EquiRatings Jumping Podcast

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.

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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...

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...

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.

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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.

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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...

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 l...

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...

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...

Charlotte Smet is joined by one of Ireland's most successful show jumpers, Bertram Allen, for a special episode that dives into his career, his family operation, and the philosophy behind the rapidly growing Aloga Auction.

Bertram reflects on his remarkable rise through the sport, from pony success in Ireland to competing on the world stage as a teenager, and what it was like to leave home at just 16 to pursue his career in Germany. Now over a decade later, he shares how that move shaped both his riding and his business.

The conversation explores the...

Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson are back from the World Cup Final and straight into another huge week, this time previewing the next stop in Mexico.

After a standout championship in Fort Worth, the conversation starts with the performances that are already shaping the 2026 season. Charlotte and Sam break down Kent Farrington and Greya's World Cup win, what it means for the top of the sport, and why her form is starting to look very familiar when you compare it to past championship greats.

From there, the focus shifts to what comes next. Mexico brings...

Sam Watson battles through the "Sam Flu" to join Charlotte Smet for a packed Flair Overview Show, and there is plenty to get into after a huge few weeks in the sport.

The episode starts with one of Sam's big 2026 predictions coming true, as Greya and Kent Farrington won the US Equestrian Open Final in Wellington. From there, Charlotte and Sam zoom out to the bigger picture, looking at the battle at the top of the sport between Kent Farrington, Richard Vogel and Scott Brash, and what it could mean for the road to Aachen.

...

Charlotte Smet and Diarm Byrne are back from Wellington and straight into another huge week, this time previewing the LGCT of Miami Beach.

After a dramatic US Equestrian Open Final in Wellington, the conversation starts with the standout performances that continue to shape the 2026 season. Charlotte and Diarm dig into Richard Vogel's extraordinary depth, debating whether Gangster Montdesir is now more than just the exciting young horse in the string and asking what that could mean for the road to Aachen.

Then it is on to Miami, where a fascinating field brings together proven championship...

Sam Watson and Charlotte Smet rip through a stacked first two months of 2026: Scott Brash's outrageous Doha run and return to World No.1, Nina Mallevaey's jaw-dropping 12 consecutive 5* 1.60m clears, the Dutch stacking wins, and breakout moments in Wellington, plus a few bold predictions already coming good.

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...

This week on the EquiRatings Jumping Podcast, we sit down with RED MILLS rider Michael Duffy in Wellington as he balances five-star competition with building the next generation of championship horses.

Fresh from a Grand Prix qualifier win in Ocala with Mr. Qerly, Michael reflects on the start of his season — but this conversation is really about the bigger picture.

From Irish team bronze in Milan to winning the LGCT Grand Prix of Miami, Michael has already proven himself at the top level. Now, the focus is clear: invest in youth, develop properly, and build to...

Sam and Diarmuid preview the Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at Wellington tonight. In this episode, we dive into the data behind the first five star of the Wellington 2026 calendar.

Historically, winning the Fidelity Investments GP has been a harbinger of a record-breaking year (Kent 2025, 2017, Fuchs 2019).

We break down the EquiRatings Prediction Model for tonight's class, forecasting a challenging track with a predicted 10 hitting the Jump Off. Kent Farrington starts as favourite but he will face a challenge from Daniel Bluman and the high-risk, high-reward "wildcard" Richard Vogel. Also, is tonight the night Ben Maher ends...

January isn't waiting around. With five-star jumping unfolding across Doha, Hong Kong, and Thermal, Charlotte and Sam take a global look at the riders and horses shaping the early weeks of 2026.

From Scott Brash's dominant start in Doha to emerging contenders laying down serious early-season markers, this episode is about momentum, depth, and what these first results might mean for the year ahead.

What we cover

2026 has arrived, and with it a year of serious stakes: Aachen World Championships, the second edition of the US Equestrian Open, and a battle for world number one. The EquiRatings Jumping team sorts through form, streaks and star power to ask the real question: who shapes the season ahead?

From Greya's bid for 800 Elo and Scott Brash's world #1 chase, to Belgium's depth, France's championship threat and USA's Open ambitions, Charlotte and Sam make their predictions, crunch the data and lock in their early calls for the year.

This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR...

It's the final sign-off for the EquiRatings team in 2025… sort of. Because while most of the crew are mentally halfway to mince pies and mulled wine, the jumping world is still rolling on and some of us are very much still on duty.

So what do we do with the whole team on one call at Christmas? Naturally: a very serious quiz (with questionable rules, minus points for guessing, and absolutely zero respect for staying on topic).

It's Friday night, it's festive, and the show jumping doesn't stop.

