taking either their first‑ever CSI5* Grand Prix when they crossed the timers in Wellington, with Daniel Bluman&rsquo;s Ladriano Z the lone exception as a proven five‑star champion returning to win the class twice.&nbsp;</p>
<p>From Carrabis Z in 2016 to Portobella van de Fruitkorf in 2025, Week 9 has consistently crowned combinations who were still writing the opening pages of their top‑level story.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/6bca0e89-9583-41f7-9b7d-5aa627ed8465.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wef 26   Grid Posts"></p>
<h1>When a First Win Becomes a Beginning</h1>
<h3>Luciana Lossio and Lady Louise Jmen: Defying the Odds on Debut</h3>
<p>When Luciana Lossio rode through the in‑gate for the Week 9 Grand Prix in 2024, she and Lady Louise Jmen were not just chasing their first CSI5* win, they were jumping their very first CSI5* 160 Grand Prix together, full stop. In a sport where only around 4% of international horses ever reach that level, simply appearing in this class is rare; converting that debut into a victory is almost unheard of.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Only 47% of horses that attempt CSI5* 160 will ever jump a clear at the height, and just 1% manage to win on their five‑star 160 debut, which gives some sense of the statistical improbability of what Lossio and Lady Louise Jmen achieved. Against that backdrop, their clear, winning performance did more than upset the form book, it perfectly captured Week 9&rsquo;s reputation as the place where brand‑new five‑star partnerships announce themselves to the sport.</p>
<h3>Emilie Conter &amp; Portobella van de Fruitkorf: From Breakthrough to Belgian Backbone</h3>
<p>When Emilie Conter and Portobella van de Fruitkorf won the Week 9 Grand Prix twelve months later, it was also framed as a breakthrough: a first CSI5* Grand Prix victory for a young rider&ndash;mare partnership stepping out against one of the strongest fields of the season. That result has since proved to be a starting point rather than an end point. In the twelve months that followed, Portobella has become an integral part of the Belgian set‑up, helping Team Belgium to three podium finishes in five‑star team competitions at LLN Ocala, the Nations Cup of Aachen and the Nations Cup of Sankt Gallen.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Along the way, they underlined their big‑occasion credentials with a clear round in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, one of the most prestigious 160 tests in the sport. Back in Wellington this winter, Conter and Portobella have picked up exactly where they left off, opening 2026 with a Top 10 finish in the $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix during WEF 5 and reminding everyone that last year&rsquo;s Week 9 win was the launch of a top‑level career, not a one‑night surprise.</p>
<h1><br>From breakthrough to serial winner&nbsp;</h1>
<p>&nbsp;<br>Week 9 has also played a different role for riders who were already established but still on the cusp of something bigger. &nbsp;</p>
<h3>Abdel Sa&iuml;d &amp; his Week 9 Double</h3>
<p>Now riding for Belgium, Abdel Sa&iuml;d is the only rider in the past decade to have won the Week 9 Grand Prix twice, and he did it by giving two different horses their first taste of five‑star glory. With Pegasus Bandit Savoie in 2021 and Arpege du Ru in 2022, Sa&iuml;d rode both horses to their first‑ever CSI5* Grand Prix victories under the Wellington lights, adding to a five‑star record that already included his 2016 World Cup win in Verona with Hope van Scherpen Donder.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Pegasus Bandit Savoie confirmed that breakthrough by winning another CSI5* Grand Prix later that same year before continuing his career under France&rsquo;s Ines Joly, while Arpege du Ru went on to add further big‑tour results to Sa&iuml;d&rsquo;s r&eacute;sum&eacute;. Taken together, his Week 9 record reads less like a pair of isolated Wellington upsets and more like the calling card of a rider who repeatedly turns talented, relatively unproven horses into five‑star Grand Prix winners.</p>
<h3><br>Daniel Coyle &amp; Cita: a first win that unlocked eight more</h3>
<p>When Daniel Coyle won the Week 9 Grand Prix in 2018 with Cita, it was the first CSI5* Grand Prix victory of his career and an early sign that he was ready to live in five‑star company. Since that night in Wellington, he has added eight more CSI5* Grand Prix or World Cup wins across North America and Europe, including major titles such as the Longines FEI World Cup legs in Toronto, Leipzig and Amsterdam with Legacy, the Grand Prix of Rotterdam and Thermal, and the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows with Incredible.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That body of work has carried Coyle into the elite bracket of the sport; as of the latest Longines FEI Jumping Rankings, he now sits inside the world&rsquo;s top 10 riders. Looking back, his Week 9 breakthrough reads like the first clear indication that a future Top 10 rider was being forged under the Wellington lights.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1><br>A Proven Winner with a New Partner</h1>
