Tag Archives: FEI

Competitions, Dressage, FEI, FEI

Laudrup-Dufour Shines in Herning with Freestyle Victory

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St John ©FEI/Pernilla Hägg

On home soil in Denmark, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour clinched a commanding victory with Mount St John Freestyle in the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 in the Western European League. Fellow Dane Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron secured second place, while Sweden’s Maria von Essen prevented an all-Danish podium by finishing third with Invoice.

The Danish crowd came out in full force to support their home favourites, and they were not disappointed. In Friday’s Grand Prix, Mount St John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen Aps and Mount St John Equestrian LLP) captured the hearts of the audience and went on to deliver an even more stunning performance in the Freestyle. Scoring an impressive 88.965%, Laudrup-Dufour set a benchmark that no other competitor could match. “Already in the warm-up, she felt incredible. And Freestyle adored the arena,” said Laudrup-Dufour shortly after her ride.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen, teammate of Laudrup-Dufour in Denmark’s silver-medal-winning team at the Paris Olympics, guided the powerful Vayron (owned by the athlete and Rudolf Spiekermann) to second place with a score of 84.905%. These two combinations were the only ones to break the 80% barrier, setting themselves apart from the rest of the field. While their Paris teammate Nanna Skodborg Merrald initially claimed third place in the Grand Prix with Blue Hors Zepter (owned by Blue Hors Aps), some mistakes in their Freestyle dropped them to seventh place, opening the door for other competitors. Maria von Essen (SWE) seized that opportunity, moving up from seventh in the Grand Prix to third in the Freestyle with Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri & Häst Ab).

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle impressed at the Paris Olympics, finishing second in the Grand Prix and winning the Grand Prix Special. However, they slipped to fifth in the Freestyle. “Freestyle surprised me a bit in Paris. She was a little stressed from the prize-giving ceremony after the Grand Prix Special. Here in Herning, she was much calmer, as Cassidy did the prize-giving,” Laudrup-Dufour remarked.

Laudrup-Dufour’s Freestyle routine is technically demanding but also holds deep personal significance: “I love challenging myself. You need to stay sharp. For me, this is much more than just a floor plan and a piece of music. Every song and every movement remind me of something.”

As for the remainder of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ season, Laudrup-Dufour is still undecided. “I’ll make a plan with my trainer later. We’ve been invited to ride at the Top 10 in Stockholm, and after that, we’ll see.”

The five-member judging panel, consisting of Susanne Baarup (DEN), Kurt Christensen (DEN), Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Alice Schwab (AUT), and Magnus Ringmark (SWE), unanimously placed Laudrup-Dufour at the top. They were equally unanimous in their decision to place Daniel Bachmann Andersen and his impressive bay Vayron in second.

Bachmann Andersen was delighted with his horse’s performance: “Vayron felt amazing in the warm-up already; he had much more focus than in the Grand Prix, where he was a little fresh, and I made a mistake in the tempi changes. Today he was more settled and focused. He is a very sensitive horse, but the more the audience applauds, the better he performs. His self-confidence was at its highest today. I feel he is really starting to believe in himself.”

Maria von Essen, riding Invoice, a horse she has had since he was two-and-a-half years old, claimed the third position. After winning the Grand Prix and finishing second in the Freestyle at last year’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in Gothenburg, von Essen was pleased to secure a podium finish in Herning’s strong field. Starting sixth, she managed to hold on to a top-three spot. “My horse felt just amazing today; he really rose to the occasion,” said von Essen, who borrowed an old Freestyle routine from Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, with whom she shares trainer Kyra Kyrklund.

The competition for the remaining top spots was intense. German athlete Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock came closest to breaking into the top three, riding the cheerful mare Florine OLD (owned by Elisabeth von Wulffen) to a solid fourth place with a harmonious performance.

Lone Bang Zindorff, representing Denmark, secured fifth place with Thranegaardens Rostov (owned by Bang Dressage Aps), just ahead of Germany’s Carina Scholz and her experienced seventeen-year-old partner Tarantino (owned by Sportpferde Scholz). Nadja Aaboe Sloth (DEN) guided her own Favour Gersdorf to another score in the 78% range, joining Zindorff, Scholz, and Merrald in a closely contested battle for the top spots. Ninth and tenth places went to German athletes Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot and Ingrid Klimke with First Class.

FULL RESULTS

by Bettine van Harselaar

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

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

“We Like Mud!” Irish Eventers Dig Deep to Win Nations Cup Final

Team Ireland L-R: Padraig McCarthy and Pomp N Circumstance; Susannah Berry and Clever Trick; Austin O’Connor and Isazsa; Aoife Clark and Sportsfield Freelance. FEI/Libby Law Photography

The Cross-Country course conditions played to the Irish strengths this weekend, as an experienced quartet claimed their second FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ win of the season. After winning their home event in Millstreet (IRL), their victory in this the final leg of the Series in Boekelo (NED), came down to some masterful jumping performances in the Cross-Country and Jumping phases. Their finishing score of 102.6 penalties put them well out in front of Team USA on a final total of 116.1, with Germany trailing in third on 131.9.

Eleven teams came forward to compete in this CCIO4* long-format competition which saw a real shake-up in the leaderboard after the Dressage phase. The Netherlands, who once again played host to this popular and thrilling Nations Cup finale, finished in ninth spot on 298.9 penalties.

After several weeks of rain affecting the ground conditions, the Organisers had to make a number of changes to the Cross-Country course. With horse and athlete welfare in mind, a loop of the course was removed by Course Designer Adrian Ditcham, to ensure footing throughout.

The Irish team consisted of three members of the team who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer: Susie Berry, Aoife Clarke, and Austin O’Connor were joined by the equally experienced and previous Olympian Padraig McCarthy. Three solid and speedy Cross-Country rounds from Berry, Clarke, and McCarthy meant they rose from sixth after the Dressage to pole position going into the final Jumping phase. With just a fence in hand between them and second-placed USA, they kept their cool, with Berry and McCarthy jumping clear rounds and Clark taking just one rail to finish decisive winners of this long-format competition.

Speaking after their performance, Clarke summed up emotions in the Irish camp. “It’s been a brilliant week. The team have performed top of their game, and this win means so much. You can see when we came out (of the prize giving), we were all just over the moon with it. It is a great way to end the year and exciting for next year.

“We like mud. The Irish are good in mud.”

Of the 93 combinations that started in the CCIO 4*-L competition, 72 rode through the Cross-Country finish. Course Designer Adrian Ditcham praised the team at Boekelo for their efforts to ensure a successful competition which offered enough excitement for athletes and spectators, and he was delighted with how it went overall.

“It has been a tough week for me and the team. Some of the things we had to change to get the right footing were absolutely the right decision. When we made those changes to take out the loop in the first part of the course, that changed the balance of the course, but overall, it went great today. I am very pleased with that.”

Clarke spoke highly of the Nations Cup Series and particularly this climax to the season. “The Nations Cup final here in Boekelo is a huge deal and it means a huge amount to anyone competing. It has a real weight to it that is more than some of the individual legs. They (the Organisers) have really done well here; there’s a great atmosphere — it’s built up to a really fun end of the competition. I love Boekelo and would come back every year if I had a horse for it. I love the enthusiasm of the supporters and the work that went in to getting the Cross-Country right. The ground rode well yesterday. It was testing, but it held up really well and the work they have done is just unbelievable.”

Team France was overall leaders in the final standings of the 2024 Nations Cup Series with 425 points. Having finished in the top three at four out of five of the legs they entered, they finished well ahead of Germany in second on 320 points. Great Britain was third with 300 points.

A total of 15 teams competed in The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this year, which will return to the calendar in 2025.

FULL RESULTS

by Eleanore Kelly

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, Dressage, FEI, FEI

Danish Olympic Stars Kick Off Opening Leg in Herning

Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) riding Blue Hors Zepter – winners of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/23 – Neumünster (GER). Copyright © FEI/Stefan Lafrentz

With the full silver-medal-winning Danish Olympic Dressage team in action, host nation Denmark is setting the stage for the first qualifier of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 in the Western European League. Not only will these standout Danish athletes be competing for victory in Herning (DEN), but Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden will be all vying for the podium alongside them.

The ‘Danish dynamite’ will be out in full force in Herning: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, Nanna Skodborg Merrald, and Daniel Bachmann Andersen will be competing their Olympic partners Mount St John Freestyle, Blue Hors Zepter, and Vayron for the first time since the Freestyle Final at the Paris Olympics. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her partner, Mount St. John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen ApS and Mount St John Equestrian LLP), took first place in the Grand Prix Special in Paris and secured a fifth-place finish in the Freestyle Final. They’re looking to write a new chapter in their short but already impressive international career with their FEI Dressage World Cup™ debut in Herning.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter (owned by Blue Hors ApS) have already made their mark with a second-place finish in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha (USA), individual silver at the FEI Dressage European Championships 2023 in Riesenbeck, and another second place with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Riyadh (KSA) this year. In Herning, she’ll be looking to secure her first World Cup points with the 16-year-old Zepter on the road to the Final in Basel next year.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen and the mighty Vayron (owned by the athlete and Rudolf Spiekermann) have, besides Olympic team silver, already won European team bronze and will be making their World Cup debut in Herning. They’ll be joined by fellow Danes Nadja Aaboe Sloth, Lone Bang Zindorff, and Anna Zibrandtsen.

The Danish athletes will surely put up a fight on home turf in the Boxen Arena in Herning, but they’ll face fierce competition from four other nations: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Patrik Kittel (SWE), who clinched the 2024 Final in Riyadh with Touchdown and also won last year’s opening leg in Herning, will be competing with Forever Young HRH (owned by the athlete and Gestüt Peterhof), with whom he finished second in this year’s World Cup qualifier in Neumünster. His compatriot Maria von Essen will also be on hand, bringing the 12-year-old Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri & Häst AB) to Herning.

Germany is sending a strong contingent of five combinations, led by the experienced Ingrid Klimke. The German ‘Reitmeisterin’ will be riding the mare First Class (owned by Gut Hülsen GmbH & Co.KG), who made her World Cup debut in Neumünster this year with an eighth-place finish.

One of last season’s rising stars, Raphael Netz, will also be in Herning, competing Great Escape Camelot (owned by Theres Boss and Sonja Kristina Krall), with whom he finished fifth in the Final in Riyadh. Germany’s squad is rounded out by Maik Kohlschmidt, Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock, and Carina Scholz.

The Netherlands will be represented by two seasoned combinations, both riding home-bred horses: Marlies van Baalen will saddle up Habibi DVB N.O.P (owned by Dressuurstal van Baalen B.V. and Titus de Vries), her mount for the FEI Dressage European Championships 2023 in Riesenbeck, with whom she also finished second in the World Cup qualifier in Mechelen last year. Thamar Zweistra will bring her top horse Hexagon’s Ich Weiss (owned by Stal Hexagon B.V.).

With the grey stallion she has already competed at the FEI Dressage World Championships 2022 in Herning and in no less than three FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals: Leipzig, Omaha, and Riyadh. For Belgium, Alexa Fairchild will round out the start list in Herning with her own Lusitano Mala Skala’s Hermes.

With this year marking the 38th season of the FEI Dressage World Cup™, will Denmark claim its first victory since Anne Grethe Jensen and Marzog in 1986? After what promises to be a strong start in Herning, we’ll have to wait for the answer until the Final, taking place in Basel (SUI) from 2-6 April 2025.

While this season’s Final will be held in Switzerland for the first time in history, Switzerland has already had two victories in the FEI Dressage World Cup™: Christine Stückelberger and Gaugin de Lully took the titles in Essen in 1987 and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 1988.

This season’s Western European League consists of 11 qualifiers, with Herning as the opening leg. The second leg will be in late October/early November in Lyon (FRA), followed by Stuttgart (GER) and Madrid (ESP) in November. December will see legs in London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL). The new year kicks off with Basel (SUI) on the second weekend of January, followed by Amsterdam (NED) two weeks later. February will feature action in Neumünster (GER) and Göteborg (SWE), and the WEL qualifiers will conclude in March in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED).

The top 9 combinations from the Western European League will qualify for the 2025 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, along with the reigning champion, Patrik Kittel. He will automatically qualify if he competes in at least two qualifiers this season.

Further information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 series here.

by Bettine van Harselaar

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Competitions, FEI, Show Jumping

German Giants Clinch Longines League of Nations Crown

Team Germany (L-R: Andre Thieme, Jana Wargers, Otto Becker, Christian Kukuk, Richard Vogel) © FEI/Leanjo de Koster

In a cliff-hanger of a finale to the very first Longines League of Nations™ season, Team Germany reigned supreme at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain; The Netherlands finished second and Sweden pipped Ireland for third place.

It was a close-fought affair with the Germans and Dutch already out in front at the halfway stage when sharing a zero scoreline but with France, Sweden, and Brazil nipping at their heels when carrying just four faults into round two.

The Irish carried eight while the USA and Spain carried 12 apiece, but the Swiss were already on the ropes with 24 first-round faults and there would be no chance of recovery. At the end of the day, however, they did manage to finish ahead of the French who were eliminated when anchorman Kevin Staut had an unscheduled dismount.

“I think no-one can say now that the format isn’t working – it’s super exciting!” said course designer Santiago Varela.

With the best three results from each four-member team counted in round one, but just three riders returning and all scores counting in round two, it was unpredictable and thrilling once again.

“With this format you have to wait until the very end, because everything can change in just a second!” Varela said. That was exactly how it played out.

The plank on the vertical at fence nine was the bogey of the first round, with a choice of a long five or short six strides from the previous oxer. When fences were raised in round two, however, it was the double of verticals at fence seven on the 12-obstacle track that proved the biggest challenge.

The Germans began to look vulnerable when Andre Thieme and his 2021 European individual gold-medal-winning mare Chakaria put four faults on the board as his team’s second-round pathfinders. When compatriot and newly-crowned individual Olympic champions, Christian Kukuk and Checker, had two down, they seemed to be really losing their grip.

Maikel van der Vleuten and his Olympic double-bronze-medal-winning gelding Beauville Z NOP piled on the pressure with a second clear to give the Dutch an enormous boost, but Kim Emmen and her grey gelding Imagine dropped both elements of the double at seven on the way to a 12-fault total, and now, quite suddenly, the two countries were back on level pegging.

Second-last to go, Germany’s Richard Vogel set off with the big-striding stallion United Touch S, who looked positively regal as he soared home clear to throw it down to the final Dutch duo of Harrie Smolders and Uricas van de Kattevennen. If this pair could keep a clean sheet, it would go to a jump-off, because both sides would finish on a 12-fault tally. But the first pole on that bogey double at seven hit the floor to bring the Dutch tally to 16 and hand victory to Otto Becker’s German side.

Becker has a particularly strong connection with the ring in Barcelona, as this is where he rode his final Nations Cup for Germany back in 2008. “I’m proud and honoured with our win here today!” he said.

At the press conference, fourth team-member Jana Wargers said that she understood the decision to leave her and her mare Dorette OLD on the sidelines for the second round.

“We decided that the other horses were just in a bit better shape than my one today,” she explained.

Olympic champion Kukuk talked about his eight-fault second round that left Team Germany on the edge in the closing stages.

“I just had a feeling I wasn’t accurate enough… I could feel that probably condition-wise, he (Checker) was not on his peak right now. His last show was Paris (Olympic Games), and that’s a few weeks ago. Everything was set up for that goal and then he had kind of a break after and now it’s the first big show again.”

He realised that Kim Emmen’s 12 faults really let him off the hook.

“Unfortunately for her, she had a not-so-good round and suddenly we were equal again. And then Richie had an absolutely outstanding second round, and that’s why we are in the end now the happy winners!” he added.

Thieme blamed himself for his single second-round error with Chakaria. After clearing the tricky double that had claimed so many previous victims, he said he was “kind of happy and relaxed because I realised that I was the first one who jumped that vertical/vertical clear at that point.” But the seven strides bending to the following oxer “were just 20 centimeters too long and she had to make a really kind of a big jump, which she did very well. And then the six strides (to the vertical at fence nine) became extra, extra short and I didn’t quite get her back like I did in the first round…”

He was grateful to team-mate Vogel for wrapping it up with his effortless clear.

“Today was a great day for us!” said Vogel, who is ranked 10th in the world.

He is one of many riders who relies implicitly on the help of his groom. “I have to thank Felicia (Wallin). She actually had him mostly in training since Paris. We gave him a bit of time off, and we did Spruce (Meadows, Canada) and then another bit of time off. So, since Spruce, I was, to be honest, not too much in his saddle and around him because I was in America. She overtook the training and clearly did a pretty good job. So, I guess we have to keep it that way now. The plan works!”

He sees Felicia as a vital member of his team. “I’m very glad to have her by my side and the horses are very happy to have her by their side. We’ve worked together for three and a half/four years now. We’re a young team. She is 24 and I am 27 – we are heading in the same direction, and we have high hopes for the future. She and United have a very special bond. If he could pick between me and Felicia, he always goes to Felicia. Their bond is special. She rides him very well. I’m the one that does the flat work that is more educating for him, which is also important. She’s the one that goes in the forest with him and gives him a happy time, which I find very important to have the right balance there. Now, since I was away for two weeks, I said not only in the forest for two weeks, but also for work in between – and she did it very well!” he pointed out.

Felicia and the other winning team grooms, Sofie Karlsson, Heidemarie Jaeckel, Ulla Uusitalo, and Johanna Klare, all received special awards at the prize-giving ceremony, while Ariel Grange, owner of the mare Legacy competed by Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, won the Best Horse title for her performances throughout this first Longines League of Nations™ series.

Coyle also took a four-way share of the €200,000 bonus on offer for the Best Individual Performances in the Final along with Germany’s Vogel, The Netherlands’ van der Vleuten, and Armando Trapote – the latter lifting the home crowd when also posting a double-clear with Tornado VS. Coyle was back on the presentation podium once again when joining van der Vleuten and Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann to share the Best Athlete Award. All three produced five clear rounds during the season.

The Rookie of the Season title went to America’s Callie Schott, and of course Chef d’Equipe of the Season was Germany’s Otto Becker, whose team also won the opening leg of the inaugural series in Abu Dhabi in February.

At the end of the day the Longines League of Nations™ Final 2024 scoreboard showed Sweden getting the edge over Ireland for third place based on their faster times when finishing on 20 faults. Brazil slotted into fifth with 24, USA and Spain shared a 28-fault scoreline for sixth and seventh placings, and Switzerland racked up a big 40-fault result to finish eighth ahead of the French.

FULL RESULTS

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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
www.fei.org

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

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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

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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

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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

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