FEI Rankings April 2026: Scott Brash holds world number one as pressure builds
Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) has released its latest monthly rankings, with Britain’s Scott Brash maintaining his position at the top of the Longines Rankings, although his advantage is beginning to narrow as rivals close in during a competitive start to the 2026 season.
Brash, who delivered a standout performance in Paris last month with Hello Chadora Lady, sits on 3,497 points. However, American rider Kent Farrington has reduced the gap to just 196 points after securing victory in Wellington, underlining how quickly the leaderboard could shift in the coming weeks.
Longines Rankings: momentum building behind Brash
While Brash remains in control for now, the chasing pack is gathering momentum. Germany’s Richard Vogel has moved into third place following an impressive run of four international victories across Ocala and Wellington, climbing above Britain’s Ben Maher, who now sits fourth.
Belgium’s Gilles Thomas holds steady in fifth, while France’s Nina Mallevaey continues her rise, moving into sixth and retaining her position as the highest-ranked female rider.
Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam also climbs the standings to seventh, reflecting consistent performances on the international circuit, while France’s Julien Epaillard remains eighth.
Further movement sees Olympic individual gold medallist Christian Kukuk drop to ninth, with USA’s Laura Kraut rounding out the top 10.
Outside the top 10, McLain Ward has slipped to 12th and will be absent from upcoming competition due to injury following a fall earlier in the spring, a setback that could impact his ranking position further in the months ahead.
Longines League of Nations: USA holds off challengers
In team competition, the Longines League of Nations standings remain tightly contested. Team USA continues to lead on 15,258 points, but Belgium has edged closer in second, narrowing the gap compared to previous months.
A notable change sees France move ahead of Great Britain into third place, with Team GBR now fourth. Ireland remains fifth, followed by Germany and the Netherlands, with Switzerland, Italy and Brazil completing the top 10.
With only small margins separating several of the leading nations, the standings remain highly fluid as the season progresses.
Eventing: Harry Meade leads strong British presence
In the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, Britain’s Harry Meade continues to lead the way on 588 points, maintaining a comfortable advantage at the top.
Meade’s position comes at a key point in the season, with multiple top-level entries planned for both Badminton and Kentucky, highlighting the depth of form within his string.
USA’s Boyd Martin remains second on 537 points, while Britain’s Laura Collett holds third on 469. Collett is currently recovering from surgery following a fall but is expected to return to competition, adding further intrigue to the rankings battle.
The remainder of the top 10 remains unchanged, with New Zealand’s Tim Price fourth, followed by Britain’s Ros Canter in fifth and Tom McEwen in sixth — underlining the continued strength of British eventing on the world stage.
Para dressage: Howard continues dominance
In para dressage, Fiona Howard remains the dominant force in the individual rankings. The Paris 2024 triple gold medallist has extended her lead to 1,646 points following another series of victories in Wellington, achieved with a temporary mount while her usual partnership remains sidelined.
Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing stays second, with Kate Shoemaker in third.
The USA also leads the team standings, ahead of Great Britain and Germany, with little change among the top nations.
Driving and endurance: tight margins and steady leaders
In driving, Germany’s Anna Sandmann has taken over the number one position in the pairs rankings, where just two points separate the top three competitors.
Australia’s Boyd Exell continues to dominate the four-in-hand standings, maintaining a significant lead, while France’s Marion Vignaud holds firm at the top of the singles rankings.
In endurance, France’s Melody Theolissat retains her position as world number one rider, despite limited appearances at the highest level so far this season.
Meanwhile, India’s Bhanwar Singh Khiv Singh Rathore continues to lead the trainers’ rankings, highlighting the global spread of talent across the discipline.
What it means ahead of the spring majors
With major fixtures such as Badminton Horse Trials and the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event approaching, the April rankings provide a timely snapshot of current form across disciplines.
In jumping, the narrowing gap behind Brash suggests the world number one position is far from secure, while in eventing, a strong British contingent continues to dominate the upper ranks.
Across all disciplines, the early months of the season are already shaping the narrative for 2026 — and with key competitions still to come, further changes in the rankings appear inevitable.
Feature image: Scott BRASH (GBR) and HELLO FOLIE compete in the team final at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2025 – Casas Novas, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain – 18 July 2025 – photo Jon Stroud Media
