As U.S. athletes look back on valuable experience gained at the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals in Switzerland, the next stop on the World Cup journey is on home soil, in the Lone Star State―Texas. Mark your calendars for April 8-12, 2026!
Honored to be working on assignment for Horse Illustrated magazine and website, I was accompanied on the trip by colleague Alan Whinery who helped me tote the luggage and equipment, planned our train routes and hotel stops, and assisted with photos and notes at the World Cup Finals. A huge thanks to him for keeping the trip running smoothly, and to my editors at Horse Illustrated, Mary Cage and Holly Caccamise!
Swiss Stop #1: The FEI Sports Forum
In Lausanne I had the opportunity to attend the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sports) Sports Forum for two days before going on to Basel for the FEI World Cup Finals. Staged by the FEI staff and committee members, and attended by various stakeholders from around the world, the Forum is held annually in the spring. It provides a platform for presentation of current equestrian sports topics with time for open discussion from the audience. It was great to see the FEI encouraging their members to offer their thoughts and opinions for the betterment of our sport.
The Forum gives the FEI Board of Directors valuable feedback from members before they meet again later in the year to conduct the business of the organization. Topics of discussion from this year’s Forum included equine welfare, a strategic plan going forward for dressage, athlete quotas for equestrian sports at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the process to elect a new FEI president, a plan for FEI officials development and retention, and rule changes for show jumping, eventing, and driving and para-driving.
During the breaks I had the chance to interact with not only helpful FEI staff members, but also equestrians from around the globe. For instance, I met a lady from Algeria who was representing the African Equestrian Federation at the Forum. She was quite interested in knowing more about our show hunter divisions as they don’t have that competition discipline in Africa.
Located in the French speaking part of Switzerland, and situated on scenic Lake Geneva, which is bordered by snowcapped mountains, Lausanne is known as “the Olympic city” because it is the home of both the International Olympic Committee headquarters as well as the Olympic Museum. Strategically, it is also the location of the FEI headquarters in the HM King Hussein Building (sold to the FEI for 1 Euro by King Hussein’s daughter and former FEI President Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan). Alan and I made time to take photos (with my Horse Illustrated tote bag in hand, of course!) in front of the FEI building and the Olympic Museum.
As we strolled around town in the evening, we saw several LA28 Olympic countdown clocks. One displayed “1200 days, 16 hours, 50 minutes and 14 seconds” as we passed it, hinting that it won’t be long until the world’s best athletes gather in California for another Olympic and Paralympic Games. As one of the speakers at the Forum said regarding the work ahead to be done in a relatively short time before LA28, “The days are long, but the years short.”
Swiss Stop #2: The 2025 FEI World Cup Finals
After two nights in Lausanne, it was time to board another train for Basel, Switzerland, and get settled in to report on the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals for dressage, show jumping and vaulting for the next five days. The sun was setting as we boarded the train so we didn’t get much sightseeing in as the train made its way from the French-speaking section of Switzerland to the German-speaking area. (There is also an Italian-speaking region in Switzerland, and although we didn’t get there, our hotel offered television stations in all three languages as well as a few in English.)
Basel is Switzerland’s third most populous city behind Zurich and Geneva, with roughly 177,500 residents. The Rhine River runs through the city which boasts both large and small “old city” historic sections as well as many museums featuring art, history, natural history, antique and classic automobiles, toys, and other interesting things. There are also many beautiful cathedrals, one of which is the Basel Münster that has a particularly interesting history (once a Catholic cathedral, it is now Reformed Protestant church). Offered in restaurants there were Swiss specialties such as fondue, raclette (a hands-on dish where they bring you a burner to melt slices of cheese to use to smother accompanying potatoes) and, of course, Swiss chocolate.
The large, modern multi-use St. Jakobshalle (St. Jakob’s Hall) was the venue for the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals. Two short tram rides (free to visitors staying in local hotels via a “Basel Pass” you receive at check in) took us to the venue each day. St. Jakobshalle hosts a big horse show each year in January, which is one reason it was selected for the World Cup Finals this year.
The indoor main arena was bordered by seating on two sides, with VIP dining tables overlooking the arena on both ends. Quite steep stairs filed spectators up and out of the seating areas and made it seem to the competitors that the audience was right on top of them. This factor contributed to the heightened “atmosphere” and affected some of the horses’ performances, U.S. riders Adrienne Lyle’s Helix and Geñay Vaughn’s Gino among them. Riders warmed up their horses in outside arenas, then entered the hall to compete.
During the World Cup Finals, for the most part the stands were packed with knowledgeable fans (except for the dressage Grand Prix held during the work/school day on Friday afternoon when the seats were about half-empty). We noticed a surprisingly large group of U.S. fans in the audience who made the long trip to support our athletes. Many shopping booths and food vendors both inside and outside the building offered attendees many choices.
