Category Archives: Competitions

Championships, Competitions, Driving, FEI, FEI

Jessica Wächter and Weronika Kwiatek Take Top Spots in France

Jessica Wächter (GER) and Gucci FST ©FEI/FFE/PSV

Germany’s Jessica Wächter sealed her supremacy in producing young horses at world level as she won both the five- and seven-year-old categories, narrowly beating Poland’s Weronika Kwiatek in the older class – but it was a win for Weronika in the six-year-old category.

The 9th FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses was held for the second year in a row at the Federal Equestrian Park in Lamotte-Beuvron, the headquarters of the French Equestrian Federation. It was also the second week in a row that France hosted an FEI Driving World Championship, hot on the heels of the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses at Haras du Pin, Normandy (FRA), where some of the same athletes were competing.

Five-Year-Olds

After two days of qualifying rounds, the competition started afresh on Saturday morning with the Dressage, followed by the Combined Marathon on Sunday. Jessica clinched the first win of the event in the five-year-old category on a score of 16.08 with Carlo 570, a Sathu gelding owned by Martin Philipp. It is her second world title in this category after her win in 2021 with Dream Catcher FRH and the second time she has won two titles at the same event, which she last did in Mezöhegyes (HUN) in 2019. The wins give her an impressive tally of FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses titles since her first in 2018 with FST Charly Brown, the same horse she drove in Le Pin last week.

Fresh from her individual silver and team gold in Le Pin, Marion Vignaud (FRA) was second on 14.48 with her KWPN mare Oh La La La SH; she was also seventh in the same class with another of her own horses, Oakley DH. Only 0.06 behind in third was Morgane Pennec (FRA) and Impuls (14.42).

Six-Year-Olds

Winner of the six-year-old category, Weronika is another young horse specialist who has consistently placed highly since the series started in 2015, and this was her second world title after she won the seven-year-olds in 2021 with Roncewal. She was also in Le Pin the previous week, but this time she was driving Elektroda, a mare owned by Grzegorz Swiatek, to win on a score of 17.36. It was close for second and third as Bettina Winkler (GER) and Herman 91 scored 15.93, 0.14 ahead of Fabrice Martin (FRA) and Idromel Noir on 15.79, who were the five-year-old winners last year. Also having a busy event was the new FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses Champion, Mario Gandolfo (SUI), who finished fifth with Johnson Du Signal after they were third last year.

Seven-Year-Olds

Finally, with only 0.34 between the top three in the seven-year-old category, it was Jessica who edged ahead by only 0.2 to lead with her own Sathu mare Gucci FST on 16.77, despite knocking a ball and losing 0.3 from their score of 8.50 in the Combined Marathon. Weronika and Milo V ended on 16.57, although they tied on 8.50 in the second phase with Mario and Lemmy-K, who were third on 16.43, not able to repeat their wins in both the five- and six-year-old classes in 2022 and 2023.

The Young Horse competition takes place over four days and follows a different format. On Thursday, there is a qualifying phase which combines Dressage movements and a sequence of Cones. The top 50% then proceed to the Dressage on Saturday but on Friday, the lower 50% drive again for a place in the final phases, although the number permitted to go through at this stage is set by the officials. Sunday’s Combined Marathon takes place in an arena and consists of one or two Marathon type obstacles and Cones depending on the category. The course designer was Johan Jacobs (NED), who also designed the World Singles courses the week before.

The marking system also differs because the highest score wins. In the Dressage, the four judges work collaboratively and award marks out of 10 which are then averaged to give a single mark at the end, and they award one mark for the Combined Marathon. For the final placings, the scores from the Dressage and the Combined Marathon only are added together and any penalties are deducted from the total.

In total, 44 athletes came forward from 14 nations, the furthest travelled being Jodie Mckeone from Australia.

Athletes compete as individuals and there is no team competition, and each athlete can enter two horses per age category. The emphasis is on the performance of the horse and marks are awarded in accordance with the scales of training appropriate to the horse’s age and development.

FULL RESULTS

by Sarah Dance

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

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

Team Belgium Jumps Their Way to Victory in Eventing Nations Cup

Team Belgium (L-R) Lara de Liedekerke-Meier; Senne Vervaecke; Wouter de Cleene; Seppe Vilain. © FEI/ Libby Law Photography

A challenging Cross-Country course meant that the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ at Lignières (FRA) was never going to rest on Dressage scores. The Belgian team’s prowess in both Jumping phases gave them their first Nations Cup victory of the season in the penultimate leg the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ on French soil.

They finished on a score of 143.9 after three of their four riders jumped double clears in the Jumping and Cross-Country phases. The other two teams competing were Great Britain and France, but they lagged far behind in second and third, respectively, with scores of 1084.90 and 1108.60, after both teams lost two riders each to eliminations or withdrawals.

