September 16, 2024 
No matter how well you prepare, with horses, sometimes it’s your day, and sometimes, it just isn’t.
It’s a story that nobody knows better than Kent Farrington and his 2024 Paris Olympic partner Greya. Things didn’t go as planned for the American pair this summer, when they were unexpectedly forced to step back from competition before the Team qualifier.
This weekend, however, during the kick-off event of the North American League (NAL) Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ season in Traverse City, MI, Farrington and the 10-year-old OS mare proved they’re right where they’re supposed to be.
As the first of seven clears on Irish Course Designer Alan Wade’s 17-effort, 1.60m track, Farrington also became the path finder in the jump-off. There, he opted for an assertive plan that suited his horse, but didn’t leave too much to chance.
“Going first, I thought the [jump-off] would be fast, but I didn’t think that it would be wild. The first part of my round was secure, and at that point going to the last jump, I thought I played it a bit safe,” explained Farrington, noting that he opted to forgo a leave-out option in the first line which didn’t suit Greya in favor of a time-saving turn back to the double.
“I thought I’d done a pretty aggressive round that someone would have to try hard to catch,” continued Farrington, who stopped the clock at 37.19 seconds, just ahead of Great Britain’s Samuel Hutton and Melusina Bvl Z on 37.36 seconds. The USA’s Alise Oken was third on 38.44 seconds with Gelvera.
“[It] was a little closer than I would have liked,” Farrington reflected, “but we had good luck on our side today.”
Good luck was harder to come by this August, when Greya came down with an unexpected cough, forcing Farrington to bow out of the Paris Games just hours before the competition began. (Traveling reserve Karl Cook subsequently stepped in to compete with Caracole De La Roque.) “First, I had to get the horse feeling better.
“I had to give her about 10 days of no riding, let her get on some antibiotics, and then bring her back to America,” said Farrington, adding that he’s opted to let Greya return to work at her own pace.
“I jumped her here [in Traverse City] last week, just some tiny rounds 1.30m/1.35m [and] let her feel good. I built up this week to 1.45m/1.50m, and then [she jumped] today.”
This is the second *5 grand prix win for Greya, who previously took home the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule in June. According to Jumpr, the mare finishes in the top 10 at a stellar 73% clip in 15 starts at 1.60m.
As the highest-placed NAL rider at last year’s FEI World Cup Final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Farrington—who placed fourth—is already eyeing his return in 2025. “[Greya] jumped the World Cup Final last year. She went great; that was kind of a big step up for her,” said the American rider, who also competed the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare, Toulayna.
“I would like to do it with two horses like I did last time. I would say [Greya is] definitely in my sights, and hopefully, the horses are in good form when that comes around,” he said.
“[Greya] was always extremely, extremely careful. She had a little bit of a wild personality, but was always an exceptional athlete and a really special horse,” said Farrington, who has been campaigning the mare since her six-year-old season. “I’m very proud of what she’s developed into, and you know, we’re still at the very start of her career.”
With this victory, Farrington earns a coveted 20 points in the NAL standings, with six qualifiers still to jump in the 2024/2025 season. Next up: Upper Marlboro, MD/Washington D.C. October 21-27.
