Category Archives: Eventing/H.T.

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

Eventing Gold for Great Britain and Germany

Jasmine Underwood and Indian Girl G. Photographer: Leszek Wójcik

The final trials of show jumping at the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Strzegom were action-packed, and seconds decided on the podium places. Great Britain scored gold both in the team and individual classification in the young rider category, and Germany went double gold in the junior category.

Young Riders

Four seconds over the time in the showjumping took away the leading position from Lisa Gualtieri riding A D’Aunis, and the French had to settle for silver with 26,7.

The gold, after a clear round, went to Great Britain’s Jasmine Underwood riding Indian Girl G – 26,4, and the bronze to her teammate Isabelle Cook with Mexican Law – 27,5. These results helped the British team win the team classification, advancing from third after the cross-country – 93,3. Darcy Zander with My Eastwood Brightside and Joshua Levett riding This Ones On You also stood at the highest step of the podium.

“It was a very challenging weekend, but I wouldn’t have been able to win if it wasn’t for my wonderful horse. I am proud that we can work together,” said Jasmine Underwood right after the win.

The team silver went to France: Lucas Brun with Anapurna De Soulac, Valentin Quittet Eslan with Casanova D’ems, Alizee Bourgue with Cesar Des Hauts Crets, and Lisa Gualtieri with A D’aunis – 94,9.

Germany finished with the bronze medal, with 98,2: Zoe Deusing and Alemania, Isabel Kristin Dalecki with Caruso Jh, Emely Kurbel and Entertain You, and the best one on the team – Mathies Rüder with Bon Ton.

Polish riders Zuzanna Borkowska with Gracja, Katarzyna Brandys with Sel Oscar, and Weronika Król riding Chinuk R with a score of 227.2 penalty points took the fifth place among the 10 competing teams. The last was the highest-ranked home athlete – 11th position, the final result being 35,0.

Juniors

It was Germany who went all clear on the showjumping course – a thing that the Irish, who were in the lead after the cross-country, failed to achieve. The Germans are the new European team champions with 91,1.

Hannah Busch with Crystal-Annabell went up from fourth place after the XC to the first step of the podium – 27.7.

“I felt a lot of pressure before today’s performance, but I tried to relax, calm down, and enjoy the competition with my horse, because this is a special event for me. I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful team, whose support I can always count on,” said the new European champion. Her teammates were Mathis Huisinga and Carlotta, Pita Schmid and Favorita V, and Matti Garlichs and Ludwig 282.

The individual silver went to Irishman Tom Nestor with Cooley Diamond Dancer – 29,9. The rider was in the lead after the second trial, suffered a knockdown and 0,4 for time, and had to say goodbye to his dreams about the gold medal.

Mae Rinaldi from France took home the bronze riding Kirwan – 30,2. A clear jumping round made them advance from 7th overnight.

The team silver medalists are the Irish: Matthew Love and DSL Allegra, Oleana Cowan and Rca Royal Mist, Alex Connors riding Ols King Aragon, and the best of the team: Tom Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer – 94.9.

Team bronze went to Great Britain: Coco Lanni and Porsche, Martha Hall and Kbis Starburst, Araminta Spencer-Churchill with Neds Legacy, and Pippa Royle riding My Dream HJ – 100.4.

The home nation of Poland finished in 6th out of 13 competing teams. The best result on the team belongs to Karolina Miś with Go Jack – with a double clear on the XC and jumping, she placed 6th individually with 31,6.

Online results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=29#CHEUYT

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

France and Ireland Lead the FEI Eventing European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

Lisa Gualtieri and A D’aunis. Photographer: Mariusz Chmieliński.

The cross-country trial introduced a considerable reshuffling of the leaderboard at the European Young Riders and Juniors Eventing Championships held in Strzegom.

The French broke the dominance of the British and after successful cross-country rounds become the new leaders in the young rider category. France is represented by: Lucas Brun and Anapurna De Soulac, Valentin Quittet Eslan and Casanova D’ems, and riders who went clear: Alizee Bourgue and Cesar Des Hauts Crets, and Lisa Gualtieri with A D’aunis, who also takes the lead in the individual classification – 25.1.

