The American and his Rio 2016 Olympic mount HH Azur clinched home victory at the FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha on Sunday (April 2), taking him from fourth place to first in the standings.

He replaces Germany’s Daniel Deusser, who had held pole position since January and now drops back to third.

"It is always a great honour to be number one," Ward, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, said. 

"It reflects the consistency at the top level that we all strive for. 

"Being named number one in the Longines rankings immediately after my World Cup win is just a great feeling."

Kent Farrington, Ward's Rio 2016 Olympic team-mate, remains in second.

Germany's Christian Ahlmann has dropped from third position to fourth, while Canada's Eric Lamaze has held onto fifth. 

Ward made his Olympic debut at Athens 2004 when he was a member of the United States' gold medal-winning jumping team.  

He earned a second Olympic team gold at Beijing 2008 and finished sixth individually at London 2012.

Ward also won individual gold and team bronze at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games with Rothchild.

He last moved to the top of the rankings in June 2016, replacing France's Simon Delestre, and went on to help the US team to Olympic silver in Rio de Janeiro two months later.