Each day, Swiss musicians and trainers from a Swiss equestrian act, staged a “Swiss Show” performance in between competition sessions. A band, complete with an Alpenhorn soloist, played traditional music and a Swiss choir belted out perfectly pitched a cappella yodels and songs. National-Circus Knie presented an at-liberty 28-horse carousel using Arabian, Andalusian, Friesian, and Lusitano stallions. The Swiss Show was capped with rhythmical beats of the Basel-based Top Secret Drum Corps, a group so impressive that actor Tom Cruise recruited them to appear in his Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning movie. It will be interesting to see what entertainment offerings the organizers in Texas will have in store for us for next April.
As journalists, we were lucky to be included in the complimentary meals offered in a large dining hall inside the building where other credentialed individuals also took their meals. The group dining there included athletes, coaches, grooms, volunteers, costumed entertainers and others―a rare opportunity to see them all interacting in the same space.
2025 FEI World Cup Finals: U.S. Athletes & Their Results
Though not a team event, U.S. athletes at the World Cup Finals are selected to compete representing the USA as individuals. This year, US Equestrian supported athletes in all three sports competing in Basel. They are listed in alphabetical order below along with their placings.
In a year with no major games (no Olympics or Pan American Games or World Championships), the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals was a chance for our U.S. athletes to gain valuable international experience to build our ranks for the Aachen (Germany) 2026 World Championships, the 2027 Pan American Games in Peru, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Our riders and coaches took full advantage of the opportunity and glimpses of great things to come shined through from our U.S. contingent.
U.S. Dressage Competitors:
◆ Kevin Kohmann (Wellington, Fla.) and Duenensee, a 2009 KWPN gelding (Dancier x Davignon I) owned by Diamante Farms and cared for by German Rodriguez, 14th in the Grand Prix (69.130%), 10th in Grand Prix Freestyle (75.535%)
◆ Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Helix, a 2012 KWPN gelding (Apache x Jazz) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, 9th in the Grand Prix (72.565%), 16th in the Grand Prix Freestyle (71.255%)
◆ Geñay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Gino, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Haarlem) owned by Michele Vaughn and cared for by Alex Levine-Nevel, 17th in the Grand Prix (62.978%), 14th in the Grand Prix Freestyle, (73.765%)
Lyle’s top-ten finish with Helix in the Grand Prix on day one, and all three U.S. combinations scoring above 70% in the Freestyle (with Kohmann and Duenensee in the top ten) on the second day were highlights for the USA.
“It was amazing walking into the arena. I had so many people here to support me―it meant a lot,” said Kohmann after their Freestyle. “Our relationship together [with Duenensee, a.k.a. Denzel] has grown so much over the past few years. I’ve never had a horse that I thought could ever take me to the places Denzel has and it’s really an honor to be able to experience moments like this with my best friend in the ring. He’s given me everything, and while tonight may not have been our most perfect performance, I could still feel him enjoying every movement and feeding off the energy of the crowd.”
U.S. Jumping Competitors:
◆ Kaitlin Campbell (Temecula, Calif.) and Castlefield Cornelious, a 2011 Oldenburg stallion (Cornet Obolensky x Contender) owned by Mirasol Equestrian LLC and cared for by Erick Garcia, 24th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 25th in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III, but eliminated in Round B due to a rider fall, Final result of 20th overall
◆ Shawn Casady (Harriman, Tenn.) and Cool Quarz, 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Quarz x San Patrignano Cassini) owned by Morning-Star Sporthorses, LLC and cared for Cristofer Mendoza, 28th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 30th in Class II, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 30th overall
◆ Katie Dinan (New York, N.Y.) and Out of the Blue SCF, an American-bred 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare (Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini) owned by Grant Road Partners LLC and cared for by Lou Beudin, 11th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 21st in Class II, Only combination to go clear in both Round A and B of Class III to finish 1st in that class, Final result of 8th overall and best US finish
◆ Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) and Kick On, a 2014 British Sport Horse stallion (Warrior x Caretino Glory) owned by Chansonette Farm and cared for by Kelly Rohe, 3rd in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 9th in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III and 12 faults in Round B for a tie of 17th in that class, Final result of 15th overall
◆ McKayla Langmeier (Wellington, Fla.) and Mimosa vd Rollebeek, a 2012 Belgian Warmblood mare (Castelino van de Helle x Toulon) owned by Rafferty Farm LLC and cared for Beth McGranahan, 35th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 29th in Class II, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 31st overall
◆ Alise Oken (Charlotte, N.C.) and Gelvera, a 2011 KWPN mare (Quality Time TN x Numero Uno) owned by Hi Hopes Farm LLC and cared for by Gail Sheperd and Lucile Thomas, 25th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), Eliminated in Class II for refusals, Did not compete in Class III, Final result of 33rd overall
◆ Kristen Vanderveen (Wellington, Fla.) and Bull Run’s Jireh, a 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman) owned by Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. and cared for by herself, 21stin Class I (Speed & Handiness), 23rd in Class II, Clear in Round A of Class III and 12 faults in Round B to finish in a tie for 17th in that class, Final result of 19th overall
◆ Alessandra Volpi (Woodside Calif.) and Gipsy Love, a 2014 Silesian Warmblood mare (Guidam Sohn x L’Espirit) owned by Cedar Fox Farm and cared for by Yuliya Pachtsennay, 12th in Class I (Speed & Handiness), 3rd in Class II, Did not compete in Class III due to mare sustaining a heal grab injury during schooling, Final result of 26th overall
U.S. rider Laura Kraut was nominated to compete on Baloutinue, but pulled out at the last minute, stating that Baloutinue had a minor injury that was already on the mend, but said that she wanted to allow him full time to heal before the rest of the upcoming 2025 outdoor European circuit.
