Category Archives: Disciplines

Community/Charity, Dressage, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Education, Culture, and Equestrian Sport Converge at FEI World Cup Finals for Omaha’s Youth

Young fans at the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha (USA) in 2017 – Photo Credit: AJ Olnes.

More than 80 of the world’s top athletes from the disciplines of Jumping, Dressage, and Vaulting will congregate at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Nebraska (USA) for the FEI World Cup™ Finals, where, over the course of five days, they will compete for the ultimate honour of becoming FEI World Cup Champion in their respective disciplines – a title steeped in history – in front of an enthusiastic crowd and global media from around the world.

But for the more than 1,000 elementary school students bound for the event through the Omaha Equestrian Foundation’s (OEF) field trip programme, the event might mark the first time several children ever get to lay eyes on a sport horse.

Thirty-eight schools and homeschool programmes will visit the Finals with a mostly academic objective — and a bit of homework.

OEF has partnered with Prairie Stem to create STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) kits for students to create prior to attending the Finals. Based out of Omaha, Prairie Stem is an education-based non-profit organisation that seeks to improve critical thinking and creativity in students, from Pre-Kindergarteners to high school seniors.

The World Cup-themed STEAM Kits challenge students to create their own working horse carousel in one of four designs: Dressage, Jumping, Vaulting, and Lakota painted horse — a nod to Omaha’s cultural history.

The Lakota, a Native American people, were among Nebraska’s earliest settlers, and Lakota is a dialect of the indigenous language, Sioux. “Omaha” means “to go against the current” in Sioux, a nod to the Omaha tribe’s journey to the Nebraska territory. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska thrived through the 1700s and were known for their hunting and farming. Today, the Omaha reservation located in Macy, NE is home to about 3,000 residents.

Among the field trip exhibits for visiting students will reference Omaha’s Native American roots, from a full-size fiberglass horse (to demonstrate Lakota symbology), Native American tribal artifacts, and live and visual storytellers.

They will also be exposed to equestrian sport and horsemanship. Students will get hands on with grooming and receive an introduction to horse care, go on a virtual ride using Virtual Reality headsets, and explore a variety of equine and agricultural career paths.

“We feel that a very important part of running such historically important events such as the FEI World Cup Finals is to inspire and educate the next generation of equestrian athletes and horse lovers,” said Julie Boilesen, CEO of Equestrian Omaha. “The equine legacy in Omaha is deep-rooted in our culture and history, so we are proud to honour our equine athletes by introducing our youth to them in this way.”

The legacy continues for Omaha after hosting the FEI World Cup Finals™ back in 2017, and they are providing the kids with undoubtedly one of the more unique types of classroom, as the young students will be learning in the arena and schooling area from some of the best equestrian athletes in the world.  As they experience horsemanship and our majestic equine athletes up close and personal – valuable lessons that will stay with them for a long time to come.

Perhaps it will mark the start of an equestrian pursuit for a few young, stargazing students.

The 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals is set for 4-8 April 2023 in Omaha. To learn more, visit https://omaha2023.fei.org/.

By Catie Staszak

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, Show Jumping

Catoki Goes Out on Top at WEF

McLain Ward & Catoki. Photo © Sportfot

Five-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward and Catoki claimed one final victory on Friday during the Rolex-sponsored final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International. They once again rose to the top in the $39,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* 1.45m Speed.

From 19 clears, Bob Russell, Marilla Van Beuren, and Ward’s co-owned 14-year-old Westphalian gelding had the speed to take the pair’s third FEI win of the 2023 WEF season. Catoki (Catoki x Caretello B) held firm to the title position by less than half a second with another lightning-fast finish in 57.75 seconds.

“I don’t even really remember the rounds after because they happen so fast on him,” Ward laughed. “We often joke that he probably doesn’t remember them either. I made a mistake in the speed class on Wednesday because I watched so many go that I had an error at the end just trying to be too fast. Today, I decided to stick to my plan and stay at his speed which always works out best.”

Wellington International
news@wellingtoninternational.com
www.wellingtoninternational.com

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Daniel Bluman Saves Gemma W for WEF Finale

Daniel Bluman & Gemma W. Photo © Sportfot

Israel’s Daniel Bluman made careful plans for Gemma W this season, plans that paid off on Thursday with a victory in the $146,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12, a qualifier for the $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix on Saturday.

