Category Archives: Disciplines

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Publications/Media

The Para Equestrian Digest — Sanne Voets

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Photo: Door Danny Fotografie

The Para Equestrian Digest speaks to multiple Paralympic Champion, World Champion, European Champion, and National Dutch Champion Sanne Voets (NED) about her time at the Royal Stables in Versailles.

About The Para Equestrian Digest

The FEI launched The Para Equestrian Digest in February 2022. The online magazine was created for Para Equestrian athletes and the people connected to the sport so they can share – in their own words – their personal experiences and disability stories. The Digest puts the spotlight on an athlete or project in Para Equestrian sport with the aim of improving disability awareness and inclusion.

Previous editions of The Para Equestrian Digest: https://www.fei.org/stories/para-equestrian-digest.

Media contact:

Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications – Corporate Campaigns & Advocacy
vanessa.randin@fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI

Strong Squad Delivers Decisive FEI Eventing Nations Cup Victory for New Zealand

Tim Price (NZL) riding Falco. Photo Copyright: ©FEI/Libby Law Photography

Team New Zealand are setting themselves up to be strong contenders for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games next year, and results at Millstreet further reinforced that. An experienced quartet led from start to finish at the Irish event, to leave them on an impressive final score of 114.6. This is one of the best team finishing scores seen in this popular eight-leg series in recent years, perhaps unsurprising given World number one and two riders Tim and Jonelle Price made up half of the team. They were joined by the experienced Clarke Johnstone and rising star, Samantha Lissington. Team Belgium were runners-up on 131.9, whilst Ireland delighted their home crowd by finishing third in what was a fierce competition.

The cross-country course proved the make or break of many combinations and teams and making the time was suitably challenging, with no riders finishing inside. Tim Price won the class overall on Falco, the horse that also gave him an individual and team bronze in Pratoni. His wife Jonelle also played her part on the ‘pocket rocket’ McClaren. The Prices, joined by Clarke Johnstone, were all members of the bronze-medal winning team at last year’s FEI Eventing World Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA).  All three riders were mounted on experienced horses who continued their reliable form by jumping double clears in the Jumping and cross-country phases. They were joined by Samantha Lissington, who was the drop score after picking up 20 penalties for a refusal on the cross-country phase.

Chef d’Equipe of the New Zealand Team is former Olympic Eventing rider Sam Griffiths, who summed up the result. “We are really proud of their performance. Because New Zealand doesn’t have the equivalent of a European Championship, we decided that we wanted to target a couple of Nations Cups, of which Millstreet is one, so we sent a strong contingent. It’s really good to bring the group together and practice what we need to do. We will also be hoping to do well at Aachen. It’s always really good to target an event and then deliver a really good result at that event, so we are really pleased.”

Riders were full of praise for the event and cross-country phase which was designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. “One of the reasons why we targeted Millstreet is that we know how beautiful the venue is. The Duggan family takes amazing care of it. We love Mike Etherington-Smith’s courses. They are always beautifully presented and even with the going being fast, time was incredibly difficult even with experienced combinations going pretty much as fast as they could,” said Griffiths.

Tim Price was delighted with his horse Falco, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding.

“Falco is a cracking horse; he’s established now and his intelligence is being used for the good of everyone. I was really proud of him, he’s such a cool wee horse,” said Price.

“We took this seriously because the New Zealand team were using Millstreet as a marker point for the powers that be back at home. It was important that we delivered a decent result and showed that we were on track this year and through to Paris, so we treated it as such and all brought good horses onto the team. The time was very tight (on the cross-country) so it felt like a proper test.”

The Kiwis have had mixed success at major team championships in recent years, but Griffiths believes they have a great and long-lasting future ahead, with Millstreet highlighting that. “We had incredibly strong performances from Clarke Johstone and Jonelle, so we were really solid. We are really starting to grow some strength and depth. At Millstreet we had 19 combinations competing and, for a country that is on the other side of the world, that shows it is really developing.”

The Belgian team, who finished in second place, also delivered some solid jumping performances. Tine Magnus, Belgian team member spoke for the team: “We’re going for the Olympic qualification, so we’ll be off to Strzegom next – and we’re going to win! Millstreet is a wonderful place. The cross-country was great to ride; we’re not used to such lovely big galloping tracks.”

FEI Eventing Director Catrin Norinder was also present at the event, and said: “We’d like to thank Millstreet and the Duggan family for putting on such a great FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. The surroundings and cross-country course are amazing. It was truly competitive and a unique opportunity to get so many nations together.”

This FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series is of particular significance to some nations this year, as the highest-placed team according to the final team classification of the 2023 Series, excluding teams/NOCs already qualified, will be allocated a place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This was the third leg of the Series which will now move to Strzegom (POL) which runs from 21-25 June. The Belgians lead the Nations Cup Series at this early stage, with 270 points scored, after winning the opening event in Montelibretti last month to add to their second place.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

Swiss Sweep to Victory Again in St Gallen

Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei. FEI/Martin Dokoupil

They waited 22 years to post a long-awaited win on home ground in St Gallen last year, and Team Switzerland stole the show once again when topping the opening leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 Europe Division 1 series at their home venue.

Their back-to-back victory was no walk in the park, however, with the result only decided in a thrilling jump-off against the clock in which home hero Martin Fuchs sealed it with a clear round from Leoni Jei, while Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm QH were quicker but left the very last fence on the floor.

The Brazilians were truly impressive, firmly in the lead at the halfway stage on a zero score and without even having to call on their anchor partnership of Pedro Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Z. But in the end, it was Fuchs and teammates Edouard Schmitz, Bryan Balsiger, and Steve Guerdat who stood top of the podium, both Balsiger and Guerdat bolstering Swiss chances with superb double-clear performances.

Generous

The time-allowed of 77 seconds proved generous over Swiss course designer Gerard Lachat’s 12-fence track, but the final line of three fences that included a triple bar to a tight double of vertical-to-oxer and the final planks proved influential.

In glorious sunshine, the horses looked fresh and full of enthusiasm as they enjoyed the big open arena, and when Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (Alea Marathon), Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom), and Mansur and his impressive 10-year-old mare all went clear first time out, then Veniss didn’t need to go as only the best three scores would count.

However, Great Britain and Switzerland were only a fence behind, on four faults going into round two when the British fell back with the addition of eight, while the Swiss, in contrast, really rose to the challenge to add nothing to their four-fault scoreline.

Chink

The first chink in the Brazilian armour was a brick out of the wall at fence two in an otherwise foot-perfect second run from Mesquita Musa. Pessoa produced a second spectacular clear and Veniss was faultless on his first tour of the track, but when Mansur’s mare kicked out the top plank at fence five at her second attempt, then they moved also on to a four-fault tally, forcing a third-round head-to-head.

That was also a thriller, Fuchs throwing down a superb target time of 42.14 seconds with a clear that had the home crowd gasping all the way. But Mansur was well up on time coming to the last and broke the beam in 41.84 seconds. Fuchs didn’t see the final fence fall for the Brazilian and initially thought he’d been beaten.

“I couldn’t even watch the last fence because I was looking at the time on the clock hoping Yuri would be slower. And then the clock stopped and he was faster and I was ‘whaaaat’!” said Fuchs.

As it happened, he had nothing to worry about. “I have to say congrats to team Brazil and Yuri Mansur for really making it so exciting for everyone today,” he added.

A great day

“What a great day!” 30-year-old multiple champion Fuchs said. “It was a very exciting class; my teammates were fantastic and my horse was great. I had a rail in the first round and was obviously very disappointed with that, because he jumped fantastic and I really thought we could go for the clear. But in the next round he really gave everything, and that’s also why we decided I would be the one to jump off, because my horse felt great today.”

When Swiss pathfinder Schmitz had the first element of the triple combination at fence six down on his second tour of the track, there was nothing sure about the destination of the St Gallen Nations Cup title.

“Now I knew we had to deliver clear rounds, because the Brazilian team looked very, very strong in the first round. We knew we had to put pressure on them and that’s how it turned out. It worked out really great, and it’s always very sweet to win in front of the home crowd,” Fuchs added.

Encouraging

When asked if the result is encouraging ahead of the challenge of achieving qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which until now has evaded Team Switzerland, Fuchs quickly replied, “We don’t need any encouragement! We are all already highly motivated to get this Olympic qualification, and a win like this gives you confidence, gives you a boost. If you can win in front of the home crowd where the pressure is high, then you know you can deliver also at a Championship, and that’s an important point we can take away from today,” he said.

Olympic places are on offer at the forthcoming FEI Jumping European Championship and at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023, which will take place in Barcelona (ESP) at the end of September. But before all that, there will be another five exciting rounds to decide the line-up for the Longines Final to which the top seven of the ten nations competing in Europe Division 1 will make the cut.

Sopot in Poland is the next port of call for competitors in this exciting top-level series, which also stops off at Rotterdam (NED) later in June before moving to Falsterbo (SWE) and Hickstead (GBR) in July and finally visits Dublin (IRL) in August.

by Louise Parkes

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville Win $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and Nashville ©Kendall Lueder for Natalie Suto Photography

May 25, 2023 – Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Nashville were the fastest of the day to take top honors in the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, the first international Welcome Stake of the 2023 season as part of Tryon Spring 4 competition. Francisco de Azevedo and Santa Cecilia Stables LLC’s Nashville (Diamant De Semilly x Darco), a 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, sped through the jump-off timers in 38.56 seconds to clinch the win. Scott Keach (AUS) and Wild Thing (Caraca x Contango II), Keach’s own 2012 gelding produced a 41.49-second jump off round to earn reserve. Accepting the third-place ribbon was Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) and J’adore Flamenco, the 2012 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by BG Stables LLC, stopping the clock in 42.22 seconds.

