After a six-month hiatus, this Saturday, October 7 marks the return of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series with the first, North American League (NAL) qualifier of the season.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Sacramento will once again take place in Rancho Murieta, California, at the Sacramento International Horse Show (October 4–8). There, a start-list of international horse and rider combinations will vie for preliminary points up for grab this season ahead of next year’s Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (April 16–20, 2024). 

Last year, North America’s speedy Irish contingent dominated (we see you Daniel Coyle and Conor Swail), trailed closely behind by Israel’s Daniel Bluman. Yet at the close of three days of competition at the World Cup™ Final, itself, it would be the USA’s fourth-ranked Hunter Holloway who had the last laugh—earning the bronze medal and the highest placing for a NAL rider overall.

What’s at stake

Following the same format first initiated two years ago, the NAL will offer just eight qualifying legs as opposed to the 14 classes previously available and a shortened, largely indoor, season. 

Here’s a look at the 2023 lineup, which may look awfully familiar (read: identical) to the schedule last year: 

  • Rancho Murieta (USA) — Oct. 4-8, 2023
  • Upper Marlboro (USA) — Oct. 24-29, 2023
  • Lexington (USA) — Oct. 31- Nov. 5, 2023
  • Toronto (Canada) — Nov. 7-11, 2023
  • Las Vegas (USA) — Nov. 13-19, 2023
  • Fort Worth (USA) —  Dec. 12-17, 2023
  • Puebla (Mexico) — Jan. 24-28, 2024
  • Ocala (USA) — March 14-17, 2024

Each rider’s best four results at World Cup Qualifier competitions determines how they rank in the overall standings, with more points awarded to higher placings on the results list (i.e. the winner is awarded one more point than the total number of starters; second place gets two less points than the winner, and down the list it goes). 

In the end, the top seven riders from the USA’s East Coast, the top three riders from the West Coast, the top-two Canadian riders, and the top-two Mexican riders in the standings are invited to attend. 

What about the rest of the world?

Things get slightly more complicated across the pond, and even more so when it comes to the rest of the globe. The highly competitive Western European League, for example, holds a total of 14 qualifiers, with 18 placings up for grabs determined by each rider’s seven-best results. 

Other regions are divided into combined leagues as follows: 

  • Central Europe – 3 places
  • South America (South) – 2 places
  • Australia – 2 places
  • Central America, the Caribbean Islands, Japan, South America (North), New Zealand, China (which has once again canceled its 2023 season), South East Asia, and South Africa – 1 place
  • The Arab League (including Sub-Leagues in the Middle East – 3 places; and North Africa – 2 places)
  • Korea – 1 place
  • Eurasia – 3 places

A full breakdown of the qualification process by league is available on page 14 of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Rules here.  

Who will shine this year during the NAL indoors season? And will their luck hold in the final next year? Stay tuned to find out!

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