Team Belgium moved their way up the leaderboard from last in the Dressage to second after the Jumping rounding it off with a victory after three solid Cross-Country performances around this demanding course. This was particularly impressive given their most experienced team member Lara de Liedekerke- Meier was eliminated on her mare Hooney D’Arville, while Steppe Vilain was best of the Belgians on Kawa de la Cour Z. They finished with a double clear and just 12-time penalties and look a promising combination for the future.

Sense Vervaecke jumped a double clear with the 13-year-old mare Google Van Alsingen, with whom she competed at various FEI European Championships. The pair had 14.8 Cross-Country time penalties. Wouter de Cleese riding the 14-year-old Holstein mare Quintera made up the Belgian quartet. They put in a solid performance to jumped clear in both phases with 19.2 time penalties in the Cross-Country.

Former Olympian Kai-Steffan Meier is the Team Manager for the Belgian team and summed up his team’s performance:

“It was a very strong Cross-Country course, and the ground was a factor due to the rain. After a good and solid Dressage and Jumping performance, I am obviously delighted with three clear rounds on the Cross-Country. That this put us on the top of the podium is the cherry on the cake.”

In this CIC4* short format competition, the Cross-Country saw a number well-seasoned equine and human athlete combinations have faults or eliminations, a stiff track designed by Pierre Le Goupil, course designer at the last Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Jumping faults were peppered around the course, but the early part of the track was particularly eventful for some athletes. The Cross-Country clock also proved hard to beat, with no participants jumping clear inside the time.

The Nations Cup Series now moves to The Netherlands where once again the prestigious Boekelo will play host to the final of this popular Series from 10 to 13 October, which will run as a long format four-star competition. Despite a disappointing experience at their home event, France continues to lead the overall standing on 370 points.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

press@fei.org
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Championships, Competitions, Driving, FEI, FEI

France Retains Team Gold in Le Pin au Haras

Marion Vignaud (FRA) and First Quality. ©FEI/M Guillamot

Host nation France retained team gold at the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses – but only just! In a thrilling contest, they totalled 298.59 to stay ahead of rivals Germany by only 1.32 for silver (299.91), who was only 0.84 ahead of Switzerland for bronze (300.75).

After two days of Dressage, when France’s Marion Vignaud and First Quality and Tony Ecalle with Kensington tied for second place on 44.25, the team had a clear lead over Germany of 11.65 and Switzerland of 16.24 going into Saturday’s Marathon. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for the French as team members gained penalties and saw their initial advantage shrink.

In contrast, Switzerland’s Mario Gandolfo and Favela – eventual individual winner – and Stefan Ulrich with Samito powered through the course to take first and third in the phase to rise to second and third places. Germany’s Ciara Schubert with Lassila and Anne Unzeitig with De Niro 29 also had fast drives to finish second and sixth and bring the top three teams even closer.

Although Sunday’s Cones proved to be decisive for the individual standings, it impacted the teams less as the top five stayed the same. French hopes for team glory were kept alive by Tony and Kensington, who produced a double clear, and Clement Deschamps with Brume de Chablis, who knocked one cone for three penalties. For Germany, Anne and Marie Tischer drove low penalty rounds to keep the pressure on. Maintaining their cool, with both team and individual podium places in their sights, Stefan and Mario also drove double clears.

As overnight leaders, and carrying the hopes of the home crowd, Marion and her 14-year-old KWPN gelding First Quality were last to enter a hushed arena. Until the very last oxer at number 20, it seemed that a first individual gold would be theirs, but in a split second it all changed. Just as the cheers started, a ball rolled in the final oxer, and they dropped to silver. It was a case of history repeating itself as the same happened at the last World Championship in the same arena in 2022. Despite the disappointment, the celebrations came as the French had done enough to seal their team victory, their second since the Championship started in 1998.

A past winner of FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses, that late ball meant Mario won his first gold in this Championship by only 0.51 with a total of 149.25, as well as the first team bronze. For Marion, silver with 149.76 and team gold was still a great achievement. For Stefan Ulrich, who was on the silver medal winning team at the FEI Driving world Championship for Pair Horses a year ago in Le Pin, it was also a double podium finish with two bronzes and a total of 151.50.

In an interview after the Marathon, Mario paid tribute to his 10-year-old mare Favela. “We know the Marathon well here and have come for three years. It is well suited to Favela, and she loves it. She showed it here today because it was a very physical Marathon, but she recovered well. The course designer did his best for the horses, and it was beneficial for horse welfare because we had time to walk between the obstacles.

“I’m lucky to have a lot of people from my region who came here to see the World Championship. The Swiss team is good at the Cones, and although we are going to feel a bit of pressure, we are going to trust in our horses.”

It was a successful championship for Luxembourg who just missed out on podium places. Marie Schiltz with former Young Horse Champion, 16-year-old Frodo, is the number two ranked driver and finished fourth on 151.72. The team included her father Franz with San Remo Royal and Nicolas Candel with Festinov, and they were fourth on 315.56, ahead of a delighted British team who were fifth on 329.26.