<p>The Week 9 roll of honor is not only about first‑timers. Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z are proof that seasoned five‑star winners can make this Grand Prix their own, having lifted the trophy twice together and setting the benchmark for repeat success under the Wellington lights. Their double adds an important counterpoint to the recent trend of emerging partnerships taking breakthrough wins here and shows that experience can be just as decisive as momentum.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although Ladriano Z has since retired from top‑level sport, Bluman arrives in 2026 with another serious contender in Corbie V.V., who has jumped clear in eight of his last nine five‑star Grand Prix and World Cup starts. With that kind of current form, Bluman looks well placed to chase a new chapter in his Week 9 story, this time with a different horse.</p>
<h1><br>The Next Chapter in a Two‑Track Tradition</h1>
<p>Put together, the last ten years of Week 9 tell a nuanced story. This is a Grand Prix where first‑time five‑star winners regularly launch themselves onto the big stage, yet proven championship horses can still come back and win it again. As another edition approaches, the question is not whether history will repeat itself, but which version of the Week 9 script, breakthrough or confirmation, will play out under the lights this time.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>For more insights in the five-star during WEF Week 9 visit the Fan Guide here.</p>

A Springboard Under the Lights: How Week 9 Has Launched Five‑Star Careers

<h3><strong>Bruce's Field, Aiken, SC | February 27 &ndash; March 1, 2026</strong></h3>
<p>There is no better way to kick off the eventing season than the $100,000 LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Showcase presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. This calendar staple returns to Bruce&rsquo;s Field in Aiken this weekend, drawing some of the most exciting horse-and-rider combinations in the country to compete for one of the richest prize funds in the eventing calendar.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a style="display: block; width: 300px; background-color: #9b1c31; color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; padding: 12px 24px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto;" href="https://equiratings.info/gpeshowcase2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check Out the Fan Guide</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>What It Takes to Win</h2>
<p>Previous editions tells a clear story: Every winner since 2019 has come from the top three after dressage, and only once has a winner scored in the 30s in the first phase (<strong>Liz Halliday</strong> with <strong>De Niro Z </strong>in 2020).</p>
<p>The average dressage score of a Showcase winner is 25.2, and the average winning score is 26.3. The record finish, set last year, stands at 19.7.</p>
<p>No winner has ever knocked a rail in the show jumping. Six of the seven show jumping leaders have gone on to win the event.</p>
<p>The one exception?&nbsp;<strong>Doug Payne,</strong> who picked up XC time faults that proved too costly. Only 10% of starters&nbsp; (23 from nearly 250) have managed to finish on their dressage score.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/87a10ff4-3bcf-4ea6-acbf-ef2fd49390c0.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Dressage Phase (Friday, February 27)</h2>
<div style="overflow: hidden;"><img style="float: right; margin: 24px 0 16px 24px; max-width: 280px;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/1890f615-a1d9-4023-a850-f751274979ea.png?width=732&amp;height=1134" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken (8)">
<p>Based on the <strong>EquiRatings 6RA</strong> (the average of the combinations last 6 international tests), the best dressage horses in the field are&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Monica Spencer</strong> and <strong>Artist - </strong>26.9</li>
<li><strong>Boyd Martin&nbsp;</strong>and <strong>Commando 3</strong> - 27.6</li>
<li><strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> and <strong>HSH Connor</strong> - 28.9</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> and <strong>Denim</strong> (30.2) and<strong> Lauren Nicholson's Landmark's Jungle Gold </strong>(30.9) also have the ability to produce scores that could keep them in contention.</p>