Charlotte Smet is joined by Sam Watson to preview the London World Cup Qualifier weekend: the post-Geneva "calm down" that still comes with serious five-star pressure, valuable World Cup points, and the kind of home-crowd magic that makes London feel like Christmas.

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

It's December 12 and the countdown to Christmas is on… but first, it's Geneva. Charlotte and Diarm sit down (with thanks to Connellly's Red Mills) to preview one of the strongest-field weeks of the entire season at CHI Geneva: the IJRC Rolex Top Ten Final (Friday night) and the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva (Sunday)—a key leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

This episode is packed with rivalry, records, and a few "party spoilers" who could wreck the script.

What we cover

The season finale brings a stacked Riyadh field and €500k on the line. Charlotte and Diarm break down the headline match-ups, who's trending up, and how this weekend feeds the story building up to Geneva in December.

Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

 ...

The focus shifts to Washington as Diarm and Charlotte preview the feature World Cup under the lights. With the potential for an all-American, all-female podium, they assess the leading contenders: Lillie Keenan, Mimi Gochman, and Katie Dinan, alongside strong U.S. form from Laura Kraut and Adrienne Sternlicht. Plus, they highlight Rene Dittmer's in-form Corsica X and discuss which combinations could turn consistency into victory this weekend.

 Your Hosts: Meet Charlotte Smet, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings team, who spend their time deep in number-crunching for new insights on the equestrian world.

The team focuses on the LGCT of Rabat with a field light on the absolute mega-names but loaded with storylines. Charlotte and Diarm dig into Sweden's changing guard, Scott Brash's blistering 2025, and a couple of sleeper combinations that could steal the show.     Sponsors: Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here.

Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS expert...

It's LLN Final week in Barcelona, and the EquiRatings Jumping team tackles the big question: which nation is truly on top in 2025? From Belgium's data-backed edge to Great Britain's late-season surge and Germany's bid for a three-peat, Sam and Charlotte stack ratings against form, spotlight the riders who move the needle, and lock in their podium picks.

This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR Strips.

Achieve Equine, LLC develops innovative equine products like the FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips. Founded by Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach, both equine veterinarians, the company focuses on en...

In this RED MILLS Special, Charlotte is joined by Sam Watson to preview LGCT New York, a new venue, a stacked field, and a fistful of live storylines. From Ben Maher and Point Break's push for a marquee 5* Grand Prix to Scott Brash's win machine with Hello Chadora Lady, plus Belgium's rising tide of young riders and young horses, we tee up the weekend's must-watch combinations with data to back the hype.

In this RED MILLS Special, Charlotte and Diarm relive all the drama of the Rolex Grand Prix of Spruce Meadows – from Martin Fuchs' shock parting with Leone Jei to Brash's history-making triumph with Hello Jefferson.

They also dive into a thrilling Nations Cup where Great Britain claimed their first five-star win of the year, with Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette stealing the show. The pair reflect on what it all means for the British, US, Irish and Dutch teams heading into 2026.

Finally, attention turns to what's coming next: the Dutch stars lining up in Riesenbeck an...

It's been a huge summer of show jumping, and the Flair Overview team is back to unpack the highlights. From Nina Mallevaey's breakthrough five-star Grand Prix win to Laura Kraut's emotional Dublin triumph, plus the rise of young French talent and the US riders' hot streak, this episode dives into the stories behind the results.

Episode Highlights

On the eve of the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, Charlotte Smet is joined by Sam Watson and Jumping Podcast newcomer Ali Barrett for a deep dive into this year's Nations Cup of Ireland.

Ireland are the favourites, coming in with a 34% win chance, but can they finally deliver the win at home? Sam brings the analytics, Ali brings the rookie questions (and charm), and Charlotte keeps it all on track as they preview the teams, horses, and podium potential.

🎙️ Your Hosts: Meet Charlotte Smet, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson...

It's Dublin Horse Show week, and things have gone totally rogue at EquiRatings HQ. In this surprise crossover episode, Nicole Brown is joined by a very special crew — jumping podcast host Charlotte Smet, eventing's newest content wizard Ali Barrett, and the trustry senior analyst Georgia Patrick — for an unauthorised Alphabetti Spaghetti.

What started as a quiet moment while Diarm was in a meeting quickly spiralled into full-blown podcasting chaos, live from a glass-walled booth in the middle of Dublin.

This is Alphabetti Spaghetti  — jumping meets eventing, first dates are discussed, anger and rage are confessed, and the...

The RDS Dublin Horse Show is nearly here and it's set to be one of the biggest weekends in Irish show jumping. Charlotte and Diarm are on the pod to get stuck into all the stories, form, and fan favourites heading to the RDS.

