FEI World Rankings Update for March

Here is the monthly snapshot of the main movers and shakers in the senior World Rankings, including how the Canadians are faring.

A horse and rider performing dressage at the Para Olympics.

Bert Sheffield (CAN), pictured riding Fairuza in the Grade 3 Team test at the Tokyo Paralympics, leads the Canadian para riders in the overall rankings. (FEI / Liz Gregg photo)

By: Horse Sport staff | March 19, 2024

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. fei world rankings update for march by: horse sport staff |. jumping: von eckermann widens gap over maher. after months of ben maher (gbr) steadily narrowing the gap with henrik von eckermann (swe), the swedish athlete (3525 points) has once again widened the margin between himself and maher (3409 points), solidifying his lead in the longines ranking. steve guerdat (sui) closes out the top 3, maintaining his position from the previous month with 3080 points. following guerdat, julien epaillard (fra) and kent farrington (usa) exchange fourth and fifth places with 3003 and 2987 points, respectively. switzerland’s martin fuchs (2850 points) and france’s simon delestre (2832 points) maintain their positions in sixth and seventh place, respectively. max kühner (aut) ascends to eighth place with 2770 points, surpassing mclain ward (usa), who falls to tenth place with 2675 points. positioned between the austrian and the american, richard vogel (ger) jumps two places and settles in 9th with 2732 points. for canada the positions in the top 100 remain about the same with tiffany foster 19th, erynn ballard 34th, amy millar 62nd and mario deslauriers 66th. advertisement scroll to continue with content dressage: jessica von bredow werndl’s reign continues. once again, jessica von bredow-werndl (ger) stands as the undisputed number one in the world ranking. with 2190 points to her name, the current olympic champion has maintained her stronghold for an impressive 11 consecutive months. following von bredow-werndl, charlotte fry (gbr) and isabell werth (ger) are tied for second position, each with 2060 points. in close pursuit, nanna skodborg merrald (den) rises one spot on 2026 points, overtaking charlotte dujardin (gbr), who slips two positions and into fifth place with 1920 points. while jessica von bredow-werndl leads the athlete ranking, her mare tsf dalera bb still dominates the horses’ ranking, accumulating 2190 points. emilio 107 climbs three spots to secure second place with 1896 points. similarly, patrick kittel’s gelding, touchdown, ascends from sixth to third place with 1868 points. rounding out the top 5 are everdale (1832 points) and dante weltino old (1692 points). top canadian on the dressage list is still ryan torkkeli, 74th. eventing: oliver townend & great britain’s dominance continues. for the sixth consecutive month, british rider oliver townend remains at the top of the eventing ranking, with the same 569 points he had three months ago. as has been customary in recent months, the british contingent boasts seven athletes within the top ten. 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 10th. breaking the british domination at the top, we have america’s boyd martin in third place, france’s maxime livio in eighth, and tim price from new zealand in ninth. with the north american season heats up, the top-100 canadians remain the same: colleen loach (40th), karl slezak (56th) and jessica phoenix (92nd). driving: 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. endurance: theolissat maintains the athletes lead and abdelhak kaddouri takes the trainer ranking number 1. melody theolissat (fra) is still in the lead of the fei endurance riders world ranking with 985 points followed by maría álvarez pontón (esp) with 897 points and italy’s costanza laliscia with 872 points – in second and third places respectively. in the endurance world trainer ranking, abdelhak kaddouri (brn) is the new leader with 1076 points, surpassing melody theolissat, who is now second, on 1070 points. para-dressage: no rivals for rihards snikus and the netherlands. 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 joergensen tobias thorning (den) takes the third place with 1590 points. 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 denmark follows closely on 1314 points. canada’s top-100 rider is still roberta sheffield, who has nudged up from 37th to 34th. in vaulting, the top canadian male is talmage conrad, 11th, and female is averill saunders, also 11th. you can check all fei rankings here. ~ with files from fei communications.

Jumping: Von Eckermann widens gap over Maher

After months of Ben Maher (GBR) steadily narrowing the gap with Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), the Swedish athlete (3525 points) has once again widened the margin between himself and Maher (3409 points), solidifying his lead in the Longines Ranking. Steve Guerdat (SUI) closes out the Top 3, maintaining his position from the previous month with 3080 points.

Following Guerdat, Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Kent Farrington (USA) exchange fourth and fifth places with 3003 and 2987 points, respectively. Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs (2850 points) and France’s Simon Delestre (2832 points) maintain their positions in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Max Kühner (AUT) ascends to eighth place with 2770 points, surpassing Mclain Ward (USA), who falls to tenth place with 2675 points. Positioned between the Austrian and the American, Richard Vogel (GER) jumps two places and settles in 9th with 2732 points.

For Canada the positions in the top 100 remain about the same with Tiffany Foster 19th, Erynn Ballard 34th, Amy Millar 62nd and Mario Deslauriers 66th.

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Dressage: Jessica von Bredow Werndl’s reign continues

Once again, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) stands as the undisputed number one in the World Ranking. With 2190 points to her name, the current Olympic Champion has maintained her stronghold for an impressive 11 consecutive months.

Following von Bredow-Werndl, Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Isabell Werth (GER) are tied for second position, each with 2060 points. In close pursuit, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) rises one spot on 2026 points, overtaking Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), who slips two positions and into fifth place with 1920 points.

While Jessica von Bredow-Werndl leads the Athlete Ranking, her mare TSF Dalera BB still dominates the Horses’ Ranking, accumulating 2190 points. Emilio 107 climbs three spots to secure second place with 1896 points. Similarly, Patrick Kittel’s gelding, Touchdown, ascends from sixth to third place with 1868 points. Rounding out the Top 5 are Everdale (1832 points) and Dante Weltino Old (1692 points).

Top Canadian on the dressage list is still Ryan Torkkeli, 74th.

Eventing: Oliver Townend & Great Britain’s dominance continues

For the sixth consecutive month, British rider Oliver Townend remains at the top of the Eventing Ranking, with the same 569 points he had three months ago. As has been customary in recent months, the British contingent boasts seven athletes within the top ten. 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 10th.

Breaking the British domination at the top, we have America’s Boyd Martin in third place, France’s Maxime Livio in eighth, and Tim Price from New Zealand in ninth.

With the North American season heats up, the top-100 Canadians remain the same: Colleen Loach (40th), Karl Slezak (56th) and Jessica Phoenix (92nd).

Driving: 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.

Endurance: Theolissat maintains the Athletes lead and Abdelhak Kaddouri takes the Trainer Ranking number 1

Melody Theolissat (FRA) is still in the lead of the FEI Endurance Riders World Ranking with 985 points followed by María Álvarez Pontón (ESP) with 897 points and Italy’s Costanza Laliscia with 872 points – in second and third places respectively. In the Endurance World Trainer Ranking, Abdelhak Kaddouri (BRN) is the new leader with 1076 points, surpassing Melody Theolissat, who is now second, on 1070 points.

Para-Dressage: No rivals for Rihards Snikus and The Netherlands

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 Joergensen Tobias Thorning (DEN) takes the third place with 1590 points. 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 Denmark follows closely on 1314 points. Canada’s top-100 rider is still Roberta Sheffield, who has nudged up from 37th to 34th.

In Vaulting, the top Canadian male is Talmage Conrad, 11th, and female is Averill Saunders, also 11th.

You can check all FEI Rankings here.

~ with files from FEI Communications