Both Canadian and USA squads made the long journey to Europe for the event and enjoyed some successful results. Based in The Netherlands, Canada’s Kelly Bruder is the number one ranked driver and with her 16-year-old gelding Flip, was last to drive in the Dressage on Friday afternoon. They produced a mesmerising test to win on 40.65 and lead going into the Marathon, but they couldn’t retain their position and slipped away from medal places.

The American squad was impacted by a tip up in the second obstacle from one of their members and an elimination in the Cones. But their hopes were kept alive by Taylor Bradish and Katydid Duchess, who drove a great Marathon for fourth, and after the Cones, was the highest placed American to finish sixth.

Adding to the Swiss success, veteran driver and former World Four-in-Hand Champion Werner Ulrich, competing as an individual while his son was on the team, came fifth (154.73). Both were driving horses that had been on the silver medal winning Horse Pairs team a year ago.

Proving that age is no barrier in Driving, athletes ranged in age from 20 to 78, and the horses ranged in age from 8 to 19. In all, 79 athletes and 84 horses from 19 nations gathered in the stunning surroundings of the historic French national stud in Normandy, which is resplendent after a multi-million Euro investment. The Orne Quarry arena was the setting for the Dressage and Cones, while the beautiful Hautbois parkland, laid out in front of the Chateau at the heart of the equestrian complex, was the setting for the Marathon. Combining history with modern values, at the core of the ‘Versailles of the Horse’ is a sustainable approach to all aspects of the equestrian competition.

Rounding off the closing ceremony, Chair of the FEI Driving Committee Joaquin Medina (ESP), praised the organisers and venue for hosting a triumphant World Championship where, at all times, the welfare of the horses was put first.

FULL RESULTS

by Sarah Dance

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Championships, Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

ESP Florida State Fall Horse Show: A Weekend of Equitation Mastery

Juan Manuel Gallego & Niagara D’ive Z © Sierra Buerkley Photography

The ESP Florida State Fall Horse Show recently took place at the Equestrian Village in Wellington, Florida, offering an exciting weekend of equestrian events, skilled riders, and impressive performances. From Thursday to Sunday, the show highlighted the special connection between riders and their horses, featuring the Region 10 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship.

The Region 10 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship showcased riders navigating over fences and ending in a flat phase. Maggie King and her own Ivano S, clinched the first-place position. Reserve went to Faith Schuttemeyer and Davinci, owned by Brittany Purnell, while Anika Spaeth and her own entry, Celtic, secured third.

The THIS/NHS Adult Area Championship followed, featuring an over-fence course and a flat phase. Ella Bostwick atop Malbec, owned by Christine Bostwick, emerged as champion, with Kaitlyn Sheerahamed and her own Dany Villers in second. Securing the third-place title was Sophia Bruny and her own mount, Shakiro.

The Hamel Foundation/NHS 3’3” Area Championship rounded out the equitation championships, with Maxima Lanasa and Lambada, owned by Kate Abajian, securing the top spot. Campbell Cauthen on Lucky Luke, owned by DCTM LLC, took second while Lucy Massucci secured the yellow ribbon aboard Empire, owned by Chase Finizio.

All three equitation classes were expertly judged by Tammy Provost & Virginia Edwards and the courses were designed by Andy Christiansen, Jr.

While the equitation classes were the highlight of the week, our hunter and jumpers did not disappoint. Competition on the field kicked off Thursday morning with the $5,000 1.35m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Perfect Products. Eighteen horse-and-rider duos tackled the challenging course designed by Guilherme Jorge (BRA), with ten advancing to the jump-off. Andres Julio Soto Pena (DOM) claimed victory with a swift, clear round, completing it in 39.062 seconds aboard Optimus Blue, owned by Alisa Butska. Isabel Sanchez (DOM) secured second place, finishing her clear round in 39.627 seconds on Peter Lloyd’s horse, Vingtcoeurs Du Chalet. Michael Murphy (USA) earned third with a clear round time of 39.996 seconds riding Barcelona, owned by Lauren Tyree.

The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by Parlanti, served as the highlight of the day on the Annex Derby Field. Lauren Schweppe (USA) delivered an impressive performance on Cali Y, owned by Marjorie Sidman, claiming first place with a combined score of 172. Madison Ramsey (USA) took second aboard MTM Enchanted, owned by Kevin Eufemia, with a score of 171. Taylor St. Jacques secured third on Castleforbes Glenn, owned by Sergent Stables LLC, with a score of 170.

Continuing on with competition on Friday, the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Open Jumper Stake took place on the Derby Field, where twenty competitors tackled Guilherme Jorge’s course. Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) won the event with a double-clear effort aboard Vasco 109, co-owned by Miguel Madero and Luis Pedro Biraben, finishing in 38.603 seconds. Michael Murphy (USA) earned second place with a clear round of 38.949 seconds on Kaida CM, owned by South Coast, while Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) secured third place riding Scoop De Septon Z, owned by Sigma Stables, with a faultless time of 39.279 seconds.

