THE second leg of the Longines League of Nations will take place at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, today, March 21st. With the world’s top-10 ranked countries back in action, the race to the 2026 final in Barcelona is already beginning to take shape. France banked the maximum 100 points at last month’s season opener in Abu Dhabi (UAE), but Ocala has a reputation for rewriting the script.

Ireland will be aiming to tap into that energy after winning the Ocala leg in 2024. Newly-appointed Chef d’Equipe Jessica Kürten has selected Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor and Shane Sweetnam, while Tom Wachman, winner of the Longines FEI Rising Star Award in 2025, adds a next-generation edge to a seasoned squad. But, if Ireland have history to repeat, Germany arrive with a point to prove having come so close in Abu Dhabi.

Second in leg one, Germany will have kept that near miss front of mind, and Otto Becker’s team looks built to go one better in Ocala. Reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk lines up with the current FEI Jumping European champion Richard Vogel and former title-holder André Thieme (2021), with René Dittmer completing the four-strong selection.

Just off the podium in the opening leg, Switzerland head to the USA with 70 points already on the board and plenty of incentive to push on. Chef d’Equipe Peter van der Waaij has called up Dominik Fuhrer and Beat Mändli for their first appearance, with Edouard Schmitz and Barbara Schnieper also selected, as the Swiss look to turn solidity into another strong finish.

The standings going into the second leg see France leading on 100 points, followed by Germany on 90 points and Brazil on 80 points, with Switzerland (70), Ireland (60), Great Britain (55), USA (50), Italy (45), Belgium (40) and the Netherlands (35) close enough behind to ensure every clear round matters.

Rankings

In other show jumping news, Thibeau Spits, the youngest member of Belgium’s winning team at last year’s FEI Jumping European Championship in A Coruña (riding Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z), has taken over at the top of the U25 FEI world rankings on 1,860 points. Now in his final year in the U25 ranks, Spits has relegated Antoine Ermann to second place (FRA, 1,853) by seven points, while Ireland’s Tom Wachman, a triple team gold medallist in the Youth Championships, remains in third on 1,820. Niamh McEvoy is one place off the top 10, moving up from 28th.