The leader after dressage, British Jasmine Underwood riding Indian Girl G, crossed the finish line with a seven-second overtime, which dropped her to second place – 26.4. Her compatriot Isabelle Cook with Mexican Law jumped up into third place after a clear run – 27.5.

In the team standings, second place belongs to Germans: Isabel Kristin Dalecki and Caruso Jh, Mathies Rüder and Bon Ton, Emely Kurbel and Entertain You, and the best in the team, Zoe Deusing and Alemania – 90.2. The Brits sit in third: Darcy Zander and My Eastwood Brightside, Isabelle Cook and Mexican Law, and Jasmine Underwood with Indian Girl G – 92.5.

After the cross-country, the home nation of Poland is currently in seventh place – 218.8. The best result in the team belongs to Weronika Król with Chinuk R – 35.0. Clear on the fences, although late by nine seconds, she made her advance from 24th place after dressage to 16th. Zuzanna Borkowska with Gracja, who were the highest ranked of the team after the first trial, were less lucky. Adding 75 penalty points for mistakes on obstacles and exceeding the time allowed, she ranks 39th – 105.9.

In the junior category, the lead in the competition belongs to the Irish – 85.7: Matthew Love and DSL Allegra, as well as three riders with clear XC rounds: Oleana Cowan and RCA Royal Mist, Alex Connors and Ols King Aragon, and the best in the team and first in the individual classification – Tom Nestor and Cooley Diamond Dancer – 25.5. The same score belongs to France’s Rachel Weiler with Riviero – 25.5, and third is Germany’s Ella Krueger with Koenigsblauer – 27.3.

The Germans are moving up to second place: Mathis Huisinga and Carlotta, Pita Schmid and Favorita V, Matti Garlichs and Ludwig 282, and Hannah Busch and Crystal-Annabell – 91.1.

Third place belongs to the British, whose entire team, Coco Lanni and Porsche, Martha Hall and Kbis Starburst, Araminta Spencer-Churchill and Neds Legacy, and Pippa Royle and My Dream H, went clear and brought their dressage score to the finish line – 95.2.

The Polish team lies in fourth with 106,4. Karolina Miś with Go Jack went double clear and went up to 11th with 31,6.

On Sunday, showjumping trials will be held to determine the new medalists of the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors.

Online results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=29#CHEUYT

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Eventing/H.T.

Paris Olympics Eventing Medallist to Participate in Masterclass at London International Horse Show

Paris Olympics Team Eventing Gold Medal winner and Individual Eventing Bronze Medal winner, Laura Collett MBE, will join equestrian influencer, Megan Elphick, in the return of the Grassroots to Glory masterclass at London International Horse Show, led by British Equestrian’s Eventing Performance Manager, Richard Waygood MBE. Part of the LeMieux Masterclass Series, this very popular event will take place on Friday 20 December in The New Horizon Plastics London Arena.

The 45-minute session promises to be a highlight of the Show and has proved very popular in the past. It will offer a comprehensive exploration of the path to competitive success, tailored to inspire and educate riders of all levels, from aspiring amateurs to seasoned competitors.

Spectators can expect an engaging and informative experience, featuring demonstrations of advanced techniques as well as practical, step-by-step exercises that can be implemented at home. Drawing from his extensive career, Richard Waygood will guide the audience through the essential stages of building a successful competition partnership. From establishing strong fundamentals to refining techniques and making pivotal advancements in competition, Waygood will share invaluable insights and personal tips throughout the class.

Aside from serving as the British Equestrian Federation’s Technical Director and Eventing Performance Manager, Richard’s accomplishments include competing at prestigious competitions, including the Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials, a distinguished tenure as Riding Master of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, as well as being awarded an MBE for his services to equestrianism in 2009.

Speaking about the upcoming masterclass, Waygood remarked, “I’m delighted about the return of the Grassroots to Glory masterclass at London International Horse Show this year. Last year’s session with Laura and Megan was a fantastic blend of fun, innovation, and valuable learning for our audience. With the excitement of British Eventing’s recent success at the Paris Olympics, I’m eager to share new insights and experiences that will make this year’s masterclass even more impactful.”

