FEI Rankings Monthly Update – January 2024
The FEI oversees around 70 Rankings and Standings across all the disciplines, from World Rankings calculated on a monthly basis for Athletes, Horses and/or combinations, to league, team and regional based standings for Series such as the FEI World Cup™ and FEI Nations Cup™, as well as a variety of youth categories, among others.
You will find below a snapshot of the main movers and shakers for the month of January 2024 in the senior World Rankings, as well as a special spotlight on the FEI Dressage World Ranking – Horses for this month’s special “Ranking Spotlight”.
Longines Rankings: Ben Maher contests Henrik von Eckermann’s supremacy
The rivalry within the Longines Rankings has reached new heights with the arrival of the new year, as British rider Ben Maher (3330 points) trails closely behind Swedish rider Henrik von Eckermann (3421 points) by a margin of fewer than a hundred points. This narrow gap represents the closest competition witnessed in recent times. Von Eckermann has maintained his top-ranking status for an impressive 18 months, yet Maher has emerged as a formidable challenger, challenging von Eckermann’s supremacy as 2024 gets underway.
The top 5 is solidified by Kent Farrington (USA) with 3075 points and Steve Guerdat (SUI) with 3047 points, maintaining their third and fourth positions respectively. Julien Epalliard (FRA) ascends to the fifth position with 3023 points, distinguishing these five athletes as the exclusive members surpassing the coveted 3000-point milestone.
In the sixth position, Martin Fuchs (SUI) holds strong with 2835 points, while Simon Delestre (FRA) makes a climb to the seventh position on 2834 points. Austrian athlete Max Kühner secures the eighth spot with 2775 points, surpassing Mclain Ward (USA), who experiences a setback, dropping two positions to ninth on 2750 points. Rounding out the top 10 is Richard Vogel (GER) with 2717 points.
FEI Dressage World Ranking – Athletes: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl remains No.1
No changes at the top 5 of the Dressage World Ranking for Athletes as Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl (GER) remains at the top with 2186 points. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) has climbed two positions to reach the second place (2100 points), surpassing Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN), who are now in third and fourth place respectively. The German legend Isabell Werth rounds up the Top 5 on 2014 points.
FEI Dressage World Ranking – Horses: TSF Dalera BB still on top
While Jessica von Bredow-Werndl leads the Athlete Ranking, her mare TSF Dalera BB still dominates the Horses’ Ranking, accumulating 2186 points. Imhotep, Charlotte Dujardin’s Gelding, is now second with 2100 points. Blue Hors Zepter drops a position and is now third, with Everdale (1929 points) and Emilio 107 (1895 points) completing the top 5
FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings: Oliver Townend & Great Britain continue to dominate
For the fourth consecutive month, British rider Oliver Townend remains at the top of the Eventing Ranking, with the same 569 points he had a couple of months ago. As has been customary in recent months, the British contingent boasts seven athletes within the Top 10. Alongside Townend, Rosalind Canter closely follows in second place with 546 points, Tom McEwen in fourth, Harry Meade in fifth, Piggy March in sixth, Wills Oakden in seventh, and Laura Collett in tenth.
The only non-British athletes in the Top 10 are the American Boyd Martin in third place, the Frenchman Maxime Livio, who remains eighth and Tim Price (NZL) in ninth.
FEI Driving World Ranking – Four-in-Hand / Pairs / Singles: Exell, Hölle and Houtappels-Bruder remain at the top
All three Driving Rankings have the same leaders as last month: Kelly Houtappels-Bruder (CAN) remains at the top of the Singles discipline on 72 points, two months after unseating Mario Gandolfo (SUI). Meanwhile, Boyd Exell (AUS) and Martin Hölle (HUN) continue to maintain their strong leadership of the Four-in-Hand and Pairs Rankings respectively.
FEI Endurance Open Riders: Montagne retains top spot
Julia Montagne (FRA) is the leader of the Endurance Ranking for the second month in a row with 2265 points, while her compatriot Melody Theolissat is second, chasing the top spot closely with 2042 points. Nicolas Ballarin (FRA) is sitting comfortably in third place (1831 points), while Gil Berenguer (ESP) and Louna Schuiten (BEL) hold fourth and fifth places, respectively.
FEI Para Dressage World Individual & Team Ranking: Rihards Snikus and the Netherlands, solid leaders
Rihards Snikus (LAT) continues to lead the Para Dressage Rankings, a position he earned a few months ago, with 1678 points. Meanwhile, Sara Morganti (ITA) successfully holds on to second position on 1630 points, while Kate Shoemaker (USA) remains in third. In the Team Ranking, it’s the Netherlands who still dominate the leaderboard with a total of 1333 points. Germany is now second (1329 points), while the USA follows closely on 1321 points.
Ranking Spotlight
Everdale emerged as the standout performer in the final month of 2023, achieving a remarkable rise of 84 positions in the FEI Dressage World Ranking – Horses. Charlotte Fry’s black stallion delivered an exceptional close to the year, clinching victory in Mechelen (BEL) and earning a commendable second place in London. Everdale not only made a powerful entrance into the top 5 but also solidified his position among the elite equine athletes in the contemporary Dressage scene, alongside notable names like TSF Dalera, Imhotep, and Blue Hors Zepter.
You can check all FEI Rankings here
The Olympic and Paralympic Rankings for Paris 2024 are available here