EquiRatings Jumping Podcast

With Sam Watson off in eventing, Charlotte stages a takeover of the Flair Overview Show, joined by Diarmuid Byrne and Emma Blumenkrantz to unpack six huge weeks of show jumping. The panel covers Steve Guerdat's World Championship gold in Aachen, German dominance from Aachen to Spruce Meadows, Ben Maher's Rolex Grand Slam win, and the rivalry between Kent Farrington and Shane Sweetnam on the North American circuit. Along the way, Diarm springs a surprise quiz on Charlotte and Emma using their own FEI records.

Key Discussion Points

• Guerdat completes the set: Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belhême win individual World Championship gold after a dramatic final Sunday that saw Harry Charles climb from outside the top 50 to the podium. Guerdat now holds World, European, Olympic and World Cup Final titles ahead of a hero's return to Geneva.
• Thibault Spits' breakthrough: Was Spits' silver medal with Impress-K van't Kattenheye a surprise, or were the numbers pointing to it all along? The panel also looks at Belgium's rise as the strongest team behind Germany.
• German depth: Team gold in Aachen, Nations Cup dominance at Spruce Meadows, and a pipeline of young horses that keeps riders well-horsed through retirements and injuries.
• Nina Mallevaey's Major League upset: Diarm's moment of the summer, when Nina beat both Greya and James Kann Cruz in the Traverse City jump-off on the same night as the Spruce Meadows Nations Cup.
• Farrington vs. Sweetnam: Repeated head-to-heads across the Hamptons, Traverse City and the World Cup qualifier. The panel thinks the next generation, Descartes and Gotjanne, may be the more interesting rivalry.
• Spruce Meadows drama: Ben Maher fulfils Sam's bingo-card prediction with a Rolex Grand Slam win, Richard Vogel and United Touch S miss out on history and the bonus, and Lillie Keenan comes within a rail of the biggest win of her career.
• Longevity: Yuri Mansur and Vitiki's Grand Prix win at 18 prompts a debate about whether Casall Ask gets the recognition his record deserves.
• Aachen 2026: Venue, field, storylines across three disciplines. The panel calls it one of the best championships in memory.

This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips. Achieve Equine, LLC develops innovative equine products like the FLAIR Strips. Founded by Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach, both equine veterinarians, the company focuses on enhancing horse respiratory health and performance. They conduct rigorous research to ensure the efficacy and safety of its products, aiming to support the health and safety of horses and riders. Achieve Equine emphasizes strong relationships, data-driven decisions, and effective solutions in the equine industry. Stayed tuned for what's next from Achieve Equine.

🎙️ Your Hosts: Charlotte Smet & Sam Watson. The EquiRatings Jumping team who live in the numbers, the predictions, and the storylines shaping the sport.

👍 Like, Share & Subscribe: If you're following the sport through a championship year, hit like, share with a fellow fan, and subscribe for more data-driven insight all season long.

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EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Charlotte is back behind the mic after a packed run of show jumping (and a few weeks without a voice), and she's brought the EquiRatings James Kann Cruz Fan Club with her. Emma Blumenkrantz and Annie Bishop, on loan from the eventing side, join her to unpack Shane Sweetnam's grey's latest World Cup podium at Traverse City, his 22nd career podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. The trio digs into the numbers behind the "podium machine," the Greya question, and whether there's still more to come from a horse only just hitting his peak.

