Tag Archives: Show Jumping

*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

*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

Competitions, Show Jumping

Bertram Allen Brings His Best in Adequan CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 9

Forty-four elite show jumping combinations contested the $78,000 CSI5* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 on Thursday at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The battle for the win pitted riders representing the nation of Ireland against one another, but it was young professional Bertram Allen who raced to the lead with his experienced partner, Pacino Amiro.

Heavy-hitting course designer Alan Wade (IRL) produced another worthy challenge in the third of four five-star rated competitions during the Wellington Equestrian Realty-sponsored WEF 9 at Wellington International. After the completion of the first round, only three riders advanced to the jump-off. Darragh Kenny (IRL) produced the first successful effort early in round one and fellow countryman, Allen, quickly followed suit to ensure a jump-off. The two Irishmen would remain as the only successful contenders on the course until the USA’s Schuyler Riley piloted Robin De Ponthual into contention.

“I’ve never seen a WEF Challenge here where only three were clear in the first round, so it was a much more tactical jump-off than normal,” stated Allen. “It was a huge advantage going after Darragh because I saw one or two places in his jump-off where I could get the better of him if I left the rails up.”

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Competitions, Show Jumping

Irish Flag Flies for Daniel Coyle on Final Day of CSIO4* Competition at WEF

Daniel Coyle & Ivory TCS. Photo © Sportfot.

A blink would have missed Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Ivory TCS in the $226,000 JTWG, Inc. CSIO4* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon during the IDA Development sponsored Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Week 8 at Wellington International. The 28-year-old stole the win mounted on Dutch-bred Ivory TCS, a 10-year-old mare (Falaise de Muze x Ukato) Coyle owns together with Ariel Grange’s Canadian-based Lothlorien Farm.

Four horses battled for blue in a jump-off speed duel over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). Returning second, Coyle watched Beth Underhill (CAN) pull two rails and was conscious of fellow Americans Lacey Gilbertson and McLain Ward packing a double punch of speed behind him.

“I had to leave very little room, give them something to chase, but not leave very much,” he said before stopping the jump-off clock at 38.06 seconds over the short course. “I think I was beatable but there wasn’t much of a gap, which was my plan. Ivory is a very fast horse in every jump-off. She might take two extra strides than a big horse, but that doesn’t mean she’s necessarily slower because she does it so fast.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Show Jumping

Road to The Dutch Masters 2023

The Dutch Masters returns 9-12 March 2023 and will play host to the first Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major of the year. The four-day show will showcase some of the finest horse and rider combinations and will culminate on Sunday with the Rolex Grand Prix. Heading to this prestigious event and seeking to claim this pinnacle class will be eight of the world’s current top 10-ranked riders.

Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – Rider Watch

The current Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Live Contender McLain Ward makes the journey from America with two of his top horses – HH Azur and Contagious. The American, who wowed the crowds at CHI Geneva with his exceptional jump-off performance in the Rolex Grand Prix, has continued his triumphant form at the Winter Equestrian Festival this year, recently winning a CSI5* Grand Prix. Ward will travel to The Dutch Masters brimming with confidence and hoping to impress in Europe.

This year’s competition is set to be one of the toughest yet with numerous former Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major winners in attendance. Leading the way is Daniel Deusser, the defending champion of the Rolex Grand Prix held under the bright lights of the Brabanthallen. The German is a fierce competitor and knows how to perform at high-pressured Majors, having won two last year. The three-time Dutch Masters Grand Prix winner will be looking to restart his quest to become only the second person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Deusser will be joined by compatriot, and winner of the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, Gerrit Nieberg, who will be aiming to claim his first victory at this iconic show.

