As the excitement builds to a crescendo ahead of the dawning of the brand-new Longines League of Nations™ Series, the top-10 ranked countries in the world have confirmed their teams for the historic first leg which will be staged in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in just over two weeks’ time, on 11 February 2024.

FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping, in which horse-and-rider combinations join forces to represent their countries with fierce pride and enormous passion, has long been at the heart of all that is best about equestrian sport. Dating back to 1909, and under the supervision of the FEI since 1930, it has inspired athletes and enthralled spectators worldwide ever since.

The new-look Longines League of Nations™ series blends the traditions of the past with the excitement of the modern sport for a four-leg super-series that will take place across three continents. After Abu Dhabi the action will move to Ocala (USA) in March and then to St Gallen (SUI) and Rotterdam (NED) in June before concluding with the big Final in Barcelona (ESP) in October where the best eight teams will battle it out for the inaugural title. 

The opening leg looks set to be a mighty clash of champions.

Draw

Team Ireland will get the best of the draw because, ranked the number one nation in the world based on points accumulated by their top six athletes including one U25 athlete, they will be last into the arena when the action begins in Abu Dhabi where the hosts, not vying for qualification for the Final, will be first to go.

Then running in order of merit of those team rankings, Brazil will be second into the ring followed by Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, Germany, France and the USA before the first rider Irish finally takes his turn. 

One combination from each country jumps the course before moving on to the second rotation of athletes and horses and, counting the best three scores for each team, the best eight nations at the end of the first round return to jump the same course in round two, but with just three riders instead of four this time around so any mistakes will prove very costly.

In case of a draw at the end of the second round there will be a jump-off with just one rider representing each team.

Star-studded 

The opening leg has attracted a star-studded line-up, with the reigning Olympic champions from Sweden sending out the fabulous foursome of Henrik von Eckermann, Wilma Hellström, Peder Fredricson and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson who are likely to be the ones to beat.

The Swedes have been a force to be reckoned with for a long time now, clinching team gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, at the FEI World Championship in 2022 and once more at the European Championship in 2023. 

Fearless Fredricson helped clinch that Tokyo team title in a thrilling jump-off, while von Eckermann went on to add individual gold to the team title at the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) in 2022, and has been leading the individual world rankings for much of the time since then. Bengtsson is a five-time Olympian and former European gold medallist and Hellström has been a rock-solid member of the Swedish side for some time now.

Team Brazil are also on something of a roll, having picked up a qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 last October and team bronze at the Pan American Games 2023 in Chile a few weeks later. Former Portuguese team member, Luciana Diniz, returned to ride under the Brazilian flag at last year’s Barcelona Final, and she will line-out in Abu Dhabi alongside Marlon Zanotelli, Yuri Mansur and Luiz Felipe de Azevedo Filho. 

Experienced

Belgium will be represented by the experienced side of Tokyo team bronze medallist Gregory Wathelet, Koen Vereecke, Abdel Saïd and Wilm Vermeir while France sends out Olympic and European champions Kevin Staut and Roger Yves Bost, Olivier Robert and Olivier Perreau. 

Flying the flag for Great Britain will be Skye Higgin, Joseph Stockdale and Donald and Jack Whitaker while Germany, winners of the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ title, field double Olympic team bronze medallist and former European and World Cup champion Christian Ahlmann, Jörne Sprehe and 2021 European team silver medallists David Will and Christian Kukuk. The Irish side will include Michael Pender, Richard Howley, Mark McAuley and Denis Lynch.

For the Netherlands, Kim Emmen, Loewie Joppen and Leopold van Asten will be backed up by World gold and Olympic silver medallist Jur Vrieling, while Janika Sprunger and Barbara Schnieper will join 2021 European team gold medallist Elian Baumann and double-Olympian Pius Schwizer in the Swiss side.

Team USA will include Alise Oken, Callie Schott, Hannah Selleck and Aaron Vale, and the hosts will be hoping for a good result from their selection that consists of Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi and Ali Hamad Al Kirbi.

With €700,000 in prize money at each qualifier and €1,600,000 on offer at the Final along with a range of extra bonus payments and of course the honour and prestige that goes with the taking of the very first Longines League of Nations™ title, it’s all to play for. 

See all the entries here

The stage is set for a whole new chapter of sparkling equestrian sport, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

 Be sure to catch all the action on FEI TV as the series kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 11 February.

In a partnership designed to provide innovative insurance solutions for an enriched life with horses, the FEI has announced that Swedish owned Agria are now the Official FEI Insurance Partner.

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez and CEO of Agria Agnes Fabricius at the signing of the agreement at the FEI Headquaters in Lausanne (SUI)  (Photo credit: FEI/Elisabeth Fransdonk)

Founded in 1890, Agria has provided equine insurance and digital veterinary advice to equine owners in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Germany. The company also has long-standing collaborations with National Equestrian Federations. Through their partnership with the FEI, which will run from 2024 through to 2028, Agria now aims to take these services to more countries in Europe.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Agria, whose commitment to providing top notch insurance services, is a part of their overall mission to ensure equine welfare and preventative healthcare for animals,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.

“The FEI’s partnership with Agria is not just about connecting the FEI’s stakeholders with people who have years of expertise in insurance. This venture is also about communicating on the opportunities for prevention, as preventing injuries is an important aspect in sustaining horse welfare around the world.  

