From April 2 to 6, the Swiss city of Basel will be all about the FEI World Cup Final, one of the most prestigious events in international equestrian sports. Both the world's best show jumping and dressage riders will gather at the iconic St. Jakobshalle to compete for eternal glory.
Defending champion Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) won the past two editions of the FEI World Cup Final Jumping with the BWP'er King Edward, but this year chooses his other topper Iliana. With her, he already won the 5 Grand Prix of Basel earlier this year. Can he join this year's select group of five riders who have won the World Cup Final three times? “* Only Hugo Simon (AUT), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), Marcus Ehning (GER) and Steve Guerdat (SUI) preceded him. If von Eckermann manages to win in Basel as well, he - like Pessoa - will become the only person to have done so three times in a row.
All historical winners of the World Cup finals can be found here.
The Western European League was the largest of this competition with 187 athletes competing in 14 qualifying events. Eighteen qualifying spots were available and the competition to secure one of these spots was as fierce as ever. Kevin Staut (FRA) was in the lead at the beginning of the season and maintained this position until the end. Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) finished second in the competition despite not participating in the last three qualifiers. Pieter Devos (BEL) impressed with a series of consistent performances on with multiple horses during the qualifying rounds, securing the third ranking spot for the Basel final. After finishing eighth in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in 2024 with the then only nine-year-old Casual DV Z, he has chosen to bring the talented mare from his own breeding back into contention for the title. With another year of experience and a string of impressive 5* 1.60m performances on their record, they will be the ones to keep an eye on in Basel.
###With whom will the winners of season 2024/2025 advance to the finals?
Winners Western European League:
| Event | rider | horse | final horse (HR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. WC-Oslo (NOR) | Grégory Wathelet (BEL) | Bond Jamesbond de Hay (SF) | Bond Jamesbond de Hay (HR125) |
| 2. WC-Helsinki (FIN) | Robert Whitaker (GBR) | Vermento (BE/SIES) | Vermento (HR89) |
| 3. WC-Lyon (FRA) | Richard Vogel (GER) | United Touch S (Westf) | United Touch S (HR128) |
| 4. WC-Verona (ITA) | Sophie Hinners (GER) | Iron Dames My Prins (BWP) | Iron Dames My Prins (HR128) |
| 5. WC-Stuttgart (GER) | Richard Vogel (GER) | United Touch S (Westf) | United Touch S (HR128) |
| 6. WC-Madrid (ESP) | Piergorgio Bucci (ITA) | Hantano (KWPN) | no final |
| 7. WC-La Coruña (ESP) | Philipp Weishaupt (GER) | Coby 8 (Hann) | no final |
| 8. WC-London - Excel (GBR) | Darragh Kenny (IRL) | Eddy Blue (OS) | no final |
| 9. WC-Mechelen (BEL) | Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) | Vestmalle des Cotis (SF) | Vestmalle des Cotis (HR98), Elysium (HR102) |
| 10. WC-Basel (SUI) | Julien Epaillard (FRA) | Donatello D'Auge (SF) | Donatello D'Auge (HR128) |
| 11. WC-Leipzig (GER) | Willem Greve (NED) | Highway TN N.O.P. (KWPN) | Highway TN N.O.P.(HR101), Grandorado TN N.O.P (HR84) |
| 12. WC-Amsterdam (NED) | Marc Houtzager (NED) | Sterrehof's Dante (KWPN) | no final |
| 13. WC-Bordeaux (FRA) | Martin Fuchs (SUI) | Conner JEI (Holst) | Conner JEI (HR125p), Leone Jei (HR124) |
| 14. WC-Göteborg (SWE) | Linda Heed (SWE) | Skylander VS (SWB) | no final |
In the North America League, qualifying places are divided into regions. Seven places for athletes from the eastern US, three for athletes from the western US, two for Canada and two for Mexico. Kent Farrington (USA) won twice but will not be in action in Basel, nor will the fifth-placed McLain Ward from the eastern USA. With the absence of two of the USA's “big guns,” the East USA's seven qualifying places go by the wayside, but only six of those places will be taken in Basel. Kirsten Vanderveen (Bull Run's Jireh - HR97), Alise Oken (Gelvera - HR113) and Lillie Keenan (Kick On - HR99), who finished second, third and fourth for East USA, have confirmed their participation in Basel. Laura Kraut (Baloutinue - HR111), McKayla Langmeier (Mimosa vd Rollebeek - HR77) and Katherine Dinan (Out of the Blue SCF - HR86) (the first alternate for qualification by East USA), who finished sixth, seventh and eighth in the competition, will join their compatriots in Switzerland next month.
Winners in the North America League:
| Event | rider | horse | final horse (HR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. WC-Williamsburg (USA) | Kent Farrington (USA) | Greya (OS) | no final |
| 2. WC-Upper Marlboro (USA) | Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) | Major Tom (BWP) | no final |
| 3. WC-Toronto (CAN) | Alex Matz (USA) | Ikigai (KWPN) | no final |
| 4. WC-Arcadia (USA) | Karl Cook (USA) | Caracole de la Roque (SF) | no final |
| 5. WC-Thermal (USA) | Kent Farrington (USA) | Toulayna (Z) | no final |
| 6. WC-Puebla (MEX) | Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso | J'Adore Flamenco (AES) | no final |
| 7. - WC-Ocala (USA) | Cian O'Connor (IRL) | Bentley de Sury (SF) | no final |
Remarkably, no North American League winners are present in the final this year. . So the battle for the World Cup will be settled without the North American winners. **Who will take home the trophy in Basel?
Predicting the World Cup Winner
Based on the Hippomundo Ratings we can see which horses are in shape. We see these participants in the Top 20 of the HR:
| Horse | Rating |
|---|---|
| Point Break | 140p |
| King Edward | 135 |
| Iron Dames My Prins | 128 |
| United Touch S | 128 |
| Beauville Z N.O.P. | 127 |
| Conner JEI | 125p |
| Bond Jamesbond de Hay | 125 |
Certified by Hippomundo © 2025
Point Break the absolute clear round jumper; will he grab the World Cup?
Ben Maher's top stallion Point Break is a true clear jumper. At the 1.60m level, he has jumped 9 consecutive clear rounds over the past 365 days. You can see that here in the clear rounds ranking. Also Elektric Blue P by Max Kühner tops this ranking with 6 clear rounds at 1.60m, as does Bond Jamesbond de Hay by Grégory Wathelet.
Whether it's an established rider looking to expand his record, or a new name looking to ride into the history books-the FEI World Cup Final in Basel promises a battle of the highest caliber. With some of the world's best combinations at the start and a rich tradition to build on, it will undoubtedly be an edition to look forward to.
