Meet some of the world’s top-ranked show jumpers expected in Traverse City this September.
When five-star competition returns to Traverse City this September, some of the biggest names in show jumping are expected to come with it. Olympians, championship medalists, World Cup veterans and proven five-star winners will converge at Flintfields Horse Park for Major League Show Jumping and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen.
But rankings only tell part of the story.
Some riders are known for extraordinary speed. Others seem almost impossible to rattle under pressure. Some arrive with horses and partnerships capable of changing a class in a matter of seconds.
Here are some of the world’s top-ranked riders expected to compete this fall, along with familiar Traverse City contenders making their mark on the international stage.
Kent Farrington & Greya (USA) | #1
The pair everyone will be watching.
Farrington, a seasoned Olympian and Pan American gold medalist who has held the World No. 1 position for much of 2026, swept both five-star Grand Prix weekends in Traverse City last year aboard Greya.
Together, they have become one of the sport’s most formidable partnerships. Greya combines carefulness with exceptional speed, capable of taking on jump-off tracks at a pace few horses can match.
Farrington is a fierce competitor and difficult to beat on any horse. If he returns with Greya this September, they’ll undoubtedly be the pair everyone is trying to top.
Shane Sweetnam (IRL) | #3
One of Ireland’s most accomplished international riders, Sweetnam is a familiar face in Traverse City and a consistent contender in the sport’s biggest classes.
In 2022, Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz captured the American Gold Cup CSI5* Grand Prix before repeating the feat in 2024. The pair return to Traverse City following an FEI World Championship appearance and remain a combination capable of winning at the highest level.
Daniel Bluman (ISR) | #6
Daniel Bluman already delivered one of Traverse City’s biggest international moments this summer, anchoring Israel to its first Nations Cup victory on American soil with a double-clear aboard Malina.
Earlier in the season, he also picked up a CSI4* Welcome Stake win aboard longtime partner Gemma W.
Those performances captured much of what makes Bluman so dangerous: he’s experienced, calculated and particularly good when the pressure is highest. When he returns for five-star competition this fall, he’ll already have proven he knows how to win at Flintfields Horse Park.
Nina Mallevaey (FRA) | #8
Nina Mallevaey has rapidly established herself among the world’s top show jumpers and arrives in Traverse City as one of the European riders worth getting to know.
The French rider has spent 2026 competing at some of Europe’s most demanding venues, representing France in Nations Cup competition and producing top results at the five-star level.
Her rise has been fast, but hardly accidental. Mallevaey combines a polished riding style with the speed and competitiveness required to win against the world’s best. She may be a less familiar name to casual American fans, but don’t expect that to last long.
McLain Ward (USA) | #12
A six-time Olympian and one of the most decorated riders in U.S. show jumping history, McLain Ward has earned Olympic and World Championship gold medals, FEI World Cup victories and countless international Grand Prix wins.
His experience and ability to deliver under pressure have made him one of the sport’s most respected competitors. Put Ward in a high-stakes situation, and he’s one of the riders you want on your team—and one spectators know to watch.
Karl Cook (USA) | #16
Olympian Karl Cook and his remarkable mare Caracole de la Roque are one of the world’s leading horse-and-rider partnerships. Together, they helped earn team silver for the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics and have become known for their speed and competitive edge.
Cook is also deeply committed to learning and challenging convention when he believes there is a better approach for his horses. When he enters the ring with Caracole de la Roque, they’re always among the combinations worth watching.
Mark Bluman (ISR) | #21
Mark Bluman enters the fall in the midst of one of the strongest stretches of his career.
He has already proven himself in Traverse City, including a Major League Show Jumping team victory here in 2022, and returns with the depth and speed to win on multiple horses. Quick, competitive and increasingly difficult to keep off the leaderboard, Bluman is one to watch as the five-star field arrives.
Abdel Saïd (BEL) | #26
Belgian Olympian Abdel Saïd brings serious international mileage to Traverse City, with more than 150 international wins and regular appearances at the world’s major five-star events.
In 2026, he finished eighth at the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth before continuing his season across Europe. Experienced and fast, Saïd is the kind of rider who can quietly move through a class before suddenly finding himself at the top of the leaderboard.
Lillie Keenan (USA) | #29
Lillie Keenan already knows what it feels like to win during five-star week in Traverse City.
Last September, she and Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN opened World Cup week by beating more than 50 challengers in the CSI5*-W Speed. She followed that with a 10th-place finish at the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final aboard Kick On and continued winning at the five-star level in Europe this summer.
A longtime student of McLain Ward, Keenan is thoughtful and technically polished but can also be deceptively fast. Don’t mistake smooth for slow.
Erynn Ballard (CAN) | #30
Ballard is as enjoyable to talk to as she is to watch in the ring, though for completely different reasons.
The Canadian Olympian brings experience, consistency and a serious competitive edge to every class. Her positive attitude and love for her horses have also made her a favorite around Traverse City Horse Shows.
Once the start buzzer sounds, however, Ballard is there to win.
Charlotte Jacobs (USA) | #48
Jacobs enters the fall with momentum after winning back-to-back Grand Prix titles during the Traverse City Spring Series.
She has built an impressive group of horses by allowing each to develop on its own timeline, and the results are following. A familiar face at Flintfields Horse Park, Jacobs is steadily climbing the international rankings and will be one to watch as the level of competition reaches its peak.
Natalie Dean (USA) | #49
Natalie Dean returns to Traverse City after a summer representing the United States on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
Riding Mr. Boombastic, better known as “Shaggy,” Dean helped Team USA win the Aga Khan Trophy at the 2026 Nations Cup in Dublin before heading to Aachen to represent her country at the FEI World Championships.
She returns this fall with international momentum and as another familiar face for Traverse City fans to watch.
See Them in Traverse City
Many of these riders are expected to return to Flintfields Horse Park for two consecutive weeks of five-star show jumping this September.
September 11–12 | Major League Show Jumping
Five-star competition takes on a team format Friday, September 11, before individual Grand Prix competition Saturday, September 12. The first horse enters the International Ring at 4 PM both days.
September 20 | American Gold Cup + Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™
The season concludes with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen, bringing more than five decades of American Gold Cup history together with one of international show jumping’s most important championship series.
Expected riders and rankings are based on information available at the time of publication. Entries and horse-and-rider combinations are subject to change.