Sixty-two entries challenged the first round, with the course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and welcoming nineteen pairs to challenge the second round. Francisco de Azevedo was a bit surprised with how many entries qualified for the jump off, after walking the course and discerning its difficulty, but emphasized that it felt great to win against “many, many good riders and good horses. I decided to take all the risks, and it paid off. My horse is a naturally fast horse, and I took all the other risks inside and decided to turn really tight. It went well!”

Victoria Heurtematte and Scarlett Du Sart Z Dominate $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*

Victoria Heurtematte (PAN) and Scarlett Du Sart Z claimed the win in Wednesday’s $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2* in a field of 39 entries, stopping the speed phase timers in 26.32 seconds to clinch the blue ribbon. McKayla Langmeier (USA) and Pepita VD Rollebeek, Linda Landmeier’s 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare (Tangelo VD Zuuthoeve x Toulon), cleared the speed phase in 27.50 seconds to receive second place honors, while third went to Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Baroness, the 2015 Westphalian mare (Balous Bellini) owned by Leeann Ablin, after their 28.05-second clear performance. Twenty-two horse-and-rider pairs cleared the power phase to continue on to the short track, with twelve entries posting double-clear rounds over both portions of the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) track.

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping

CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena: Elegance amongst Tradition

Geneva, 23 May 2023 – CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena is recognized as one of the most beautiful horse shows on the international equestrian calendar, staged in the magnificent Villa Borghese gardens in the Italian capital from 25-28 May. The four-day event will showcase intense competition from the best horse and rider combinations on the show jumping circuit, concluding on Sunday 28 May with the 5* Rolex Gran Premio Roma.

The show has a rich history, with roots dating back more than a century. Combining elegance and style with world-class sport and athleticism, it attracts competitors from around the world. Rolex became Official Timekeeper of the show, as well as Title Sponsor of the esteemed Grand Prix, the Rolex Gran Premio Roma, in 2018.

The organizers have striven for continuous improvement since the show’s inception in 1922, ensuring the event’s stature as one of the most revered in the equestrian calendar, and in 2018, the 18th century oval was re-grassed returning it to its original splendour. As well as the Rolex Gran Premio Roma, the show hosts a Nations Cup, a prestigious team competition featuring the best show jumpers from across the world representing their countries.

The Rolex Gran Premio Roma has been won by some of the best show jumping horse and rider combinations in the history of the sport, with previous winning riders including Rodrigo Pessoa in 2009 and Eric Lamaze in 2011 and 2014.

This year, several athletes will travel to the Eternal City with hopes of etching their names into the history books of CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena. Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs will be looking to emulate his uncle Markus Fuchs, who won the prestigious Grand Prix in 2001, but will face stiff competition from former World No. 1 Daniel Deusser from Germany.

Martin Fuchs stated: “CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena is one of the most picturesque and prestigious shows in the world; it is such an incredible setting being located in the heart of such a historic and vibrant city. As with all Rolex Grands Prix, the standard of competition will be excellent, requiring skill and horsemanship to win.”

Virginie Chevailler
Rolex SA
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com

Merrick Haydon
rEvolution
mhaydon@revolutionworld.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Strzegom

The Race for the Nations Cup in Eventing Is On in Strzegom

Photo: Leszek Wójcik

The competition for the Nations Cup in the equestrian triathlon will take place at the hippodrome in Morawa during LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials. Will the Polish team take the win once again?

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup season began in March in Montelibretti, Italy. The tour includes eight legs all over Europe. After two competitions, the Belgian team are the current leaders. This year, the fight is not only about Nations Cup points. A high position in the classification of the entire series is a chance for teams that have not yet qualified to secure their team for the Olympic Games – Paris 2024

During LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials, the fourth leg of the Nations Cup will be settled. In Poland, it will be the highest-ranked class in eventing, i.e. an equestrian triathlon, in which riders and their horses compete in three trials: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

For the last three years, the Polish national team ended the fight at the Strzegom stage of the Nations Cup for with a place on the podium, and last year, for the first time in history, the white-and-red team were victorious.

In addition to the Nations Cup, the sports program includes as many as nine international classes from one to four stars, including ones for all youth categories. Powerhouse eventing teams have already announced their participation: Great Britain and, for the first time in history, a team from the United States.

