Three athletes from the Danish team that clinched bronze at the recent FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany will be in action when the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League gets underway on their home ground in Herning (DEN) next week.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald, who also took Grand Prix Special silver in Riesenbeck, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Andreas Helgstrand will be joined by compatriots Anna Kasprzak, Nadja Aaboe Sloth, Anna Zibrandtsen and Lone Bang Zindorff as the battle for qualifying points towards the Final which will take place in Riyadh (KSA) next April begins.

37th season

The FEI Dressage World Cup™ is entering its 37th season, and only one Danish rider has ever taken the title. That was Anne-Grethe Jansen who came out on top with Marzog at the inaugural series finale at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986, pinning Great Britain’s Chris Bartle and Wily Trout into second place and Switzerland’s Christine Stückelberger and Rubelit von Unkelruf into third. 

Jansen came back to finish second with the same horse in 1987 at Essen (GER), and since then there has been an irregular run of second-place finishes for Danish contenders at the Final. 

Lars Petersen steered Blue Hors Cavan into runner-up spot at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 2002 and Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby were second behind The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival in Leipzig (GER) in 2011. Cathrine Dufour and Vamos Amigos were runners-up in Leipzig (GER) in 2022 and Skodborg Merrald was second at the 2023 Final in Omaha (USA) last April partnering Blue Hors Zepter.

For the second year in succession it was Germany’s star partnership of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the mare TSF Dalera BB who reigned supreme at the US fixture, having already swept all before them at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the FEI Dressage European Championship in 2021.

Eight nations

Athletes from eight nations - Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands and Sweden - will compete next week including Swedish veterans Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven riding Devanto and Patrik Kittel with Touchdown. 

Kittel has long been a stalwart of the popular indoor FEI Dressage World Cup™ series and is much-loved by spectators around the globe for his joyous and flamboyant Freestyle performances, while Vilhelmson Silfven stood second behind The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud at the 2016 Final on her home ground in Gothenburg (SWE). Caroline Darcout (Lord Django) and Marina Mattsson (Helix) will complete the Swedish line-up.

For Finland, Emma Kanerva who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, will compete with the 12-year-old stallion Greek Air who won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at Neustadt Dosse (GER) in August this year. Germany will be represented by 23-year-old Felicitas Hendricks, who with Drombusch OLD took double-gold at the FEI European U25 Championship in Pilisjászfalu (HUN) in July, and by 24-year-old Raphael Netz who has enjoyed a string of successes with Great Escape Camelot this year. 

This pair helped their country to second place in the Nations Cup at Rotterdam (NED) in June where they also finished third in the Freestyle, and in August they won the Grand Prix and finished second in the Freestyle at CDI-W at Wierzbna Bialy Las in Poland. 

Corentin Pottier (Gotilas du Feuillard) from France, Yuko Kital (Amandori) from Japan, Justina Vanagaite (Nabab) from Lithuania and Dutch competitors Devenda Dijkstra (Hero) and sisters Denise and Jeanie Nekeman (Boston STH and Ferrari) wrap up the startlist for Herning next week.

Hot-shots

The Danes however look set to be the ones to beat, Skodborg Merrald who is currently number three in the world rankings, bringing Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, the 15-year-old chestnut KWPN stallion with which she finished third in the Freestyle at Hagen (GER) in April and second in the CDI4* Freestyle at Aachen (GER) in July this year. Like Bachmann Andersen she was a member of the historic Danish side that won World Championship team gold in Herning in 2022. 

Bachmann Andersen brings Zippo MI, the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding he steered to victory in the Nations Cup in Falsterbo (SWE) this summer where the pair also finished second in the Grand Prix Special.

And double-Olympian Helgstrand will partner the exciting nine-year-old KWPN stallion Jovian who was a winner as both a 5-year-old and 7-year-old at the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championship and who was on that bronze medal winning European team in Riesenbeck last month. 

First stop

The Western European League consists of 11 legs, and Herning is the first stop before Lyon (FRA), Stuttgart (GER), and Madrid (ESP) all host rounds in November. Then the action moves on to London - ExCel (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) in December before the new year begins at Basel, St Jakobshalle (SUI) and Amsterdam (NED) in January 2024 followed by Neumunster (GER) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February and finally ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in March.

