(See latest update as of 4/4/26 in boldface type below)
Lillie Keenan is replacing McLain Ward on the U.S. roster for the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals in Texas this coming week.
McLain is a mentor of Lillie, who has competed successfully on U.S. Nations Cup and Longines League of Nations teams. Lillie will be riding Kick On as McLain recovers from back and hand injuries following a fall when his mount refused at the Winter Equestrian Festival last month.
Lillie Keenan and Kick On.
Another American has been added to the lineup for the Zen Elite World Cup Dressage Finals, bringing the total number of U.S. competitors for that championship to three.
Ben Ebeling and Bellena, who did not qualify on points for a slot in the competition, will be joining Christian Simonson, the top-ranked U.S. dressage rider, twelfth in the world, and Kevin Kohmann with Dünensee.
Meanwhile, the other North America n representative, Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, won’t be coming due to a mishap involving her horse, Jaccardo.
“Unfortunately, Jaccardo got cast in his stall earlier this week and isn’t quite comfortable enough to perform at his best, so we’ve made the decision to withdraw from the World Cup Final. While it’s disappointing to miss such a special event, his health and long term well-being always come first,” Brittany said. She would have been the first Canadian in 13 years to have competed in the Cup final.
Ben Ebeling and Bellena.
Carina Cassøe Kruth of Denmark also won’t be coming with Heiline’s Danciera because of an issue with travel documentation.
Key riders who chose not to come to the dressage final include world number one Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark; number two, Justin Verboomen of Belgium, Germany’s Isabell Werth, number three and the defending champion, Lottie Fry of Great Britain. Charlotte Dujardin dropped out but did not give a reason.
With the world championships set for August in Germany, that is a priority for riders who want to save their horses and not run the risk of crossing the Atlantic and focusing on another show before the biggest competition of the year.
Follow the action at both World Cup finals on this website beginning on April 8.