Laura Collett, a familiar face at London International, returns to the Show fresh from her remarkable achievements at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she secured both team gold and individual bronze with her outstanding partner, London 52. In addition to her Olympic triumphs, Laura has enjoyed a stellar season which included victory in the CCI4* at Burnham Market. As the current World No. 7 in international eventing, her participation in this masterclass presents a rare and invaluable opportunity for the Show’s audience to learn from one of the sport’s most elite riders.

Megan Elphick, known for inspiring thousands through her online chronicles of the grassroots journey, will bring her unique perspective and relatability to the masterclass. Her participation will see her demonstrating the foundational elements of horse education alongside Richard and Laura, bringing practical knowledge to life for the audience.

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, said, “We are delighted to welcome back Richard, Laura, and Megan to the Show this year. This is a very popular masterclass and its inclusion in the LeMieux Masterclass Series presents our audience with a great opportunity to access world-class knowledge and insight.”

The Grassroots to Glory Masterclass takes place on Friday 20 December at 13:35 in The New Horizons Plastics Arena. More information about London International Horse Show, the full LeMieux Masterclass series, and how to buy tickets can be found here.

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

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, FEI

Olympians Go Head-to-Head but It’s Victory for Germany in Arville

Team Gold – Germany: Jérôme Robiné on Black Ice; Michael Jung on Kilcandra Ocean Power; Libussa Lübbeke on Caramia 34; Calvin Böckmann on The Phantom Of The Opera / FEI – Libby Law

After a disappointing Olympic experience in Paris, Team Germany proved that they are still one of the best in the world, with a decisive win at the sixth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ held at Arville, Belgium.

A number of Olympic medallists and athletes came to compete at the beautiful venue, including Olympic champions Michael Jung (GER), which added to the excitement for riders and spectators. Despite Jung retiring on the cross country, the German team’s finishing score of 109.2 was good enough for first. France finished in second place on 119.2, whilst Great Britain finished third on 121.0, with the home nation Belgium in fourth on 143.0.

The German team might have been spearheaded by three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung and the experienced four-star horse Kilandra Ocean Power, but German Chef d’Equipe Rodolphe Scherer chose to select three younger riders to make up the team. It proved to be the right decision to take since the three younger riders’ scores were the ones to count, after Michael Jung’s cross-country retirement.

23-year-old Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom of the Opera finished second overall. 26-year-old Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice finished 11th individually, whilst 23-year-old Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 picked up a few time penalties on the cross-country to finish in 22nd.

Speaking after their win, Scherer spoke on behalf of the German team about their performance in Arville. “I am happy for the result because of the result but also because three of our riders were our younger riders. I came here with a lot of ambition because Calvin and Jérôme were reserved for the Olympics, so it was a good team to come here.

“They all competed well. I am happy for these young riders, because it’s a new generation and it’s good to see them win together.”

The Cross-Country course caused its fair share of drama with very few jumping clear rounds inside the time. There were a number of athletes picking up jumping penalties, as well as retirements and eliminations at some of the combinations.

“It was a nice course, but it was a tough course with lots in it,” summed up Scherer, who himself competed at two Olympics for Team France. “You need to ride and be clever. It was more difficult if you look at the time. If you compete quiet, it’s okay, but if you ride for the time, of course it’s a little bit more difficult. But it was really encouraging for horses and very fair. Arville is a nice competition.”

He also explained what happened to the team’s most experienced rider on course, Michael Jung. “Micky had one run out at the water. He jumped good into the eater, then turned and you have a skinny on the way out, and the horse was a little bit behind the leg on the turn and he had a little run out. After that, he jumped up to the coffin, which he jumped well, then stopped because he knew that he could relax for the team and that the team could win without him. Little mistakes happen, one minute you win a gold medal and the next you have a run out.

“I think the Nation’s Cup is a perfect test for trainers, riders, and for the team spirit. It’s really important to understand that sometimes Eventing is not only an individual sport; sometimes it’s a team sport. For me it’s very important for the spirit and for the experience.”

Ten teams came forward for this leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, many of them fielding athletes who had competed in Paris. Second placed France fielded a strong team, including two riders who helped team France to team silver, Nicolas Touzaint and Gireg Le Coz (reserve athlete).

