Ireland best represented in Hippomundo Rider ranking

If you take a look at the ranking list of the best show jumpers in the world, you will see a colourful mix of many different nations. However, some nations stand out and are represented more often, which can be due to many different reasons. The size and popularity of the equestrian sport in the nation, the quality of the training or even the horses.

The country with the most riders in the top 50 of the Hippomundo Rider ranking is Ireland. This country manages to draw attention to itself time and time again in the Grand Prix thanks to their excellent riders. Especially in recent years, Ireland has been able to make a name for itself on the international show jumping scene and has repeatedly shone through individual performances, but also as a team. Ireland is also the only country that has two athletes in the top 10, Conor Swail and Bertram Allen, who rank seventh and eighth respectively. All other countries are represented individually. The Irish riders alone have a current winning sum of € 1,779,834. This only puts them in 4th place in the overall ranking of countries with the highest prize money.

© MH Blanchet

Germany and Belgium are represented by 7 riders each. These nations have been among the best in the world for many years. At the moment, the challenge is to hold one's own against rising nations such as Ireland and to defend one's position with the help of good breeding and training.

Daniel Deusser is currently the most successful rider under the German flag and is in 4th place in the overall ranking. Germany has won €4,057,730 this year and is in second place just behind France in terms of total amount of prize money won per nation.

Belgium's best rider Grégory Wathelet still holds his position in 9th place just inside the top 10, with prize money of €305,000, won mainly on his best horse Nevados S. His teammates all finished in the second half of the top 50.

Arnd Bronkhorst - Daniel Deusser

The Netherlands manages to place six riders of their nation in this ranking. Right in third place you find the most successful among them: Harrie Smolders. He won most of his 413,000€ prize money aboard Monaco. Their biggest success this year was the second place in the Grand Prix of 's Hertogenbosch and most recently the pair also took the runner-up position in the GCT Grand Prix of Saint Tropez.

MH Blanchet

France has 4 riders in the current ranking of the best 50 show jumpers in the world. The most successful French rider is Kevin Staut with € 319,000 won. He owes most of the prize money he won to his Holsteiner mare Cheppetta. The pair is placed in almost 50% of their starts, an impressive rate.

The USA was also able to provide 3 riders in this ranking. The total winnings of McLain Ward (rank 5), Kent Farrington (rank 18) and Laura Kraut ( rank 50) amount to 703.122 €. In the ranking of nations, i.e. counting all American riders, the USA ranks fifth.

There are 6 other countries that have placed 2 riders in the top 50 (Brazil, Israel, Italy, England, Switzerland as well as Sweden), one of whom is leading the ranking and one of whom is successfully defending 2nd place: Martin Fuchs (Switzerland) and Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden).

Canada, Austria and Mexico have one rider among the top 50 of the world's best show jumpers.

Check out the entire ranking here.