Gemma W, owned by Blue Star Investments and Over the Top Stables, picked up a top-five finish in her only other appearance at WEF this season – a CSI4* grand prix during Week 8. Since then, Bluman has had her fully focused on making a big impact during WEF 12.

“Gemma had a very successful 2022 and I’ve been taking it easy with her and not jumping a bunch; the plan was to have her fit and ready for this week to come and attack this grand prix qualifier,” said the 33-year-old two-time Olympian. “She was fresh, and the plan was to do the leave outs everywhere and use her ground speed to put in a competitive time with enough pressure on the couple riders after me.”

Bluman is no stranger to success during Rolex Week at WEF after finishing second in the Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix in 2022 on Ladriano Z and 2019 with Gemma W.

“The Rolex Grand Prix in Wellington has been my favorite class,” he said. “I haven’t decided the plan for Saturday yet, but I can say for sure that it will be a very exciting class with great horse-and-rider combinations and a packed house with great atmosphere here in Wellington.”

Pavlova Delights in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6″

California’s Nick Haness and Pavlova rose to the occasion on Thursday of WEF 12 to steal the champion spot in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6” division in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena.

Winning two of the three classes over fences, Haness and Pavlova, an eight-year-old Oldenburg mare by Diatendro, posted a high score of 90 in the stake for owners John and Stephanie Ingram. The pair also received scores of 88 and 87 the previous day, combined with a second-place finish under saddle to earn the top tricolor.

“I rode Pavlova for the first time last week but she’s an amazing horse to ride,” said Haness, who has made a return to WEF for the final week of competition after spending time commuting between California and Florida to show this season. “She won both rounds yesterday and we were up for champion today, so I wanted to put in some good rounds. In the incentive class, she scored a 90 and was beautiful throughout the course.”

Wellington International
news@wellingtoninternational.com
www.wellingtoninternational.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Royal Windsor Horse Show, Show Jumping

Stellar National Entries for Royal Windsor Horse Show 2023

Royal Windsor Horse Show, taking place from 11-14 May 2023, will welcome over 1,800 entries across all Showing and national Show Jumping competitions, setting the scene to provide a spectacle of top-level equestrianism.

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, said: “Royal Windsor Horse Show has been delighted to see such a high number of entries coming in for the 80th edition of the Show. The four days of competition will be a real showcase of the exciting national talent that we have in our country, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to this special edition of the Show.”

National Showing

Once again, the biggest names in Showing will gather in the private grounds of Windsor Castle for what is regarded as the start of the Showing season. With over 1,700 entries, including 15 from His Majesty the King, the competition is set to be intense. This is a large increase from 2022, when just over 1,300 entries were received, demonstrating the growing prominence of Royal Windsor on the calendar.

One of the most prestigious titles in the world of Showing, the Hunter Championship, will be more open than ever this year as Cheshire master-showman Robert Walker has retired his record-breaking lightweight, View Point, who made history last season when standing champion at Royal Windsor Horse Show for the fourth consecutive time. Walker, the ultimate horseman, has six entries across the Hunter category and will be looking to retain his title.

The 2022 Retraining of Racehorses Tattersalls Thoroughbred Ridden Show Horse Championship was won by Minella Rebellion and Katie Dashwood. Dashwood will return with the 11-year-old brother to Cheltenham Festival winner Balthazar King, hoping to repeat their success. Last year’s Riding Horse Champions, Times Square III and Danielle Heath, Senior In Hand Champions, Randall IV and Lucy Ashworth, and Martin Collins Enterprises Cob Champions Chantilly Sandman and Jayne Ross are some of top combinations seeking victory at the Show once more.

Another recognisable competitor taking centre stage at this year’s Show will be equestrian influencer, Harlow White. White will make her debut at the Show, riding Coppinshill Commemoration in both the BSPS Mountain & Moorland Ridden (Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland) sponsored by New Horizon Plastics and the BSPS Mountain & Moorland Open First Ridden.

A notable addition to the 2023 schedule are the Pretty Polly classes, which have received an impressive 85 entries, from Mountain & Moorland to Show Pony. Of the new classes, Brooks-Ward commented: “The Show is delighted to showcase and celebrate such a wide selection of home-produced ponies and we wish all the competitors the best of luck.”

