Luis Plascencia claims victory in Puebla World Cup thriller

Mexico's Luis Alejandro Plascencia delivered the only double-clear round to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Puebla on February 7. Riding Huberth B, he outpaced the field in a challenging jump-off before a home crowd. The triumph marks his second career World Cup win.

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Luis Alejandro Plascencia of Mexico secured a commanding victory at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Puebla, the sixth leg of the 2025/26 North American League. Aboard the 14-year-old gelding Huberth B, Plascencia was one of only two riders to complete the demanding first-round course without faults. In the jump-off, he clocked a clear 47.36 seconds, the fastest time and the sole double-clear performance of the event.

Course designer Anderson Lima crafted a tough track, including a technical 'S' line, a towering cut-out wall, and a final line requiring both scope and rideability. Puebla lived up to its reputation as one of the league's most challenging venues, with clear rounds rare. Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia, riding Con-Cor, also advanced with a clear first round but incurred four faults in 48.24 seconds during the jump-off, settling for second place.

Third place went to Arturo Parada Vallejo on Laretto, who recorded the fastest four-fault round from the first phase among seven such efforts. Plascencia's win is his second in FEI Jumping World Cup events, following a 2018 triumph in Guadalajara, and Huberth B's first at this level despite prior successes like a second-place finish in Sacramento in 2021 with another rider.

The pair has been together for less than a year, focusing on building trust. "He’s got all the skill," Plascencia said. "If you get on his bad side, it can go the other way. I tried to understand what he likes and be soft with him. The riders before me did a lot of the work – I get to enjoy him now as a mature horse."

In the jump-off, Plascencia explained his strategy: "I tried to beat his time, because it’s very easy to have one down in a jump-off with fences that big. It worked out. I beat the time and kept the jumps up. It was perfect."

This result elevates Plascencia to the top of the Mexican standings and bolsters his bid for the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth this April, an event neither he nor Huberth B has contested. League leader Conor Swail holds 51 points after six legs, followed by Kent Farrington with 42 and McLain Ward with 36. The final qualifier is set for Ocala, USA, on February 14.

Related Articles

USA equestrian team celebrates Nations’ Cup win in Wellington, with horses, trophy, flag, and scoreboard.
Image generated by AI

USA claims victory in Wellington FEI Nations’ Cup

Reported by AI Image generated by AI

The United States secured a home win in the $150,000 FEI Nations’ Cup at the CSIO4* Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, on February 28, 2026. Ireland finished second with four faults, while Canada took third place with nine faults and Australia placed fourth with 17 penalties. Eight nations competed in the team show jumping event.

Dutch rider Willem Greve secured victory in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Gothenburg, marking his third win of the 2025/2026 season. British veteran John Whitaker finished ninth aboard Equine America Unick du Francport. The event highlighted top equestrian talent at the Scandinavium arena.

Reported by AI

Dutch rider Willem Greve secured his third victory of the 2025/2026 season by winning the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup leg in Gothenburg, Sweden. Aboard the 15-year-old stallion Grandorado TN N.O.P., Greve finished ahead of compatriot Kim Emmen in second place. The event drew a large crowd to the Scandinavium arena, highlighting the competition's prestige.

Argentine rider José Larocca claimed victory in the show jumping Grand Prix at Vejer. The win highlights ongoing successes in international equestrian competitions.

Reported by AI

Finland's Ilkka Herola secured his second World Cup victory in the Nordic combined compact event at Kulm, Austria, on February 27, 2026, by outpacing Austria's Johannes Lamparter in a tight sprint finish. France's Marco Heinis, despite setting a world record jump of 233.5 meters earlier, finished 13th after struggling in the cross-country segment. The win highlights Herola's resilience after 237 starts on the circuit.

British rider Jess Mendoza secured a thrilling win in the $200,000 Marines Corps Heritage Foundation 4* Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. Riding In The Air, she outperformed 31 other competitors from 12 nations to claim the top prize. The victory came on February 9, 2026, after a tense jump-off.

Reported by AI

Irish showjumper Jessica Burke secured her maiden five-star victory at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Bordeaux, France, riding Good Star du Bary to a clear jump-off round. The 34-year-old became the first female rider to win the feature class, boosting her to seventh in the Western European League standings. The triumph guarantees her spot in the World Cup Final in Fort Worth next April.

 

 

 

This website uses cookies

We use cookies for analytics to improve our site. Read our privacy policy for more information.
Decline