Only London - ExCel will stage the Short Grand Prix as the preliminary competition, all the other venues opting for the traditional Grand Prix.  

The top nine finishers in the League will qualify for the 2024 Final along with the defending champion, von Bredow-Werndl, who is automatically qualified provided she competes twice during the season.

The story of the 2023/2024 season will begin to unfold with the Grand Prix in Herning on Saturday 21 October at 13.15 local time followed by the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday 22 October beginning at 14.15. It’s going to be another super season, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Further information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 series here

Following lengthy appeal proceedings, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed and upheld the FEI Tribunal’s decision in the case against Andrew Kocher delivered in June 2021, which saw the US Athlete suspended for 10 years for the use of electric spurs on several horses throughout a prolonged period of time.

 

Other sanctions in the FEI Tribunal decision rendered two years ago, also included the disqualification of results from eight FEI events between June 2018 and November 2019 where evidence supported the athlete’s use of electric spurs on horses, alongside a CHF 10,000 fine and legal costs to the amount of CHF 7,500. Kocher appealed the said FEI Tribunal decision on 1 July 2021, seeking to eliminate or otherwise reduce the sanctions imposed.

 

The FEI Tribunal decision was the result of a lengthy investigation by the FEI, starting in June 2020 following allegations of electric spur use reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). It was alleged that Kocher had used electric spurs on a number of FEI registered and national horses in international and national events, and during training.

 

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the FEI formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Kocher in October 2020. During the proceeding before the FEI Tribunal, it was also discovered that Kocher instructed his employees to use the electric spurs on specific horses. For that purpose, Kocher provided to his employees several electric spurs devices which he manufactured himself.

 

In its decision, the CAS Panel reached the same conclusion as the FEI Tribunal, to the effect that a ten-year suspension was merited, during which Kocher is barred from participating in or attending, in any capacity, including as a spectator, any competition or event that is authorised or organised by the FEI or any National Federation. The provisional suspension served by Kocher since 28 October 2020 shall be credited against this period of suspension, which will therefore come to an end on 27 October 2030. The CHF 10,000 fine was also upheld and Kocher is furthermore ordered to pay costs of CHF 7,500.

“We are extremely satisfied with this outcome and that the sanctions the FEI Tribunal imposed, to reflect the severity of the offenses committed by Mr Kocher, have been upheld by CAS”, said FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch. 

 

“It may have taken two years to complete this process, but it confirms that we had the right decision to start with, and that there is no room for leniency when it comes to cases of horse abuse. 

 

“We have rules and regulations in place to protect the integrity of our competitions and the wellbeing of our horses, and when these rules are breached and their welfare is jeopardised, we will continue to seek to impose maximum sentences.”

 

The full CAS decision is available here.

The FEI Tribunal Decision is available here.

The eagerly anticipated FEI Awards 2023 have revealed exciting changes as online voting opens today for the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, Longines FEI Rising Star, Cavalor FEI Best Groom and Pivo FEI Inspire Awards.

Followers of the annual event, will no doubt notice that this year’s edition features just four categories, with the introduction of the Pivo FEI Inspire Award, uniting elements from the FEI Solidarity Award and the FEI Against All Odds Award. As the name suggests, the Award has been designed to showcase the incredible spirit and determination of individuals who serve as role models and show that anything is possible.

The FEI Inspire Award also proudly welcomes sponsor, Pivo, who became the FEI's Official Technology Training Partner earlier this year. Pivo's support stands alongside long-time sponsors Longines, Cavalor, and Peden Bloodstock.

