The final week of the Hudson Valley Jumping Tour® reached its thrilling conclusion on August 2, 2025, as international showjumping took center stage at the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium in Saugerties, New York. Under clear skies and cooler temperatures, the spotlight was firmly on the $116,050 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix CSI3*, where Kent Farrington (USA) once again demonstrated why he holds the title of World Number One.
A familiar face on the podium, Farrington captured his second Grand Prix victory of the series, guiding the talented Grass de Mars (Cornet Obolensky x Dollar de la pierre) to a confident win. The pair also claimed the top spot earlier in the week in the $62,480 Welcome Stake CSI3*, making their presence felt throughout the competition.
Course designer Ken Krome (USA) crafted a technical first round that tested the world-class field, which included Olympic names such as McLain Ward (USA), Nayel Nassar (EGY), and Beat Mändli (SUI). Out of 31 entries, just 11 combinations advanced to the jump-off, representing six different nations.
Setting the pace in the shortened course, Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) was first to return and delivered a double-clear round, holding the lead for much of the jump-off. But it was Farrington—penultimate to go—who shaved nearly two full seconds off her time with a blazing finish of 41.24 seconds, snatching the lead in decisive fashion.
“She’s already won some great classes at five-star shows, and she’s only nine,” Farrington said of the Selle Français mare Grass de Mars (Windows vh Costersveld x Dollar dela Pierre), co-owned by Kent Farrington LLC and Robinson Ridge, LLC. “She’s incredibly fast, very careful, and has all the qualities you want in a top horse. I’m proud to have her in the team alongside Katie Jacobs. I owe a lot to the people who support me — that’s a big part of what makes success possible.”
Having reclaimed the FEI World Number One ranking in May 2025 from Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, Farrington continues to post strong results across the globe as he brings along a new generation of top talent.
“My mentality is all about confidence,” he explained. “Confidence in myself, and in my horses. I create a plan that I believe the horse can execute, and I stick to giving them the best chance to shine on that day.”
Alessandra Volpi (USA) came closest to catching Farrington, stopping the clock at 41.87 seconds aboard Glamour, a 14-year-old KWPN mare by Numero Uno. That effort was good enough for second place. Sternlicht’s early time of 43.30 seconds aboard the 15-year-old Faquitol-S (Verdi TN x Carolus H) held up for a strong third-place finish.
With this latest win, Kent Farrington once again underlined his status as one of the most consistent and formidable athletes in the sport — closing out the Hudson Valley Jumping Tour on a winning note.