The Series now moves to Lignières (FRA) from 26 to 29 September, the penultimate leg before the final, which takes place in Boekelo (NED) in October. This result put France out in front of the team standings on a score of 290 points, with Germany in second place on 240 points.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Danish Rider Victorious in the 4*S In Strzegom

Marie Juul and Ikke 2. Photographer: Mariusz Chmieliński

Marie Juul won the 4*-S class, the highest ranked competition during the summer equestrian tournament in Eventing – Strzegom Summer Tour.

The representative of Denmark, riding Ikke 2, took an early lead after the dressage test. With penalty points for one knockdown and exceeding the time allowed in the jumping trial, she dropped down to fifth position. She scored a clear on the fences in the cross-country, with 6 overtime points, and with a final score of 44.3, was ultimately the winner of the class. Second place went to Germany’s Johanna Marloh with Crazy Carlotta – 46.3, and third to Swede Henrik Adnervik riding Zam F – 48.6.

The podium of the “three stars” belonged to women. The best one of them was Dutch representative Willemina Van Der Goes-Petter with Lancelot – 30.2. The runner-up after the dressage test went double clear in the showjumping and cross-country. Second place went to Filippa Wagtmann from Denmark with Follow Me Palija AA – 31.5, and third to Sweden’s Aria Ramkali with Flanders – 35.3. The highest ranked Polish rider in this competition was Julia Gillmaier, who took sixth place with Red Dream Princes – 43.3.

After his clear rounds in the showjumping and cross-country, the winner of the 2*S was Hungary’s Imre Tóth with Hakuna Matata – 28.1, ahead of Austria’s Lea Siegl riding Dark Gambler – 28.2 and the Dutch Willemina Van Der Goes-Petter with Nicolai – 29. Poland’s Halszka Witkowska-Nowak with Apollo took fourth place – 29.8. In the junior category, the best was Czech Andrea Novotna riding Eldorado – 35.6. Second place went to Zuzanna Spolowicz and Dżaurus AA – 36.7, and third Ema Stepankova from the Czech Republic and Anisio – 42.6.

Victory in the Intro class went to Germany’s Katharina Schedel riding Debbi – 27.1. Home athlete Jan Kaminski was second with Madryt – 31.6, and his compatriot Katarzyna Skrzypczak with Moccarabia took third – 31.9.

The Strzegom Summer Tour held four international short format competitions, three national classes, and the National Youth Olympics Final. 260 horses representing 14 countries took part.

The next big equestrian event in Strzegom, the FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, kicks off on August 22.

On-line results: https://results.strzegomhorsetrials.pl/event.php?event=28

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www.strzegomhorsetrials.pl
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Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Horse Care/Protection, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

Beating the Heat in Versailles: FEI Implements Climate Mitigation Protocols

Photo: Cooling stations were set up across the Paris 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at Versailles, equipped with cold water, ice, and personnel ready to assist horses with immediate cooling needs. © FEI/Liz Gregg

Olympic Equestrian Dressage competitions got underway with comprehensive heat and humidity protocols put in place by the FEI in response to rising temperatures.

“While we strive for all equestrian events to take place in optimal climatic conditions, it is often logistically challenging to achieve such conditions,” explained FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström.

“Thanks to our protocols, horses cooled down swiftly and displayed no signs of heat stress, underscoring the efficacy of our climate mitigation strategies.

“The FEI uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index as a standard tool for assessing and managing thermal stress.

“The WBGT Index measures solar radiation, ground heat reflection, humidity, and windspeed, and is used by several sports as it is the most comprehensive index to monitor the climate’s effect on humans, and in our case, also horses.

“This precise method allows us to accurately gauge the potential for heat stress at events and implement the necessary measures to safeguard our horses’ and humans’ welfare. These measures get put in place once the WBGT index is higher than 28 degrees Celsius, and in today’s case the Index reached the high peak of 33.8 degrees Celsius.”

