Lillie Keenan (USA) earned a fulfilling Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ victory Saturday night in Washington (USA), recording the second World Cup win of her career and first with the 12-year-old stallion Kick On.
Keenan and the handsome bay, affectionately called “Ken” in the stable, bested a furiously fast jump-off where 13 of the 22 athletes advanced to Colm Quinn’s (IRL) short course. The winning pair’s time was 36.69 seconds. Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Farrel finished second (37.13s), followed by fellow Irishman Shane Sweetnam and Pia Maria H (38.09). (Canadian Erynn Ballard was 5th riding Ilan Ferder’s Genius de Rance.)
“Kick On is a one-in-a-lifetime horse,” Keenan said. “I am so grateful to be his partner, and he’s really been one to shine in these World Cup [events], so to start his season winning really serves him right.”
Keenan, 30, has attended the Washington International Horse Show since she was 8 years old, earning her first event titles on small ponies. At age 13, she became the youngest rider to win the WIHS Equitation Championship, and she began competing in the open jumper ranks around the time she got her driver’s license.
She has now brought herself full circle, earning the event’s most prestigious title along with 20 qualifying points toward the 2027 Finals in Gothenburg (SWE).
“It’s been many years of jumping championships here, from the ponies to the equitation, junior jumpers, and obviously now the open jumper division,” Keenan shared. “I’ve always wanted to win this World Cup. It’s the first time I’ve won this one, and I’m happy to do it in front of a home crowd.”
With 13 athletes in the jump-off, winning was never a sure thing, with the lead changing hands frequently in the early going. McLain Ward (USA) set a strong early tone with a clear effort aboard Jordan Molga M, but Coyle broke things open when he and Farrel shaved nearly 1.5 seconds off that mark, utilizing the 16-year-old geldings agile turning. Keenan somehow upped the ante again, riding a similar track but relying upon Kick On’s air and ground speed to assume the top of the leaderboard.
With seven pairs still to jump, it was an anxious wait to the finish, but the remaining athletes made mistakes as they assumed risk to catch the leader. Sweetnam came closest with Pia Maria H, but Keenan was left alone at the top—despite having to adjust her plan mid-course.
“Tonight, I didn’t totally ride my plan. There were a couple places I had expected to do fewer strides,” she said. “The really nice thing about Ken is that he can still be so quick. Despite having quite a bit of loft in the air, he still does it pretty efficiently. Even though I didn’t get to leave out [strides] in every turn, he was right there with me, and I pretty much never touched the reins. I think that’s what gave me an edge.”
Keenan was partnered with Kick On three seasons ago, and the pair has already twice been to the World Cup Finals, jumping in Basel (SUI) in 2025 and at Fort Worth (USA) in April, when they finished among the top 10. Keenan thinks they can continue to climb the ranks in the sport’s premier indoor championship.
“Ken has been a horse that’s really risen to the occasion for me, more than once I think, and our partnership is always evolving,” Keenan said of the stallion with “big personality.” “Two times in the World Cup Finals we’ve been very close to a podium, and hopefully we get another chance in Gothenburg.”
Six years of World Cup success
Coyle’s partner Farrel made his first World Cup podium since 2020, when he took a win in Ocala (USA) as a 10-year-old. Later that same year, the horse suffered what was thought to be a career-ending injury when a cyst was discovered on his stifle.
Farrel’s owner Ariel Grange opted for the gelding to have surgery with the goal being simply for him to live a comfortable life in retirement. But the petite bay had bigger aspirations, defying the odds and returning to the highest levels of the sport. Six years later, he’s as competitive as ever.
“He loves the sport more than people,” Coyle said. “I thought if I could get him back to doing some speed classes, it would be a miracle, but to have him at the top of the sport is unbelievable. I’m really, really lucky to have him.”
Meanwhile, Pia Maria H impressed on the opposite side of the spectrum, shining brightly in the mare’s World Cup debut. The event marked the 11-year-old chestnut’s first ever foray indoors.
“I think we’re really making good steps for her and looking toward the future,” Sweetnam said. “She’s a real fighter. At times, she’s fighting against you, but in the ring, she’s definitely fighting for you…so we’re just trying to meet halfway and get some good results.”
Sweetnam assumed the lead in the North American League standings after three legs with 32 points. Beat Mändli (SUI) sits second with 25 points, followed by Ward (USA), who has 24 points.
The NAL continues at Toronto (CAN) on November 14, 2026.
Full results here.
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