The King Steps Aside: A New Chapter in the Jumping Elo ratings
For the first time in nearly three years, jumping has a new top-rated horse. And fittingly, it takes two to fill the void.
The King Steps Down
For close to three years, one name has been synonymous with the summit of the EquiRatings Elo rankings: King Edward. Henrik von Eckermann's extraordinary gelding pushed the boundaries of what this sport's data had ever seen, reaching an all-time high Elo rating of 821, a number that no horse in the history of the rankings has surpassed. His reign wasn't just long; it was historic. King Edward became the benchmark against which every other horse in the world was measured. But after more than 12 months without competing at CSI4*/CSI5* level at the 150cm class or higher, the Swedish star has dropped out of the active EquiRatings system and with him, the longest-standing number one spot in recent memory.
What Is the Elo Rating?
The EquiRatings Elo rating is the most rigorous performance metric in show jumping. Every horse begins its international career with a starting rating of just over 500, and from there, every result either adds to or subtracts from that number depending on who they beat and who beats them. Think of it like a trading system: in each competition, a horse gives points to the horses that finish above it, and takes points from those it finishes ahead of. The net result is a gain or a loss, and over time, that number becomes a precise reflection of how a horse truly performs against elite-level opposition.
Crucially, the Elo doesn't just reward winning, it rewards quality of winning. Beating a field of high-rated horses earns far more than topping a weaker class, which means easier courses and lower-quality opposition can never artificially inflate a horse's rating. A horse rated over 775 has demonstrated the ability to go clear in 58% of its CSI5* 160 rounds, compared to just 7% for those rated under 500. That gap in predictive power is exactly why the Elo is so valuable not just for rankings, but for team selection and championship preparation.
Two Horses, One Rating
With King Edward's departure, jumping finds itself in a rare and compelling situation: not one, but two horses share the title of the world's top-rated horse. Point Break, ridden by Great Britain's Ben Maher, and United Touch S, piloted by Germany's Richard Vogel, both sit at an Elo rating of 785. It is a fitting reflection of a sport where the margins at the very top are razor-thin: two genuinely world-class horses, arriving at the same peak by entirely different routes.
Point Break: Quietly Unassailable
Point Break's case is built on sustained excellence. The 13-year-old gelding's last recorded appearance on the international stage was at the Stockholm CSI4* in late November 2025 and as of yet, no plans for his return to competition have been publicly announced. Yet despite that silence, his Elo rating of 785 has held firm at the very top of the rankings. It speaks volumes about the level of performance he banked during his most recent competitive stretch that he can sit joint-top of the world without having set foot in a ring in 2026. Whether Ben Maher brings him back this spring, this summer, or beyond, remains one of the great unknowns hanging over the show jumping world right now and his Elo will be watching whenever he does.
United Touch S: The Form Horse of 2026
If Point Break's case rests on a legacy of excellence, United Touch S is making his argument in real time. Richard Vogel and the 14-year-old stallion arrive at the joint summit on the back of a breathtaking run of form at the sport's most prestigious venues. In January, they delivered a masterclass to win the CSI5* Longines FEI Jumping World Cup of Basel, crossing the line in 40.12 seconds in a jump-off that wasn't close. Then came 's-Hertogenbosch in March and the grandest stage of all. Vogel set the standard in the €1,000,000 CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix of The Dutch Masters, clocking 39.42 seconds that no rival could match, earning his second Rolex Grand Slam Major title. Back-to-back wins at the top level, it is the form of a true world number one.
What Comes Next?
The question now is whether this joint reign holds, or whether one of these two horses pulls clear. United Touch S is in the prime of the spring season and still competing at the highest level, while Point Break's return to the ring remains the great unknown of 2026. The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping campaign is already underway for Vogel and his stallion and every result from here will shape the story at the top of the rankings. One thing is certain: jumping's new number ones have a lot to live up to. The bar was set at 821.