Horsepower: What It Takes To Win A World Cup

Top riders and trainers discuss the types of horses who have won this prestigious indoor jumping event in the past.

- Nancy Jaffer

It’s like no other jumping championship. At the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, March 29–April 2, in Omaha, Nebraska, fans will see three demanding competitions, each building toward the next. The only break is between days two and three, so those trying for the world indoor jumping honors can catch their breath briefly.

In contrast to other multi-day title meets—such as the Pan American Games, the World Equestrian Games or the Olympics, where everyone starts the competition for the individual medals on zero penalties—riders add to their scores throughout the World Cup™ proceedings. The one who stands at the top level of the podium, raising the trophy in triumph, will have done so carrying a total number of penalties accumulated throughout the weekend.

“At the Olympics, you can have a bad day as long as you make it to the finals,” observed Leslie Howard, the winner of the 1986 World Cup™ Final on McLain.

But not at the World Cup™. So it takes a horse of special character and other traits, as well as exceptional athletic ability, to win a FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final when every fence counts.

“If you don’t do well on the first night, you have no shot. Even if you have a big, scopey horse who can go clear the other nights, you’re not going to catch up,” said former U.S. Show Jumping Coach George Morris.

Someone who isn’t in the top group of four or five in the first day’s demanding speed class over grand prix fences likely doesn’t have the chance for a comeback in the second day’s timed first jump-off class or the final day’s two-rounder.