With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games now firmly on the horizon, Kent Farrington (USA) has elected to step away from contention for the U.S. team heading to the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen. The World’s ranked number one rider, known as “The Master of Faster” for his blistering jump-off rounds that earned him his top-ranked position, is a great horseman first, and made his decision on what is best for his two top mounts, which are his Olympic hopefuls.

The decision reflects a long-term strategy centered on the continued development of his top horses rather than pursuing every major championship opportunity. Farrington believes giving both Greya, who has already enjoyed a remarkable season, and the still-developing Descartes SR additional time to mature at the highest level will better position them for future success.

His decision also appears to reflect a broader trend among some of the sport’s leading riders, who are increasingly weighing the demands of championship competition against the ultimate goal of arriving in peak form for the Olympic Games on home soil in 2028. For horses expected to compete at the highest level over several seasons, careful management of competition schedules has become as important as the results themselves.

“With the Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles in 2028, I believe the right decision is to prioritize that goal and continue developing both horses with their long-term future in mind,” he wrote. “This approach gives them the best opportunity for sustained success while allowing each horse to progress at the right pace.”