Boyd Martin in the box seat for US Eventing Elite Program

Boyd Martin rides Cooley Nutcracker in the CCI5*-L eventing at Les Etoiles de Pau 2025 | An Eventful Life
Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker take third place in the CCI5* at Les Etoiles de Pau 2025

 

With 2026 just around the corner and the selection process for the 2026 FEI World Championships Aachen starting to hot up. the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced updates to the 2026 USEF Eventing Elite Programs.

And it seems that the current World Number 2 eventing rider, Boyd Martin is in the box seat, with four horses listed on the U.S. Eventing Elite Program, after two 5* podium finishes at Les Etoiles de Pau and Maryland and a win in the CCI4*-L at the US Equestrian Open at Morven Park.

U.S. Eventing Elite Program

Will Coleman (Ocala, Florida) and Off The Record, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (VDL Arkansas x Dumagoldan Bay) owned by the Off The Record Syndicate

Sydney Elliott (Bossier City, Louisiana) and QC Diamantaire, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Diarado x Sandro Hit) owned by Carol Stephens

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) and Commando 3, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Connor 48 x Amigo XX) owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) and Fedarman B, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington x Paulien B) owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) and Miks Master C, a 13-year-old American Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Flyinge Quite Easy 958) owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) and Cooley Nutcracker, a 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Cobra) owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate

The following combinations will continue in the USEF Eventing Elite Program as a result of their spring 2025 competition results.

Will Coleman (Ocala, Florida) and Chin Tonic HS, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Chim Champ x Quinar Z) owned by Hyperion Stud LLC

Boyd also has one horse, Luke 140, on the Pre-Elite Program

U.S. Eventing Pre-Elite Program

The following athlete-and-horse combinations have achieved the criteria of the Eventing Pre-Elite Program and are listed in alphabetical order:

Cosby Green (Lexington, Kentucky) and Highly Suspicious, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Russel x Cruising) owned by Clay and Edie Green

Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pennsylvania) and HSH Blake, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Kannan) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline Pamukcu, and Deniz Pamukcu

The following combinations will continue in the USEF Eventing Pre-Elite Program as a result of their spring 2025 competition results.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pennsylvania) and Possante, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Namelus R x Otangelo) owned by The Possante Group

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pennsylvania) and Denim, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Dinken x Ibisco) owned by Ann Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pennsylvania) and Luke 140, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Landos x Limbus) owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate

View the full list here