Hippomundo statistics: the most successful show jumpers of the 2010s and 2020s

When did the horses jump at 1.60 meters for the first time? How long were they in the sport? How many competitions did they compete in? These were the questions that Hippomundo investigated in various categories. It turned out that the best show jumpers on average competed in their first 1.60 meter classes at the age of nine and were in top sport for seven years. But, as always, there are also some notable exceptions.

Entry age and career duration

The list of the most successful 1.60 meter show jumpers of all time is headed by Henrik von Eckermann’s (SWE) King Edward, followed by Ben Maher’s Olympic champion Explosion. Both were nine-year-olds when they had their first outing at 1.60 meter level, as confirmed by a look at the FEI database.

King Edward has not competed since March 2025 and is not currently registered as “active” with the FEI, but as von Eckermann explained to his colleagues at the French magazine GRAND PRIX, he is working on a comeback with the Belgian son of the Celle State Stallion Edward, who brought him team gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and two World Championship titles, among other things.

Explosion W was retired from the sport last year. The latter jumped at the highest level for five years and has 63 results in 1.60 meter jumps. This puts Explosion W in the majority range in terms of the start of his career, while the duration of his career is below average.

Most of the most successful 1.60 jumping horses jumped their first really big courses at the age of nine and were then at the top for eight to nine years. This includes, for example, Christian Ahlmann’s successful stallion Taloubet Z, who was in action from 2009 to 2018 and competed in 103 (!) 1.60 meter competitions.

Horses that jump/jump for Germany

Two other stallions who jumped under the German flag are among the best of all time. The first is Tobago Z by Daniel Deußer and the second is Cornado by Marcus Ehning. Tobago was nine years old when he jumped his first 1.60 meter test and remained at the top level for six years, competing in 88 tests. Cornado’s starting age was ten and he competed in 59 competitions up to the age of 17.

The most successful mares …

If the evaluation is broken down into mares and geldings, the Hippomundo ranking lists a few more horses that went or are going for Germany.

The list of mares is headed by McLain Ward’s HH Azur, who came into the sport as a nine-year-old, stayed at the top for eight years, competed in 83 1.60 classes and earned €4,081,215 in the process.

Daniel Deußer Killer Queen VDM is close behind with lifetime earnings of 4,072,149 euros. However, only the data up to 2024 was taken into account for her, although the now 16-year-old daughter of Eldorado vd Zeshoek still competed last year and is also listed as “active” by the FEI for this year. Killer Queen was an eight-year-old at her first 1.60 start and has 105 1.60 starts to her name as of 2024.

Mila, who was brought into the sport by Ludger Beerbaum as an eight-year-old, is now in action with Nadja Peter Steiner (SUI) and is also one of the big earners with 2,363,898 euros. André Thieme’s Chakaria is also one of these with 1,939,007 euros from just 64 starts until 2024. She was ten years old when she jumped over 1.60 meters for the first time.

… and geldings

Only one person in sport has ever earned more money than King Edward: Martin Fuchs’ 14-year-old Leone Jei. He jumped at a very high level for the first time at the age of nine. His current earnings amount to 4,411,862 euros – and he has only been competing at top level for five years.

There are two top earners among German riders in the gelding statistics. The first is Christian Kukuk’s Olympic champion Checker in fourth place with 3,429,582 euros (first 1.60 jumping test at the age of ten, now 16, 81 1.60 results) and the second is Philipp Weishaupt’s Coby, who was retired in 2025 after six years in top sport. He was nine years old when he entered the highest sporting ranks, competed in 87 tests of 1.60 meters or more in six years and then retired to his owners’ pasture in the USA with lifetime earnings of 2,345,436 euros.

Exceptional phenomena

There are two absolute exceptions in this ranking. First and foremost is the KWPN stallion Verdi TN owned by Maikel van der Vleuten (NED). He was only seven years old when he jumped his first 1.60 meter test and remained at the top level for ten years, completing 156 tests in the highest category. He completed 45 percent of all these competitions clear and was placed in 50 percent.

Also noteworthy: the Selle Français stallion Rokfeller by Pleville Bois Margot owned by Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP). The French Landor S grandson (by L’Arc de Triomphe) was nine years old when he jumped his first 1.60 and 20 when he was retired. He has 153 starts to his name.

Other horses with triple-digit starting figures over 1.50 are Casall from Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) with 100, Martin Fuchs’ (SUI) Clooney (117), Don VHP Z with Harrie Smolders (NED) and Legend of Love (120) from Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) in addition to those already mentioned.

You can find the complete lists here.