National Show Jumping

Alongside the CSI5* international Show Jumping classes, Royal Windsor Horse Show will showcase home-grown talent in its four national Show Jumping classes. Brooks-Ward acknowledged: “Hosting the national Show Jumping at Royal Windsor is important to us, giving the country’s top national riders an opportunity to compete at such a prestigious venue and providing younger horses and riders with invaluable experience to progress and hopefully move up to an international level in the future.”

Action commences with the Al Shira’aa Senior Foxhunter, for horses who have won fewer than 700 British Showjumping points in their career, on Thursday morning in the Martin Collins Enterprises Frogmore Arena. Last year’s victor, Emily Sage, returns to the Show with high hopes of retaining her title with one of her two rides, Vogue TW and Stalua PS. Also contesting the class will be some of the most notable names in Show Jumping including Ireland’s Shane Breen, Royal Windsor Horse Show ambassador Joseph Stockdale, as well as Pippa and William Funnell, who alongside their Billy Stud riders bring 12 horses to this class.

The following class, the National 1.40m Open, is always highly competitive, and the 2023 edition will have over 40 entries. With four entries, The Billy Stud will provide stiff competition, but last year’s winners Sally Goding and Spring Willow will hope to use their experience of the famous Castle Arena to reclaim the title.

A highlight for many will come from Thursday night’s Martin Collins Enterprises Puissance. The Puissance dates back over 100 years and is one of the most exhilarating competitions in the Show Jumping discipline. Amongst the horse and rider combinations to take on the iconic ‘red wall’ will be last year’s joint winner, Derek Morton, who is sure to be the favourite heading into the competition. He will be joined by 2021 winner, Joseph Stockdale, as well as France’s Dan Delsart riding Granby, an experienced Puissance combination.

Showcasing the most exciting up-and-coming homegrown talent is the Defender Under-25 Jumping Competition held in the Castle Arena on Sunday morning. Fourth in the class last year, and returning with new mount Chilli, is Nicole Lockhead Anderson, who is continuing to rise up the FEI Under-25 rankings. She will come to Royal Windsor Horse Show on the back of numerous wins in Vejer de la Frontera in the spring. Rising star Claudia Moore will partner her FEI Young Rider European Championships mount Hardesther and will be looking to impress. The 19-year-old is joined by FEI World Championship team bronze medallist Joseph Stockdale. Stockdale, a former winner of this class, knows what it takes to win at this iconic venue. Jennifer Sponer is another to look out for, as she partners Scott Brash’s former five-star ride Hello Shelby, and will be hoping his experience can lead her to victory. Maisy Williams will once again ride her father Guy Williams’ Puissance specialist Mr Blue Sky UK in this prestigious class.

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

Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Strzegom Spring Open: Star-Studded Lineup for the Season Opener

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński

Over 220 horses, competitors from 13 countries, and star athletes — this year’s first international eventing competition in Poland starts on Friday, 31 March, at the hippodrome in Morawa.

The riders will take part in four international short-format classes from 1*-Intro to 4*, as well as three national ones.

Some of the sport’s biggest names signed up to participate in the competition, including multi-medalist Michael Jung – a double Olympic champion, European, and World Champion. The German athlete brings fischerChipmunk, with whom he won the team gold medal during the last world championships, as well as Banderas, bred in Poland, in Bolków in Lower Silesia. We will also see Sandra Auffarth from Germany, Olympic bronze medalist and world champion, and Dutch Merel Blom, the team bronze medalist of the World Equestrian Games.

Among the Polish representatives we will have the chance to see the entire podium of last year’s Polish Championships: Mateusz Kempe, Joanna Pawlak, and Małgorzata Korycka.

The competition begins on Friday with the dressage. Saturday is for the jumping and cross-country trial of national competitions, and on Sunday, the cross-country for the international classes.

This will be the first edition of the Strzegom Spring Open; the second will be held on April 20-23.