World No. 1 Henrik von Eckermann adds to the impressive list of entries this year and is always one to be at the top of the leader boards. The Swedish rider ended 2022 with a sensational win in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final held at CHI Geneva with his incredible gelding, King Edward. Von Eckermann is the ultimate horseman and has now held the World No. 1 position consecutively for the past seven months. As a previous winner of the Rolex Grand Prix held at The Dutch Masters, having won in 2019 with the sensational Toveks Mary Lou, all eyes will be on the World No. 1 when he rides into the main arena. Fellow countryman, Peder Fredricson, with whom von Eckermann won Team gold at the FEI World Championships last summer, will also line up in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Two of Switzerland’s most decorated show jumpers, World No. 2 Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat, will also be in attendance. The duo, who have won six Rolex Grand Slam Majors between them, have never been able to claim this prized trophy; however, both riders understand the precision, bravery, and athleticism required by horse and rider to be successful, and will be two of the favourites going into the class on Sunday.

Read more here.

© 2023 Rolex – Rolex Grand Slam

Competitions, Equinium Sports Mktg., Show Jumping

Larrazabal Leads in Week 7 Rising Star at The Ridge

Luis Larrazabal and Kadansa B.

Loxahatchee Groves, FL (February 24, 2023) – Luis Larrazabal claimed his second consecutive $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic win on Wednesday, this time riding Kadansa B. With a total of 7 double clear efforts, the $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic saw a field of 22 horses tackle the course set by Maricio Garcia.

First to go double clear was Alex Granato and Cupcake, who set the standard with a quick jump-off in 38.290 seconds. This first double clear proved hard to beat, with a number of other jump-offs clocking through the timers with no faults but a slower time. Hallie Grimes and La Belle Dame Z were the first to overtake Granato and Cupcake, flashing around the shortened course in an impressive 34.853. After having a rail in the jump-off with his Week 6 Rising Star Champion Billy Spiral, Larrazabal and Kadansa B proved to be just faster than Grimes and La Belle Dame Z, stopping the clock only a few tenths of a second faster in 34.238.

For more, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Ashlee Bond Is Best with Donatello 141 in CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 7

Ashlee Bond & Donatello 141. Photo © Sportfot.

Israel’s Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141 were lightning fast during the $78,000 CSI5* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena on Thursday during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) Week 7, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds.

Fifty contenders tackled the Steve Stephens (USA) track where some of the easy favorites fell victim to a testing course. Fourteen advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off, including Bond and her trusted partner, “Donnie.”

Small in stature and stride but massive in heart, Donatello 141, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding (Diarado x Lamoureux I) stopped the short course timers at 32.62 seconds. The seasoned partnership between Bond and Donatello 141 was obvious as they pipped Jessica Mendoza’s more than respectable time of 33.39 seconds. Mendoza (GBR) and her own Play settled for second while Belgium’s Jos Verlooy and Igor finished third on a time of 33.89 seconds for owners Eurohorse BVBA.

Catoki Takes Over WEF 7

Two-time Olympic team gold medalist for the U.S. McLain Ward kicked off WEF 7 with a win in the $39,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI5* 1.45m aboard the pint-sized superstar Catoki on Wednesday.

Ward took to Steve Stephens and Nick Granat’s (USA) two-round track against 55 competitors with Catoki, a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding (Catoki x Caretello B). The pair put in the fastest time of the day, finishing in 24.18 seconds over the speed portion of the course.

When cantering towards 1.45m oxer on a 15.2 hand horse, perspectives can change, but Ward says Catoki’s size is nothing but a positive. “He’s basically a pony, and everything happens so fast, but he has the heart of a lion and he’s jumped some massive classes. He’s very brave and matches that with speed and quality which makes for a great partner.”

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Competitions, Show Jumping

Ward and Callas Shine Bright in Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix

McLain Ward & Callas. Photo © Sportfot.

USA’s McLain Ward had a packed house on its feet at the end of a nine-horse jump-off in the CHF406,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI5* Grand Prix during Week 5’s ‘Saturday Night Lights’ at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). He and Callas had precision and speed in spades to tackle Frank Rothenberger’s (GER) track and win the first CSI5* event of the WEF season.