They look at the pressure and potential surrounding Ireland's home team for the Aga Khan Nations Cup, highlight the top horses flying under the radar, and dig into the formlines behind stars like ESI Rocky, Eddy Blue, Chaccolino, and Bisquetta.

They talk US firepower, Swiss history, Laura Kraut's hunt for a...

It's Project Chocolate & Chips in full swing as Charlotte, Diarm and Georgia react to an unforgettable day at the European Championships.

Team Belgium delivered a superb performance to claim team gold, showing their incredible depth and composure — all without even bringing their top-rated horse!

The team also dig deep into the individual competition, where 13 riders sit within one rail heading into the final. The discussion covers:

The European Championship picture is starting to take shape! With France, Ireland, Great Britain, and Italy all announcing their squads, the EquiRatings Jumping Podcast team – Sam Watson, Diarmuid Byrne, and Charlotte Smet – jump into the numbers, the narratives, and the big questions ahead of Aachen.

What's the form really saying? Which team looks most complete? And which combinations are emerging as potential stars of 2025?

🎙️ Your Hosts: Meet Charlotte Smet, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings team, who spend their time deep in number-crunching for new insights on the equestrian world.

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The first nations have declared for the 2025 European Championships—and the contrast couldn't be sharper. Charlotte Smet and Diarmuid Byrne break down Belgium and Sweden's announced teams, revealing two vastly different pictures of preparation, power, and podium potential.

From Belgium's data-backed form and rising stars to Sweden's surprise omissions and worrying 2025 stats, this is your early intel on how the Championship landscape is shaping up—with the EquiRatings Prediction Centre already tipping the scales.

🎙️ Your Hosts: Meet Charlotte Smet, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings team, who spend their time deep in number-cr...

With the Longines League of Nations in Rotterdam serving as the final showdown before the 2025 European Championships, Charlotte Smet and Diarmuid Byrne dive deep into what this weekend means for the sport's biggest nations and what it might tell us about the summer ahead.

From Dutch dominance at home to Irish form on the rise, the pair break down the top contenders, reveal standout stats, and look at the big-picture implications for La Coruña.

Can the Dutch finally light the LLN flame on home soil? Will Ireland's young guns deliver under pressure? And is M...

May delivered career milestones, breakthrough wins, and a shakeup at the top of the sport, and the Flair Overview crew is here to break it all down. From Scott Brash's triple five-star triumph to Monaco's long-awaited second win, this month was packed with power, pace, and a few perfect rising stars making serious moves.

Join Sam Watson and Charlotte Smet as they spotlight the month's biggest winners, dive into the top 10 on the Elo rating, and unpack who's rising, who's regrouping, and who's quietly building towards a massive summer.

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This s...

Aside from Point Break and United Touch S being back in the ring since World Cup Finals, the Royal Windsor Horse Show will also double as an unofficial Great-British Team Trial and the next clash of 2024's two biggest "talking horses."

In this episode, Charlotte and Sam explore:

Kent Farrington has finally broken Henrik von Eckermann's 33-month reign at the top of the Longines rankings, and he'll be wearing the coveted World No. 1 armband for the first time in Madrid. Charlotte, Sam Watson and Diarmuid Byrne dive into:

With no five-star Grand Prix action this past weekend, Sam Watson and Charlotte Smet dove into something even more exciting: a first-look prediction at the 2025 European Championships in La Coruña. From sunshine in Spain to rain in Ireland, the pair analyze the top nine European nations (plus a bonus U.S. spotlight) and debate who should be on the teams, who's in top form, and who's got something to prove.

Using EquiRatings data and plenty of strong opinions, Sam and Charlotte play selector, building potential squads for each nation based on current ratings, clear round percentages, a...

March delivered one of the biggest stretches in recent show jumping memory — and the Flair Overview crew is here to unpack every detail. From Checker's dramatic US Open victory to Julien Épaillard's data-fueled World Cup Finals gamble, this month had it all: stats, strategy, and standout performances.

Join Sam Watson, Charlotte Smet, and Diarmuid Byrne as they dive deep into the month's major storylines, reveal the current top 10 horses on form and ELO, and debate what makes a true champion — consistency, flash, or the ability to close in the jump-off.

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The 2025 FEI Jumping World Cup Final is here — and it's wide open.

Ben Maher and Point Break lead the Prediction Centre for tonight (Day 1). Beauville Z has been a model of consistency. Martin Fuchs rides with a home crowd behind him. Vogel and United Touch sat out Wellington to prep for this. But who wins?

In this episode, Diarm and Charlotte dive into:

Why Thursday's speed class is imporatnt for the trends

The three biggest contenders (and what makes them dangerous)

Dark horses to watch, including fan-favorites and rising st...