Returning for his fourth appearance, Harrie Smolders is set to compete once again at the Bird’s Nest. As the 13th Longines Beijing Masters draws near, Dutch star Harrie Smolders will return to the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest). Having once held the world No. 1 ranking and remained a regular fixture at 5‑star competitions, “consistency” has always been his defining hallmark.

Over the past year, he has kept his competitive edge in the Longines Global Champions Tour, international 5‑star events and the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival. He faces new challenges as he heads back to the Bird’s Nest in 2026.

Harrie Smolders

Harrie Smolders | Sustaining His Edge 
A former world‑number‑one show‑jumping star, Harrie Smolders is renowned for delivering consistent high‑level performances throughout his career. He claimed his first Longines Global Champions Tour overall title in 2017 and held the FEI world No. 1 ranking for eight consecutive months in 2018. Later, at the 2022 Herning World Championships, he earned team silver with Team Netherlands. He also took individual runner‑up at the FEI Show‑Jumping World Cup Final across two successive editions, before securing his second Longines Global Champions Tour overall championship in 2023. His high‑calibre results spanning varied competition formats and horse partners form the defining foundation of Harrie’s career.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official

Harrie started riding at the age of eight. In his youth, he claimed multiple Dutch national championships across show jumping, dressage and eventing. After turning 18, he trained systematically at the stables of top European riders. In 2002 he joined a professional stable in Belgium and gradually stepped onto the international circuit. Over the years, he has excelled at course reading, rhythm control and meticulous management of his horses’ fitness.

2025 Season | Three Grand Prix Wins, Second Place in the Overall Standings 

In 2025, Harrie and his long-time partner Monaco enjoyed a standout season on the Longines Global Champions Tour. In June, they won the Cannes leg with two clear rounds. In August, he first helped Team Netherlands win the Dublin Nations Cup, then claimed another 5‑star Grand Prix victory in Valkenswaard as the only combination to post double clear rounds on the day. He took third place in the 160 cm Grand Prix at the Riesenbeck leg in September, followed by a runner‑up finish in Vienna.

At the Rome leg in October, Harrie and Monaco secured another Grand Prix win in 34.27 seconds, marking their third Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix victory of the season. He finished sixth in the Prague Super Grand Prix in November and fifth at the Top Ten Final in Geneva in December. At season’s end, he ranked second in the overall standings with 246 points.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official

Reunion at the Bird’s Nest | A Familiar Arena, New Contests 
Making his Bird’s Nest debut as the world No.1 back in 2018, before returning in 2024 and coming again in 2025 and 2026, the National Stadium has become a familiar and special landmark on Harrie’s international competition calendar. Over the past year, he has celebrated Grand Prix highlights alongside Monaco, while also fulfilling commitments at 5‑star events and World Championship assignments with other horses.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official

From 15 to 18 October 2026, the 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters will be held at the National Stadium (Bird's Nest). A familiar arena awaits new battles. We look forward to Harrie Smolders riding once again at the Bird’s Nest, delivering his spectacular jumps with refined rhythm control, astute course reading and seamless horse‑rider harmony.

This October in Beijing, at the Bird’s Nest arena, let us anticipate Harrie Smolders’ brilliant performance and witness the meeting of speed, technique and partnership once more on the arena!

The 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters 

Dates: 15‑18 October 2026 

Venue: National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Beijing

Meet the world’s top riders and join us for this equestrian gathering!