“This year we celebrate the jubilee 20th edition of the competition. Much more than the sporting spectacle awaits the fans. The program includes many attractions for the audiences. Let’s celebrate together,” says Marcin Konarski, chairman of the organizing committee.

The Hobby Horse competition, which has recently been beating popularity records, will be a surprise innovation. It is a new sport discipline in which competitors challenge themselves on “horses” made of a horse’s head on a wooden bar, and the rules of competition are inspired by the regulations of equestrian shows. The two-day tournament, on June 24-25, will be held in eventing for the first time in Poland.

The program also includes performances by stuntmen who will present their vaulting skills in the show of the Caucasian jigitovka, as well as dog agility shows.

The competition will take place on June 22-25, at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom, Lower Silesia. Admission is free.

Contact:
www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
press@strzegomhorsetrials.pl

Championships, Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USHJA

Lisa Goldman-Smolen Makes It Two in a Row Winning $25k HITS Grand Prix at HITS Chicago

Lisa Goldman-Smolen is on a streak with no signs of slowing down. After winning the first week’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Chicago with Sovereign, she returned this Saturday with her winning mount from the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix, Ivaro N, and took home the top prize after holding the lead from start to finish. Not to be outdone by his barn mate, Sovereign took home third with Smolen, while Katie Leverick and Hardy slid into the second-place position.

After taking his 8-year-old year off due to Smolen’s pregnancy, Ivaro N stepped into his own in 2022 and continued his streak into 2023 for owner Barbara Disko. “Last year was amazing and then he has been amazing this year too,” expressed Smolen after her win. “He kept the streak rolling over the winter. He did very well in a lot of those Sunday $100,000 Grand Prix classes at HITS Ocala. He’s been nothing but incredible. I think giving him that little bit of time as an 8-year-old was really great for him.”

Mechlin Farm Shines in $5,000 USHJA National Derby

Mechlin Farm had a dominating performance during Friday’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at HITS Chicago. Sarah Mechlin Duhon led the way with her veteran mount Monterius after executing a flawless handy round. Katie Kantrovitz and Shenanigans, who are trained by Duhon, followed closely in second place, while Duhon also nabbed both third and fourth with Rold Gold and Zinc, respectively.

“I’m super proud of the program – we have such an amazing team,” expressed Duhon after leading the lap of honor. “Winning these classes is not about the person in the irons; it is about everybody on the team!”

Caroline Weeden and Spellbound Capture Performance 3’6” Hunters Championship

Professional hunters once again kicked off the week at HITS Chicago as riders returned for the second week of the Lamplight Spring Classic. The Performance 3’6” Hunter divisions took center stage, where Caroline Weeden had a standout week aboard Spellbound. The duo took home two blues over fences on their way to the division’s championship title.

“We got Spellbound from Spencer Smith when he was 5, and we actually named him after Smith and call him ‘Spencer’ at home. Spellbound is 9 now, and he always produces and goes so nice. He’s just super fun to ride and have in the stable.”

For more results and information, visit HitsShows.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

United States Is Golden in the Golden State

McLain Ward (USA) riding Contagious (FEI/McCool Photos)

The United States won their second consecutive Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ event Sunday in San Juan Capistrano (USA), securing a comfortable victory in front of a home crowd at The Oaks International Grand Prix Field two weeks after triumphing in Mexico.

The event marked the first Nations Cup event held in the state of California, and Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brought forward a powerhouse team that featured Lillie Keenan (Argan de Beliard), Karl Cook (Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet), Laura Kraut (Dorado), and McLain Ward (Contagious).

The squad delivered. Over Leopoldo Palacios’ (VEN) 1.60m track, they finished on a total score of 12 faults. Ireland finished second (17 faults), with Mexico third (33 faults).

“Qualifying for the Nations Cup [Finals] in Barcelona had to be a major priority, because that’s one of two ways left to qualify for the Olympics. We basically took our ‘A’ team at the beginning of the year and split it in half. We sent the first half to Mexico [and came here] with the other half,” said Ridland.

All three riders from the U.S.’s silver medal-winning squad from Tokyo were represented across the two teams. In Mexico, Kraut delivered three clear rounds when prevailing in a jump-off against Mexico. In San Juan Capistrano, it was Ward’s turn to lead the way. Ward produced the only double-clear effort on the day aboard his partner from the Tokyo Olympic Games, Contagious.

“I thought Leopoldo set a very challenging track. When I walked it, I have to say I was a tiny bit surprised at how big it was,” Ward said. “But it’s a five-star Nations Cup. There are huge consequences to this qualification, and that’s the way it should be.”

The United States boasted a comfortable lead heading into the second round, with more than a rail in hand over Canada. But Ireland launched a tremendous rally their second time around the course. Neither Andrew Bourns (Sea Topblue), David Blake (Claude), nor Conor Swail (Nadal Hero & DB) touched a pole, finishing the round with just a single fault added to their scorecard.

