The organizing committee for the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 17-20, are preparing to host the country’s first finals, and they have given riders a major reason to come: The committee increased the prize money for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final to 2.6 million euros (double the previous amount), and the dressage pot is now at 400,000 euros (100,000 euros more than in 2023).

But one major star won’t be there: reigning dressage World Cup and Olympic champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. Von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB won back-to-back Finals in 2022 in Leipzig, Germany, and 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska, but von Bredow-Werndl didn’t want to put “Dalera” back on the plane for a long trip, especially in an Olympic year.

Five-time World Cup Finals winner Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz) will compete, plus Charlotte “Lottie” Fry with Everdale, Patrik Kittel (Touchdown) and French Olympian Morgan Barbançon (Sir Donnerhall II OLD).

Team USA has sent three combinations: Kevin Kohmann on Duenensee, Anna Marek with Fayvel, and Ben Ebeling and Indeed. All said, 17 combinations will canter down centerline after all horses passed Monday’s jog.

Last year’s show jumping winners, Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, will defend their title in Saudi Arabia. The Swede has been on a roll, topping the Longines World Rankings for 21 months in a row, but he’ll have plenty of competition, including from three-time winners Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42) and Steve Guerdat (Is-Minka).

Two other previous winners join the start list: Christian Ahlmann (Mandato Van De Neerheide) and Martin Fuchs (Commissar Pezi), as well as strong European contenders like Julien Epaillard (Dubai De Cedre) and Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly).

The U.S. is sending a combination of seasoned jumping veterans and up-and-comers to the Middle East. Olympic silver medalist Kent Farrington is entered with Greya and Toulayna, and Devin Ryan will tack up his partner for gold at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games, Eddie Blue. There’s also Jill Humphrey and the U.S.-bred Chromatic BF and young riders Sophia Siegel (A-Girl) and Skylar Wireman (Tornado). Wireman and Egypt’s Zain Shady Samir, both age 19, are the youngest competitors in Riyadh.

Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

When: April 17-20

Dressage Competition Format:

The starting list for the Grand Prix will be determined by a drawn order.

All athlete/horse combinations who have completed the Grand Prix with at least a score of 65% will continue to the Grand Prix freestyle, and that test alone determines the winner.

Dressage Schedule

April 17, 1:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. Eastern Time): Grand Prix

April 19,  5:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET): Grand Prix freestyle

Show Jumping Competition Format:

Final 1: Table C class held over a Table A class, 3 seconds added for a fence down, time limit 120 or 180 seconds depending on the length of course, height 1.60 meters.

Final 2: Table A class, one round against the clock and one jump-off against the clock, height 1.60 meters.

Final 3: Table A, two rounds not against the clock, no jump-off, height 1.60 meters.

Show Jumping Schedule:

April 17, 7:05 p.m. local time (12:05 p.m. ET): Final 1

April 18, 6:50 p.m. local time (11:50 a.m. ET): Final 2

April 20, 3:45 p.m. local time (8:45 a.m. ET): Final 3

How To Watch: The event will be streamed on FEItv.