All Horses Pass Inspection at FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final

18 horse-and-rider athletes representing 15 nations convene in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:35am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the horse inspection and dressage competition at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, with sharp geometric planes in vibrant colors representing the athletes, horses, and arena.The geometric deconstruction of the world's top dressage horses and riders as they gather for the prestigious 2026 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas.Fort Worth Today

The 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final kicked off in Fort Worth, Texas with the horse inspection, where all 18 horse-and-rider combinations were approved to move on to the first round of competition. The lineup includes several top-ranked riders from around the world, including four-time Olympic veteran Patrick Kittel of Sweden, who is seeking his second World Cup championship in three years.

Why it matters

The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final is one of the most prestigious annual events in the sport of dressage, featuring the world's top horse-and-rider combinations competing for the coveted World Cup title. The event's return to the United States after several years abroad is an exciting opportunity for American dressage fans to witness world-class competition.

The details

Under sunny skies, the 18 horse-and-rider athletes representing 15 nations convened at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas for the horse inspection and facility familiarization ahead of the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final. Riders were given 30 minutes each to introduce their horses to the show ring before presenting them to the ground jury, all of whom were approved to advance to the first round of competition.

  • The horse inspection took place on the afternoon of April 8, 2026.
  • The opening ceremonies for dressage competition will kick off at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The €25,000 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final Grand Prix will start at 7 p.m. on April 9, 2026.
  • The €275,000 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final Grand Prix Freestyle will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Patrick Kittel

A four-time Olympic veteran from Sweden who will be seeking his second World Cup championship in three years, having won in 2024 on Touchdown, the mount he will be riding in Fort Worth.

Christian Simonson

A World #9 and Team Prac member from the U.S. who will be making his first appearance in the Final with his horse Indian Rock.

Kevin Kohmann

A World #33 rider from the U.S. who will be competing in the Final for the third consecutive year with his horse Dünensee.

Ben Ebeling

A U.S. rider making his first appearance in the Final with his horse Bellena.

Becky Moody

A World #4 rider from Great Britain competing with her horse Jagerbomb.

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What’s next

Opening ceremonies for dressage competition kick off at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and the 2026 €25,000 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final Grand Prix starts at 7 p.m. The €275,000 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final Grand Prix Freestyle will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of the prestigious FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final to the United States, specifically to the state-of-the-art Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, is an exciting opportunity for American dressage fans to witness world-class competition featuring some of the sport's top-ranked riders and horses.