November 6, 2016 
What’s faster than Kent Farrington in a speed class?
Kent Farrington after a brief lose streak.
The world #4 ranked rider captured the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington CSI4*-W at the CP National Horse Show on Saturday night for the second year in a row riding Voyeur. And it was a FOMO-attack spurring them on.
“I was really hungry to win something tonight,” said Farrington. “I had not won anything all week. I don’t think anyone even knew I was here! Last week at Washington, I knocked one down in the jump-off so I was looking for redemption.”
Redemption is what he got. Farrington’s time (36.93) was nearly four seconds faster than second place finisher Callan Solem (40.69).
“My plan was to be super aggressive in the jump-off and try to make everyone chase me after that,” said the 2016 Olympic team silver medalist.
To put that into perspective, of the 14 horse and rider combinations in the jump off, ever speedy McLain Ward and HH Azur came closest to Farrington’s time. And they were still more than a second slower. (He finished with four faults in 38.19 seconds).
Naturally, Farrington was delighted with the 14-year-old KWPN gelding.
“I thought my horse was fantastic. He is a speed specialist. I try to keep him under control towards the end of the course so that he doesn’t get running too fast,” he explained. “It wasn’t my smoothest round, but I wanted to lay down a difficult round to beat. My horse delivered tonight and I couldn’t be happier.”
Moral of the story: When Kent wants to win, everyone else might as well shoot for second.
“Kent is definitely one of the best in the world,” said Solem. “I could not have made a plan that would have beat him tonight on that horse.”
With eight of the 14 qualifying events of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League completed, Farrington is currently ranked number one in the East Coast standings of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League. He’s a favorite to qualify for the Final in Omaha.
But whether he’ll compete remains to be seen.
“I don’t know if I’d make Voyeur jump all of those rounds,” said Farrington. “I have some younger horses coming up. There’s still some time before World Cup Finals so I hope they come out strong before April. I’d love to go, but I only want to go if I feel like I have a horse where I could stand a chance. I’ve done it enough times and know what to expect.”
And so does everyone else now if Farrington shows up.