“Agria brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and expertise from their own in-house equine veterinarian experts as well as from their long-standing collaboration with equine organisations, scientists and breeders.”

The FEI’s partnership with Agria follows a successful digital collaboration between the two organisations on the ‘What makes a champion?’ series which aired in 2022. Five equestrian athletes were interviewed for their views on the importance of mindset, team support, and passion to make an equestrian sporting dream a reality. The digital campaign had over 300,000 video views and 1 million impressions and has laid the foundation for a successful collaboration.  

"Through our collaboration with the FEI, Agria has the possibility to connect with more equestrian stakeholders than ever before and we’re excited about the opportunity to explore new markets and work for equine wellbeing and improved equine health on a pan-European level,” CEO of Agria Agnes Fabricius said.

“The FEIs education and awareness campaigns and research projects in combination with the Agria Research Foundation which has one of the world’s largest equine injury databases, gives us a unique platform to spread injury prevention knowledge within the equestrian community and influence ethical standards among all types of horse owners.”

Agnes Fabricius, CEO of Agria, is a rider and small-scale breeder of SWB horses

 

With the inaugural season of the Longines League of Nations™ kicking off in February, over the next few weeks we will take a closer look at the 10 nations that have qualified to compete and be the first to hoist the new trophy at the Final in Barcelona.

Today, we speak with Great Britain...

Following their victory in the opening round of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona in 2023, and reflecting on a magical performance at the UK's Royal International Horse Show, where they won the home leg of the 2023 Longines FEI Nations Cup™ after a thirteen year dry spell,  Great Britain is determined to make their mark in the new Longines League of Nations™ series and clinch coveted podium finishes throughout. The nation is ready to showcase their prowess in the upcoming qualifiers: Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ocala, Florida (USA), St Gallen (SUI), and Rotterdam (NED), with the grand finale set in Barcelona (ESP).

The British Jumping team's rich history includes two Olympic golds (2012 London and 1952 Helsinki), gold at the FEI World Championships in Aachen in 1978, and a recent bronze medal at the FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN). Their stellar achievements set the stage for an exciting campaign in the Longines League of Nations™ series this year.

Leading the charge is Di Lampard, the seasoned Chef d'equipe for the British team. Drawing from her extensive experience as a former competitor at the FEI World Equestrian Games™, FEI Jumping European Championship, and Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, Lampard focuses on team structure, management, and coaching. Anticipating the challenges of the new series, she says, "This new team competition format will provide fresh opportunities to develop our athletes – both human and equine – against some of the best jumping nations in the world, and I look forward to seeing what they can bring to the table."

As Great Britain gears up for the 2024 Longines League of Nations™, we caught up with Lampard to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges this series presents for nations aspiring to equestrian greatness.

Great Britain has an impressive history in equestrian sports. How do you view the Longines League of Nations™ as an opportunity to continue the legacy of British success and potentially create new milestones?

“We’ll work to continue that history and the legacy it provides. We have a proven system which we know works for the squads, but the new Longines League of Nations™ enhances the opportunity for younger and less experienced riders, and indeed horses, looking to gain international experience in a team setting. They’ll have the chance to gain their ‘air miles’ and learn about travelling further afield alongside mixing with the very best riders in the world.

The new format of the Longines League of Nations has certainly created a buzz amongst the riders with a number keen to make a good start for good team cohesion. It’ll create a bit of competition for selection for the teams which is always healthy – and even take some of the riders out of their comfort zone.”

Participation in a prestigious series can be inspiring. How do you plan to use the Longines League of Nations™ to encourage young aspiring athletes in Britain to pursue equestrian sport?

“The Longines League of Nations™ is a team competition with global status and therefore provides an achievable goal for riders to represent their country – and earn their flag -  and a vital stepping stone towards a Championship team. The series is inspiring and educational for those new to equestrianism, as well as those starting on their competitive journey.

The door to selection on teams is always wide open, and the series is a great opportunity for many riders. For example, it’s ideal for one-horse riders who are just making their way up the international pathway and competing at elite level. We’ll work to showcase the horses and riders involved in the series and tell their stories to inspire others.”

Are there any interesting traditions or rituals your team follows for good luck or team cohesion? Share some unique aspects that fans might not be aware of?

“We always have a team meal – that’s important. There’s always a good sense of camaraderie but getting the team spirit going with the riders is important. It’s such a great learning environment with a mix of experiences, so that meal is important. The experienced riders help support the younger, less experienced, and educate them along the way.  Team order is also important. Certain riders like to go in certain positions – it’s lucky for them while we like to make the less experienced riders feel more comfortable in the order.”

 Be sure to catch all the action on FEI TV as the series kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 11 February.

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and the brilliant 14-year-old mare Legacy came out on top at the eleventh leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Leipzig, Germany today. In an edge-of-the-seat 13-horse jump-off against the clock the pair produced the kind of round that only a secure longtime partnership can put together, throwing caution to the wind and enjoying every moment as they pinned an A-list cast of rivals into the minor placings.

There were 11 home runners in the starting field of 40 from 15 countries, but it was Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs with Commissar Pezi and Steve Guerdat with Double Jeu d’Honvault who slotted into second and third places while Frenchmen Kevin Staut (Beau de Laubry Z) and Edward Levy (Eify du Pic) finished fourth and fifth ahead of Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Zuccero HV) in sixth.