On Saturday, the $1,000 2’6″/2’9″ Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by ProElite, showcased some of the top hunters. Paige Moose (USA) took first place with her own horse, Quintilus, earning a total score of 156. Joanne Clemente (USA) followed closely in second place with a score of 154 on Channing, owned by Horselux LLC. Marjorie Sidman (USA) rounded out the top three with a score of 145 aboard her own entry, Cali Y.

Sunday’s events wrapped up with the $24,999 Winston Preparatory Grand Prix, where Colombia’s Juan Manuel Gallego clinched victory with Niagara D’ive Z after a thrilling jump-off.

Out of the twenty-five participants, nine advanced to the jump-off, making for a tense competition. Gallego and Niagara D’ive Z, owned by Gabriela Salazar Martinez, took first place with the fastest time of 42.926 seconds.

Alannah Wagstaff (USA) secured second place with a time of 42.944 seconds on Great Thing, owned by Mill Pond Farm Inc. Rounding out the podium was Michael Murphy on Kaida CM, owned by South Coast, finishing in 43.383 seconds.

To view full results from ESP Florida State Fall, please click HERE.

Wellington International
news@wellingtoninternational.com
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Breeds, Championships, Competitions, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Lanaken Showcases the Best of Young Horse Breeding and Talent

Katrin Eckermann (GER) and Sascinora NRW © FEI/Hippo Foto – Dirk Careman

The FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 2024 in Lanaken (BEL) concluded after several days of intense competition, with entries from across the world showcasing the best of young horse breeding and talent. Held at the renowned Zangersheide, this year’s event brought out the finest five-, six-, and seven-year-old Jumping horses, with several familiar bloodlines making their mark once again.

5-Year-Olds

The five-year-old final saw a strong field of competitors after two rounds of qualifiers, with 54 combinations making it to the ultimate test. Out of the initial 232 entries, 108 jumped clear in the first qualifier, demonstrating the depth of talent in this age category. In the Final, 20 horses contested the jump-off.

Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy secured the top spot with Orange de Baugy, posting a faultless round in a time of 36.15 seconds, going one-better on her second placing from last year’s final in this age category. Bred by L.A. Geertzema and owned by GBBS International Ltd., the KWPN mare (Dominator Z x Barbarian) impressed with consistent performances throughout the competition. McEvoy’s jump-off round set a high standard, placing her over two seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

Italy’s Diego Pagano with Zuly (Zirocco Blue VDL x Toulon) represented the MASAF, the Italian sport horse studbook, and followed in second place with a time of 38.44 seconds. Third place went to Belgium’s Lotte Teuns aboard Jolidiams des Tocrias (Diamant de Semilly x Opium de Talma), a Selle Français gelding. The combination produced a clear round in 39.04 seconds, narrowly securing a podium finish.

6-Year-Olds

The six-year-old final saw 20 horses and athletes competing in the jump-off, with less than two seconds separating the top five combinations. Katrin Eckermann, who won this class in 2023 aboard Cascajall, had another remarkable year in the category with both a win and a third place.

She led from early on with her first ride, Iron Dames Earl of Alice (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Cinsey, BRAND). Returning later on the Westphalian mare Sascinora NRW (Stakkato-Boy RM x Firth of Lorne), Eckermann was intent on adding another win to her collection. An incredibly fast and clear round on the mare – bred by Otmar Eckermann – saw her take the lead and remain in contention for both gold and silver with only three riders left to go.

However, fellow German athlete Kendra Claricia Brinkop and the Stephex Stables-owned stallion Sniper Des Lilas Blancs (Hamilton du Chapitre x Calvaro Z, BWP) neatly filled the gap between Eckermann’s two rides and took silver, securing back-to-back victories for Eckermann in this age group.

7-Year-Olds

The seven-year-old class is often considered the pinnacle of young horse development, with combinations facing technically difficult 1.45m courses designed to challenge both scope and precision. Irish breeding was on full display in this class, with Irish Sport Horses taking both gold and bronze.

Last year’s six-year-old champion, Cascajall, ridden by Katrin Eckermann, was considered a strong contender, but an unfortunate pole in the first round kept them from advancing to the jump-off, leaving them in 15th place overall.

Of the seven combinations who did advance, one of the standouts was 21-year-old sensation Mathieu Bourdeaud’Hui. The Belgian rider, already well-regarded for his talent in producing young horses, laid down a strong challenge aboard the BWP gelding Remco van den Uilenbos (Nixon van het Meulenhof x Triomphe de Muze) and took the lead with only two combinations left to compete.

Ireland’s Niamh McEvoy was next in the ring riding Sevilla van de Berghoeve Z (Stakkato Gold x Diamant de Semilly, ZANG), and despite coming home in record time, a knock at the final rail dashed her hopes of another podium finish.

It was a case of saving the best for last when Irishman Michael Pender rounded out the class onboard the Irish Sport Horse mare HHH Mercedes (Can Ya Makan x Couletto). The combination looked as if they’d been competing at Grand Prix level for years, cruising round at lightning speed. They were fast enough to take a half-halt to the final fence and yet still edge out Bourdeaud’Hui, crossing the timers in 38.30 seconds to clinch victory.

