The FEI World Cup Finals start today in Basel, Switzerland, with the jumpers tackling their speed class. The show runs through Sunday, and along with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois FEI Dressage World Cup Final, also hosts the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final as well as three-star jumping and U25 jumping competitions.

In the dressage, reigning World Cup Final winner Patrik Kittel will be back in action, but the Swede is leaving last year’s winning partner, Touchdown, at home in favor of Forever Young HRH. Great Britain’s Lottie Fry and Glamourdale, who won individual gold at the 2022 Blue Horse FEI Dressage World Championship, will be on the scene to challenge him for the title. Last year Fry brought Everdale and topped the Grand Prix on Day 1 of competition, but they were eliminated for blood shortly before entering the ring for the freestyle.

Five-time World Cup Final winner Isabell Werth—making her 26th World Cup Final appearance—will be there as well with DSP Quantaz; the pair finished third at last year’s edition. (Trivia: Fry, at 29, is the youngest athlete in the field, while Australia’s Mary Hanna, 70, is the oldest among the 17 competitors from 12 nations.)

Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee, who made their World Cup Final debut last year in Saudi Arabia; 2024 Paris Olympic Games veteran pair Adrienne Lyle and Helix; and World Cup Final first-timers Geñay Vaughn and Gino will be competing for the stars and stripes. According to the preliminary start list, Lyle will be first to go for the American contingent on Friday, riding fifth at 2:08 p.m. local time (8:08 a.m. Eastern). She’ll be immediately followed by Vaughn, at 2:18 p.m., and Kohmann, riding ninth, at 3:01 p.m.

In the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, 39 athletes have traveled to Basel to vie for the trophy, including defending champion Henrik von Eckermann. He left King Edward, who won in 2024 and 2023, at home in favor of Iliana.

Last year’s runner up, Julien Epaillard, is back for France, this time with Donatello D’Auge. Other top combinations include three-time winner Marcus Ehning for Germany (Coolio 42), who drew the starting position in today’s line-up; 2022 winner Martin Fuchs for Switzerland (Conner Jei and Leone Jei); 2021 Olympic Champion Ben Maher (Point Break) for Great Britain; and Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z N.O.P., who together won individual bronze at both the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games for the Netherlands.

Eight U.S. riders will be taking a turn around the ring in Basel. Alise Oken (Gelvera) and Kristen VanderVeen (Bull Run’s Jireh) will kick things off for the U.S., having drawn seventh and eighth positions in today’s starting order. They’ll be joined by Kaitlin Campbell (Castlefield Cornelious), Shawn Casady (Cool Quarz), Katie Dinan (Out Of The Blue SCF), McKayla Langmeier (Mimosa VD Rollebeek), Alessandra Volpi (Gipsy Love), and—last of the U.S. entries today, starting 35th out of 39 competitors—Lillie Keenan (Kick On).

Where

Basel, Switzerland

When

April 3-6

Start Lists

For jumping
For dressage (preliminary)

How To Watch

The competitions will be broadcast on FEI.tv.

Jumping Competition Format

Final I: Table C speed and handiness class run over a 1.60-meter Table A course. No jump-off in case of equal time

Final II: Table A against the clock. One round against the clock and one jump-off against the clock over a 1.60-meter course.

The 30 best-placed athletes after Final II (plus ties) are allowed to compete in the first round of Final III.

Final III: Two rounds, each run under Table A, not against the clock, over a grand prix course at 1.60. The two rounds are approximately equal in the number of obstacles and length of the course, the second round will have an increased level of difficulty. The 20 best-placed athletes after Round 1 of Final III (plus ties) are allowed to start Final III Round 2.

Jumping Schedule

April 3, 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. Eastern) Final I

April 4, 8:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. Eastern) Final II

April 6, 2 p.m. local time (8 a.m. Eastern) Final III Round 1
                 4:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. Eastern) Final III Round 2  

Dressage Competition Format

All competitors ride in the Grand Prix. All participants who finish the Grand Prix with at least 60% will continue to the Grand Prix freestyle. The placings are determined solely by the freestyle.

Dressage Schedule

April 4, 1:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. Eastern) Grand Prix

April 5, 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. Eastern) Grand Prix freestyle