Program: https://www.eventing.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/images/2023/1/TIMETABLE-24.03.pdf

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

Championships, Competitions, Dressage

Orlob and Berktold Claim Developing Horse Championship Titles to Wrap AGDF 11

Marcus Orlob & JJ Glory Day. Photo © SusanJStickle.com

International action for the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 2023 season in Wellington, Florida wrapped up on Sunday, March 26. The grand champions were crowned in both the Lövsta Future Challenge Young Horse Grand Prix Series and the Buffalo Wild Wings Future Challenge Young Horse Prix St. Georges Series. These classes aim to identify and nurture talented, up-and-coming young FEI horses, giving them exposure to benefit their development with the biggest of world stages in mind.

Competition was extremely hot in the small tour ranks, with the top three in the field of eight starters all scoring over 71% — particularly impressive as these are young, green horses at the level.

It was the 41-year-old German-born American rider Marcus Orlob who rode Alice Tarjan’s JJ Glory Day (by Kastel’s Grand Galaxy Win x Deemster) to victory with a commanding 73.705% — including a high score of over 75% from one judge. At seven years old, Glory Day was the youngest horse in the class — the only seven-year-old — and the only stallion. This was just his second ever Prix St. Georges test.

“I’ve had this horse for three years and since then I’m quite amazed by him,” said Orlob, who is based between Annandale, NJ and Loxahatchee, FL. “Every time I ride him it’s a joy. He wants to work. I thought a couple weeks ago I would do this just for fun and he was really afraid the first time.

“Now I think he did quite a clean test and the judges seemed to like it, so I’m really happy. The changes are more confirmed [than they were a few weeks ago], and he was more mature, with better balance and straighter.”

Mares Rule Big Tour Final

In the big tour ranks, competitors qualified by riding an Intermediate II test, but for the final they rode the Young Horse Grand Prix test — which was a bit of a surprise for the eventual winner, Bianca Berktold on Imperial, when she double checked the night before.

“It’s smart to read the emails they send you thoroughly because I thought I was doing a regular Grand Prix, and last night at 8pm I realized it was a young horse Grand Prix and that I’d never ridden a young horse Grand Prix myself and I had to Google it — but Imperial showed up and went in and was amazing.”

The 10-year-old mare (by Charmeur x Vivaldi) belongs to Berktold and she has trained her up the levels. The pair, who scored 69.973% to secure this year’s title, won five small tour CDI classes at the 2022 edition of AGDF.

“I’ve had her since she was two and a half, so it’s been a work in progress,” added the 40-year-old. “I am so lucky to have her and she’s still green at this level, but she’s coming together nicely. She really has a talent for piaffe and passage and the lateral work is really easy for her, so it’s an incredibly talented horse.”

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Barbançon Scores a Double to Close Out Her First AGDF Season in Style

Morgan Barbançon & Habana Libre V. Photo © SusanJStickle.com

It was an epic and unforgettable day for 30-year-old French rider Morgan Barbançon, who capped a sensational first Wellington season of her career with wins in both the Dutta Corp CDI4* Grand Prix Special and the Beatrice Marienau Dressage CDI3* Grand Prix Special. They were the two showcase classes of the penultimate day of week 11 during the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). The wins took Barbançon’s tally of victories to three in under 24 hours — all on different horses.

On Saturday, she led the four-star class on the 11-year-old Habana Libre A (by Zizi Top x United), pulling out a unanimous win on 71.702% from final draw, despite a mistake in the one-time changes on the diagonal. American ladies filled the remaining two podium steps, with Katie Duerrhammer and Paxton sealing second on 69.234% and Alice Tarjan third riding Candescent to 68.596%.

In the three-star ranks, 12-year-old Deodoro (by Damon Hill x Lauries Crusador) stepped up to earn Barbançon yet another winner’s rug for her burgeoning collection, putting down an untouchable 71.596% despite the three riders placed behind her all posting personal best scores. Emily Miles (USA) and Java Dulce — winners of the qualifying grand prix class — had to settle for second this time with 70.872%. The final competitor in the class, America’s Kevin Kohmann, picked up third with a 69.043% ride on Dünensee.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” enthused Barbançon, who will be back in Europe first thing on Monday morning and straight back to riding in the cold. “I’m exhausted and I gave the last bit of myself in that last test today, but it’s such a good tired.”