For Coyle, today’s win was particularly satisfying because last month at the eighth leg in London (GBR) he looked set for victory only for it to be snatched from his grasp by the home nation’s Scott Brash and Ben Maher in the closing stages. The Irishman wasn’t going to let it happen again today however. Clear and fast when sixth to go against the clock, his time of 31.70 would be bettered, but only at the expense of fences on the floor.  

“Legacy is like no other horse I’ve ever ridden. Once you ask her to do something, if it’s actually possible she will do it!”, Coyle said, happy in the knowledge that he has now qualified for the Longines Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) in April.

Bogey 

The second fence on Frank Rothenberger’s first round track, one of seven maximum-height verticals on the 13-fence course, proved a real bogey, and it was jumped in the opposite direction to get the second round underway. 

Amongst the 13 through to the race against the clock were multiple champions, and first to go was the man who claimed the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup title in 2014, Germany’s Daniel Deusser whose trip to Leipzig this week has been a very successful one.

However his new ride, Gangster v/h Noddevelt, ducked out at the water-tray oxer, now third-last on the new seven-fence track, and when Ireland’s Michael Duffy and Cantano 32 stood a long way off the next they put four faults on the board before Britain’s Robert Whitaker returned a careful clear with Vermento in 41.76 to set the first real target. 

Frenchman Staut however showed that time was a long way off the winning one when steering Beau de Laubry Z home in 34.25 seconds to take a strong lead, only for reigning European champion, Switzerland’s Guerdat, to shave almost a half-second off that to go out in front with Double Jeu d’Honvault. But then Coyle and Legacy set off and blew the competition wide open, turning so tight to the penultimate vertical and galloping fearlessly on to the final oxer to stop the clock on 31.70.

That time would be beaten, but not by Germany’s Christian Ahlmann (Mandato van de Neerheide) or Kendra Claricia Brinkop (In Time) who each collected four faults. Hans Dieter Dreher and Vestmalle des Cotis were quicker than the Irish pair when crossing the line in a super-fast 31.45 seconds, but they left the penultimate vertical on the floor while Frenchman Edward Levy (Eufy du Pic) and Sweden’s Rolf Goran Bengtsson (Zuccero) followed with safe clear rounds. However Bengtsson’s fellow-countryman, Peder Frecricson, wasn’t holding back.

Setting off with the smoothest of runs, the 2017 European champion and Tokyo Olympic team gold medallist was up on the clock riding down to the last with the young SV Vroom de la Pomme only to clip that for four faults in what would be the quickest time of all - 31.29 seconds. And now only 2022 World Cup champion, Martin Fuchs, was left to go with Commissar Pezi who left all the poles standing but who couldn’t quite catch Legacy and Coyle when galloping through the timers in 32.13 seconds to take runner-up spot.

Cowboy horses

At the post-competition press conference Fuchs said he had been riding “cowboy horses” before the class “and I thought the spinning might help me to turn tight, but I wasn’t tight enough to beat Daniel!”

He didn’t see Coyle’s jump-off round. “But I watched Steve and when Daniel was two seconds faster than Steve then I knew that would be very hard to beat! So I just tried to go as fast as possible and I’d like to study the whole jump-off again now and see what I could have done better. From my feeling I had a really good jump-off but Daniel was just way better today!”, said the Swiss star who plans to bring today’s ride, Commissar Pezi, to Riyadh for the Final in three months’ time.

Three-time FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion Guerdat talked about the 11-year-old gelding Double Jeu which he has had since the horse was eight years old.  “He has a lot of talent and is very careful and powerful, but when he goes in the ring he gets very shy. He’s always been very good but when you step up to 5* level and into a more difficult situation he can sometimes have a fence down and be even more careful, and he can’t breathe in the ring so he is difficult to ride. So I always say that the day it all comes together he will be a great horse and I think he has a bright future ahead of him”. 

He won’t be taking his top rides Venard de Cerisy or Dynamix de Belheme to Riyadh - “they are waiting for the outside season and working towards the Olympic Games”, he explained. “I will do a few more shows with my other horses, and from today maybe Double Jeu is the one who will go. We will see but I’m very happy to be qualified. I missed the Final last year for the first time in many years so I’m happy to be back!”, said the man who will be competing in his fifteenth Final this time around.

Training exercise

Meanwhile Coyle, who is currently ranked 14th in the world and who normally competes in North America, said he is riding on the European circuit this winter as a “training exercise”. When he is in Europe he stays with Dutch Olympic gold medallist Jeroen Dubbeldam who became his coach a year before Legacy came into his life seven years ago.

“Ariel bought the mare when she was just turned eight, and Jeroen had her before so he could tell me immediately what she liked and what she didn’t like and what was the best way to go forward with her. She took me to my first championships and I owe so much to her in every way”, the Irishman said of the remarkable horse.

He describes Legacy as “not as simple as some people seem to think she is!”, but he feels very privileged to be her partner and there is an emotional bond between him, this horse and the whole team around them. “I’m delighted for Jeroen Dubbeldam who found her, delighted that Ariel (Grange) bought her for me, I’m over the moon - if I wasn’t good enough to steer her then it would be such a shame because she is so good!”, Coyle said this evening.

He also is well-qualified for the Final now. “Adding points was always a big factor in staying here in Europe to do the qualifiers. I won the North American League last year but I hadn’t really done that many qualifiers this year so it is great to add to the points I had - that was the plan and it’s going well!”, he said.

With just three legs of the Western European League now left to run, the next port of call is Amsterdam (NED) next weekend. So don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Result 

Standings 

Over 280 athletes, Officials, FEI Board Members, and representatives of National Federations and 4* and 5* Organising Committees from no less than 36 nations registered for a three-hour online seminar on Saturday, 20 January with proposed modifications to the competition format for Eventing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games at the top of the agenda followed by Paris 2024, social licence to operate, Risk Management data, and athlete/horse responsibility/readiness for the different levels, among others.

Opening

After a brief introduction and welcome by the FEI Eventing Committee Chair and Board Member David O’Connor (USA), who acted as the seminar’s moderator, the participants were addressed by FEI President Ingmar De Vos via a pre-recorded video. 

In his opening speech, President De Vos highlighted the fact that the annual Eventing community meeting served as a platform to discuss key issues in the sport and strategise ways to enhance its safety and appeal to various stakeholders. 

The President outlined the seminar’s agenda, which included discussions on recent Risk Management data, emphasising the successful efforts to make the sport safer without compromising its essence. He highlighted a crucial point of discussion was the proposed modifications to the Los Angeles 2028 Eventing Competition Format, which would be presented for the first time, and were the result of discussions between the FEI, International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the host broadcast organisation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The objective was to make Eventing more attractive to fans and new audiences, and increase the media value by capitalising on the Cross Country phase which was a unique draw for the discipline. President De Vos clarified that Eventing’s place on the programme for LA28 was subject to having a single venue for all the equestrian disciplines, something he was very confident about, but that the focus on cost and venue optimisation by the IOC, along with proposed changes to the format were essential for the FEI and the future of Eventing at the Olympic Games. 

Finally, President De Vos invited the community to keep an open mind and appreciate the rationale behind the proposed changes, and looked forward to their insightful feedback and watching the seminar in replay! 

Proposed Eventing Competition Format for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

Following the President’s speech, David O’Connor introduced the proposals for the Eventing Competition format for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games based on a presentation by Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO and the Olympic Channel Executive Director. 

A proposal by OBS, which is favoured by the FEI Eventing Committee as in line with Olympic principles, sees the team competition run on the short format (Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country) with team medals awarded after the Cross Country while the Individual competition remains on the long format, as per previous Olympic Games, with the Jumping round held the day after the Cross Country to award the Individual medals. This would entail two medal days, with Team Medals awarded on Day Three after the Cross Country followed by Individual Medals on Day Four after the Final Individual Jumping Round. 

David O’Connor emphasised the team “short” format Cross Country would be run according to the current distance of 10 mins, and that this format was already in use at many events worldwide and would not bring drastic changes to the spirit of the discipline. It would focus even more attention on the unique attributes of the Cross Country adding greater excitement around the Team medals. 

Feedback

Whereas the seminar was a good opportunity to the start the conversation, the FEI confirmed to the participants that the proposal would be shared with National Federations and related associations for feedback in the coming weeks. With all International Federations required to submit their formats and any proposal of format changes for LA28 to the IOC by 1 March 2024, David O’Connor encouraged participants to ask questions and provide feedback at their earliest convenience as this would be a dynamic process. 

It was also confirmed in the “chat” during the session, once the format was finalised and submitted to the IOC, veterinary matters, including horse inspections after Cross Country, would be reviewed in order to ensure optimal horse welfare.

Other items on the agenda

The next item on the agenda was an overview on Eventing preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a presentation by Pierre Le Goupil (FRA), FEI Paris2024 Cross Country Course Designer, Laurent Bousquet (FRA), Paris2024 Eventing co-manager, and Catrin Norinder, FEI Director, Eventing and Olympic. Further to a question from the audience, it was clarified that the number of tickets for Cross Country at Versailles had been set at 40’000. 

The topic of horse welfare and wellbeing, and social license to operate was introduced by David O’Connor. Key Rule changes and recommendations for 2024 and a discussion on future Rule revisions were some of the other items on the agenda. 

Risk Management

The second part of the seminar was dedicated to Risk Management and was moderated by David O’Connor and Geoff Sinclair (AUS), Chair of the FEI Risk Management Steering Group. It featured presentations on the highlights and learnings of international statistics on horse and athlete falls and injuries for the period 2013-2023; study research projects, and in particular the EquiRatings® Horse Form Index (HFI); frangible devices; and fitness and training of athletes and horses. All the presentations and information would be published here. 

The 2023 statistics highlights showed that the number of competitions had increased since 2019 by 7.25% with an increase of 1.73% in the number of starters. More competitions are being organised at fewer venues. The number of starters had remained stable at Two- and Three-star level, with an increase in One-Star and Four-Star competitions. 

The total percentage of falls in relation to starters remained stable at 5.44%. 

The percentage of horse falls in relation to starters at Cross Country fences had decreased 16.6% since 2019. Falls on Cross Country was the key focus for the FEI and trends were heading in the right direction. The reporting on the injuries and concussions had improved significantly over the years. 

Geoff Sinclair commended the FEI for its transparency and the consistent effort to improve the sport. 

Catrin Norinder confirmed that the FEI Technology and Sports Services Department had developed a system allowing the online input of all the risk management data directly by Officials. It would be available by the end of March and would be a faster and more efficient way forward for future data collection and analysis. 

An active discussion on the future of course design and changes to encourage accurate and rewarding riding on Cross Country was followed with interesting feedback and ideas shared by the attendees through the chat function. Matters of rider training of horses and ensuring preparation was adequate so that horses presented well at the end of Cross Country were raised in further presentations. The ongoing change of culture in the sport, from military background to presentation of highly well-trained and fit horses as well as athletes prepared for the levels, was a recurring element of the conversation. 

Closing

David O’Connor thanked the participants for their attendance and the quality of the presentations, which were thought-provoking and were promoting debate and exchange of ideas. 

References Participants from the following 36 nations attended the online seminar: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Eswatini, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, USA, and Venezuela. 

The Online Eventing Seminar was followed-up on Sunday, 21 January with the National Safety Officers Seminar which was restricted to specific stakeholders. 

Both Seminar’s agendas and lists of participants are currently available here with relevant documents and annexes to be published shortly, alongside links to watch in replay followed by full reports on both seminars including all the key findings, questions and discussions, in the coming weeks. 

A new name was added to the FEI Driving World Cup™ hall of fame as Belgium’s Dries Degrieck took a career-best victory in front of a full house at the 26th Partner Pferd in Leipzig (GER).  After a super second place late on Friday night in the opening competition, he and his horses went one better on Sunday to win competition two at the eighth and last leg of the 2023-24 series.  The result gained him ten ranking points and guaranteed his place at the final in Bordeaux (FRA) in early February.  

Everything came together this weekend for the 28 year old Belgian farrier and his four KWPN horses.  After a fast, clear first round on Friday he was in the top three and gained a place in the drive-off where he was joined by the reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS) and previous champion Ijsbrand Chardon (NED).  Keeping his cool against the two titans, Dries’s precise rein handling enabled him to steer accurate routes through the obstacles and cones, while he also gained valuable seconds on the longer, running sections in the early part of the course.  With only a late ball to add to his quick time, he slotted into second behind Boyd.

But when the placings really mattered on Sunday, everything was in the Belgian’s favour as he produced another fast first round – only beaten by Bram Chardon (NED) on time – to be in the top three again.  Disbelief prevailed as the usually indomitable Boyd Exell, who was last to go after an emphatic win on Friday night, knocked an element to add four seconds to his time which dropped him into fourth place and took him out of drive-off contention.  That meant that Dries and Bram were joined by Koos de Ronde (NED), who had been fourth on Friday. 

In the final showdown, Koos entered the arena first and clocked 167.58 seconds but had two knocks to add eight giving him a total of 175.58, which gave Dries and Bram a bit of space.  In next, Dries’s powerful and fit bay horses flew round the course, leaving everything in place, to finish on a time-only score of 161.14.  
Last in, Bram seemed to have put the disappointment of the error on Friday behind him which kept him out of the drive off.  

His attentive grey horses immediately found their stride as Bram ensured the lines round the elements were typically tight and he was impressive against the clock.  But one knock added a costly four to his 157.97 seconds to put him only 0.83 behind Dries.  All watching cheered as they acknowledged the brilliance of the Belgian and his well-matched team who deserved their popular - and first – FEI Driving World Cup™ win.

The last leg is hailed as a dry run for the final and at this stage in the series, the margins between the top competitors are small.  Only 0.94 kept Boyd out of Sunday’s drive off, and Ijsbrand was a mere 1.04 behind him in fifth.  But more than placings and ranking points, the drivers state that it’s an important indication of form, strength and weakness, and preview of what might happen in Bordeaux. 

As Bram remarked beforehand, there is very little opportunity to correct errors before the final as by the time they get home, there is only a week before they pack up and travel to France.

Completing the Leipzig line up was wild card entry Mareike Harm (GER) who finished in sixth on Sunday, improving on her position after Friday, and fellow Germans Georg von Stein - who finished in seventh in both competitions - and Michael Brauchle, who although fast over the weekend, had too many balls down to be drive-off contention.

The results ratify the six drivers who have qualified for the final. and Boyd enters as the top ranked on a maximum of 30 points.  Behind him are Bram, Ijsbrand, Dries, Michael and Koos, and the ranking positions set the initial running order in Bordeaux.

After winning five of the seven legs he attended, the season’s results would suggest that Boyd may take an unprecedented 11th World Cup title.  But if this weekend’s result is anything to go by, all the drivers will be closely watching the speedy, focused Belgian farrier who has just ensured that he too is now in serious contention for a title.

With the inaugural season of the Longines League of Nations™ kicking off in February, over the next few weeks we will take a closer look at the 10 nations that have qualified to compete be the first to hoist the new trophy at the Final in Barcelona.

Today, we look at Belgium...

Previous winners of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona (ESP) in 2022, Belgium promise to be an exhilarating and experienced addition to this competition where the best of the best will face off over four legs.

The 2024 Longines League of Nations™ series marks a revolutionary chapter in international Jumping, ushering in innovation by augmenting the highly successful FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series. As a participant in this pioneering event, Belgium embraces the challenge, showcasing adaptability and a relentless commitment to competitiveness in the ever-evolving world of equestrian sports, as emphasised by the Belgian Equestrian Federation's Head of Communications, Silke Hamerlinck: “The prospect of the top 10 countries competing in four competitions [plus the Final] promises top-class sport, and we are honoured to be part of it as a country.”

Jumping enjoys a fervent following in Belgium, which was one of the original 8 nations that founded the FEI back in 1921. The nation's deep-rooted equestrian tradition and passion for the sport contribute to a talent pool that has excelled on the world stage. Under Chef d’equipe Peter Weinberg, national coach since 2017, the team will be selected and prepared for excellence as a nation rallies behind them.