In third place was another pairing of Irish rider and Irish Sport Horse in Michael Duffy and BP Royalty, a bay gelding by Comme il Faut and out of an Obos Quality 004 mare.

FULL RESULTS

by Sophie Baker

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Strzegom

Julia Krajewski Victorious in the Four-Star Class in Strzegom

Julia Krajewski. Photographer: Mariusz Chmieliński

Germany’s Julia Krajewski riding Nickel 21 was the best in the 4*S – the highest-ranked competition at Strzegom Autumn Show.

The podium of the 4*S was dominated by German riders. The first place went to Julia Krajewski, who was the runner-up after dressage and took the pole position after a clear round in the jumping trial. She crossed the finish line of the cross-country with 7,2 for time, but it was enough to secure the win riding Nickel 21 – 35,8. Second went to Arne Bergendahl with Luthien NRW – 38,8. His clear jumping round made them jump up into 6th from 17th after dressage, and he added only 0,4 for one second overtime in the cross-country. Emma Brüssau finished third with Dark Desire GS – 40,2.

Leading after dressage, current Olympic champion Michael Jung riding Jim Knopf P had one knockdown in the jumping, took his time on the cross country, and with 23 seconds late and 40.3 penalty points, placed just behind the podium in fourth place.

The winner of the 3*S was India’s Fouaad Mirza riding Dajara – 30,1. He took an early lead in the first trial and did not give it up until the end, finishing on his dressage score. Germany’s Julia Krajewski was second riding Ero de Cantraie – 34,6. She was fourth after dressage, went up into third after the jumping, and scored a clear XC round with 9 second overtime. Malin Asai from Sweden finished third with Maggan V – 35,0. The rider went clear in the jumping test and crossed the XC finish line only three seconds late, advancing from 13th after dressage.

The win in the 2*S went to Miloslav Prihoda Jr from the Czech Republic with Obora’s Guitar Gangster – 30,2. German Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Callfield finished second – 30,3, and Italy’s Filippo Gregoroni with Talibro Z – third with 30,6.

The first place on the podium in the Intro competition went to Poland’s Laura Gillmaier with Red Sunrise 2 – 29,9, ahead of Sweden’s William Nilsson Fryer with Madicken – 30, and Germany’s Anna Siemer riding Kiss Me – 31,4.

The national 1* ended with the victory of Patrycja Pienkos with S-Rubin – 45,6, the CNC 100 was won by Dutchman Thierry Van Reine with One of Us – 29,9, and in the under-18 age category, the best one was Polish Zofia Lemanska riding Heksala – 37,0. In the CNC90, the best result belonged to Germany’s Inga Witing with Limba St – 29,4.

During the Strzegom Autumn Show, four international competitions and three national classes were held, along with the International Tournament for Young Horses, the Polish Cup finals, and the Polish Championships for Young Horses.

Online results: https://livejumping.com/ap/event/11572/competitions

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

Competitions, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Greya Is Great in Traverse City

Kent Farrington (USA) and Greya FEI/Andrew Ryback Photography

Kent Farrington (USA) was the first to crack the code to a clear round over a technical course in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City — the first leg of the 2024-25 North American League season. He’d remain “first” for the rest of the day.

First to return for the jump-off. First to jump double-clear. Ultimately, first on the leaderboard.

Farrington and his talented mount Greya bested a seven-horse jump-off to earn an important five-star victory and valuable qualifying points toward the World Cup Finals in Basel (SUI) next April. The accomplished pair simply could not be caught over Alan Wade’s (IRL) short course, with a winning time of 37.19 seconds.

Samuel Hutton (GBR) and Melusina Bvl Z came closest — within two-tenths of a second — and finished second (37.36s). They were followed by Alise Oken (USA) and Gelvera, who boldly left out a stride to the penultimate line and appeared ahead of the pace before fanning wide and losing ground to the final two fences (38.44s).

“[Going] first, I thought the [jump-off] would be fast, but I didn’t think it would be wild,” Farrington said. “The first part of my round was secure, and then at that point going to the last jump, I thought I played it a bit safe.

“I thought I had done a pretty aggressive round that someone would have to try hard to catch. It got a little closer than I would have liked, but we had luck on our side today.”

Natural footspeed, a ground-saving track, and efficiency over the fences proved keys to victory. Farrington weighed the option of leaving out a stride in the first line, but it wasn’t the correct option for his partner. Instead, he planned for an extra stride and a tight, time-saving turn to the next fence.

“My strategy was to ride [Greya’s round] and try to put the pressure on the ones behind me,” Farrington explained. “I took the chances where I thought I could. I maybe could have done one less [stride] up the first line… but it wasn’t there [for me]. My short eight [strides] ended up very quick.”

Farrington began to eye the NAL opener as a target following his return from the Paris Olympic Games. Farrington and Greya were selected to represent the U.S. for the assignment, but Farrington made the decision to withdraw when his horse developed a cough.

