Which Nation is on Top?
The USA has both FEI World Number Ones. Germany holds both reigning Olympic champions. Great Britain owns both Olympic team golds. In showjumping and eventing, three nations are locked in the tightest race we've seen — and 2025 might finally tip the balance in the battle to be the best in the world.
This is a rivalry built on more than wins - it's about legacy, depth, and national pride. The Americans have hit a generational high. Germany are still riding the afterglow of Olympic glory. And Great Britain? They are consistently rewriting the record books.
So as we look ahead to a packed summer season, it’s fair to ask: who really runs the sport right now — and who is about to take over?
USA's FEI's World Number Ones
May 2025 marks a turning point for US equestrian sport - with American riders now holding the FEI World Number One Ranking in both show jumping and eventing. This dual success is both rare and symbolic, proving the nation's resurgence to the top.
After an eight-year wait to return to the top, Kent Farrington reclaimed the World Number One spot following a dominant run of recent victories. His mare Greya has been central to the achievement, delivering five of his six wins at 1.60m level in the last 12 months. It wasn't an easy feat to take this top spot. Farrington had to unseat Henrik Von Eckermann, who held the World Number One spot for an impressive 32 consecutive months. Farrington didn’t just land at the top; he fought to get there.
In the eventing world, it is the first time in over two decades, that a US rider sits on top of the FEI World Rankings. Boyd Martin's ascent to World Number One is more than a personal milestone - it marks a turning point for American eventing. After a standout Kentucky performance, finishing three horses inside the top ten - a feat matched by only two other riders since 2008 - he jumped from 10th to 1st in the FEI Rankings. Commando 3 made the podium, while Fedarman B and Luke 140 finished 6th and 7th.
Just two weeks later, Boyd followed it up with a win at Tryon 4*L on Cooley Nutcracker, adding another winner to his string of top-class horses. Right now, he’s not just the best-ranked US event rider in recent history, he is the best in the world.
Germany's Individual Podiums
Not only did Germany claim Olympic individual gold in both eventing and show jumping - they completed a historic treble, taking all three equestrian disciplines, including dressage. This has only been achieved once before in Olympic history: Berlin 1936.
Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 delivered a landmark moment for Germany in Paris, becoming the nation’s individual Olympic show jumping champion, the first time since 1996. Their win marked Germany’s sixth Olympic individual title in jumping, extending their lead as the most successful nation in Olympic history.
Since then, Kukuk and Checker 47 have kept their momentum. In March, they won the US Equestrian Open Final in Wellington for the second year in a row — marking Germany’s fourth victory in the last five editions of the class. Extending the German streak on American soil, against one of their biggest rivals, made the win even more exciting and significant.
Germany’s eventing crown remains firmly in place thanks to Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH. Since their lap of honour in Paris, the reigning Olympic champions have only raised the bar. Their recent win at Kentucky was pure dominance. Jung posted an 18.6 in dressage, the best ever recorded at the event. After a dressage score like that, no one even got close to touching him.
At 17, fischerChipmunk FRH is showing no signs of slowing down, holding the highest Elo rating in the world at 917. All signs point to this combination competing for Germany at the Europeans this September and based on recent form, few would bet against them.
Great Britain's Gold Medals
Great Britain’s third Olympic team gold was sealed in Paris, with a team that combined experience and legacy. Scott Brash and Ben Maher returned to the podium twelve years after their gold medal in London - this time joined by Harry Charles, whose father, Peter stood with them on that very podium.
After taking Olympic team gold in Tokyo, the eventing team repeated the feat in Paris. This resulted in Great Britain became the most decorated Olympic eventing team in history with five team gold medals. This was more than a history-making medal, it reinforced Britain’s dominance in the sport.
The Paris team included Tom McEwen (currently ranked World No. 2), Ros Canter (World No. 5), and Laura Collett (World No. 7). Collett also walked away with an individual bronze, having set a new Olympic dressage record of 17.5. Their strength lies not in a single standout performance but in the consistent brilliance across their top riders and horses.
Setting the Pace in 2025
In the showjumping world, Team USA claimed the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Rome, delivering on their status as strong favourites. It was their first Nations Cup win at this venue in 16 years — a signal that they’re firmly back at the top after a long wait. Germany, the defending champions, finished fourth, while Great Britain placed eighth out of ten teams.
Meanwhile, all eyes turned to Bicton at the weekend for the opening leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, the first major nation-vs-nation clash of the season. With five teams in the mix, Team GB came out on top, with the United States taking second. While Germany didn’t field a team at Bicton - but with the European Championships approaching, you can imagine they’re preparing something big behind the scenes. A win in the opening leg sets Team GB up well for the season ahead - last year’s eventual winners France built their campaign around an opening day victory at Montelibretti.
The Bigger Picture
And let’s not forget: everything is building to Aachen 2026. The World Equestrian Games will bring all disciplines together, in one venue, for a true test of national strength. It won’t be about one rider or one result — it will be about the entire nation's program, performance, and ability to handle pressure.
Who Are You Backing?
With the 2025 season heating up and the biggest test still to come in Aachen next year — which nation are you backing?
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