EquiRatings Jumping Podcast

This week on the EquiRatings Jumping Podcast, we sit down with RED MILLS rider Michael Duffy in Wellington as he balances five-star competition with building the next generation of championship horses.
Fresh from a Grand Prix qualifier win in Ocala with Mr. Qerly, Michael reflects on the start of his season — but this conversation is really about the bigger picture.
From Irish team bronze in Milan to winning the LGCT Grand Prix of Miami, Michael has already proven himself at the top level. Now, the focus is clear: invest in youth, develop properly, and build toward the future.
Michael speaks candidly about hard work, organisation, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. It's a conversation about patience, perspective, and understanding that success at the top isn't accidental — it's built.
If you're interested in horse production, breeding strategy, and what it really takes to sustain a career at five-star level, this episode is for you.
 
🎙️ Your Hosts
Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings Jumping team, bringing data-led insight to the biggest moments in show jumping.
Sponsors Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners. Use code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. Note: this does not apply to already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.
For feeding questions, you can contact the Connolly's Red Mills nutrition experts directly.
👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!
📌 Follow Us:
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Official Website: www.equiratings.com
Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

Sam and Diarmuid preview the Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at Wellington tonight. In this episode, we dive into the data behind the first five star of the Wellington 2026 calendar.

Historically, winning the Fidelity Investments GP has been a harbinger of a record-breaking year (Kent 2025, 2017, Fuchs 2019).

We break down the EquiRatings Prediction Model for tonight's class, forecasting a challenging track with a predicted 10 hitting the Jump Off. Kent Farrington starts as favourite but he will face a challenge from Daniel Bluman and the high-risk, high-reward "wildcard" Richard Vogel. Also, is tonight the night Ben Maher ends a long wait for a GP win?

January isn't waiting around. With five-star jumping unfolding across Doha, Hong Kong, and Thermal, Charlotte and Sam take a global look at the riders and horses shaping the early weeks of 2026.
From Scott Brash's dominant start in Doha to emerging contenders laying down serious early-season markers, this episode is about momentum, depth, and what these first results might mean for the year ahead.
What we cover
Scott Brash's red-hot January and the strength of his current string
Early British team storylines on the road to Aachen
Hong Kong's rising names and why this show matters
Thermal form from Farrington, Toulayna, and Foxy de la Roque
🎙️ Your Hosts
Charlotte Smet and Sam Watson, the EquiRatings Jumping team, bringing data-led insight to the biggest moments in show jumping.
Sponsors Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to podcast listeners. Use code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. Note: this does not apply to already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.
For feeding questions, you can contact the Connolly's Red Mills nutrition experts directly.
👍 Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you're a fan of show jumping and eager to stay updated with the latest, hit the like button, share this video with fellow equestrian fans, and subscribe to our channel for more engaging content!
📌 Follow Us:
EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H
EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/
EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings
Official Website: www.equiratings.com
Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

2026 has arrived, and with it a year of serious stakes: Aachen World Championships, the second edition of the US Equestrian Open, and a battle for world number one. The EquiRatings Jumping team sorts through form, streaks and star power to ask the real question: who shapes the season ahead?
From Greya's bid for 800 Elo and Scott Brash's world #1 chase, to Belgium's depth, France's championship threat and USA's Open ambitions, Charlotte and Sam make their predictions, crunch the data and lock in their early calls for the year.
This show is very kindly supported by FLAIR Strips.
Achieve Equine, LLC develops innovative equine products like the FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips. Founded by Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach, both equine veterinarians, the company focuses on enhancing horse respiratory health and performance. They conduct rigorous research to ensure the efficacy and safety of their products, aiming to support the health and safety of horses and riders. Located near Minneapolis, Minnesota, Achieve Equine emphasizes strong relationships, data-driven decisions, and effective solutions in the equine industry.
🎙️ Your Hosts: Charlotte Smet & Sam Watson. The EquiRatings Jumping team who live in the numbers, the predictions, and the storylines shaping the sport.
👍 Like, Share & Subscribe: If you're following the sport through a championship year, hit like, share with a fellow fan, and subscribe for more data-driven insight all season long.
📌 Follow Us:
EquiRatings Jumping WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaByaVo3QxS7qLas323H EquiRatings Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiratings/ EquiRatings Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquiRatings Official Website: www.equiratings.com Latest News: https://news.equiratings.com/

It's the final sign-off for the EquiRatings team in 2025… sort of. Because while most of the crew are mentally halfway to mince pies and mulled wine, the jumping world is still rolling on and some of us are very much still on duty.
So what do we do with the whole team on one call at Christmas? Naturally: a very serious quiz (with questionable rules, minus points for guessing, and absolutely zero respect for staying on topic).