The International Jumping Riders Club since 1977 is the voice of the showjumping riders from around the world.
International Jumping Riders Club
ROAD TO ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL: Kent Farrington
KENT FARRINGTON (USA) - 28/12/1980 -
Kent Farrington has been cruising steadily at the top of the rankings for a while and has qualified for 7 editions of the ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 in the last nine years. He topped this competition twice: in 2019 with Austria 2 and in 2015 with Voyeur. He is the only Us rider to have reached this milestone. In 2023 he was on the Top Ten podium 3rd with Greya, the mare with which he would achieve what he considers his greatest achievement in 2024: winning the Grand Prix of the Rolex Series in La Baule. Kent is a real asset to the US team at the world's top events. In 2016, at the Olympics in Rio, he played a main role in the US team's silver medal win. More recently, Kent has been silver medallist at the PanAmerican Games in Santiago 2023, where his team topped the podium
Kent began cultivating his equestrian reputation when he won the gold medal at the 1999 North American Young Riders International Competition. He was 18 years old. Stubborn, perfectionist and resolute, he grew up in downtown Chicago, in a family that had nothing to do with horses and yet supported him greatly in his passion.
His start was uphill: as a boy he used to travel three hours a day for training and sometime he happened to ride up to twenty horses that he trained for competitions and equestrian shows.
In February 2018, he had a bad accident during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington that made people worry about his future as a rider. But Kent turned even this difficult circumstance into a challenge and, thanks to his determination, achieved another great personal victory.
You’ve already topped this competition twice (2015 on Voyeur and 2019 on Austria 2). Could you describe the feeling you can get from the Geneve’s public?
«Geneve’s crowd is one of the best in the sport. They are knowledgeable about the sport and very supportive. I love it».
What is the moment from last season that you carry in your heart?
«Winning the Rolex series Grand Prix of La Baule was a highlight. It was my first Grand Prix win with Greya».
What plans do you have for 2025?
«Try and do a bit better than 2024! Keep improving».
They say the Rolex IJRC Top Ten Final in Geneve is special... What is the added value of this competition for you?
«The Rolex IJRC Top Ten Final is one the years highlights of our sport. It’s a special unique class of the best of the best going head to head at the end of year».