That put a greater amount of pressure on the home nation, but veterans Kraut and Ward were clear for the U.S., securing the victory. Not a single U.S. rider incurred more than 4 faults in a single round of competition.

“When this group of riders that we have here are on form, it suits us when it’s more difficult. So I think it worked in our favour,” said Ward.

Kraut was the only rider to have also competed in Mexico. In that event, she rode her Tokyo Olympic Games mount, Baloutinue. In San Juan Capistrano, she brought forward 10-year-old Dorado for his Nations Cup debut.

“I was thrilled with him,” Kraut said. “I will tell you, in the first round, he definitely was impressed. I agree with McLain that the course was much more difficult than I was expecting, and it caught me off guard. [Dorado] was a little bit shy from the first round, and he could have gotten smaller for the second round, or he could have grown. He grew and rode around beautifully, like he’d been doing it a long time.”

With their victory, the United States increased their lead in the North and Central America and Caribbean division; they boast 200 points. Mexico sits second with 170 points, and Canada is third (150 points).

The division concludes in Vancouver (CAN) on 4 June 2023.

Full Results

By Catie Staszak

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Royal Windsor Horse Show, Show Jumping

Martin Fuchs Crowned Champion of the Rolex Grand Prix at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Martin Fuchs (SUI) riding Connor Jei @RoyalWindsorHorseShow/PeterNixon

Royal Windsor Horse Show drew to a close after an incredible five days of top class equestrian action. The pinnacle Jumping competition of the Show, the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, was won by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs. Elsewhere, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet was victorious in the morning’s CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes. It was also a day for the country’s best up-and-coming talent, with Antonia Platt bringing home The Defender Under 25 Jumping title, England taking first place in the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games Final, and Zara Nicholls, daughter of champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls, victorious in The Defender Shetland Pony Grand National Final.

The Jumping highlight of the Show came from the Rolex Grand Prix. Bathed in the glorious afternoon sunshine, Windsor Castle proved a fitting backdrop for this prestigious class. With the world’s best riders gathered, and a truly international field representing 12 different countries, the competition was set to be fierce.

It was none other than show jumping legend John Whitaker who was first to tackle the technical and up-to-height track set by Portuguese course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral, but he unfortunately could not quite pull off the result that both he and the crowd had hoped for. Second into the ring, Bertram Allen set the standard for the rest of the field and, just a few horses later, France’s Kevin Staut with Dialou Blue PS ensured that there would be a jump-off. Clear rounds came throughout the class, with a total of four clears before the mid-way break.

Britain’s Scott Brash and Joseph Stockdale were some of the unlucky riders who finished on four faults. However, Greece’s only representative — and Royal Windsor Horse Show first-timer — Ioli Mytilineou joined the exclusive group proceeding into the jump-off, as did winners of the 2021 Rolex Grand Prix at the Show, Ben Maher and Explosion W, and former World No. 1 Martin Fuchs, who was third behind Maher that day.

In total, nine combinations made it through to the jump-off, providing top-class entertainment for the packed-out crowds. Ireland’s Bertram Allen, with his top horse Pacino Amiro, was first into the Castle Arena. The partnership, who have had huge successes in Wellington, Florida earlier this year, produced a faultless round in the time of 34.50 seconds. Five combinations in total jumped clear, but it was the battle between Ben Maher and Martin Fuchs that truly set the crowds alight. Having just come back from injury, Maher, with his Olympic gold-medal winning gelding, looked to be unbeatable, but Fuchs’ spectacular turn to the penultimate fence helped him clinch the victory by 0.40 seconds.

A delighted Fuchs said: “Connor Jei was fantastic today. He’s back after quite a long break since Geneva as he did a lot of shows last year, so we gave him the indoor season off. To be honest he wasn’t so easy at the last show I took him to, so I wanted some advice on what I should be doing differently and how I could help the horse to be at his best again, so I called my uncle – Markus Fuchs – and he has been riding him three times a week, so I’m very lucky to have him to help.”

Fuchs continued: “The Rolex Grand Prix always has the best horse and rider combinations, so it’s an honour to be competing, and then to be winning and to be standing on top of the podium at such a prestigious Rolex Grand Prix makes me very proud.”

On his round, he said: “I knew who I needed to watch, and Bertram and Ben were the two rounds I watched. Bertram had a hard draw – to go first in the jump-off is never easy, but he did everything very well. Then I watched Ben and saw where he left out the strides compared to Bertram, and just tried to do the same round as that, just hoping to be a bit quicker. I think I made up a little bit of time to the second last – I knew that I wanted to do seven strides to the turn, which is what Ben did. I actually didn’t turn as hard as him, so I really had to push hard for those seven strides and I think that’s what made it quicker in the end.”