“First I had to get her feeling better. She had a bad cough that made us unable to compete,” he shared. “I had to give her 10 days of no riding, let her get some antibiotics and get her back to America. From there, we said, ‘Let’s just see how she goes, at her own pace.’ I let her feel good with some tiny rounds last week, and then we built up this week. Today she felt great, and I thought she performed great. I’m exciting to get going.”

Farrington has always thought highly of Greya, first discovering the mare as a 5-year-old in Europe. He elected to keep her overseas for a year before importing her and beginning to work with the mare in his stable. From there, it’s been a careful, calculated, and exciting development process.

“She’s a sensational horse,” he gushed. “She was always extremely, extremely careful. She had a bit of a wild personality, but she’s always been an exceptional athlete and a special horse. I’m very proud of what she’s developed into. We’re still at the very start of her career. I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Currently the world’s 10th-ranked jumping athlete and a former World No. 1, Farrington has competed in the World Cup Finals on seven occasions, but his best finish came at Riyadh (KSA) — with Greya and Toulayna, who competed in the opening day’s speed competition.

“We went to World Cup Finals last year, and it went great. It was a big step up for [Greya],” Farrington reflected. “I would like to do it [again] with two horses, like I did last time. I would say [Basel] is definitely in my sights. Hopefully my horses are in good form when that time comes around.”

Farrington has assumed an early lead in the North American League standings with 20 points. Oken sits second with 17 points, followed by Daniel Bluman (ISR) with 15 points.

FULL RESULTS

by Catie Staszak

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, Equestrian Sport Prod., Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jad Dana Soars to New Heights in $10,000 Greenberg Traurig 1.40m Stake

Jad Dana & Leonidas © Cassidy Klein

The 2024 ESP September horse show commenced on Friday morning with the 1.40m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies. In this competitive event, eleven horse-and-rider pairs took on Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) intricate course, with seven trying their hand at the jump-off. Michael Murphy (USA) secured the top position with the fastest clear round, finishing in 34.42 seconds on Kaida CM, owned by South Coast. Hadden Frost (GBR) took second place with a clear round time of 35.439 seconds aboard his own horse, Insider BH. Diego Javier Vivero Viteri (ECU) rounded out the top three with a clear time of 35.95 seconds on Daddy’s Destiny, owned by Nicole Velazco Magana.

The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by Parlanti, was the day’s main hunter event in GDF Hunter Ring 2. Kierstin Antoniadis (USA) excelled with her horse, Vegas de Launay, earning first place with a combined score of 176. Keri Kampsen (USA) earned second place aboard Check Please, owned by Kampsen and Lexy Reed, with a score of 175.75, while also securing third with Barolo, also owned by both Kampsen and Lexy Reed, with a score of 174.

Saturday featured the Zen Elite Equestrian Center 1.35m Open Jumper Stake on the Derby Annex, where sixteen riders competed on Andy Christiansen’s course. Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) emerged as the winner with a double-clear performance on Niagara D’ive Z, owned by Gabriela Salazar Martinez, finishing in 42.499 seconds. Diego Javier Vivero Viteri (ECU) took the second spot with a clear round in 43.96 seconds on Dreamer De La Pointe, owned by Sebastian Rodriguez. The third position was claimed by Natalie Thornell (USA) with Jamiroquai, owned by Loveland Equine Investments, who achieved a fault-free time of 47.453 seconds.

On Saturday, the $1,000 2’6”/2’9” Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by ProElite, showcased the talents of top hunters. Emma Ensor (USA) claimed first place with her own Woodlands Teddybear, achieving a total score of 172. Emma Butchard-Nagata (USA) earned second with a score of 171 on Dia Diamond, owned by Marcia Germain. Kim Barone (USA) rounded out the top three with a score of 169 on Rupaul, owned by Cynthia Bulwicz.

Competition concluded on Sunday with the $10,000 Greenberg Traurig 1.40m Stake, but not before Lebanon’s Jad Dana galloped to victory aboard Leonidas in a competitive jump-off.

With only three of the thirteen pairs advancing to the jump-off, the class was sure to leave no stone unturned. Pulling out all the stops and emerging victorious, Dana and his mount, Leonidas, owned by Burr Associates Inc., put in the fastest round with a four-fault time of 32.484 seconds.

Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) secured the runner-up spot with a time of 35.355 seconds on Niagara D’ive Z, owned by Gabriela Salazar Martinez. Rounding out the podium was Dana on his second mount, Know It All, owned by Burr Associates Inc., with a time of 38.82 seconds.

To view full results from ESP September, please click HERE.

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

Competitions, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Young Jumping Talent Shines in Lier

Team USA, Juniors: Ann Kursinski, Avery Griffin, Alexa Elle Lignelli, Reese Merna, Propp Clara, Elise Stephens © Hippo Foto Media – Dirk Caremans

The FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final took place in Lier, Belgium after four days of hard-fought competition amongst some of the world’s top young riders. There was a strong showing for Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium in particular, but each of the riders and horses showed exceptional skill and talent for the future.