<p>The score to beat?</p>
<p><strong>Will Coleman</strong> set the Showcase dressage record last year with a 17.3 aboard <strong>Chin Tonic HS.</strong> Coleman returns this year with Fahrenheit Addict.</p>
</div>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Show Jumping Phase (Friday, February 27)</h2>
<p>Show jumping will take place on Friday afternoon and it has a strong influence on the final result. The arena has a huge atmosphere, surrounded by a big crowd and the VIP tent. This kind of atmosphere can be difficult for younger or fresh horses, especially as the fixture is so early in the season. To top it off, it is is always a difficult and up-to-height course.&nbsp;<br><br>The all-time clear rate here is 32%, meaning keeping the poles up is far from guaranteed.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cd715cca-265e-487b-b73d-219da7d878f4.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken (1)"></p>
<p>To find the best showjumpers in the field, each horse is ranked using three numbers.&nbsp;First, each horse&rsquo;s average jumping penalties from their last six FEI runs. That figure is then compared to the average penalties recorded by all competitors over those same courses, to reflect how difficult the tracks were.&nbsp;The final number adjusts the horse&rsquo;s average against the course average. The lower the figure, the better. It shows a horse jumping better than the overall level of difficulty would suggest.</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>Sportsfield Lumiere &amp; Hayley Frielick (-3.9)</strong></li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>HSH Connor &amp; Caroline Pamukcu (-3.6)</strong></li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;"><strong>Imprerio Magic &amp; Mary Bess Davis (-3.5)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/fc1d94a5-baac-41de-b784-4115eed17c54.png?width=864&amp;height=1183" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken (9)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Cross Country Phase (Saturday, March 1)</h2>
<div style="overflow: hidden;"><img style="float: right; margin: 24px 0 16px 24px; max-width: 280px;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/94d6cf2d-f4da-4bc2-a4a6-e01ce00c7ace.png?width=577&amp;height=1131" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken (6)">
<p>Bruce's Field is compact, atmospheric, and unlike anywhere else on the eventing circuit. Fences are jumped almost on top of spectators. The galloping lanes are tight. There is no room to settle into a rhythm... it is off the turn and you are going.</p>
<p>That type of course rewards horses that are quick-footed and rideable over big-moving gallopers who need time and space to find their stride.</p>
<p>The fastest horses in the field, based on the EquiRatings <strong>Top Speed Percentage (TSP):</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Humble Glory and Sophia Hill (96%)</strong> - Known for their elite speed, especially at 5* level. On their last start at Maryland 5*, they were one of just four combinations to finish inside the time.</li>
<li><strong>Fernhill Salt Lake and Waylon Roberts (95%)</strong> - At TerraNova CCI4*-S, the final US event of the 2025 season, they jumped clear inside the time &mdash; only the fifth combination to do so from 166 starters at that venue.</li>
<li><strong>HSH Double Sixteen and Caroline Pamukcu (94%)</strong> - Clear inside the time at Stable View&rsquo;s CCI4*-S in late September, they became just the second combination in the past five years to achieve the time.</li>
<li><strong>Commando 3 and Boyd Martin (91%)</strong> - This pair are the most established in the field and will likely head to the World Championships in Aachen in August. While they may not always catch the time, they are often very close and have a big enough cushion from their strong first two phases.</li>
</ul>
<p>Only 26% of combinations have ever jumped cross country clear within the time here. On average, a rider will finish 11 to 12 seconds over the time.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr></div>
<h2>Who Wins?</h2>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/e3c4f5d0-8536-4549-94d5-3996261f0b9f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2026 Socials Gpe Eventing Aiken (10)"></p>
<h3><strong>Sydney Elliott &amp; QC Diamantaire&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p>One of the Showcase's most consistent combination with three top-10 finishes but still to crack the podium.&nbsp;<strong>QC Diamantaire</strong> leads the win chance predictions at 19%, with a top-three chance of 40%. The horse is an accomplished show jumper, has good four-star experience, and Elliott is a measured, intelligent rider. The question is whether they can produce a dressage score competitive enough to give the cross country phase room to breathe.</p>