Maher, at only his second show since breaking his shoulder, said: “I’m very happy. Explosion jumped incredible; he’s been out for eight or nine months; he just did two small classes last week so to come here this week and show his experience and perform in a Rolex Grand Prix like that — I’m very proud of my team bringing him back. I did what I had to do in the jump-off. I took a lot of risks and nine times out of ten that might have been enough, but it’s never over when you’ve got Martin after you. I don’t think I could have done any more; on the day he was the better rider and I had to settle for second.”

Allen added: “I was first to go in the jump-off and with the line-up we have here, it was always going to be very difficult. I gave it a good go and I’m very happy with my horse.”

Earlier in the day, The CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes, a single round against the clock, took centre stage in the Castle Arena. Gregory Wathelet opened the class, riding the fourteen-year-old Clarity. Despite being first in, the combination took a stride out down to the last water tray fence, securing a clear round in a time which proved unbeatable throughout the competition. In doing so, he added another win to his impressive resumé, which includes a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and 36 Grand Prix wins.

The course produced only eight clears – with many of the best, including the likes of former World No. 1, Daniel Deusser, picking up four faults. The only two Brits to finish with a clean sheet were William Funnell and Jack Whitaker. Whitaker was incredibly close to sealing the win with a dazzling round, but just missed the mark by just 0.04 seconds to finish second.

Of his win, Wathelet said: “I was first to go and knew I didn’t have the fastest horse out there, so I had to take a big risk and take some strides out, and it worked! I won the Rolex Grand Prix here last year, so for me the Royal Windsor Horse Show has always been a great show, in a fantastic place with an amazing crowd.”

Royal Windsor Horse Show Ambassador, Whitaker, said: “There’s always a great atmosphere here at Royal Windsor, with the crowd giving you such a big cheer when you canter into that arena! Gregory took us all by surprise, but I stuck to my plan, cut corners, and maybe if I had chased that bit harder to the last, I would have won!”

Britain’s most promising up-and-coming Show Jumpers took to the Castle Arena early this morning for The Defender Under 25 Jumping Competition, which took place over two rounds, with all clears from the first round proceeding into the jump-off.

A total of 33 combinations tackled the first round, which caused faults throughout. However, stylish clear rounds did come from a few riders, including last year’s victor Sienna Charles, riding Stardust, a horse her older brother Harry has ridden to success on multiple occasions, including in the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier at the London International Horse Show in 2021. Her sister, Scarlett, ensured that both of the Charleses made it through to the jump-off with a classy clear round aboard the 10-year-old gelding I. am Jordan. Only four other riders could match the rounds produced by the Charles sisters, including the 2021 FEI Junior European individual gold and team bronze medallists, Ava Vernon and Jolie Fleur Van De Noordheuvel.

Six riders made it through to the jump-off over a shortened course of six fences, coming in the same order that they jumped in in the first round. It was therefore Stardust and Sienna Charles who were first to canter into the arena. The combination rode an efficient and tight round to come home clear in a time of 32.48 seconds and set the pace for the following riders. The lead changed hands a few times in this hotly contested jump-off, but it was Antonia Platt who took the lead with one left to jump. Ben Clarke, with Barika Van De Helle, a horse who he has only ridden for two weeks, were the only ones that could stop Platt taking home the coveted prize, but an unfortunate four faults from Clarke meant she retained her lead.

Speaking of her victory, Platt stated: “It is such an unbelievable feeling. I love jumping here at Royal Windsor – it is a dream come true to win. I have been at university, so I haven’t ridden him for the past two weeks, but he is super reliable and really tries for me. I have had him for three years, so we have a great partnership.”

To conclude Royal Windsor’s Showing classes, the final day hosted multiple exceptionally high standard Championships. Isabella Walker, known as Izzy, proved a chip off the old block when landing her first Royal Windsor Open title in The Hästens Show Pony Championship, riding the loaned pony Stoneleigh Showtime. Despite this occasion being Izzy’s first time in the magnificent Castle Arena, she showed no signs of nerves, upholding her family name and becoming a popular winner.

In The Martin Collins Enterprises Frogmore Arena, it was Olivia Minihane riding Veuve Cliquot who were crowned winners of the Working Hunter Pony Championship sponsored by The Williams Family. Meanwhile, Georgina Storey riding Emma Andrews’ Greylands Maid At Sundown won the Show Hunter Pony Championship sponsored by Across The Pond Exports in the Copper Horse Arena.