• The milestone. Second place at Traverse City, the opening leg of the North American World Cup League, gave James Kann Cruz his 22nd podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. He's done it from just 44 starts, a 50% podium rate.
• The historical context. Since 2010, only two horses on EquiRatings records have matched or bettered that podium tally: Hermès Ryan (22) and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's Casall Ask (35). No combination with more than 20 starts at this level has a higher podium rate.
• The hot streak. Seven podiums since last year's Highlands Cup, including a career-defining win in the Rolex Grand Prix at Falsterbo, where he beat a fast field that included Steve Guerdat and Richard Vogel.
• The Greya question. Charlotte tackles the elephant in the room. James Kann Cruz is the podium horse; Kent Farrington's Greya is the winning horse. Her 11 wins from 34 starts dwarf his three, yet he has beaten her in a jump-off before, at Tryon. Annie makes the case that they're simply built differently: he can jump day after day at a championship, she's campaigned carefully and unleashed when it counts.
• Maturity and speed. Annie brings an eventer's eye to how Shane has managed all that power, and Emma recalls watching Shane school him quietly over a 1.30m–1.35m track in Wellington last winter. Is the horse getting faster because he's learned he doesn't have to go flat out every time?
• The guest perspective. Annie tells the story of falling for James Kann Cruz on a Saturday night at Defender Kentucky two years ago, the night someone dared call him a donkey. Emma shares how his power and his partnership with Shane hooked her during Wellington's Saturday Night Lights. The verdict on who runs the fan club? Co-presidents, all three.

Recorded on the morning of the individual final at the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen. Charlotte and Sam unpack how Germany turned a brutal team competition into gold, why the course changed character between the individual and team rounds, and who can still win it with two rounds of jumping to go. Win chances, podium predictions, and the 18 year old horse making history for Colombia.

Watch the FEI World Championships 2026 from Aachen live on and . New and returning fans can save 26% on an annual membership with the code EQUIAACHEN26. 👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

The FEI Jumping World Championships are in full swing in Aachen. Charlotte and D check in midway through day two to unpack Germany's growing grip on the team competition, Ireland's battle to make Friday's top ten and the surprise nations pushing themselves into contention.

On the individual side, Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Sinclair are putting together another remarkable Aachen performance, while Laura Kraut, Nicola Philippaerts and a growing group of contenders remain in the medal conversation. There's also the small matter of whether Richard Vogel could prioritise Calgary over Sunday's individual final (a suggestion that sends D slightly over the edge) plus predictions for how the rest of a pivotal Thursday might unfold.

Watch the FEI World Championships 2026 from Aachen live on ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV. New and returning fans can save 26% on an annual membership with the code EQUIAACHEN26. 👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Charlotte Smet is joined by Emma Blumenkrantz, newly appointed Jumping Analyst at EquiRatings, for a look back at the 2025 Highlands Cup CSI5* Grand Prix in New York and forward to the FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen.

The link between the two is the reason for the episode: eighteen combinations that contested that one Grand Prix in October 2025 appear on the definite entry list for Aachen. Charlotte and Emma work through the class rider by rider, from the podium down through the jump-off, tracking who has kicked on, who has switched horses, who missed the plane, and what any of it tells us about the week ahead.

Along the way: the horse with the best clear-round record in the Aachen arena of anyone travelling, two sets of brothers on the same championship team, a nine-year-old five-star Grand Prix winner, and thirteen riders who were also in Aachen for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Charlotte Smet is joined by Annie Bishop (& briefly crashed by Diarmuid Byrne) live from the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. They break down the contenders, the form, and who to watch ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland. Sponsors Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners. Use code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. Note: this does not apply to already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

For feeding questions, you can contact the Connolly's Red Mills nutrition experts directly.

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

The definite entry list for the FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen is in, and Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson go through it team by team. Ireland sit top of the EquiRatings prediction centre with Germany just behind, Christian Kukuk and Checker are named as Germany's travelling reserve rather than in the team, and some combinations we expected to shape this championship are not going: Kent Farrington and Greya, Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone.

Charlotte and Sam work through the venue form that matters in Aachen, Scott Brash's horse choice, Harry Charles heading to a championship on a partnership with one five-star 1.60m class to its name, and the thirteen riders on the definite entry list who also competed at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen. They finish with full team and individual podium predictions, and they do not agree.

This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips. Achieve Equine, LLC develops innovative equine products like the FLAIR Strips. Founded by Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach, both equine veterinarians, the company focuses on enhancing horse respiratory health and performance. They conduct rigorous research to ensure the efficacy and safety of its products, aiming to support the health and safety of horses and riders. Achieve Equine emphasizes strong relationships, data-driven decisions, and effective solutions in the equine industry. Stayed tuned for what's next from Achieve Equine.

