CSIO La Baule 2025: Greya Returns to Defend the Crown

The stage is set on the Atlantic coast as CSIO5* La Baule returns for another electrifying edition. With a €500,000 prize fund and a field stacked with Olympic medalists, world champions, and rising phenoms, all eyes will be on one pair in particular: Kent Farrington and Greya. After making history with their breakout win here in 2024, the American duo returns to defend their title—this time as one of the most in-form combinations in the world. But with some of the sport’s highest-rated talent also lining up, the road to a repeat will be anything but easy.

All Eyes on Greya

When Kent Farrington and Greya galloped across the finish line to win the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, they weren’t just adding a prestigious title to their record — they were announcing Greya’s arrival as one of the sport’s modern greats. Now, as CSIO La Baule 2025 beckons, the pair return to the French coast with one goal in mind: defend their crown.

From Breakthrough to Brilliance

Their 2024 season was nothing short of transformative. From Wellington to Riyadh and then onto Europe, Greya consistently rose to each occasion. After finishing fourth in the five-star Grand Prix at WEF9, she traveled to the FEI World Cup Finals in Riyadh and narrowly missed a podium with another fourth-place finish. But it was in La Baule that her star truly exploded — outpacing Karl Cook and Caracole de La Roque in a thrilling jump-off to claim her first Rolex Grand Prix title.

The momentum only continued. Their season was capped by a World Cup win in Traverse City and a final Elo rating of 769, among the Top 10 highest ever achieved by a 10-year-old horse since 2010. Greya joined elite company including Olympic legends HH Azur, Big Star, and Explosion W.

Making History at Wellington

2025 began with more history for Farrington and Greya. At the Winter Equestrian Festival, they became the first ever horse-and-rider combination to win two five-star Grand Prix classes in a single WEF season. Their victory in the $500,000 Lugano Grand Prix CSI5* in February marked their second five-star win in just three weeks.

Farrington praised Greya’s "foot speed across the middle and her ability to sprint to the next fence," calling her “a great modern show jumper.” Her Elo rating climbed to 772 by March, making her the highest-rated U.S. horse and eighth in the world — a staggering feat for a still-young 11-year-old.

2025’s Field of Stars: Who Can Stop Greya?

This year’s CSIO La Baule Grand Prix reads like a who’s who of global show jumping, and the data backs it up. Here are the top-rated combinations expected to challenge Farrington and Greya for the title:

Dynamix de Belheme & Steve Guerdat (Elo 777)
The reigning European Champion enters La Baule with the highest Elo rating in the field. Already a legend, Dynamix’s blend of scope and experience makes her a serious threat.

Ermitage Kalone & Gilles Thomas (Elo 775)
A powerful up-and-coming Belgian pair with an impressive trajectory. Their high CAS (Clear Against Standard) score suggests they often outperform course difficulty.

Leone Jei & Martin Fuchs (Elo 770)
A stalwart on the Swiss team, Leone Jei consistently posts strong results. His huge stride and jump-off speed make him ideal for tight Rolex GP battles.

Bond Jamesbond de Hay & Gregory Wathelet (Elo 770)
Last year’s third-place finishers return with podium momentum. Known for calculated aggression, they’ll be aiming for a cleaner, faster round this time.

The Legacy on the Line

For Greya, this week is about more than another title. It’s a chance to solidify her status among the greats. To go from a 10-year-old breakthrough in 2024 to a dominant force in 2025. To prove that her legacy — like HH Azur before her — is only just beginning.