The climax of the International Driving Grand Prix took place with Competition C, the Obstacle Cones. The CAIO4* World Cup Qualifier saw Boyd Exell’s four-in-hand team deliver a thrilling performance to secure the Australian his twelfth win at Royal Windsor Horse Show. During the drive through the twenty sets of cones, Exell’s hopes were questioned for the first time in the competition, after accumulating three penalties at the last obstacle. This meant the defending champion’s team finished behind both Ijsbrand Chardon and Mareike Harm’s teams in the third round. However, Exell’s team had done enough by winning the Driven Dressage and The Marathon to defend the title, finishing 8.43 points ahead of the Dutch runners-up Chardon and 24 points ahead of Harm’s team, who finished third.

In the CAI3* Horse Pairs, the course was evidently tricky with no double clears to note on the score sheet. Whilst Erik Evers of the Netherlands won the Obstacle Cones element for the Pairs, it was not enough to beat fellow patriot Rens Egberink overall. In the CAI3* Horse Single class, double clears from Mario Gandolfo, Marie Schiltz, and Great Britain’s Tara Wilkinson kept them in the rankings of first, second, and third, respectively.

Video of the Day: https://youtu.be/nK0juUVi0E0

To find out more about Royal Windsor Horse Show, or to book tickets, visit www.rwhs.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:
Niki McEwen / rEvolution / nmcewen@revolutionworld.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Royal Windsor Horse Show, Show Jumping

The Weather Is Not the Only Thing Heating Up at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Boyd Exell @ RoyalWindsorHorseShow/PeterNixon

Day four of Royal Windsor Horse Show offered brighter skies and yet more thrilling action. The Services proved they could not only look spectacular — when taking part in the Household Cavalry Best Turned Out Trooper — but could also perform under pressure in The Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping. International Show Jumping took to new heights with The CSI5* Defender Challenge Stakes and The CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup. Royal Windsor’s Home Park hosted the second phase of the CAIO4* International Driving competition, the Marathon, and Showing’s elite took to the Castle Arena for the BSPS Mountain and Moorland Ridden Championship, sponsored by New Horizon Plastics.

The second day of international Show Jumping got underway with 28 starters tackling Bernardo Costa Cabral’s technical 1.50m course in The CSI5* Defender Challenge Stakes. The competition consisted of two rounds, with eight going through to the jump-off in reverse order.

After a lightning fast first round from Olivier Perreau, the Frenchman was in pole position for the jump-off. Ben Maher and the incredibly careful stallion Enjeu de Grisien were first to go in the second round, and set the precedent for the combinations to come. Fellow Brits included William Funnell and the home-bred Billy Marmite, Lily Attwood and Karibou Horta, and Jodie Hall McAteer, who finished in third with Mandy Hall’s Kimosa van het Kritrahof.

There was heartbreak for Daniel Deusser, as he and Kiana van het Herdershof were bumped out of the top spot by a painstaking margin by World No. 4,Martin Fuchs and Viper Z. Fuch’s round was picturesque, with his sixpence-like turn from the Rolex oxer to the water tray finishing 0.05 seconds quicker than Deusser, and sealing another 5* win.

Speaking about Viper Z, the former World No. 1 said: “He’s really great and is naturally very quick; it’s his first 5* show, so I’m delighted with this result. When walking the course, I believed it would suit us, so it’s always very nice when it works out. Royal Windsor Horse Show is just such a nice atmosphere, with amazing people who know the sport all around.”

Twenty-one of the world’s best horse and rider combinations went head-to-head in the pinnacle Show Jumping class – The CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup. First into the arena was Britain’s William Funnell riding the 13-year-old chestnut gelding, Equine America Billy Diamo. Funnell showcased all of his experience to jump clear and set the standard for the rest to follow. Clears continued to come in the Castle Arena, including the CSI5* Pearl Stakes winner, Lily Attwood, Belgium’s Abdel Saïd, and two members of Britain’s FEI World Championship bronze medal-winning team, Ben Maher and Harry Charles.

However, the skillfully curated course did also cause problems throughout, with nearly half of the field accruing four faults. Beneath the historic Windsor Castle, crowds came alight when 68-year-old veteran of the sport, John Whitaker, entered the arena. Whitaker executed a superb clear jumping round, but disappointment came when he picked up two time faults.

Eight combinations progressed through to the jump-off, held over seven combinations. First to go was Belgium’s Abdel Saïd riding Arpege du Ru, who won this class back in 2017 and set the standard with an exceptionally fast round of 32.32 seconds. Following Saïd’s round, the pressure was on the remaining combinations. It was a tightly fought contest as France’s Kevin Staut looked to challenge the lead but could not quite match the pace set, coming home in a time of 33.76 seconds. All British hopes rested on Under-25 World No. 1 Harry Charles, after both Ben Maher and Lily Atwood had a pole down. Charles, who partnered the talented Aralyn Blue, rode a beautiful round, and as he rode down to the last oxer the crowd held their breath in hopes of a British winner. The young rider, however, could only do enough for second, with a time of 32.97 — just over 0.60 seconds slower than the winner, Abdel Saïd.