The nominees in the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete category, include Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, fresh from a triumphant victory at the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milano (ITA), and Germany's Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl, an undisputed powerhouse in Dressage, who has a series of gold medals to her name including a double gold at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER). They are joined by Eventing’s Rosalind (Ros) Canter of Great Britain, who is currently ranked #2 and boasts an impressive list of wins in 2023, including the prestigious CCI5* Badminton title, and double gold at the FEI Eventing European Championship in Haras du Pin (FRA). Rounding off the list is Driving’s Marijke Hammink from the Netherlands, who holds the top position in the FEI Driving World Ranking Pony Four-in-Hand, and had an exceptional year with 11 consecutive wins throughout the season, including individual and team gold at the FEI Driving World Championship for Ponies four-in-hand in Oirschot (NED). 

Celebrating the unsung behind-the-scenes heroes, the Cavalor FEI Best Groomcategory includes Steve Guerdat’s groom Emma Uusi-Simola (FIN) and Sarah Charnley (GBR) who grooms for Ros Canter. Also in the running are Danny Ingratta, a devoted groom at Millar Brooke Farm (CAN), and Sofia Flodin (SWE), who is responsible for the well-being of Dressage star Mathias Rath’s (GER) horses. 

The Longines FEI Rising Star category, which spotlights young talents who have already left their mark on the equestrian landscape, includes 21-year-old Christian Simonson from the USA who has made waves in Dressage this year, and Endurance’s Rodrigo Storani Saliba of Brazil, who at 20 years old is already proving himself a force to be reckoned with. Another 20-year-old, Vaulting sensation Quentin Jabet (FRA) and USA’s Mimi Gochman, a 19-year-old Jumping prodigy have also made it to the final list of nominees.

Among the nominees for the new Pivo FEI Inspire category is Valeria Bonfiglio (ITA) who proves that passion and determination are not a number. At age 54, Bonfiglio entered her first Endurance event, and then took her first top placement in a 160km ride at 57. She is joined be Jennie Sharpe (GBR) who defied medical expectations after being diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, and made a triumphant return to the saddle despite physical challenges. Completing the list of nominees is plane crash survivor Federico Fernandez Senderos from Mexico who, despite severe burns and vision impairment, competes successfully at 5* level in Jumping, and the Ukrainian Vaulting team of Polina Shovkova and Kateryna (Katya) Panasenko who fulfilled their dreams of competing at the FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors despite the war raging in their country. 

The public have until 22 October to cast their vote for the 16 shortlisted candidates from 13 countries.

Established in 2009, the FEI Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sport, both in and outside the arena. 

The lucky winners will be flown to the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines in Mexico City (MEX) on 21 November. 

To vote, simply click here!

The shortlisted nominees for the FEI Awards 2023 are:

Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete - paying tribute to the athlete who over the past year has demonstrated exceptional skill and taken the sport to a new level.
•    Steve Guerdat (SUI) – Jumping 
•    Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl (GER) - Dressage 
•    Ros Canter (GBR) – Eventing 
•    Marijke Hammink (NED) – Driving 

Longines FEI Rising Star - for the athlete aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.
•    Christian Simonson (USA) - Dressage 
•    Rodrigo Storani Saliba (BRA) – Endurance 
•    Quentin Jabet (FRA) – Vaulting 
•    Mimi Gochman (USA) – Jumping 

Cavalor FEI Best Groom - for the behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the horses they look after are given the best possible care.
•    Danny Ingratta (CAN) – Jumping groom at Millar Brooke Farm (CAN) (Ian & Amy Miller)
•    Sarah Charnley (GBR) – Eventing groom for Rosalind (Ros) Canter (GBR)
•    Emma Uusi-Simola (FIN) – Jumping groom for Steve Guerdat (SUI)
•    Sofia Flodin (SWE) – Dressage groom for Mathias Rath (GER)

Pivo FEI Inspire - For an individual who has pursued their equestrian ambition in an inspiring way and serves as a role model to show that everything is possible, and that even when faced with challenges, you should never stop believing in your dreams.
•    Valeria Bonfiglio (ITA) – Endurance athlete - Passionate Motivator
•    Jennie Sharpe (GBR) – Jumping athlete with physical impairment - Resilience Champion
•    Federico Fernandez Senderos (MEX) – Ultimate Survivor
•    Ukrainian Vaulting team of Polina Shovkova and Kateryna (Katya) Panasenko - Youth Sport Advocates