🎙️ Your Hosts: Charlotte Smet & Sam Watson. The EquiRatings Jumping team who live in the numbers, the predictions, and the storylines shaping the sport.

👍 Like, Share & Subscribe: If you're following the sport through a championship year, hit like, share with a fellow fan, and subscribe for more data-driven insight all season long.

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Sam Watson and Charlotte Smet run the rule over the last eight weeks of five-star showjumping ahead of the World Championships in Aachen. Ben Maher and Point Break end a 917-day winless run at CHIO Rotterdam, Marcus Ehning returns to a five-star podium at St. Gallen, and Richard Vogel keeps the Rolex Grand Slam alive at Aachen. Plus a Mexican upset in Rome, a run through the top Elo horses, and the young horses worth watching.

This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips. Achieve Equine, LLC develops innovative equine products like the FLAIR Strips. Founded by Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach, both equine veterinarians, the company focuses on enhancing horse respiratory health and performance. They conduct rigorous research to ensure the efficacy and safety of its products, aiming to support the health and safety of horses and riders. Achieve Equine emphasizes strong relationships, data-driven decisions, and effective solutions in the equine industry. Stayed tuned for what's next from Achieve Equine.

🎙️ Your Hosts: Charlotte Smet & Sam Watson. The EquiRatings Jumping team who live in the numbers, the predictions, and the storylines shaping the sport.

👍 Like, Share & Subscribe: If you're following the sport through a championship year, hit like, share with a fellow fan, and subscribe for more data-driven insight all season long.

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson are back to preview one of the biggest weekends of the European jumping season, with five-star action in Windsor, Hamburg and Madrid.

The pair dive into the return of some of the sport's biggest stars, including Point Break, Baloutinue and Beauville, while also looking at the combinations shaping the 2026 season and the road to Aachen. They discuss Scott Brash's incredible depth of horsepower, why Richie Vogel and Gangster are becoming must-watch viewing, and whether Harry Charles could deliver a home win at Windsor.

There's also plenty of attention on the next generation of championship horses, including Thibeau Spits' Impress-K van 't Kattenheye, Anastasia Nielsen and ESI Rocky, and Bertram Allen's Qonquest de Rigo. Plus, Sam and Charlotte break down why this weekend's grass shows could tell us a lot about the World Championship picture later this summer.

Along the way: Sam relives his Badminton rollercoaster, Charlotte admits she watched eventing voluntarily, and there's even a debate about whether Boville's grass form should be a concern heading towards Aachen.

🎙️ Your Hosts

Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings Jumping team, bringing data-led insight to the biggest moments in show jumping.

Sponsors Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners. Use code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. Note: this does not apply to already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

For feeding questions, you can contact the Connolly's Red Mills nutrition experts directly.

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Charlotte Smet is joined by Sam Watson for a RED MILLS Special previewing the LGCT of Shanghai, and there is one name at the centre of the conversation: Scott Brash.

The world number one heads to Shanghai in extraordinary form, with four five-star Grand Prix wins already this season and two serious contenders in his string. Hello Jefferson, now 17 and arguably in the form of his career, arrives after a perfect start to 2026, while Hello Chadora Lady returns as the defending LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai winner after her recent victory in Paris.

Charlotte and Sam discuss Scott's place in the world number one race, with Kent Farrington and Richard Vogel continuing to apply pressure from elsewhere on the global circuit. They also look at new partnerships for Ben Maher and Max Kühner, the return of Peder Fredricson's Al Capone de Karmel, Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Sinclair, Brazil's growing strength, and the horses who could shape the road to Aachen.

There is also plenty of Sam chaos, from Baywatch slow-motion runs to "Perfect Jeff" emotion, as the team looks ahead to another huge weekend in the 2026 jumping season.

🎙️ Your Hosts

Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings Jumping team, bringing data-led insight to the biggest moments in show jumping.

Sponsors Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners. Use code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. Note: this does not apply to already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

For feeding questions, you can contact the Connolly's Red Mills nutrition experts directly.

👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!

📌 Follow Us:

EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/