Key measures put in place included:

  • Continuous WBGT Monitoring: Beginning at 09:30 on Tuesday morning, on-site monitoring of climatic conditions was implemented, and the data was crucial in accurately assessing the potential for heat stress on the field-of-play throughout the day.
  • Thermal Imaging and Veterinary Supervision: All horses were monitored with advanced thermal imaging technology by a world-class veterinary team. This non-invasive technique accurately estimates body temperature from a distance, allowing for early identification of potential heat stress. Monitoring was conducted at warm-up stages and immediately upon horses returning from the field-of-play.
  • Cooling Stations: Further to the two cooling stations in place, three additional cooling stations were set up across the venue, equipped with cold water, ice, and personnel ready to assist with immediate cooling needs. These stations provided crucial support for rapid temperature reduction of the horses, post-performance.

The FEI has been at the forefront of researching and implementing climate mitigation strategies for equestrian sports, ensuring that athletes, both human and equine, perform safely in all conditions.

These comprehensive measures have been developed and refined since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, to ensure the safety and optimal performance of equine athletes competing today.

The heat mitigation protocols were developed specifically for high-risk environments like Tokyo 2020 and were adapted to suit local conditions for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.

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

British Take Fifth Eventing Team Title; Germany’s Jung Becomes First Three-Time Individual Champion

L-R: Rosalind Canter (GBR), Tom McEwen (GBR), and Laura Collett (GBR) © FEI/Benjamin Clark

In glorious Versailles sunshine, in front a packed stadium of wildly enthusiastic spectators, the British team of Rosalind Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), and Laura Collett (London 52) clinched team gold, while Germany’s Michael Jung (Chipmunk FRH) took the individual Eventing title at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The French hosts had to settle for silver ahead of Japan, who held their nerve after having to call up their reserve combination following the final Horse Inspection.

This was a record-breaking fifth team gold for Britain, while Germany’s Jung also set a new record when becoming the first three-time individual champion. This was his country’s sixth individual Eventing title.

As the final day of Eventing dawned, the British were holding the lead they maintained in the Cross-Country phase, when France moved into silver medal spot and Japan rocketed up to bronze. However, two of the Japanese team horses were sent to the holding box at the final Horse Inspection, and when Ryuzo Kitajima did not bring Cekatinka back for re-inspection, the reserve partnership of Toshiyuki Tanaka and Jefferson were called up.

This resulted in the addition of 20 penalties to Japan’s scoreline for substitution, dropping them to fifth behind Belgium in fourth and Switzerland in bronze medal spot as the Jumping action began.

But the Japanese never lost sight of their goal. They sent Tanaka and Jefferson in first – they returned with just 1.6 time penalties over the 13-fence course created by Spain’s Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo from France. When Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne returned with a clean sheet, and Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street collected just 0.4 time penalties, there were just two penalties to add to their team scoreline. This would see them overtake the Belgians and Swiss at the end of the day with a final tally of 115.80.

Meanwhile, single errors from Karim Florent Laghouag with Triton Fontaine and Stephane Landois with Chaman Dumontceau had to be added to the eight collected by Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe, so the French piled on 16.40 for a finishing score of 103.60.

The British began with a single mistake from Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo at the oxer at fence six, but Tom McEwen and JL Dublin had a flawless run. When Laura Collett and London 52 dropped only the final fence, this proved influential throughout the round – the result was underpinned. On a score of 91.30, they had gold in their grasp once again.

McEwen was thrilled with the performance of the 13-year-old JL Dublin. Like Collett, he was a member of the gold-medal-winning team in Tokyo three years ago but with another horse.

“Toledo was probably one of the best horses in the world at showjumping in Eventing, so to come out on a day like this with Dubs – he was sensational, class from start to finish; he jumped his socks off! I knew it from the warm-up and following the French (Karim Florent Laghouag) and the noise – I just knew he thought it was all for him! I just had to navigate and steer to help him get the clear,” said McEwen.

He described the course as “really clever, a great Olympic course, although longer than I expected.”

The French also had that gold in their sights, but Laghouag was satisfied with silver. “We were afraid we were not going to get a medal in our own country so there was a lot of pressure. We are super pleased to have at least silver,” he said.

