Richard Vogel Takes the Lead in the World Show Jumping Rankings

It’s no surprise, but it’s certainly remarkable how Richard Vogel has steadily worked his way to the top of the world rankings since the early 2020s. From his three consecutive victories at Germany’s U25 Jumping Cup, through his first Nations Cup appearances in the EEF League, to his definitive breakthrough in the saddle of United Touch S.

From her first World Cup stage victory in Stuttgart in 2022, to her double-zero round that led to triumph at her first Nations Cup Final in Barcelona in 2023, and then, right on the heels of that, her first Rolex Major in Geneva. Then came her Championship debut in 2024 and her first Olympic Games in Paris, which certainly didn’t go as hoped. But they provided valuable experience that may have played a key role in the duo’s success at the European Championships a year later, where they took the lead after the speed round and never relinquished it until the very end. European champions, bronze with the team.

And now, the 2026 season— world team champions in Aachen, victories in the Rolex Grand Slam legs in ’s-Hertogenbosch and Aachen, making them current contenders for the Rolex Grand Slam, an achievement that only one dream team in show jumping has managed to accomplish so far: Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos.

Added to this are various other successes with his other two top horses, Cloudio and Gangster Montdesir. Vogel had been ranked among the world’s top ten for 28 months and most recently finished second behind Ken Farrington (USA). He already had enough points from the team world championship title to overtake World Cup winner Farrington. But with his victory in Brussels—one week after Aachen—riding Gangster “Gangsti” Montdesir, Vogel sealed the deal once and for all.

This makes him the sixth German show jumper since 2000 to reach the top of the world rankings. Before him, Christian Ahlmann, Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deußer, Marcus Ehning, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had already achieved this feat.

“Century Rider”

Richard Vogel’s list of achievements is long, and that of his fans is even longer. He had just finished inspecting the course for the team competition at the World Championships in Aachen and was already in full concentration mode when show jumping enthusiasts behind the barriers called out to him. A photo? An autograph? No problem—Richard Vogel takes the time to hug his fans, smiles for the cell phone camera, gives a thumbs-up—all good. Take the participants of the U25 Jumping Cup along for the course walkthrough for the individual competition? Sure, no problem at all. “We almost felt a little sorry for him,” noted the young riders, a group to which Vogel himself belonged not so long ago. After all, they know exactly what kind of pressure a rider faces before an important show jumping competition.

Things didn’t really go smoothly at the World Championship wall, either. But Vogel didn’t blame his fans, the U25 riders, or—certainly not—United Touch. “He didn’t want to make a single mistake. It’s my job to give him a clearer signal that a high wall is coming up relatively quickly right after the turn. I didn’t do that well enough. In the end, he didn’t stand a chance,” he said in his self-critical summary. That’s typical Vogel.

Equestrian master Achaz von Buchwaldt recently called him a “once-in-a-century rider,” comparable to Michael Jung, the most successful eventing rider of all time. And Vogel is only 29.

A Surreal Feeling

When he learned that he is now the world’s number one show jumper, Richard Vogel said: “It still feels very surreal to hear that I’m number one in the world. It’s a tremendous achievement, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together as a team. As a rider, I’m certainly far from being the best in the world, but I think this title is very good proof that I have the very best team around me.”

He continued: “Both the people and, of course, the horses by my side made this possible. There are countless people to whom I am grateful—people who supported the boy with big dreams and helped me get to where I am today. Each and every one of you is part of this success.”

“A very special thank you goes out to the entire VW team, especially my grooms Felicia and Gigi. The passion, dedication, and care you show our horses every day form the foundation for everything we achieve.”

“And, of course, our biggest thanks go to our horses. It’s a great honor to ride superstars like United, Cloudio, and Gangster, but this success is just as much due to the many other horses who were perhaps a bit more in their shadow, as well as those I’ve had in the past who taught me so much along the way. They are the ones who drive and motivate us every day.”

Overview of the Top Ten

World Cup winner Kent Farrington, who deliberately chose not to compete in the World Championships in Aachen and won the Hampton Classics with Greya last weekend, is now second in the world rankings.

Scott Brash, who played a major role in the British team’s bronze medal win in Aachen but suffered a nasty fall in the individual final, managed to move up to third place. Steve Guerdat ( SUI), who, riding his superstar mare Dynamix de Belheme in Aachen, claimed the last title missing from his collection, has thus made a huge leap forward, moving up from 16th to fourth place.

Shane Sweetnam ( IRL), who was third just last month, dropped two spots and is now fifth. Ben Maher ( GBR) follows in sixth place. This is likely the first time that Italian rider Piergiorgio Bucci has made it into the illustrious circle of the world’s top ten show jumpers.

The situation is different for the second German rider in this league. That’s Daniel Deußer, who was previously the best of the bunch but whose ride with Otello in Aachen was undone by a single knockdown at the final fence. He was ranked 15th just last month and is now in eighth place. Behind him are McLain Ward (USA) and France’s Nina Mallevaey, who has thus maintained her position as the highest-ranked female show jumper.

Other Germans in the Top 50

17th (previously 23rd) Sophie Hinners

20th (10th) Christian Kukuk

41st (41st) Philipp Weishaupt

44th (37th) Christian Ahlmann

Marcus Ehning, the fourth outstanding German team rider at the World Championships, is a few points behind after being forced to take a break in the spring due to injury. Thanks to his success in Aachen, however, he has now climbed from 128th to 94th in the rankings.

You can find the complete list here.