The winners will be decided through a system in which 50% of the public’s vote via FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, and 50% of the judges’ vote will be combined to give the final result. The seven expert judges are as follows:

•    Ingmar De Vos – FEI President & Chair of the Judges Panel
•    Bernardo Tribolet - Vice President Marketing Longines 
•    Martin Atock - Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award Title Sponsor
•    Peter Bollen - Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award Title Sponsor
•    Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni – Secretary General of the Pan American Equestrian Confederation
•    Jessica Kürten – Chair of the Athletes Committee and member of the FEI Board
•    Dianne Smith – FEI Solidarity Award winner 2022

Biographies for all the Judges can be found here.

The FEI has reallocated one of the two Paris 2024 Olympic team quota slots for Eventing delivered at the CCIO3*-L Designated Olympic Qualifier for Groups F&G in Millstreet (IRL) in June where Australia finished first and China second, following a positive Controlled Medication case for one of the members of the Chinese team, namely the horse Chicko (FEI ID 106MH02/CHN), ridden by Alex Hua Tian (FEI ID 10019301/CHN).

 

The reallocation of China’s team slot to Japan, who placed third at the event, is a consequence of the disqualification of the results for the Chinese combination, which sees China drop into fourth place on a finishing score of 207.2, while Japan moves up into second place on 125.7 and hence next in line for the second Olympic team qualifying slot on offer at Millstreet behind Australia.

 

In terms of the process, the horse Chicko, ridden by Alex Hua Tian, tested positive for the Controlled Medication Altrenogest on 2 June 2023, and following confirmatory analysis of the B sample, Hua Tian elected for the Administrative Procedure in accordance with art. 8.3 of the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations. The consequences of this administrative procedure include the disqualification of the results obtained by the combination at the event, a fine of CHF 1,500 and costs of CHF 2,000 for the B sample. As this was an administrative procedure for a controlled medication violation, no suspension was imposed on Hua Tian.

 

The 14 National Olympic Committees which have qualified Eventing teams for Paris 2024 are therefore: France (host country), Germany, USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Australia, Italy and Japan. Two slots remain available for the two highest ranked teams from FEI Olympic Groups D and/or E, at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI), from 26-29 October 2023 (excluding teams already qualified).

 

See Paris 2024 Eventing Qualification System and list of nations as well as where they earner their qualification here.

 

Notes to Editors:

What is an “Administrative Procedure” case?

If a horse’s sample is positive for a Controlled Medication Substance that was not taken at the Olympic Games or FEI World Equestrian Games™, and it is the first violation for both the Person Responsible and the horse, the Person Responsible will be offered the opportunity to take advantage of the Administrative Procedure (sometimes referred to as “Fast Track”). This means that they may accept to pay a fine of CHF 1,500 and costs of CHF 1,000 (the costs may be increased to CHF 2,000 if a B Sample analysis is requested) and, at the same time, waive their right to a Final Hearing before the FEI Tribunal. Both the Person Responsible and the horse will be disqualified from the entire Event at which the sample was taken, which includes forfeiting any prize money or medals, but no ineligibility period (i.e. suspension) is imposed. The Administrative Procedure is offered as a benefit for first-time minor offences. The Person Responsible has no obligation to accept it and may always insist that his case be heard by the FEI Tribunal. If the Person Responsible does not choose the Administrative Procedure, the matter will be referred to the FEI Tribunal, which will apply the sanctions provided for in the EADCMR (this means that the Person Responsible may be suspended and/or fined).

More FAQS regarding FEI Processes for EADCMR Procedures are available here

The FEI Tribunal has issued two Consent Awards in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned and a Controlled Medication Substance.

In this case, the horse Zaime (FEI ID 106SS76/QAT), ridden by Mohd Jubal Ahmed Sayadur Rahman (FEI ID 10093895/QAT) and trained by Jassim Hilal H Abuhadoud (FEI ID 10030706/QAT), tested positive for the Banned Substances 5α-estrane-3β and 17α-diol, and the Controlled Medication Substance Cobalt, following samples taken at the CEI1*100 in Doha, Mesaieed (QAT) on 12.11.2022.