For Japan, it was a huge day as they took their first-ever Olympic Eventing medal when standing on the third step of the team podium. They never lost faith, even when things didn’t seem to be going their way. “It was a tricky morning and really sad for Ryuzo, but it sometimes happens, and I believe we still have a chance to get a medal,” said Tomoto after jumping his clear round. They stood firm and in the end their proficiency in the Jumping arena pulled them back into contention.

Such was the strength of the Japanese side that both Tomoto and Oiwa made it easily into the top-25 final round of Jumping to decide the individual medals.

The nine-fence, second-round track saw horses still fresh and full of running, and many jumped clean and clear once again. Going in order of merit, Oiwa was fifth-last to go and picked up 4.4 faults. Then it was down to the final four who were separated by less than a fence.

McEwen and JL Dublin produced yet another spectacular round, and when Collett did likewise, she was already guaranteed a medal. Australia’s Chris Burton was sensational from the outset with Shadow Man, joint-third after Dressage and adding just 0.4 to his score in the first Jumping round, so when he too went clear second time out, he already had silver in the bag and now it was up to Jung to hold on to pole position.

The German star had faltered at the first element of the penultimate double on the first course, and he couldn’t afford another mistake. “I was just a bit too much on the inside line to the last combination. I was too close, and he jumped perfect in front, but didn’t get wide enough for the oxer, so I need to ride better the second round!” he said afterwards. And that he did, giving one of those exhibitions of classic horsemanship that has made him a legend of the sport for quite some time.

“I tried to stay really focused and concentrated during the whole week and not thinking to the ceremony or the third gold medal,” said Jung.

He obviously was feeling the pressure in his quest for that historic third individual Olympic title and could hardly believe he had done it.

“I tried to say to myself, it’s just a normal show. I try to push my horse not too much, to give him the feeling it’s a normal show, although it’s not so easy with so many spectators. In the end I needed to look at the board to see that it’s really true (that he won gold again), and now I need a moment to realise what it means. It’s a very special moment for me,” he said.

For Australia’s Burton, who announced that he will be returning to his home country to set up a yard and run his own business, it was a really proud day. He only picked up the ride on his silver-medal-winning horse Shadow Man four months ago after more than two years away from the sport to concentrate on Jumping.

Looking across at Jung and Collett, he pointed out, “These guys have a special relationship with their horses, but mine is unique because we only got to know each other in March, so that’s incredible. We’ve really only done a few events together. We had to do a 3* because I’d been away too long from the sport, then we did a 4* short, another 4* short, a 4* long, and we were qualified. Then the selectors wanted to see me do better, so I went to one show in Ireland, at Millstreet, and then we came to the Olympic Games which is crazy – I can’t believe it! And the horse goes back (to his owners) I think after this.

“It would be my dream to keep riding him; he’s just the most delightful animal. From the minute I sat on him, I thought he was incredible, like we were made for each other, but I think anyone that sat on him would have the same experience, I’m afraid; it would break your heart! But what a story we had and what a great time we had in Paris,” said Burton.

Reflecting on picking up team gold and individual bronze on the same day, Collett said, “I never thought this day would come. I was very lucky when I did Ponies, Juniors, and Young Riders and each year won an individual medal, and then I went into Seniors and realised it was an awful lot more difficult! Things haven’t gone to plan really in any of my Senior appearances. In Tokyo, I thought I should have and could have won an individual medal, but things didn’t go to plan, but I’ve luckily learned from my mistakes. We had a very strict plan coming here so that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes as Tokyo and the plan paid off. I’m just so lucky to have been given a second chance.

“Not many people get to go to one Olympic Games, and I was lucky enough to go to two – so I’m very relieved that I managed to pull it off!” she said.

FULL RESULTS

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Olympic Games

British Lead Team and Individual Standings on Eventing Dressage

Laura Collett (GBR) and LONDON 52 during Eventing Dressage at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. © FEI/Benjamin Clark

Great Britain got off to a flying start topping both the team and individual leaderboards after the thrilling opening Dressage phase of Eventing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Versailles (FRA), during which multiple records were smashed.

