EquiRatings Jumping Podcast

Charlotte is back behind the mic after a packed run of show jumping (and a few weeks without a voice), and she's brought the EquiRatings James Kann Cruz Fan Club with her. Emma Blumenkrantz and Annie Bishop, on loan from the eventing side, join her to unpack Shane Sweetnam's grey's latest World Cup podium at Traverse City, his 22nd career podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. The trio digs into the numbers behind the "podium machine," the Greya question, and whether there's still more to come from a horse only just hitting his peak.
Key Discussion Points
The milestone. Second place at Traverse City, the opening leg of the North American World Cup League, gave James Kann Cruz his 22nd podium in a 5* Grand Prix or World Cup. He's done it from just 44 starts, a 50% podium rate.
The historical context. Since 2010, only two horses on EquiRatings records have matched or bettered that podium tally: Hermès Ryan (22) and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's Casall Ask (35). No combination with more than 20 starts at this level has a higher podium rate.
The hot streak. Seven podiums since last year's Highlands Cup, including a career-defining win in the Rolex Grand Prix at Falsterbo, where he beat a fast field that included Steve Guerdat and Richard Vogel.
The Greya question. Charlotte tackles the elephant in the room. James Kann Cruz is the podium horse; Kent Farrington's Greya is the winning horse. Her 11 wins from 34 starts dwarf his three, yet he has beaten her in a jump-off before, at Tryon. Annie makes the case that they're simply built differently: he can jump day after day at a championship, she's campaigned carefully and unleashed when it counts.
Maturity and speed. Annie brings an eventer's eye to how Shane has managed all that power, and Emma recalls watching Shane school him quietly over a 1.30m–1.35m track in Wellington last winter. Is the horse getting faster because he's learned he doesn't have to go flat out every time?
The guest perspective. Annie tells the story of falling for James Kann Cruz on a Saturday night at Defender Kentucky two years ago, the night someone dared call him a donkey. Emma shares how his power and his partnership with Shane hooked her during Wellington's Saturday Night Lights. The verdict on who runs the fan club? Co-presidents, all three.

Recorded on the morning of the individual final at the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen. Charlotte and Sam unpack how Germany turned a brutal team competition into gold, why the course changed character between the individual and team rounds, and who can still win it with two rounds of jumping to go. Win chances, podium predictions, and the 18 year old horse making history for Colombia.
Watch the FEI World Championships 2026 from Aachen live on  and . New and returning fans can save 26% on an annual membership with the code EQUIAACHEN26.

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The FEI Jumping World Championships are in full swing in Aachen. Charlotte and D check in midway through day two to unpack Germany's growing grip on the team competition, Ireland's battle to make Friday's top ten and the surprise nations pushing themselves into contention.
On the individual side, Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Sinclair are putting together another remarkable Aachen performance, while Laura Kraut, Nicola Philippaerts and a growing group of contenders remain in the medal conversation. There's also the small matter of whether Richard Vogel could prioritise Calgary over Sunday's individual final (a suggestion that sends D slightly over the edge) plus predictions for how the rest of a pivotal Thursday might unfold.
Watch the FEI World Championships 2026 from Aachen live on ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV. New and returning fans can save 26% on an annual membership with the code EQUIAACHEN26.

👍 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/

Charlotte Smet is joined by Emma Blumenkrantz, newly appointed Jumping Analyst at EquiRatings, for a look back at the 2025 Highlands Cup CSI5* Grand Prix in New York and forward to the FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen.
The link between the two is the reason for the episode: eighteen combinations that contested that one Grand Prix in October 2025 appear on the definite entry list for Aachen. Charlotte and Emma work through the class rider by rider, from the podium down through the jump-off, tracking who has kicked on, who has switched horses, who missed the plane, and what any of it tells us about the week ahead.
Along the way: the horse with the best clear-round record in the Aachen arena of anyone travelling, two sets of brothers on the same championship team, a nine-year-old five-star Grand Prix winner, and thirteen riders who were also in Aachen for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
 
👍 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/

Charlotte Smet is joined by Annie Bishop (& briefly crashed by Diarmuid Byrne) live from the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. They break down the contenders, the form, and who to watch ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.

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/