Kent Farrington

Kent Farrington began riding at the age of eight after he saw a picture of his mother on a horse and wanted to try it himself. He then started taking weekly lessons at a carriage barn in downtown Chicago and soon graduated from riding carriage horses in the city to racing ponies and retraining ex-racehorses in the suburbs.  

Kent spent most of his junior career catch-riding for many industry professionals. He became an accomplished young rider, winning the Washington International Equitation Medal as well as the coveted Eiser/Pessoa National Equitation Medal Finals.  Kent solidified his presence in the sport when he claimed the gold medal at the 1999 North American Young Riders International Competition at the age of eighteen. 

Kent turned professional in 1999 when he accepted a job with four-time British Olympian Tim Grubb, and a few years later began working with two-time US Olympian Leslie Howard.  Farrington’s transition from junior to professional was seamless; in his first three years as a professional he earned over $1 million in prize money and received the Maxine Beard Award, presented to an individual American rider that best displays true potential to represent the United States on the international stage.

Kent’s first major grand prix win was at Saugerties in 2004 with Madison.  Some of his most notable accomplishments include over twenty five Grand Prix wins with Up Chiqui; winning team gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara; the King George V Gold Cup at CSIO Hickstead on Uceko; the Credit Suisse Grand Prix with Willow in Geneva; the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows with and team bronze in Caen for the World Equestrian Games with Voyeur. 

Today, Farrington is ranked #1 in the world. His growing list of accomplishments includes a Team Silver Medal at the Río 2016 Olympic Games. 

Fast Facts

2006 Trainer of the Year, Horse of the Year, and runner-up Rider of the Year winner

2011 Pan Am Games Team Gold medallist with Uceko

2014 World Team Bronze medallist with Voyeur 

2015 LGCT Hamburg Grand Prix winner with Voyeur

2016 Global Champions League Team Rider for Miami Glory