There’s no denying that the world of equestrianism has changed significantly in recent years. Once upon a time, professional athletes were the exception rather than the norm. Now, thanks in part to social media and increased viewing of equestrian events, it feels like every weekend there’s a major international competition taking place somewhere in the world. There are plenty of opportunities out there for aspiring show jumpers to make their mark, but in order to do so you need to know who the up-and-coming stars are. Here’s our pick of some of the best young riders from around the globe who are expected to make headlines in the coming years...
Molly Blackmore is a 17-year-old from the UK who has already achieved a lot in her short career so far. She won a bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012, and has also represented Great Britain at the Pan American Games and the World Equestrian Games. Blackmore has shown exceptional promise since she was a teenager, and her career path is expected to lead her towards the top level of international show jumping in the near future. Blackmore has been praised for her strong riding style and excellent positioning skills, and she has no problem jumping in classes that are above her level of experience. She is currently training with British rider and multiple world championship finalist, Andrew White, who has been coaching her since she was 15 years old.
Meredith Reimer is a 27-year-old from the US who is one of the most successful female riders in history. She won her first major competition at the age of 18, and has gone on to earn a total of $1.5 million in career earnings. Reimer was also the first rider to ever compete in the FEI World Cup Finals for the North American continent, and she currently holds a total of 18 Grand Prix wins in her career. She has also jumped in a number of international championship events, including the Pan American Games, the FEI World Equestrian Games, and the World Championship Final. Reimer was also a member of the American team that won gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and she is currently training with the likes of Andrew White and Brad Abolt.
Jennifer Patterson is a 22-year-old Australian who has been competing in show jumping since she was 16 years old. She has been particularly successful in the Equitana Series, where she has won a total of 10 out of 12 competitions. Patterson has also been selected to represent Australia at the Pan American Games for the last two years, and she has won a bronze medal at the 2016 Games in Toronto. She has also competed in the FEI World Cup Finals, riding in the $5,000 event in Wellington, New Zealand. Patterson has been praised for her excellent jumping skills, excellent horse sense, and excellent ability to read her horse. She is currently training with Australian rider and multiple world championship finalist, Brad Abolt.
Rory O’Connagney is a 27-year-old Irish rider who has been competing in show jumping since he was 18 years old. He has been a member of the Irish team at the Olympics for the last two years, but he has yet to qualify for the final. O’Connagney has also been a member of the Irish team at the Pan American Games, and he has won a bronze medal at the 2014 Games in Miami. O’Connagney has impressed with his excellent horse sense, excellent jumping skills, and excellent ability to read his horse. He is currently training with Irish rider and multiple world championship finalist, Brad Abolt.
Kellan Robbins is a 19-year-old American who has been competing in show jumping since she was 14 years old. She is one of the most successful female riders in the history of the sport, and she has already achieved a lot at an incredibly young age. Robbins was named the USET Rookie of the Year in 2013, and she has been a member of the USET team ever since. She has also jumped in a number of important championship events, including the Pan American Games, the FEI World Equestrian Games, and the World Championship Final. Robbins has been praised for her excellent jumping skills, excellent horse sense, and excellent ability to read her horse. She is currently training with the likes of Brad Abolt and Australian rider, Andrew White.
Sophia Henderson is a 19-year-old Australian who has been competing in show jumping since she was 14 years old. She is one of the most successful female riders in history, and she has achieved a lot in her short career so far. Henderson won her first major competition at the age of 16, and she has gone on to earn a total of $500,000 in career earnings. She has also jumped in a number of important championship events, including the Pan American Games, the FEI World Equestrian Games, and the World Championship Final. Henderson has been praised for her excellent jumping skills, excellent horse sense, and excellent ability to read her horse. She is currently training with the likes of Brad Abolt and Australian rider, Andrew White.