The athlete and trainer both admitted the rule violation and accepted the consequences. In its final decision the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse from the event and imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the athlete and the trainer; the provisional suspension they already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. They were each also fined CHF 5,000. In addition, the Horse was provisionally suspended for 2 months.

The full Decision for Mohd Jubal Ahmed Sayadur Rahman is available here.

The full Decision for Jassim Hilal H Abuhadoud 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 FEI has issued a Final Decision pursuant to the Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) Article 8.3.3 in a human anti-doping case concerning Eric Lamaze (FEI ID 10000439), a recently retired Jumping athlete of Canadian nationality.

The Athlete has committed an anti-doping rule violation under ADRHA Article 2.5 (Tampering), due to the submission of fabricated medical documents during an ongoing CAS Proceeding.In accordance with ADRHA Article 8.3.2, the Athlete was deemed to have waived a hearing, admitted the violation, and accepted the proposed Consequences because he did not respond to the charge.

Given the absence of any mitigating circumstances, the Athlete shall be subject to a period of Ineligibility of four years (12/09/2023 to 11/09/2027). He is furthermore subject to a fine of CHF 15,000 and shall be required to reimburse the FEI its legal costs in pursuing the matter.

The Athlete, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the Athlete’s National Anti-Doping Organization (the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport) each have the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision. Further detail regarding this matter will follow upon the conclusion of the ongoing CAS proceedings.  

After a super summer of exceptional outdoor sport across Europe, the action moves indoors this week for the first leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League which kicks off at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway next Sunday 15 October.

And it’s going to be a rip-roaring start to the new season with world number one, Olympic team gold medallist and double World champion, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, beginning the defence of the title he won in Omaha (USA) six months ago, but facing three other former series champions and both the reigning Olympic and European champions in the race for those ever-so-valuable early qualifying points.

Busy

Oslo presents the first of 14 qualifying legs on the road to the Longines Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) next April, and it’s a very busy calendar with nine of those legs staged before the end of December this year. Round 2 will take place in Helsinki (FIN) on 22 October and then it’s on to Lyon (FRA), Verona (ITA), Stuttgart (GER) and Madrid (ESP) in November, and to A Coruña (ESP), London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) in December.

Basel, St Jakobshalle (SUI) gets things underway again in January followed by Leipzig (GER) and Amsterdam (NED). And the last two qualifiers will take place in Bordeaux (FRA) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February. It’s going to be a whirlwind season from the outset.

Exciting

Everything about the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, which sees the world’s best gather from all around the globe for an always exciting Final each year, is steeped in history, and that is what makes it one they all want to win. The Roll of Honour, which dates all the way back to 1979, is filled with legendary names, and placing yours amongst them is a watershed moment in the career of every athlete.

For defending champion von Eckermann, his victory fulfilled a long-held ambition. Partnering the extraordinary King Edward with which he collected team gold at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and double-gold at the World Championship in 2022 he had his sights clearly set on the Longines 2023 title, but he knew he would have to fight every inch of the way.

“I really wanted to win it, but even with a horse like this it’s very easy for it to go the other way around. I’m so happy for the horse that he wins this because he really deserves it!”, he said.

He has occupied the number one slot for the last 15 months, but he’ll be facing the stiffest of opposition this weekend including six of the top-ten riders in the world rankings. 

Reigning

Reigning individual Olympic champion and world number three, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, is making the trip with Faltic HB, the horse with which he took team bronze and individual fourth place at the FEI Jumping World Championship 2022 in Herning (DEN) and fourth again at the FEI Jumping European Championship 2023 in Milan (ITA) this summer.

Also lining out will be the formidable Swiss duo of Martin Fuchs, world number four, European champion in 2019 and World Cup champion in 2022, and Steve Guerdat, world number five, Olympic champion in 2012, reigning European champion and one of five riders who have won the FEI World Cup™ title on three occasions.

The ninth and tenth-placed athletes on the world rankings will also be in action, Austria’s Max Kühner and Simon Delestre from France, and a total of 40 representatives from 17 countries will compete in Sunday’s points-chasing opening round.