Belgium's recent international successes solidify their reputation as a powerhouse in Jumping. From the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they clinched the team bronze medal to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final win in 2022 that reaffirmed their dominance as three-time Nations Cup Final champions - a feat they will be looking to revive. 

We speak to Chef d’equipe Peter Weinberg about what the series promises for them this year:

Belgium has a strong equestrian heritage; how do you see the Longines League of Nations™ as an opportunity to showcase Belgium's approach to horse sport, and cement your reputation?

"The Longines League of Nations™ offers competition on the highest level, which offers us as qualifiers the chance to select and compete with our top team against the other best teams in the world at the top of the rankings. 
This provides a great opportunity to measure ourselves with them and push to produce top results not only in the League, but we plan to use this to tailor our training on our way to the Paris Olympic Games. Beyond that, we believe this exciting series is a good advertisement for not only Belgian Jumping, but the sport worldwide."

The Longines League of Nations™ is an elite platform for top athletes. How do you plan to leverage this opportunity to inspire and support the next generation of Belgian equestrian talent?

"For not only every rider, but also every owner, to have a horse competing for your country in an FEI Nations Cup is the biggest goal that they are all aiming for. We have a clear pathway, starting with 3*, progressing to 4*, and - ultimately - to peak at the Longines League of Nations™ as the top level before international championships. 
High performance makes the pathway clearer to those embarking on it, and gives them achievable goals to aspire to. We also hope that by communicating about the Longines League of Nations™ as much as we can, through all possible channels, we can reach as broad an audience as possible."

Can you share any advice or words of encouragement for young riders who aspire to represent their nation in international equestrian events like this one?

"I don’t believe we need money or words to encourage our young Belgian riders to ride at national level - they are all very keen! There is a strong progressive route starting at 3*, by training slowly and thoroughly they will achieve competing at the highest level for their nation. The aim must remain in sight: to always represent, and represent well!"

As the Belgium Jumping Team gears up for the 2024 Longines League of Nations™ series, excitement permeates the air. Armed with a legacy of triumphs and the support of a nation, Team Belgium is poised to pursue excellence, and another win. 

 Be sure to catch all the action on FEI TV as the series kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 11 February.

With the inaugural season of the Longines League of Nations™ kicking off in February 2024, over the next few weeks we will take a closer look at the 10 nations that have qualified to compete be the first to hoist the new trophy at the Final in Barcelona.

Today, #9 in the ranking, we talk to Sweden...

Always major equestrian competitors, the Swedish Jumping team has earned an esteemed position in the 2024 Longines League of Nations™, solidifying a formidable presence among the world's elite Jumping teams.

The Longines League of Nations™ series continues the prestigious global competition of the FEI Jumping Nation’s Cup™, bringing together the finest equestrian talent from around the world in a thrilling format that promises to excite spectators and competitors alike. Sweden's qualification demonstrates their ongoing skill and commitment, with their ultimate goal being “As always, to win as much as possible with the best horse-rider combinations, presented in a good way to always put the horse first,” according to chef d’equipe Henrik Ankarcrona.

This accomplishment adds to Sweden's recent string of Jumping victories, including their current titles as Jumping Team World, Olympic, and - most recently - gold at the FEI Jumping European Championship 2023 which they secured in Milan (ITA) last August. Here they beat the Longines League of Nations™ top qualifiers, Ireland, into second position, which certainly lines up an interesting 2024 series. 

Additionally, their stellar performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics earned them the prime podium finish and a fourth gold Olympic medal for their collection. This consistent dominance on the global stage reflects the team's dedication to the sport and their unparalleled ability to perform under pressure, so don’t underestimate their ninth place qualification: they are a team to back for the win in this exciting league, and when we spoke with Ankarcrona, he outlined the team’s plans for the 2024 series:

Sweden has a strong equestrian tradition.  How do you envision the Longines League of Nations™ contributing to the proud history of Swedish Jumping?

For Swedish Jumping, the FEI Nations Cup and championships have always been the pinnacle of our sport and what we believe is the very best way to get a good name as a Jumping nation, and I believe that this new league will carry on that history. Obviously recent successes speak to the cohesion of our team, and...

"I believe that this confidence and our attention to detail are a legacy that will bring us further success in this new series."

Henrik Ankarcrona

(SWE)

How do you believe that global representation inspires national pride among equestrians in Sweden, and do competitions like this encourage more spectators and potential equestrians to engage with the sport?

I believe the new Longines League of Nations™ format will engage both media and spectators alike; it makes it easier to follow and very exciting to see how it develops - and changes - from leg to leg towards the final. We are very proud to be one of the ten teams to take part in the Longines League of Nations™, for Sweden this means a lot and I’m sure this will encourage a lot of young riders to set their goals high, set the bar high, and work hard towards achieving the experience needed to participate in this league. This series is unique, so we also hope the media will pick this up and share the excitement building up towards a big final, which in turn creates enthusiasm and anticipation. 

Can you share any advice or words of encouragement for young riders who aspire to represent their nation in international equestrian events like this one?

If you are passionate about Jumping and dream of being an international equestrian or championship rider, there are two elements: First, and most important, is to love your horse and put their welfare above all else. Secondly, you need to work very hard. You need a drive, and you need to be open to learning and listen and look at the top riders. But the most important one to listen to is your horse. Learn to read them, and understand that they are the most valuable asset in our sport. 