Both individual leader Britain’s Laura Collett (London 52) and second-placed Michael Jung from Germany (Chipmunk FRH) broke the Olympic Eventing record Dressage score of 19.3 set by America’s David O’Connor and Custom Made at the Sydney 2000 Games. Collett threw down a superb mark of 17.50 when 33rd to go of the 64 starters. German ace Jung almost matched that when posting 17.80 a couple of hours later.

Lying equal-third in the individual rankings overnight are China’s Alex Hua Tian (Jilsonne van Bareelhof) and Australia’s Christopher Burton (Shadow Man), who each put a score of 22.0 on the board, while Switzerland’s Felix Vogg (Dao de L’Ocean) is fractionally behind in fifth spot on 22.10, and in sixth is Britain’s Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) on 23.40.

Super-tight situation

It’s a super-tight situation in the individual standings too with just 8.2 penalty points separating the top 10 individuals and just 11.6 separating the top 20 going into the Cross-Country phase, which is expected to be hugely influential.

And the British team total of 66.70 after Dressage is another Olympic Eventing record, overtaking the previous best of 68.6 posted by Australia at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Defending the team gold they won in Tokyo three years ago, the British have a 7.4 penalty point lead over Germany in second on 74.10, while on 81.20 the Olympic hosts Team France are just ahead of fourth-placed New Zealand on 83.00.

Tom McEwen’s early leading score of 25.80 with JL Dublin put the British on the right path. “Dubs (JL Dublin) was awesome – he loves an atmosphere!” said the man who helped Team GBR win their first Eventing team gold since 1972 at Tokyo with Toledo de Kerser, and then went on to win individual silver.

“He really lit up a little bit more than I was expecting in the first trot, and then he was actually super relaxed in the walk, which then caught me out for the first change… but then after that, he put it right back up where we left off, hopefully putting Great Britain in a strong starting position, which is our main goal. And now my aim is to support the girls and to finish on that score,” he said.

Sensational performance

Next up was Collett, who produced a sensational performance from London 52 that would prove impossible to beat. They were also in that victorious Tokyo side and, at 15 years old, the brilliant gelding is like a fine wine, continuing to improve with age.

“I loved every second of it!” Collett said. “That horse is unbelievable – what he has done throughout my whole career. He’s amazing and he just keeps on delivering, so I’m just very, very grateful to him!”

She watched McEwen go. “He really went for it and smashed it out of the park, and that gave me the motivation not to leave anything behind, to be brave and give it our best shot, and luckily I have a very willing partner,” she said.

The motivation is certainly there for all of the British contingent. “Tom and I were lucky enough to be on the podium (in Tokyo) with a gold medal around our necks, so we want to do it again. We’ve come here with a lot of pressure and expectations, but pressure is a privilege!” she pointed out. Her equine partner didn’t make it a walk-in-the-park, however.

“It’s been quite testing, because two days ago he was really wild in that arena and naughty, and feral, and I just had to trust that I didn’t want him to be perfect two days ago. He was very good yesterday, and it would have been easy to push him in the last ten minutes today, but I saved it for the arena,” she explained. And it certainly paid off.

Wrapping it up for the British side, reigning European double-gold medallists Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo secured fifth place individually with a score of 23.40 to solidify her country’s position at the top of the team order.

Process-driven

Talking about her result, she said, “I very much tried to stay process-driven today. I’m over the moon with him. We all forget that Walter (Lordships Graffalo’s stable-name) is only 12 years old; yes, he won Badminton and the Europeans, but he is still a green horse. I feel like we are still only scratching the surface, particularly in a test like that, which is significantly harder than the tests we normally see.”

Her assessment for the Cross-Country test is “plenty to jump, plenty of places where you just have to be on your game the whole way around. The time is going to be a big factor of course and that’s where mistakes creep in. I’ve got a plan; I’m open to that plan changing – but I’m going to stay in my bubble. I’ve got a fantastic team around me and hopefully we can get the job done tomorrow.”

The British will certainly all need to keep sharp if they are to stay ahead of Team Germany who are hot on their heels. Second-placed Michael Jung, a man with an incredible record behind him, said he really likes the Cross-Country track. “Every fence is very nicely built and the gallop track is so nice. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and the rain has been good for the ground. My feeling is that the Cross-Country will be amazing tomorrow.”

