CHI Geneva 2025 Driving World Cup: Exell Sets the Standard Once Again

The 2025 FEI Driving World Cup leg in Geneva once again highlighted the unique blend of precision, power, and partnership that defines elite four in hand driving. Under the lights at Palexpo, Boyd Exell delivered another authoritative performance, reinforcing his position at the forefront of the discipline in a class that rewarded flow, accuracy, and harmony between driver and horses.

Geneva remains one of the most technically demanding indoor venues on the World Cup circuit, and this year’s course design placed a clear emphasis on rhythm and balance. Drivers who maintained forward momentum without sacrificing accuracy were rewarded, while hesitation or overcorrection quickly proved costly.

Experience, Longevity, and Season-Long Consistency

Exell’s performance stood out not through excess risk, but through clarity of execution. His rounds were marked by smooth transitions, confident turns, and a team that responded instantly to every request. Central to that consistency was Bundy, Exell’s long time lead horse, who at 22 years old remains actively competitive at the very highest level of the sport.

Bundy’s continued presence in Exell’s team is exceptional within four-in-hand driving, where longevity at elite pace is rare. His experience and reliability continue to anchor the front of the carriage, setting rhythm and direction for the rest of the team and providing a clear example of how thoughtful management can extend a horse’s top-level career.

Geneva was not an isolated success for Exell, but part of a broader pattern seen throughout the 2025 season. Across multiple World Cup qualifiers, Exell has consistently finished on the podium, maintaining one of the highest clear completion rates in the field and repeatedly advancing to drive-offs against the fastest competitors in the series.

Compared to previous seasons, Exell’s 2025 campaign has been defined less by outright risk and more by efficiency. His rounds have shown fewer penalties, smoother lines, and greater uniformity across venues, reflecting a team that is not only fast, but increasingly refined.

When set against his earlier championship years, this season stands out for the depth of competition he has faced. Yet despite a stronger and more diverse field, Exell has continued to convert pressure into results, underlining the strength of his system rather than reliance on any single element.

A Course That Rewarded the Horses

The flowing layout allowed teams to maintain rhythm, rewarding balance and confidence rather than overcorrection.

As Exell noted afterward, “In an arena like this it’s difficult to build a course, but today the course was perfect, spectacular and very enjoyable for the horses.”

That balance was evident throughout the class, where horses stayed relaxed and responsive even under pressure.

With an experienced team, a veteran lead horse still performing at the highest level, and a season defined by consistency rather than volatility, Exell’s Geneva victory stands as both a statement of current dominance and a benchmark for what sustained excellence in four-in-hand driving looks like.

Boyd Exell (AUS) takes first at the World Cup Leg at CHI Geneva 2025. ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

Dries Degrieck and team (BEL) takes second. ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

Benjamin Aillaud (FRA) takes third. ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano