World Cup success is nothing new for Daniel Coyle (IRL), but he reached another milestone Sunday at the Live Oak International (USA) when he topped the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala aboard his exciting new mount, Incredible.

“I’ve had a really, really good experience with the World Cup already, but I think this is the first year I’ve ever won three [in one season],” Coyle expressed, “so I’m really, really happy about that.”

Coyle, a veteran of the 2023 World Cup Finals in Omaha (USA), changed up his routine this year and elected to divide his season between the North American League and Western European League. Aboard his championship mount Legacy, he won WEL legs at both Leipzig (GER) and Amsterdam (NED). He then made it three-in-a-row when returning stateside for the final NAL leg of the season with Incredible, a horse he only started riding in January.

"Every time I go in the ring, I'm finding something new [in Incredible]. It's great that I can find that out while competing at the top of the sport," Coyle said.

"He was incredible before I got him, and it's good to know that I was a good rider before, he was a good horse before, and today I can say that we are also very good together."

Daniel Coyle (IRL)

Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) set a stiff track in Ocala, characterized by its connectedness and uniquely designed fences. Just four combinations were able to execute a clear round and advance to a competitive jump-off. 

Jessica Leto (USA) and Cimbura returned first with an eye toward putting pressure on the remaining combinations with a clear round, but a rail would fall in the process, placing them on four faults. The same score befell Dermott Lennon (IRL) and Millview Cicero when the horse slipped just before takeoff while turning back tightly on an oxer. 

Always fiercely competitive, Kent Farrington (USA) brought forward the athletic mare Toulayna as the penultimate combination, and the pair executed the first double-clear effort of the day, taking the lead thanks to an efficient track and some impressive turns. 

That left only Coyle to jump, and he had a target to chase. He and Incredible displayed full trust in each other as they dared to gallop at high speed around the short course. They flew through the timers well in front, with a winning time of 30.37 seconds. Farrington settled for second (42.58 seconds), with Lennon third (4/44.05).

“I didn’t get to see anyone else go. The six [strides] down the first line got very long for me, but that probably made the whole ride faster,” Coyle said. “He jumped a little high coming in [to the double], and that’s something I need to know going forward. [Then] I was really risky back to the second-last [fence]. Thankfully, he helped me out there, and at the last fence, he gave me a great jump. I’m delighted.”

Coyle’s mentor, Olympic and World champion Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) scouted Incredible for Coyle, who was looking to add a horse to his string to support Legacy at the top of the sport. Incredible had produced some nice results with Eric Ten Cate (NED), jumping strong rounds throughout the Longines EEF Series in Drammen (NOR) and Ebreichsdorf (AUT). 

“[Incredible] wasn’t so much in the spotlight. He had already done some Nations Cup [events] and done some really good things, but his rider didn’t get the chance to go to the big shows every week,” Coyle said. “Jeroen said, ‘We should try him.’ Immediately we saw that he would fit with us, and he could really help Legacy. He has done that and more.

"I'm really, really happy," he added. "I have somebody like Ariel [Grange] who can step up and buy the horses and somebody like Jeroen as a mentor who can actually find the horses for me.

"It's hard to to scout horses when you're concentrating on riding the horses that you have...We have a really good team right now."

Daniel Coyle (IRL)

Coyle ends the season atop the NAL standings with 75 points. Daniel Bluman (ISR) sits second with 43 points, while Shane Sweetnam (IRL) has sescured third with 41 points. The 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final takes place 16-20 April in Riyadh (KSA).

Full results

Standings

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ will return in full force, with the opening event to be held at Montelibretti (ITA) from 14-17 March 2024. 

This highly regarded venue situated in the province of Rome will present leading athletes from eight nations spanning four continents on the entries list, with five nations eligible to compete as a team - Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Last year the focus for several nations was claiming the final Olympic team place for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. The golden ticket went to Italy, who showed their determination by fielding a team at almost every event of this eight-leg Series. They finished third overall behind Belgium in first and France in second, both of whom had already qualified teams for Paris 2024. 

This year, many nations will be trying to give both younger horses and up and coming athletes an opportunity to ride for their national team which adds the inevitable extra pressure. As well as giving athletes a chance to qualify themselves and their horses for Championships by collecting extra points.

"Any opportunity to ride on a team like this is great practice for what you encounter in the Championships"

Chris Burton (AUS)

Chris Burton is one of those competitors. The Australian who has competed at two Olympics, had switched saddles to the sport of Jumping several years ago but has dusted off his Eventing boots this season. Burton has been competing horses up to Grand Prix level for the Guy family, and last year took part in the FEI Nations Cup™ Final for his nation.  

Burton has taken on the ride on Shadow Man from British athlete Ben Hobday, and is very excited about their future together. Burton, who won a team bronze medal in at the 2016 Rio Olympics, sums up the significance of the Nations Cup Series to riders and teams:

“I’ve got the privilege of having a [FEI Eventing] Nations Cup first timer as part of our Australian Team in Sarah Clark. It was on her bucket list to ride on a Nations Cup team. She said she was really excited to be part of a team with Bill (Levitt) and I. That’s the wonderful thing because Nations really do come together and it makes it a lovely sport.

Any opportunity to ride on a team like this is great practice for what you encounter in the championships, because there’s nothing worse than coming out feeling like you could have done better but when you have to come out apologising to your team, that’s much tougher.”

There are plenty of other big names among the line-up at Montelibretti, including Maxime Livio from France, who is currently ranked 8th in the FEI World Ranking for Eventing. The 36-year-old had competed in two FEI World Championships but not made an Olympic squad yet. He is also the trainer and selector for the Thai Eventing team

Seasoned FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ riders Nadja Minder and Felix Vogg join Philip Ryan from Switzerland. With the Olympics in mind, the Swiss could prove to be the underdogs as they have put in some solid individual and team performances both in Nations Cup competitions and FEI Championships over the last few years, whilst under the watchful eye of the legendary Eventer, Andrew Nicholson, who came on board as their cross-country coach in 2019.

The role of national Eventing coach has recently been taken over by another Olympic legend, Markus Fuchs, who won many medals for Switzerland in the sport of Jumping. Fuchs will coach the Swiss Eventers at least until the Paris Olympics.

Even though their teams have not yet been confirmed, the home side Italy have 13 athletes entered at Montelibretti, while the Spanish have eight athletes to choose from to make up a team of four.

The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, now in its 12th year, is open to all nations around the world, and is held at CCIO4* Short and Long format level. The final classification of the Series will be made by the accumulation of points obtained by teams in each competition.

The 2024 season will run as follows:

Montelibretti (ITA) - 14 - 17 March

Chatsworth (GBR) - 17-19 May

Millstreet (IRL) -  30 May- 02 June

Avenches (SUI) - 6 - 9 June

Strzegom (POL) - 20 - 23  June

Arville (BEL) - 15- 18 August

Lignières (FRA) 26 -29 September

Boekelo (NED) - 10 - 13 October

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) – an FEI and IFHA collaboration since 2013 - joined forces in February for a workshop focussed on facilitating temporary international horse movement in the Middle East. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates National Equestrian Federation (UAE NEF), the workshop was held in Abu Dhabi on the occasion of the inaugural qualifier for the Longines League of Nations™ series 2024, and convened over 30 representatives from veterinary authorities, equestrian federations and racing authorities across 11 countries in Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and Europe to engage in robust dialogue in support of the international movement of competition horses.

“Building on the strong foundations laid by the WOAH-IHSC Regional Workshop in Rabat, Morocco in April 2019, we have identified the key issues which are impacting the efficient international movement of horses within the Middle East, and the solutions required to overcome those hurdles,” said IHSC Vice-President and FEI President Ingmar De Vos, who opened the workshop. “The cross-border movement of horses still faces critical challenges which need to be addressed together in order for horse sport to continue to grow sustainably.

“This workshop provides the necessary impetus to do so, bringing together experts, administrators and stakeholders from around the world to explore opportunities to advance an updated WOAH-IHSC roadmap for the temporary import and export of horses within the Middle East, a region, which boasts a strong equestrian heritage and some of the most prestigious racing and equestrian sports competitions in the world, sanctioned and organised under the jurisdiction of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).” 

Mr De Vos’ welcome address was followed by remarks from Dr Mohamed Alhosani, Sub-Regional Representation for the Arabian Gulf of WOAH, and Mr Sultan Al Yehyaee, representative of the UAE National Federation, FEI Board Member and Chair of FEI Group VII. The opening session also provided an overview of the objectives of the workshop and an update on upcoming equestrian events in the region.

In the next sessions, participants identified key obstacles to the movement of horses in the subregion and explored potential solutions and their applications, including the establishment of Equine Disease-Free Zones (EDFZ) and High-Health, High-Performance (HHP) Health Certificates and Sanitary Protocols. Participants also examined the current status of infectious diseases in the region, together with new technological developments that could potentially be applied towards the movement of horses – including digital passports.

Attendees also participated in a roundtable discussion to consider the current challenges and potential solutions for enhanced horse movements, engaging in stimulating dialogue and sharing best practices from around the region.

The workshop concluded with an agreed set of challenges and opportunities, and plan of action.   A follow-up workshop is planned for the second half of 2024, in order to build on the momentum of the first workshop, and assess progress in terms of enhanced movement of competition horses in the Middle East.

About the IHSC
The IHSC is a non-profit organisation that was created in 2013, when the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) joined forces to create the first formal vehicle for cooperation between the world’s leading bodies for horse sports. The key mission of the IHSC is to encourage cooperation and the exchange of information on all matters of mutual interest between the IFHA and the FEI, as well as represent the collective interests of the global horse industry with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and other international bodies. 

About WOAH
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) is the global authority on animal health and welfare, its mission is to improve animal health globally, working across borders to foster a One Health approach, recognising that the health of animals, humans and the environment are interdependent. Since 1924, WOAH has been collecting, analysing and disseminating veterinary scientific information, and encouraging international solidarity in the control of animal health risks. In 1998, WOAH was recognised as the reference international standard-setting organisation for animal health by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

German dressage legend, Isabell Werth, posted her second victory of the season at the eleventh and last leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today.

Taking maximum points with Emilio on home ground in Stuttgart last November, she did it again when the pair were runners-up to compatriot Jessica von Bredow-Werndl in Basel in January because the 2023 series champion was not entitled to qualifying points at the Swiss fixture. 

Today Werth topped up her points tally to a total of 77 when, partnering the 14-year-old stallion DSP Quantaz, she pinned reigning world champion, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry into runner-up spot. 

The German star completes the Western European League at the top of the leaderboard from which nine athletes will qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next month. Third place went to The Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens and Indian Rock who won the ninth leg in Neumünster, Germany last month and the French duo of Pauline Basquin and Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE finished fourth.

Holding the lead

The Kiwi partnership of Melissa Galloway and Windermere J’Obei W were holding the lead at the halfway stage on a score of 75.970 but were overtaken by the remaining seven of the 15 starters to finally slot into eighth at the end of the day.

First to go after the break, The Netherlands’ Marieke van der Putten and Torveslettens Titanium RS2 NOP raised the game when putting 77.405 on the board only to be ever-so-fractionally overtaken by the French partnership of Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD who scored 77.410.

Belgium’s Flore de Winn and Flynn FRH have been enjoying a fantastic run of form and were racking up good scores until the black stallion suddenly seemed to take fright, losing concentration and lots of marks before recovering well enough to finish their Freestyle but in a disappointing last place in the final analysis. 

Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock followed with a lovely performance from the fabulous 12-year-old mare Florine OLD that earned the first over-80% score of the day - a total of 80.140 for the German pair. And Scholtens bettered that with a mark of 82.095 to raise the stakes even higher.

But the real clash was always going to come down to the next two into the ring, Fry with Everdale who posted wins at both round six in Mechelen, Belgium in December and round eight in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in January, and Werth and DSP Quantaz who pinned the British duo into runner-up spot in Thursday’s Grand Prix.

Fry was chasing a hat-trick of wins as she entered the arena, and putting 82.250 on the board she snatched the lead from Scholtens. But Werth and the 14-year-old gelding strutted their way to a mark of 85.250 which would settle the matter when Basquin and the elegant Sertorius, another pair enjoying a really exciting season, were awarded 80.550 for that fourth place.

Decision time

It’s now decision-time for qualified riders ahead of the Final which takes place in Riyadh from 16 to 20 April. 

Werth has always intended to challenge for her sixth title, her first earned with Fabienne 32 years ago, in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1992. 

She has long been the doyenne of international dressage and her only decision is which horse to ride. Her first preference would be the 18-year-old Emilio -  “my dream is to go with Emilio and that he should have his last show there, he deserves it! But Quantaz is also qualified….so we will see!”, she said.

She enjoyed today’s victory, and the arena atmosphere created by the enthusiastic spectators. 

“They (the horses) grow immediately when they come in, but it’s great to see so many people and the crowd was so positive, supporting all the riders and combinations and nations so that makes it really exciting and I always enjoy coming to ’s-Hertogenbosch. It’s close to home and it’s exciting to see that each time there is something more. So many flowers, so many lovely details around, there is no other show like this and I thank Anky (van Grunsven) and the whole team for this because it makes this really extraordinary!”, Werth said.

She’s been competing at ’s-Hertogenbosch for a very long time and as she pointed out “I remember this show when we were in the other arena and when we arrived the cows left an hour before, so it’s a big difference now! 

Electricity

Fry agreed about the electricity in the arena. “It’s always really exciting to ride in the World Cup shows, of course there’s a lot of excitement as you enter the ring and especially today as they were announcing Emmelie’s score - the public were kind of loving that! 

“Once we were over that bit I was really happy, he settled down and relaxed a lot faster than the last few shows and it really felt that we could show that he can relax in the ring. I try to make it look easy and we had a really great time, we had a few mistakes today but I’m overall really happy. It’s such an amazing atmosphere to ride in there and it’s also really close to home for me and I felt a lot of support from the public which is really nice”, she explained.

Third-placed Scholtens was more than pleased too. She missed out on this home show last year because of a knee injury so it was great to be back. And Indian Rock more than rose to the occasion.

“He felt really super, I really love to ride him….he is so talented and such a gentleman, I just love him and I think he did really, really well. He’s still a young horse (11 years old) in the Grand Prix, and for me it felt amazing!”, she said. Both Fry and Scholtens now have to decide if they will make the trip to Saudi Arabia in five weeks time. 

The final standings in the Western European League show Werth at the head of affairs followed by Fry in second and longtime series leader Patrick Kittel from Sweden in third place. Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath is in fourth, Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald in fifth and Morgan Barbançon in sixth ahead of Raphael Netz from Germany in seventh, Scholtens in eighth and Spain’s Borja Carrascosa in ninth spot. 

Belgium’s de Winne and Austria’s Diana Porsche who finished twelfth today lie in equal-tenth place, just outside the qualification zone while French riders Basquin and Alexandre Ayache are next in line. 

The startlist for the 37th FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final will take shape very soon, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Result

Final Standings Western European League 2023/2024

A glittering cast of athletes, including eight of the top ten and fifteen of the top twenty riders in the latest world rankings, will line out for round two of the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ in Ocala, USA in just over two weeks’ time.

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games looming ever larger on the horizon, this leg looks set to be a serious test of horse-and-rider combinations vying for selection. And the quality of the field which is filled with Olympic, World and Regional champions, promises a spectacular day of sport.

The top-10 ranked countries in the world are competing in this brand new four-leg series which will culminate in the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 Final in Barcelona, Spain in early October, and Germany took the early lead when claiming the maximum 100 points for their first-leg victory in Abu Dhabi (UAE) last month.

Chef d’Equipe, Otto Becker, sends out two members of that winning side, Christian Kukuk and David Will this time joined by 2021 European individual gold and team silver medallist Andre Thieme along with the very much on-form Richard Vogel who, partnering United Touch S, won the CSI5* Grand Prix in nearby Wellington, Florida ten days ago. Team Germany will be hoping to make it two-in-a-row this time out and could prove difficult to beat.

Pipped at the post

However Team Ireland were ranked first as the series began, based on points accumulated by their top six athletes including one U25 athlete prior to the start of the series, and were only just pipped at the post in the final stages in Abu Dhabi when the three-rider rule for the second round came into play. It made a crucial difference, with any mistake proving very costly indeed. 

Irish tails are up following their impressive Nations Cup win in Wellington last Sunday and Michael Blake has selected two members of that winning side, Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor and world number 16, Darragh Kenny. Joining these two in Ocala will be Bertram Allen and world number 14 Daniel Coyle who has been blazing a trail in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ circuit. The Irish never like to be beaten, and all four riders will be out to impress with Paris very much on their minds.

Sweden finished third in Abu Dhabi, and world number one Henrik von Eckermann who produced one of just four double-clear rounds that day will compete again, as will four-time Olympian and 2017 European champion Peder Fredricson. Amanda Landeblad, who with For Killy finished third in the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead (GBR) last summer and fifth at the last qualifier of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League on home ground in Gothenburg (SWE) ten days ago, joins the team this time around alongside young-horse specialist Petronella Andersson.

There are also two changes to the Brazilian side, Yuri Mansur and Marlon Zanotelli this time joined by 2004 Olympic champion and three-time FEI World Cup™ title-holder Rodrigo Pessoa and double-Olympian Cassio Rivetti. 

Big guns

The Swiss are sending out their big guns. World number three and reigning European champion Steve Guerdat who has individual Olympic gold and three FEI World Cup™ victories under his belt, and world number six and former European and World Cup title-holder Martin Fuchs will be supported by Janika Sprunger who produced another of those precious double-clear performances in the first leg in Abu Dhabi. Backed up by the super-experienced double-Olympian Pius Schwizer, Peter van der Waaij’s foursome will be determined to finish higher than fifth this time out.

American Chef d’Equipe, Robert Ridland, is also fielding a heavyweight crew for this leg on home soil. Laura Kraut, McLain Ward and Kent Farrington have collected numerous Olympic medals between them during their spectacular careers, and Aaron Vale, who has been enjoying a sensational run of form in Ocala over the last month and who was very impressive in Abu Dhabi, rounds up the host-nation selection. They will be under no illusion about what is expected of them in a fortnight’s time.

The British too are stacking up their odds, with reigning Olympic champion and world number two Ben Maher called into action along with world number 13 and Tokyo Olympian Harry Charles. Di Lampard’s side will also include Tim Gredley and Jessica Mendoza as they attempt to improve on a seventh-place finish in leg one.

Heavy hitters

Jur Vrieling is the only remaining member of the Dutch side that lined out in the first leg as Jos Lansink brings in his heavy-hitters Harrie Smolders, Willem Greve and Maikel van der Vleuten. The Netherlands didn’t make it into the top eight teams going through to the second round in Abu Dhabi. They will definitely want to rectify that situation this time around.

The French side also missed out, but Henk Nooren has put his faith in Olivier Perreau, Olivier Robert and Kevin Staut once again, while Simon Delestre is also called up for the American fixture. Four months ahead of the Olympic Games on their home turf they will surely be hoping for a better result when they travel across the Atlantic.

Meanwhile the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallists from Belgium will be determined do better than finishing in last place. Hampered by elimination for their team pathfinder they finished with 16 first-round faults in Abu Dhabi as did the French who, however, had quicker combined times to nudge Belgium to the bottom of the scoreboard. Chef d’Equipe Peter Weinberg has called up Niels Bruynseels, Pieter Devos and Nicola Philippaerts to join Gregory Wathelet in Ocala as they attempt to challenge more successfully this time out.

The second leg of the Longines League of Nations™ takes place in Ocala on Saturday 23 March 2024 as history continues to be written, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Swedish superstars Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson had to settle for the minor placings when young Dutchman, 24-year-old Lars Kersten, stole the show today at the fourteenth and final leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Gothenburg (SWE).

Kersten, who is trained by his father, Pieter, set the standard in the seven-horse jump-off against the clock with a brilliant ride on his 12-year-old home-bred mare Hallilea and couldn’t be beaten despite the best efforts of longtime world number one von Eckermann and four-time Olympian Fredricson.

“When you think about the World Cup, then Gothenburg is the first show that comes to my mind. I really had a good weekend, both my horses jumped well and it is probably my best show ever. This stadium with this amazing crowd is quite magical!”, said the young man who, on his very first visit, harnessed the electric atmosphere of the world-famous Scandinavium Arena which was filled to the brim with 12,000 spectators for a fantastic afternoon of top sport.

Questions

Swedish course designer Peter Lundström’s 13-fence first round track asked plenty of questions, with the penultimate line of a tight three-stride distance from the oxer at fence 11 to the vertical at 12 proving the undoing of many. The time-allowed of 77 seconds also posed a challenge for some, but Sweden’s Amanda Landeblad made it look it look quite elementary when opening the competition with a foot-perfect run from her talented chestnut mare For Killy.

Six more would also find the key into the second round in which Landeblad led the way with just a single mistake at the first of the two remaining elements of the former triple combination halfway around the track. And when Frenchman Olivier Robert and Iglesias DV clipped the penultimate vertical to also finish on a four-fault tally the door was still wide open with five still left to go.

Kersten was next, and with a smooth ride that demonstrated the confidence and security of a longtime partnership, steered Hallilea home to stop the clock on 35.44 seconds to set the first true target. Fredricson followed with Catch Me Not S who belied his 18 years when turning on a sixpence and jumping like a buck. But this Swedish pair’s super-tight inside turn to the third fence didn’t give them the advantage Fredricson was hoping for. 

“In hindsight maybe it wasn’t the best decision because I didn’t get the turn right, we had an extra stride and and up-and-down jump and that takes a lot of time so I lost the victory there, but the horse jumped amazing!”, he said after crossing the line in 35.99 seconds.

Spectacular

Dutch lady rider Kim Emmen had produced a spectacular first round with the 11-year-old grey gelding Imagine, but their luck ran out when the first fence hit the floor in the jump-off. And while that was happening there was drama going on in the warm-up ring, with next-to-go Henrik von Eckermann tipped out of the saddle when losing his balance on landing over a fence. 

But anyone who sits on a horse knows that falls are all part and parcel of the job and he quickly remounted, only a few seconds late entering the noisy cauldron of the Gothenburg arena where the fans couldn’t wait to see him and his almighty King Edward once again.

Putting his unscheduled dismount behind him the man who has led the world rankings for a very long time and the extraordinary horse that carried him to team gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, double-gold at the World Championships in 2022 and the FEI Jumping World Cup™ title in 2023 set off like they were on fire. But when the clock showed 35.72 seconds as they crossed the line it wouldn’t be enough to oust Kersten from pole position. 

It was a staggering result for the young Dutchman who tomorrow heads for his final session with the Young Riders Academy. 

“I’ve seen Henrik and Peder in so many jump-offs so I know they are capable of being faster than me. But I think I was pretty fast and in the end it showed that it was not that easy to beat me so I’m very, very pleased with my mare. She absolutely gave 100% today!”, Kersten said.

Great season

Von Eckermann said, “my horse jumped really, really well, maybe too well in the jump off and he lost a bit of time. But this is a good way to lose. Of course I wanted to win but with how King Edward jumped you can only be happy. Especially with what is coming this season, the World Cup Final and then Paris (Olympic Games) this summer”.

Fredricson reflected on how things worked out for him today too. “This is the place you want to win if you are Swedish, but it didn’t end up that way today!”, he said.

However he was delighted with the evergreen Catch Me Not S. “I knew this morning when I took him out that he felt very, very good. As Henrik said it is a mixed feeling when your horse is jumping so well - it feels good even if I am not winning. My horse is 18 already so he won’t get many other occasions to win in Gothenburg”, he pointed out. 

And what about his Olympic hopes? “For me asking about Olympics in February is like asking how the weather will be in August! We are building up the horses but there is still a long way to go. It is for sure my main goal this year. I am giving all my horses in the stables a chance now and we will see in the next months how it is going”, he replied. And he complimented today’s winner.

“I wanted to win myself of course but I am happy for Lars. Great rider, great horsemanship, great trainers. It is nice to see the next generation doing so well”, he said. 

Family

For Kersten, today’s victory was as much about his family as anything else.

“We have our own stable back in Holland where we do the sport and a little bit of breeding. It’s really a family business, and my mare is home-bred by my Dad. That makes it even more special, I’ve been working with her for all her life and she has been a big part of my career. To grow together to this level and to win a World Cup in Gothenburg - it’s unbelievable!”, he said.

He father’s training has been complemented by a couple of weeks with German star Marcus Ehning “who was always an idol for me growing up, I really like his style of riding and his horsemanship”, and some coaching from six-time Olympian Jos Lansink. “So I’ve had my influences apart from my Dad, but for sure he had a very big part in this as well”, Kersten explained. 

And he is hugely proud of Hallilea who took everything in her stride today, coping supremely with the oval-shaped ice-rink arena at the Scandinavium.

“I was told it wasn’t an easy ring to ride in, but I found it quite comfortable”, said the Dutch first-timer. “Maybe it fits my riding, I’m maybe a bit of a light rider and I try to stay fluent throughout the turns so actually maybe the shape of it suited me very well. And obviously the horse felt really great as well so it all came together”, he explained.

And he was full of praise for Hallilea who will now have a few days rest before heading to ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in two weeks’ time.  

“The moment she turned five I took her over and it’s special for me that we have done this journey together. We already had some very nice placings but almost nothing beats winning the World Cup here in Gothenburg! It feels a bit unreal! To sit in front of these guys (von Eckermann and Fredricson) is not easy and most of the time I will be behind them, so today is a big, big day!”, he concluded.

And today has decided the Western European League qualifications for the Longines Final 2024 which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 16 to 20 April.

Kersten won’t make the cut but von Eckermann will be back to defend the title he won a year ago along with Fredricson and a host of the world’s best horses and riders, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

Belgium’s Domien Michiels couldn’t hide his delight when winning today’s penultimate leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Gothenburg, Sweden with his 16-year-old gelding Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof.

The pair have extensive experience together having flown their country’s flag at the Tokyo Olympics Games in 2021, the World Championship in 2022 and the last two European Championships. But in their long partnership they never posted a major international victory - until today.

“It is my first big international win so it is very special! This horse is also the first I rode at Grand Prix level. I have him since he was four so this is a very special day, the highlight of my career!”, said the 40-year-old athlete who is based in the centre of Belgium.

In yesterday’s Grand Prix he finished second behind Swedish winner Maria von Essen with Invoice. Today however the host-nation pair had to to settle for runner-up spot, while Spain’s Borja Carrascosa and Sir Hubert NRW lined up in third ahead of another Belgian duo, Alexa Fairchild with Mala Skala’s Hermes, in fourth place.

Lead

Michiels took the lead when fifth-last to go of the nine starters, his score of 78.300 leaving him well clear of the rest of the field following a test that demonstrated the firm partnership he has established with the horse he calls Inter. Their ability to transition so smoothly and quietly from extended canter to balanced pirouette epitomised the mutual understanding that underpinned their lovely performance. 

Von Essen was next to go, and in only their fifth international Grand Prix together her 12-year-old gelding showed great lift in piaffe/passage for a score of 76.200, while in their fourth outing in the Western European League this season Carrascosa and Sir Hubert put 75.630 on the board. 

The Spanish rider was clearly well pleased, smiling broadly as he landed his final halt. And he had plenty more to smile about when he realised his third-place finish had rocketed him all the way from fourteenth place to eighth on the League table from which the top nine will qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 Final in April.

“If I can go to the Final I am ready!”, he said. “I’ve been living in Germany for 13 years and it has been a big chance for me to be at the middle of the top sport. I miss the nice weather of Spain but it was a good decision for my riding career!”, he added.

Runner-up Von Essen had plenty to feel good about too. “I am very happy with my horse. It is only his second season at the top level and he needs time. I am happy how he is behaving and he is getting better and better. We both really like the Freestyle because it’s so much fun to ride!”, she said.

Happiest athlete

But the happiest athlete of all was the winner Michiels whose personal-best score with Inter today is such a career highlight. He said this evening that this result is all due to the connection he has with the horse he has known for such a long time. 

“It goes back to when he was four years old when I tried him out. I felt something special in him then and I thought I could do a lot with him, I believed in him”, he explained. “He wasn’t a big mover but sometimes you just have a special connection. A lot of unexpected things happened like the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Europeans as well. Everything has happened really fast, but the partnership is what is so important. We understand each other, and I trust him as well. 

“Today he was a bit afraid when he came into the arena because it is really big and the sound of all the people was so great, but he trusted me in that moment and we went in and I knew he would do everything for me. That’s what it is all about”, said the rider who runs a busy breeding, training and competition stable. 

He enjoys seeing horses through their entire career. “I like to see how young horses develop from a foal hopefully all the way to Grand Prix level. I like to see the evolution of a horse and to build a bond together with the horse and then see what happens in the future with them”, he explained.

His ambition now is another Olympic one. His plan for Intermezzo is to give him a good rest, “he deserves it after today!” - and then to try for a spot on the Belgian team in Paris this summer.

“That’s the target and if it happens it happens but I’m not going to put any pressure on him. If it doesn’t work out then we will just go together to some nice competitions, but this one now is my favourite - Gothenburg, Sweden is just perfect!”, he said tonight.

The eleventh and last leg of the Western European League series will take place in two weeks’ time in ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

 

Result

Standings

The FEI Tribunal has issued its final decision in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, a horse trained by Ignacio Flores (FEI ID 10017687/URU), tested positive for the Banned Substance Testosterone following samples taken at the CEIYJ1*100-Costa Azul (URU), 12-14 May 2023.

In its final decision the FEI Tribunal imposed two-year ineligibility period on the trainer; the provisional suspension he already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. He was also fined CHF 7,500 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000. The results obtained at the event were disqualified in the proceedings against the Person Responsible.

The full Decision is available here. 

Notes to Editors:

FEI Equine Prohibited Substances

The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.

In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.

Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.

The 2024 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series kicked off Thursday in Wellington, FL (USA) with a fourth consecutive victory in the event for Germany.

Two combinations returned from last year's winning squad in Anna-Christina Abbelen (Sam Donnerhall) and Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch). Frederic Wandres (Totall Recall) and Michael Klimke (Domino 957) completed the winning team, with Klimke also serving as chef d'equipe. Their winning total was 213.369.

The United States finished second (210.978), with Sweden third (198.956).

"Yes, we won—not one time. We've won four times in a row. For me, it's an honour to be here and all of these years."

Michael Klimke (GER)

A year ago, Hendricks was making her senior team debut when she led Germany to victory with the top score in the Grand Prix Special. A restructured format made the Nations Cup a one-round competition in 2024, with results solely derived from the Grand Prix test. Still, 23-year-old Hendricks and the 13-year-old gelding Drombusch produced the best individual score of the competition (72.087%).

"It's been a great journey, and it's great to be back on the senior German team. I had a fantastic team with great teammates and great team spirit," Hendricks said. "I think the scores are reflecting our improvement, but it's not just about the scores. I think I was able to do a more detailed test today than last year, for example...There are still things to work on, and it's far away from being perfect, but when is it ever perfect? We just keep working on it, and it's just getting better and better."

The impressive pair has begun their 2024 season with five straight individual victories, including their first World Cup win, also in Wellington. Hendricks acquired Drombusch as a 6-year-old, when she was just 16 years old herself, and they've climbed the ranks together.

"The season can't really be going any better for me right now. It's a great honour to be showing this horse in this fantastic venue. He's so happy to be here, and he's always happy to be showing. That's just the best feeling in the world, when they're so happy and willing to give their all in the ring."

Felicitas Hendricks (GER)

Each team's top three scores were combined to make up the team total. Germany's best three riders all finished among the top five individually, including Abbelen (70.826%) and Wandres (70.456%). Wandres was competing Total Recall for the first time. Australian athlete Jemma Heran lent Wandres the horse to compete when Wandres didn't have an ideal mount lined up.

"When we saw we'd need four Grand Prix horses [to this event], for us, it meant that we had to bring four good [horses]," Wandres said. "I really liked that ride, and it was our first competition at all...There is a lot more in that horse."

The United States also repeated their runner-up effort from a year ago. On this occasion, Kevin Kohmann and Düenensee finished second, recording a personal best score of 71.326%. Kohmann formerly represented Germany in Nations Cup competition until he became a United States citizen in 2021. 

"I'm super thrilled to be here and sit here with these [riders], some old teammates," Kohmann said. "To be the anchor rider for my team made me even more proud. Then to get the top score—what else can I say?"

Germany now sits atop the series standings with 10 points from the CSIO3* competition. The United States earned eight points, and Sweden received seven points.  

The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ continues at Compiegne (FRA) on 04 May 2024.  

Full results.

Eventing in Jamaica lost its momentum in the early 90’s after the Jamaican team was unable to transport their horses to the United States for competitions due to equine piroplasmosis when the Pan American games were held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1991. The FEI Eventing World Challenge has inspired Jamaica to revive the discipline along with hosting one-day events and reintroducing local FEI competition. 

To this end, Jamaica hosted their first FEI Eventing World Challenge Cat C Derby in November last year with the support of FEI Solidarity at Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, with 18 participants competing. Ultimately Denise Cole-Avril was the victor, on board her gelding Raggashanti.

Denise - who also happens to be the Jamaican National Federation Vice President - is a testament to the success of the local training opportunities offered to the athletes. Denise participated in all the national Federation’s Derby training programmes, and is an exemplary role model to young riders:

“This competition has been the first FEI competition we have had in Jamaica in quite a few years, and I think this is just what we need here to get the equestrian sport growing and back on track for the development of all levels of riders. In general, the Eventing challenge has been amazing as it allows all participants to hone their skills in Dressage, Jumping and cross-country.”

We then took some time to speak with Heidi Lalor, the president of EFJ (Equestrian Federation of Jamaica) about what this initiative means for development of the sport in Jamaica.

Can you tell us the significance of the FEI Eventing World Challenge for equestrian Eventing in Jamaica?

"By introducing the new FEI Eventing World Challenge, our riders and horses across the island are being exposed to Eventing and benefiting from the training and competing in all three disciplines.  The 2023 Challenge offered us a fresh and exciting new event to work towards, and we feel privileged to have been one of the first countries competing in the Category C Derby."

What inspired the EFJ to organise the FEI Eventing World Challenge, and how did the idea come about?

"The FEI Solidarity team! Initially Jean-Philippe Camboulives (FEI Solidarity Director) directed us towards the challenge when it was launched at the 2022 Cape Town General Assembly. Jean-Philippe felt that this was an ideal project with reachable goals for Jamaica especially as we had access to polo fields and suitable horses.  Andreina Wipraechtiger further offered us much needed guidance throughout the process with our Eventing goals by advising the National Federation organisers from FEI clinics in 2022 to FEI competition in 2023."  

What preparation took place to support riders wishing to compete in this event?

"Our preparations were key and we owe much of our success to our Eventing coaches - Jamaica's two-time Olympian Samantha Albert (UK based) and Jose Ortelli (ARG).  Sam and Jose trained local horses and riders who had no exposure to Dressage or Cross-country and through a series of Training Days and fitness programmes the continuity delivered positive results.  

Their energy and commitment towards Jamaica's development motivated us and their support gave our local coaches the opportunity to compete. In addition, Colombia offered Jamaican riders Eventing training camps and the Colombian NF accommodated Caribbean riders in their 2023 Derby competition on borrowed Colombian horses, offering them invaluable experience and exposure."

What were some of the highlights from the inaugural FEI Eventing World Challenge?

"It was so rewarding to build a competent Eventing team around this development project, aligning with our competition goals. The team's efforts inspired us and it was a pleasure working alongside FEI Solidarity, incredible coaches, and our dedicated national and foreign FEI officials from Mexico, Argentina and Trinidad who ensured our Eventing challenge's success. 

Other highlights throughout the journey were watching the riders and horses enjoying their introduction to Eventing over seventeen months; it brought our equestrian community together and it was a wonderful initiative by our federation."

The FEI Eventing World Challenge is run in conjunction with the FEI's Solidarity department. What specific benefits or assistance does Solidarity provide?

"Solidarity was clear from the beginning: they wanted to see Jamaica remaining active in Dressage and competing in local FEI competitions. The Eventing module was a pathway for us to achieve these goals. 

The FEI Solidarity department provided funding for our one-day training event in July 2022 with Jose Ortelli and further financial assistance towards our FEI Technical Delegate Ricardo Perez Conde (MEX) for our local FEI Eventing World Challenge. 

Without these training programmes and experienced assistance with competition execution, this venture would have not only been impossible but unsustainable." 

In what ways do you believe the FEI Eventing World Challenge contributes to the growth and development of equestrian Eventing, in Jamaica and beyond?

"We experienced an increase in rider memberships and horse registration as local riders wanted to participate in this new Eventing opportunity. The Category C Derby also encouraged adult riders back into local competition and by covering three disciplines we are contributing to well-rounded horses and riders. 

Partnerships with South and Central America, and other Caribbean islands, has also opened more doors for us which continue to build interest and opportunities in Eventing." 

What challenges did you face organising and executing the FEI Eventing World Challenge, and how were they addressed?

"As the last one-day event was hosted decades ago we were extremely limited with volunteers and trained officials. Most of our officials reside off the island, this led to our next challenge of funding the project. 

The FEI required portable jumps which came at a significant cost to our Federation, so we turned this into a community project and the equestrian clubs invested and provided the portable jumps for the competition - this is an example of teamwork which was a great help to us financially."  

Looking ahead, what plans or initiatives does the Jamaican Equestrian Federation have to further promote and expand Eventing in the country, building on the experiences gained from the FEI Eventing World Challenge?

"We would like the FEI Eventing Challenge to remain on the federation's calendar and be an event everyone works towards and the equestrian community celebrates! We aim to grow our participation numbers and hopefully more sponsorship opportunities will be available to assist us with funding officials. We are grateful for this Eventing Challenge and all the opportunities it has provided Jamaica and hope that more islands in our region will join us in competing!"

Cole-Avril emphasises the importance of these initiatives for growth, saying: “It has also been a fun challenge in terms of the training and preparation, and with my 7 year old daughter now interested in riding, it has given her goals and aspirations. I'm looking forward to participants, including myself, being able to improve our capabilities in order to step up our game and move on to category B in the near future… and even category A!”

The Jamaican equestrian community reviving Eventing is just one more success story of FEI Solidarity. The FEI looks forward to the reinvigoration of a discipline which has deep history in the 80's and early 90's when there were at least three active cross-country courses across the island, and Jamaica was represented by riders at not only the Pan Am Games, but also the Beijing and London Olympics. 

The support of all National Federations enables FEI Solidarity to help countries carry on the traditions of the sport and disciplines we all love, widening our talent pool, deepening our development, and elevating our high performers. 

 

 

Note for Editors

The aim of the FEI World Challenge series is to offer athletes who under normal circumstances cannot take part in international competitions due to various factors (travel cost and distances, for example) the opportunity to compete internationally without having to leave their own country. These "hybrid" competitions are meant as a bridge between the national and first international level of competition and are meant to help NFs develop the various disciplines in their country. 

FEI World Challenges exist in Jumping, Dressage and Para Dressage, Eventing, Vaulting and Driving 

The full Rankings can be found HERE