<h3><strong>Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Commando 3 </strong>was on the podium at both Kentucky and Maryland at five-star level last year. The thirteen-year-old can produce dressage in the mid-20s.<strong> </strong>He is also an excellent showjumper and was clear in his last four international show jumping rounds. <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> loves a big occasion, loves competing for prize money, and has won this event before. More importantly, <strong>Commando 3 </strong>fits the statistical profile of a Showcase winner almost perfectly: competitive dressage, reliable show jumping, and elite cross-country performance. On paper, this is his to lose... and he has two more rides in the field if lightning doesn't strike first time.</p>
<h3><strong>Monica Spencer &amp; Artist</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Artist</strong> leads the dressage ranking in the field. He scored a 23.7 at his last event (Maryland 5*) and is known for his thoroughbred speed. The question mark is the show jumping - he has had rails at recent national events, though he has also jumped clear rounds at this level before, including here in 2024. If he clears the poles, it is hard to see past him.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Connor</strong></h3>
<p>A wildcard.<strong> HSH Connor</strong> was second at Le Lion as a six-year-old. He won internationally four times on the bounce in 2023, and has jumped clear in his last eight international show jumping rounds. He has less four-star mileage than several others in the field, but what he has going for him is a sensible head in a spicy atmosphere, an excellent show jumping record, and a rider who is famously quick and competitive cross country. Pamukcu also has <strong>HSH Double Sixteen</strong> and <strong>King's Especiale</strong> in the field.</p>
<h3><strong>Will Coleman &amp; Fahrenheit Addict</strong></h3>
<p>The defending champion does not have <strong>Chin Tonic HS</strong> in tow this time. <strong>Fahrenheit Addict</strong> is one of his horse's coming up the levels. Coleman took his time introducing him to the four-star level last year and has been quietly building the partnership. His 6RA dressage (32.0) suggests he will not be leading after phase one although he could be in touching distance. Don't forget: this is Will Coleman riding! He knows how win here and he likes to win here.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Waylon Roberts &amp; Fernhill Salt Lake</strong></h3>
<p>Speed is Waylon Roberts' calling card, and Fernhill Salt Lake is rated as the second-fastest horse in the field for cross country (95% top speed percentage). The horse has solid four-star experience and Roberts has been one of the fastest riders across country at this venue in previous years. He is probably starting too far off the pace in dressage to win, but worth watching closely on cross country day/</p>
<p><a style="display: block; width: 300px; background-color: #9b1c31; color: #ffffff; font-weight: bold; padding: 12px 24px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto;" href="https://equiratings.info/gpeshowcase2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check Out the Fan Guide for More&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Stats &amp; Storylines </a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>How to Follow</h2>
<p>Live coverage streams on ClipMyHorse.TV throughout the weekend, with Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Sinead Maynard on commentary.</p>
<p>Dressage takes place Friday February 27, with show jumping to follow before cross country on Saturday March 1.</p>
<p>Stay tuned on the EquiRatings socials for more content about this year's $100,000 LiftMaster GPE Showcase!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 data-start="150" data-end="200">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="150" data-end="200"><strong data-start="157" data-end="200">Stay in the Loop on All Things Eventing</strong></h2>
<p class="" data-start="201" data-end="285">Get the latest predictions, key stats, and storylines delivered where you want them.</p>
<p class="" data-start="287" data-end="580">👉&nbsp;<strong data-start="290" data-end="316">Follow us on Instagram</strong>:&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/equiratingseventing" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="318" data-end="387">@equiratings_eventing</a></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

Boyd Martin & Commando 3 in the rain doing dressage

$100,000 LiftMaster GPE Showcase: Can Anyone Stop Boyd & Commando 3?