Sizzle

For horses, riders and spectators alike there is always an extra intensity and sizzle of excitement to indoor competition, and when you have the best of the best going head-to-head it is guaranteed to be gripping. 

The Swedes look super-strong with von Eckermann joined by brothers Jens and Peder Fredricson on the star-studded start-list, but the Gulliksen family of father Geir and son and daughter Johan-Sebastian and Victoria will be flying the host-nation Norwegian flag with pride so it’s going to be a fantastic start to a season of great sport when the first horse canters into the ring at 15.30 local time next Sunday afternoon.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat……

Website here 

Venturing outside Hungary for the first time since the event was established, the 8th FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses was held at the superb equestrian centre Parc Equestre Fédéral at Lamotte-Beuvron, south of Orleans (FRA).  It has been a busy time for the French as the event followed the FEI World Pairs Championship in Haras-du-Pin in Normandy last weekend.

First to be crowned World Champion on a bright Sunday morning was Swiss singles supremo Mario Gandolfo in the 6-year-old class with the Franches-Montagnes Lemmy-K, owned by Lisby Bastin.  Maintaining the winning momentum he showed last year to win the 5-year-old title in Szilvásvárad (HUN), the powerful Swiss bred gelding was in front at each stage of the competition to end on 15.93. Mario is currently ranked number two in FEI Singles.  Runner up was Lars Krüger (GER) with the German Sathu mare Salome on 14.80 and in third was Sabrina Melotti (NED) driving the KWPN mare Melotti Texel with 13.67.

The next class to find a new champion was for the youngest category, the 5-year-olds.  Fabrice Martin (FRA), driving for the host nation also led at each stage with the stunning black Selle Français mare Idromel Noir owned by the IFCE and they topped the leaderboard with 15.30.  Matching his position from the previous class, runner up once again was Lars Krüger with the Sathu stallion Valentino on 14.12.  And trading a first for third, Mario Gandolfo drove his own Franches-Montagnes gelding Johnson Du Signal to take the remaining podium place with 12.98.

Despite a slight delay to the start of Sunday’s competition due to water problems in the arena, by late lunchtime the third title of the weekend had been awarded in the 7-year-old category to Marie Schiltz (LUX).  Currently ranked number three in FEI Singles, Marie was another to lead throughout the competition driving her father Franz’s Oldenburg mare Freaky Friday 12 to end on 14.53, who impressed the judges with her supple and uphill movement.  Franz drove the mare two years ago in the 5-year-old category but he is also a previous world title winner in the 7-year-old category, which he took at the first World Championship in 2016 with his Oldenburg stallion Frodo, who Marie now drives.

Placed second was Wilbrord Van Den Broek (NED) with his own KWPN gelding Love to Dance with a total of 12.46, marginally ahead of Agnes Paulovics (HUN) with Józef Vida’s KWPN stallion L-Grappa-WK on 12.31.  As well as appearing at the last two Young Horse World Championships, where he was third last year in the 6 yo class, this versatile horse also drives in Józef’s Four-in-Hand, and with Agnes competes in Horse Singles classes.

The competition, like other championships, takes place over four days, after the initial ‘fit to compete’ inspection.  However, in all other areas the format is different.  On Thursday, athletes and horses enter a qualifying ‘Aptitude Test’ which combines a series of Dressage movements and a sequence of Cones. The top 50% proceed to the Dressage on Saturday but on Friday, the lower 50% drive again to try again to gain a place in the final phases.  The number permitted to through after the second qualification is determined by the officials, but there is a maximum of ten athletes in the final rounds for each class.  

Sunday’s Combined Marathon takes place in one arena and consists of two Marathon type obstacles plus Cones, but the course varies between the classes to alter the complexity depending on the age category, for example in the 5-year-old class, only one of the Marathon obstacles was used.  The course designer was Josef Middendorf, who also designed at the Four-in-Hand World Championships in Pratoni (ITA) last year. 

The marking system is also different from most Driving competitions which are penalty based, so the lowest overall score wins.  Here it is the highest score which wins and marks are awarded together by the four judges who decide collaboratively what mark out of 10 will be given, which is then averaged to give a single mark at the end of each phase.  For the final placings, two marks count which are from the from the Dressage and the Combined Marathon.  Penalties are deducted from the total and can be for a knocked ball, which is 0.3, or for time and other errors such as a groom down.

“Having the judges sit together allows for really good discussion around the way of going expected from the age range.  The key point is this is judged around the performance of the horse, not a series of Dressage movements. It is refreshing to look at the horse according to age and have a good discussion between colleagues. It is also important to understand how we train horses correctly, giving them time to develop and mature. It’s such a special event, being able to look at some amazing horses and really getting into the movement, training scale, and minds of some wonderful equines.” – Andrew Counsell, President of the Ground Jury said.

In total, 50 athletes and 50 horses came forward from 10 nations.  Athletes compete as individuals and there is no team competition.  Each athlete can enter two horses per age category.  Throughout the event, the emphasis is on the performance of the horse. Marks are given in accordance with the scales of training in the context of the age and stage of its development.

FULL RESULTS

Italy’s persistence in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series proved worthwhile as they picked up the golden ticket for the Paris Olympics next year. Having competed at every one of the eight events in this popular competition, Olympic qualification was their primary focus and they made use of a large pool of talent to get them to this satisfying destination.

When Spain failed to enter here, Italy came to Boekelo knowing they had it in the bag, but it was still important to riders to prove to selectors that they were worthy contenders of an Olympic place. They finished third in the Nations Cup Series behind Belgium and France who were already qualified. 

Umberto Riva was the highest placed Italian athlete at Boekelo. After storming around the cross-country clear inside the time on Flaconn Sunheup Z, he wound up in 27th place out of 112 competitors. “It’s a dream for our country to be able to present ourselves in Paris and we are very happy because it was our goal for the season and we achieved it. Knowing that we came had the qualification in the pocket was good of course but we wanted to do good, so there is always pressure in a competition. We are very happy to have lots of Italian riders to compete in the Nations Cup and that’s also why we achieved this result”, Riva said.

Riva was full of praise for the Series and the event here at Military Boekelo, which he felt was a great preparation for the Olympics, “I hope to go to Paris. I think my horse is a great fit for Paris. The atmosphere here was the reason we decided to come to Boekelo, it’s a great competition, great organisation and in the arena, you really feel the atmosphere and it’s a great exercise for big competitions like Olympics.”

Giovanni Ugolotti is a stalwart of the Italian team and a likely contender for the Italian team heading to Paris. He summed up what this result meant to his nation: “It’s amazing. It took a lot of pressure off us this weekend and for once we could enjoy the competition. It’s great for the country, to be qualified for the Olympics now we need to try to have the best possible horses to go there and try to do the best we can”.

We used the Nations Cup competition because it was very important to try to do as many as we could. We actually have a very large group of riders in Italy, and we just mix a little the riders, using younger and more experienced riders in the team. We did the Europeans (Championships) but obviously not good enough to qualify and so it was great to qualify here.”

Like many riders at Boekelo, Ugolotti used the event to qualify his individual horses for the Olympics to give him plenty of options. “After this weekend I have five horses qualified and that’s a very good position to be in.”

Ugolotti also views Boekelo as a great acclimatisation for the Olympics. “It’s an event I have come to for many years and it’s a good one to train the horses to get used to crowds and people and become hopefully championship horses in the future. We are expecting crowds probably even more than this in Paris. I am expecting the course to be strung quite tight because I know they don’t have a lot of room there and I am expecting people to be all over the place, so this will be good practice.” 

Boekelo was the eighth and final fixture in the popular Eventing Nations Cup Series, which saw 16 nations compete for the prestigious title over eight fixtures. Italy join France, Germany, the USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Australia and China as the nations heading to Paris next year. 

There will be one final chance for Olympic team qualification later this month for some nations including Brazil and Argentina. This will be at the Pan American Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile which takes place from 26-29 October.