Stay tuned with the FEI as the team prepares to join the top Jumping athletes and horses in the world for the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 series, as anticipation builds for another showcase of Sweden's prowess in the arena. This competition promises to be an electrifying display of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship, as the Swedish team aims to further solidify their legacy as equestrian champions. 

Be sure to catch all the action on FEI TV as the series kicks off in Abu Dhabi on 11 February.

Belgium’s Pieter Devos was thrilled with his victory partnering Mom’s Toupie de la Roque at the tenth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Basel, Switzerland today.

Moving his points tally up to 54, and now lying third on the current league leaderboard, he is well on his way to the Longines 2024 Final in Riyadh (KSA) in April and today’s success has given him the perfect start to 2024.

“It’s the first show of the year and this gives a lot of confidence. It’s an important year, an Olympic year and I’m going to do everything to be in the team and to have a fantastic year - like it started! 

“My horse did a fantastic job, she jumped three World Cups this season and she has been placed in several Grand Prix lately but it feels so good that she has now won one - this is her first indoor Grand Prix win. She is now already 17 years old so she has not so much time left in the sport, so I am really happy for her!”, he said this evening after pinning Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger and Orelie into runner-up spot while Austria’s Max Kühner finished third with EIC Cooley Jump the Q.

Found the key

Just eight of the 40 starters found the key to the 14-fence first-round track presented by Swiss course designers Gerard Lachat and Gregory Bodo. And there were some surprises amongst them, not least the less-well-known Sasha Barthe partnering the aptly-named Essenar High Hopes.

Only two of the 12-strong Swiss entry would make the cut into the second-round jump-off, and instead of the big names like Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs it would be 29-year-old Barthe who is based in France with Australia’s Amy Graham who would join Basel-born Sprunger to hold the hearts of the Swiss spectators in the race against the clock. 

Sprunger of course has ridden at Olympic level, but as she said today “Orelie is just doing her first World Cups and I’ve been out of it for a while, my last time was with King Edward here actually!”, she pointed out, referring to the gelding with which she last competed in Basel in 2020 before her husband and world number one rider, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, took over the reins with legendary consequences.

The narrow white oxer faced with planks at fence eight proved one of the biggest bogeys in the opening round, and it was there that the double world champions lost their ticket to the jump-off today.

Against the clock

First out against the clock were Denmark’s Andreas Schou and the former Jerome Guery ride Napoli vh Nederassenthof who only established their new partnership just over a month ago, and they were clear up to the penultimate double only to leave the first element on the floor in 37.65 seconds. 

Barthe was next and she set off like her tail was on fire, producing a spectacular turn to the vertical at fence six, now the third obstacle on the track, but clipped the big red wall three fences from home and then also lowered the second element of the double for eight faults. But her time of 34.30 seconds around the new course would not be bettered. 

Devos was third in, and the man who took team bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the great Claire Z set off with a rattling run, although not everything went quite to plan. He knew that the distance between the second-last and last would be a very long five strides for his mare, and that’s exactly how it turned out. But Toupie gave him everything she had and, throwing in a massive leap, cleared the line in 36.94 seconds to take the lead. And she wouldn’t be beaten.

Spain’s Mariano Martinez Bastida and Belano vd Wijnhoeve Z hit the first fence, previously the bogey oxer at fence eight, and then Germany’s Mario Stevens parted company with Starissa FRH when the pair got into a muddle at the oxer, now fifth on the track.

Kühner turned super-tight to the vertical third fence and again to the wall three fences later, but the first element of the double hit the floor before he galloped through the finish with EIC Cooley Jump the Q in 35.59 seconds.

With just two left to go he was lying second to Devos, but Sprunger left all the timber intact in a careful tour of the track that saw her overtake the Austrian for runner-up spot, and when the final pair into the ring - Germany’s Hans Dieter Dreher and Elysium - hit the second fence they had to settle for fourth place when breaking the beam in 36.41.

Happy man

“I am a very happy man! I came by car and I have to drive six hours to get home but it will be very easy drive now!”, Devos said.

He was particularly pleased for his 17-year-old mare whose career began under the saddle of Michel Hecart and who has also been competed by fellow-Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf during her long career.   

“We bought her quite late”, he said of the mare he took over in October 2021, “she was already 14 years old but she is great. She is still very fresh so I think she has a good season in front of her. We will for sure do everything to go to the World Cup Final - we now have to make a good planning for that but also for the season and for Paris later this summer”, he added.

Talking about her strategy for the jump-off round, Switzerland’s Sprunger said - “I tried to stay cool, I knew Toupie and Pieter were more experienced and have competed in so many jump-offs but I’m not just there yet, so I have to play a bit clever and go for a safe round. Orelie has been super attentive and listened to me very well and she delivered again and I’m over the moon!”

The mare had to give her all to stay clear at the end of the first round. “She tried fantastic and I’d ridden everything very safely until that last line and somehow I underestimated the distance to the third-last oxer - it was too deep and she made such a huge effort. So I knew I couldn’t chase her down on the three (to the next fence) so I just held her with me and trusted her and she found the perfect solution for it and I just tried to stay quiet and trust her. 

“I think that’s what you can see, I ride the horses since they are young and you build immense trust together and that helps!”, she pointed out.