<p dir="ltr">Australia has combinations producing numbers strong enough to contend anywhere in the world. But just as importantly, there is depth forming beneath them. Championship experience sits alongside emerging talent, and the next generation is knocking at the door.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Aachen may be the headline but this season is about more than just one championship. It&rsquo;s about who is peaking now and which horses are being shaped to define the years ahead.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Here are eight horses worth following in 2026.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">World Championship Contenders</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vassily de Lassos (Elo: 730) Rider: Andrew Hoy</h3>
<div style="overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><img style="float: right; max-width: 40%; height: auto; margin: 0 0 1rem 1.5rem;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/484c2300-29cf-4a87-a84d-d99ee5a8c821.png?width=2045&amp;height=2126" alt="Elo Blog Insert">
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Vassily de Lassos</strong> is not just the highest-rated Australian horse, with a current Elo of 730; <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he is also the 13th highest-rated horse of all time</a>, thanks to his Elo peak of 846 in 2022. <strong>Andrew Hoy</strong> was on the bronze-medal team at the last World Championships held in Aachen back in 2006. Two decades on, he may have the chance to return to the venue with arguably the best horse of his career.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 17, Vassily is in the final chapter of his career, which makes 2026 feel all the more significant. With an Olympic bronze (Tokyo 2021), fourth place at the World Games (Tryon 2018), and three top-five finishes at Aachen CCI4*-S to his name, if Australia wants to head to Aachen with ambition, this is a combination that has to be in the conversation.</p>
</div>
<h3 dir="ltr">Hollyander HG (Elo: 649) Rider: Olivia Barton</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Third in the overall Australian Elo rankings, <strong>Hollyander HG</strong> is one of the most consistent performers in the country. She hasn&rsquo;t finished outside first or second since 2023 which includes a runner-up finish at Adelaide 5* in 2024.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 13, she is right in her championship prime, and although she didn&rsquo;t contest a long format last year, <strong>Olivia Barton,</strong> still just 24, continues to produce major results with her. She may not grab headlines as loudly as some, but her data quietly demands attention.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Bold Venture (Elo: 635) Rider: Shenae Lowings</h3>
<div style="overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><img style="float: right; max-width: 40%; height: auto; margin: 0 0 1rem 1.5rem;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/c955dafc-d101-46fb-b50f-1bfb098a696a.png?width=2249&amp;height=1787" alt="HPR Blog Insert">
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Bold Venture</strong> delivered the highest-rated top-level (4 and 5*) performance of any Australian horse in 2025. This Australian-based combination achieved a HPR of 97 in the CCI4*-S at Scone NSW in November, finishing first with a dressage of 26.9 and adding just 0.8 time penalties in the showjumping phase.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 16, he is an experienced, proven performer, and <strong>Shenae Lowings</strong> has him in the form of his life. He sits fourth in the overall Australian Elo rankings and is still trending upward.</p>
</div>
<h3 dir="ltr">Faro Imp (Elo: 560) Rider: Kevin McNab</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Kevin McNab's</strong> name appears more than any other across Australia's 2025 performance data, and<strong> Faro Imp</strong> is the horse at the heart of his 2025 story. A win at Millstreet CCI4*-S with a dressage of 28.8 and a seventh at Arville CCI4*-S earned him HPRs of 88 and 95 respectively.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">While he is still only 10, McNab is the kind of rider who knows exactly how to peak a horse for a championship. Worth watching closely as team selection approaches.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Young Horses to Watch</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Newmarket Amy (Elo: 489) Age: 8 | Rider: Kevin McNab&nbsp;</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The highest-rated eight-year-old in Australia, and trending sharply upward. A 10th-place finish at Le Lion d&rsquo;Angers confirmed her credentials on the world stage, and she now sits as the eighth highest-rated eight-year-old worldwide.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Kevin McNab&rsquo;s</strong> record for producing young horses is well established, and <strong>Newmarket Amy </strong>looks like the next major project in that pipeline. With an excellent record, a CCI4* debut might not be too far away. Watch this space.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">WHF Frequency (Elo: 484) Age: 9 | Rider: Ruby Rae</h3>