Photo caption: Paolo Torlonia and ESI Bethany Bay during the Cross Country test at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup - Ermelo (Netherlands). Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

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Team France looks to be serious medal contenders at their home Olympics next year after posting their fourth win of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this season. Stellar two-phase jumping performances gave the nation a decisive win in the final leg of this Series held at Boekelo (NED) this week. France finished on an overall score of 97.8 ahead of last year’s Boekelo winners Great Britain on 111.2. Team Belgium finished third on 129.0 at Boekelo, and were overall leaders of the Nations Cup Series. Whilst The Netherlands kept their home crowd entertained, by finishing sixth out of the 12 teams competing. 

Once again, Military Boekelo provided a thrilling culmination of top-class sport from beginning to end, attracting some of the world’s leading riders to perform in front of record-breaking crowds. There was further excitement for Italy who qualified of the Paris Olympics next year, after finishing in overall third place and therefore eligible as the highest placed nation not already qualified. 

French rider Nicolas Touzaint was doubly elated as he won the individual competition as well as playing a substantial part in his nation’s victory. He punched the air and whooped with joy after completing a magnificent Jumping clear on the French-bred Diabolo Menthe, a horse he has trained from scratch. Speaking after his cross-country round he was delighted with his horse’s performance: “I have been preparing the horse since he was three years old. The ground was very good, and everything went as planned. I was happy also qualify Diabolo Menthe for the 2024 Olympics as well as my other horse Absolut Gold.”

Touzaint was one of a few riders who were using the event to qualify their horses for Paris, and this certainly provided a good test for horses in terms of getting them used to large numbers of spectators to be expected at the Olympics and other major championships. Boekelo is famed for providing a ‘party atmosphere’ and this year was no different. Record crowds of over 60,000 turned out to watch a masterclass of sporting action at Military Boekelo which has made a great success of bringing eventing to a wider audience by partnering with big sponsors and brands who deliver ringside corporate entertaining to many thousands of guests, situated around the cross-country. This further adds to the atmosphere of the cross-country course for horse and rider who are under pressure to keep their focus when jumping fences amidst such large and animated crowds, enjoying the sense of occasion. 

French team member Karim Florent Laghouag was equally delighted with his nine-year-old French-bred horse Embrun de Reno- a young age to be competing at this level. 

"He has been in our stables since he was four years old, so it is a great achievement. I was so happy with the cross-country which was enormous and happy to see he is as fresh today in the jumping as he was yesterday. The two horses I had in the stables here are aimed for Paris. This was the objective for the season and we hope we will go to Paris."

Karim Florent Laghouag (FRA)

Boekelo has never failed to draw a high calibre of international competitors through the gate, but this year’s FEI Nations Cup entry list offered the cream of eventing stars from across the world. The line-up included the Olympic, World and European Champions, as well as five of the top ten riders in the FEI Eventing World Athlete rankings and it was an exciting opportunity to see so many riders and horses who may be contenders at next year’s Paris Olympics. 

The cross-country phase proved no mean feat for the 12 teams who came forward for the CCIO4*-NC-L. Germany fielded a strong team, which included Olympic champion Julia Krajewski, who led after the dressage but then plummeted down the order to 11th.

Adrian Ditcham was the man responsible for designing the course which was challenging but highly praised by the riders. “It’s really difficult here because you have so many different strands. The golden ticket for the Olympics, lots of young horse competing here as well as the Dutch championships held over a long format which is unusual as most national championships are over a short format. So, you have to piece it all together to deal with all those and it needs to be of a good standard. I think there are some nations who we may see in Paris. The Brits use the Nations Cup as a testing ground for getting the young horses out and many come for the experience. I think if you want horses to come to the Paris of the Europeans Championships, they need to experience that atmosphere that you get here at Boekelo. You don’t get many events like this and it’s a great experience for them. It’s like Glastonbury for horses with all the tents and people, that makes it a tough course to design here.”

The final Eventing Nations Cup standings saw Belgium in first on 680 points, France in second on 480, having won four out of five competitions entered, whilst Italy were just behind on 475 points overall. 

FULL RESULTS