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage

Iberian Horses Reign Supreme on Saturday at AGDF

Kerrigan Gluch & Mejorano HGF. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

It was a long and nail-biting wait for Kerrigan Gluch (USA) to discover that she had won the Fair Sky Farm CDI3* Grand Prix Special. She was first to go, mid-morning, on Saturday of week 10 of the 2023 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. When the class finished, mid-afternoon, Gulch’s name was still atop the leaderboard with Mejorano HGF and their score of 68.872%. That included some big names, like Morgan Barbançon — winner of the qualifying Grand Prix on Thursday with Bolero — whose performances couldn’t better Gluch’s.

Susan Dutta and Don Design DC, the Dutta Corp.’s 13-year-old gelding by Der Designer, finished second with 68.702%. Korean rider Dong Sean Kim is still getting to know his new acquisition, Galleria’s Bohemian. The 13-year-old gelding by Bordeaux finished fourth in the freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics under Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. This is just Kim’s second CDI on Bohemian, and their first Grand Prix Special together. They scored 68.574% for the yellow ribbon.

Mejorano was bred by his owners, Hampton Green Farm. Gluch began her career there as a working student 11 years ago, and then graduated into a sponsored rider. Having known Mejorano as a young horse, Gluch then picked up the ride full-time three years ago, and their partnership is going from strength to strength.

“He’s an extraordinary horse, super talented in all aspects of the grand prix,” said the 26-year-old. “I’ve really been focused on the flow of everything – in and out of transitions – so everything had a lot of harmony and that was the main goal for this weekend, and I think I accomplished that. My piaffe/passage tour was quite smooth and I was happy with how the changes felt in the ring. It’s a very long test, but I was able to settle in and enjoy it.

“Mejarano is a product of the breeding in the States that we strive for. It’s special to be able to do it with him knowing that he was born here and show that off. He tries his heart out for me every time,” added the Ocala-based Gluch, who has recently started training with fellow Ocala rider, Shelly Francis, after years training with Charlotte Bredahl.

For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Equinium Sports Mktg., Training/Clinics

Hadrian Interagro and Tyra Vernon Featured in Kyra Kyrklund Masterclass

1 Comment

Hadrian Interagro and Tyra Vernon (Photo by Carmen Franco)

Loxahatchee, FL (March 15, 2023) – Some of the best examples of the modern competitive Lusitano horse were on display during February’s 2023 US Lusitano Conference, held this February at May Faire Oaks in Loxahatchee. On day two, attendees and riders enjoyed a targeted day of dressage training with one of the legends of the sport, Kyra Kyrklund, who covered topics from neck position, steadiness of connection, quiet hands and legs, and body control. One of the Grand Prix level exhibitors was Tyra Vernon and the grey Lusitano gelding, Hadrian Interagro, and with Ms. Kyrklund’s guidance demonstrated the power of weight, body control, and how the rider must use her body effectively to control the impulsion and balance of the horse at the higher-level movements.

Carmen “Queca” Franco of Q-Equestrian was on the ground at the Conference, and gives a detailed account of Hadrian Interagro and Tyra Vernon’s ride:

“With this wonderful combination, Kyra worked the execution of the [canter] zig-zag [a movement required in the Grand Prix]: In the change, he looks into the new direction.

“We were able to learn also some very helpful tips to improve the piaffe and passage, like using turn on the forehand at the piaffe with a small flexion to the outside and produce very small steps to improve engagement. For the passage Tyra was asked to do rising trot, go slower, push the hindlegs out, then make the horse straight, find short steps. If you lose the hindleg, push them out.

“Kyra used this explanation: if you want to bounce a beach ball, you variate how quick your hand meets the ball, but your hand needs to be flexible for the ball to bounce. [The] same happens with the back of the horse: the rider needs to know how to maintain control of his own energy to move up and down. ‘Your weight is the one thing that’s influencing the horse all the time.’

While stressing that the rider needs to be patient training horses, she also said: ‘Don’t go on and on practicing a movement; at some point in a dressage test it has to happen the first time you ask.’

I wish I could put in writing every single word and phrase Kyra said, but I’m happy I can share here some of my notes. Her approach is always interesting as she has a wonderful way to break down the movements, for both horses and riders, to improve their performances. All that added to very entertaining stories and funny jokes. Absolutely inspiring in so many ways!”

Carmen Franco’s excerpt on Hadrian Interagro is part of a larger article written for EuroDressage.com on the US Lusitano Conference. Read the full article by clicking here.