<p dir="ltr">At just 19, <strong>Ruby Rae </strong>is bringing <strong>WHF Frequency </strong>up the levels and their record is seriously impressive. In every completed run at three-star level, the combination has finished in the top five: second at Werribee CCI3*-L, second at Capel CCI3*-S, and a fourth at Brigadoon CCI3*-S.</p>
<p dir="ltr">An Elo of 484 makes <strong>&lsquo;Neville&rsquo;</strong> the second-highest rated nine-year-old in Australia. The natural next step is a four-star debut, and if that goes to plan, <strong>Ruby Rae</strong> could find herself in the conversation for the U25 World Championships at Millstreet, Ireland.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Bloomfield Findon (Elo: 579) Age: 10 | Rider: Christine Bates&nbsp;</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The top-rated 10-year-old in Australia, <strong>Bloomfield Findon </strong>holds an Elo of 579 and his record makes it clear why. In 12 starts, he has never scored above 30 in dressage, has never incurred a cross-country penalty, and has finished on the podium nine times, including five wins.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Christine Bates </strong>has him trending exactly where you would want, and the step from promising 10-year-old to established CCI4* performer may come sooner than many expect.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">One to Watch</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Sandhills Briar (Elo: 584) Age: 10 | Rider: Oliver Barrett&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">While several of Oliver&rsquo;s horses could be highlighted, it is <strong>Sandhills Briar</strong> who has contributed four of the six counting results that have Oliver sitting second in the FEI U25 World Rankings.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At just 21, Oliver has produced Sandhills Briar from his first CCI2* all the way through to a breakthrough CCI4*-L win in Sydney last November. They added just 1.2 time penalties in the final showjumping phase to deliver a HPR of 90.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Oliver Barrett is not only eligible for the inaugural <a href="https://news.equiratings.com/stories/looking-at-the-major-contenders-for-millstreet-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEI Eventing World Championship for U25s at Millstreet,</a> he would head there as a genuine contender. Whether his focus remains domestic or shifts to the international stage, this is a rider and a team of horses that are moving up the ranks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>From Aachen hopefuls to the horses being built for LA28 and even the home Oly[mics in Brisbane in 2032, Australian eventing has plenty of reasons for optimism.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Did you know?</strong></h2>
<p>At EquiRatings, we rate every single horse and every single performance in international eventing. Whether you&rsquo;re seeking a young prospect with championship potential or a proven performer ready for the next step, data-driven insights help reveal future stars long before the rest of the world catches on.</p>
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Vassilly De Lasos and Andrew Hoy with an Australian flag

8 Australian Horses to Follow in 2026

<p>Under the lights, McLain Ward did what McLain Ward so often does in Wellington&mdash;turned Week 7 into his own stage. Already a three‑time winner of this Grand Prix with HH Azur (2016, 2017 and 2020), he returned this time with High Star Hero and added a fourth Week 7 title to his record, introducing a new star without changing the ending.</p>
<p>The 13‑year‑old gelding came in as a lower‑percentage pick on the win‑chance table, yet once High Star Hero delivered a clear in Round 1 and reached the jump‑off&mdash;where their record already included one of the best strike‑rates in the field&mdash;they looked every bit the Wellington benchmark, stopping the clock double clear in 75.80 and 39.14 seconds to secure Ward&rsquo;s fourth Week 7 victory and the horse&rsquo;s first win at this level.</p>
<h2>How the class rode versus the numbers</h2>