In each category, four riders competed for each team, with the top three scores counting towards the team’s total each day. In the one-round final, all teams started with a clean slate of 0 points, with the potential for a jump-off if teams were tied after the first round.

Children

The top 6 teams competing for the title were Sweden, Poland, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, and Italy. It was nail biting until the very end, with the outcome hinging on the very last fence. There was a possibility for a straight win, or a two, three, or four-way jump off all possibilities until the fourth rotation of riders. In the end, it was the Dutch team who took the title for the third time in a row, on a perfect score. In second place was Great Britain and the Irish team in third.

Sweden kicked off the action. Maisie Riley and Lorenzo of Great Britain faced a setback with a refusal at the water, giving them 15 penalties in total and putting some pressure on the remaining team members with the best potential score of 4 from their opening rider Emily Gulliver’s score.

The team from The Netherlands finished on a total of 0, with only one rider – Joep Schaap – picking up four penalties in total. The final Dutch rider, Stella Heijligers, had retired from competition the day before to save her horse for the final. A clear would ensure that the Italians had to go clear too, having lost one rider to elimination and therefore having no dropped score available to them. Her decision was a good one, with a clear securing their place on the podium.

Gabriel Zagni Minucci had no wiggle room whatsoever, knowing that a clear would secure a jump off, whereas two poles would completely put them out of medal contention. He was clear until the very last, and then a hesitation from the pair and four faults plus time penalties put them into fourth place overall.

Ponies

The pony teams competing for glory were Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden, and The Netherlands.

Great Britain emerged victorious with a consistent performance, finishing with just one fault across the entire three rounds of jumping. This victory follows their success at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Ponies. Neighbours Ireland came in silver, and Belgium third.

The Netherlands – always hot favourites at any Jumping event – ended up 4th after a shaky start. First rider Bethany Vos and third rider Mienie Vos had expensive rounds with 23 and 10 penalties, respectively – putting one of the favourite teams out of medal contention despite a stellar start to the competition earlier in the week.

The Swiss team had an unlucky day at the office, with an elimination and two expensive rounds putting them on a final score of 24, at the bottom of the table. The Irish, having won the competition four times in the past, were hoping to add a fifth gold medal to their tally. Their six-penalty score, however, wouldn’t be quite enough to take another win.

Third last to go was Robin Vermier, who had the luxury of being able to finish ahead of the Dutch even with one pole down. Her calm, collected clear aboard Kristal Sparkle Van Begeveld secured a podium finish.

Young Riders

In the young rider category, the six teams competing for glory were Belgium, Austria, the USA, Great Britain, Italy, and Switzerland. The Young Rider winning team – Belgium – was crowned after a three-way jump off for the podium positions, with each team’s total points and time counting towards the win.

The Austrians were at a disadvantage with only three available riders throughout the day. Despite that, they managed to advance to the jump-off, but faced immense pressure without a discard score when it reached the second round.

Belgium’s Mathieu Guery set the tone for the jump off with a clear round on Callac de Cyrmanol, helping his country to a third win at home in Lier for the Young Rider FEI Nations Cup Final, with the first rotation riders for Italy and Australia chalking up clears too – albeit slower.

Antonia Weixelbraun of Austria clocked up a fast round with four penalties. Both the Belgian and Italian teams had three clear rounds on the board by the conclusion of the jump off, automatically putting Austria into bronze medal position without the ability to drop Weixelbraun’s four-penalty round. Italy’s final combination, Martina Simoni and Dalvaro 2, needed to jump an incredibly fast clear to clinch first, shaving off over three sounds. They delivered a collected and well-ridden round without a pole, but weren’t fast enough to match the pace, meaning Italy had to settle for silver.

Juniors

The final competition of the day was the Juniors title, which was contested by the USA, The Netherlands, Czechia, Belgium, Ireland, and Sweden. Once again, the order of the podium came down to the very last set of riders, in an ‘anything could happen’ race to the finish line, which ultimately saw the USA take gold, Sweden silver, and the Czech Republic bronze.

A flurry of clear rounds from early on kicked off the event in style, with teams USA and Netherlands edging themselves out as contenders for the win with a perfect 0 on the scoreboard for both teams following the third rotation of riders.

The penultimate rider, Jules Denutte of Belgium, required a clear to stay ahead of The Netherlands and the Czech Republic, keeping them on the podium. One fence came down, which edged Czechia into bronze place thanks to their quick pace.

Elise Stephens, as the USA’s fourth rider, delivered a clear to force Sweden’s hand. The last rider of the day, Liam Nilsson, couldn’t afford even a time penalty if they were to secure a jump off for the gold. When Nilsson cantered into the arena, the challenge was simple – jump a clear and secure the jump off with the USA. Have a pole or penalty, and the USA would take the victory. Having ridden in three European championships, he’s no stranger to pressure – but faced a setback when his mare Ulla Bella Hastak got strong into the double and tipped a rail, meaning the Swedes would settle for silver.