Saïd said, “I’m really happy with Arpege. She’s naturally a really fast mare. I know her really well as I’ve been riding her since she was eight, so I stuck to my plan and I’m really pleased with how she went. I love competing at Royal Windsor Horse Show; the British crowds are so supportive and they really understand the sport, so it’s an amazing experience.”

Speaking of his tactics for the jump-off: “I don’t usually walk the jump-off course when riding Arpege, as she has such an unusually quick stride, so I spoke to a few colleagues who told me the lines. I tend to just take what I see as it comes, and today it really paid off.”

His Majesty King Charles III’s horses were in the money again when Katie Jerram-Hunnable piloted the lovely small riding horse, Fools Gold – a seven-year-old home-bred son of Her Late Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II’s past Windsor winner, Stardust – to third place in a strong field in the Small Riding Horse sponsored by Mr and Mrs Phil Swallow.

Jerram-Hunnable also partnered the former racehorse, First Receiver, to fourth place in the Novice Riding Horse — also sponsored by Mr and Mrs Phil Swallow — for His Majesty. The handsome six-year-old also shone on day one in the Tattersalls RoR Open In Hand Show Series Qualifier supported by Royal Windsor Racecourse.

Elsewhere, Cheshire-based producer Vicky Smith – champion here last year with her coloured horse Bart – landed her first-ever Riding Horse Championship sponsored by Mr and Mrs Phil Swallow to rapturous cheers in the Castle Arena. She was successful on Paul Mortimer’s Royal Illusion (Gracie), who glided round as if on oiled wheels. This eight-year-old mare has been a long time in preparation, and Vicky was quick to credit former producer Jordan Cook for his patience in bringing her on.

“She’s not the easiest, but Jordan has done a wonderful job with her,” said Vicky, who was sent the mare to produce in June last year. “He’s always maintained that Gracie had a big win to come, but he said the key is to give her a varied life at home so that’s what I’ve done. Last week, she was going on farm rides!”

The ever-popular Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter classes showcased not only breed type but skill and scope, with amateur rider Amy Smith taking her fourth Royal Windsor title on her evergreen Connemara, Laburnum Richard — now a sprightly 17-year-old, but looking and jumping like a pony half his age. His immaculate clear round and enthusiastic show contributed to his top score of 93/100.

The BSPS Mountain & Moorland Ridden Championship, sponsored by New Horizon Plastics, held for the first time in the Castle Arena, fell to Amanda Sharman’s lovely Connemara stallion, Castle Kestrel, yet another by the prolific sire, Glencarrig Knight. It was the first outing for Castle Kestrel since his victory in the Mountain & Moorland Supreme Championship at the London International Horse Show in 2022.

The second phase of the CAIO4* and CAI3* International Driving Grand Prix, the Marathon, took place and it did not disappoint. The five-and-a-half-kilometre course contained seven obstacles, expanded over the luscious grounds of Windsor Castle. Ten single horse and driver combinations and ten pairs completed the CAI3* course, with fourteen teams completing the CAIO4*. In the single CAI3*, Mario Gandolfo drove beautifully to build on his lead from the Driven Dressage, as did Rens Egberink in the pairs. Disappointment came in the four-in-hand CAIO4* for Chester Weber’s team, as they were eliminated for missing a gate. True to form, the Australian World No. 1, Boyd Exell, expanded on his team’s Driven Dressage lead to set them up with a 12.9 point lead.

Later in the day, the Castle Arena hosted the final of The Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping, which saw the best of twenty-nine service teams, each made up of three riders, tackling a course of show jumps. The competition was split over two phases: in the first phase, held in the morning, all members of the team jumped, whilst in the second phase in the afternoon, sixteen riders were nominated for the jump-off.

The Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping Competition saw a huge field of competitors. The Queen’s Cup for working military horses was won by The Defence Animal Training Regiment’s team of CoH Mancey, WO2 McGrath, and SSgt. Kershaw. The Queen’s Plate for non-horsed units was won by Hurstpierpoint College, while the International Challenge Trophy was won by the Abu Dhabi Police Cavalry.

Meanwhile, in the Frogmore Arena, attention turned to the Inter School Show Jumping Competition, sponsored by Equine Rescue Services, where Seaford College triumphed in the team competition, and Darcie Nobles from Leweston School won the individual title.

Video of the Day: https://youtu.be/EqbL4iKu624

To find out more about Royal Windsor Horse Show, or to book tickets, visit www.rwhs.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:
Niki McEwen / rEvolution / nmcewen@revolutionworld.com