Hadrian Interagro was bred by Interagro Lusitanos of Brazil before being sold as a young horse to Tyra Vernon’s BREC Dressage in Ocala, Florida. By FEI Dressage Champion Baldor Interagro, Hadrian Interagro embodies much of the athleticism, trainability, and rideability that have been the staples of Interagro’s breeding program for more than 4 decades.

For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, Interagro’s horses for sale, or the Lusitano bloodlines, visit Interagro’s website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

Countdown to the XXXIII Olympiad, Paris

Laura Collet (GBR) with London 52 at the FEI Eventing World Championships 2022 © FEI/Christophe Taniére.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will host equestrian sports 27 July through 6 August at the iconic Palace of Versailles. For athletes in the Olympic disciplines of Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping, the biggest objective on the road to Paris remains qualification. Some key nations — including host nation France — have secured their quota places, with these National Federations focused on team appointment. Others, meanwhile, are set on fielding their best teams for remaining events with qualification opportunities.

Dressage

Including the host nation, seven nations have qualified for Dressage competition in Paris, accounting for 24 of 45 available team quota places (3 athletes per team). This group includes all three medalists from Tokyo 2020 (JPN). Defending champions Germany, the United States, and Great Britain all earned their places from their results at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) — as did Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Australia.

All eyes will be on Germany on the road to Paris, as not only did they top the team competition in the last Olympics, but its athletes Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Isabell Werth also claimed the individual gold and silver medals, respectively. Bredow-Werndl remains at the top of her game and sits atop the FEI Dressage World Rankings with her partner from Tokyo, TSF Dalera BB.

Twenty-one team quota places (accounting for seven teams) remain, many of which will be decided at the year’s continental and regional championships. Most notable will be the 2023 FEI European Dressage Championship, set for Riesenbeck (GER), 4-10 September. Fifteen individual quota places are also available, awarded to athletes from nations that have not already accepted a team quota place. Of course, these athletes will be a mix of males and females, as equestrian sport remains the only Olympic event in which men and women compete as equals.

Eventing

Nearly half of the team quotas places have already been secured in the sport of Eventing.  Germany is among the first nations qualified, which should provide some excitement. After all, the nation produced Eventing’s first ever female individual Olympic gold medalist in Julia Krajewski in Tokyo. In addition to the host nation, the United States, New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland have also qualified. These places were all earned at the FEI World Championships in Herning, where the United States secured its first team medal at a World or Olympic Championship since 2004. The United States is the only nation from North, Central, or South America to have secured a team quota place.

Most notably, Tokyo’s silver medalists Australia have yet to secure their place. They have remaining opportunities at the Group F and G FEI Designated Olympic Qualification Event at Millstreet (IRL), 01-04 June and the FEI Eventing European Championships 2023 in Haras du Pin (FRA) and via the 2023 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Series.

The competition for ranking points for the Individual slots has started, and will continue through the rest of the year.

Jumping

Jumping offers the most quota places of all the equestrian disciplines, with 75 up for grabs, including 60 team athletes.

Sweden is undisputedly the team to watch on the road to Paris, having claimed team gold medals at both the Tokyo Olympic Games and the FEI World Championships 2022. Safely qualified, their concern will be trying to replace Peder Fredricson’s incredible All In, who earned a most celebratory retirement in February. “Allan,” as the barefoot bay was affectionately called, won six championship medals in his career. In Tokyo, he became just the second horse in history to jump the entire Olympic Games without having a single rail.

The Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany also secured their places in Herning, while Belgium earned its spot at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2022 in Barcelona (ESP). Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates secured team quota places at their Group F Designated Olympic Qualification Event, but 33 team quota places remain.

The United States earned the silver medal in Tokyo, but they will rely on the 2023 Pan American Games to qualify for Paris. Among the powerhouses of the sport, the U.S. won back-to-back team gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Games and has medalled at seven of the last 10 Olympics, but the pressure will be on in Chile for them to add to that Olympic resume. If they do not qualify at the Pan Ams, they would have one last opportunity at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 In Barcelona.

The 2023 FEI European Championship in Milano (ITA), 29 August – 03 Sept. will also offer three team quotas for European nations from Group A and/or B. Fifteen additional individual quotas are also available for athletes from nations that have not already accepted a team quota place.

By Catie Staszak

press@fei.org
www.fei.org