FULL RESULTS

by Sophie Baker

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, FEI, FEI

German & Dutch Breeding Excellence Showcased in Ermelo

Bart Veeze (NED) riding Red Viper © FEI/Leanjo de Koster – DigiShots

After four days of competition, it was a chestnut clean sweep and a showcase of the quality of Dutch and German breeding specifically at this year’s Longines FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses 2024 in Ermelo (NED).

Among the top 15 horses — five in each age category — six were German-bred and five were Dutch-bred.

The 5 -,6-, and 7-year-old winners were all chestnuts, too; a distinct change from the dark bay Dressage horses the world has become accustomed to. For those who follow this event every year, there were plenty of familiar faces Dressage enthusiasts will recognise, including a two-time world champion in Life Time FRH.

5-Year-Olds

The 5-year-old test is always the most hotly-contested category and due to the focus on potential – rather than schooling – technicalities, it tends to attract stud farms wanting to show off their top progeny. Of the 46 five-year-olds in this year’s field, 22 were stallions, 9 mares, and 15 geldings.

The KWPN stallion Red Viper (Romanov x Sir Sinclair) led from start to finish, with a win and 92% in the preliminary test and a convincing win in the finals. Ridden by the Dutch jockey Bart Veeze and bred by Coen Kerbert, he scored 93.800% for the win – the only score above 90 in the class – thanks to impressive marks of 9.4 for trot, 8.8 for walk, a competition high 9.7 for canter, 9.2 for submission, and 9.8 for perspective. The horse was almost faultless, with the judging panel saying the trot displayed exceptional elasticity and shoulder freedom, the canter as balanced, powerful, and uphill.

The second placed combination – Westfalen stallion Glamdale WP NRW (Glamourdale x Millennium) with Germany’s Stefanie Ahlert – was over 3% behind on 90.2%. Jeanna Hogberg piloted the Swedish stallion Severucci HT (Secret x Rubinrot) to third on 90.000%.

6-Year-Olds

Danish Warmblood mare Valerie B, ridden by Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen, topped the 6-year-old first qualifier, scoring an outstanding 90.800%. In 2023, Valerie B won the Preliminary rest for 5-year-olds, but was beaten out in the finals by Quinn G and Carl Hedin’s Instagram sensation, stallion Skyline to B.

Merita Hagren and Alkaline (Secret x Zalmiak Firfod) were one of the surprises during the final round, clocking up a huge 92% with 9s and 9.5s across the board to finish with second place. Despite only placing in 6th during the preliminary test, the chestnut stallion was described as “lovely, springy, and elastic” by judge Peter Storr. Talking about the canter, he said, “It has a lot of airtime, and it’s truly elastic and energetic. We did have an argument about where to go with the marks and decided on a 9.5.”

The pressure was on for the remaining few combinations, as Alkaline was followed immediately into the ring by winners of the preliminary test, Valerie B and Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen. Unable to replicate their preliminary performance, the pair finished fourth in the final with 87.2%. Despite scoring a perfect 10 for her trot, mistakes in the flying changes and canter cost her valuable points. Having placed second in the first round, the chances of a podium finish looked excellent for Segantini 6 with Olympian Dorothee Schneider aboard, but some small mistakes put them out of the placings too.

The penultimate combination of the day was Quinn G, winner of last year’s 5-year-old final. Having claimed a tied 4th place in the preliminary final, Fiona Bigwood rode a foot perfect test aboard the DWB mare by Quaterhit/Fassbinder. The mare was destined to be a two-time champion, scoring an incredible 95, including a perfect 10 for both the walk and the trot with very little for the judges to offer other than praise for an “overall, lovely horse.” The KWPN mare Nice Touch W (Dettori/Florencio) took third place, ridden by Charlotta Rogerson.

7-Year-Olds

It’s always wonderful to watch the progression from 5-year-old classes to 7-year-olds in terms of schooling, balance, and collection. 44 combinations took to the arena on the first day.

Charlott-Maria Schürmann of Germany dominated both the preliminary and final tests with her Hanoverian stallion, Life Time FRH. Bred by Johannes Hesselink, Life Time FRH (by Livaldon x Fürstenball OLD) earned a score of 81.175% in the preliminary round. In the final, they went even further, chalking up an impressive 84.129%, with standout scores including a 9.5 for walk, 9.5 for submission, and a 9.5 for perspective. The judging panel said, “We think you had a nice feeling on your horse today. We had that feeling too,” and immediately praised the stallion’s “beautiful frame and correct education.”

Second was Leonie Richter of Germany, riding the Hanoverian stallion Vitalos FRH (by Vitalis x De Niro), the silver medallist of the six-year-old horses in 2023 and the five-year-old horses in 2022. Vitalis FRH had placed fifth in the preliminary round but moved up to secure second place in the final with a score of 83.222%.

Vitalos FRH, bred by Josef Bramlage, received a perfect 10 for trot in the final. Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands retained his third-place position from the preliminary round in the final, scoring 80.993% with the KWPN stallion Glock’s Massimo (by Glock’s Toto JR. x Bretton Woods).

by Sophie Baker

press@fei.org
www.fei.org