Where riding tactics are concerned, he confirmed the opinion of many others: “We need to stay concentrated and to do everything 100% perfect.”

First to go

Jung’s team-mate and defending individual champion Julia Krajewski, who was first into the magnificent Versailles arena and who will be first to go again in the Cross-Country test, described the course as “impressive as always, beautifully presented, everything being asked; you can’t underestimate it; the course builder has been very clever. If you ride forward and have an honest horse you will probably do well. I think it’s very clear and very fair.”

Third-placed Hua Tian joked that his “arrogant” 15-year-old Jilsonne van Bareelhof, who is better known to his friends as Chockx, had a great day. “I think for him, he was always going to trot in there and go ‘Oh! I’ve found a venue of similar majesty to myself!’ Or it was going to go the other way and he was going to go over the top about it!” said the three-time Olympian.

“He is the most talented horse I’ve ever sat on in my life,” he continued. “He just goes extra. Last year, he was my first choice for the Asian Games but picked up a little injury the month beforehand. That would be his story. But for me this (Olympic Games) was always his goal and his target. We saved him for many years to come here, and tomorrow we unleash the beast and see what happens!”

FULL RESULTS

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Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Eventing to Be Held in Poland

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński

The European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in the Eventing discipline will be held from 22 to 25 August at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom.

The competition will begin on Tuesday, 20 August, with an opening ceremony attended by all qualified teams. On Thursday and Friday, the athletes will present themselves in the dressage test, on Saturday they will compete in cross-country, and on Sunday it is time for show jumping.

The riders will compete for the titles of European champions in two categories: juniors – from 14 to 18 years of age, and young riders – from 16 to 21 years.

“Despite their young age, the athletes will have to demonstrate great experience in all aspects of horsemanship, as well as excellent knowledge of their horses’ capabilities. Their rivalry will be a true showcase of this demanding and spectacular sport,” says Marcin Konarski, organiser of the event.

Additional CCIU254*-S and CCIJ1*-Intro competitions aimed at the younger and older youth age groups will be held alongside. These will allow the riders who may be joining the ranks of their national teams in the following years to acclimate to the atmosphere of a championship-level event.

This will be the seventh European Championship event organised by LKS Stragona Sports Club. The first one was held in 2012 in the junior category, then in 2015 – for young riders, in 2017 – for seniors, and in 2019, 2021, and 2022 – for pony riders.

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

Eventing/H.T., FEI

Rosalind Canter Reclaims Top Spot on the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings

Photo caption: Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo at the FEI Eventing European Championship 2023 in Haras du Pin (FRA) – FEI/Libby Law

Nine months after losing the lead in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, Rosalind Canter (GBR) has reclaimed the number one position. She replaces Olympic gold medallist and compatriot Oliver Townend, who had held the top spot since October 2023.

Canter’s rise to the top is marked by her impressive ascent from third place last month. As the reigning European Champion, she stands out as the only athlete to surpass the 500-point mark, boasting 519 points. Townend follows in second place with 492 points, while fellow Brit Tom McEwen secures third with 454 points.

“I was quite shocked to hear I’m world number one, as it was something that wasn’t on my radar. It’s really exciting news, and I’m thrilled for my whole team because this is a joint effort. I’ve been really lucky to have some fantastic horses in my team,” Rosalind Canter said.

The latest FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings also highlight other notable performances. Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier has climbed ten places to fourth position with 406 points, thanks to her victory at the CCI5*-L in Luhmühlen (GER) with Hooney d’Arville. World Champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) rounds out the top five with 389 points.

British athletes have dominated the rankings in recent months, occupying eight positions within the Top 10. However, their dominance has waned just weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Currently, five British athletes remain in the Top 10, with Wills Oakden (370 points) in seventh place.

Among the other top-ranked athletes, Boyd Martin (USA) holds sixth place, while New Zealand’s Jonelle and Tim Price occupy the eighth and ninth spots, respectively. Maxime Livio (FRA) completes the Top 10.

FULL RANKING HERE

FEI Contact:

Didier Montes Kienle
Manager, Sport Communications and Media Relations
didier.montes@fei.org