Loved to win

Max Kuhner said he was happy with his third-place finish “but still of course we would have loved to win!”

He was critical of his own performance in the jump-off. “I know my horse is very fast and I tried to go for it but the riding was not perfect honestly. It was not smooth enough over the first fences, so I got him a bit short in the neck before the combination and I think that’s where the fault happened - but I’m still happy!”, he said.

Looking ahead, he said that the main focus for his top horse, Elektric Blue P,  is the Olympic Games in Paris this year, so he is planning to compete at the Longines Final 2024 in April with one of the newer talents in his large and talented string.  

“I will see how they are in the coming weeks and then make the decision on which one will come to Riyadh”, he said. And wrapping it up, he added, “this has been a great week of sport, and everything works so well here at the show in Basel”. 

Next April Basel St Jakobshalle will present the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2025 in Jumping, Dressage and Vaulting. 

Meanwhile the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League moves into its final phase with just four of the 14 legs left to run and with Leipzig (GER) next on the agenda next weekend.

So don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result 

Standings 

Link to FEI World Cup™ Finals 2025 Basel   

Continuing on from where they left off, the world number one horse-and-rider combination of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the wonder-mare TSF Dalera BB produced another superb performance to win the seventh leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League at Basel in Switzerland today.

In yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix the pair led a German whitewash of the top four places, while today compatriots Isabell Werth with Emilio 107 and Matthias Alexander Rath with Destacado FRH again filled second and third spots, Sönke Rothenberger having to settle for fifth this time out when headed by Austria’s Florian Bach and Fidertraum OLD. 

This was a second successive victory for von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera in Basel, having also topped the line-up at the Swiss fixture to get their 2023 season off to a flying start 12 months ago. They went on to claim their second successive FEI Dressage World Cup™ title three months later, and on home turf at CDIO5*-NC in Aachen in July won all before them, then took double-gold and team silver at the FEI European Championship and finished off the year by winning both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at CDI5* in Stockholm (SWE) in December. 

The pair who are also reigning Olympic champions continue on a roll into the Olympic year of 2024, and after posting a handsome winning score of 91.010 today von Bredow-Werndl said, “Dalera is the best and I am very happy. It is such an amazing feeling to have her in such in a great shape here in Basel!”

Target

It was Werth who set the target high when putting 87.950 on the board with Emilio, the horse set for retirement at the end of 2023 who, however, is showing the best form of his entire career recently and who sparkled again today with a test filled with confidence, rhythm, harmony and co-operation. 

At 18 years old the Westphalian gelding seems to be enjoying his work more than ever, and it shows in the focus he is applying to his job, the smoothness of his transitions demonstrating just how settled and concentrated he has become. It’s no wonder his joint-owners Werth and Madeleine Winter-Schulze have decided to extend his career after all.

Only von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera could better that, their Paris-themed soundtrack carrying them to maximum scores of 10 for Choreography, Degree of Difficulty and Music and Interpretation across the board from all five judges - Susanne Baarup (DEN), Hans Voser (SUI), Raphael Saleh (FRA), Stephen Clarke (GBR) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) - for that winning total of 91.010.

The word “retirement” seems to be popping up a lot lately, sometimes inevitable when a horse is as consistently successful as Dalera who turned 17 this year. But von Bredow-Werndl insisted this evening that it’s not on the agenda anytime soon for the mare owned jointly by her mother, Micaela Werndl, and Beatrice Buerchler-Keller despite rumours that Paris 2024 may bring the horse-and-rider’s career together to an end. 

“It is difficult to find the right words to describe what Dalera has done for me and is still doing. I not only want to maintain our current form, but also develop it further if possible and I am so thankful that Dalera wants to do it with me. So I will do my best for her and we will see what the rest of the season brings”, von Bredow-Werndl said this evening.

Main priority

She pointed out that the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is her main priority this year so the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) in April is not in her schedule. But Werth has it clearly in her sights.

“Emilio is in great shape and enjoys it so much at the moment. We have now done two World Cup qualifiers and would be qualified for the Final so I will see how he is feeling week after week and make our show plan from that. But it would be nice to ride him at the Final”, she said.

She has rocketed up to seventh on the league table ahead of the next qualifier in Amsterdam (NED) in two weeks’ time, picking up the maximum 20 qualifying points at both Stuttgart (GER) in November and again today in Basel because, as defending champion, von Bredow-Werndl does not earn points. 

Matthias Alexander Rath was well pleased with his third-place finish today with the charming 11-year-old chestnut stallion Destacado FRH whose suppleness in half-pass and extravagant extended walk helped them on their way to a combination-best score of 81.750. 

“He has made so much progress in the last year and I am happy to see the results today and look forward to this season with him”, Rath said of his horse. And he really enjoyed the atmosphere at Basel. “Everything works well, the atmosphere is amazing. I was here with my whole family and we had a really nice time”, he added.

Thomas Straumann, President of the Board of Directors of CHI Classics Basel was also delighted with how today’s competition played out. Dressage only joined the show programme in 2023, and it is already proving immensely popular with spectators.

“We had, as last year, great sport this afternoon with an amazing atmosphere and the public is showing so much support. I am really happy to have started with Dressage last year, and we will for sure continue in the future!”, he said.

He certainly will, because next year Basel will host the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2025 in Dressage, Jumping and Vaulting.

So don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result 

Standings 

Link to FEI World Cup™ Finals 2025 Basel