Notable among the U.S. jumper performances were Keenan and Kick On finishing third on the first day, Volpi and Gipsy Love taking third on day two, and Dinan’s two clear rounds (the only combination from any country to achieve that) on the final day with American-bred Out of the Blue SCF (bred by Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky).
U.S. Jumper Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland commented on the week in Basel after the final round on Sunday, “We had some really great results this week in Basel, and a few of our younger combinations really stepped up and showed off some class riding. I was really impressed today in the first round when all four of our combinations laid down clear rounds. For Katie to finish the way she did with Out of the Blue SCF was very impressive, considering none of the other combinations in the whole class delivered two consecutive clear rounds today.”
U.S. Vaulting Competitors:
◆ Daniel Janes (Stanwood, Wash.) and Caretes Auhoern, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Caretino 2 x Colman), owned and lunged by Jana Leib, and cared for by Leona Schreiner, 8th in the Tech Test (7.294), 8th in the Free Test (7.798), 8th overall
◆ Caroline Morse (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Rey Rubino, a 2017 Hanoverian gelding, (Rotspon x Christ 3) owned by Claire Bartell, cared for by Isabell Nowak, and lunged by Lars Hansen, 8th in the Tech Test (5.846), 7th in the Free Test (7.397), 8th overall
◆ Kimberly Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) and Rosenstolz 99, a 2007 Rheinlander gelding (Rosencharmeur x Fidermark), owned by Club Ippico Monzese A.S.D., cared for by Kevine Moneuse, and lunged by Laura Carnabuci, 5th in the Tech Test (7.419), 5th in the Free Test (8.765), 5th overall
There was also a vaulting Pas de Deux (pairs) division, but the USA didn’t send a pair to compete.
The U.S. vaulters were really just starting their competition season, so for them the World Cup comes early in the calendar. All three vaulters improved their scores significantly on day two in the Free Test.
Janes was chosen by the FEI for an interview for an upcoming video production called RIDE. While photographing action in the main arena, I stood near the FEI videographer who spoke with him. When she learned that I was from the USA, she told me how much he impressed her as one of her favorite interviewees and praised him for his articulate comments and his regard for and rapport with his horse.
Winners from Basel
The top three in dressage at the World Cup were Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale of Great Britain, first; Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz of Germany, second; and Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD of Norway, third. It was the first top-three finish in Dressage World Cup Finals history for a rider from Norway. Read more here.
Winners in the jumping were Julien Epaillard of France riding his home-bred Selle Français gelding Donatello d’Auge. Second was Ben Maher (despite competing with a broken foot) of Great Britain who guided Point Break to that great finish. Third was another Frenchman Kevin Staut on yet another Selle Français gelding Visconti du Telman. Read more here.
German vaulter Kathrin Meyer captured first in Individual Female Vaulting with Capitain Claus OLD, her third consecutive World Cup title. Topping the Individual Male Vaulting division was France’s Quentin Jabet with Goldjunge. Italian vaulting pair Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella proved they were the best in the Pas de Deux performing their routines aboard Orlando Tancredi. Read more here.
Find all of the competitor lists, orders of go, results and jumping course maps from the 2025 Basel FEI World Cup Finals here.
View replays of all of the Basel World Cup action on FEI TV via the ClipMyHorse platform (premium subscription required, but a free trial may be possible) here.
On To Fort Worth 2026
So, now it’s our turn―on to Fort Worth, Texas a year from now, April 8-12, 2026, when they will host the FEI World Cup Dressage and Jumping Finals. Derek Braun, of the Fort Worth 2026 World Cup Organizing Committee and founder of Slit Rock Jumping Tour, was in Basel.
He participated in the closing ceremony there, where the FEI flag was handed off from the Basel organizers to him. In his acceptance speech he invited the world to Fort Worth to experience the Finals “Texas style.” We can only guess that means bigger than life!
“Our Split Rock team and the City of Fort Worth have been hard at work planning a world-class event unlike anything the sport has ever seen,” said Braun. “My team and I are deeply honored to be able to organize a championship like this, and we look forward to showcasing the best in jumping and dressage in one of the most impressive cities anywhere in the world! We are fully committed to making this World Cup Final the best one ever.”
Tickets and hospitality packages are already on sale. For more information, visit here.
As the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals wrapped, we packed up and hopped yet another train for our final Swiss stop, Zurich. From there it was a day’s worth of airport layovers and airplane rides before we touched down again in the USA. While we enjoyed the journey and the competition very much, it was great to be home. Now, we look forward to reporting on all of the action from Texas next spring!
This article about the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
