TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--World no. 1 Kent Farrington on Greya won the $340,000 Jumping World Cup CSI5*-W - Traverse City for the second year in a row on Sunday to begin the 2025/2026 North American League season.
Kent Farington on Greya (Photo by Megan Giese)The class was a qualifier for the 2026 FEI World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas.
After leading the NAL standings last season, Farrington now leads the standings with 20 points to start the season.
From a jump-off field of seven, Farrington and Greya were the only pair to stop the clock under 40 seconds, clocking in at 39.45 seconds for the win.
Spencer Smith on Keeneland had the first clear round in the jump-off, finishing in 41 seconds flat tp eventually finish second.
Smith is hoping for his first FEI World Cup Final appearance on home soil this seasons.
Jacob Pope on Highway FBH was third, clean in 41.11 seconds.
“Greya continues to improve and evolve as a show jumper, so I'm really proud of her today,” said Farrington. “Today, you're seeing a more mature horse than I had last year, even though she was already winning. I didn't think today would be the fastest jump-off in the world, but still big jumps and difficult enough to go clear."
“GREYA has a better understanding of the sport,” said Farrington of Greya’s growth throughout the last year, which in part helped him rise to world no. 1. “I know her better now; how to give her enough time before she goes in the ring, what jumps I need to show her, where I can take more risks, where I need to play it a little more safely. You only learn these things by doing the sport, and I think ultimately that's what our sport is about, rapport with your horse and getting to know your horse.”
"The plan today was to do a very efficient round but not go all out," Farrington said. "I wanted an efficient round where I put enough pressure on the people behind me that they would have to chase it in order to catch it, but I didn't want to take [every risk], because I didn't think it would be fully necessary today. Luckily that played out.
"I think I left the door open a little bit in the class if somebody really nailed it," he said. "It was open to win, but it would still be difficult to do."
"This is the most rewarding part for all of the work we put in," Farrington said, who has had Greya since she was 6. "I really enjoy developing the horses. I get them when they are young. This has been years in the making. I'm very happy for my whole team."
"Like I always say, I want to go if I think I can be a contender for the title," he said. "I have to see where the horses are in that moment. I'd like to go if my horses are in form, but I'll have to see as I get closer if I really feel like I'm ready to go."
Sunday’s win marks Farrington and Greya’s second five-star grand prix win at Traverse City Horse Shows in as many months.
“I think the level of sport in North America is really good," said Farrington. "We've got great facilities like here in Traverse City, which helps us do the sport better because we have good conditions, great course builders, good jumps and great competitors too. We get a nice crowd that’s been very supportive of me, so I love coming back here today.”