<p>History suggested a brutal test: an average Round 1 clear rate of 16% and a predicted six clears from a 32‑strong field, with 58% of those expected to jump double clear in the jump‑off. The course designer delivered exactly the kind of pressure the data anticipated, with just a small group advancing and only three double clears deciding the podium.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The time allowed kept riders honest without turning the first round into a pure speed class, and the final line and last oxer again played their part in separating medal positions from near‑misses. It felt like a classic Week 7 profile: one mistake was expensive, two were terminal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Ward and High Star Hero: from jump‑off threat to Grand Prix winner</h2>
<p>Coming in, Ward and High Star Hero were already flagged in the guide as one of the most dangerous jump‑off combinations in the field: five clears from seven previous CSI5* 1.60m jump‑offs and three wins, an almost 50% conversion rate once they reached the second round. Their Round 1 numbers were more modest, and the win‑chance model gave them just a 4% likelihood of lifting the trophy, behind the likes of Eddy Blue, Dynastie de Beaufour, James Kann Cruz and others.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the night, they landed the part that is hardest to predict, producing a composed, faultless first round before leaning into that established jump‑off strike‑rate with another decisive clear. That performance not only extended Ward&rsquo;s extraordinary Week 7 record but also marked the pair&rsquo;s fourth CSI5* 1.60m win together, including World Cup success and victories in major Hamptons qualifiers.<br>​</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>New faces on a familiar podium</h2>
<p>If Ward supplied the new Modon chapter, the rest of the podium spoke to the class&rsquo;s broader narrative about form and consistency. Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze, a partnership that only came together in December, turned their rapid rise&mdash;two 1.55m wins already this year&mdash;into a first CSI5* Grand Prix podium, stopping the clock in the jump-off in 39.71 for second.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In third, Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz continued their remarkable big‑class record, adding yet another five‑star Grand Prix/World Cup podium off the back of an 18‑from‑21 (86%) career jump‑off clear rate at this level. They did exactly what their profile promised by jumping clear in both rounds and again converting a jump‑off appearance into a top‑three finish.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Behind them, defending WEF 5 winners Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir finished fastest of the four‑faulters in 37.34, a reminder that even the hottest horse in the field is still operating on a knife‑edge at 1.60m.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Nina Mallevaey &amp; Dynastie de Beaufour: a streak with historic weight</h2>
<p>Away from the podium, Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour quietly did something even rarer than winning a single Grand Prix: they extended their CSI5* 1.60m clear‑round streak to 12. Since 2010, only a handful of horse‑and‑rider combinations have ever reached double‑digit consecutive clears at this height, putting them alongside names like Casall Ask, H&amp;M All In, Big Star and King Edward on the modern sport&rsquo;s &ldquo;perfect streak&rdquo; list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This Modon round also marked their 10th consecutive top‑five finish in a CSI5* Grand Prix, underlining a profile built not just on momentum but on historic consistency at the very top of the sport.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>When the model meets the arena</h2>
<p>The pre‑class win‑chance table had Eddy Blue, Dynastie de Beaufour, James Kann Cruz and Qonquest de Rigo as the four most likely winners, combining elite clear rates with strong Elo ratings and recent form. In the end, those predictions largely held at the level of who would feature, rather than who would win: Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour kept their extraordinary CSI5* 1.60m streak within touching distance of the sport&rsquo;s historic record book, while James Kann Cruz once again proved almost automatic for the podium once he reached the jump‑off.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The outlier was the identity of the champion, where Ward and High Star Hero turned a small percentage into a big trophy&mdash;illustrating that in Wellington, the model can frame the conversation, but it is still the riders with deep International Arena experience who decide how the story ends.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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