From the Kentucky Horse Park to Nations Cup competition in Europe, Allie Knowles has put together a memorable 2026 season. With a national championship title, a U.S. team silver medal, and top-ten finishes at Boekelo and the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final, the Lexington-based rider has continued to demonstrate the depth of her string and the promise of her developing partnerships.

For Kentucky Three-Day Event fans, her season included a familiar stop close to home. Knowles competed in the 2026 Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S aboard P.S. I Love You and Leo Santos, finishing withint the top twenty with the latter. This appearance marked an early chapter in a season that would see Knowles and Leo Santos achieve several notable international results.

Knowles & Leo Santos in the 2026 Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S

Photo credit: AK Dragoo Photography

Earlier in the spring, Knowles demonstrated the depth of her string at Stable View, winning the CCI2* aboard Tip Top Quality and finishing second in the CCI4*-S with Montpellier Scais. The latter pair added only cross-country time penalties to their dressage score to finish on 35.0, offering an early glimpse of their potential at the level.

That momentum carried overseas in May, when Knowles and Montpellier Scais represented the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Bicton in Great Britain. Alongside Tommy Greengard, Cassie Sanger, and Quidley Kellermann, Knowles helped the United States earn team silver. On just his third four-star start, Montpellier Scais finished fifth individually on 50.1, delivering the team’s best counting score. Knowles also guided her individual entry, Leo Santos, to seventh on 54.5, giving her two horses inside the top ten.

In June, Knowles continued her European campaign at Bramham International Horse Trials, completing the CCI4*-L with both of her Bicton partners. Clear cross-country jumping rounds helped Montpellier Scais finish 14th on 53.7 and Leo Santos take 17th on 59.6, adding a top-twenty long-format result to each horse’s season.



Back in the United States, Knowles enjoyed another successful weekend at Bouckaert Equestrian in August. She won the CCI3*-S aboard Tip Top Quality while finishing second with MBF Starburst and third with LS Crown Royal in the CCI4*-S, continuing a season of strong performances across her string.

Tip Top Quality carried that momentum into the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he and Knowles led the Bates USEA Preliminary Open Championship from start to finish. Clear jumping rounds in both phases preserved their dressage score of 26.9, securing the championship title and another milestone in the seven-year-old gelding’s development.

In October, Knowles once again wore the U.S. team colors at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Final at Boekelo in the Netherlands. Partnered with Montpellier Scais, she joined Lauren Nicholson, Jack Curtis, and Hallie Coon in helping the United States finish fourth. She also delivered a standout performance with her individual entry, LS Crown Royal, finishing eighth with no jumping penalties in either phase and just two cross-country time penalties. The result made them the competition’s highest-placed U.S. combination.

Just days later, Knowles returned stateside to earn two more top-ten finishes at Morven Park in Virginia. She and Leo Santos moved up the leaderboard after dressage to finish eighth in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final CCI4*-L, while MBF Starburst carried her to fifth in the accompanying CCI4*-S.



From a championship victory in Rolex Stadium to representing the United States overseas, Knowles has given Kentucky fans plenty to celebrate in 2026. Her success across multiple horses reflects the strength of those developing partnerships, with each adding its own accomplishments to a memorable season.