There’s another leading lady coming up in Ward’s impressive string of horses. He expertly piloted Callas, a 15-year-old Holsteiner (Casall x Coriano) to the first CSI5* victory of the mare’s career on Saturday. They eclipsed what seemed like an untouchable leading time from Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Volnay du Boisdeville, a 2009 Selle Français stallion (Winningmood x Jalisco B) owned by Vlock Show Stables. Ward clocked in at 44.03 seconds, nearly a second faster that Kenny (45.09). An even smaller margin separated second and third place, with Kent Farrington (USA) stopping the clock at 45.14 seconds with Landon, a 2013 Zangersheide gelding (Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo) owned by Haity MC Nerney.

Ward has been the number-one rider for Callas for about a year, but is no stranger to the mare’s talent after scouting her for previous rider, U.S. Under 25 athlete Annabel Revers. “She’s been knocking on the door, so it’s nice for us to break through and get a big win,” said Ward of the Beechwood Stables owned mare.

Gazelle Retired from Sport in Wellington International Ceremony

Kent Farrington’s 17-year-old mount Gazelle was officially retired from sport on Saturday evening, February 11, in a ceremony at Wellington International.

During their storied career together, Farrington and Gazelle – owned by Robin Parsky – enjoyed victories across the globe. Their trophy case includes winner Grand Prix of Aachen in 2019, winner Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in 2017, and twice winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows in 2017 and 2016.

Gazelle (Kashmir van Shuttershof X Indoctro) and Farrington also led the victory gallop during the Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix in 2017, making Saturday a poetically appropriate evening to celebrate the mare’s successes and healthy retirement.

With great admiration to Gazelle, Parsky noted, “After 10 years of extraordinary accomplishments at the most prestigious show jumping events in the world, it was a difficult decision for Kent and me to have Gazelle leave her sporting career, but I am delighted to report that she is in terrific condition, and she will be heading for a well-deserved life of green pastures and sunshine.

“Kent and I had a great experience here in 2017 when Gazelle won the Fidelity [Investments®] Grand Prix, so we decided that we would let her retire at the top of her game here. To be able to have her fans thank her and know how much we appreciate her, that is what we wanted. Thank you to all of Wellington and everyone here at WEF for helping us do this wonderful tribute to an incredible horse.”

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Competitions, Equinium Sports Mktg., Show Jumping

Daniel Coyle Delivers Again with Win in $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic aboard Jasper

Daniel Coyle and Jasper (Photo by Equinium)

Loxahatchee Groves, FL (February 10, 2023) – Daniel Coyle answered his cousin’s back-to-back Grand Prix victories with back-to-back Rising Star victories. On Wednesday the Irishman piloted Ariel Grange’s Jasper to a wire-to-wire victory, proving untouchable against a field of more than thirty competitors in The Ridge at Wellington Groves’ $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic. The win during the first day of Week 5 marks Coyle’s second consecutive victory in the Classic, while his cousin Jordan Coyle marked his second consecutive Grand Prix win at The Ridge during Week 4.

Coyle was the first rider to go in Wednesday’s $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic, and his double clear effort and jump-off time of 36.650 seconds stood the entire day despite fierce opposition. The only two riders to come within a second of his time were Lola Head aboard Adelita (37.352s) and Rupert Winklemann aboard Omar van de Hunters (37.508s).

For more, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping

Richard Vogel Races to Win in CaptiveOne Advisors CSI4* 1.50m Classic

Richard Vogel & Cepano Baloubet. Photo © Sportfot.

Germany’s Richard Vogel closed out Week 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in the Van Kampen Covered Arena at Equestrian Village with a win in the CHF75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors CSI4* 1.50m Classic aboard Cepano Baloubet on Sunday.

The day gave riders a variation in venue after jumping on the grass derby field throughout the week as their quickness was then tested in an indoor environment. From a field of 32, six advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off designed by Anderson Lima (BRA).

WEF 4, presented by MARS Equestrian™, is only the second show for Vogel and Cepano Baloubet after the gelding joined his string. “Last week he did really well in the International Ring, this week he was also great on the grass and now under these circumstances he was very good in the indoor today,” said Vogel, 25, of his versatile mount.

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